The 13th was the last pension payment date of this year. When interviewing pensioners, we found out that due to rising prices, "we don't turn on the air conditioner to save on electricity bills" and "we will continue to work even at 86 years old". ■Pension payment day in December What are you looking for at the bargain supermarket? Supermarkets in Tokyo are offering special sales on rice and other items that have increased in price to coincide with pension payment day. Pensioner (77) Monthly pension of about 80,000 yen "I just bought it the other day, but it's still about 3,800 yen (usually). I wonder if it's gotten cheaper? I used to be able to buy it for about 2,000 yen" "(Q. How much is it now?) Isn't it cheaper today? About 3,500 yen. Including consumption tax" Although it's an expense, I bought rice while it's still cheap. Pensioner (77) Monthly pension of about 80,000 yen "I'm trying to save it somehow so that it's not wasted... for next year" Pensioner (77) Monthly pension of about 70,000 yen "(Q. How much pension do you get per month?) 70,000 yen. (Pension) 70,000 yen is not enough, to be honest." This is 77-year-old Fujisawa Kenichi, who came to shop after seeing a flyer for a sale day. Fujisawa-san "Usually, when I come here, these two baskets are full." Fujisawa-san has become disabled in his legs since he was diagnosed with diabetes. Shopping at the supermarket is his purpose in life and also a form of exercise. Fujisawa-san "I think I'll buy about six persimmons." In the end, he puts eight persimmons and one apple in his shopping cart, and slowly drags his feet to the next section. Fujisawa-san "There's nothing at all." The special sale coffee milk for 100 yen per liter that he had been hoping for that day was already sold out. Fujisawa-san can't give up and starts looking for a replacement. Fujisawa: "If they don't have coffee milk, what should I buy? I wonder if there's something like coffee milk..." "(They do have things like cafe au lait, though.) Even with this big one, I always drink a whole bottle at the entrance (of the store) when I leave here in the summer." After much deliberation, he picks up a bottle that is half the size of the coffee milk he was going to buy, and costs 119 yen, 19 yen more. He also puts some small luxuries in his basket, such as some sashimi that he has been wanting to eat for three days and sweets that he usually avoids due to his diabetes, and heads to the register. On the last pension payment day of the year, he purchased about 7,200 yen worth of food and goods. ■Saving electricity bills: "No home appliances" Fujisawa, who has difficulty walking, gets permission from the store to carry his belongings in a supermarket cart. For some reason, he doesn't go directly home, but instead heads to a nearby rice ball shop. Fujisawa: "(Q: What do you do here?) I have to leave persimmons. Persimmons and apples." "(Q: What do you do with persimmons and apples?) I have them peeled here (at the store) and packed for me." Fujisawa has been coming to this store for about two years. The owner of the onigiri store said that he has been helping Fujisawa since he found out that he has no relatives and is physically disabled. Store owner: "Just peel half, and then do the other half again tomorrow or the day after. Is that okay?" Fujisawa: "It's fine." Fujisawa lives in an apartment with a monthly rent of about 50,000 yen. With his monthly pension of about 70,000 yen, it's barely enough to pay the rent and utility bills, so he is currently living off his savings. Fujisawa: "Food has really gotten expensive." "(Q: What about utility bills such as electricity, gas, etc.?) It's definitely getting expensive." Even now that it's getting colder, he doesn't turn on the air conditioner to save on electricity bills. Fujisawa: "The electricity bill just keeps going up. It was only once, and the electricity bill alone was about 18,000 yen. I thought I couldn't keep the lights on all the time." Furthermore, he says that he doesn't repair broken home appliances, but rather leaves them as they are, in order to save on electricity bills. Even in this frugal lifestyle, "pension day luxuries" are indispensable. He takes out a cream puff, which he usually avoids because of his diabetes. As he takes a bite, a visitor appears. The owner of the rice ball shop has delivered some peeled fruit to his house. Fujisawa: "Yes." "Which one? Wait a moment." "Thank you." Shop owner: "I'll come again tomorrow." Fujisawa: "I'm only saved because you're here. If it weren't for you, I'd be stretched out around here by now. Malnutrition." Shop owner: "I'll come