With______John Smith, 420 Fourth Avenue_____
======================================================
10/2 | Groceries...........................| $ 2.10
10/3 | Groceries...........................| 2.76
10/6 | Groceries...........................| .42
10/8 | Groceries...........................| 4.12
10/10 | Groceries...........................| 1.09
10/13 | Groceries...........................| .32
10/15 | Groceries...........................| 2.30
10/17 | Groceries...........................| 2.13
10/20 | Groceries...........................| 1.93
10/22 | Groceries...........................| 3.97
10/24 | Groceries...........................| 1.69
10/27 | Groceries...........................| 4.10
10/29 | Groceries...........................| 1.12
10/31 | Groceries...........................| 3.35
| |--------
| Forwarded..............| $31.40
======================================================
FIG. 4
13. A simple plan for keeping such a record is illustrated in Fig. 5.
For this record it is possible to buy sheets of paper or cards already
ruled at any stationery store, but it is a simple matter to rule sheets
of blank paper that will answer the purpose very well. As will be
observed, there is a space provided for every day of the month and
columns into which may be placed the expenditures for groceries,
including fruits and vegetables, as well as for meats and fish, milk,
laundry and cleaning, and miscellaneous items, such as ice and other
necessities that are not ordinarily classed as groceries. Of course, the
number of columns to be used can be regulated by the person keeping the
account, the illustration simply showing the general procedure. However,
one column should be devoted to the daily expenditure, the figures here
being the amounts of the total money spent for the different items each
day. In the last column should be recorded the various amounts of money
received by the housewife during the month for the settlement of her
bills. At the end of the month, all of the columns should be totaled.
The total of the daily outlay should equal that of the preceding
columns. The difference between this total and that of the money
received will show the housewife just how she stands with regard to
income and expenditure for foods and kitchen supplies. In this case,
there is an excess of expenditure amounting to $10.68, and this sum
should be forwarded to the June account. On the other hand, should the
housewife find that her expenses exceed her allowance, she will know
that it will be necessary for her to curtail her expenditures in
some way.
Expenditures and Receipts for the Month of ___May___, 19___
================================================================
| | Meats | |Laundry | Miscel-| |
Date| Groc- | and | Milk | and | laneous| Daily | Money
| eries | Fish | |Cleaning| Expend-| Outlay | Rec'vd
| | | | | itures | |
----------------------------------------------------------------
1 | $ 2.10| $ .60| $ .28| $ 1.50 | | $ 4.48 | $ 5.70
2 | | .40| .28| | | .58 |
3 | 2.76| 1.90| .28| | $ .35 | 5.29 | 15.00
4 | | | .28| | | .28 |
5 | | | .28| | | .28 |
6 | .42| | .28| | .35 | 1.05 |
7 | | .36| .28| | .10 | .74 |
8 | 4.12| | .28| 2.00 | .40 | 6.80 |
9 | | | .28| | | .28 |
10 | 1.09| 1.83| .28| | .38 | 3.60 | 15.00
11 | | | .28| | | .28 |
12 | | | .28| | .35 | .63 |
13 | .32| .76| .28| | | 1.36 |
14 | | | .28| | .19 | .47 |
15 | 2.30| | .28| 1.50 | .12 | 4.20 |
16 | | .53| .28| | | .81 |
17 | 2.13| 1.63| .28| | .60 | 4.64 | 15.00
18 | | | .28| | | .28 |
19 | | | .28| | .22 | .50 |
20 | 1.93| | .28| | .40 | 2.61 |
21 | | .90| .28| | | 1.18 |
22 | 3.97| | .28| 2.00 | .40 | 6.65 |
23 | 2.10| | .28| | | .28 |
24 | 2.10| 2.24| .28| | .80 | 5.01 | 15.00
25 | | | .28| | .10 | .38 |
26 | | | .28| 1.50 | | 1.78 |
27 | 4.10| | .28| | .35 | 4.73 |
28 | | .38| .28| | | .66 |
29 | 1.12| .46| .28| 1.50 | .40 | 3.76 |
30 | | | .28| | | .28 |
31 | 3.35| 1.87| .28| | .55 | 6.05 | 15.00
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total $31.40| $13.88| $ 8.68| $10.00 | $ 6.66 | $70.02 | $80.70
================================================================
FIG. 5
Such a method of record keeping could also be followed with good
results for showing the distribution of the entire income of a family.
It would simply mean the planning of suitable columns for the different
items of expenditure.
14. Too much cannot be said of the merit of following some such simple
account-keeping method as the ones here outlined, for, as has been
explained, it will enable the housewife to know with a fair degree of
accuracy what she has spent her money for. In addition to the
satisfaction this will give, it will supply a basis from which she can
apportion, or budget, her yearly income if she so desires. By giving
careful consideration to the various items of expense, she may find it
possible to reduce some of them in order to increase her savings account
or to have money for other items that require a larger expenditure.
* * * * *