Simon and I have made it through our first few months living fairly cheaply. Apart from rent that is.
You can buy heaps of house hold necessities like cutlery, toiletries, stationary, containers for everything and so on from shops called “Hyaku yen”(100yen) Shops, they have nearly everything you need. They are like the equivalent to the Reject Shop or Hot Dollar back in Australia, but totally kick their butts. They have the most random things you could need from storage drawers, to screwdrivers to popcorn, instant curry and noodles, or little tatami mats, thongs, ear cleaners, nail polish, etc, etc. And everything is actually 100yen, not like the Reject shop where you have to pay up to $5 for things. I guess Japan can afford such low costs for their items as there are just sooo many people living here they will still make a profit.
There is even a grocery version of the “Hyaku yen” i.e. 100Yen Lawsons, we have beenbuying a majority of our food from here. A key phrase I have learnt is “fukuro ga irimasen”(i don’t need a bag)-yes I take my canvas bag to the supermarket, lol, to which the cashier is more than happy to hear.