The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-20
Budget Making Most Vital
 Question, Says Miss Palmer
fcontinued from Page Two)

this occasion because, we wore this nat to this same convention last year! Shouldn't we be satisfied to do without | those things to which we are not en- | titled and learn that there is nothing in 1 furniture, pictures rugs, or in any ma 1 terial things that can bring us lasting 1 happiness? The simple life is not neces 1 sarily on the farm or suburb, but it should mean a saner standard of living l life without grind, life without the eter- nal struggle to keep up appearances. 1 Just living ones own life in a modest, enough wholesome food to eat with sim | pie neat apparel, with modest home whether it house or apartment, in a de- l cent neighborhood few friends, good l books, music, parents and children, sim l pie pleasures and homely joys-a chance l to help improve conditions for others. What more is needed to make for happi- ness?
 Now that our standards are determined what are the things for which we have 1 to spend our money? We will divide them up into the headings which I have set down in alphabetical order (Of course there are some people who do not have all of these expenses so they are for tunate in being able to strike some of them out) Books and periodicals Civic activities (church. charity, club. lodges, etc.) Clothing. Education. Food supply. Fuel and lighting. Furniture and upkeep. Garden and lawn. Gifts.
 House repairs. Investments and savings. Insurance Several types) Laundry and cleaning. Medical. Music.
 Postage and stationery.
 Recreation.
 Service
 Transportation.
 Taxes.
 Now the home maker must take each
 one of these items and determine what
 are the absolutely necessary things under
 each she must have for her family, as
 for example, first. she must know what
 ty pes of food each member of the family
 needs. She must furnish them with the
 right proportions of carbohydrates, pro-
 teins, fats and minerals and then these
 foods must be selected with care to be
 sure she has represented among them
 the vitamines or those substances that
 are necessary to maintain life and in-
 sure growth Milk, butter and green
 vegetables must be present daily in her
 menus. Second, she must determine the
 quantity of food necessary. This can be worked out mathematically in terms of calories. but for the ordinary occasion the home maker will determine 1t on
 the standard of maintaining body weight. If she has selected the right types or food then the adults of her family should keep their same weights if they are up to standard. If they are below they should gain. Children should gain regularly It must be remembered that children require much more than do adults.
 From this survey the cost of the foods can be easily determined for weeks time Then the cost of the food for year can be estimated from the weeks allotment. As I analyzed the food problem so the housekeeper must go through each item' seeing how she can buy to advantage on all sides, then she will set aside so many dollars for clothing, so many for repairs and so on through the list. This IS budget making. She must then have some means or methods of keeping accounts so she will know how she is living up to ner plan This budget keeping any simple system of bookkeeping that will tell the
 story and will not entail too much iaoor on the already overbusy home maker will suffice. Suppose every one should do this in- stead of buying this hat or that rug because a good salesman happened 10 persuade you that you couldn't live with out it. I think prices would not be soar ing no all lines and a great many of us wondering how we are going to save enough money to buy us another pair ot much needed shoes. In the long run it is more important for a great many of us to know how to manage our home expenditures better and we will have better national econ omy. Along this line like to think of Lord Byron's line. which really sums up my discussion: Survey our empire ano uenold our home.'