Solo Student Life

When I first started living alone at university, my meals mostly came from convenience stores or quick restaurant stops. But after a month, I began to feel two things: my wallet getting lighter and my body craving something healthier. That’s when I decided — time to try cooking for myself.

Here are four dishes that became milestones in my first year of cooking.

1. Stir-Fried Vegetables — My Very First Attempt

2. Curry — Filling the Room with Comfort

3. Pork and Onion Stir-Fry — A Happy Accident

4. Shimachou with Garlic Chives and Green Peppers — A Flavor Boost

What I Learned from Cooking at Home

• Start with simple recipes and build from there.
• Go light on seasoning at first — you can always add more.
• Even “mistakes” can turn into delicious surprises.

Living alone taught me that cooking isn’t just about feeding yourself — it’s about creating little moments of comfort and pride. If you’re just starting out, your first dish doesn’t have to be perfect. The fact that you made it yourself is already a win.

Hey, I’m R.
When I first moved out for college, I was excited… until I saw how fast my bank account was draining. Rent, groceries, utilities — everything adds up. By the end of the month, I was surviving on instant noodles way too often (not exactly a balanced diet).

But after some trial and error, I figured out ways to save over $100 every month without feeling deprived. Today, I’m sharing my favorite college student saving money tips for living alone — all tested in real life.

1. Cut Your Fixed Costs First — Easiest Win

The best thing about lowering fixed costs? You only do it once and keep saving every month.

• Rent: Don’t be afraid to live a little farther from campus if it means cheaper rent — biking distance is fine.
• Phone bill: Switch to a budget carrier (Mint Mobile, Visible, etc.). I cut my bill to under $20/month.
• Subscriptions: Cancel anything you rarely use — you can always re-subscribe later.

Just these changes saved me about $70 a month.

2. Grocery Strategy: Buy in Bulk + Cook at Home

Eating out can burn through your budget faster than you think. My go-to method:

• Shop once a week at discount stores or wholesale markets.
• Freeze meat, bread, and veggies in small portions.
• Keep lunches cheap with campus dining deals and cook dinner at home.

I still treat myself sometimes — the key is balance.

3. Lower Utility Bills With Small Habits

I used to ignore my utility costs until I realized how much “small waste” added up.

• Shorten showers by 5 minutes.
• Switch to LED bulbs.
• Unplug chargers and devices when not in use.

These little tweaks save me $5–$10 every month without effort.

4. Buy Used or Get It for Free

Furniture and appliances don’t have to be brand new.
I bought a used rice cooker for $25 on Facebook Marketplace and got my desk for free from a graduating senior. That’s $100+ saved right there.

5. Have Fun Without Overspending

Cutting fun completely is not sustainable. Instead:

• Swap restaurant dinners for potlucks with friends.
• Movie nights at home instead of theaters (or use student discounts).
• Free campus events are gold.

6. Make a Little Extra on the Side

If you can, increase your income alongside saving.

• Tutor, babysit, or freelance if you have a skill.
• Sell things you no longer need online.
• Pick up seasonal work during holidays.

Extra income + lower expenses = way less money stress.

7. Turn Savings Into Habits

At first, I had to remind myself to follow these tips. Now, they’re just part of my routine. The less I have to “think” about saving, the more natural it becomes — and my bank account thanks me for it.

Final Thoughts

Living alone as a college student can be expensive, but with a few smart changes, you can free up extra cash without sacrificing your quality of life.
Start with one or two of these college student saving money tips for living alone and build from there. Your future self will thank you.

1. The Reality in Numbers

Government labor statistics show that in Japan, men earn on average around ¥5.7 million per year, while women earn roughly ¥3.2 million — about 56% of the male average (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 2024). The wage gap remains at about 24%, even though it has been narrowing in recent years.

Yes, the gap exists. But that doesn’t mean men should always pick up the tab.

2. Dating and Payment Patterns

• A 2023 dating survey found that about two-thirds of men reported paying for the first date, and a similar proportion of women reported being treated.
• Around one-third of women said they preferred to split the bill, while nearly half of men said they wanted to pay more than their date.
• In marriage-focused dating, only about one-quarter of women said they wanted men to cover everything; many preferred an even split or a small extra contribution from the man.

These patterns show that the “men always pay” rule is far from universal.

3. The Myth of “Earning Ability” by Gender

Earning power is shaped by individual skills, career choices, and systemic factors—not by gender itself. Differences in average income are largely due to structural issues like career breaks for childcare, promotion disparities, and industry segregation. They are not proof of biological superiority.

4. The Real Problem: Outdated Social Scripts

The belief that men should pay and women should receive is a leftover from a time when gender roles were rigid. It perpetuates unequal power dynamics and keeps relationships stuck in a provider/receiver framework.

5. My View

Who pays should depend on personal financial situations, relationship dynamics, and mutual agreement—not on the X or Y chromosomes you were born with. Gender-based payment expectations keep us trapped in outdated stereotypes.

6. Final Word

It’s time to move beyond “men pay, women receive.” Equality in modern relationships means both partners contribute in ways that are fair to them—financially, emotionally, and practically.
The check should be split by respect, not by gender.

(Sources: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 2024; multiple online dating surveys, 2023–2024)

1. Introduction

Let’s be honest—university credits in Japan have lost their meaning. Too often, they are nothing more than attendance points dressed up as “proof of learning.” Sit in a lecture hall for fifteen weeks, turn in something that vaguely resembles a report, and you pass. Is this really higher education, or just an expensive box-ticking game?

