Japanese retirees sell homes or divorce as they adjust to post‑work life

In Japan, couples in their seventies are reshaping retirement living. A 73‑year‑old husband and his 71‑year‑old wife sold their long‑owned detached house for about ¥24 million (≈US$474 k) after eight months of appraisal, moving to a two‑room rental near a train station. They keep the sale proceeds untouched as a reserve for future medical or relocation needs, while their pension of ¥270 k per month covers the new rent and living costs.

Another case involves a 65‑year‑old man, Shūichi, who retired and three days later asked his wife Yōko to divorce, citing a desire for separate lives. The couple holds roughly ¥28 million in savings, own a fully paid‑off home valued at about ¥30 million, and face differing pension incomes (Shūichi ¥200 k/month, Yōko about ¥70 k/month).

Separately, a Japanese writer describes personal budgeting tactics amid rising prices, recommending a default “cheapest‑option” rule to curb unnecessary spending and improve financial well‑being.