Reader Case Study: Stationed in Japan with the US Marine Corps, Hoping to FIRE

Saving money on reader case study stationed does not have to be complicated. We rounded up the essentials so you can spend less and skip the guesswork.

Key Takeaways

• Kat and her husband Jay live in the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan where Jay is stationed as a Captain in the U.S.
• They are childfree by choice and have an adorable dog named Sadie.
• Although they’re just 29, they’ve been diligently saving, investing and planning for the date when Jay gets out of the military.

Kat and her husband Jay live in the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan where Jay is stationed as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. They are childfree by choice and have an adorable dog named Sadie. Although they’re just 29, they’ve been diligently saving, investing and planning for the date when Jay gets out of the military.

Their goal is to reach financial independence by that deadline, which is now five to eight years away. Kat would like our help determining if this is a reasonable goal and, if not, advice on what they should do to make it feasible.

What’s a Reader Case Study?

Case Studies address financial and life dilemmas that readers of Frugalwoods send in requesting advice. Then, we (that’d be me and YOU, dear reader) read through their situation and provide advice, encouragement, insight and feedback in the comments section.

For an example, check out the last case study. Case Studies are updated by participants (at the end of the post) several months after the Case is featured. Visit this page for links to all updated Case Studies.

Can I Be A Reader Case Study?

There are four options for folks interested in receiving a holistic Frugalwoods financial consultation:

1. Apply to be an on-the-blog Case Study subject here.
2. Hire me for a private financial consultation here.
3. Schedule an hourlong call with me here.

→Not sure which option is right for you? Schedule a free 15-minute chat with me to learn more. Refer a friend to me here.

Please note that space is limited for all of the above and most especially for on-the-blog Case Studies. I do my best to accommodate everyone who applies, but there are a limited number of slots available each month.

The Goal Of Reader Case Studies

Reader Case Studies highlight a diverse range of financial situations, ages, ethnicities, locations, goals, careers, incomes, family compositions and more!

The Case Study series began in 2016 and, to date, there’ve been 102 Case Studies. I’ve featured folks with annual incomes ranging from $17k to $200k+ and net worths ranging from -$300k to $2.9M+.

I’ve featured single, married, partnered, divorced, child-filled and child-free households. I’ve featured gay, straight, queer, bisexual and polyamorous people. I’ve featured women, non-binary folks and men. I’ve featured transgender and cisgender people. I’ve had cat people and dog people. I’ve featured folks from the US, Australia, Canada, England, South Africa, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and France. I’ve featured people with PhDs and people with high school diplomas. I’ve featured people in their early 20’s and people in their late 60’s. I’ve featured folks who live on farms and folks who live in New York City.

Reader Case Study Guidelines

I probably don’t need to say the following because you all are the kindest, most polite commenters on the internet, but please note that Frugalwoods is a judgement-free zone where we endeavor to help one another, not condemn.

There’s no room for rudeness here. The goal is to create a supportive environment where we all acknowledge we’re human, we’re flawed, but we choose to be here together, workshopping our money and our lives with positive, proactive suggestions and ideas.

And a disclaimer that I am not a trained financial professional and I encourage people not to make serious financial decisions based solely on what one person on the internet advises. 

I encourage everyone to do their own research to determine the best course of action for their finances. I am not a financial advisor and I am not your financial advisor.

With that I’ll let Kat, today’s Case Study subject, take it from here!

Kat’s Story

Hi Frugalwoods! I’m Kat, I’m 29, and my husband Jay is almost 29. We are childfree and have one adopted dog named Sadie. We currently live in Japan where Jay works as a US Marine Corps Captain. We met in 2015 on a study abroad trip, got married in 2017, and have moved nine times since then! We love to travel, hike and camp, snorkel in the ocean, go on long walks with our dog, watch movies, and read.

What feels most pressing right now? What brings you to submit a Case Study?

When I initially applied for a Reader Case Study, Jay had a one-hour commute to work on top of a long work day. He was waking up at 4am and getting home between 7 and 10 pm. We’ve since moved and he now has a 20 minute commute! So, that’s one major problem solved.

The other main issue is that I would like us to be financially independent by the time Jay gets out of the military in five to eight years. I want us to have options, rather than feeling like we need to jump into new careers the moment he leaves the military. As we near this self-imposed deadline, the goal is feeling more and more daunting.

