AMOUNT SPENT A HEAD ON FOOD—PER WEEK, PER DAY
The remarkable thing about these budgets is the small amount left for
food after all other necessaries have been paid for. When it comes to a
pinch, food is the elastic item. Rent is occasionally not paid at all
during a crisis, but the knowledge that it is mounting up, and that
eventually it must be paid keeps these steady folk from that expedient
save at the very last resource. A little less food all round, though a
disagreeable experience, leaves no bill in shillings and pence to be
paid afterwards. Down to a certain low minimum, therefore, food may
sink before leaving the rent unpaid, or before pawning begins. That
low minimum differs in different families. It is a question of the
standard to which each has been accustomed, but that it is possible to be
accustomed to an extraordinarily low standard these budgets amply prove.
The following are a number of weekly budgets taken at random:
Mr. A., whose house was visited from January, 1911, to February, 1912,
was a railway-carriage washer, and was paid 18s. for a six days’ week,
alternately with 21s. for a seven days’ week. His wife was a good
manager, but was in delicate health. He was an extraordinarily good
husband, and brought home to her his entire wage. There were three
children born, and three alive.
_A 21/0 Week._
s. d.
Rent 7 0
Clothing club (for two weeks) 1 2
Burial insurance (for two weeks) 1 6
Coal and wood 1 7
Coke 0 3
Gas 0 10
Soap, soda 0 5
Matches 0 1
Blacklead, blacking 0 1
-----
12 11
_Left for Food, 8/1._
s. d.
11 loaves 2 7
1 quartern flour 0 5½
Meat 1 10
Potatoes and greens 0 9½
½ lb. butter 0 6
1 lb. jam 0 3
6 ozs. tea 0 6
2 lb. sugar 0 4
1 tin of milk 0 4
Cocoa 0 4
Suet 0 2
------
8 1
Average per head for food all round the family, 1s. 7½d. a week, or less
than 3d. a day. But a working man cannot do on less than 6d. a day, or
3s. 6d. a week. This reduces the mother and children to 1s. 1¾d. a week,
or less than 2d. a day.
Mr. B., whose house was visited from July, 1911, till September, 1912,
was a printer’s labourer, whose wages ranged between 20s. and 26s. a
week. He usually allowed 20s. for household. There were six children
born, and six alive.
_November 23, 1911._
s. d.
Rent 8 0
Burial insurance 1 8
Boot club 1 0
Coal 1 0
Gas 0 8
Wood 0 3
Soap, soda 0 4½
------
12 11½
_Left for Food, 7/0½._
s. d.
14 loaves 3 2½
Meat 0 10
Suet 0 2
Dripping 0 6
3 ozs. tea 0 3
2 lb. sugar 0 4
2 tins of milk 0 6
1 quartern flour 0 5
Potatoes 0 6
Greens 0 4
------
7 0½
Average per head for food all round the family, 10½d. a week, or 1½d. a
day.
About December, 1911, the household allowance was raised to 21s. 9d.,
with occasional grants of 1s. towards clothes.
Mr. C., whose house was visited from November, 1910, to July, 1911,
worked in a pottery. His wages were 22s. He allowed 20s. There were four
children born, and four alive.
_February 15, 1911._
s. d.
Rent 6 0
Burial insurance 1 2
Coal 1 3
Gas 1 2
Soap, soda, etc. 0 5½
Wood 0 2
------
10 2½
_Left for Food, 9/9½._
s. d.
14 loaves 2 11
Meat 2 9
3 lb. sugar 0 6
8 ozs. tea 0 8
Butter 0 10
17 lbs. potatoes 0 10½
1 tin of milk 0 3
Pot herbs and greens 0 4
1 lb. jam 0 4
2 haddocks 0 4
------
9 9½
Average per head for food all round the family, 1s. 7½d. a week, or 2¾d.
a day. Putting the father’s 3s. 6d. on one side, the mother and children
average 1s. 5d. a week, or 2½d. a day.
Mr. D., whose house was visited from June, 1910, till July, 1911, was
a pottery packer, making 25s. a week. He allowed 23s. There were six
children born, and six alive.
_November 7, 1910._
s. d.
Rent 7 3
Burial insurance 1 3½
Boot club 0 6
Slate club 0 7
Gas 0 8
Coal 1 5
Soap, soda 0 5
Wood 0 1
Coke 0 2
Lamp oil 0 0½
Blacking 0 0½
------
12 5½
_Left for Food, 10/6½_
s. d.
