The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-05-06
THE FINCH
BY LOUISE HOFFMAN.
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And so they were married and lived
happily ever after-that Is, until the
question of the best way to handle the
family income arose. But then there
was no question just at first. Bob as
sumed that as head Of his family he
was only exercising his prerogative by
keeping the purse strings and doing
out so much every once In while and
Joyce tacitly agreed.
bob, DEAR" she timidly began at
dinner, Eta wanted me to 60 shop
ping this morning."
"You went. of cOurseY" he asked in
the indulgent tone of one being sure
Of an affirmative reply.
"No," returned Joyce briefly.
Bob's face was study. II thought
you adored shopping" he ventured.
'Why didn't you go, honey girl?"
Joyce suddenly lost her timidity. II
didn't have any money" she blurted
out.
mo money? Where did II all go
tor he inquired, mechanically, wiping
his dry lips and gulping down some
water
II don't know" confessed Joyce, all
at sea. II owe the butcher. the grocer,
the milkmap, and the little you gave
me seems to have eraporated."
Joyce and Bob spent their first dis
agreeable hour together facing facts.
But at the end of 1t Joyce was
able to show Bob that to continue this
practice of doling out uncertain
amounts of money every once in a while
was nothing short of daily crueifixion.
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 il had in
convenient drawbacks, too. A single
weeks allowance failed many times to
meet expenditures that were In view
month ahead. It 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 Eta
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 In and 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.
"Oh, that's because we .haye joint
account at the bank" explained Eta.
1--WE handl our income by the bank
account. IT is placed In both Jim's
name and mine. This gives me the
right to write and sign checks equally
with jim"
81 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-
posits his weekly salary in the bank.
He says / have earned II equally with
him in caring for him, his health and
our home. So the money belongs to
both and both of us have a say as to
its spending and its saving. 1t sim
plifies housekeeping and bookkeeping
as have all my purchases listed on
a bill and rendered once a month pay
able by check"
Eta smiled. EVERY virtue lies
dangerously near corresponding
vice." she quoted, "and 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 overffowing with new, practical
and workable manner Of handling
their income.
"Pshaw! my salary isn't large
| en0ugh! protested BOD when Joyce
told him her new scheme that night
at dinner. II can't get enough to-
gether at any one time to warrant q
bank taking my account"
Joyce was not to be put down.
"Well, 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 a joint bank account 1t estab-
fishes domestic credit.
Bob and Joyce went home as though
treading on air. The bank officials
were so courteous and ready to ex-
plain every detail Of the checking as
well as the savings system. Bob felt
a new self-respect for his ability in
the financial world. And Joyce began
| TO anticipate the dignity and imDor-