The following are a number of weekly budgets taken at random:
Mr. A., whose house was visited from January, 1911, to February, 1912, was a railway-carriage washer, and was paid 18s. for a six days’ week, alternately with 21s. for a seven days’ week. His wife was a good manager, but was in delicate health. He was an extraordinarily good husband, and brought home to her his entire wage. There were three children born, and three alive.
s. d. Rent 7 0 Clothing club (for two weeks) 1 2 Burial insurance (for two weeks) 1 6 Coal and wood 1 7 Coke 0 3 Gas 0 10 Soap, soda 0 5 Matches 0 1 Blacklead, blacking 0 1 ----- 12 11
s. d. 11 loaves 2 7 1 quartern flour 0 5½ Meat 1 10 Potatoes and greens 0 9½ ½ lb. butter 0 6 1 lb. jam 0 3 6 ozs. tea 0 6 2 lb. sugar 0 4 1 tin of milk 0 4 Cocoa 0 4 Suet 0 2 ------ 8 1
Average per head for food all round the family, 1s. 7½d. a week, or less than 3d. a day. But a working man cannot do on less than 6d. a day, or 3s. 6d. a week. This reduces the mother and children to 1s. 1¾d. a week, or less than 2d. a day.
Mr. B., whose house was visited from July, 1911, till September, 1912, was a printer’s labourer, whose wages ranged between 20s. and 26s. a week. He usually allowed 20s. for household. There were six children born, and six alive.
s. d. Rent 8 0 Burial insurance 1 8 Boot club 1 0 Coal 1 0 Gas 0 8 Wood 0 3 Soap, soda 0 4½ ------ 12 11½
s. d. 14 loaves 3 2½ Meat 0 10 Suet 0 2 Dripping 0 6 3 ozs. tea 0 3 2 lb. sugar 0 4 2 tins of milk 0 6 1 quartern flour 0 5 Potatoes 0 6 Greens 0 4 ------ 7 0½
Average per head for food all round the family, 10½d. a week, or 1½d. a day.
About December, 1911, the household allowance was raised to 21s. 9d., with occasional grants of 1s. towards clothes.
Mr. C., whose house was visited from November, 1910, to July, 1911, worked in a pottery. His wages were 22s. He allowed 20s. There were four children born, and four alive.
s. d. Rent 6 0 Burial insurance 1 2 Coal 1 3 Gas 1 2 Soap, soda, etc. 0 5½ Wood 0 2 ------ 10 2½
s. d. 14 loaves 2 11 Meat 2 9 3 lb. sugar 0 6 8 ozs. tea 0 8 Butter 0 10 17 lbs. potatoes 0 10½ 1 tin of milk 0 3 Pot herbs and greens 0 4 1 lb. jam 0 4 2 haddocks 0 4 ------ 9 9½
Average per head for food all round the family, 1s. 7½d. a week, or 2¾d. a day. Putting the father’s 3s. 6d. on one side, the mother and children average 1s. 5d. a week, or 2½d. a day.