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41
are two typical instances, in each case the mother a good manager—
Family consists of husband, wife and children 4½ and 1 year old;
wages £2 7s. 0d. Expenditure—fares 4s. 6d., insurance 3s. 6d..
rent 13s. 3d., coal 2s. 6d., gas 3s. 0d. ; leaving 19s. 6d. for food;
of this the major items are meat 3s. 6d., bread 2s. 9d., butter
2s. 0d., eggs Is. 0d., tea Is. 0d., greens Is. 0d., cereals Is. 0d., cows'
milk Is. 2d. The next family consists of husband, wife and 4
children aged 7, 6, 3½ and 11 months. Out of the wages of £2 lis. 0d.,
4s. 8d. is taken up in fares, 3s. 11d. in insurances, 12s. 8d.
in rent, 2s. 6d. in coal and gas Is. 9d., leaving 25s. 8d. for food, etc.,
of which 6s. 2d. goes in groceries, 2s. 0d. in a joint of meat, 3s. 6d.
in bread and 2s. 0d. in milk.
One of the striking features is the misappliance of money
by many and the failure of appreciation of the value of some
articles of food. Cheese is an item which rarely appears in the
family dietary, while eggs and milk are considered luxuries. As
filling meals, more reliance is placed on bread and potatoes than
on suet puddings. Many purchase some of the cheaper brands of
tinned foods, while fish and chips bought at the nearest fish frying
shop forms an expensive meal. In many households, tinned
Milk is largely used, partly because it can be purchased at the
grocery store and partly as it is considered to be a cheap article,
though the manner in which it is used converts it into an expensive
item.
There can be no question as to the necessity for widespread
education of the housewife on the matter of wise purchasing,
having regard to the true nutritional value of the article, and
on the simple cooking of wholesome dishes which could be made
available at prices no higher than the amount ordinarily expended.