"Never buy anything unless it is on sale!" — that's the first rule of an American shopper.
"Japan is an extremely expensive country. And Tokyo is especially expensive!" my friends told me when I was packing for my long stay here. Consulting firms ECA and Mercer agree with them, placing Tokyo among the world's most expensive cities for expatriates: 11th and 7th places in 2014, respectively. However, there are always ways to save a bit of money.
One way to reduce the cost of living in Tokyo, and Japan overall, is to shop online for certain goods — mainly clothes and electronics — outside of the country. The strategies described below are most useful for those who travel to the U.S. once or twice a year and have friends or relatives living there. For a couple of the ideas, you will need a Social Security number, which most former U.S. residents should have.