Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-20

Here Ia a letter which came to the
budget editor, In which our housewives
are brought to task for falling to make
provisions against the proverbial rainy
day:
SIr-ReferrIng TO the discussion as to
how far family, presumably FIVE per-
sons. can go on a s20-a-week incorne
Why don't you start something that
would be of real, instead OF only aca-
demlc interest7
The average family. II the father is the
only bread-winner, has to pound along
on great deal less than $50 per week.
Any family of five that has an income
of $40 per week has no real problem to
solve, so far as bare existence is con-
cerned, and so far as my observation
goes of the budgets submitted to you, ex-
istence from week to week seems to be
the only thing covered.
None of the budgets / have seen makes
provision for the unforeseen things. such
as loss of income through sickness, lack
of work from divers causes, Doctors
bills. accidents, etc, etc.
What you might call the overhead,
fixed charges. such as rent, clothing.
heat. light, life insurance, IL any, etc,
are fairly stable and can be brought to
understandable percentages, but some OF
the other things are not so easily handled.
Facts are stubborn things. The truth
of the matter is that a great majority of
the families, not of Philadelphia alone.
but OF other places, have to make both
ends meet with great deal less than $40,
and a discussion to show how this is
done, with actual facts and figures to
prove the statements submitted. would bc
of great and real interest, and solve some
problems that are now bringing lines Of
care and worry to many n mother and
father.
There are no doubt many real econ
otnies practiced, and IL you can induce
those who practice them to send them
to your paper they will be of benefit to
a large number of your readers.
To repeat myself The family having
$40 week or more has no real problem
to solve, but the fellow who has SIS or
less Is up against the real thing.
Yours very truly,
ROBERT w. MOTISHER.
Isn't the woman who manages to save
on $50 week for family OF five 'up
against the real thing?" Nothing could
be more real than supplying food and
clothing for five persons, maybe two or
three of them husky workers or growing
boys. The Budget Editor realizes that
this sum is by no means the average, nor
is II even the ordinary wage of the day
laborer. Twenty dollars was chosen as
starter; other budgets will be con-
sidered later.
above the average; according to statistics,
the average mans wage is something be-
tween $40 and sl2 a week.
Almost without exception, the budgets
published during the last week included
n provision, varying from 80 cents a week
to s2.50, for what Mr.. Motisher calls ''un-
forseen expenses" Any of these budgets
may be taken as an example. One al
lows for dentist, another for a saving
fund, another for periodicals and tobacco
and several mention the real economies
which are so essential to every household.
VIII some experienced housekeeper tell
this gentleman how the weekly budget
is stretched to save against the doctors
bill? How about the woman who saved
enough to give each Of her three chill
dren s. for a birthday present? The
Budget Editor will be sIad to hear any
thing you have to say on the subject.
'acts are stubborn things" says this
letter. There must be hundreds OF
families who know how TO handle both
salary and the force of circumstances.
Let US hear about them.