Kakeibo: Save First
Japanese Spending Journal
Only for iPhone
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPhone
iPhone
Save first. Live on the rest. The 120-year-old Japanese budgeting method — now on your iPhone. No bank linking, no cloud — just mindful spending.
Save first. Live on the rest.
Kakeibo is the Japanese art of mindful spending, created in 1904 by journalist Hani Motoko. Unlike modern budget apps that sync your bank and automate everything, Kakeibo asks you to slow down, write it down, and reflect.
WHY KAKEIBO WORKS
The secret is friction. When you manually record each expense, you build awareness. When you ask yourself "Do I truly need this?" before every purchase, impulse spending drops. Studies show the Kakeibo method helps people save up to 35% more.
THE FOUR PILLARS
Every expense falls into one of four categories:
- Needs (necessities you cannot avoid)
- Wants (things you enjoy but can live without)
- Culture (education, books, experiences)
- Unexpected (repairs, medical, surprises)
This simplicity is intentional. No 47 sub-categories. No decision fatigue. Just four honest buckets that reveal where your money really goes.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Set your monthly income
2. Decide your savings goal FIRST
3. Budget what remains across the four pillars
4. Record every expense mindfully
5. Reflect at month's end: What went well? What can improve?
WHAT MAKES THIS APP DIFFERENT
- No bank linking, no cloud servers — your data stays on YOUR device
- Designed for the Kakeibo philosophy, not generic expense tracking
- Monthly reflection prompts based on the original Japanese method
- Beautiful, minimal interface inspired by Japanese aesthetics
- Works completely offline
- Widget support to keep your budget visible
KAKEIBO PRO
Unlock deeper insights, historical trends, and unlimited data export with Kakeibo Pro.
- Monthly: $2.99/month (3-day free trial)
- Yearly: $29.99/year
Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase.
Whether you follow Dave Ramsey's envelope method, practice zero-based budgeting, or simply want to spend more intentionally — Kakeibo gives you the mindful framework to save first and live better.
「千里の道も一歩から」
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Privacy Policy: https://batuhangoktepe.github.io/kakeibo/privacy.html
Terms of Use: https://batuhangoktepe.github.io/kakeibo/terms.html
Ratings & Reviews
This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
New feature: CSV Import — bring your existing transactions into Kakeibo.
The developer, HALIL GOKTEPE, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Purchases
- Identifiers
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- HALIL GOKTEPE
- Size
- 9.7 MB
- Category
- Finance
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 17.6 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 17.6 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 14.6 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.3 or later.
- Languages
English and 10 more
- English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Turkish
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- In-App Purchases
Yes
- Monthly Premium $2.99
- Yearly Subscription $29.99
- Copyright
- © 2026 Kakeibo
