Hi Grace! I loved your vlog 🙂 My pension is small too! But if I lost my husband, I would get his amount instead because that’s how it is set up here in the US. We did redo our plan because originally, I never ever wanted to retire from what I loved doing. That’s life huh…twists and turns. Today I was cheering another friend on RU-vid because she was having a hard time with her daily expenses but today she got her first Adsense payment and it was $6000! I was so happy for her and maybe it won’t be the same for everyone but you know what …good people like you and her …you will get there. 🎉Cheering you on because I know it seems like we are alone at times but all along …God is walking with us ❤
Hello Francine, God is with us indeed. Our USD saved in the Philippines got back to us double because of the difference exchange rate of USD vs JPY this time. My channel is not growing that much but I know it will in the future. I wish I could share here for fellow retiring people and attest how making a channel helps them with their finances after retirement. I'll work hard for that so I hope it'll come just like your friend, Francine. God Bless your kind heart, Francine. Hugs and many thanks as always. Hugs.
@@livingwithgraceinjapan this person was doing RU-vid but never applied for monetizing her channel…finally she listened to her subscribers and found out that she could have been receiving income a long time ago. Today she was going to buy toilet paper, dish soap and so many things she had run out of. It made my heart so happy for her! I have watched several hit monetization and they find joy in what they do…I love learning from you and I hope that joy keep you ❤️🙏❤️
@@francinecardoza6727, it was a taboo for me to speak about "wanting for money" but because RU-vid gave me a chance to share how a person like me can earn money through hardwork, I decided to be transparent about it. I'm learning a lot from you, too. Thank you, Francine... have a good day in Hawaii.
I understand what you are feeling. I’m half japanese, but I feel discriminated sometimes because my father is a foreigner. Be strong Grace for yourself and your husband. I know it is not easy not to be stressed ,because I feel stressed and lonely sometimes. Let us fight together!
Good morning Grace san, I really enjoy your vlogs as does my partner. I recently introduced her to your channel and like me, she finds quiet enjoyment especially from watching you cook. She is Japanese, I am born New Zealand but lived many years in Australia. Recently watching you cook, she who is always right was so surprised you use very expensive Japanese rice. A luxury, but when you cook at home rather than eat out, why not enjoy great quality of food. Your videos contain much value. We hope to retire to Japan if I am able to receive a spouse visa. Your videos showing the costs of living in Japan are very helpful in helping us plan for Japan. Please don't describe yourself as "old". I see a youthful woman in the prime of her life, with great energy, and compassion. I am 79 with six spinal fractures and live in pain but don't allow my age, nor my physical ailments to hold me back from living my best life. I so hope for you that your channel continues to grow and monetise and it can further support you and your handsome husband enjoy your days. Warm wishes.
Hello there, Neil. Receiving comment such as this one motivates me with this RU-vid journey more. I extended your wishes and kind words to my husband while writing this reply. Thank you for describing my husband as "handsome". It cheered him up so I thank you so much. He is getting well day by day. He smiled and giggled by your "handsome" note. Viewers' comments about which videos they enjoy watching give me tips what sort of topic I need to take up. I thank you for letting me know that this video or channel reached out to a Japanese and New Zealand couple who are contemplating of moving to Japan. The power of internet is beyond measure. My best regards to your beloved wife. Japan is our safe haven for retirement.
@@livingwithgraceinjapan your husband is handsome, so glad it gave him a giggle. He is also very determined to recover judging from videos where we see him exercising. Great that he is improving. We hope Japan will be our safe haven for retirement also.
@@neilreid4450 , he was riding a bicycle and used to ran 100kms or more so he tries to move his muscles. I would love to keep in touch with you both when you are in Japan for retirement already. Kindly give my regards to your dear wife. From me and my husband.
@@livingwithgraceinjapan with such strong exercise background your husband will surely regain much strength again. My partner and I would also like to keep in touch when we hopefully retire in Japan. Which part of Japan do you love in? We have family in rural area outside Hiroshima so probably will choose to be close to family. Regards to you both.
