Two incomes are better than one...but still not enough

How do you feel your household does with finances right now? Are you keeping your head above water, or feeling like you're drowning a little? If it's the latter, it's understandable as to why, and apparently a lot of double income households here are also feeling the pressure.

A recent survey by Mynavi looked at full-time dual-income households, and nearly half of those surveyed said they feel financially tight. Even with an average annual income of about ¥8 million, many said their "ideal" household income would be over ¥11 million. That gap of roughly ¥3 million says a lot about the rising cost of living and expectations around lifestyle here.

Another thing that stood out to me was how common it is for couples to use an allowance system. About one in four families divide their money this way, with one partner controlling the budget and giving the other a set allowance. It's a system I didn’t grow up with, but it seems to work for many.

Do you manage your household finances with some kind of allowance system? What annual income would make you feel like you had some room to breathe?