The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-25
FAMILY DUD6ET
system IS URGED

Portland. Maine. Aug. 23.--Im-
proved financing methods In the home
as 4 means OF attacking the living
cost problem are advocated by the
State Agricultural and Industrial
league. which Is guided In its efforts
to develop Maine akriculturaily ana
induEtrially by the policy that reduc-
ton n living costs will make the state
more attractive to its own inhabt-
tants and to prospective immigrants.
The OFFICIALS Of the league do not
expect any permanent reduction in
living costs In Maine until Maine 10
able to produce more goods. At pres
emit the state Is very largely dependent
on outside sources Of supply. 1t Is
felt, however, that much can be ac-
complished by making expenditures as
advantageously as possible, and TO
promote that policy advice ts being
given Maine .householders as to APP
proved methods Of marketing.
A budget system in the home Is as
essential In the view OF the home de-
partment Of the league. OF which
Florence A. Warner Is director, as IN
any business enterprise. A regular
routine for the day and for the week
II also recommended as a great time
saver. List your weekly tasks; de-
eide en- which day each can best be
performed" is the advice given the
Maine housewives. List also daily
tasks, plan q definite time for each
task, and plan difficult tasks for
hours when disturbance il least
likely" Putting the plan on paper,
so that q schedule can be hung In the
Kitchen, Ia recommended.
Meals, y planned ahead, are less
expensive. for 1t is then possible to
market for several meals at one time:
BY arranging a schedule, 1t n pointed
out, housewives can readily insure
reasonable amount OF free time.
In the administration OF the family
budget. the league has prepared sta
tistical tables to show what amounts
should be applied to specific purposes.
Figures are made on basis OF 1919
prices, and the largest possible amount
is left for miscellaneous expenses and
savings. The general rule laid-down
lis that the smaller the income, the
greater the proportion that should be
spen- for food.
II the family income is 5000 a year
(S75 a monthly an expenditure of $24
a month Is recommended for food Tor
a family Of two. For family OF
three this would be increased to $50,
and for family of Ave, $1,000 Ex-
penses for house rent and heat would
be, under this budget system, for a
family OF two or three, SIS. and for
a family Of Ave, $1s.50. For cloth
ing, $1,000 could be allowed In a
family Of two, S1l.25 for a family
Of three. and &12.75 for q family OF
ave. Household expenses would be
kept to - or -, apart from items
already mentioned. The saving DOS
sible for q family OF two would b
$18.55: for a family Of three. $12.75
and for family OF Ave only $3.zb
It must be recalled that several sta
tist,cal Investigations conducted IN
the United States of late have placed
$1.3nO to $l.500 as tn" minimum In
come on which satisfactory stand
ard Ct living Is possible for family
OF five.
For a family with $500 income
the league recommendation is an ex-
penditure of $3.50 Tor food for Q
family Of two, $40 for three, or $53.7a
for family of five. Rent would be
from $3.50 to $50, depending on the
size Of the family. and clothing from
t3la.75 to s2125. also dependent OF
the size of the family. Household
expenses would run from $3.50 TO $40
| and the miscellaneous expense OF say
| ing possible for family OF two woult
be $x375. For family OF I'VE !
wouti be $4375. For a family Of fiv'
| II would b. $40.
Similar figures have been prepared
for incomes OF various grades. rang
ing AZ high az $1,000 . year.