The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-02
Living on $500 . Year,

 From the Chicago Reeord-Heraid.
 It will be readily admitted thas on an income of s2o0 year q family of er- dinary size and moderate tastes could live in comfort and possibly enjoy some of the iuxuries Of life. t may occasion some surprise to those accustomed to such, or lnrger incomes to learn that many families live comfortably and manage to enjoy not a few luxuries on half and not infrequently a third of that sum.
 Recent investigation into the subject of family incomes in thls country has shown that less than one family In seven can depend on earnings amounting to as much as s1200 a year. It Is safe to say that the earnings of the great ma jority of families are not in excess of $500 The average incomes of heads of families engaged in the various indus trial and professional pursuits are found to be about as follows; Manufacturing arts, transportation, commerce, etc, less than $40o; servants, s200; teachers, $40; ministers. $500 to $500; lawyers and physi- clans, less than s1200. Of course. in all these callings there are those whose earnings are largely in excess of the average. Relatively, however, they are few; the large majority necessarily range below the average rather than above it.
 Among those supported by these indus tries and professions and not rarely among day laborers are found many Tn xphn manage to live In comfort, dress neatly educate their children gratify to con- siderable extent their cravings for bet ter and higher things and in no small measure enjoy life. Thousands are doing so on less than $5O0 a year; not few on considerably less.
 The natural desire to acquire 8 compe- tence against the time of misfortune or of old age more manifest in those of limited means than in those in afduence. makes the subject of satisfactory living on a slender income one of perennial interest, particularly to those just setting up housekeeping. Well do I remember how, in our fist years of married life, we anxiously sought information and light as to how a salary of s4O0 might be made to yield a living in harmony with our tastes-and for the most part found 1t not, except as it came through experience. It seems to be no easy thing to explain what one has done and how to live well on limited means-chiefy. I think, be- cause of the many expedlents not noted or notable in memorandum books.
 There Is a wsoe difference between living and merely existing. Many families eke out an existence on s200 or $500 a year. Some do no more on a much larger amount. Obviously to those limited to such pittances there can be few oppor- tunities to enjoy the better and higher things of intellectual or cultured life. On an income of $500 it Is quite possible under average conditions, if tastes and social ambitions be reasonably modest.
 Below I give a tabular statement of what has been accomplished by two fam flies very differently situated, who have kept careful account of their expenses. Incidentally the figures will show, if properly interpreted, that there is really little difference in the cost of living in country village and city, the conditions otherwise being unchanged.
 The families whose experience is under consideration consisted each of three per sons. employed no servants, did their own sewing and most of the washing and laundry work, and their habits of life were otherwise much the same. The first was that of the principal of the village schools and was naturally looked to for social leadership in the community. The family needed, therefore, in order to maintain the dignity of it's position, to dress we'll entertain rather frequently | and be at greater expense in social ways than would otherwise have been neces- sary The second was the family of a rising attorney in large city and moved in an appropriate social circle, dressing and entertaining in a manner commen- surate with it's social position. Both were cultured perhaps above the average Tn their respective professions, of refined tastes, enjoyed the good things of lite and gratified rather largely their social 1 instincts. Their homes were small but comfortable, cozy and even elegant in their appointments These statements are essential concomitants of the figures in | the table.
 The figures are the yearly averages taken from the expense accounts for the calendar years 1899. 1900 and 1901, the I first column being for the school princi- pal in small village. as already states, the second for the attorney in the city: Table expenses ............ .$152.SS $17S. .04 Clolnlng... ............ b2- b0 y2 .S7 Rent (with steam heaD....-- 166 .67 Light and fuel.....s....... 36.32 1T .7z Laundry... ....... 3.20 7.2i Library (with periodicals). 27.17 7.bt Life insurance. ..... ...... 27.17 2l 50 ] House furnishings. .... :. 51. 50 19.5C 1 Medicine and attendance. 12.4o - Car fare ..... ... ..... ...- 40 .1G Miscellaneous. .. .. .. .. 10S. 43 63. Total for year...... ...... S4S2 PC $609. .34 1 It is difficult to harmonize statistics