14 loaves 2 11
Meat 2 8
20 lbs. potatoes 0 10
6 ozs. tea 0 6
Sugar 0 5¼
Butter 0 6
Jam 0 4
Vegetables 0 8
Suet and lard 0 2½
Vinegar, pepper, and salt 0 1¾
1 tin of milk 0 3
Flour 0 5
Cheese 0 4
Haddock 0 4
------
10 6½
Average per head for food all round the family, 1s. 3¾d. a week, or 2¼d.
a day.
Putting the father’s 3s. 6d. on one side, the mother and children average
1s. a week, or 1-5/7d. a day.
Mr. E., whose house was visited from June, 1910, to October, 1912, was
a painter’s labourer, who never would tell his wife what he made. She
had 22s. a week in summer-time, and what he could give her in winter;
never less than 20s. when in work. The eldest girl had just got into a
soda-water factory, and was allowing 4s. a week. Owing to a period of
almost entire unemployment in the previous winter £3 4s. was still owing
for rent when the visits began. There were seven children alive, three
dead. One son had left home.
_December 7, 1910._
s. d.
Rent (of which 2s. is back
payment) 10 0
Boot club 0 6
Burial insurance 0 7
Mangling 0 2
Coal 1 4
Gas 0 9
Wood 0 1
Soap, soda 0 4
Linseed meal 0 1
Pinafore and bonnet 0 8
-----
14 6
_Left for Food, 11/6._
s. d.
20 loaves 4 2
Meat 2 10½
2 tins of milk 0 6
Sugar 0 4
Margarine 1 0
Potatoes 0 9
Tea 0 8
Fish 0 4½
Vegetables 0 6
Pepper, salt 0 1
Jam 0 3
------
11 6
Average per head for food all round the family, 1s. 3¾d. a week, or 2¼d.
a day. Putting the father’s 3s. 6d. on one side, the mother and children
average 1s. 1¾d. a week, or nearly 2d. a day.
To take now groups of men in the same trade without giving the budget of
each in detail will give a more general idea. Eight carmen form the first
group. Their wages are extraordinarily dissimilar. They, at the time
their budgets passed into the hands of the investigation, were working
for private firms, for L.C.C. contractors, and Post-Office contractors
on every kind of terms. Paid by the day or by the week, they were on
night work or day work, driving one horse or two, continuously at work,
or with long stretches of waiting in a yard with no shelter. One Postal
van driver, who was a night worker, drove all Derby Day in between two
of his nights, and got 1s. 6d. overtime for it. The case of the carman
in a big West End private firm who got two days a week has been already
mentioned.
The cases are as follows:
1. Wage, 26s. Allowance, 23s. 6d. 6 children; none dead.
Rent, 5s. 6d.—2 tiny rooms. Clothing as wanted. No burial
insurance.
Average left for food on 6 weeks’ full pay—14s. 5d., or 1s.
9½d. per head a week, 3d. a day: man, 3s. 6d.; mother and
children, 1s. 6¾d. a week, or 2¾d. a day.
The week that 4s. had to be spent on new boots these figures
became for mother and children 11¾d. a week, or 1¾d. a day.
2. Wage, 25s. Allowance, 21s.; girl’s wage, 4s.; total, 25s. 7 children
alive, 1 dead, 1 away.
Rent, 7s.—2 rooms. Clothing as wanted. No burial insurance.
Average left for food, 12s. 4½d., or 1s. 6½d. per head a week:
man, 3s. 6d.; mother and children, 1s. 3¼d. a week, or 2-5/7d.
a day.
3. Wage, 24s. Allowance, 22s. 3 children alive, 1 dead.
Rent for 3 rooms, 7s. Clothing, 6d. Burial insurance, 8d.
Left for food, 9s. 4d., or 1s. 10½d. per head a week, 3¼d. a
day: man, 3s. 6d. a week; mother and children, 1s. 5½d. a week,
or 2½d. a day.
4. Wage, 24s. 9d. Allowance, 24s. 4 children alive, 1 dead.
Rent, 8s. Clothing, 2s. 2d. Burial insurance, 10d.
Average left for food, 10s. 2¾d., or 1s. 8½d. per head a week,
or almost 3d. a day: man, 3s. 6d.; mother and children nearly
1s. 4d. a week, or 2¼d. a day.