We want to take advantage of our limited time in Japan - traveling, having cultural experiences, and spending time in nature. But this conflicts with our larger goal of wanting to be financially independent.

Post-Military Life Plans

Jay would need to serve for 20 years in order to get a pension. We’re instead hoping to fund our own retirement so he does not need to stay in that long. He loves what he does, but it is draining. After he leaves the military, we will need to purchase our own healthcare. Without a pension or disability discharge, Jay won’t be eligible for VA care. He is open to serving in the reserves, which would continue his healthcare.

We are not sure where we want to settle down. Ideally, we will travel full time for a few years after Jay gets out of the military. Some states we are considering for our home base are Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont (or another northeastern state), and Minnesota. We’d like a progressive community near hiking trails with housing that we can afford. We would love suggestions! Our families are pretty scattered now, so we likely won’t live near most of them.

What’s the best part of your current lifestyle/routine?

We love where we live. We are very privileged to get to live in a beautiful place and experience a new way of life.

I am also enjoying my free time. I’ve primarily worked as a writer in the past. I most recently worked as a kitchen assistant at a friend’s restaurant, but resigned due to our recent move. So, I’m currently between jobs, as one might say. I’m using this time to take care of all of the domestic labor and life management tasks, learn the Japanese language, spend time in nature, and read. Now that we have internet at our new house, I will try to pick up some freelance work with a former employer, but I am not yet sure how it will work out with the time zone difference between the US and Japan.

What’s the worst part of your current lifestyle/routine?

Jay’s difficult job and long work hours. What little time we have together is mostly spent resting and preparing for the next week. We’re on opposite ends of the spectrum right now - he is overworked and tired, whereas I am in need of social time and a challenge.

Where Kat Wants to be in Ten Years:

• Finances: Financially independent, living comfortably off of our investments.
• Lifestyle: Traveling frequently with a home base in the states. Lots of quality time together.
• Career: Enjoyable part-time work, volunteer work, homesteading, and/or a creative hobby business that we run together.

Kat & Jay’s Finances

Income

Item Number of paychecks per year Gross Income Per Pay Period Deductions Per Pay Period (with amounts) Net Income Per Pay Period Jay’s Income 12 $9,638 taxes: $1,226 life and dental insurance: $43 TSP contributions: $1,864 TOTAL deductions: $3,133 $6,505 Annual net total: $78,048

Debts: $0

Assets

Item Amount Interest/type of securities held/Stock ticker Name of bank/brokerage Expense Ratio Account Type Joint Brokerage Account $183,256 VTSAX, some VTIAX Vanguard 0.0004 Investments Thrift Savings Plan $105,239 C Funds The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board 0.0006 Retirement High Yield Savings Account $40,170 Earns 4.75% APY CIT emergency savings Kat Roth IRA $26,057 VTSAX Vanguard 0.0004 Retirement Jay Roth IRA $23,041 VTSAX Vanguard 0.0004 Retirement Brokerage Account $10,044 Mutual funds Vanguard 0.001 Investments Checking Account $4,710 Earns 0.01% APY Chase Checking TOTAL: $392,517

Vehicles

Vehicle make, model, year Valued at Mileage Paid off? 2001 Daihatsu Mira Gino $1,800 87,000 Yes 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero Mini $2,700 87,000 Yes Total: $4,500

Expenses

Item Amount Notes Housing $1,900 rent, insurance, trash, gas, electric, water, internet (paid in yen) Travel $546 flights, airport parking, accommodations, dog sitter, transit Groceries $459 ATM Withdrawals $160 Cash is still widely used in Japan. Used for attractions, events, and small restaurants. Household Goods $133 household essentials, cleaning supplies, furniture, gardening Restaurants $121 Cell Phones $108 provider: SoftBank Auto $99 Two cars and two drivers. Personal Damage Liability Insurance (PDI), Japanese Compulsory Insurance (JCI), annual road tax, toll road fees, US driver’s license renewal fees, maintenance Dog Care $71 Charitable Giving $63 Subscriptions $62 Apple Music, iCloud storage, Hulu, Duolingo, Microsoft, VPN Clothing & Shoes $55 Entertainment & Hobbies $54 painting class, bowling, movie theater, cultural events, snorkeling and hiking gear, book club books Personal Care $51 Gasoline $49 Health Insurance $0 covered as part of Jay’s compensation Monthly subtotal: $3,931

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, double-check reader case study stationed against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at frugalwoods.com.