Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-06-09
THE BUSINESS SIDE OF
HOUSEKEEPING
Marketing and Buying for the Family

"(O the majority of people econo-
my means simply purchasing an
article for small sum of
money. II may be that some
comparison is made with the price usu-
silly asked for the article, but often
no such comparison IS made. The
questions of value received" and final
cost rarely enter into the calculations.
The real cost of an article is not known
until those two items are counted in with
the original cost.
Relying on sight or first impression is
responsible for much extravaganza with
people who mean to save. Not long
since / saw meat displayed for sale 1t
was in small pieces, suitable for q stew,
and was marked at seven cents pound.
The first impression was that the meat
was cheap at seven cents On having
two pounds weighed out, discovered
that there was probably a quarter of a
cupful of meat and large quantity of
bone. Seven cents a pound for meat is
not dear, but it is quite good price for
bone.
First Cost and Last Cost
A shin Of veal or lamb is compare
lively cheap; SO is a cut from the neck
or rump l.ae latter has the advantage
in the fact that there is no waste because
of bone and gristle. The liver, heart
and kidneys of calves are cheap because
there is almost no waste, and the first
price is also low. In sore communities
the sweetbreads and brains are almost
given away. They furnish valuable
food, and their purchase is true economy
because they are all available. In other
communities they are esteemed as luxu-
ries and the prices are almost pro-
hibitive The availability is the same
in both instances, and would make no
difference in the final cost, but the first
cost makes the purchase an economy in
one instance and an extravaganza in
another
The same thing is true of the Skirt"
of beef; in communities where it is not
esteemed its use would be true economy
on account of its cost. Even where the
price is rather high its use is still eco
nomical because it furnishes good food
without waste making the final cost
small
The Fireless Cooker
The heads and feet of some animals
are often used as food. The waste is
considerable, but the price is usually
low. uS iIIlEl GtSl MOulu UC lil(lNdSSQ
by the long cooking required, but this
could be eliminated almost altogether
by using the flreless cooker.
Quite another example is furnished by
the difference between what is bought in
the market ard what is ready to cook
IT. such things as Lima beans and peas.
Where the original cost is high it be-
comes very high before the things are
ready to serve. At any price the prep
aration adds materially to the cost The
pineapple necessitates much waste in
preparation; blueberries require almost
no waste Whether the use of such
articles is extravagant or not depends
entirely upon the original cost.
Brains Versus Pocketbooks
Another example of economy is in the
use of a cheaper article to obtain the
same results as are given by a more ex-
pensive article The first cost OF cauli-
flower and asparagus is comparatively
high in most communities; their use in
scalloped dishes and for cream soups is
near the line of extravaganza The eco
nomical woman will obtain 5e same
delicate favor by using kohlrabl or cab
bage. substituting her own skill for
money Few persons would know that
they were not eating asparagus or caull-
flower.