[Couple's Household Financial Management: What's Your Approach?] Survey of 300 Respondents

Survey of 300 Couples: The 'Money Consultation Border' is Most Frequently '¥10,000 to ¥29,999' at 28.7% (86 people) -- 61.3% (184 people) have experience with secret purchases, while 'fully combined finances' for household management accounts for only 13.7% (41 people).

AZWAY Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Azumi Iguchi) conducted a survey on the 'money consultation line (border)' between married couples/partners and the reality of secret purchases.

The most common method of household financial management was 'separating personal spending money from joint expenses,' at 35.0% (105 people). On the other hand, 'managing all income together (fully combined)' accounted for only 13.7% (41 people), indicating that a system of partial separation is more mainstream than fully combined finances. Furthermore, the most frequent 'consultation border' was '¥10,000 to ¥29,999' at 28.7% (86 people). Additionally, 61.3% (184 people), over 60%, have experience with secret shopping, revealing the real-life situation where consultation lines and secret purchases coexist.

Survey Overview: Questionnaire on Couple's Money Border Issues Target Audience: Men and women in their 20s to 50s with a spouse/partner Survey Period: January 15, 2026 - January 19, 2026 Survey Method: Internet Survey Number of Respondents: 300 *For questions with multiple answers, the total may not equal 100%

Respondent Demographics Respondent's Role ・Wife: 72.7% (218 people) ・Husband: 24.3% (73 people) ・Partner (e.g., common-law marriage, same-sex marriage): 2.7% (8 people) ・Other: 0.3% (1 person) Age Group ・20s: 25.0% (75 people) ・30s: 42.0% (126 people) ・40s: 25.3% (76 people) ・50s: 7.7% (23 people)

Survey Results Summary ・Household management: 'Separating personal spending money + joint expenses' is most common at 35.0% (105 people) ・'Fully combined (managing all income together)' accounts for only 13.7% (41 people) ・Consultation border is most frequently '¥10,000 to ¥29,999' at 28.7% (86 people) ・Over 60% (61.3% or 184 people) have experience with secret purchases ・Top categories for secret purchases (among those with experience) are 'Fashion' at 23.9% (44 people) and 'Beauty' at 22.8% (42 people) ・The most common reason for secret purchases is 'Within my own savings/income' at 35.3% (65 people) ・The most common outcome of secret purchases is 'Not yet discovered' at 45.7% (84 people)

[Result 1] Household Management: 'Separating Personal Spending Money + Joint Expenses' is Most Common at 35.0% (105 people)

When asked to choose the closest option for managing household finances, the most frequent response was 'separating personal spending money from joint expenses (living expenses, etc.)' at 35.0% (105 people).

This was followed by 'one person primarily manages and provides necessary funds' at 30.0% (90 people), 'completely separate accounts (contributing a fixed amount monthly)' at 19.3% (58 people), and 'managing all income together' at 13.7% (41 people).

Fully combined finances are a minority, with the mainstream style being to manage joint expenses while retaining a certain level of discretion. This suggests a design that 'minimizes conflict,' such as using joint funds for living expenses and individual funds for hobbies or daily necessities.

Closest Option for Household Financial Management

1st Place: Separating personal spending money from joint expenses (living expenses, etc.) 35.0% (105 people)