@@neilreid4450, hello Neil san, we're in Kanto region and actually in the middle of the city. If your wife can speak or write Japanese, please ask her to research this term " 闇バイト". Elderly are the vulnerable target, thus, I am hesitant of sharing about exact pension amount so with the exact location. Japan is still a safe place on earth but police and law enforcers needs more effort to keep the country safe as is.
Thank you so much. This channel is for viewers who are, like me, have the same preference. I'm glad that there are viewers who are inspired by the truthfulness and reality of retirement and ageing.
You raise very valid issues that concern ageing people in all countries. It seems that our politicians tend to turn a blind eye to older people's needs, concerns and their health, financial and social wellbeing.
Thank you. This issue is the topic of mass media (TV and internet) almost everyday and I have interacted with "real people" who are doing their best not to depend on other people especially goverment. I did not feel the severity of this case until I reach the age of 59. In Japan there is a 生活保護制度 or Public Assistance System. But I don't want to see myself in that situation so I'm glad I learned the amount. It's not too late. I have to check my spending.
I admire how strong you are Grace, new subsciber here. I lived in japan for 30years + but went back to philippines after my husband died, stayed for ten years more alone and getting lonely and so I'm back in the Phil for 11 years now.just wanted to tell you, I feel you😔
Thank you, Daisy. Thank you for sharing with me what you have gone through and for that, I feel the comfort of knowing that I am not alone. Take care of yourself there in the Philippines.
I wish you and your husband the best and long healthy life 🙏🏻🥰. Here in Norway we have the same problem. Just this fall in my neighbourhood police or some grandchildren have found two of my neighbours deceased home alone. I have been friendly with other two neighbours in their early 70’s who are living alone, because I have two cats and they love them. Sometimes when was raining and cold for almost a week I borrow them to my neighbours They say that they are feeling less lonely and after receiving some affection and attention from my cats 🐈⬛ were sleeping very well. Grace, I hope that your Vlog on RU-vid will be successful and round your income 🤞🏻
Thank you, Ellena. What a heartwarming story about lending your cats to your elderly neighbors. Speaking about cats, I have this tray I put foods for a cat I saw coming in and out of the yard. He runs when I come out of the house and hide under my car. The cat seems aware that I am putting his food because I've been doing that on regular basis. I don't know if the cat is stray but this little creature is giving me happiness. Thank you for the best wishes about my channel. I'm noticing a progress for a few weeks now. I'm glad and hopeful. Best regards.
Oh my gosh that young girl ! The attire is stunning! I simply adore red😂! You are such a lovely lady. I do appreciate your videos. They always contain substance. Thank you for sharing clips of your day in Japan. Always stay on the bright side of life. Its more fun!❤
Glad to see you, Debra. She's indeed so adorable young Japanese lady, plus, very friendly so with her family. Thanks! A channel with substance is what I'm producing. It will take time to grow but so be it. But thankful for having you and the other viewers who're with the same substance as with this channel that I'm achieving. Thanks!!!! a lot!
Hi Grace thanks for the video and I hope you are both well. Wherever we live in the world the cost of living has risen dramatically in the last few years. Here in England gas and electricity costs have soared as has petrol so therefore everything in the shops has increased in price and living in what we call rip off Britain doesn't help. I have recently turned 59 and looking towards the future money is always going to be a concern for any working class people. Carefully consider what you open up about with respect to your financial situation when it comes to youtube and maybe it may be better to simply explain how much various items cost you in Japan and not your income. My thoughts only, best wishes from England and look after yourself.
Thank you, Peter. I am glad that you understand my concern about sharing that taboo topic (income to be specific) here in the internet. I'll be very careful and I'll request my viewers to do the same. There are a lot of issues here in Japan about that regard so we all should be very careful. Thank you so much for the reminder.
Good for you to decided to settle here in japan but me and my husband will soon retire in our country next month as i don't like another winter here. Am going to recieve my lumpsum in our country so we have to make do with the pension of my husband who is on wheelchair coz of stroke but God is in control so no worry God bless
Oh, Alma. Thank you for your time to comment. I never forget that feeling of happiness when I was preparing for our flight back to the Philippines for our retirement. Please don't forget this channel when you and your husband are in the Philippines already. I would love to hear your life is doing there. Good luck!