5. Wage, 20s. Allowance, 19s. 4 children; none dead.
Rent, 4s. 6d. for one room. No regular clothing. Burial
insurance, 3½d.
Average left for food, 9s. 11¼d., or 1s. 7¾d. per head a week,
less than 3d. a day: man, 3s. 6d.; mother and children, nearly
1s. 4d. a week, or 2¼d. a day.
6. Wage, 20s. Allowance, 18s. 4 children alive; 5 dead.
Rent (2 rooms), 4s. 6d. Clothing, 1s. 6d. Burial insurance, 8½d.
Average left for food—8s. 9d., or 1s. 5½d. per head a week,
2½d. a day: man, 3s. 6d.; mother and children, 1s. 0⅗d. per
head a week, less than 2d. a day.
Two cases where the weekly wage was less than 18s., owing to the men
taking temporary work in unemployment:
7. Wage, 15s. Allowance, 12s. 6d. 2 children alive, 2 dead.
Rent, 3s. 9d. (1 room). No regular clothing. No burial
insurance. Has since insured.
Average left for food—4s. 9d., or 1s. 2½d. per head a week,
2d. a day: man could not have his 3s. 6d. a week here, as that
would leave only 1s. 3d. a week between mother and children.
He probably manages on 2s., leaving 2s. 9d. for mother and two
children.
8. Wage, 10s. Allowance, 8s. 6d. 1 child.
Rent, 3s. 6d. (1 room). No regular clothing. No burial
insurance. Has since insured.
Average left for food—3s. 10d., or 1s. 3⅓d. per head a week,
2¼d. a day: here again the man cannot take his 3s. 6d. a week,
but probably manages on about 2s., leaving 1s. 10d. a week for
nursing mother.
The general average for the 8 women and 30 living children is 1s. 2⅗d.
per head a week, or 2d. a day. Ten children have died, and 1 has left
home, making the total of children born 41.
Another group is 3 printers’ labourers, where the average for 3 women and
18 living children is 10¼d. a week, or 1½d. a day. Only 2 children have
died in this group, making the total 20.
The average for the families of 2 horse-keepers is 1s. 4d. per week, or
2¼d. a day. There are 9 children living, 2 have died.
Three plumbers’ and painters’ labourers form another group, where 3 women
and 15 living children average 1s. 1½d. a week, or almost 2d. a day. In
this group 7 children have died, making a total of 22.
In the families of 2 potters’ labourers, out of 10 children none have
died. The 2 women and 10 children average 1s. 1½d. per week, or nearly
2d. a day.
Two theatre hands out of 14 children have lost 6, and the 2 women and 8
living children average 1s. 3½d. a week, or 2¼d. a day.
The average for all the women and children within the investigation is
1s. 5½d. per head a week, or 2½d. per head a day.
This average is worked out under the supposition that the man has a
uniform expenditure on his food of 3s. 6d. a week, or 6d. a day, except
in about six cases, where the total amount left for food was so small
that it was obvious that the man had to share more or less with the
others, or they could not have lived at all. An average of six weeks was
taken in each case, as the amount spent on food varied very much from
week to week in some families. When clothes or sickness made an inroad on
the budget down went the food.
Here is a case in point:
Mr. M.: Wage, 25s. Allowed 23s. Three children.
_April 29, 1910._
s. d.
Rent 6 6
Coal 0 9
Wood and oil 0 6½
Club 0 3
Soap, soda 0 4½
Boy’s knickers 0 8¾
Burial insurance 0 10
-----
9 11¾
_Left for food_, 13/0¼, which means 9/6¼ between the mother and
children, or 2/4½ per week, or 4d. a day.
_May 5, 1910._
s. d.
Rent 6 6
Coal 0 9
Doctor 1 0
Nurse 5 0
Club 0 3
Burial insurance 0 10
Soap, soda 0 4½
------
14 8½
_Left for food_, 8/3½, which means 4/9½ between the mother and
children, or 1/2¼ per week, or 2d. a day.
Another way than that of reducing the food of hungry children is to pawn
clothing when some expense must be met.
Mr. R.: Wage, 25s.; allows 21s.; six children. Daughter (partially fed at
service): Wage, 4s.; allows 4s. Total income, 29s. Total allowance, 25s.
The daughter was told by her mistress where she was in daily service
that she must come in better boots. The average amount left for food
was 11s. 3d. for the whole family of man, wife, and the five children
fed at home, which means 1s. 7½d. per head a week all round the family.
