Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-10-07

Economy in marketing is largely local,
and, one might almost say, an individual
question. What may be real economy in
the heart OF brig city would not be
economy in small town or in the
country, and uice versa. However, there
are certain underlying principles Of
economy which are true everywhere.
In the study OF economics there are two
great divisions, production and consump-
tion. Until quite recently, great stress
has been laid upon the production Of
wealth, but now people are realizing that
the consumption, or expenditure of
money, is fully as important to secure the
health and happiness OF the people.
With the great economic changes OF the
last fifty years, our conditions Of living
have become very different. 1t would
seem as II most Of the tasks which had
been the home makers for generations,
had been taken from her, and that nothing
had been given to replace them.
This is far from true, however. The
modern housewife has come to more
responsible position-that OF spender and
buyer. Buying is science and can be
done successfully only where there is
knowledge. The women of the United
States spend millions OF dollars annually.
And we, as women, would be ashamed to
| know what per cent. of the money is spent
| carelessly and without getting the true
value for the money expended.
The first thing a woman must UNDER
stand are the real values in life. She must
decide what standards her family can af-
ford to maintain. She must learn to dis
| criminate between needs and wants. Her
standard must be true one, not a false
| one and must not lead her into debt. She
| must not be ashamed to acknowledge a
liking for home-making and housekeep-
| ing, and she must put her best mental ef-
forts into the problems which her home
brings.
Food is the largest item in the family
| budget. The housewife must know
something OF food values, of the princi-
| pies OF nutrition, the part which different
| foods play in the body. She must know
the best methods OF cooking foods which
well make them more easily digested and
most nourishing. Money is often wasted
because of lack OF knowledge on these
two points.
There are several ways in which it is es-
| timated that one-fifth OF the money spent
for food is actually wasted
1. Needlessly expensive material pro-
viding little nutrition.
q Buying food out Of season.
8. great deal thrown away because of
too lavish providing, lack, f,oversight of
| the left-overs, and lack of ingenuity and
knowledge about making left-overs more
attractive to the sight and taste.
| 4. Bad preparation.
| 8. Loss through wastes in foods which
deteriorate quickly.
A butcher said to me recently that he
wished every woman who traded with
him knew about cuts Of meat and what
cut she wanted. He said, "a woman will
come into the store and say to me, Il
want a good roast Of beef. l don't know
| anything about cuts, so / will rely en-
tirely upon your Judgment 1 pick out
the best roast OF beef I can find. Then
she will say, mo, 1 don't like that one.
I'll take the roast over there / give her
the one she wants, but it is one which I
consider inferior. This lack acknowledge
on the part OF the buyer makes the work
of the butcher harder"
If this is true in the butchers shop, it
is true in any store. The buyer must
know values.
Careful marketing is most important, if
one wishes to make ones pennies count
for all that they can. But, in order to do
careful marketing, one must do careful
planning first. The best method / know
Of, is to plan the menu several days or
week ahead. By watching one soon
family eats at meal.
Upon studying into this, one finds that,
in the course of week, the family will,
eat certain amounts of coffee, sugar, po-
tatoes, fruit, meat, cereal, flour, eggs, etc.
II one knows these amounts, it is jus. as
easy to buy enough for the week, when
one orders Monday morning, except the
very perishable things, as it is to order
little on Monday, little more on Tues
day, ETC., through the.week. 1t is cheaper
to buy canned goods by the dozen. If they
can be stored properly, lmany pennies may
be saved, as well as the time which is
wasted by the person who is ordering, by
the storekeeper andi by the delivery man.
One OF the causes for the high cost of
living to-day, is the money which the
trades people havelto spend in delivering.
II the grocer delivers one or two small
orders day instead of two larger orders
a week, of course he has to add the cost of
delivery to the price of yeast cake, -four,
crackers, etc. He cannot afford to do
otherwise.
This subject of economy is being studied
on all sides. Many helpful articles and
books are being published constantly.
Every home maker should study her own
situation and see whether or not she is
using her money wisely.
NORTH SEDGWICK.