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StitcherThere is something uniquely simple and effective about timelessness: it never gets old and it always finds a way to work out somehow. In this episode, Jen and Jill revisit the timeless Japanese budgeting system called Kakeibo, what it’s all about, and what you need to know to engage with it effectively.
Let’s lift the shame off of what we’re spending on and focus on how we spend better.
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Check out some relevant episodes
The Art of Kakeibo: This Japanese Budgeting System Could Change Your Financial Life
If you’re just as new to Kakeibo as we are, this article from Shondaland will surely give you everything you might need to know about this elegant budgeting system.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
A female journalist and an advocate of Japanese housewives named Hani Motoko in 1904 developed “Kakeibo” as a simple way for women to manage their household finances. Jill couldn’t agree more with the idea behind Kakeibo as it helps bring mindful awareness to the process of spending (and budgeting). Jen also couldn’t stop describing it as ‘elegant’ for its aim to get in touch with our thoughts and mindset–adding to a stronger relationship we have with our finances.
Jill liked the metaphor used by the article to describe budgets as like diets for your wallet. It is never fun, they mean a lot of restriction and denial and it can make people cranky. If we approach budgeting like a diet, it can really become difficult. Jen adds to put our mindfulness into practice like writing it down can make you realize your spending.
Learn About Kakeibo: The Japanese Art Of Saving Money
What are the things we need to know in order to engage with Kakeibo? Refinery29’s article summarizes yet takes a specific look at the important things we should take note of about the Japanese art of saving money.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
Kakeibo wants us to shift our focus from saving to spending. Jill personally agrees with this as oftentimes discussing our spending can feel more approachable than when talking about saving money. We also need to be honest about our ‘musts’ and ‘wants’. As mentioned by Jen, keeping track of your spending transactions by writing it down will surely help as Kakeibo also encourages us to finish the month by reflecting on our progress. This also pushes us to be fully mindful of aspects we still need to improve on.
How we feel about our intentionality toward spending in this season
Jill does well with meal planning and allocating funds towards reno. She is feeling good this season! Meanwhile, Jen is giving self space to rest, and is slightly less intentional.
Bill of The Week
Thank you Em from Quebec for sharing about your new heating/AC unit and the research you did to get grants for this system and the value add this has on your house!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews and we especially loved this one from:
✰✰✰✰✰
Happy pod, happy gal
“This show has been one of my relaxing/chill out pods for a long time. I can always rely on a positive attitude from both Jen and Jill, and they keep it very fun! It also has the added bonus of some helpful tips about living life in an ethical and sustainable way, so I get to feel a little productive while I listen. I’ve probably listened to about 80-90% of the episodes and I can tell you there’s not one I’ve heard that’s been a bummer. It’s all positive!”
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