Tips on saving money in Tokyo 在東京節省開銷

Well old friends and readers will know that I'd now "fallen from grace". From a rich lady with credit cards in hand, flashy branded handbags and always attending fashion shows, to a poor scholar living in a tiny dorm in Tokyo eating cup ramen (well, actually it's sushi).
讀過以前貴婦系列的讀者就知道我以前是一手拿信用卡，一手握名牌包，常去看時裝秀的貴婦啦。但是現在已經淪落到一名住在東京破宿舍，吃著杯拉麵的窮學生（其實我是吃壽司的）。

So here's my tips to save some money in Tokyo:
所以這是我在東京省錢的一些小祕方和大家分享：

1. If you need to buy books, either purchase used books from stores like Bookoff, or purchase a  Tosho card from a discounted tickets store. Use the discounted Tosho card to pay for all your books which are new, at those big bookstores.
假如需要買書，就去Bookoff買二手，或到折扣票店買折扣的圖書卡。買新書就用那張圖書卡買。

2. Even better, just stand in the bookstore and finish your book. I saved money for 2 magazines this way!
更好的方法：站在書店內看完書。我因此省下2份雜誌的錢！

3. For girls, if you want to satisfy your craving for shopping, you can buy those magazines with freebies. Many magazines feature designer cloth bags and cost just 630~1800yen each. Cheap and nice. Of course, buy them with your discounted Tosho card.
假如女生想要解決購物的慾望的話，不妨買附有贈品的雜誌。很多雜誌都有名牌設計的布包或其它產品，而且只賣630~1800yen。又便宜又好看。當然用折扣的圖書卡買。

4. If you're buying some household electronics, always ask for a bargain. Unlike Singapore, you can haggle prices in big electrical stores like Bic Camera, Yodabashi and Labi. All three are located in Shinjuku so it's really easy to compare prices. Apply a membership card from your favorite store and compare the prices from the other two. Then return to your favorite store to ask for a price match. *some Japanese skill is required
假如要買家電，記得討價還價。像Bic Camera, Yodabashi 和Labi的超級大賣場都可以嘗試講價。而且因為三間都在新宿，所以特別容易比較價錢。首先在你最喜歡的一家申請會員卡來積分，然後到其它兩家比較價錢。之後再回到你最喜歡的那家來壓低價錢。＊需日語能力。

In addition, Our teacher taught us the following phrases:
除此之外，我們老師還教了我們以下幾句：

• "安くしてももらえませんか"(yasuku shitemo moraemasenka?)
  Meaning: Can you make it cheaper?
  意思：可以便宜一點嗎？ 
• "ちょっと留学生からまけてもらえませんか"(chotto ryuugakusei kara makete moraemasenka)
  Meaning: I am a foreign student, so can you give me a discount?
  意思：我是外國留學生，可以給我折扣嗎？  

5. Apply for membership cards to earn points, so practice writing your information in Japanese.
申請會員卡來積分，所以得練習以日語填寫資料。

6. Only buy when there is promotion like freebies or points up. I bought my Fancl skin products during a promotion and got some nice freebies. Stock them up and wait for the next promotion.
有促銷和贈品的時候才購買。我就是等Fancl有贈品時才買我的護膚品的。一口氣補貨之後再等待下次促銷。

7. Be absolutely thrifty, cut open the tubes of almost empty creams, or toothpaste to extract the last of its essence.
要特別節儉。例如牙膏沒了要剪一剪來取出最後的精華。

8. This tip is my favorite: go out with a friend who is still working and hope for a treat, provided that your relationship with the friend is good enough :P
最後是我最喜歡的建議：跟上班族的朋友一起吃飯，然後希望他請客（假如關係夠好的話）:P

Of course, the most important is to set aside a reasonable target to save each month. I find it easier to start low, then gradually increase. Tracking your expenses in an excel sheet is also a convenient way of letting you know how much more you can spend before your next pay day. I'm always very happy on the 28th of each month :D

當然最重要的是每月都定期存一筆錢。我個人覺得從小數目開始，然後逐漸增加會比較容易。使用Excel來檢察開銷也是一個讓你知道還能花多少錢的好方法。最後，我想要說的是，我每月的28日都很開心 XD