Household Accounts

After a household budget has been made out, a household account system is necessary.

Almost every purchase nowadays is accompanied by an itemized slip. These may be kept in envelopes, separating groceries, meat and dry goods and other purchases, filed alphabetically in a box of suitable size to hold them in place, as in a filing case. Then if any account is overdrawn, or less expenditure in a department is desirable, one can easily find whether too much has been spent for luxuries, and just where further economies may be made. To draw the line between luxuries and necessaries is a difficult task, but is required where strict economy must be exercised. To do this intelligently, a general knowledge of the requirements of the human body is necessary.

"Order, contentment, hospitality and godliness are the house blessings." The words house and home are often confused. The former expresses the place where the home-maker surrounds herself, while the latter expresses the family life which is lived within the walls of the house. No matter how humble the house may be, if the atmosphere is right there is no place like home. It is the atmosphere and the associations which give to the home its strong hold on its members.

Such a home stands for rest, comfort, harmony, health and inspiration for the spiritual development of each member of the family. It provides a place of refuge where troubles, as well as joys, are shared. Upon the home rests the strength of the nation. The welfare of the individual depends on the right home training and care, and the welfare of the nation depends on the kind of citizens the home produces. The home atmosphere is created by the ideals of the family or the home-makers who reign in their little kingdoms. It is the place for character building of the individual members. The physical welfare depends on the way the requirements of the body machinery are met. Air, water, food, clothing and shelter to protect it from the elements are the essentials to life. As the mental and moral depend upon the physical, its welfare is of great importance.

he physical requirements have been dealt with in the lessons included in this course. The right selection and preparation of food has been emphasized as of prime importance to produce the necessary force to run the human machine. Cleanliness of person and surroundings are essential to health. Selection of clothing is of vital importance as the body must be properly protected.

The home is the place for fostering religious ideals - which is the foundation of character building. There is a tendency to leave most of the training of growing children to the school and church - but we cannot deny that the home training leaves the deepest impression on the child mind.

"Man does not live unto himself alone" and an early start in life in feeling one's responsibility and duty to others is essential.