s. d. 12 loaves 2 9 1 lb. butter 1 2 8 ozs. tea 0 8 4 lbs. sugar 0 8 1 tin of milk 0 4 ¼ lb. cocoa 0 4 6 lbs. meat 2 6 12 lbs. potatoes 0 6 Greens and pot herbs 0 5 1 lb. currants 0 3 1 quartern flour 0 6 Suet 0 2 1 lb. bacon 0 8 Jam 0 4 Fish 0 6 Sausages 0 7 Dripping 0 4 Cheese 0 2 ---- 12 10
Mr. Y. is a builder’s handyman, whose wages average about 25s. a week. He allows as a rule 22s. 6d. to his wife, out of which she gives him back 3s. a week for his dinners when at work. There are six children under thirteen. The rent for two rooms upstairs is 6s. 6d., and burial insurance is 1s.
_Sunday._—Breakfast: One loaf, jam, and tea. Bloater for him. Dinner: Half shoulder of mutton, greens, potatoes, and suet pudding, for all. Tea: Bread, butter, and tea.
_Monday._—Breakfast: Bread, dripping, and tea. Cold meat from Sunday for him. Dinner for mother and children: Cold meat and potatoes over from Sunday. Tea: Bread, jam, and tea.
_Tuesday._—Breakfast: Bread, dripping, and tea, for all. Dinner for mother and children: Hashed meat over from Monday and potatoes. Tea: Bread, radishes, and tea.
_Wednesday._—Breakfast: Bread, dripping, and tea. Dinner for mother and children: Dumplings in yesterday’s gravy. Tea: Bread, jam, and tea, for all.
_Thursday._—Breakfast: Bread, dripping, and tea. Dinner for mother and children: Rice and treacle. Tea: Bread, jam, and tea.
_Friday._—Breakfast: Bread, jam, and tea. Dinner for mother and children: Barley broth and potatoes. Tea: Bread, dripping, and tea.
_Saturday._—Breakfast: Bread, dripping, and tea. Dinner for mother and children: ¾ lb. sausages and potatoes. Tea: Bread, jam, and tea.
One of Mrs. T.’s weekly budgets is here given:
s. d. Rent 6 6 Insurance 1 0 Gas 0 6 ½ cwt. coal 0 8½ Wood 0 2 Soap, soda, blue, starch 0 5 Boracic powder 0 1 Baby’s soap 0 2 ----- 9 6½
s. d. Husband’s dinners 3 0 14 loaves 3 4½ 1 lb. dripping 0 6 12 ozs. butter 0 9 8 ozs. tea 0 8 2 tins of milk 0 6 Meat 2 3 6 lbs. potatoes 0 3 Vegetables 0 6 ½ quartern flour 0 3 Bloaters 0 3 Suet 0 2 3 lbs. sugar 0 6 ------ 12 11½
It will be noticed in this menu that Mr. T. gets no relish for either tea or breakfast throughout the week, with the exception of his Sunday treat. His 6d. dinner cannot be of a heavy nature, and his share of the family breakfasts and teas would in no way make up for a scanty dinner. He is not, therefore, too well fed. His wife and six children, who manage upon the dinners given in the menu, obviously do not get sufficient nourishment. This woman is an excellent cook, but her equipment is poor. She keeps her two rooms as clean as a new pin, and is punctual and methodical to a fault. But she is worn and tired, and unable to take in new ideas. The children are fairly well, but nervous and restless. They are not up to the normal size for their age, nor are they intelligent for their years. They are docile and give no trouble at school, and are considered “well brought up” by all who come into contact with them.