2. The Flawed System

Professors have wildly inconsistent grading standards. Some demand genuine mastery of the material; others hand out credits like free samples. There is no real accountability, no universal benchmark. The result? A piece of paper that says you “earned” the credit, without any guarantee you actually learned a thing.

3. The Hollow Symbol

A credit is supposed to represent knowledge, effort, and growth. Instead, it has become a hollow symbol—proof not of skill, but of passive compliance. We’re producing graduates who can list dozens of completed courses, but struggle to apply even a fraction of what they supposedly studied.

4. The Real Purpose of University

University should be a place where you’re forced to think, question, and create. Where your ideas are challenged, your perspective is broadened, and your mind is sharpened. But if all we do is chase credits, we reduce higher education to a glorified attendance sheet.

5. A Wake-Up Call

It’s time to admit the truth: the credit system is broken. We need evaluation methods that reward curiosity, critical thinking, and the ability to solve real problems—not just the ability to show up. And students, too, must stop treating credits as the end goal. A diploma without real skills is nothing more than an expensive piece of paper.

6. Final Word

Your future will not be built on credits—it will be built on what you can actually do. The sooner we stop worshiping the credit system and start demanding real education, the sooner universities will stop producing graduates who are ready to pass exams but unprepared to face the world.

My lifestyle as a University Student

First of all, let me share my daily routine with you

• 7:00 AM – Wake up
• 7:00 – 8:00 AM – Take a shower and eat breakfast
• 8:20 – Leave home for school
• 8:50 AM – 12:00 PM – Attend morning classes
• 12:00 – 1:00 PM – Lunch break
• 1:00 – 5:00 PM – Afternoon classes
• 5:30 PM – Arrive home
• 5:30 – 6:30 PM – Work on school assignments
• 7:00 PM – Head to my part-time job
• 7:30 – 12:00 AM -Part-time job
• 12:30 AM – Get home, take a shower
• After that – Go to bed

What do you think when you look at this kind of schedule?
This is just one side of my lifestyle—it’s not like I live this exact routine every single day.
However, there are moments when I feel like I’m being forced into this kind of life, whether I want it or not.

Before entering university, I imagined it as a place where I would have more freedom to study—
a place where I could actively deepen my learning according to my intellectual curiosity.

It’s true that academics may be a student’s primary focus.
However, each person has their own individuality, and don’t we all need a learning environment that suits us?

I understand that the level of freedom may vary from one university to another.
Still, I believe it is important to encourage students to take the initiative in their own learning.

Towards a More Flexible Learning Environment

While universities differ in the amount of freedom they offer, I believe it is essential to create an academic environment that allows students to take greater ownership of their learning.

My ideal is not to fill the curriculum with too many compulsory courses, but to offer a wider range of electives. This would give students the opportunity to tailor their studies to their own interests and career goals.
In addition, rather than packing the timetable from morning to evening, I envision a schedule with more flexibility—one that leaves room for self-study, research, or other meaningful activities.

The introduction of more online classes could also contribute to this flexibility, allowing students to manage their time more effectively and learn in an environment that suits them best.

Such an approach would not only nurture intellectual curiosity but also develop essential skills for life beyond graduation: critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to learn independently. If education is truly meant to prepare us for the future, then fostering these qualities should be as important as fulfilling academic requirements.

University life is a limited chapter in our lives. That’s why I believe it’s important to find a way of learning that suits us and to protect our curiosity. I want to keep pursuing a style of learning that truly feels my own.

・Firstly

I am university student of grade 3.
Things I have went to school are nothing.
Maybe I have studied my major, but I don’t have studied anything else.

I believe other university students probably feel the same way.
This is very important problem!

So, I would like to share my own opinion in this blog.

・what should we learn?

In the first place, Why do we enter university?

To have fun? To be build connections? No! It’s to learn!
I go to university everyday, but I feel like there are very few people like this.
As students progress through university, aren’t their goals becoming increasingly unclear?

We need to go back to the basics and reflect on our original purpose.
So, what is necessary to achieve that?

There are three things I believe are necessary.

• Daily gratitude
• A desire to grow
• A clear goal for the future

Firstly, daily gratitude.
As for me, I believe It’s important because we never know when our life will end.
And yet, aren’t we living our lives without showing enough gratitude for each day?
I believe that those of us who are fortunate to be alive, it’s essential to practice daily gratitude and continue making efforts every single day.

Secondly, a desire to grow.
How many people do you think are living on Earth right now?
I ‘m sure not many people can answer this question,
but the correct answer is: about 8.1 billion.

With that many people, shouldn’t the world be getting better?

No, the reality is that the world isn’t necessarily getting better.
That said, it’s not so simple – In terms of technology, we are making remarkable progress.
But, if every person on Earth lived with a constant desire to improve, we might have been able to achieve even greater progress.

Thirdly, A clear goal for the future.
Have you ever thought about for what your dream for the future is?

According to press releases.responsesource.com,
the most popular dream job worldwide is pilot, followed by attorney and police officer.Healthcare professions naturally make the list too-pharmacist and nurse rank high.

As we go through life, many people come to face reality, feel the gap between themselves and their dreams, and eventually give up on them – don’t you think?

・Awareness as a university student

Finally, What I want to share is this: I hope university students lives with these three things in mind-dairy gratitude, a desire to grow, and a clear goal for the future.

I believe that if you live their university life with these three things in mind. what they truly need to learn will naturally become clear to them.