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”