There are two mistakes often made in balancing books which a business woman must take care never to fall into. The first is to include bad debts—debts of which you are never likely to get a farthing, or, at best only a few shillings in the pound—on the same footing as if they were good ones. The second is to calculate that property we possess is worth what we paid for it, never considering that as a general rule things decrease in value every year through use and change of fashion and other causes. The only wise plan is to subtract from the first cost, every time we balance, a certain sum to represent what is termed _depreciation of property_. All such deductions should be made with a liberal hand; no harm is done by estimating ourselves poorer than we really are, but many a one has been ruined by mistaken calculations, showing property to be worth a good deal more than it would fetch in the market. When one person acts for another in money matters, a statement, called an account current, should be sent at regular intervals—say once a half year or once every twelve months—showing the transactions. Here is an example. For convenience in printing we shall place the Cr. side below the Dr.; but in practice the two sides should be placed alongside of each other—the Dr. side to the left, and the Cr. side to the right. _MISS WINIFRED HOLT, EDINBURGH, in account current with NATHANIEL EVANS, LONDON._ DR. 1885. June 30. To balance of last account £9 4 2 Aug. 3. Cash paid M. Perry on your account 2 2 9 Sept. 27. Cash paid J. Short on your account 4 12 7 Dec. 12. Cash paid you 80 0 0 -------- £95 19 6 CR. Aug. 1. By cash received from B. Green on your account £50 0 0 ” 12. Cash received from W. Rae on your account 35 0 0 Dec. Balance of account carried to your debit in new account 10 19 6 -------- £95 19 6 _Errors Excepted._ NATHANIEL EVANS. _LONDON, December 31st, 1885._