Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14
GIRLS IN BUSINESS
Money Problems That Always
Confront Them.
ACQUIRE A RESERVE FUND
Little Economics That Make q Bank
Account.
SOME UNNECESSARY EXPENSES
The Young Woman Who Works Must
Use Judgment in Buying Clothes
Saving the Pennies.
ICQUIRE A RESERVE FUND
ONE UNNECESSARY EXPENSES

The American girl who makes her own
living is not, a rule, as thrifty as she
Is capable. She earns money, but she does
not save 1t. She spends as she goes. and
often foolishly. To every working woman
who has bank account of her own max
ing you may count hundred whose avail
able finances will barely cover the expense
of car fares and lunches until another pay
day.
1t does not require an abnormally keen
intelligence to perceive that this is essen
TALLY unsafe and unwise. Every girl who
is self dependent should have the satisfac-
ton OF knowing that, laid safely aside for
the inevitable rainy day, is the wherewthal
to weather the storm and keep warm and
comfortable meanwhile.
1t may be perfectly true that the salary
she earns is but a small one--too small in
deed. to admit of any great amount being
deducted from it to form nest egg:
nevertheless unless she does make a point
of Systematically putting by portion of
1t, the time is fatally sure to come when
she will find herself with actual want
staring her in the face. The fact that she
can at best save but little does not justify
her in saving nothing.
AS the quaint Scotch proverb has 1t:
Many mickle makes a muckle," and the
odd pennies and 'nickels and dimes put
rapidity into the dignified region of dollars.
The love of money may be the root of all
evil, but the possession of money Is also the
source of great good. Without 1t there is
no such thing as personal independence, for
in these days lack of financial resource
spells slavery. Without money one Is ham,
pered at every turn in the road of life, and
although one may struggle on by sheer
force of will so long as health and strength
remain, there looms ever in prospect the
day when sickness may come and find
utterly unable to meet the hundred and one
expenses that invariably come with 1t.
Then, too, money is so essential to happi-
ness nowadays that the working woman
who simply lives from week to week, using
up all of her salary as IL comes, really has
not learned to live at all. 1t is quite I'M
denable, of course, that millions of people
do exist in this haphazard fashion. but the
fact that half the world is grievously inn
provident is no logical argument for i'm
providence In the individual.
There is only one way to accomplish any
thing in the direction of saving money
that is, to have definite object in view to
begin with. and then to make it an infiexi-
Bile rule to put by certain sum each week
toward that object.
The French working woman who regard
matrimony as the be-all and dali OIL fem
mime existence. saves religiousiy from her
dowry, Knowing that she cannot secure
husband without one: The American girl
would seorn to do this but she can find
other objects well worth while-a sick
fund, for instance, or a Christmas gift ac-
. count, or even home and lot 1t is the
formation of the habit that counts rather
than the incentive.
Moderation.
One should not. however, try to save at
the expense of comfort and health. There
is no common sense, to say nothing of econ
omy, In denying ones self the necessities
of life for the sake of bank account. 1t
Is an advantage rather than a necessity to
save money: 1t is neither one of these but
wantop foolishnesS, to starye ones self
either bodily or mentally in order to attain
thai end.
Next to actual living expenses, clothing Is
the most yeNatious and costly problem of
the seif-suppofting girl. She must be pass
ably well dressed In order to hold her posi-
ton: at all events, her clothes must be neat,
well fitting and up to date. 1t Is not always
economical to buy cheap clothing, although
II is conceivable that circumstances might
sometimes make it necessary to do this.
At certain times in the year, however
usually when the first rush of the season is
over-it is possible to secure really stylish
clothes of good quality at considerable re-
duction from their original figure; and 1t
pays to wait for these opportunities One
can always make the old things serve few
weeks longer with the aid OF the patch and
sewing bags.
The girl with little money needs to culti-
waite judgment in buying clothes. Pro-
nounced styles and giaring eolors are
poor investment, for not only does one soon
tire OF them, but they quickly becomSecom-
mon and passe.
The girl who buys wisely Is the girl who
knows what becomes her. what she wants
and what she can afford to pay, and who
gets out on her shopping expedition firmly
resolved TO find the desired combination.
1t Is not advisable to attempt to purchase
important articles of dress within the linz
tied scope of the luncheon hour, for In the
inevitable hurry and Is prdeu-
caliy certain TO select something entirely
different from the thing wanted. 1t Is bet
ter to lose half days pay than TO saddle
ones self with an impossible gown or
badly made. iii-fitting pair of shoes
Caring for Clothes.
Caring properly for ones clothes makes
an appreciabls addition to thsir term Of