Thursday, February 11, 2010

How do you get your kicks?

Again. If I'm always broke, how/why do I go out so often? Because. My talent in life is getting away with things, I know how to be cheap, and I have no problem skipping bills and groceries. The fact is, it's extravagant to make a habit of going out on a part-timer's budget, especially in Tokyo. But I can't stay in my room all the time. I would get sad and crazy.

Free: Long walks, libraries, reading magazines in 7/11, sitting in the park, window shopping, nanpa fishing, restroom photography.

Cheap: Flea markets, casual sex, shitty chain cafes like Doutor and Mister Donut, first-time deals at host clubs, Starbucks, one or two drinks at a cozy bar, McDonald's, a small purchase at a crafts store, carefully budgeted house parties.

Overpriced but difficult to live without: kissaten, delicious coffee anywhere (incl. train fare), reasonably low-key nights out.

Painfully out of my price range: Books, music, movies.

9 comments:

sarah said...

haha and touche @ the nanpa fishing picture... looks like my life

selena said...

So are you selling shit at flea markets? I am hoping to find some way to give you 50 yen.

selena said...

Wait, is casual sex cheap because you have to buy a condom?

Beth Roeser said...

well casual sex isn't usually totally free because you have to start by going somewhere to get it, which usually means a drink or at least a train ticket. and yeah you do have to keep stocked on condoms since only 2 fucking percent of boys in this country bother carrying them.

Beth Roeser said...

i went through stuff i want to sell and i don't have very much really good stuff that i feel like parting with, mostly odd pieces of clothing, but i want to do the flea market anyway since it sounds fun. i will definitely tell you when i'm doing it, you can chill with me on my tarp and share my whiskey and paw through my things!

Beth Roeser said...

haha sarah! we should start a league or something.

J said...

I am feeling this. I opened up my tin coin bank yesterday...

God, I wish I could give up 600yen coffees... I have a "cafe life" in Japan that I didn't even have in France. Me, a book, a notepad, and no-one else, in a cafe = BLISS.

jellybeanz said...

The first time fee at host clubs totally made me laugh! That's how Green Eyed Geisha and I get our kicks! Except, now we're starting to run out of clubs...soon we'll be forced to give up or be repeats and pay a shitload of cash.

selena said...

Just say the word! I'm there. I probably have some stuff to add to your pile.