3 Years Living Alone: Spending Only 15,000 Yen/Month on Food. AMA

I'm a working adult in my 3rd year of living alone in Tokyo's 23 wards. I keep my food costs to 15,000 yen per month.

■ Basic Rules
- Eating out: max 2 times per month (under 500 yen each)
- Convenience stores: not even once per month
- Drinks: tap water and barley tea only
- No buying snacks

■ Weekly Food Cost Breakdown (approx. 3,500 yen)
- Rice 5kg 2,000 yen (2 weeks' worth) → 1,000 yen/week
- Meat (mainly chicken breast) → 500 yen/week
- Vegetables (bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots) → 400 yen/week
- Eggs, tofu, natto → 300 yen/week
- Seasonings (500 yen/month ÷ 4) → 125 yen/week
- Other → 175 yen/week

■ Frequently Made Menus
- Chicken breast steak (just salt and pepper)
- Bean sprout and egg stir-fry
- Cabbage miso soup
- Natto rice bowl
- Pasta (aglio e olio style)

Feel free to ask questions in the comments. I'd be happy to have more fellow savers.

* Listed prices are from 2025. Prices may vary by location and time. Please check with each restaurant for current prices.