Adult Self-Improvement: Most Budgets Under 10,000 Yen. The Reality of 'Free Learning' Amid Inflation

For-it Inc., the developer and operator of the affiliate platform 'afb,' conducted a survey on 'Spring Self-Investment' among 500 people nationwide to summarize characteristics by age group and other demographics.

[Survey Background] While rising prices and anxieties about the future persist, interest in reskilling and self-investment continues to grow. In recent years, 'low-cost learning' utilizing YouTube and free apps has become widespread, changing perspectives on how much to spend on education. We surveyed how much people are willing to pay monthly for lessons and learning.

[Survey Overview] Subjects: Men and women aged 10-60 nationwide Sample size: 500 people Date: March 2, 2026

[How much can you pay monthly for lessons?] Among the 500 respondents, the most common answer was 'Completely free (YouTube or free apps only)' at 45.2%. This was followed by 'Less than 3,000 yen' (18.2%) and '3,000 yen to less than 10,000 yen' (11.2%). 19.0% said they 'don't care about the amount (if it produces results).'

[Characteristics by Age] For those in their 20s, 'don't care about the amount' was the highest at 33%, showing strong growth motivation. Conversely, 57% of those in their 40s and 50% of those in their 50s and 60s chose 'completely free,' indicating a cautious stance. This is likely due to constraints on disposable income from education costs, mortgages, and retirement savings. However, some in the 60s+ group still spend on hobbies and learning.

[Characteristics by Occupation] Among company employees and public servants, 21.0% spend 'less than 3,000 yen,' while 20.4% said they 'don't care about the amount,' showing a pragmatic approach to investing when necessary. For the self-employed and management, 51.5% prefer 'completely free,' but 9.1% spend '10,000 to 30,000 yen,' indicating selective investment. Homemakers show relatively high interest in '3,000 to 10,000 yen' (15.0%) for health and hobbies.

[Characteristics by Household Income] For those with household incomes under 5 million yen, 'completely free' accounts for 56.0%, reflecting strong cost-saving tendencies. Conversely, among those earning over 10 million yen, 'if it produces results, I will invest' was the highest at 24.1%, characterizing their view of lessons as self-investment for future returns.

afb, operated by For-it Inc., is an affiliate platform ranked No. 1 in satisfaction by high-earning partners for 13 consecutive years. With 20 years of track record, we support data-driven marketing activities.