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If I told you that I wanted to chillax, sip a beer, and binge-watch a show on Netflix all day Saturday while lying under a blanket on my couch, you might call me lazy. I could be more productive and work on a side-hustle or do something more fulfilling with my family. But if I told you that I was engaging in the Danish art of getting cozy and content, well, that’s another story.
Likewise, if I told you that you should not waste your money on things that you could live without and would not use, or perhaps do not even have space for, you might say that is the type of thing that one of your parents or older relatives might have said. Pretty commonplace.
How about if I told you that in doing so, you would be subscribing to the kakeibo method? The Japanese art of saving money, in which you must ask yourself the following seven questions before purchasing any non-essential items — or the things you buy on impulse, but might not necessarily need:
- Can I live without this item?
- Based on my financial situation, can I afford it?
- Will I actually use it?
- Do I have the space for it?
- How did I come across it in the first place? (Did I see it in a magazine? Did I come across it after wandering around a store out of boredom?)
