61 
rience. Nor is it sufficient to conclude that greater ability to provide 
results automatically in higher standards of living. Undoubtedly 
the development of new desires and the growth of new demands and 
the ability to provide are dependent on each other. If the ability to 
provide be regarded as a position making possible the attain- 
ment of a higher standard of living for the farm family, greater 
ability to provide must mean more comforts and satisfactions for the 
family which comforts and satisfactions must be coordinate with 
the desires and demands of the individuals composing the family. 
Desires for higher standards of living and the abilty to provide are 
both essential parts of the same process of farm family living. 
USE OF AVERAGE VALUES OF GOODS IN PLANNING FOR MORE 
RATIONAL FAMILY LIVING IN THE FARM HOME 
It would be of interest if some of the figures presented could be 
used as a guide for a wiser expenditure of money and a more eco- 
nomical use of goods by the representative farm family. 
The averages presented in some of the tables may be helpful in 
this connection. Probably the averages occurring in Table 12, by 
number of children and ages of children per family, are more indica- 
tive than those given elsewhere of the needs of different families. 
At any rate, they may well have first consideration. 
None of the sets of averages given in Table 12 may be found com- 
pletely applicable to any family at any specific year of family living. 
One or another may be usable, however, as a base from which any 
family desiring to obtain a broader knowledge of the goods used and 
to work out a better balance of expenditures for the different pur- 
poses may proceed. In the selection of the set of averages to be 
used as a basis from which to proceed, the number of the different 
persons composing the family may have consideration first. The 
first set of figures, that representing an average total value of about 
$1,470 worth of goods used by all the 1,662 families, may be ignored 
except as desired for general comparisons. The second set of figures 
representing approximately $1,100 worth of goods may be regarded 
as a usable starting point for families with no children. The third 
set of averages comprising over $1,250 worth of goods will serve 
as a base for the family supporting one child. Similarly the sets 
of figures covering about $1,465, $1,570, $1,585, $1,805, and $1,955 
values of goods will be of interest undoubtedly to families support- 
ing 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 or more children. 
The ages of the children sharing the family living need to be con- 
sidered next. It will be noted that the average value of all goods 
used by families with one child to 5 years of age is approximately 
$1,100, about the same as the average for all families with no chil- 
dren. Also, the average value of goods for families of two children 
up to 5 years of age is about $1,100 per family. The rate of increase 
in the average value of goods for the different age groups differs 
substantially, especially in the highest age group. The sets of aver- 
ages representing about $1,400, $1,410, $1,575, and $1,728 values of 
goods may be usable by the family of 3, 4, 5, 6 or more children of 
ages ranging primarily below 12 years. Similarly the correspond- 
ing higher averages may suffice as starting points for families of 
the same numbers of children of ages ranging above 11 years. 
