I Lowered My Grocery Bill Using the Japanese Concept of "Mottainai" (I Saved $127 in a Week!)

"a way of thinking and a belief system to be more mindful of the resources that you have, consume, and share with people around the world, and to avoid being wasteful."

"At school [in Japan] we were taught to use a resource as if it's the last one, even if there's plenty," recalls Chen."

"I was taught from a very young age that throwing away any food on my plate was a big no-no. That would be mottainai, or wasteful. We were taught to take only as much food and beverage as we could eat or drink - even water!"

Mottainai, roughly translated as "what a waste" or "too good to waste," embodies a Japanese ideal of respecting the intrinsic value of resources by avoiding waste. The concept emphasizes mindfulness and respect for resources rather than conservation solely for environmental reasons. Cultural upbringing encourages using resources as if each were the last, limiting use of everyday items and taking only as much food and beverage as one can consume. Everyday examples include minimizing use of Scotch tape and running water and treating food as too valuable to discard. Practicing mottainai delivers both emotional satisfaction and practical waste reduction.

Read at Apartment Therapy