It's nothing surprising that people struggle to meet their wistful demand for supply of money. But these days, they cannot avoid some expenses because they are essential or accidental. So they have to cut budget or borrow money. In Bangladesh today, budget deficit in a middle class family has been a common phenomenon but remains unnoticed. I read an article on how the Japanese people maintain their budget. Such a tech-savvy nation still uses pen and paper to note down expenses in managing their family budgets. It is called Kakeibo, which requires diligently noting down items in each budget category. This makes good financial habits of keeping balance in spending.
Kakeibo is basically a popular Japanese way of book-keeping, which was developed by Motoko Hani, the first female journalist in Japan. She reportedly believed that financial stability was important for happiness and published an article on Kakeibo in a women's magazine in 1904. The word Kakeibo literally translates to household financial ledger. It recommends writing down one's fixed expenses and incomes and discourages touching the savings unless there is an emergency. One must stop buying what the family does not need at all. Kakeibo method also suggests maintaining a cash envelope for budget management. Many in Bangladesh spend unnecessarily since they have 'enough' money. However, one never knows when s/he would need additional money. So, we can try the Japanese method to save and help us out in times of emergency and build a better a future.
NowshinTabassum
Green Road, Dhaka
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