Thoughts on the drama 'How to Spend 3,000 Yen'

The book 'How to Spend 3,000 Yen,' which I read previously after Miiko-san recommended it, is now being aired as a drama.

How should one spend 3,000 yen?

A person's outlook on life is reflected in how they spend it!

I feel that this is the underlying theme of the drama.

30 years of not valuing money

In this drama, the human patterns of people who are seriously struggling with money issues intersect.

While watching such scenes, I wondered, how was it for me?

Looking back,

I have a regret that

I did not value money.

To explain what this means,

it is based on the fact that I was not facing the important things or experiences I truly wanted to obtain.

As a result, what kind of money habits did I have?

I realized that I was constantly being tossed about by two opposite vectors: 'wastefulness' and 'spending impulsively on desires'.

Consequently, my spending habits ended up being haphazard.

When I started working in 1989, it was just before the bubble burst, and fixed-amount savings at the post office had an exceptional yield with a maximum interest rate of 7% compounded semi-annually. (Thinking about it now, I feel it was a waste. After all, if you deposited it for 10 years, the money would double, haha.)

However, my mindset was to say the nonsensical phrase, 'I don't keep money overnight,' and I would buy whatever I wanted immediately.

The option of "saving up before buying"
does not exist.

Even for a new car costing over 2 million yen, I would decide to buy it immediately.
Taking advantage of my credit as a civil servant (teacher), I would easily take out a loan.

Furthermore, I even believed a little in the "Nostradamus Prophecies" that were rumored at the time. (The kind that claimed humanity would perish in 1999)

Even if I saved money diligently, just like how banknotes became practically worthless after the war, it would be meaningless if the world ended!

With that kind of thinking, I wasn't properly facing up to money.

Facing money is facing yourself

In the drama "How to Spend 3,000 Yen," the struggle of dealing with different attitudes toward money is depicted realistically.

But, in the end, they realize it.

Whether it's "saving money" or "spending money," money is just a tool to become happy.

Instead of being swayed by money,
"How do I want to live?"
The characters in the drama face their true feelings.
And they share their thoughts with each other and come to understand one another.

Hmm, this is exactly what I have experienced myself over the last three years!

I am watching the drama while feeling a sense of empathy.

Spend money without hesitation on what is truly important

Money isn't just about saving it or increasing it
alone.

After all, it is merely a tool for becoming happy.

Therefore, if it is something truly important, I spend it gladly.

For example, I have a favorite curry shop I frequent.

The location of the shop and the atmosphere inside are all 'azumashii' (a Hokkaido dialect nuance meaning comfortable or relaxing).

I can feel that my body and soul are delighted after eating delicious Sri Lankan curry.
In return, when I pay the bill, I express my gratitude by saying 'Thank you for the meal' from the bottom of my heart.

Paying money with a feeling of gratitude.

'So this is what it means for money to be an equivalent of value!'
I finally understood this obvious fact only in my late 50s.

Since understanding this feeling, I have stopped spending money on superficial desires. (I used to feel it was a waste because I was spending money on things that didn't matter.)

Simply put, in my late 50s, I have finally become able to distinguish between 'wasteful spending' and 'investing' in what is truly necessary.

And then, oh how mysterious.

Even though my income hasn't changed, I have more financial leeway. (Well, that's obvious!)

Whether saving diligently or spending boldly, it comes down to whether it leads to the family's happiness.

This drama features many scenes where lovers and family members struggle over money.

One's way of thinking about money clearly reflects their upbringing and outlook on life.

That is why the more seriously you face someone, the more unavoidable the topic of money becomes.

Especially for a married couple, right?

In our home, my wife is a 'goddess' to me.

She manages the household finances and continues to produce our family's happiness while following up on my wasteful habits and educating me.

She sets up savings (insurance) with our children's future in mind and manages our money smoothly.

It is truly smart.

However, regarding the purchase of our home, the honest opinion of both of us is that we were quite reckless.

'We really made a bold decision to buy a house, didn't we?'
we say.

Upon getting married, my wife temporarily retired from her teaching job.
Could we really pay off the home loan with just my income?

For some reason, both my wife and I at the time made the decision to buy a house with the optimistic attitude of,
'It'll all work out somehow!'
.

As our children grew, my wife started working, and she has now returned to the teaching profession.

My wife also looks back on that time with a smile, saying,
'What a reckless decision that was.'
.

However, for us at the time, a house that was 'warm,' 'not musty,' and filled with the scent of wood was an essential condition for raising our children.

We pushed ourselves financially, but there is no doubt that the benefits of purchasing a 'home' were wide-ranging and helped support our family's happiness.

I believe there is such a thing as chemistry with a house, too.

After considering many housing manufacturers and builders, we finally arrived at a house we 'fell in love with at first sight.'

'A house I truly love'
—that is why we accepted the strain and made the decision.

This was not a waste of money, but an investment necessary for our family's happiness.

I believe that was the case for our family.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading my embarrassing story about how I finally stopped wasting money now that I am in my late 50s.

The way one thinks about money is linked to one's outlook on life.

I feel that way based on my own experience.

In that sense, I thought this drama (novel) 'How to Spend 3,000 Yen' was a good one for confirming (questioning) one's own outlook on life.

If you are interested, please take a look!

I am sure you will find something that resonates with you (whether you empathize with it or feel a sense of unease).

☘️Thank you for reading until the end.
☘️I am grateful for this wonderful connection.
☘️It would be a great encouragement if you could 'like,' 'comment,' or 'follow.' I will continue to strive to deliver articles that make everyone think, 'I'm glad I read this.' Thank you for your continued support.

https://note.com/soisoiy/n/n096151262098