kakeibo

[ kah-key-boh ]

noun

, Japanese

1. a system of maintaining one’s household budget based on a simple financial philosophy of spending and saving that is both mindful and purposeful:

   Our accountant suggested that the principles of kakeibo might help us transition from a double-income to a single-income household.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kakeibo¹

Coined in 1904 by Japan's first female journalist, Motoko Hani (1873–1957), who published the plan in a magazine; from Japanese: literally, “household account book,” from ka “house, household” + kei “account, measure, plan” + bo “record book, register,” all from Middle Chinese; compare Chinese jiā “family, home,” jì “calculation, plan,” bù “exercise book, register”

Example Sentences

Founders say one reason for their success is how Moneytree is based on the old Japanese idea of "kakeibo," a tabulated book housewives used before the arrival of computers to keep a daily record of household spending, which still resonates with Japanese.

From US News

Each housewife scrupulously tracks her family’s spending in her kakeibo, or budget book.

From BusinessWeek