I tried 'Kakeibo': The Japanese art of saving money-and it completely changed how I spend my money

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I tried 'Kakeibo': The Japanese art of saving money-and it completely changed how I spend my money

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Spending money mindfully

Leave the item for 24 hours. If you still want it and can afford it, then make the purchase.
Don’t let “blowout sales” tempt you. Ask yourself if you would buy the item if it were full price.
Check your bank balance first thing every morning. It will ensure that you are aware of how much money you have to spend.
Spend in cash. Handing over cash makes you more conscious of what you're spending.
Put a sticker to your credit card that states "Do you really need this?!"
Change the environments that cause you to spend.

Kakeibo

Kakeibo translates as "household financial ledger" and is a simple approach to managing your finances.

For the past 116 years, kakeibo has been effective in helping people make smarter financial decisions.

Your relationship with money

The idea behind kakeibo is to help you understand the relationship with money by keeping a ledger with all incoming and outgoing transactions.

The difference from other budgeting systems is that kakeibo emphasizes the importance of physically writing things down as a way to observe your spending habits.

Reduce impulse buying

Before purchasing non-essential items ask yourself:

Can I live without this item?
Based on my financial situation, can I afford it?
Will I actually use it? Do I have space for it?
How did I come across it in the first place? (Did I come across it after wandering into a gift shop out of boredom?)
What is my emotional state in general today? (Calm? Stressed?)
How do I feel about buying it? (Happy? Excited? Indifferent?)
How long will this feeling last?