Taking the usual 3s. 6d. for the man’s food, there is left 7s. 9d. for
the mother and children, which means 1s. 3½d. each per week, or 2¼d. per
day. The food allowance being already as low as seemed safe to go, rent
being payable to a personal friend who was in difficulties herself, the
pawnshop was chosen as the way out.
The statement of income given above was altered as follows:
s. d.
Mr. R. 21 0
S. 4 0
Made a parcel own boots 2 0
Tommy’s boots 2 6
-----
29 6
While expenses other than food ran:
s. d.
Rent 7 0
Gas 1 6
Coal 2 1½
Soap, soda 0 2
Boots for S. 6 6
------
17 3½
Which leaves for food all round the family, 12s. 2½d., or an average of
nearly 1s. 9d. per head a week. The average for mother and children is
almost 1s. 5½d., or 2½d. a day. The sum of 4s. 6d. which was received
for the boots appears later as “4s. 8d. for boots out of pawn” in the
expenditure of maternity benefit.
The sum of 3s. 6d. which is deducted for the bread-winner’s food before
calculating the average for mother and children is in many instances well
below the actual sum spent on the man’s food. This amount has been chosen
as the very least the women feel themselves justified in spending. The
cases where men take 3s. or 3s. 3d. for week-day dinners are those in
point. The sum of 4s. 6d. or 5s. would be nearer the mark by the end
of the week, when the man has had his share of the Sunday joint, and
his share, with or without “relishes,” of the teas and breakfasts. In
no single instance did the man seem to be having more than enough or
even enough. It was evident, however, that in order to keep one person
almost sufficiently fed all the rest in nearly every case had to live
permanently on less than 3d. a day.
It must be remembered by those who are convinced that the working man
can live well and easily on 3d. a day, because middle-class people have
tried the experiment and found it possible, that the well-to-do man who
may spend no more than 1s. 9d. a week on food for a month or more has
not also all his other expenses cut down to their very lowest limit. The
well-to-do man sleeps in a quiet, airy room, with sufficient and sanitary
bedding. He has every facility for luxurious bathing and personal
cleanliness. He has light and hygienic clothing; he has warmth in the
winter and change of air in the summer. He can rest when he is in; he has
good cooking at his command, with a sufficiency of storage, utensils, and
fuel. Above all he can always stop living on 3d. a day if it does not
suit him, or if his family get anxious. When his daughter needs a pair of
6s. 6d. boots he does not have to arrange an overdraft with his banker in
order to meet the crisis, as the poor man does with his pawnbroker. He
does not feel that all his family, well or ill, warm or cold, overworked
or not, are also bound to live on 3d. a day, and are only too thankful if
it does not drop to 2½d. or 2d., or even less, should under-employment
or no employment come his way. It is impossible to compare the living
on 3d. a day of a person all of whose other requirements are amply and
sufficiently satisfied, with the living of people whose every need is
thwarted and starved. Food is only half the problem. Air, light, warmth,
freedom from damp, sufficient space—these, for adults—go to make up the
other half, and these for young children are even of greater importance
than sufficient diet.
In the households of well-to-do people two kinds of diet can be used—one
for adults, the other for children. In the household which spends 10s.
or even less on food, only one kind of diet is possible, and that is the
man’s diet. The children have what is left over. There must be a Sunday
joint, or, if that be not possible, at least a Sunday dish of meat, in
order to satisfy the father’s desire for the kind of food he relishes,
and most naturally therefore intends to have. With that will go potatoes
and greens. The children share the meat, if old enough, or have potatoes
and gravy. For those children too young for cold meat there may be suet
pudding; but probably there is only bread and dripping, and so on and so
on, not only through the week, but through the months and years. Nursery
food is unknown for the children of the poor, who get only the remains of
adult food.
It was reckoned by a young mother of the writer’s acquaintance that the
cost of _special_ food used for two children in her nursery was 10s. a
week—mostly spent on milk, cream, and fruit, items of diet hardly ever
seen by children of the poor.
That the diet of the poorer London children is insufficient,
unscientific, and utterly unsatisfactory is horribly true. But that the
real cause of this state of things is the ignorance and indifference of
their mothers is untrue. What person or body of people, however educated
and expert, could maintain a working man in physical efficiency and rear
healthy children on the amount of money which is all these same mothers
have to deal with? It would be an impossible problem if set to trained
and expert people. How much more an impossible problem when set to the
saddened, weakened, overburdened wives of London labourers?