LESSON FOR THE FARM HOME 



L. H. Bailey, Director 

 Course for the Farm Home, Martha Van Rensselaer, Supervisor 



DEC^BER X i, Y i 9 i 2 FOOD SEMES N °- 7 



COST OF FOOD 



Flora Rose 



All around us we hear discussions of the present high cost of living; 

 and the situation is grave enough to make us ponder it. Those who are 

 students of economics assure us that prices will never again be low. 

 The housekeeper's problem, therefore, is not to lower prices, but to study 

 values so that each expenditure shall be made wisely. 



ECONOMY IX PURCHASING 



How may the grocery bills be reduced"' The housekeeper whose business 

 it has always been to make one dollar do the work of two, is aghast at 

 this growing need of making it stretch so as to do the work of three. She 

 may still look longingly at a tempting array of foods, but she is learning 

 to say, " I can't afford it." Being human, she occasionally succumbs 

 and does afford it in spite of good resolutions. 



The " can't-afford-it " method of spending the family income is much 

 better than no method at all ; but real economy must be based on something 

 more definite than the statement that there is not enough money to go 

 around. It is undoubtedly necessary for the housekeeper to have strength 

 to resist a purchase; but in order to go a step farther on the path of 

 economy, she must have the knowledge that will enable her to put to 

 herself the question, " Can I afford not to have it?" Every purchase, 

 whether of food or of other supplies, should be submitted to some such 

 test as this: (i) What is its purpose? (2) Is the article suitable for the 

 purpose for which it is intended? (3 ) Is the purchase necessary in order 

 to maintain or increase efficiency ? (4) Does the usefulness of the article 

 warrant its cost? (5) Is there anything else which for the same cost 



Published semi-mor.-.V.v throughout the year fa m York State College of Agrk -.:-: t s.'. Cornel 



Ur.. Er.-.ered as second-class matter October 13, ion. at the post ofE.e a: [thaca, N. W uader 



the Act of Congress of Juiy 16, 1 894. 



[1357] 



