Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 where did you get that GG? Yesterday I saw it at 150...I haven't been into my bank yet to ask them though Link to post Share on other sites
nippontiger 8 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 I sent my money - got 140 in the end. Gone back up a bit but dropped again today - back at 135 (you'll get about 139-140 for cash transfer). Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 With it being 220 or so in June, 140 ain't bad!! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 The yen has bounced off 133 a couple of times, but hasn't benefitted from the US Fed announcing the 0.25% rate. Conversely that seems to have been good for the pound. As things stand 1,000 yen is seven pound thirty-five. The BOJ have said they're not going to intervene in the currency market this time. Link to post Share on other sites
cheeseman 1 Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I am sending some home on Monday. While it is good for me personally, my job is being affected by the crazy rates so a return to some kind of normality would be welcome. Link to post Share on other sites
s3phis 0 Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Someone's already probably mentioned this but... 1) Japanese are the most conservative consumers... and they're also the biggest flock of sheep. When someone goes "recession!" everyone goes "oh no!" and literally stops spending. Most people here don't actually know what a recession is, we've been stressing about recession for the past year and it's only really just begun this month. 2) Interest rates have been literally nil since the last bubble broke... like 15 years ago. It's a been a big issue for a while and has affected a number of investment ideals but it's really made the country a low-risk, low-return investment opportunity. Personally, I think when Japan truly slips into a deep recession, it'll take forever to get out of again. On the same issue, when the yen is high, all the major Japanese corporations lose a lot of money and it essentially comes back to bite us in the arse. The only thing is, nothing has changed from the early 90s when Japan put in its recovery plan. With the case of Australia, the country relies completely on the export of raw materials. As per usual, it's the first to feel the effects of recession. A lot of social policies in the economy model results in the high-end income earners feeling the crunch while the low to mid income earners don't really feel the same pressures. I think the only thing that the average person has really noticed is the exchange rates. I have been advised that the AUD is predicted to drop the 54 yen by Feb. I don't know much about the pound though. Personally, I am quite bitter about a lot of it really... but that's really another story. During the ski season, I work at Nozawa Onsen so it sucks that the rates are so bad at the moment. Compared to the bubble period, the number of skiiers/boarders in Japan has dwindled to about 30% (if not less) and the resorts are relying more and more on foreign tourists. Unfortunately, we can't get enough English speaking instructors either. I've heard that one of the smaller ski resorts is cancelling to cut their losses this season. Hope things look up soon (both in snow fall and economics ;p). Edit: I just had a mind blank mid way through so I have no idea what I wrote . Yay for 3:30 syndrome.... Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Quote: Personally, I am quite bitter about a lot of it really... but that's really another story. Go on, do tell! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 US interest rates at 0.25%, Japan at 0.1%. Holy free money Batman! This downturn might be a bit different in Japan because there are far more temporary workers now who can be laid off at short notice. Its hard on the people concerned, but the flipside may be more companies staying solvent long term. TV sales are actually up because more people plan to stay home over New Year. It also sounds like more people will be travelling within Japan than overseas, so the ski resorts may get a boost off that. Yen testing 133 again... Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Probably some really good prices on unsold tv stock too. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I went through all this in '97, and then SARS. The best thing for it is beer. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I'm hearing you we have just struggled through the Equine Influenza Virus where we lost 95% of our trade for 8 months and now we are struggling with a recession (sorry forgot Australia is not in a recession - RIGHT)!! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 wine of course, is just as good. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 OH YEAH I have already well and truly hit that!! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 But it is advisable to buy LOCAL wine and beer, as the Aussie Dollar has tanked and French Champagne is going up in price! LOL Link to post Share on other sites
uiski 0 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Talk about taking a beating - more like a severe whipping. Good job I have lots of yen to use when I visit. Prepared for a visit last year that didn't happen at the last minute. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Sent more home today. Thats nearly 3 million in the last 4 months - got 6 grand more GBP than I 'normally' would. Well pleased with that. (I wonder what the 'new normal' will be?) Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 There's a video thingy on the bbc today saying there's loads of snow in France but few British punters because its too expensive. There's a crappy ad first. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7794935.stm Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Hope the same can be said for Switzerland!!! :-) Will be thrilled if it is soft and white and hardly a queue. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 what do you do gg? thats a lot of cash to be sending home! Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 My pound is worth feck all. If only we`d joined the Euro we`d have a little more stability, and trade would be a lot easier. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 At least you've got lots of cheap sales in the shops at home, torihada Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 GG is an exotic dancer in his spare time. Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Originally Posted By: iiyamadude At least you've got lots of cheap sales in the shops at home, torihada Saving my readies for lift tickets. Just slapped down 4 man for 16 day tickets at Appi: so its cup noodles frm Lawson all round Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 that's a bargain. 2500 a day. Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 scrub that. 10 day passes for 4 man, that would`ve been a bargain. can convert 1 day pass into 2 kid`s passes. Link to post Share on other sites
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