EVs & Car Costs Managing My EV's Tire Pressure Myself with a Portable Air Compressor
I noticed low tire pressure on my car's dashboard screen. When I topped it up myself with a portable compressor, I discovered it tends to overshoot the target reading.
Cutting Fixed Costs Setagaya's Home Security Subsidy: I Assumed Buying First Meant Paying Out of Pocket — I Was Wrong
I was looking into home security and considering a Google Nest Doorbell. I held off ordering because I assumed Setagaya City's subsidy program required applying before purchase — but checking the official guidelines showed that wasn't the case.
EVs & Car Costs EV vs. Gas Car: An Honest Running-Cost Comparison After My Switch to a Tesla
After switching to a Tesla Model Y L, our family takes an honest look at how running costs compare to a gas car. Parking fees stayed exactly the same, but electricity and maintenance costs told a different story. We also cover how much subsidies really help, plus a few EV-specific quirks worth knowing.
EVs & Car Costs Driving a Tesla With No Home Charger: Why We Went Supercharger-Only, and Our First Month of Real Numbers
Our home has no garage, so the car sits in a monthly rental parking lot. Here's why we decided to charge our new Tesla exclusively at Superchargers instead of installing a home charger, plus the real charging data from our first month.
EVs & Car Costs I Applied for National and Tokyo EV Subsidies: What Buying a Tesla Taught Me
When I bought a Tesla Model Y L, I applied for both the national CEV subsidy and Tokyo's ZEV subsidy. Here's how they added up to about 2.12 million yen, plus the four paperwork pitfalls I ran into along the way.
Investing & New NISA My Monthly Corporate DC Switching Habit, and Japan's 2026 Reform
Looking back at my old habit of switching corporate DC funds every month, plus a rundown of the 2026 reforms that removed the matching contribution cap and raised overall contribution limits.
Cutting Fixed Costs A Practical Way to Spot and Clear Out Overlapping Subscriptions
Are you unknowingly paying for more than one subscription that does the same job? Here's a practical checklist for spotting those overlaps.
Cutting Fixed Costs I Reviewed My Amazon 'Subscribe & Save' Setup and Saved Almost 30,000 Yen a Year on Household Goods Alone
Switching my everyday household goods to Amazon's subscription service saved me almost 30,000 yen a year, combining the discount with never forgetting to reorder. Here's how I set it up and what to watch out for.
Cutting Fixed Costs You Don't Need to Cancel That Membership Card — Just Make It 'Auto-Debit Only'
Do you really need to cancel the credit card tied to a paid membership service? Here's the case for checking your annual-fee waiver conditions first, then keeping the card around purely for auto-debit duty.
Cutting Fixed Costs I Stopped Rushing Furusato Nozei at Year-End and Made It a Monthly Habit — Here's What Improved
Instead of bundling all my furusato nozei donations into one year-end rush, I switched to donating a little each month. Here's what I noticed after sticking with it, plus how I now choose my return gifts.
Investing & New NISA What I Learned from My Foreign-Currency Savings Insurance: My Surrender Value Was 'Half of What I Paid In'
I cancelled a foreign-currency savings insurance policy I'd taken out back when I was single, right as I was giving my finances a proper overall review. Here's what the actual numbers looked like, and what I came away feeling about how to approach insurance.
Cutting Fixed Costs Why Consolidating to One Main Credit Card Makes Household Finances Easier
When you juggle several credit cards, both your points and your household budget tracking tend to get scattered. Here's a look at the benefits of consolidating down to one main card, plus some tips on how to go about it.
Cutting Fixed Costs Getting Started with Cutting Fixed Costs: 3 Practical Steps You Can Start Today
For anyone who knows they should review their fixed costs but isn't sure where to start, here's the 3-stage process my household actually uses, from listing everything out to actually acting on it.
Investing & New NISA Maximizing Rakuten Points with Rakuten Mobile, Rakuten Card, and Rakuten Securities
Combining Rakuten Mobile with Rakuten Card and Rakuten Securities can boost your Rakuten Points multiplier (SPU). Here's how, with real examples.