Current average spending. Continuing to live on under 200,000 yen.

I am taketake, a salaryman, saver, and investor.

This time, I will write about my family's "current average spending."

Recently, rising prices, electricity costs, and food expenses have made the situation quite difficult for household budgets.

Even so, my family is continuing to "live on under 200,000 yen."

It is not an extreme level of frugality like the so-called "140,000 yen lifestyle," but considering we have a family, children's lessons, and travel expenses, I think we are doing quite well to maintain under 200,000 yen per month.

Here are the figures I tallied this time.

・Total spending: 835,288 yen
・Monthly average: 167,058 yen

Looking at these numbers,

"Isn't that surprisingly normal?"

some people might think.

But in reality, these are the figures while still spending on necessary items like mortgage, education, travel, car-related costs, and food.

I believe this is the result of organizing our finances through "systems" and "values" rather than forcing ourselves to endure and cut back.

First, organize fixed costs

The most effective way to improve a household budget is, after all, fixed costs.

In our family's case,

・Used house
・Used car
・Budget SIM
・Not taking out more insurance than necessary
・Not having too many subscriptions

and so on, we have been conscious of these things for a long time.

Especially housing.

It is not that I didn't have a longing for a new build or a custom-built home.

However, for our home, we prioritized "financial stability" over "vanity."

As a result, my mortgage burden is relatively light, allowing me to allocate that money toward investments and education expenses.

The same goes for cars.

Of course, new cars are attractive.

But even used ones are clean and comfortable enough.

Considering the original purpose of being able to get around, I feel it is necessary and sufficient.

Saving does not mean suffering.

I am not practicing extreme frugality.

I go to convenience stores and I eat out.

I also go on family trips.

I also have overnight stays for certain sports expeditions.

Recently, with national tournament-related events, travel expenses have sometimes reached nearly 100,000 yen per month.

Even so, the reason I am able to keep it under 200,000 yen is because

I do not spend money on everything.

That is what I believe.

I spend money where it counts.

But I do not overspend on things I have little interest in.

This sense is significant.

For example,

・A strong obsession with brand-name items
・Spending for the sake of vanity
・Shopping just because

I think these areas are quite minimal for me.

Conversely,

・Children's experiences
・A certain sport
・Family memories
・Asset building

I spend money on these things properly.

The "margin" to continue investing

The reason for keeping expenses down is not simply because I want to save money.

The main reason is to create a "margin".

If you are living paycheck to paycheck every month,

・You have to endure unpleasant things at work
・You panic over unexpected expenses
・You want to quit investing
・You lose peace of mind

It is easy to end up like this.

Conversely, if you can control your spending to some extent,

"Well, it'll be fine"

You will find more situations where you can think that.

This is mentally quite significant.

In fact, this is our 10th year of investing.

We have experienced market crashes several times.

But the reason we were able to continue is that our cost of living was not that high.

If your fixed costs are too heavy, your anxiety increases during a market crash.

That is why I believe that keeping your daily life simple is important for continuing to invest.

Looking at the "flow" rather than a household account book

What I feel recently is that rather than a detailed household account book,

"Cash flow"

is more important to look at.

I used to keep detailed records in the past.

But now,

・Total monthly expenses
・Fixed costs
・Annual event costs
・Investment amount

I use a style of roughly grasping these areas.

If you aim for perfection, you won't keep it up.

The method you can continue is the best one.

I believe that managing household finances is just like muscle training or practicing a certain sport; it's important to create a "sustainable form."

Living on under 200,000 yen provides a "sense of security."

Honestly, when I look at social media,

・Luxury cars
・Luxury travel
・Brand-name goods

there are many flashy posts.

But I am quite satisfied with my current life.

Without showing off more than necessary,

I can live happily with my family,

I can continue investing,

and I can play a certain sport I like.

This alone is enough to be happy.

Living on under 200,000 yen is,

It's not a "difficult life"

but rather,

a "balance for living life in our own way"

I think.

Of course, in the future,

education and travel expenses will likely increase further.

But I want to continue without strain, adjusting as we go.

Money is a tool to enrich life.

Spending too much makes life difficult, and saving too much makes life dull.

I want to keep searching for that balance.

See you later!