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Show Kothleen Norris Says: Cut Expenses Down and Save Money Bell Syndicate. WNU Feature!. "In company he is amusing enough, but at home it is money money money" By KATHLEEN NORRIS "-K fY HUSBAND has I only one fault," 1 VI writes Marcia Green. "But it is so serious a fault that I am seriously considering con-sidering leaving him. We have been married 11 years, we have one son, a lovely home, a nice circle of friends. Bob is successful in business, although al-though admitting himself that we always will be more or less in a rut, for he is only one employee in a plant that employs em-ploys thousands, with small chance of bettering himself. "He doesn't drink, gamble, play about with other women. He is a devoted husband and father, popular popu-lar and friendly. Well, then, what is It? I'll tell you. Bob thinks, talks, dreams of nothing but money, whenever when-ever we are alone. In company he is amusing enough, but at home it is money money money. He feels that he doesn't earn enough, that we don't save, that I am extravagant. ex-travagant. "Now, the point is, I'm not extravagant. ex-travagant. I keep a nice house, with only one, day's domestic help every week. I dress economically, and while Bobby goes to a private school, he has twice won scholarships scholar-ships that cut that expense down to $100 a year. Food, of course, is a big item; we are all healthy eaters and we entertain moderately. We have one car, used mostly by me. We do not save money, but our bills, all added together, would not total $1,000. Among our friends, somewhat some-what similarly situated, I think we would be considered unusually fortunate for-tunate and completely solvent. So why this eternal anxiety about expenses? ex-penses? 'Must we buy that, dear? Is it necessary to paper the dining room? The boy has to have roller-skates, roller-skates, I suppose?' That's what I get day in and day out. Parents Were Poor. "Bob's people were very poor. My own were not, I had a lovely home, and my father still is employed and independent; mother died years ago. Can you give me a few good suggestions as to how I can cure my husband of his penuriousness, or do you believe it is too deep-rooted to cure? "It seems to be growing on him. In our early married years he was much more generous, and when we were engaged I actually had to scold him for his extravagance. But of late he gi ows less and less willing will-ing to spend money, and the result is that our home atmosphere is uncomfortable un-comfortable and strained. Feeling that this may be the result of early inhibitions, I have asked him to go to a psychiatrist, but he rejected this suggestion utterly. Years ago, when you wrote that money was the most important element in marriage, I did not believe you, but I do now. What shall I do?" 1 think this situation, Marcia, arises from a condition that is prevalent preva-lent in our American domestic scene today. And I think the cure lies with you. rather than with Bob. When you married you felt that if you had a nice home, and paid your bills, that was enough. Perhaps it was, then. But it is not now. Bob feels the changing temper of the times; apparently you don't. Bob always al-ways has worked hard, he knows the value of money. You never have learned it. Bob is in the employ of an immense im-mense concern. He knows that un- less he has exceptional and extraordinary extra-ordinary capacity, he will not rise in that employ. Hundreds of fresher fresh-er young men are ahead of him in the race. Hundreds of others will move out into separate enterprises of their own. Bob can't either rise or escape. So, at 40, he sees himself trapped. He is not saving a cent. His home expenses are increasing with the inexorable in-exorable need of the times. You are expanding into luxuries whil hardly able to manage necessities. Problem Is Common. Your problem is not unusual. It is safe to say that in all our cities there are blocks and blocks of small, respectable, comfortable apartments apart-ments whose breadwinners are as anxious as Bob. Where does the money go, what the dickens do the women do with it? The car is an extravagance beyond the reach of all but 1 per cent note that figure 1 per cent of the men and women of Europe. Private school, beauty parlor, cleaner, flowers, drug store, telegrams, ice skates, Minnie's services serv-ices at $1 an hour, ice cream for the company dinner. How these little foxes destroy the vines, and add those becoming gray streaks to handsome Bob's hair! If you really want to help, Marcia, move from that $85 flat to a plain little cottage somewhere on the outskirts out-skirts of town. Put Bobby in public school. Do your own hair. Cut down, cut down, cut down, so that $150 of. that $500 a month can go into government bonds. Talk solvency, instead of spending. Talk freedom from debt instead of how to pay bills. Tell Bob that if anything hap pens to him you and Bobby can manage man-age splendidly, what with chickens and an apple tree, and a child or two to board. In other words, pull your weight of the load. Relieve him of worry and he won't mind plain meals. Stop trying to impress your richer friends, and impress Bob wilh the fact that he has what the old books used to prettily call a helpmate. Boh knows we have stormy weather ahead. Get ready for it. Shorten sail. j Be a bc!f:.t!t . . . |