Prices of 2,798 items rose in April! 103 carefully selected “The Strongest Money Saving Techniques to Survive the Era of High Prices” project.

Take the long view.

Everything is expensive: 2,798 items, mainly food products, went up in price in April, and energy prices, including electricity and gas, have remained high, partly due to the impact of the situation in the Middle East.

If we spend carelessly in this era of abnormally high prices, our assets will only diminish. Financial planner Mie Ido explains.

To overcome inflation, it is important to make saving a habit. We tend to be attracted by the experience of “saving thousands of yen in the short term,” but in the long run, this is not effective in saving money. That is why we need to look for ways to save money that we can continue to enjoy without strain.

In this issue, based on the advice of four money-saving professionals, including Mr. Ido, we present a carefully selected list of the best money-saving techniques that can be implemented immediately, easily, and by anyone. We hope you will use the list as a guide to find the technique that works best for you.

If you use the 103 money-saving techniques to suit your lifestyle, you can build assets that will help you beat inflation and live a richer life!
The first thing to consider is reviewing fixed costs. Mr. Ido continues.

The classic way to do this is to switch to a low-cost SIM. You can save several thousand yen a month by switching from a major carrier. It may be a bit of a hassle, but once you complete the procedure, you can save a lot of money after that. 2】Reviewing your insurance policy is another way to reduce fixed costs. In many cases, private life insurance and company social insurance overlap in coverage, so it is a good idea to sort them out as well as check them.

Frankly, the only things you really need are fire insurance and car insurance. There is room to review other insurance policies on a regular basis. 3] Prepayment of fire insurance and [4] prepayment of the National Pension Plan are also significant savings. In particular, prepayment of the National Pension Plan for two years is approximately 16,000 yen cheaper than monthly payments.

Consider also canceling subscription services such as Netflix to watch WBC or a gym to lose weight.

Economic journalist Hiroko Ogiwara recommends lowering the amperage of your electricity contract.

The contracted amperage is the maximum amount of electricity a household can use at one time, which can be confirmed on the bill. By lowering it, the basic charge will be reduced by 300 yen per month (excluding some electric power companies). That’s a savings of 3,600 yen per year.”

There are also wastes that can be cut now in medical expenses for a healthy life.

Let’s try using [11] refill prescriptions. If a doctor determines that a patient’s symptoms have stabilized, he or she can obtain the medication without a second or third visit to the doctor. If you have a chronic illness, you can go to the hospital and ask for a ‘refill prescription. It will save you money on transportation and office visits,'” he said.

Daily shopping comes with sweet temptations such as unwanted sweets. ……

The only way to curb impulse buying is to make a list in advance of what you want to buy and decide not to buy anything other than that. Also, [23] daring not to look at supermarket flyers is another option. Yes, it is an advantage to know which products are inexpensive, but you should not buy unnecessary items in the first place,” said Mitsuaki Yokoyama, a household budget recovery consultant.

After taking pictures of the inside of the refrigerator at home [30] and going shopping, once you know what you need [31], it is also an easy way to save money to buy food when it is cheap and freeze it. However, it would be a real waste of money if you waste the ingredients you bought at a low price. 34] Concentrate on “using up” rather than “buying cheap” food.

Seasonings from supermarkets are too much for a small household. 37] It is a good idea to buy seasonings from 100 yen stores and keep only the necessary amount at home. To avoid buying unnecessary seasonings such as spices that are only used once every few months, [40] keep cooking simple, and sometimes [41] use retort pouch foods as a means of cooking,” said Ido.

Yuki Wada, an advisor on saving money and consumer lifestyles, also offers tips for those who dine out and take out food.

43] At beef bowl chains, it is recommended to take out a regular portion of beef bowl and add toppings at home. Egg toppings, which used to cost 50 yen, now cost 100 yen, and green onions and cheese are also expensive. If you add pizza cheese or frozen green onions at home, you can have a luxurious beef bowl for about 200 yen less. At coffee shop chains such as Komeda Coffee, [44] you can enjoy bread and other items for the price of a cup of coffee by aiming for morning hours. 45] You can also take advantage of the lunch menus at fast-food restaurants.”

The freezer is a tight squeeze.

There are actually many ways to reduce utility costs, which continue to rise.

You can replace [53] water-saving showerheads or utilize [54] water-saving adapters for faucets in the washbasin and kitchen. Doing so can reduce the amount of water used by 50%. The amount of water used for one minute of showering is about 12 liters, and if you save this amount of water, you can save about 1,000 yen per year.

From now through the summer, electricity bills will be high due to air conditioning. What should we do to spend as little money as possible and stay comfortable?

58] It is a good idea to use both air conditioners and electric fans. Circulating the air in the room with an electric fan improves the efficiency of the air conditioner and makes it cooler even if the temperature is set at a higher level. It is actually more economical than a single air conditioner. 59] Frequent cleaning of the air conditioner filter is another trick to improve the efficiency of the air conditioner. When dirt accumulates, it consumes extra power,” says Ido.

Among home appliances, the refrigerator consumes the largest amount of power. The above-mentioned Mr. Yokoyama speaks of refrigerators.

68] Be aware that there should be plenty of space in the refrigerating compartment, and the freezer compartment should be packed tightly. If the refrigerated compartment is too full, it is difficult for cold air to circulate, and efficiency will drop. On the other hand, in the freezer, the food acts as a coolant, so pack it tightly.

Just because you’re trying to save money doesn’t mean you have to give up on fashion and beauty. 76] You can be both economical and fashionable by being mindful, for example, only having enough clothes to fit in your storage space.

77] Emphasize simplicity in your clothes and make them easy to put on and take off. Clothes with elaborate designs are difficult to match. Simple designs are easy to put on and off, and you don’t have to worry about having too few pieces.

Cleaning costs can also be greatly reduced.

79] By choosing shirts with shape memory and suits that can be washed, you can save several thousand yen per cleaning. 80] When choosing clothes, it is important to look at the laundry label as well as the price. Also, [81] down jackets can be washed at home. If you wrap the down in a large bath towel before putting it in the washing machine, it will sink into the water and wash well. Since it is wrapped in a towel, it is less likely to be damaged and is an efficient way to wash it,” said Wada.

When you need cash in your daily life, do you unknowingly use the ATM at a nearby convenience store? A single ATM fee of a few hundred yen can amount to thousands of yen if it is repeated 10 times, or tens of thousands of yen if it is repeated 100 times.

84] Decide on one ATM withdrawal per month. If you withdraw money at a convenience store, you can save money by simply making it a [85] fee-free day. Many financial institutions designate the 25th of every month as a free day.
Nevertheless, it is a good idea to make your daily payments as cashless as possible and [90] limit yourself to one credit card. This will make it easier to keep track of your usage and prevent the dispersion of points. Also, [93] by keeping receipts in a box for a certain period of time, you can look back on your purchases and eliminate wasteful spending,” said Ido.

Mr. Ido also suggests [103] creating a “No Money Day.

He suggests, “Make a weekly budget for lunch, drinks, hobbies, etc., and then set aside money for each of these activities. At the same time, make a ‘no money day’ where you don’t spend money. For example, when I am about to reach for a convenience store snack, I can say, ‘Today is a no-money day. By spending the extra money on petit luxury items at a later date, you can have a more balanced budget. It is possible to save money without compromising your life satisfaction.

Use this article as a guide to find your own “best money-saving tips.

From the May 15-22, 2026 issue of FRIDAY