Japanese Minimalist Lifestyle: Does Minimalism Save Money?

Now that I’ve been a minimalist for a while, saving money is natural to me. Let me teach you how to lead a Japanese minimalist lifestyle.

Reduce fixed expenses

You can save a lot of money in a year if you pay a small amount of rent, phone bills, and other monthly expenses.

My total is $628.85

The average cost of living by yourself is said to be around $1,000 a month in Japan. In this situation, I think it's quite reasonable. Let's see how I was able to make it cheaper. 

1. Consider other renting options

I think rent is the most expensive fixed expense for many people. I also understand that every situation is different depending on where you are located.

If the rent is typically high where you currently reside, if possible for your lifestyle and commute, try living in the countryside in order to find lower rental options like me. 

For me, I would recommend a share house if you are single because you can share the cost of things with your share mates. I've been living in a share house since I was in university. You can not only save on rent, but you'll be able to save on other expenses. 

I only pay about $168 for rent, utilities, and the Internet each month. 

2. Be conscious when using utilities

Like I said earlier, my rent includes utilities, so luckily I was able to save money that way. However, I try not to use them as much as possible.

There are some things I try to do to save energy even when not typically charged for utilities. For example, try not to use a lot of electricity during the day. Turn off the unused lights day and night. Don't use a hairdryer. Don't use a vacuum cleaner. 

Use a hot water bottle instead of a heater. When going to bed, I just put it in my sleeping bag. 

3. Research cell phone plans

If I currently held a contract with one of Japan's three major carriers, it would cost about $54 a month on average. I used to use it. However, when I heard about the MVNO SIM card, I immediately switched to it. Now I only spend around $8.77 a month on my cell phone bill. 

4. Use fewer subscription services

I used to have a lot of subscription services in the past, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Adobe, and so on. They're affordable for a month, but I thought it would add up a lot if I had to keep paying for them for the rest of my life. 

5. Be creative with your workouts

When I lived in Tokyo, I used to go to the gym. I paid $40 a month. It was worth it at the beginning because I was able to use all the equipment.

However, I became busy during that time, so it's not like I could go there every day like before. Plus, there is a lot of great workout content on YouTube that you can check out.

I decided to quit the gym and start creating my own workout routine. If you can create your own workout routine, you can stay home and save money. 

6. Use fewer consumable goods 

Similar to fixed costs, consumables also become a burden on the household budget, so I try not to use many consumable items.

For example, I don't use shampoo. My hair felt a little oily at first when I stopped using shampoo, but other than that, it was perfectly fine.

Another example is that I try not to use dish soap when washing my plates. I use an item called Biwako fukin, which is a cloth made in Japan with the exact purpose of not using this soap. Of course, if it's oily, I sometimes use dish soap, but I try not to use it a lot.

I also don't use laundry detergent. When I gave up using laundry detergent, I found out about the magnesium washing method. It's really easy and saves me money on detergent.

7. Reduce food expenses 

I've been trying these methods to save some money. Cooking at home as much as I can, making bigger portions to save for later, trying to make dry food and fermented foods from scratch, and trying not to buy things at convenience stores. I always bring my own drinks. 

8. Try not to buy many things

Buying things is essential for humans to live in this society. If you want to save money, you need to control yourself. These are the strategies I use to not buy many things as a minimalist. 

First, decide on the main color you wear. I decided on the color for each category of clothing in my wardrobe. I always have blue or black pants, a red jacket, black socks, and red underwear. Once you decide, try to follow this rule so you don't buy other colors or clothes which prevents you from buying a load of random clothes. 

Second, only buy things that spark joy. This means that you should only buy what you're passionate and excited about. Try not to buy things because they are on sale, limited editions, or new products. 

Third is the one in, one out rule. This is a simple method of getting rid of one item after buying a new one. If you have this rule, you are able to avoid impulse purchases because you have to get rid of a lot of what you have if you buy on impulse. 

Fourth, try to repair things as a minimalist. I try to repair things even if they break, so you don't need to buy new things constantly. I save some money by doing that. 

Does minimalism save money?

I hope my tips sparked some ideas for you to save money. What are some tips that you have for saving money? Share in the comments below.