Show How Your Family Can Cope with INFLATION Here are dollar-savin- g tips designed to trim your budget and put muscle in your money By Dr HEROLD C HUNT with Theodore Irwin cities the price of INamany haircut has risen to $260 Soma supermarkets uaad to civ away dof bones Now they package them and charge SB cents In California a marriage license has jumped from $S to $6 The reason is of course inflation Inflation has been defined as "when the dollar isn’t what it used index to be" The consumer-pric- e indicates that in 1968 living costs will rise about 4 percent It means that for every dollar you spend you’ll be penalised four emits Inflation has become one of the biggest problems facing our country How are you and your family faring? Rather than complain fight the phenomenon by taking practical countermeasures Let’s start with some basic principles You can earn more cut expenses— or moot likely do both Moot Americans do have a larger income today than a few years ago although increased earnings often do dot entirely offset higher prices More and more men are moonlighting for a second income and some wives are working A higher-payin- g job is of course one sound answer to inflation I know of one man who took advantage of his company’s offer to pay for a course in electrical work and thus boosted his annual wages from 16200 to $9800 I Fmmilg Weakly February it iUI Consider too the various hedges against spiraling prices During an inflationary period It is sound economics to Invest in real property Owning a home rather than renting eventually pays off— provided the house is in a neighborhood that will grow not deteriorate Your equity Increases as the home’s value generally keeps pace with the national economy Investing In common stocks and bonds particularly In growth industries may turn out to be a good hedge because they represent ownership in tangible assets that advance in value during inflation But remember that stocks can go doom as well as up You should consult a reputable broker As for the other main attack on inflation paring expenditures the strategy is to get the most mileage out of your dollar Probably your spending habits will have to be readjusted your buying better organised Tackle each phase of family consumption with an eye to pruning Here are some fundamentals: Bhahnr Heme Maintenance Housing takes 0 percent of your net annual income or an average of 24 cents of your spending dollar As I’ve said owning a home can be a wise hedge during inflation While apartment rentals go up payments on your mortgage stay the same When you buy unpainted brick or atone is cheaper to maintain than frame stucco or painted brick A 20-8- llatiou d can wreck the funity budget But the huebani end wife who welch houee coots less to heat and cool so if you add insulation and storm windows they will pay off in the long run In buying a larger down payment will save you mortgage interest If possible get a house that already has a mortgage you can taka over chances are it will be at a lower interest rate than you can obtain today During periods of inflation a homeowner should learn to be a Through library books government pamphlets or courses you can master many skills thereby paring costly home repairs Buying practical tools is a shrewd investment On expensive equipment however like a power snow remover you may be able to work out a pooling arrangement with your neighbors House Ho Id Expenses As money becomes tight more families are buying used major appliances (frees-er- s refrigerators) from friends or neighbors on the move Also watch the classified ads To save on tv repair charges you can take out the es adult-educati- small tubes and check them yourstore self at an electrical-servic- e Conserve fuel by keeping your home at a constant temperature Take advantage of thrift shops baiaars auctions and church fairs Pood From 22 to 29 cents of yorr dollar goes to feed your family Store managers find that male shoppers generally choose attractive but extras (cocktail snacks so it’s best for the housewife etc) to do the major marketing When possible buy in large quantities— family-s- i is cans of tuna and cans of coffee for example Watch your newspaper’s food pages for the Department of Agriculture’s food “plentifuls" buy them in volume after each crop arrives then can or freeae what is not eaten Time your buying of canned or frozen foods to benefit from end-o- f summer surpluses Plan your menus around the weekly supermarket special Weekend specials are usually good buys Avoid food shopping early in the week when prices are generally highest Note: beef veal and es- high-price- d two-pou- -- |