The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-08-07
THE HOUSEHOLD PURSE STRINGS


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THE HOUSEHOLD PURSE STRING
"The old way of doing out none
to the housewife day by day with n
: definite plan for spending the year
income is not only unbusinessfike but
in way, unethical and trouble pro
ducing. Much dissatisfaction arise
from this plan,' said Dean Florenc
Harrison of the home economies de
partment at the State College o,
Washington.
1.-THE question, what did you d.
with that twenty-five cents gave yor
last week. is supposed to be a joke
but it is not one for the women who
must ask for every cent she spends to
| buy food or the family clothing.
/ "Some women prefer to have an al
lowance, for then they can count a
month ahead and plan accordingly.
Even this method does not provide for
the seasonal demands for clothing,
fuel, and food supplies. If this allow
ance is given in actual money, it ne
cessitates close accounting from day
to day, and time spent in the actual
handling of the money.
"The charge system is another plan
which does not allow for looking at
yearly expenditure in its proper rela-
ton. The only business-like plan is
for the husband and wife to have a
joint bank account and plan for the
yearly expenditures made by both and
carried out in absolute trust In this
partnership there should be no advan-
tage taken on either side. The bust
ness of the family win be carried out
by definite plan Tor expenditures,
accurate records of income and expen-
ses as they occur, and checking up
Of expenses so that improvements may
be made.
This plan should result in better
housekeeping, improve financial or
ganization and certainly give more
personal satisfaction in cooperative
business worthy of ones best thought
and efforts.
"Children who perform useful SER
vices about the home add to the fam
ily's real income. IF the child learns to
dress himself, pick up his clothing
and toys and put them in their places,
he is releasing the mothers time and
strength for other services, and thus
contributes to the family income.
"The family income is the sum total
If money earned and services of the
'ntire family combined. 1t is COOP
'rative affair, so plans for spending
t must be cooperative. The whole
problem of expenditure must be stud !
ed out by the wife and husband to-
ether, and a method decided ON that =
yill be agreeable to both.
"The money value of the house
yife's work and management in the I
ONE is often equal to the money re-
eived by the husband for his employ 4
lent. She should feel herself equal
her husband in the support of the Z
ONE. If women would estimate their 3
orth in this way there would be few 4
women feeling that they must be 4
age-earners to be economically indie 4
sndent and preserve their personal 3
gnity. The farm woman certainly 8
attributes as much to the family liv- &
6 by her unpaid Homework as her 6
lsband receives in money represent 4
g the value Of his labor ON the farm. d
"Dr. John B. Andrews, in his new 8
ok on Economics of the House =
Id, estimates the value of house s
fe's labors as follows: If you hired &
housekeeper she would receive $50 Z
month, room, board and laundry. AT b
IS rate, housewife adds $1,000 a 4
ar by her service without taking &
o consideration her management Hr
ntribution. Wise management in
asses satisfaction in the home which
difficult to measure in dollars and
its >,