Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-09-21
MI SCELL.ANEOUS.
How 10 EcOnOInfxc.

Many people regard economy az synonym
for parsimony. They think of it only in
connection with restraint upon what they
eat or wear, believing that it necessarily
implies self-denial. That is q mistaken
idea Economy simply implies the frugal and
judicious use of means The man who
denies himself that which is necessary to
his comfort, and yet has the means of pro-
curing what he needs, is parsimonous and
niggardly, but not. economical. Literally
speaking, poor people, as class, are less
economical than the rich. The precepts of
economy require that we shall purchase in
such places and in such manner as to secure
the largest possible return for the outlay.
Now both the fact and the reason are well
known with regard to poor people paying
higher prices than the rich for the necessaries
of life. For instance, a man of means will
go to wholesale grocer and order barrel
of sugar, sack of cogee, chest of tea, etc.
| He will buy his flour, butter, patatoes, and
other leading articles, in the same manner,
always keping as far away as possible from
small dealers. But how is It with the poor,
as a class One of the latter will go to the
corner grocery and buy a pound of sugar,
half pound of coffee, quarter OF pound
of tea, ten cents worth of butter, a small
measure of potatoes, and so on through this
list. The person who makes purchases in
this manner may utilize every thing that is
bought and yet he is not economical by any
means. We desire to impress this thought
forcibly, for we observe that correspondents
who take the negative side of the savings
question almost invariably place q miscon
struction upon the meaning of economy
The great object in household economy il
to buy iudiciously, and to the best advan
tage. There is wide margin, in nearly al
articles, between the Wholesale and til,
retail prices. Retail dealers are obliged t.
incur heavy expenses for rent, clerk hire
taxes, etc, and all that they thus expend
together with the profits of their business
which are generally large, como directl,
out of the pockets of consumers. We hav'
no intention of assailing retailers, for the.
are a necessary class of business men bu
we do say that consumers are unwise t.
buy leading articles in small quantities
/, paying large commission for having then
passed over the counters of retail store
when they might as well buy at wholesale
and save an average of at least twenty pc
cent. But some will say, we have not tn
necessary capital to buy in bulk To sucl
we reply, work harder, curtail expenses a
all hazards, do almost anything to saw
money for time until you can accumulat
enoug Ii to buy at wholesale. Or. if tha
plan is not acceptable, club together wit
+ ten, twenty or fifty of your neighbors, bu
> what you want at wholesale prices, an
|, make division. That plan is founded o
= true principle of economy, and can b
: readily practiced. IF consumers woul
4 make it point to buy as directly as poss
!. BILE from producers, paying tribute to q
few middle men as possible, their expense
q would be continually lightened.; they woul
i be able to save more money for the prove
' bisl rainy day, and at the same time sufft
q no diminuition in their means of comfol
o and rational enjoyment.