Expensive

A few months back, I started telling people that I was moving to Tokyo.  I almost always got the same response:

"But Tokyo is so expensive!"

I wasn't too worried.  I had been here before!  Sure there were some outrageously priced things, but I would find the cheap stuff.  I have always prided myself in finding good bargains.  A good friend of mine once joked that she could give me only $5, and I'd be able to buy the world.  This was an exaggeration of course, but I did find some good deals.  Black Friday outlet shopping at midnight?  Check.  Yard sales, flea markets, and craigslist?  Definitely.  Day after Christmas sales at 3 or more Targets?  Absolutely.

These bargain opportunities are not available here.  Sure, I found a 100 yen shop that has decent snacks, nail polish remover, and other home goods.  But it's quite hard to be CHEAP.  And I like to be cheap.  I'm sure as time goes on, I'll stumble across more ways to be frugal, but so far it's hard.  I have gotten to the point where yesterday I nearly giggled with joy as I found a bunch of bananas on sale for a little over a dollar.  Oh, how I miss Trader Joes and their 19 cent bananas!

To help you understand a little of what I'm dealing with, I'd like to share something that you can find almost anywhere here.

A beautiful gift cantaloupe

  This gorgeous melon is available for around $105 (much more b/c of the bad exchange rate).  Isn't it cute with it's attached piece of stem and accompanying gift packaging?  These bad boys are for sale in almost every department store and supermarket.  I have not seen anyone buy one just yet, but clearly people must be.  This is one of those Japanese things I just won't understand.  If I see someone buy one, I'm going to grab their hand and explain to them about places like H Mart and Grand Mart back home.  What is so special about this cantaloupe?  I love cantaloupe.  Is this one filled with magic?  Maybe.  I'll never find out, because I'll never buy one.

While this is an extreme example, Tokyo really IS quite expensive.  But, I'm considering this all just part of the challenge.  I will continue to search out ways to be frugal!  I will stay true to myself!  I will never pay over $100 for a piece of fruit.