column-by-maria-marin:-japanese-secret-to-savingColumn by María Marín: Japanese secret to saving
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By Maria Marin

03 Feb 2024, 09:44 AM EST

The other day I heard a Japanese word that is fashionable in the financial world and upon learning its meaning, I instantly thought of my beloved grandmother Mercedes. Kakebo is a method that originated more than 100 years ago in Japan to save money, through the use of a notebook or notebook, where every penny spent is recorded daily.

My grandmother Mercedes, from whom I learned to “save religiously” and regardless of how little or how much one earned, was not as specific in writing down everything as recommended by this technique – which coincidentally sounds like the revolutionary, and also Japanese, Konmari organization method. – However, whenever I returned from the supermarket or from paying for electricity, water and telephone, I watched her take out her little notebook full of additions and subtractions.

Clearly, the financial advice of itemizing expenses and keeping a budget is not new, nor is it exclusive to the Japanese. What is making the “Kakebo Method” so popular is what is hidden behind writing down everything, whether it is a piece of gum, a chocolate or a bottle of water. When you follow the method to the letter, you will not only save money, but you will be able to reduce expenses by up to 35 percent.

Based on simplicity, as a rule of thumb of the method you have to use a regular notebook or the Kakebo planner. The use of cell phones or computers is prohibited, thus avoiding any distraction while you reflect on how you spend money. The results of writing are surprising and incredible; When we observe on paper all the unnecessary things that you often acquire out of impulsiveness, you manage to generate greater awareness of your consumption habits.

Every beginning of the month think in detail about how much you have to spend, the total of your payments, how much you want to save and what cuts you need to make. Daily, add up what you are spending and thus you will realize what you have left to meet your payment and savings responsibilities. Only then will you be able to realize the big difference that drinking coffee at home and carrying your own bottle of water makes.

The great advantage of following this method is that you can understand where the money goes and you can prevent running out of money at the end of the month. Start writing everything down and you’ll save your pocket!

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