The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-09
LIVING ExPENS ES.
A Widow With Experience Says That
They Are just Doubled by Marriage.

Widow With Experience Says That
They Are just Doubled by Marriage.
II often hear young married men
say that it costs them no more to live
than it did when they were single, re-
marked widow yesterday.
do you agree with them?"
eff two and two make four do not.
have had some experience and have
discovered that it costs just twice as
much for man 10 support Il wife as to
live single. 1t does not make any diff
ference how economical wife is, she
can not do away with the stern fact that
it costs Just twice as much for two peO-
pie to live as one. OF course single
men who are independent and have
plenty of spending money invariably
get rid OF good deal per annum any
way. A wife can save money for this
class of men, provided she can keep
h m away from the clubs, make him
give up his unnecessary and expensive
bachelor habits, and put at least part
of those superflUOus expenditures upon
the household and her own expenses.
But if he does not follow this course his
expenses are doubled. A firm and reso-
lutte wife can save money to husband
who is making money, therefore it be-
hooves all men who are prospecting to
marry economical wives. Take the case,
though, of clerk on salary of 500
month, or Sl5 per week, what would
he save by marry ng? Suppose he tries
boarding; it will cost him and wife S12
per week, $40 at the least calculation,
whereas he only paid Sc or 50 for him.
self. See what small margin he has
for saving money after marriage. He
can't save penny. Washing and other
incidental expenses will eat up the 50
or 50 margin; it makes no difference
whether It is the So or 50. Well, the
SO margin would soon put them in debt.
If he remains single he obtains board at
Sc per week, pays So week for Incl
dental expenses and puts in the savings
bank So per year. To do this he has
to wear IS and $40 suits of clothes,
never 90 to the theater, unless once or
twice month he goes in the gallery at
twenty-five cents admission, and to live
n close and ecOncm; cal life. SuppOsa
he keeps house. He can rent a small
house in the suburbs of Brooklyn for
$50 a month. Take it fO- granted that
the house is furnished by some cash he
happens to have, then he has nothing
to do but pay the rent, buy food and
fuel and clothes for himself and wife.
Can he do it on that 80 a week? Not
much, but he can come nearer living this
way than by boarding. His food and fuel
need not cost him over S23 or $50 per
month, leaving a balance of Sl5 for the
hundred other little expenses attached
to running even a modes! domestic
household. His expenses for car-fare,
going and coming from business, foot
up at the end of the month. Possibly
he might be able to pull through three
or four months, but doubt it. The ques-
ton then is how can Slj-a- week young
man marry and live happily and not
run behind? He must be sensible and
marry Il S10-a-week young woman,
who, after she has married, must con-
tinue to be in S10-a-week mood. They
will have to board. of course, rs both
have to leave home and work. At So
a week for both they will have a margin
of S13 to 90 upon for incidental ex-
penses. These are the experimental
and actual facts about the S15-a-week
Young man, and there is no way L re-
duce his expenses; therefore, it Is wc7Se
than folly for him 10 marry unless hs
marries S10-a-wcek young woman. 7
have read articles about cheap living,
but they sounded like the theories Of an
impractical dreamer.-N- y. Mail and
EralroSS