WOMEN as HOUSEKEEPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 1855, 10 June 1887, Page 32

WOMEN as HOUSEKEEPERS

ECONOMY.

The art of making both ends meet is one which every woman should be proud of possessing these hard times. I say hard times, for it is always hard times for some folks, while others never have known what it means to be in straitened circumstances, and could not sing with any zest "Hard times come again no more."

iSome folks are born to poverty, some, have poverty thrust upon them, and others, one might almost add, aspire to poverty, ao persistently do they court ' it by waste and extravagance. Many of those who were born to poverty have, by a good and intelligent use of their advantages, risen above the grinding care of their one time position to one of comparative ease, and, in some bases, even wealth. Many of those who by a stroke of ill-luck have had their wealth snatched away and poverty thrust' upon them have, by manfully and perseveringly struggling with the elements of misfortune, reached once more the shore of safety ; but those who " aspire " to poverty are almost hopeless cases, for no matter what advantages they possess, they by infrugality court penury.

I may be excused if I speak rather strongly in opposition to one very common sin against economy, and that is a system of credit. If young housekeepers with only a certain allowance for housekeeping would set their faces firmly against the monthly bills, they would save, themselves an enormous amount of vexation, for they would be astonished to find how much less it would cost in fqur weeks to live if cash were paid for everything as it'is needed. How can that be 2 some may inquire. Well just try it for four weeks and compare notes. One reason is that, a great many things would not be bought at all if they had to be paid cash for. It seems always an easier thing to settle a bill in a few weeks than at present, therefore little delicacies and luxuries are ordered that could well have been done without, and the shillings, eighteenpences, and half-crowns add into quite a formidable sum in a few weeks. If you have not got the ready money, don't buy. Never get into debt. You have no right to a new carpet, bonnet, or cloak till you have got the price that shall make it honestly yours. The cash rule is a golden rule. There are no bills worrying you half inj:o the grave— for if you have no. cash you don't" get anything till you have. , This entails self-denial,' of coarse. , " Itfis all .very firie," you may think, '? to sit down and write all this, but the principle is hot so easy tQ