Thank you! That is why I was shocked with the amount but that was it. Thanking the government that they informed me 5 years before I will be receiving officially. It will give me the chance to check my spending.
Hello Grace , I used to have one of those oil heaters in my house and it worked well . Now I live in an appartment in the town where 2 of my children live . It's small and I don't need heating except if the weather is terribly cold . In the 3 years I've lived here I switched the heating on for only 5 days total .I think the people upstairs and downstairs must heat their appartment a lot so mine is warm ! Have a good day 😊
Marie, you made me laugh. Yes. Let us hope that your neighbors will heat their apartments at a time during cold and freezing winter. My daughter recommended this oil heater. She said it's safe for my husband who is blind. Thank you! Have a good day in France.
ang pinaka gusto ko sa Japan yung pagiging independent nya sa ibang bansa. Siguro mga hapon matatlino sa pagpili ng kanilang politiko dyan. Hindi tulad sa ating dito, SAKIT SA ULO. Kapitbahay naming pensioner, sabi nya yung pera nya sa pension kulang2x sa meds nya. Tapos pension ng mga General X2 na ang laki.
Malaking kaibahan ay ang hindi pagiging kurakot sa bulsa ng buwis ng bayan. Malayung-malayo ang bansang Hapon sa Pilipinas pag dating sa mga Politiko. Hindi lang sa Politiko. Pati na rin ang mga empleyado ng Gobyerno. Dito ay malaki ang galang ng mga empleyado sa mga nagbabayad ng buwis at walang balita na nagkukurakot ang mga empleyado.
Hi Grace ,I enjoy your videos ,I found them only recently, I am 76 ,I'm married and have a big family , I'm wondering ,as a philipino lady ,do you belong to a church community, even in Japan, if so you would get great support from other members and friendship also , and you would not feel isolated, I live in the West of Ireland , Anne,
It's a pleasure meeting you here, Anne. My experience with Catholicsm is not a happy one. I was brought up by a Protestant Mother and Catholic Father. Both passed away and also have their families religious. When I went back to the Philippines 4 years ago, my husband and I rented a beautiful house owned by a Catholic Priest. He's doing a business and acquiring material assets himself using his family's names. I have witnessed too much corruption and hypocrisy all my life in the Philippines. I do not consider myself as Atheist but I condemn such practices. I am not sure if you ever watch huge churches with wealthy priests acquiring assets in the Philippines with slum areas empoverished Filipino fanatics praying for their foods each day. Japan are not very religious but they believe and practice buddhism /shintoism. They're not Catholic but they practice the basics of 10 Commandments written in the bible. Thank you, Anne, for commenting and asking me about this matter. I'm not a religious person but I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. I know He is there. But I do not want to speak to Him through anybody. I speak to Him directly.
Hello Grace, though your pension vis small as your work history is probably different from your husband's. Does he get a reasonable pension or is it reduced because he took early retirement. Does he get an additional disability allowance or is that paid via the equipment and services that are provided for him rather than given as extra money. The lady celebrating her coming of age looked stunning in her kimono. I noticed several others taking photos of her but I'm not sure if they are her family or enchanted passersby like yourself.
Good morning, Raymond... a good morning here in Japan. They are her Mom and Sister. They are very friendly people. I was actually approached by a couple of elderly women when they noticed I am a foreigner wandering with a camera. The spoke casually, smile and bow their heads after, somewhat happy for meeting me. I'll do and explore our neighborhood again. My husband worked all his active life, thus, his pension can provide the two of us a somehow comfortable retirement life. Plus, disability pension was added to the regular pension. We don't know how to live a luxurious life so we're fine. The amount that I'm receiving is typical for the majority of Japanese who did not work fulltime because they were farmers, small business entrepreuners, plain housewives, etc. There are articles on the internet giving details about the poverty of Japanese elderly for the past decades.
