Why I Started Rakuten Point Investing 38

Conclusion: Because I was disappointed by the interest rates at city banks!

1. List of Ordinary Deposit Interest Rates at Banks

It is still fresh in our memories that on March 19, 2024, the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting decided to change its large-scale monetary easing policy, ending the zero-interest rate policy that had continued for 17 years.
From now on, it is expected that interest rates at each bank will rise, and the interest on deposits held at banks will also increase.
I looked it up for reference.

If you click on each bank, you will be taken to their respective websites, where you can check the current interest rates for each bank for your reference.

Mizuho Bank
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
MUFG Bank
Resona Bank
PayPay Bank
Rakuten Bank
Japan Post Bank

2. What were the interest rates of city banks before?

Before March 19, 2024 (before the zero-interest rate policy was lifted), the interest rates of city banks were less than a drop in the bucket indeed.
Generally, there was not much difference between banks, at 0.001%

3. How is interest on ordinary deposits calculated?

Interest = Total of daily final balances during the period × Interest rate ÷ 365
The actual interest received is the amount after deducting taxes (20.315%) from the calculated interest.

4. If you deposit 1 million yen for one year

(1) Pre-tax interest
1,000,000 yen × 0.001 ÷ 100 = 10 yen
(2) After-tax (deducting about 20%)
8 yen

You get 8 yen a year!! Yay!
Should I be grateful?
No way!(Angry)
Isn't it frustrating to save money seriously and get this?
If you withdraw it at an ATM outside of business hours, it won't just disappear, it will be a net loss!
Are you kidding me! (Angry)
This is ridiculous, isn't it!

5. Track record of getting Rakuten Points

Please take a look at the evidence of "Onigiri-man" getting Rakuten Points.
These are my honest points earned, without hiding anything.
Currently, I am earning about 200 points every month.
The cumulative total is 12,766 points. (As of March 31, 2024)

6. What if you calculate the interest earned from the Rakuten Points obtained?

Right now, I am earning an average of about 200 points per month.
Assuming I continue this for one year, it would be about 2,400 points.
I will multiply it by 12.

2,400 points ÷ 8 yen × 1 million yen = 300 million yen!

Wow, I realized that this is the same interest as holding 300 million yen in an ordinary deposit!
Isn't that amazing?
It's petty, isn't it!
It's very petty, isn't it!
It's the most petty, isn't it!
I was so moved that I was trembling. (Laughs)

7. 'Onigiri-man's' penny-pinching investment strategy has begun!

It is a very stingy way of thinking, but once I realized this and became conscious of it, I decided to start collecting points.

I started collecting points, focusing on Rakuten Points.
At the time, Rakuten's service downgrades hadn't progressed much, but recently, due to Rakuten Mobile's struggles, collecting Rakuten Points has become a tough situation, but I continue with the feeling of supporting Rakuten.

[Pros]
1. To collect points, I walk constantly.
Before I knew it, I grew to love walking.
I care about my health.
2. They are small points, but I feel like I've returned to my childhood.
It's like a game. A real, not virtual, game experience.
For the around-60 generation, 'real play' was the center of our childhood.
3. I started point investing.
After all, collecting points feels like 'easy money'.
Since I'm not using my human assets, if it disappears, I can just say it can't be helped,
so it's carefree.

[Cons]
1. Wasting time, a waste of time
2. Far from achieving financial freedom
3. Not an investment in myself

Admittedly, there are disadvantages. I understand that too.
But for 'Onigiri-man,' viewing everything through the lens of efficiency or productivity is exhausting, isn't it? It feels like there's no room to breathe... That's what I think.
I'm sorry.

'Onigiri-man' dares to value being inefficient, non-digital, real, and not sparing the sweat, because I want to seek 'peace of mind'.
That is my core principle.

When I am transformed into 'Onigiri-man', being called trivial is the best side dish or even a compliment.

Perhaps in today's corporate society, I belong to the category of an outlaw, or someone who has fallen outside the frame, or someone who doesn't fit in.
Conversely, that path feels more comfortable to me.

Now, let's collect points energetically today too!
I'm going to collect points.

Have a great day today.