The Kat&#39;s Journal

HA HA HA HA!

Heeeee.

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You make me wish my passport was up to date. It expired in February. :( I've always wanted to see Japan, but it's frighteningly expensive and I don't remember diddly from taking two years of Japanese in high school. Well, that's not true. I remember many amusing anecdotes about my teacher. I don't remember any real Japanese, though.

You should go. $1000 isn't THAT much in the realm of debt. You can pay it off after the trip.

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It took me forever to pay it off the first time and that last $1K was the hardest. Maybe I'll call and ask them to lower the intrest rate on the card again... Hrmmmm.

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Years back, I kicked ass for 3 years to pay off all my debt - specifically so I'd have all that credit available when I lived abroad. It was worth every penny.

Call and ask about lowering the interest. Or, take out another card with lower interest and cancel your existing card.

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Well, I can always do one and if they won't, I can get another... And if my bonus is good, I won't have to worry about credit much at all.

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See! Think positive!

You have your entire life to be a responsible adult. You've already proven you CAN do it by paying off the credit. Now, reap the rewards. Then pay off that last smidge again. You'll be back to zero by the end of the year AND you'll have seen Tokyo again.

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I'm seriously considering it. Much ponderance.

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Let me put it into context.

You don't have kids. You don't have a spouse. You don't have a mortgage. Give it a few years, and those things are likely to change. When they do, you won't be able to just hop on a plane to Tokyo.

Now is the time to enjoy that freedom. Later, you'll have your fill of responsibility.

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*chuckles*

There are a lot of assumptions in there, darling. I understand what you're saying. Trust me, I do. I'm going to see what my bonus is and then see if my freaking out about money (because though it isn't a lot, that $1K will stress me out) is worth the trip. The answer is likely yes but I don't do anytihng without a plan, a back up plan and a IN CASE EVERYTHING FAILS plan.

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We need to NEVER go on a trip together ;)

My Alaska trip was constantly marred by bad weather which led to one day where we sat around a B&B and played Uno before going out at 11 PM when it finally cleared up to take some photos (gotta love Alaska in June) and another day where we randomly stumbled across a bluegrass festival in a desperate attempt to entertain ourselves.

Lack of backup plans can lead to ADVENTURE :)

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No, no, no.

See, first fo all, because I have a plan doesn't mean I have to use it. I just means I /can/ use it. And secondly, most of those plans just have to do with getting to places. I want to make sure I get where ever it is that I'm using for my home base. Once I get to a place, I'm content to just hang out or wander about or just enjoy that I'm in a place. People who have schedules on vacation drive me crazy.

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Well I have my other class of stories that involve me being in place A, having to get to place B and having no idea how I will be able to afford the gas or where I will sleep that night.

Ah, good times. I miss them :)

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Heh. I can see where that would be quite liberating but it would also stress me the hell out.

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Nah, it wasn't really liberating. Mostly just stressful. However, stress and dealing with it can really cement a time and place in your mind, which is why I still have strong visual memories of Minturn, Co; Lebanon, MO; and Antioch, TN, places that I've only been to once or twice 10 years ago but where disaster struck.

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torquemada.livejournal.com

I have a current passport, but so, so can't afford to go to Tokyo. =[

Which sucks, because it would be awesome to see it even once.

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Yeah. That's where most people are living - want to go but cannot go.

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torquemada.livejournal.com

Well, I COULD go, but only if I paid for it on the credit card I just cleaned off. Sigh.

If I win the lottery between now and then, I'll take BOTH of us to Tokyo. Frlz.

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Heh. See, that's where I'm at. Unless my bonus is super sweet, it'll be on the credit card I just cleared off.

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"And I'm on the verge of being very, very hypocritical in letting money stop me from going. I just finished clearing off those credit cards, though, and putting $1K on one of them... It seems a horrible thing. Especially when I'll have Comic Con the next month."

It's amazing how much different it feels going from 5k to 6k on a credit card (eh, whatever) and going from nothing to 1k (OMG NO!!!)

I'm about to clear off my credit card and now I don't want to charge anything ever again.

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Exactly!

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dr4b

Well, and of course, I'm planning to go back to Tokyo later in the summer, but that doesn't really help you since I don't know you :)

Though, if you need any help with ways to go to Tokyo and not spend a ton of money, I can certainly help you there (during my last trip to Japan in September, I spent time in 6 cities in 18 days -- and about $2000 total on the basics (planes, trains, rooms, foods)

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I would love any recommendations on how to get there for less than $1K. Places to stay are being taken care of my family members and I'll just be pitching in on where ever it is that we end up staying. Also, since it has been forever since I've been, any recommendations on fare books or something for trains...

I'm all about taking advice of the people who have been there more regularily than I.

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dr4b

well, it depends. The Japan Rail Passes are only worth it if you're going to go somewhere besides Tokyo. Other than that, the deal to the trains is to just be efficient in your planning (a lot of times you can save $2 if you just decide to walk 10 minutes instead of switching to another subway line for 1-2 stops, for example).

The secret to flights is to actually check JAL, ANA, etc websites directly, since not only do they sometimes offer specials, but Expedia/Travelocity/etc doesn't always seem to find all of their fares/flights. Flying during the week will also help. Since you're working in the ID, also, go check out the travel agencies near there? There's one in the old Uwajimaya building (the one with the video store and Pink Godzilla and all) I think, which probably has some deals they can get you. I'm usually lazy and just take United flight 875/876, but hey.

The place I almost always stay at in Tokyo is the Kimi Ryokan. I love that place. It's close to Ikebukuro JR station, costs $40/night to stay at, and the staff speaks relatively decent English.

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Wow. That's an awesome hotel rate.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to check things out.

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mizkit.livejournal.com

Go. Life is short, and there are, in my opinion, only a small handful of things truly worth going into debt for. One of those things is travel. Go. :)

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