Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-22
Life's Problems
Are Discussed
BY MRS. WILSON WOODROW

Several young couples, all init
mate friends and all contemplating
matrimony, decided to put the ques-
ton up to me: "Is it possible to
marry and live comfortably on $25
a week?"
Before writing on the subject I
talked to a number of persons who
had tried it, and they were all in
clined to be pessimistic. But since
the publication of my article l
have received many interesting
and practical letters, and all of
these so far received have been
quite optimistic in tone.
This is one written by a man:
your article in to-night's paper
interested me very much for the
reason that l am one of those
whose salary was not increased dur
ing the war, and who makes s25 a
week cover the expenses of three.
of us-myself, my wife and our boy.
If you wonder when l say that we
look well nourished, very we'll dress
ed and live in a nice apartment at
$50 a month rent, just inquire of
our neighbors.
''As for my income my books are
| open to all. If you want to rate me
as financial genius, l am willing
to plead guilty; still it is not mat
ter of right living, and my wife
and l know how to live. Our
twelve years of married life will
prove it. 1t is an interesting his
tory, especially in that my wife and
l grow younger instead of older.
without throwing any more
bouquets, l wish to say this, and
not get along on S25 a week would
find it difficult to manage on $35 or
$40, and there are plenty of them,
you may be sure. For them 1 have
no sympathy. In conclusion, let me
state that i don't spend so cents or
20 cents on my lunches, and that
my wife does make her own clothes.
u. r."
And here is the woman's side of
it:
Il have read with interest your
article on getting married on $25
week. 1t can be done, and you can
save, too, providing you make up
your mind to do without things that
are not needed.
Il am a woman twenty-six and
have a child.
Il pay $l9 a month rent for four
rooms 81 a week for insurance on
two thousand-dollar endowment
policy for my husband. We spend
an average of So a week for pleas
ure, etc. l am paying on q hun
dred-dollar bond, and we lay aside
80 cents week for our little daugh-
ter's future education.
My husband does not smoke or
drink, so no money is used that way.
L make most of the clothes for my
self and my child. l watch the sales
very carefully and buy quite a lot
at time. We have four hundred
dollars in the bank, and next year
we are going to buy lot and build
our own home. My husband has
no carfare to pay.
we are very happy, and have no
regrets. The only advice offer to
young people starting in on s25 a
week is this: Be sure you know
your right minds, and wait until you
are both over twenty-one. Also,
have at least two hundred dollars
in the bank after your home is fur
nished. 1t is something to fall
back on.
Husband and wife must work
shoulder to shoulder. 1t isn't
hard; it's only the start they need
keep a book of everything |
spend.
We get great deal of enjoy
ment out of life. We have had sick
ness and trouble, but also plenty of
sunshine. l wish l could shout to
the world to make more of the
good than the bad. This is easy
when husband and wife are pals. L
don't seem to find it hard to get
along and to set a fairly good table,
and my pocketbook is never empty.
But again my advice is. Don't start
on your last dollar. M"
Another letter from a man:
Thls is the plan my wife and !
worked out and found successful