Saki Tamogami, a 37-year-old Japanese woman, has been named “the most frugal girl in the country” after buying three houses and opening a cat café by age 34. Her secret? Spending just 200 yen ($1.4) a day on food.
Tamogami appeared on the Japanese TV show Happy! Bomby Girl, which featured her extremely economical lifestyle. At 19, she set a goal to own three houses by 34. She found comfort and security in saving money and enjoyed watching her savings grow.
After graduating from university, Tamogami worked for a property agent and was careful with her salary. She cooked all her meals at home, usually simple dishes like toast, udon noodles, and discounted radishes. She spent no more than 50 yen (35 cents) per meal.
Occasionally, she added variety, such as jam on bread or a piece of salmon with rice, but she rarely exceeded 200 yen a day for food. To save even more, she ate directly from the pot instead of bowls. For many years, she stuck to her motto, “Never buy anything without a discount.” From age 19, she stopped buying new clothes, relying on hand-me-downs from relatives.
Her furniture was salvaged from rubbish.
Living frugally, achieving goals
She never dyed or permed her hair, and when it grew long enough, she sold it for 3,100 yen ($20), covering her living expenses for half a month.
Through diligent saving, Tamogami bought her first house in Saitama for 10 million yen ($69,000) at age 27. She used the rental income to cover the mortgage, enabling her to purchase a second house for 18 million yen two years later. By 2019, she achieved her goal of owning a third house, which cost 37 million yen.
Tamogami’s motivation for living so frugally stemmed from her desire to rescue stray cats after adopting one as a child, which comforted her in low times. She opened a cat café called Café Yuunagi on the ground floor of her third house, offering shelter and support to many strays. The café attracts cat lovers, and its earnings help care for more animals.
Despite her financial freedom, Tamogami continues to live sparingly. She plans to use the income from rents and her salary to further expand her property portfolio. Her story has captivated and sparked extensive discussions among netizens.
One person wrote, “She should be added to the list of the world’s eight wonders, even more impressive than the Terracotta Army.”
Another said, “Many people born in the 1970s in China have a similar lifestyle. It seems buying houses has become like an addiction for them.”
A third person expressed admiration, saying, “I’m speechless; I admire her self-discipline. Sticking to a goal for decades is no small achievement.”
