Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02

has gone through exactly the same kind of painful transition
Before exchanging with John, Mary worked and
lived home John making about SIS week in those
days and driving new Between them they had
around $500 in the bank After their marriage, John
insisted that Mary quit work in order to take on the full
time job of wife and mother.
They still driving that car. but it's little the
worse for And try hard as they can to save
their bank balance has noSe-dved around $780, This
is in spite Of the fact that the family income has increased
about S97.3l week, 5000 year. The JOneSeS
medan urban family income is higher than the income their
friends out in the country receive But OF course the folks
the farm have certain compromising advantages The
farm supplies large Of their food and rural living
expenses are generally less.
One Of Johns chief complaints his Since marry
ing his salary has increased IS per This has
pushed his up than 50 per cent He is now pay
ing Uncle Sam close $500 year. This is than
twice what he's been able to put in the bank He figures
it's whopping big for family in his income
bracket This plus having learned about the skyhgh taxa
ton Of big prizes quiz shows, has made him really
sympathetic for the first time in his life toward with
unusually high incomes say the $4,000 to 600 levels
Mary in her duties housewife, spends most Of the
family income To how the family income spent look
at the box on the opposite page
College For The Children
The Joneses have no income from trusts securities stocks
or any other outside Since his salary the sole
at least part tme) John concerned about his life insur
ance. He is caught between the potential threat TO the
family he die suddenly, and the current, actual
importance of each dollar He probably could afford, and
would like to have life insurance. He compromises on
policy worth $3.50. for which he pays Sl52 year.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones would like their children to 60
to college, opportunity they missed If the children do
go university though they'll have to depend to large
extent scholarships working their way Trouble then
will BE- as it is now, money.
How much John worth at this point in his life? Count
ing the money he has invested in his home and furniture, in
his car counting the cash in the bank and in his wallet and
counting the $40 he loaned Bill Smith last week. Johns
net worth is approximately $4,000. His greatest net
worth when the children have left home and he's in his
ffties, is projected at around Sl4,l64.
Of course, Mary thinks he's worth great deal more
And she's overwhelmingly right
How does this elusive average family feel about their
situation? They 5S per cent? satisfied with their standard
of living and (5S per cent? content with their income
They feel 66 per cent? badly about the fact that they can't
enough money but they are "a cent? sure
that things will improve
And reading between the statistical lines certain unStaS
teal facts become remarkably clear John and Mary have
about worth Of love and understanding invested
in each other And they have roughly another SlOOOOOOO
worth of confidence and faith in the future.