His story isn’t about poverty. It’s about a different kind of emptiness, the kind that comes when you have money left but love lost.
After a lifetime of extreme saving, a Japanese man known only as Suzuki now admits his frugal choices left him with regrets he can never undo.
A life built on saving
Suzuki’s journey of frugality began early. Born into a poor family, he grew up believing that every yen counted.
As a teenager, he worked part-time in restaurants to support himself, and by the time he entered the workforce full-time, his mindset was already fixed: financial security above all else.
To keep his expenses low, Suzuki rented the cheapest flat he could find, even if it meant long commutes. He cooked every meal at home and packed simple lunchboxes for work, usually just bean sprouts and chicken, reported SCMP.
Even in sweltering summers, he rarely switched on the air-conditioner, and he avoided restaurants altogether.
Family life on a budget
When Suzuki married a colleague who understood his thrifty ways, little changed. After their child was born, he relaxed slightly, but leisure was still kept to a minimum.
Weekends were often picnics in nearby parks, and whenever travel was necessary, Suzuki always picked the cheapest routes available. He never bought a house or a car, and for years, his entire family’s lifestyle was shaped by his belief in living frugally.
How much he managed to save
The results of this discipline were impressive on paper. Through decades of restraint, Suzuki managed to save 35 million yen (≈RM1.16 million / US$240,000).
Later, after tapping into his pension for investments, his assets grew further to 65 million yen (≈RM2.16 million / US$440,000).
For Suzuki, these savings symbolised a lifetime of effort.
This money is a guarantee for emergency situations and my later life,” he once explained.
A painful turning point
But money could not protect him from tragedy.
Not long after his retirement, Suzuki’s wife was diagnosed with a serious illness. Despite his years of saving, he found himself powerless when she passed away at 66.
The moment changed everything. The future he had carefully prepared for was gone, and all that remained was regret.
“I wish my wife and I could have relished travelling more and eating in restaurants,” Suzuki admitted.
But time cannot be turned back. What is the meaning of life with only money left?”
