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.
The following menu is that of the woman whose daily expenditure of 3s. a day is given in a previous chapter. Her husband, it will be remembered, pays rent and insurance, and brings home from his dust-heaps a sufficiency of fuel and soap. It is, unfortunately, not the menu of the week of which the expenditure is given. Mr. Z. allows his wife 3s. a day. There are four children under six. The rent of the one room is 5s. 6d.
Sunday.—Breakfast: Half a loaf of bread, butter, and tea. Dinner: Roast mutton, potatoes, and greens (5d.). Tea: Half a loaf of bread, butter, and tea; 2d. cake for him.
Monday.—Breakfast: Half a loaf of bread, rolled oats with tinned milk. Dinner: Cold meat cooked up with onions, carrots, greens, and potatoes. Tea: Half a loaf of bread, jam, and tea.
Tuesday.—Breakfast: Half a loaf of bread, jam, and tea. Dinner: Mutton chops, potatoes, and greens. Tea: Half a loaf of bread, butter, and tea; fish for him.
Wednesday.—Breakfast: Half a loaf of bread, butter, and cocoa. Dinner: Stew 1 lb. pieces (4½d.), with rice, carrots, onions, and potatoes. Tea: Half a loaf of bread, butter, and tea; fish for him.
Thursday.—Breakfast: Half a loaf of bread, tea, rolled oats and tinned milk. Dinner: Boiled neck, with potatoes, onions, rice, and greens. Tea: Half a loaf of bread, butter, and tea; fish for him.
Friday.—Breakfast: Half a loaf of bread, butter, and tea. Dinner: Suet pudding and treacle. Tea: Half a loaf of bread, jam, and tea.