Take a peek into one of Japan’s greatest hidden frugal resources: the housewife magazine. Even if you don’t read Japanese, these magazines are an interesting cultural experience. With titles like “Sutekina Okusan” (Lovely Wife) and “Shufu no Tomo” (Housewife’s Friend), these monthlies are packed with recipes, storage tips, DIY projects, and of course, tons of frugal savings ideas.
Their target audience appears to be youngish (20s, 30s, and maybe early 40s) housewives with small children and a limited income. Typical articles include”98 Recipes for Under 100 yen a Serving;” “Cutting your Food Budget down To 10,000 yen a Month” and “Cheapskate Battle: Osaka vs. Tokyo.” You’ll find colorful recipes, sample budgets from the “typical housewife” around Japan, and usually 15 to 20 reader prize drawings for items like a Luis Vuitton purse or a grab bag of cleaning supplies.
Given this description, why would these magazines be of ANY interest to a foreigner in Japan? Well, no one knows better than these ladies how to get by, save money and enjoy life here. They are the literary equivalent of a wise neighborhood lady who knows all the best shops and sale days — an amazing source of information.
Second, the magazines offer a fascinating glimpse into the minds of some of Japan’s smartest consumers and savers. You’ll not only learn how to budget the Japanese way, but how to save money too. Some of the articles (such as how to reduce your monthly insurance premium bill or save for a child’s education) might not be of interest to short-termers, but those of us with Japaenese spouses or partners will gain valuable knowlege for the long term.
Finally, the magazines are occasionally good for an “only in Japan” laugh, such as the June “Sutekina Okusan’s” recipe for fried pork balls wrapped in … white bread.
Try picking up one of these magazines at the bookstore someday. I usually buy one every two or three months or so, as the articles tend to be a bit repetitive.
But even with very limited Japanese, the pictures and illustrations make it pretty easy to understand what’s going on. Plus, for the truly frugal at heart, what better way to study Japanese than with authentic materials from the Queens of Japanese cheapskates?
Top Ten Ways to Save
From “Sutekina Okusan,” June 2004
Six hundred Japanese housewives were polled to discover the methods they use to save money every month.
- Direct-withdrawal savings from bank account on payday (291 people): Some 75 percent of housewives employ this method. As one says: “You never even know its gone!”
- Leftover savings (177): Save what’s left over from the budget at the end of the month
- Send the wife to work! (147): In Japan, single-income households are still the norm for most families, so part-time work is viewed as an option for increasing savings, instead of making ends meet.
- Direct-withdrawal from paycheck (144)
- Saving loose change (123): 500 yen savings banks appear especially popular.
- Set a savings goal to work towards (120)
- Save the difference (60): For example, saving an amount equal to the difference between buying an item on sale vs. full price, or the difference between a meal eaten out and one cooked at home.
- Keep a household expense log (48)
- Use an envelope system to separate money for different expenses (45)
- Rewards for savings (42): For example, using 10 percent of the money saved during a month for a treat to reward oneself.
How Much Will it Save You?
From “Lettuce Magazine”
An Annual Cost Comparison of Some Common Frugal Tips
While some frugal tips don’t seem that they save much money at the time, they do add up over awhile. Lettuce magazine had 8 pages of tips in their annual cost comparison to help make the impact of living frugally a bit more visible. Have a loook at some of the more interesting and useful tips and calculations:
TIP 1
Take a boxed lunch (obento) to work 3x a week Cost savings: Y62,400/year - three lunches at Y500 a week adds up over the year.
TIP 2
Switch from regular beer to low-malt beer (haposhu) for your nightly tipple. Cost savings: Y31,200/year. The difference in price between the two really adds up. (An even better idea - give up the nightly beer, and drink tea instead. We brew big pots of mugicha for summer and winter — no fat and very cheap!)
TIP 3
After finishing your shopping, make one more trip around the store and put back something you might not need. Cost savings: Y15,600/year (based on Y100 item put back 3x a week). This is actually a great way to eliminate impulse purchases regardless of where you are shopping.
© 2005 Wendy J. Imura.