Gunnison news-champion., 1924-01-11
Budgeting the
Household Income
(By Mrs. Clara NJ. Herrick, Pres
Correspondent

SorfespondeEtD
With renewed enthusiasm and good
attendance, members of the Gunni-
son Woman's club gathered Tuesday
of this week at the home Of Mrs. s. r.
Spencer for the first meeting after the
holiday vacation.
Members regretted the absence of
the club president, Mrs. Margaret
White OLeary, who has been quite
seriously i'll for some time. Mrs.
Louis Rouviere as vice-president call
ed the meeting TO order. The routine
business included unanimous election
of two members, Mrs. Frank Hanson
and Mrs. Phoeba Walker. The pro-
gram was then conducted by the lead
er, Mrs. Fannie B. Whip, who an
nounced the topic of the day, a dis
cussion of "Budgeting the Hou sehold
Income" by Miss Steckleburg, Of the
domestic science department of the
Western State college. Miss Steckle-
burg was given rising vote of thanks
for her talk, which was SO interesting
and valuable that the News-Champion
generously offers to publish it in two
installments, the first of which ap-
pears herewith.
Mrs. Spencer, assisted by Mrs. Louis
Miller, Mrs. Mae Spencer and Mrs.
Max Sievers in serving a delicious
luncheon to the members and guests,
the latter including Miss Steckleburg
and Mrs. Sprigg Shackleford.
The next meeting of the Woman's
Club is with Mrs. Chas. Eilebrecht at
the residence Of Mrs. Mary Davis, on
January g.. Below is the first in
staliment of Miss Steckleburg's paper:
''Budgeting the Household Income y
Economics is the social science of
business, of mankind's existence ac-
tivities. Household economics may
be defined as the social science of the
business Of housekeeping and home
making, and as such, comprises the
productive work of the home, the ex-
penditures for it, and the direction Of
the activities of the household.
The term, household, involves:
/. The house-structure in which
the family lives-either as owner or a
tenant.
2. The capital of productive equip
ment, including utensils, machinery
and food materials.
8. The capital of consumption
goods-furnishings, books, music, etc.
In considering the functions Of the
household. we may say that it func-
tions:
I. Economically, as regards pro-
duction. Over twenty million women
spend from four to six hours daily
making food ready for use.
2. As the final agent of economic
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distribution to individuals, it allots the
income in terms of satisfaction that
the expenditure of money income will
purchase. 1t is the household. rather
than the pay envelope that determines
the standard of living.
3. AS the chief agent of economic
consumption, for it increases or de-
creases, according to its measure of
efficiency, the satisfaction which fami-
ly life affords.
Briefly summarizing, then, the three
general purposes Of the household as
related to human experiences are:
1. As a racial institution-it crc-
ates the individual physical life.
2. As an economic institution, IL
maintains life and provides for the
necessities of it.
3. As a social institution, it en-
riches and humanizes life.
Thus, physical existence, economic
maintenance and personality are the
three rich gifts of the household to
the individual and the measure of the
first and last is determined to a large
degree by the efficiency with which
economic maintenance is carried on.
This, In turn, is controlled in a meas
ure, by the money income Of the fam
lily, but the real income of q family
depends upon the way in which this
wealth is spent. Women do 10 per
cent of the household buying. Other
statistics show that from 35 to 40 per
cent of the worlds wealth is spent by
women. An enterprise of such enor-
nous proportions deserve intelligent
investigation and conscientious study.
A most calling feature to most
women in the home is the way in
which their labor is regarded as hav-
ing no money value, and the worth
whileness is accordingly discounted
Some interesting articles have recent
ly been published along this line.
DIR. Andrews, in his book, "Econo-
mics of the Household" includes these
classifications which give measure
of recognition of the value of such
housework. He says:
"A comprehensive view of the fam
lily income shows at least three gener-
al sources.
"u) The economic contributions
made by the members of the family,
or By the family property, securing
money outside the household.
"(2) The economic services rend-
cred inside the household which create
wealth there for the family use.
"(3) The social contributions, both
Of material and service made by the
community and the state to the
family's living"
He further classifes household la
Dor income As belonging to one of
three types: I
1. The goods and services created
within the home by the non-wage
earning but productive services Of the
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