October 2026 Budget Update: A Surprising Savings Rate Achieved

Hello everyone! This is YUTOmama, sharing insights from our household budget for October 2026.

This month was fairly uneventful regarding expenditures, as we didn’t embark on any trips. It turned out to be a more manageable month financially.

We’ve also been keeping an eye on our dog, who is undergoing treatment for kidney disease. Thankfully, he's responded well to the care and is enjoying his walks again!

Household Overview

• Couple's Age: Both in their late 30s.
• Annual Incomes: Husband earns 7 million yen, wife earns 6 million yen.
• Family Composition: Couple, a 1st grader, a 3-year-old, a dog, and two cats.
• Home: A detached house with a mortgage.
• Financial Goals: The wife is pursuing side FIRE while the husband focuses on enjoying the moment.

Monthly Expenses

This month, our total expenses came to 338,000 yen, which is 33,000 yen less than September—a drop of 8.9%. Even more notable, that’s a 64,000 yen reduction from two months ago. Clearly, a lack of travel can contribute to savings!

Analyzing our expenses, housing costs comprised about 37.2% of our budget, education costs accounted for 26.3%, while other expenses took up 14.2%. The mortgage remains a significant financial commitment for us. Additionally, childcare fees have consistently increased since September.

Highlight of Pet-Related Costs

This month, we faced a sizeable expense of 48,000 yen dedicated to pet care. Of this, approximately 35,000 yen was spent on veterinary visits, medications, and a specialized diet for our dog. The remaining 13,000 yen went towards supplies for our cats.

Switching our dog to a therapeutic diet has been particularly pricey, costing around 8,000 yen for just 3 kg of food. Finding an appealing dietary option has proven a challenge, but we remain optimistic as we consult our veterinarian for the best advice.

Childcare Fee Adjustments

In September, we entered a new fee structure for childcare based on my full-time income, resulting in a notable increase in costs. While we anticipate next fiscal year will bring relief when our youngest transitions to the free 3-year-old class, we must navigate the next few months with increased childcare fees.

Food Expenses and Saving Strategies

To tackle food costs, we implemented a strategy utilizing gift certificates purchased earlier this year. This clever move allowed us to limit food expenses significantly compared to a typical month. With a portion of our gift cards still unused, we hope to sustain this reduced spending trend.

Financial Performance and Savings Rate

This month, our take-home pay was 697,000 yen—an increase of 61,000 yen compared to September. This includes our salaries and some additional income from solar power generation along with the child allowance.

We proudly achieved a savings rate of 51.5%, translating to 359,000 yen saved. We’ve invested 300,000 yen through NISA accounts. It feels wonderful to achieve over 50% savings for the first time in a while!

Looking Ahead to November

As we step into November, we expect ongoing veterinary bills and increased childcare fees of 37,000 yen each month. No major expenses are anticipated aside from these, so we hope to continue striving for that coveted 50% savings rate!

Conclusion: Changes in Financial Approach

While October was relatively stable financially, we made a significant shift in how we manage our budget. We’ve transitioned from a shared wallet system to managing separate finances, allowing us greater personal control over our spending.

We now share basic living expenses equally while handling personal and discretionary expenses individually. Although I always believed a shared approach was best for building assets, our different financial priorities led us down this new path.

Let me clarify: this isn’t a precursor to divorce, just a practical change! Stay tuned for more updates on our budget management journey.