She managed to save up for her own house in less than three years, but her habits and rules can shock an unprepared viewer.
New York is one of the most expensive cities in America, if not the most expensive. To survive there, you need to spin, and without stopping. Kei Hashimoto, an accountant, invented her own way to spin. Thanks to him, she managed to buy a house, save up a good capital and lose weight by half.
The willpower of this woman seems to be iron. And belief in one’s own righteousness – too. Not everyone would be able to admit that they never buy toilet paper and personal care products, and spends a measly $ 15 a month on food – about 900 rubles.
“I’ve always been frugal. But when the crisis came and I lost my job, I became even more economical, – said Kay. – Even now I can be fired at any moment, so I try to save myself a financial “safety cushion”.
Kay’s extreme economy comes down to the fact that a woman tries not to spend money at all: neither on clothes, nor on shoes, nor on medicine (she has reinforced health, which is surprising – now we will tell you why), nor on personal care products.
Ms. Hashimoto constantly participates in various surveys in order to receive gift cards or samples, agrees to be an “experimental” in testing various products, takes part in medical experiments – for example, this is how she earned herself contraceptives for five years in advance. Kay even took part in the trial of a new herpes vaccine, that’s really a fearless woman. But every month she deposits $ 1000 into her retirement savings account. Yes, and deodorants, razors, toothbrushes and other “consumables” she already has a whole box at home – all samples, of course.
She looks for new clothes in a kind of second-hand: there is no need to pay for what she chose, you need to leave something in return. Kay will always find some old clothes to exchange – not at home, but in the trash heap. The woman bought new clothes for the last time about eight years ago.
“I bought these shorts 15 years ago. The elastic band has long stretched out, does not hold anything. In addition, they became very large for me. But this problem can be easily solved with a clip – just pinch the fold at the waist. I think they will serve me for many more years, “- shows Kay shorts, which really seemed to belong to another woman, much more helpful than the thin heroine. True, one could solve the problem even easier by buying a new elastic band in the shorts. But you need to spend money!
All the furniture in the house of the zealous hostess is also from the street. The only thing that she did not dare to drag herself was the mattress.
“There may be bugs and other parasites,” she explains.
Therefore, Kay sleeps on old yoga mats. In the Eastern tradition, this is the order of the day, so Lady Hashimoto is not bothered at all.
She washes her clothes while taking a shower: first she drenches the clothes, of course, with a free sample of detergent, then, while she washes herself, the clothes are soaked, then she rinses them, wringes them out, and dries them there – in the bathroom.
“The last time I went to the laundry was probably three years ago. Why spend money on something that can be done for free? ” – the accountant considers.
By the way, Kay will not spend money on what you throw away later. The costs of disposable towels, cotton swabs or sponges, toilet paper are not in her strict budget. Yes, you heard right. Kay brings paper towels from shopping malls and dries them, then reuses them. And instead of toilet paper, he keeps a kind of hygienic watering can in the bathroom: a bottle of water and a piece of soap the size of a fingernail.
Kei cuts herself, and the only hygiene product she shells out for is toothpaste. It is logical: the services of a dentist will cost much more.
And the food … If he suddenly wants to buy something on the street, Kay desperately bargains. And he brings home food from the trash heap.
“I go to Manhattan three times a week. Rich people live there, they will buy only high-quality products in stores. Therefore, what is even slightly different from the ideal, the stores throw away. I put on the oldest and most leaky clothes I have and go digging in the trash cans outside the supermarkets. The staff usually chases those who are picking in the trash can, but I know the laws: what is in the bin on the street no longer belongs to the store, I have every right to dig there, “Kay says without hesitation.
She brings home her treasures: turkey roll (only one day expired), chocolate muffin, vegetables. Therefore, it seems, it is better not to come to visit her. She spends no more than $ 15 a month on normal food – about 900 rubles.
Kay has no personal life either. But once was.
“Yes, I was in a relationship. But she stayed in them only because she could eat for free, receive gifts. But it’s better to be lonely and rummage through the trash than to be with someone you hate, ”she admits.