Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1921-08-19
The PINCH
By LOUISE HOFFMAN.

u
question or the best way to handle the
family income arose. But then there
was no question Just ut first. Bob as
sumed that as head OF his family he
was only exercising his prerogative by
keeping the purse strings and doing
Joyce tacitiy agreed.
Bob. DEAR" she timidly began at
dinner Eta wanted me to 20 shop
ping this morning"
You went, Of course?" he asked in
the indulgent tone OF one being sure
OF an affirmative reply.
mo" returned Joyce briefly.
Bob's face was a study. Il thought
you adored shopping" he ventured.
why didn't you 30. honey gIrlf"
Joyce suddenly lost her timldity. II
didn't have any money" she blurted
out
"No money? Where did II all go
tO?" he inquired, mechanically, wiping
his dry lips ana gulping down some
water.
II don't know" confessed Joyce, all
at sea. Il owe the butcher. the grocer
the milkman. and the little you gave
me seems TO have evaporated."
Joyce and Bob spent their first dis
agreeable hour together facing facts
But at the end of IL Joyce VAS
able 10 show Bob that To continue this
practice OF doing out uncertain
amounts Of money every once in while
was nothing short OF daily crucitixion
Bob saw the justice OF her claims
and the niggardly position in which
she WAS placed and together they
resolved on weekly allowance.
Joyce felt sense OF security In
knowing definitely how much money
she could spend weekly.
This plan worked admirably for
few years, but Joyce found 1t had In
convenient drawbacks. too. A single
weeks allowance failed many times To
meet expenditures that were In view
a month ahead II became an actual
bug bear TO account for every penny.
She struggled many an hour over ac-
counts that refused To balance. She
could not always remember.
one day Joyce went to call on Etta
her bridesmaid, who was now happy
wife. and found her busy writing out
checks.
"Why. Eta % she exclaimed in rapt
admiration. Il didn't know your ship
had come III aud that you had money
enough Of your own to bank. You're
lucky girl"
II haven't any money OF my own
exactly" laughingly protested Eta.
But you sign these checks person
ally" coming nearer and taking the
liberty to stare AT the white bits OF
paper.
"0h. that's because we have a joint
account at the bank" explained Eta.
I'VE handle our income by the bank
account Ii Is placed In both Jim's
name and mine. This gives me the
right to write and sign checks equally
with jim"
Il should think that would cause
confusion" commented Joyce with
puckered brow.
NO" returned Eta, because We
are equal partners. We share In com
mon. Jim earns the money and de-
poslts his weekly salary In the bank.
He says | have earned 1t equally with
him In caring for him, his health and
our home. So the money belongs to
both and both of us have say as to
It's spending and Its saving. Ii sim
plifies housekeeping and bookkeeping
as have all my purchases listed on
bill and rendered once a month pay
able by check"
Eta smiled. Every virtue lies
dangerously near corresponding
vice." she quoted, land had to bring
myself up sharply once In while In
order not to abuse the credit system.
But / learned"
Joyce went home with her mind full
to overlooking with new. practical
and workable manner of handling
their income.
"Pshaw! my salary isn't large
enough protested Bob when Joyce
told him her new scheme that night
at dinner. II can't get enough to-
gether at any one time to warrant a
bank taking my account"
Joyce was not to be put down.
We'll. let rs visit our local banks"
she suggested, frankly state our cir
cumstances and see what happens"
And they did finally. with the result
that Bob's eyes were opened TO the
fact that the time has gone by when
the average bank refuses an account
because of the limitation of the daily
balance. That when a married couple
open joint bank account II estab-
fishes domestic credit.
Bob and Joyce went home as though
treading on air. The bank officials
we're so courteous and ready TO ex-
plain every detail of the checking as
well as the savings system. Bob felt
new self-respect for his ability In
the financial world. And Joyce began
TO anticipate the dignity and impor.
lance of signing checks herself.
There goes Nell" whispered Joyce
as they saw modestly attired woman
disappear into Lawyer Cooks office