New-York tribune., 1903-02-01
INCOME IND OUTLAY.
Economy Compatible With High
Ideals- The Duty of Saving.

NO housekeeoer. or old, can with inlpu'ii'y
neglect the oversight of expenditure in her home
the Of a lecture before SUBURBAN 90
mestic science club the other day. ITO save is 10
earn. says prominent writer on the SUBJECT 10
earn is the mans part. to save, the womads. But
save purposefully not 3imessiy. Do not, as tne
homely old saying has it, save at the tap and spend
at the spigot. Many people do not understand
what economy is: That il is a matter of relations
and proportions what is worth while measured
by the standard of ones needs and ideals IL taxes
highly educated person 10 spend money wisely
said the lecturer but this is of course true only
as far education is understood TO mean expert
ence and ability in thinking. as distinguished from
book knowledge. A PERSONS inability to spend
money wisely narrows his opportunities for COM
fort and culture I'm marked degree.
Above all. continued the lecturer, don't start
your home life burdened by debt. The expense Of
running household is likely to increase, rather
than diminish. and there is nothing dispirtins
debt Out of assured income be it small or
great. woman of average ability, and with
that good old Yankee quality, "gumption. ought
to be able to produce in her home. by a practical
adjustment of details order refinement. individual
iy and efficiency And at the bottom of all these
desirable qualities lies the knowledge of how to ex-
pend wisely-always within income mits-the
money which is not only the root Of evil, but of
much good.
For the greatest efficiency. standards of living
should be adjusted according to what will lead to
the best results in health of body and Of mind
That health includes contentment of mind and
serenity of soul. that environment of pictures.
books and pleasant society to maintain the
highest IDEALS recognized hygienic and social
principles To produce health and comfort, men
tai well as physical to evolve maximum of
efficiency a minimum of cost, should be con-
stant ideals of the household manager.
VAST NUMBER OF NECESSITIES.
At first sight amid the vast number of 'necessi-
ties for living in health and comfort, it seems
next to Impossible to adjust details Of expenditure
with any due relation and proportion But. like
many seeming impossbilities. the situation is sim
pIifed once i, is fairly faced. To ones income
so as to produce the fullest satisfaction OF human
needs one must classify these needs in order OF
their Importance. Mrs. Ellen H. Richards. of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. and a rec
ognized authority, makes the following division OF
expenses on the basis of a 5000 annual income:
Five hundred dollars for rent. $500 for wages. 500
for operation 500 for food $500 for clothes. $500
for the higher lfe-books, amusement, charity,
church, savings etc. In two women, working
on salaries Of say $50 each, choose to make a
home together fair proportion of expenditure of
the combined 81 500 income would be $500 rent and
fuel 1915 food $50 service $3.50 clothes $500 savings
fund s225 book, amusements. etc. The last three
items in each case might be varied according TO
individual choice without affecting the other items
Here then is a practical working basis of neces
sary expenses" said the lecturer. IF you rent
your ho1se you have certain definite expenses re-