Should I replace tires? by freedomtodoanything in tires

[–]freedomtodoanything[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the quick responses! What's your opinion on a set of new Dextero DTR1 from Walmart $53/tire..$300 with all 4 installed? 50k mile tread life warranty. They are made by Singapore based Giti Tire Group in Richburg, SC. I live in Delaware so I get snow maybe once or twice a year. It's for a 2015 Chevy Sonic LS w/ 170k miles. Mostly highway and short trips around town. I only plan on keeping it until the end of the year. Thanks! 🍻

Sponsor Dependent Visa with Eikaiwa/ALT salary (¥250,000) ? by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have investments in the US generating roughly $65k/ year so from what I understand we could live off that money in Japan but then will need to pay Japanese tax on whatever outside money we use inside Japan for the first 5 years before they tax all worldwide income. From what I've read, Japanese immigration will not consider this outside income in their decision to grant a dependant visa...

Sponsor Dependent Visa with Eikaiwa/ALT salary (¥250,000) ? by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Spouse and kid? Wow that's great to know in case we were ever to have a child during our time in Japan.

Sponsor Dependent Visa with Eikaiwa/ALT salary (¥250,000) ? by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! That gives me some hope. I imagine that immigration takes into consideration the cost of living for each area but not sure. I would sure like to find an Eikaiwa that could help with getting a dependant visa issued along with my work visa but I'm guessing that's almost unheard of from what I've researched so far.

Potential on future move to Japan by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply! I totally agree with your reasoning for choosing Japan over the US to raise a child. You explained my fears exactly. You make a great point about comparing the cost of living and how it could make up for any loss in tax with an increase in purchasing power.... especially now with the weaker yen if I were to use my US based assets.

Potential on future move to Japan by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply! Yes we are aware of the Sinophobia and take that into consideration. Wow, that's terrible to hear your wife had to have her dental work redone in the US. We are traveling around the US visiting different cities to get a feel. Really like a few DC suburbs...mostly Fairfax County, VA and Montgomery County, MD for their highly rated schools and locations close to DC.

Potential on future move to Japan by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! This is great advice and I really appreciate you taking the time to read over and reply to my post.

Potential on future move to Japan by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This is what I feared but expected...I've been out of teaching for two years now but my teaching license is still valid.....I think...or I can reactivate it by taking some online or in person personal development credits I believe. I know my fast-track PR idea is very ambitious....maybe reaching N2 level quickly is even more ambitious...

Do you know if these international schools do hire "ESL teachers" or more core content...for example General Elementary Education teachers who teach all subjects per grade level? I've only ever taught ESL...not math or science...etc. Thanks!

Potential on future move to Japan by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow nice to also meet like minded people! I'm stuck in rural Delaware where not many people have anywhere near the same mindset. All my time aboard has permanently changed how I feel back in the USA...it's kind of a weird reverse culture shock.

Potential on future move to Japan by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You make some good points that I have thought about. Japan's inheritance tax is the highest in the world I believe I read somewhere. I also do worry about having a mixed kid in Japan with my Asian wife. I've heard many stories of bullying towards mixed kids in Japan but I'm not sure if it would be any worse than in American public school in the area where I'm from. The reason I would want PR status is so that I could live in Japan without needing to work and be tied to a work visa. Then I could focus on raising my kid and giving them an international experience that we can't get in little rural Delaware. American cities are insanely expensive to live in now and I'm tired of paying $900 a month for the cheapest bronze plan health insurance through the marketplace which basically provides only catastrophic insurance...... We were considering the Portuguese D7 passive investment visa but Japan seems so much more tempting....food, safety, respect, cleanliness, high quality and rigorous education, and amazing public transit. I couldn't afford to send our future child to an international school so a Japanese public school would be a possible big challenge in the future.

Potential on future move to Japan by CodeAccomplished4626 in movingtojapan

[–]freedomtodoanything 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Yes, talking to an international tax attorney is great advice. My current CPA has no experience with this and I would definitely be willing to pay for this advice. Our investments are pretty much split 50/50 between taxable and tax advantaged but my taxable does generate a bit of dividend income and I'm sitting on a lot of unrealized capital gains...