Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21

cheap at that, although " TouuCeu INC
months salary to $3.50. Then followed
tuition for the school which would open
In a short time, $500 per month. an ex-
pense which they considered absolutely
necessary. 1t was found that $6.jO would
be required for text books and incidental
expenses per month. After much discus
sion II was decided that the grocery bill
could not be cut below $3.50 per week. or
$3.50 per month. and dollar q month
was allowed for drugs and medicines. In
this way the $50 was divided.
n.
Every week when the pay Is received
the allowance for the kitchen is turned
over to the wife and the balance into
the bank account. all payments, outside
of those for daily purchases of groceries,
being made by check. As was said be-
fore, the interest from the investment
made of their funds pays for their more
expensive clothing, a goodly supply of
which they brought with them. Affairs
in the new position gradually settled
down and. barring the disagreeable fea-
ture of Sunday labor. the husband is en-
joying his work.
At the time the collegiate year opened
another difficulty presented itself. 1t had
been a long-cherished ,ambitlon OF the
couple to eventually go to South Ameri-
can country to practice the husbands
profession. to do so, they both realized
the necessity of, learning the language OF
the country selected. Complications in
financing followed at once. The best
teacher of Spanish for the required num-
Der of lessons per month were 81 each. or
SIS for both per month. Where to get the
necessary money was the question Inc
rent was at bedrock and considerably be-
low the average price Of such accommo-
dations. Tuition at the university could
not be reduced O. cent, nor coulo the
bill for books and incidentals. The only
place that renamed was the weekly al
iowance for groceries. and in fixing this
expenditure the utmost care had been
used by the wife.
AS a stranger in Washington she had
not at first known OF the better PAGES az
not know how to go about Duyins
comestibles to the best advantage. Later,
however, she had learned through ex-
perience.
They discussed the matter pro and con,
the husband at last despairing OF being
able to take up the study of the language.
He could see no opportunity to engage
in work on the outside that might aoo q
few extra dollars to- his family income.
for he was bound closely by his daily
work and the professional school duties.
The classes in the desired language Wee
starting One evening his wife turned
from a list of figures with which she mao
1.-THE present weekly allowance TOT gro
ceries is $3.50. You did not know it. but
l have been saving about dollar Week
out of that, and l now propose to cut the
we win save $S-just enough for the
language course.
And so, the devotion and ability Of the
good wife solved the problem. They are
the intricacies of the Spanish language.
thus expanding for education, out OF their
gross income Of $50, over SIS per month.
It Is not always an easy matter, this
buying the table supplies for two for as
little as $3.50 per week It Is much
easier to let the little matter OF a gro
Gerry bill go along, struggling to make
both ends meet, Of course, but not going
after the big expenses in careful and
systematic manner. It requires constant
vigilance. The daily papers must be
watched for seasonable advertisements
and the bargains taken advantage OF
promptly. Running a home Is bust
ness, just as definite business as rum
ming any other establishment Of impor-
lance But this husband and wife think
it worth while to practice economy, and
even fortitude, knowing well that such
habits, of themselves. will be Of inesti-
mable help in eventually winning indie
pendence for themselves. Moreover, they
are eager to pass along the results Of
the experiences to others who may profit
thereby.
In telling how she manages to keep her
household expenses down to the minimum
the wife says:
ITO begin with, I cannot be too en-
phatic in stating that 1T is absolutely
necessary to do your own housekeeping.
If one wishes. a woman may be hired
to come to the house at certain times
to do the laundry and other heavy work,
but do your own cooking, and. above all
else, do your own buying. The fallacy
that it is very little more expensive to
board Is common, but even the casual
observer must recognize the error Add
ed to the actual saving which follows,
there is the pleasure of having what you
want to eat when your taste calls for it.
prepared as you like 1t best, not to speak
of the happy little lunches that may be
enjoyed at any time-when one can step
into ones own kitchen.
"RealiZing soon after coming to
Washington that all Of our expenses
must be cut lower than either Of us
had ever paid, / first set about sys-
tematically to learn the various food
markets OF the city and where foods
OF good quality could be bought for
the least money. There are many
widely, advertised grocery stores in
Washington, and II one Ia careful as
TO the DTanOS Oh IOOuS purchased saw
ings from 10 to % per cent may always
be made on standard goods. In order
to get the best results 1t IL necessary
to learn the various dealers, their par
ticular brands of goods and their re-
liability In filling orders. True. stand.
ard prints Of butter. baking powders
condiments, etc, may well be ordered
with confidence. Make your purchases
In person. never by phone. Often a
visit to the markets will reveal val
ues that one would never hear Of with
out the personal inspection.
"After several months of buying I
found that my average expenditure for
a week was $3.50. From the first a
careful count was kept. and 1t grew
to be a real pleasure to know that
plenty Of first-class food could be pro-
vided for two for so small a sum. Nor
must the idea be gained that In order
to economiZe 1t was necessary to use
cheap or second grade foodstuffs The
exact reverse Is the case standard
quality Is the most economical In the
long run, but, on the other hand, 1t Is
necessary to avoid the alleged fancy"
qualities, where in many cases the
beautiful package Is more expensive
than the contents. 1t is important to
recognize the fact that many Of the
stores sell standard groceries at a
few cents less per package. which in
time will materially lessen the grocery
bill
I'm this connection it should be en-
phasized that the true economist Will pay
cash for plrchaSeS which. beyOnd dis