Children's education expenses and department store eclairs.

My first outing in a while was to a department store, accompanying my mother.
Amidst the festive atmosphere of choosing New Year's gifts, I recorded a day when I suddenly faced reality.

🌿 The daily lives of moms overheard on the train

While swaying on the train, I happened to overhear a conversation.
"What are you doing about extracurricular activities?"

It was a casual topic, the kind you hear anywhere.
But those words sent small ripples through my heart.

(I wonder how much they spend on education every month...)

💸 The substantial fixed cost known as "extracurricular activities"

Extracurricular activities cost about 5,000 to 10,000 yen a month for just one.
But if that increases to two or three, it becomes 20,000 or 30,000 yen every month.

For a household budget, that is a "fixed cost" that cannot be ignored.

To be honest, the reality is that in our current household, we can only afford about 10,000 yen per month for education.
It's not that I want to make them do a lot of activities, but the reality is that I cannot fulfill everything my child says they "want to do."

Raising a child costs so much money.
Honestly, I might have been a bit naive about it.

🐯 Memories of a hand-me-down "Shimajiro"

I suddenly remembered the time when my child was much smaller.
They loved Shimajiro, but at the time, our family couldn't afford the subscription.

It was a hand-me-down Shimajiro from a friend, with a slightly different face (lol).
Even so, my child played with it so happily and cherished it.

I was saved by that smile, but a little bit of sadness as a parent still remains in my heart.

🍰 Because I want to be a parent who can say "Yes"

Beside my mother, who was choosing baked goods at the department store, I bought an eclair for my child.

The education expenses, university costs, and future money that will be needed.
I cannot prepare for all of it right now.

But, I don't want to run away from "thinking about it."

That is why I started the new NISA.
Not to increase my assets all at once, but to gradually increase the options for the future.

I want to be the kind of parent who, when my child says they want to do something someday,
can push them forward and say, "Sure, go ahead."
That is my honest feeling right now.

That is my honest feeling right now.

✨ Conclusion: Education expenses are a matter of values

Education expenses are about money, but I feel they are even more about the values of "how you want to live."

• It doesn't have to be perfect.

• It's okay if you don't have much to spare.

Worrying, thinking, and still looking forward. I believe that the process itself will eventually become a source of strength for me and my child.
That process itself is something I believe will one day nourish both me and my child.

Little by little, one step at a time.
For the sake of the future, I think I will start saving again from today.

Thank you for reading until the end.
I hope this reaches the hearts of other moms and dads who are struggling with the same things.🌿

#EducationExpenses #Parenting #NewNISA #HouseholdManagement #HowToWriteNote #OrganizingLife