If you want to save, alone or as a couple, but have variable income each month, the Kakeko method is perfect for having a financial mattress
Sometimes it seems that saving is complicated, especially if you and your partner have variable income month after month, however, there are ways to achieve it, such as using the Japanese method called “Kakebo”, which will allow you to achieve your goals and learn about financial education in a practical way.
And the thing is, the Kakeko method works whether you want to save as a couple or if you want to save by yourself. To do this, you must make your fixed expenses aware and establish savings strategies for periods of financial crisis, or when there are variable incomes for various reasons.
So, the Kakebo method is a saving technique that is based on writing down all income and expenses meticulously in a notebook. This methodology was created in 1904 by Motoko Hani, who sought to teach Japanese women a simple way to control money.
What is the Kakebo method?
As we said, the recording of expenses is essential, but before keeping a daily record, you first have to divide the expenses into various categories such as health, food, entertainment, home, transportation. Once you write down the possible expenses in each one, you must identify those that are fixed.
Once you have identified what are the necessary expenses that are made on a monthly basis, then it is time to put, on a small table, the income that you think you could have during the month, alone or as a couple, from that, subtract the fixed expenses and subtract the desirable monthly savings.
What remains is the resource that you can use in variable expenses, but, in order not to overspend, you must divide the surplus into four, which are the number of weeks in the month. So, the amount of money that comes out is what you can spend at most per week.
At the end of the month, you must make a balance, and for this you must see the real income of the month and compare it against the estimate, so, in case you receive more money than you thought, what is left over, you must allocate it for savings, do not go to spend it, because that can be your financial cushion for contingencies.
As you can see, the Kakebo method is meticulous and requires a daily record of expenses to have greater control of where your money goes or the money you earn with your partner, but once you master it you will be more aware and you will be able to avoid those expenses. ant or unnecessary that prevent you from saving.