PRACTICE
Practical Skills
A place to verify what you have learned by reading, using your own numbers and documents. Can you identify fraud patterns? Can you calculate interest rate differences yourself? Can you read the documents you receive? You can do these things here, one by one.
19 items
Fraud Pattern Book1
Methods change daily, but the patterns are few. If you can state the patterns, you can recognize even novel methods.
Decision Procedure Manual5
A short procedure to use on the spot when in doubt.
A new payment method was recommended. What to check before using it.Five questions before using a new payment method — Whose liability? Ledger? Pay now or later? Reversibility? Contact for issues?When recommended a smartphone payment app, a new card, a point balance, crypto-assets, or dollar-pegged coins.What kind of mistakes am I prone to making with money?Four questions to know your biases — loss aversion, present bias, herding, and deference to authority.Before a big purchase, contract, or solicitation. Once a year, when reviewing your own biases.To what extent can this number, this story, be trusted?Four questions to verify informationNumbers in ads. Case counts in the news. A profitable tip from an acquaintance. A help desk phone number.What is the first thing to do when told to act "right now"?Three steps when solicited — Hang up, Verify, Talk.When asked for money or personal information by phone, in person, or by message.Are you only looking at the monthly fee?Five steps for reading statements and contractsBefore signing a contract. When reading a statement you've received. When considering cancellation.
Calculation Book8
Enter your own numbers to run it. The formula is provided in the main text.
What is the difference over ten years from a 2-point difference in the interest rate?Calculation Ledger — Simple and Compound InterestWhen depositing, borrowing, or making a late repayment.How much to repay each month based on the amount borrowed, annual interest rate, and number of years.Calculation Ledger — Monthly Repayment AmountWhen considering a mortgage, education, or car loan. When consulted about a family member's debt.How much will one million yen today be able to buy in ten years?Calculation Ledger — Real Value DeclineWhen reading about expected pension amounts, savings amounts, or news of price hikes.What percentage of the principal does a 1% annual fee erase over twenty years?Calculation Ledger — Cumulative FeesWhen you see an annual fee that you pay for as long as you hold an asset.The amount on my pension notice has increased, but life isn't any easier. How much value is being lost?Calculating the amount lost to inflationWhen you receive your pension amount notice. When you receive a notice of your fixed deposit's maturity. When you see news of price hikes.I heard that "the yen has weakened." What has changed for my 10,000 yen?How many dollars is 10,000 yen? — Reading the strong/weak yen from your walletWhen you see news about exchange rates. When buying items priced overseas. When considering the amount to exchange before a trip.With your principal and interest rate, how much will it become in how many years? In how many years will it double?Compound Interest CalculatorWhen you want to know the weight of the number of years by looking at deposit or loan interest rates.How much an annual percentage fee and an annual percentage inflation will reduce one's savings over a number of years.Ledger for calculating reduction from fees and inflationWhen you see the fee rate on a statement. When you want to apply news about the inflation rate to your own savings.
News Translation Book3
Translate headlines into the underlying mechanism and its path to your household finances.
What does the headline "Cashless Ratio Surges" say has increased?News Translation Ledger — Reading "Cash is Disappearing" from the DenominatorThe day you saw figures on payment ratios or "cash decline" in the newspaper or on TV.Where does a one-line "rate hike" announcement hit your wallet?News Translation Ledger — Translating "Rate Hike" for HouseholdsThe day a central bank's decision made the news.Where does a "rate hike" headline land in your household finances?Reading a headline: "The BoJ raises interest rates"News on the day after a Monetary Policy Meeting. When you receive a notice about your mortgage interest rate. When your fixed deposit interest rate changes.
Map of Consultation Services2
A destination for when you are in doubt.
Who to contact in case of a dispute with an overseas seller or when receiving a solicitation in English.Map of contacts (U.S., UK, European Union)Items not delivered from an overseas online store. Investment solicitations in English. Contracts signed while traveling.Is the role of the contact point the same even in different countries?Map of contacts — International (principles are the same)When family or acquaintances overseas are in trouble. When you receive a solicitation from an overseas business.