urrent
expenses, so that the proper relative proportion be preserved, and the
expenditures never exceed the means. Few women can do this, thoroughly,
without keeping regular accounts. The habits of this Nation, especially
among business-men, are so desultory, and the current expenses of a
family, in many points, are so much more under the control of the man
than of the woman, that many women, who are disposed to be systematic in
this matter, cannot follow their wishes. But there are often cases, when
much is left undone in this particular, simply because no effort is
made. Yet every woman is bound to do as much as is in her power, to
accomplish a systematic mode of expenditure, and the regulation of it by
Christian principles.

The following are examples of different methods which have been adopted,
for securing a proper adjustment of expenses to the means.

The first, is that of a lady, who kept a large boarding-house, in one of
our cities. Every evening, before retiring, she took an account of the
expenses of the day; and this usually occupied her not more than fifteen
minutes, at a time. On each Saturday, she made an inventory of the
stores on hand, and of the daily expenses, and also of what was due to
her; and then made an exact estimate of her expenditures and profits.
This, after the first two or three weeks, never took more than an hour,
at the close of the week. Thus, by a very little time, regularly devoted
to this object, she knew, accurately, her income, expenditures, and
profits.

Another friend of the writer, lives on a regular salary. The method
adopted, in this case, is to calculate to what the salary amounts, each
week. Then an account is kept, of what is paid out, each week, for
rent, fuel, wages, and food. This amount of each week is deducted from
the weekly income. The remainders of each week are added, at the close
of a month, as the stock from which is to be taken, the dress,
furniture, books, travelling expenses, charities, and all other
expenditures.

Another lady, whose husband is a lawyer, divides the year into four
quarters, and the income into four equal parts. She then makes her
plans, so that the expenses of one quarter shall never infringe on the
income of another. So resolute is she, in carrying out this
determination, that if, by any mischance, she is in want of articles
before the close of a quarter, which she has not the means for
providing, she will subject herself to temporary i