+--------++------++------++------++------++------++------++-------+ | 1909 ||_Fuel_||_Gr._ ||_Meat_||_Cl._ ||_Car._||_Ch._ ||_Wages_| +========++==+===++==+===++==+===++==+===++==+===++==+===++==+====+ | Aug. 1 || | || | || | || | || |20 || |35 || | | | " 2 || 6|00 || 1|00 || |98 || | || |10 || | || | | | " 3 || | || |60 || 1|10 || 3|00 || |20 || | || | | | " 4 || | || |72 || | || | || |10 || | || | | | " 5 || |30 || | || |60 || |15 || |10 || | || | | | " 6 || | || |20 || | || 1|00 || |10 || 1|00 || | | | " 7 || | || 1|68 || 1|90 || | || |25 || | || 5|00 | +--------++--+---++--+---++--+---++--+---++--+---++--+---++--+----+ | Week's || | || | || | || | || | || | || | | | Total || 6|30 || 4|20 || 4|58 || 4|15 || 1|05 || 1|35 || 5|00 | +--------++--+---++--+---++--+---++--+---++--+---++--+---++--+----+ [* Transcriber's Note: Key added by transcriber to make table less wide.] At the end of the week, the amount at the foot of each of these columns should be compared with the weekly amount for that department allowed in the plan of expenditure. If the week's total is more than the allowance, the amount it has exceeded should be put down in red ink at the head of the column for the next week. This will serve as a reminder that when that column is added up, it should be possible to add in the red number without exceeding the week's allowance for that department. This method has the disadvantage that it does not record the items for which the money was spent. It is practicable, however, especially for a housekeeper who only manages the part of the income devoted to the food supply. Often, in this case, items can be obtained, if desired, from the little books of the butcher or the grocer in which purchases are charged for a week or a month. This method does not show the credit side of the accounts. The previous method has a credit side, but it is theoretical. That is, the amounts on the credit pages were taken from the plan, they are not a record of actual checks or amounts of money in which the income was received. This defect in these methods must be remedied. It can be done by devoting a page of the account book to the dates on which, and the amounts in which, the actual credits come in. They will be salary, wages, interest on investments, gifts, etc.; or the sum of money from the business which supports the family, which at stated times is deposited in a bank or given into the hands of the housekeeper for the living expenses. It is necessary to see that these things come in regularly; if they do the housekeeping plan may safely remain unchanged. If they decrease, a way must quickly be found to lessen the expenses; if they increase, one must decide slowly what is the wisest thing to do with the surplus.