The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-01-25
LIVING WITHIN ONES MEANS.
Nearly Twenty Housekeepers Give
Opinions on the Subject.

Nearly Twenty Housekeepers Give
Opinions on the Subject.
Since no two families have exactly the
same needs and the same demands upon
them, it is impossible to lay down cast
iron rules with regard to the division of
an income. A comparison, however, Of
the statements concerning their household
expenses furnished by nearly twenty
housekeepers in different sections Of the
country. shows a much closer agreement
in certain points than might have been
expected. They had been asked to tell
the family income and to state the amount
Of their table, household and incidental
expenses, rent, cost of clothing for the
the women from whom informa ton was
received are intelligent, systematic house
keepers, who have given more or less
study to the subject Of domestic econo-
my.
In the cases reported where the income
sand year, the allowance for clothing
usually ranged from two hundred and for
, ty to three hundred a year. These fig
ures were given by families varying in
number from three to six. To clothe a
family consisting of two adults and three
or four children on three hundred dollars
year requires careful planning, and can
scarcely be managed unless a woman does
much Of the family sewing herself That
several families having about the same
income should agree SO nearly in the
! amount spent for clothing was unexpect-
ed.
Whenever the child can, earn money
honorably, let him do so. Give a child
a certain amount or allowance. As soon
as he is old enough. teach him to keep
little bank account Let him spend
some Of his money. He will make mis-
takes. Of course, but better learn to use
good judgment through !-cent mistake
when child than through $500 one
when grown. Advise child how to
spend it, but if possible make him feel
that he is responsible for the result. Ev-
cry time that he makes a poor bargain,
let him suffer the natural consequences.
In an impromptu symposium Of a dozen
women upon the subject of domestic
| finances, it was decided that out of an
income of $1,000, $500 should be allowed
for incidentals, including savings, benev-
olence, life insurance premiums, etc.
Some families having this salary do bet
ter. know of two or three cases where
on this income about $500 year is saved,
leaving $1,000 for the total family ex-
An ideal division has been suggested by
Mrs. Ellen Richards for different in
comes. On $4,000 year for a family Of
two adults and two or three children the
proposed distribution IS as follows:
Feed. $500; rent, $4oo: fuel, wages, etc,
$500; clothes. $500; higher life, savings.
etc, $500. The last head must be I'M
derstood to include all incidentals such
as amusements, travelling expenses,
books, etc.
On $1,000 year for family of the
same size, the allowance for food is $500;
rent, $500; clothes, $3.50; fuel, wages,
$3.50. Whether rent needs to be so much
as the allowance here made depends en-
tirely upon the locality. Outside Of the
large cities it should be less. am sure
also that many families Of five or six
with $1,000 a year spend less than $500
for food.-Good Housekeeping.