Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1919 — RUN THE HOUSEHOLD ON BUDGET SYSTEM [ARTICLE]

RUN THE HOUSEHOLD ON BUDGET SYSTEM

Keep Careful Accounts and Divide Family Income Wisely— Suggestions for Various Salaries. A budget Is absolutely necessary to the wise and woil-proi>ortlon*<l running of a household. No budget can be made to fit *ll families, even families of similar stse, locality, etc., but the wellproportioned budget provide# a fair financial basis, a siartlng point from which to begin the work of wisely dividing the family Income. The main thing Is to the budget started, to keep careful accounts — tn a way that will permit analysation of expenditures —for at least several months; a year, if possible. Many people keep accounts, personal and household, only In a way that balances cash and shows how it has been generally expended. A budget should do better than that.

An exact budget Is difficult to provide at present, with all living prices In a state of flux but with a prevailing upward tendency. Figures differ greatly In various sections of the country, frequently In various sections of the same state. But in strictly industrial centers. It hns been authentically computed, food usually consumes about 43 per cent of the ordinary Income, shelter 18 per cent, fuel and light 0 per cent, and the various “sundries" so grouped because so difficult of more exact classification, 20 per cent. In the following suggestive budgets for varying Incomes the “saving" Item has been placed first as most necessary where the family income Is not too large and is practically Inelastic. This item may include life Insurance, savings bank accounts and such inevitable Income-bearing governmental securities absolutely necessary with the kind of incomes noted —as Liberty Bonds a id War Savings Stamp*.

Expenditure Budgets. Annual Income 11,800. Yearly Monthly Saving $ 102.00 8.50 Shelter 360.00 30.00 Fuel and 1ight...... 190.00 15.00 Food and service.... 720.00 60.00 Clothing 240.00 20.00 Carfare 60.00 5.00 Recreation, church, charities, etc 90.00 7.50 Emergency or household maintenance fund 48.00 4.00 Total $1,800.00 $150.00 Annual Income $2,000. Yearly Monthly Saving $ 120.00 $ 10.00 Shelter . 890.00 82.50 Fuel and 1ight...... 210.00 17.50 Food and service... 780.00 65.00 Clothing 270.00 22.50 Carfare 60.00 5.00 Recreation, church, charities, etc...... 108.00 9.00 Emergency or household maintenance fund 68.00 5.66 Total $2,000.00 $166.66 Annual Income $2,500. Yearly Monthly Saving"s 198.00 $ 16.50 Shelter 540.00 45.00 Fuel and 1ight...... 240.00 20.00 Food and service,... 900.00 75.00 Clothing 800.00 25.00 Carfare 60.00 5.00 Recreation, church, charities, etc 150.00 12.50 Emergency or household maintenance fund 111.66 9,88 Totals2,soo $208.38 Annual Income $3,000. Yearly Monthly Saving $ 240.00 $ 20.00 Shelter 720.00 60.00 Fuel and light 270.00 22.50 Food and service.... 960.00 80.00 Clothing 860.00 80.00 Carfare - 90.00 7.50 Recreation, church, charities, etc 180.00 15.00 Emergency or household maintenance fund 180.00 15.00 Total $3,000.00 $250.00 For the Initial preparation of a budget household co-operation must be obtained. The exact disposal of certain larger items, such a* rent, fuel, food, must be decided, plan* only changed thereafter when proven impracticable as at first arranged. A full account of personal and household expenditures should be kept for future reference and possible budget readjustments. Fairly, Justly tried, the budget system will lift many a family from a financial Slough of Despond to sunshiny financial heights.