The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31

question.
You can't answer il JUST
n asking your vt.c now much she has
.IohJG away In the savings hank. nor
by finding out how much the Joneses
aud 'Is Smith. have put into their
bones ~ least, such an otfhand an
swerng or an important problem is
likely to cause a lot OF trouble.
Some folks spend too much on a home
and others spend too little.
Those who spend too much have an
undue struggle in paying for their
place. and after it Is paid for they must
struggle indefinitely 20 live mp to an
establishment which Is beyond their
means. They are disappointed by Their
experience and blame country life for
ther own lack Of Judgment. They are
eNtravagant and find consolation in ac-
CuSinS the suburbs Of being expensive.
They sometimes return to their city
ooops misnamed apartments and write
lstters I'd the newspapers, saying the
home Is not what il used TO be
While tho folks who spead too IT.
lie ON q suburban dwelling are liable
% discomfort and dissatisfaction their
situation is better than that OF the other
class
Tho usual tendency OF a free born
American is to 20 the limit, whether in
buying an auto ar a house. He figures
that the best Is none too good for him.
Il he is living right up TO his means =
trilc beyond them ne counts on hav-
ing more income next year. lie hates
10 put himself in definite economic
class and TO adjust his living expenses
accordingly. The European Is more set
IN his ways, has n definite scale Of liv-
iac, knows where he belongs and the
proper dyIngs of his position. lie has
no dNIculty in matching homo TO his
means
a fltr way Of getting a Inc on what
you should spend m n home Is to as
sumo thar your landlord makes at least
10 per cent profit on your rer:, and
yo1 can AFFORD Ia buy him out and he
com" your .Wn landlord, putting the
10 per cent. In your own pocket.
That is, II You are paying $50 a month
rht Of $3.50 a year, your home should
cost ton times the latter amount or
$500. II the rent i3 $40 a month the
nom" comes to stsO0. II the rent IS
$50 month tho home should cos.
5000 1Ud So on upward. ?, is assumed
'a@ rent Is tho average you have paid
and expect o. pay aud that n bears an
average relation tu your other living
expense. There are those VINO spend
81 exceptional proportion of their in
comes Boo rent a., thcrc are others at the
opposite extreme.
Iur estimate given above is OF course
'"l"'r rough. In many cases it might
Welt ID" hborallz-d with 10 per cent.
A'o'" O." lly totals. Nou are not buy
h- hone every day, II should be a
""''m" investment II your present
"i'h'''. condition and reasonably GER
an hn1noiul prospects viii permit IL.
"'1rI investment will Yield the most
's'a.tiun. \ good piece OF ground
sno % well bull, house are lasting joys.
me economy OF low first cost ana high
loS' '' upheep and amendment Is I'M
Profitable
'1 ocat- "a searching and oven
,n,'F1"IuIy spirit in the home buyer. not
wa. 70" may -ct n Choau bargain but
"a. % may get fair value and avoid
WV right waste. There are folks more
,.-H '' earning aud saving than spend !
nv when they begin to spend they
Know whore 10 begin or when u !
',"' n they become enrautured with
we nome Idea they lose tho sens. of
'p''N"n ard enthusiastically plan I
~ '"Nan gardens. pergolas and /,
o'''H pigeons before they have ng- /
"fd ou the main clements o, their
''''' '' s". such folks who go in for