Labor is an important item in the running of the house.
The close connection of selecting and operating a home will
be seen. Should the administrator divide the family income
in such a way that little is left for operating, the little things
of everyday life become a constant source of worry.
The questions of the number of rooms, and their care,
326 FOODS AND HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT
relative expense of heating by furnace, steam, or hot water,
the cost of regular service in wages per week in order to
attain one's ideals, the cost of extra service, the lighting by
gas, oil, or electricity are all problems of operating. ICnowl-
edge of sanitary science will make the homemaker demand
cleanliness in her surroimdings, quick disposal of waste, and
the prompt removal of dust. Much care in planning is
necessary here in order that there may be no leakage and that
there may be the full share of comfort for each member.
For the income of from $500 to $5000 it has been estimated
that a proportion of from 10 to 20 per cent must usually be
spent for operating in order to secure comfort. Much must
necessarily depend upon the amount of hired service required,
which, in tjirn, depends largely upon whether the homemaker
is to give her time chiefly to the care of her children or chiefly
to the conduct of the housework.
Clothing. — A large proportion of the family income is
spent on clothing. A knowledge of textiles and of purchasing
is necessary in order to do this wisely and economically.
Clothing is as necessary an expense as food, for it con-
serves the heat which the food furnishes and thus main-
tains body temperature. Health is the main factor in
efficiency, and health is preserved by clothing which protects
the body from sudden changes in temperatures, and con-
serves the energy for other purposes. Money should be
spent on clothing to secure health, but too often more than
the right percentage of income is expended because of love
of display. The instinct for show, color, ornamentation
is a primitive one, and the aesthetic '' want " is, in one sense,
as real as the physical and shouM be considered in expendi-
tures for this purpose. It is a duty to look well, but it is not
necessary, nor does it show good sense, to sacrifice the health,
happiness, and higher life of the family by economizing on
THE HOUSEHOLD BUDGET ' 327
food and other essentials in order to secure hats, shoes, gowns,
and accessories that cater to a mania for show. If the in-
come be limited so that the essentials of clothing only can
be purchased, the miargin of income which can be spent for
pleasure may, if taste so dictates, be spent on clothing instead
of pictures, books, or some recreation. That is a matter for
the individual or family to decide. In the typical budgets
cited below it will be seen that the expenditure for clothing
was usually between 10 and 18 pe!r cent.
Page 162
Presented as published in 1914. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Labor is an important item in the running of the house. The close connection of selecting and operating a home will be seen. Should the administrator divide the family income in such a way that little is left for operating, the little things of everyday life become a constant source of worry.
The questions of the number of rooms, and their care,
relative expense of heating by furnace, steam, or hot water, the cost of regular service in wages per week in order to attain one's ideals, the cost of extra service, the lighting by gas, oil, or electricity are all problems of operating. Knowledge of sanitary science will make the homemaker demand cleanliness in her surroundings, quick disposal of waste, and the prompt removal of dust. Much care in planning is necessary here in order that there may be no leakage and that there may be the full share of comfort for each member.
For the income of from $500 to $5000 it has been estimated that a proportion of from 10 to 20 per cent must usually be spent for operating in order to secure comfort. Much must necessarily depend upon the amount of hired service required, which, in turn, depends largely upon whether the homemaker is to give her time chiefly to the care of her children or chiefly to the conduct of the housework.
Clothing. — A large proportion of the family income is spent on clothing. A knowledge of textiles and of purchasing is necessary in order to do this wisely and economically. Clothing is as necessary an expense as food, for it conserves the heat which the food furnishes and thus maintains body temperature. Health is the main factor in efficiency, and health is preserved by clothing which protects the body from sudden changes in temperatures, and conserves the energy for other purposes. Money should be spent on clothing to secure health, but too often more than the right percentage of income is expended because of love of display. The instinct for show, color, ornamentation is a primitive one, and the aesthetic '' want " is, in one sense, as real as the physical and shouM be considered in expenditures for this purpose. It is a duty to look well, but it is not necessary, nor does it show good sense, to sacrifice the health, happiness, and higher life of the family by economizing on
food and other essentials in order to secure hats, shoes, gowns, and accessories that cater to a mania for show. If the income be limited so that the essentials of clothing only can be purchased, the margin of income which can be spent for pleasure may, if taste so dictates, be spent on clothing instead of pictures, books, or some recreation. That is a matter for the individual or family to decide. In the typical budgets cited below it will be seen that the expenditure for clothing was usually between 10 and 18 per cent.