Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-05-22
>. Ole >.
Home Maker
EDITED BY
ALICE F. TALCOTT.
Ole
Some Causes of the High Cost of
Living.

Living.
One of the causes of the high cost
of living at the present time is the
hand-to-mouth habit of buying. This
has been made a necessity, to cer-
tain extent, in cities by lack of room
to store groceries or fuel in the mod
ern tenement. Here on the coast,
quite proportion of the population
is floating, living in furnished houses
or rooms, and buys each days pro-
visions as they day comes, not know
ing where they may be tomorrow.
For people so circumstanced this may
be the only way, but for people who
are settled and have room to store
such things it is foolish and extrava-
CANT.
A few years ago everyone in the
country, by which term l mean any
where outside the great cities, laid
in his winters, or, if possible, his
years supply of fuel, salt meat, ap-
pies and vegetables in the fall, when
they are cheap and easily procured.
Butter and eggs were also laid in
during the summer. While it may
not be practicable to do this in many
cases, it certainly does make a great
saving over buying in small quanti-
ties. Buying directly from the pro-
ducer, you save a profit, often q
ties, you pay from 20 to % per cent
more than when you buy in larger
quantities. If you get 16 pounds ot
potatoes for 25 cents, when they are
selling at 81 per cwt., you pay 25
per cent more than you would to buy
them by the cwt.; and this is true
of almost anything you buy in the
|.provision line. If one is willing to
buy in quantities he can often save
good deal by investing in specia
bargains. When peas that usually
sell two cans for 25 cents are offered
for cents can, lay in dozer
cans. While it is wise to buy perish
able articles in small quantities
package goods and such staples a
flour, sugar, tea and coffee may b.
bought safely in large quantities, i
you have safe place to keep them
The credit system is another fac
tor in the high cost of living. Any
one with ordinary judgment can Sc,
the merchant must sell his goods a
higher price if he has to wait in
definitely for his pay and TAX
chances on losing certain per cent
Then, too, If one is running bill h
will buy good many things h
would not if he were paying tn
cash. l have seen people buy thing
on credit without even asking tn
price. Buying on credit is like buy
ing over the phone or sending chill
/. dren to market. The merchant mus
be exceptionally honest, if you ge
] what you pay for, The installmen
: plan is one of the worst features O
the credit system. 1t not only cause
you to pay from 20 to SO per cen
!. more for an article, but induces yo
to buy what you cannot afford an
would never think of getting If it ha
to be paid for in lump. 1t ha
come to be almost as much caus
: of poverty to the poor in cities a
the drink habit. The temptation t
:. buy gold watches, diamonds, piano
y and fine furniture is irresistible [
!. many, if~they can get possession {
g them by paying a dollar a montl
Another disadvantage of the cred
system is that ie your income is a
ways spent in advance, you nevt
l. have the cash to take advantage {
real bargains when they are offere,
And right here l would say that til
bargain counter and the cheap stol
are often traps for the unwary, WI
Is have not judgment enough to kno
a a real bargain from worthless art
:, Gle.
Within the last generation Il