How to Eat Economically in 2024

Inflation and “Shrinkflation”

Are you feeling the pinch of inflation in Japan? Inflation rose 2.5% from 2022, but there is some good news recently as the consumer price index rises appeared to have slowed. Still, I find that prices for prepared food have risen and I’m observing “shrinkflation” - the price doesn’t change but the quantity of the product is noticeably lower. The biggest expense for my little household after fixed ones is food. I’m doing my best to keep my costs low while still enjoying quality and nutrition.

Frugal shopping

Back in August, Genkidesu gave some solid advice about how to tackle the rising cost of living, with tips on shopping, energy use, and swapping. Nice told us about simple and wise purchasing of grocery items, too. She recommends discount shops such as Gyomu Super, Yamaya, going early or late to take advantage of discounts, and looking out for seasonal produce. Like Nice, I stopped using plastic shopping bags and I bring a basket or a furoshiki with me everywhere I go.

My shopping basket which I fill for about 1000 yen 

Meals that are easy on energy

Cooking at home can be easier on the budget, but fuel prices are something to keep in mind. In the past year, electricity and gas subsidies have provided relief, but brace yourself for next year. Household electricity prices are projected to rise in 2024.

In my little kitchen, I consider making meals with minimal prep and cooking time. Long-simmered meals aren’t on the menu. I told you about beating the summer heat with noodles, pickles, and a pasta cooking hack. In winter, 鍋物 nabemono, hot pot dishes are the most economical, nutritious, and filling meals. You can finish them with rice, udon, mochi rice cakes, or even ramen noodles.

Year-round, I make rice in my donabe, the earthenware pot that most people think of as a vessel for hot pot. It only takes a few minutes to heat the donabe rice to boiling, and in winter, it warms your room as it steams the rice.

The donabe gets a lot of use - rice, hot pot, and simple dishes like tsukimi udon

I also make a lot of quick pickles, too. You can easily marinate daikon, carrots, and celery in soy sauce, and vinegar with flavorings of grated yuzu, kabosu, or ginger.

An eye on the food budget

A method that many Japanese families rely on to keep their spending in check is 家計簿, kakeibo, a household ledger to bring attention to income and spending habits. The logic is that, as you carefully record all your income and costs, you become more mindful of how and why you spend. I keep a digital version of a budget but by accident.

As much as possible, I use the PayPay app to track my grocery expenses

I found that a digital payment app opened my eyes to my spending habits. I top up my PayPay app and check the history to see how I’m doing. The first month, I was surprised at how much I spent on incidental stuff and food, but over time, I figured out an estimated daily budget.

Tonight's economical and flavorful dinner is what I call "fridge nabe", whatever's in the fridge. This time it's salmon, enoki mushrooms, carrots, and hakusai cabbage with a miso broth. 

How do you manage your food budget? How many do you have to feed?