Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-24
4 WIFE'S MANAGEMENT.

on Christmas day which was Saturday
Mr.. Newton was looking over his casl
accounts for the Year. well asked
his wife chow do you come on"
II find, said her husband. "that
my expenses during the past year have
been thirty-seven cents over 4 thou
sand dollars
And your income has been thou
sand dollars"
Yes, suggested pretty well. didn't
II"
DO you think it managing well tc
exceed your income?2 said his wife.
Whats this thirty-seven cents
asked Mr.. Newton. lightly.
Not much, to be sure. but still
something. Ii seems to me that VT
ought to have saved, instead of falling
behind.
But how can we save ON this salary
Elizabeth? We haven't lived extrava.
gantly. Still it seems to have taken il
all"
Perhaps there is something nwhicl
We might trench. suppose YOU men
ton some of the items.
$3.50, and articles Of food $500.
Just half.
Yes, and You'll admit that We CAM
retrench them | like to live well;
had enough Of poor board before
married Now mean to live rs wei
as | can.
"Still we ought TO save something
against Il rainy day, Ezra.
THAT would be like carrying an UNI.
brella when the sun shines"
Still it is we'll to have an umbrella
in the house.
II cant controyert your logic, Eliza
beth, but I'm afraid we shan't be able
to save anything this year, When
get my salary raised, it will be time
enough To think of that.
Let me make proposition to you,
said Mrs. Newton. You said that ono
half Of your income had been cNpend.
"a on articles Of food. Are you willing
% allow me that sum for that pur.
pose n
"You guarantee 70 pay III bills out o.
it?"
Yes.
Then will shift the responsibility
upon your own pleasure. But ! can
tell you beforehand you won't be able
10 save much out Of it. and | shouldn't
relish having any additional bills
to pay. As | am paid every month, !
will at each month hand you halfthc
money
The different character of the hus-
band and wife may be Judged from the
conversation which has been recorded.
Mr.. Newton had little prudence or fore.
sight. He lived chiefly for the present,
and seemed TO fancy that whatever
contingencies might arise in the future
he would somehow be provided for.
Now, to trust to providence is proper
way, but there is Il good deal Of truth
in the old adage that God will help
those who help themselves.
Mrs. Newton, on the contrary, had
been brought up in il family which was
compelled to be economical, and,
though she was not disposed to deny
herself comforts, yet She felt that i was
desirable to procure them 1T i fair rate.
The time at which this conversation
took place was nj the commencement
of the second year Of their married
life.
The first step Mrs Newton took on
accepting the charge of the household
expenses was to institute the practice
of paying cash for all articles that came
under her department. She according
" called on the butcher and inquired
How often have you been in the
habit of preserving Your bills, Mr.. VIII
liams p
Once in six months, was the reply.
And ! suppose you sometimes
have had bad bills q
Yes; one-third my profits, on the
average. are swept oil BY them.
And YOU could afford 10 sell cheap
III. suppose for ready money!
!. Yes, and | would be glad if all my
customers would give me chance -
do So
~ will ST them III example, then, Y
said Mrs. Newton Hereafter what
ever articles shall be purchased shall be
paid for on the spot, and ] shall eN-
pect you to sell them Is reasonably as
YOU can.
This arrangement was also made
with the others, who, it Is scarcely
needful to say, were to enter into the
arrangement. Ready money is a great
supporter of trade, and cash custom
er is worth two who purchase on
credit
Fortunately. Mrs. Newton had a
small supply Of money by her which
lasted until the first monthly install
nent from her husband came due.
Thus She was enabled 70 carry out her
cash plan from the beginning
Another plan Yhich occurred 70 her
~ likely To save expenses WAS 70 pur-
chase articles Ill large quantities, she
had soon saved enough from tie money
allowed To % this. For example in-
stead Of buying sugar 4 few pounds Ak
4 time, she purchased barrel. and so
succeeded III saving i cent or more on
pound. This. perhaps, amounted u
but i trifie in the course Of d year. hut
the same system carried On IN regard
to other things yielded a result which
vas by no means a triile.
There are other ways N which a