The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-02

Our housekeepers are constantly
being educated in the economy oil
using the food supplies, but there
| 10 quite as great waste going on
la the buying as In the using OF the
supply. How 10 get the best value
| for her money receives but scant at
| tention from the average house
keeper.
II Is quite generally conceded that
the best way TO buy groceries is TO
personally attend the market and
select them and pay cash for them.
But the fact is that very few people
do his. The busy housekeeper can.
not dress herself In street costume
aud visit the market every day. She
prefers TO take less for her money
and order il In some more conver
lent way, and she generally wei
comes the order boy. But he Is
something of nuisance. neverthe-
less. He comes often when the ar
rangements for the day have not
been mstured.
II the grocer cannot be visited
personally, the telephone is the neNi
best agent. II is paying invest
ment, and much more satisfactory
than children's orders or those OF
the delivery boy.
In starting with new grocer
housekeeper should always keep his
education we'll In minc In the frs'
place, let him learn that she is just
as good as cash. She should see
to il that her bills are paid regu
larry. Then let him know that she
depends on his honor to send her
only such goods as she would select
IL she were present. The grocer
quickly learns to distinguish be
tween the careless and the careful
woman; between the one who pays
and the one who promises, and he
learns where TO send his inferior
goods.
Neglect of business methods is g
sloveuly way of going business and
is quite as reprehensible as a SLOW
emily way OF housekeeping. How TO
keep the grocery account is one OF the
perplexing questions. There are va
r.ous ways. The easiest way is 10
let your husband settle 1t without
question or debate. This is the
comnonest. too, but IL is the most
unsatisfactory. The best and most
satisfactory method Is for the mer-
chant to send with each purchase 2
bill OF the goods. This Is a very
common method. The housekeeper
can then have a convenient hook
where each bill is placed. She can
tell at any time what the bill Is, and
how much she has paid for any ar
ticle, and has no care Of account or
coupon book. The whole bill can
be called for when she wishes II
paid. and any mistake can be imme-
aiately placed. On these bills she
can also keep notes Of any article
returned. for the greatest difficulty
In returning unsuitable goods Is to
have them cancelled from the bill
II she cancels them herself, she has
her date with the article and price
all ready for reference. At the end
Of the month the housekeeper should
order her bill sent up. She can then
compare It with her own accounts.
and quickly detect any mistakes
that may have occurred. II takes
but q few moments to do this. and
when once attended to systemati-
cally 1t Is not bothersome. II any
error is found. the grocer's atten-
ton should be called to II. IL ia
not at all necessary to be disagreed
bic to do this. Proceed on the as
sumption that 1t is mistake which
he will be glad to rectify. The cor
rection of few errors will cultivate
q respect for her care and judgment
that will insure prompt and consid-
crate attention.