Kanto Smart Living Cooperative has released “6 Ways to Save on Food Expenses” to help consumers manage household expenses and reduce food costs amid continued price increases.

TOKYO, JAPAN (MERXWIRE) – According to the latest data from the Statistics Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the consumer price index for households with more than two people reached 113.2 in January, up 4.6% from last year. The average household food cost was 87,763 yen, an increase of 5.2% from last year. As prices continue to rise, many families are concerned about how to effectively manage household expenses and reduce food costs.

To this end, Kanto Smart Living Cooperative, which focuses on family financial management and wise consumption, has released a new report – “6 Ways to Save on Food Expenses”, which brings together the experiences of cooking experts, financial advisors, and housewives, and provides practical purchasing and dining pattern suggestions based on market trends. The report emphasizes that while saving money, we should still ensure balanced nutrition and avoid affecting the quality of life due to excessive cuts in food budgets. Here are six ways to save money on food, according to the report.

1. Record monthly food expenses and understand consumption habits
Many families do not have the habit of keeping detailed accounts and only have a rough idea of the total expenditure but are unclear about the actual food consumption. It is recommended to record three categories of food expenses – groceries, dining out, and prepared foods- to analyze which part is most likely to overspend. For example, if your monthly eating-out expenses are too high, you can consider reducing the frequency and cooking at home instead to control your budget effectively.

2. Reduce food waste and avoid “hidden costs”
According to statistics, household food waste accounts for half of the total waste, mainly from leftovers, excessive removal of edible parts, and direct discarding of unopened food. The key to reducing waste is precise planning – for example, checking your fridge before shopping and planning your menu for the week to ensure you get the most out of your ingredients. A Tokyo housewife said she reduced her monthly food expenses by about 10% after changing her purchasing habits.

3. Choose affordable, nutritious alternative ingredients
To ensure nutritional balance, you can choose ingredients with high CP value to reduce expenses. For example, chicken breast is cheaper than pork and has a higher protein content, and firm tofu can replace part of the meat, saving costs while adding dietary variety. In addition, mushrooms are cheap and provide a feeling of fullness, making them a good choice to enhance the nutrition of meals.

4. Adjust your shopping habits to avoid impulse buying
Supermarket promotions and discounts often lead people to buy unnecessary goods, resulting in hoarding and waste. It is recommended to focus on shopping 1-2 times a week to reduce unnecessary small expenses. In addition, if the space in your refrigerator is limited, you can consider using online supermarkets and planning your shopping list to avoid buying unnecessary items to “get free shipping.”

5. Take advantage of the “hometown tax” program to get high-value ingredients
Japan’s “hometown tax” system allows people to donate to local governments and receive food rewards, such as wagyu beef, salmon roe, fruit, and other high-quality ingredients. Some families said that they received half a year’s rice supply through this program, which reduced their food expenses and the burden of transportation and handling.

6. Buying food nearing its expiration date is innovative, economical, and environmentally friendly
In recent years, many supermarkets specializing in selling foods nearing expiration dates have appeared in Tokyo, with prices much lower than the market average. Maruyasu, which operates seven supermarkets in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, offers a variety of discounted foods, including foods nearing their expiration date or in excess inventory from manufacturers, at very low prices. These types of stores are becoming more and more popular among consumers because they not only save money but also reduce food waste. In addition, many supermarkets and convenience stores offer discounts on expiring foods every evening, and savvy consumers can take advantage of this and buy fresh foods at lower prices.

Kanto Smart Living Cooperative reminds the public that saving on food does not mean sacrificing health and food quality but reducing unnecessary waste while maintaining nutritional balance through more planned purchasing and consumption habits. Families can maintain a stable quality of life in the face of rising prices by keeping accounts, planning shopping, choosing cost-effective ingredients, and using government subsidies well.

Media Contacts:
Kanto Smart Living Cooperative

PR Agency:
MERXWIRE INC.
Ada Huang
pr@merxwire.com

SOURCE: Kanto Smart Living Cooperative