A Japanese man who had devoted much of his life to strict savings said he was left questioning the value of his choices after the death of his wife.
The story of the 67-year-old man, identified under the pseudonym Suzuki, was reported by the financial outlet The Gold Online and later by the South China Morning Post.
Suzuki explained that he had grown up with limited means and began working while still in secondary school, taking shifts in restaurants to earn an income. After securing full-time employment, he rented a low-cost flat despite its long distance from his workplace, relying on public transport and a bicycle instead of purchasing a car.
He continued to cut costs wherever possible. He cooked his own meals and avoided eating at restaurants, taking lunch boxes of chicken and bean sprouts to work. Even in summer, he refrained from switching on the air conditioner to keep electricity charges low.
Suzuki eventually married a colleague who understood his lifestyle, though he acknowledged that his ability to save was not as rigorous after the birth of their child. Still, the family largely maintained modest routines. Leisure time mostly involved visits to the park, and whenever they needed to travel further, he carefully planned the cheapest routes. The couple never purchased either a car or a home.
Over the decades, Suzuki accumulated significant savings, eventually reaching 35 million yen (around $240,000). At the age of 60, he drew from his pension to invest, and his total assets rose to about 65 million yen, equivalent to roughly $440,000 or Rs 4 crore approximately. “This money is a guarantee for emergency situations and my later life,” he said at the time.
Shortly after Suzuki retired, his wife was diagnosed with a serious illness and died at the age of 66. Looking back, he expressed regret that his frugal approach had deprived her of certain experiences.
“I wish my wife and I could have relished travelling more and eating in restaurants,” he reflected. “But time cannot be turned back. What is the meaning of life with only money left?”
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