DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

Shannon News, 25 July 1924, Page 2

DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

THRIFT IN THE HOUSE. Housewives concerned with the high cost of living and finding it extremely difficult to make both ends meet, are faced with the temptation of embark-« ing upon a" credit system of payment almost inevitably disastrous in its effects. .

I Debating Mho points in favour of settlement i>y cash or credit, a wellknown writer sums up the case thus: A man knovs his actual position if he pays his way as -he" goesrHe can keep within his means aud so apportion, his expenditure as to reserve a fund of savings against a time of need. He is always balanced up, and if he buys nothing but what he pays for in cash, he cannot fail to be on the credit side of his household accounts at the year's end. The arguments thus plainly set forth will appeal to "every woman perplexed with the problem of the correct adjustment of household expenditure. The method best calculated to anive at a satisfactory solution of this <!.faculty is not always clearly understood. The first necessary step is a comparison between income and current expenses, whatever sum of money is at your weekly disposal, endeavour to lit domestic requirements to less than its limit. The art of cutting your garment according to your cloth must be practised. It is realised that not" in every case is it posible to permit even the smallest surplus. Every'penny must be spent in providing for the needs of the family." In regard to the management of such households, no question of extravagance occurs. N THE DAY OP RECKONING. In other directions, however, the matter is different. A certain thriftless, happy-go-lucky system is the rule. The charge of undue : extravagance would be indignantly refuted, yet what greater extravagance can there be than to order whatever is fancied or required with-: out giving thought to the day of. reckoning ? The mistress of an establishment of this class invariably\conducts it on the .credit system of payment. She wholly fails to take into account the price of goods purchased. By her method of management she makes it utterly impossible to ascertain •: the real financial position or. to balance it in its several departments. Regular daily entries of goods bought are neglected Bills are permitted to run on from month to month, a habit which renders checking impossible, even when all kept. The result is confusion and dismay when, later on, Insistent demands for payment begin.