It is only the very poor who have an excuse for being too limited in ready money for such advance purchasing. It is but thrifty to see to it that there is at least a small capital which may be used for such advantage. When once started it is a simple matter, since after that the woman of forethought will look ahead and plan so that the funds will be at hand as the supply-time comes around. Of course there is no economy in buying at a reduction a supply which is so rapidly perishable in nature as to cause a loss of enough to off-set, or more, the gain through getting in large amount. This is but a waste of time and energy as well as money. Vegetables are much cheaper by the bushel or barrel, and fruit, as oranges, by the box, but one must have a cold storage room to insure the safe keeping of either for any length of time. Even then there must be care in looking them over frequently to remove any that are decayed. For most families, therefore, it proves more satisfactory to buy perishable articles as needed.

A great difficulty confronts the would-be-wise buyer to-day in the fact that it is hard to establish standards of quality without some sad experience. When the housewife manufactured her own soap she knew beyond a question what constituted an excellent article. Through handling different kinds of cloth, in weaving or sewing, standards were created in that direction. Ignorance of real value makes the thriving "bargain counters" possible with their "remnants" cut from the webs on the shelves and offered at a price equal or even in excess of that for which the same goods may be bought by the yard elsewhere in the same store. Shrewd, not over-scrupulous merchants are bound to take advantage where it is possible, and the ignorant, unsuspecting purchaser pays a dear price for his or her ignorance.

In buying utensils the maxim, "The best is the cheapest," is an excellent one to bear in mind. One who makes a trial of different grades has ample opportunity to prove its truth. Cheap goods often increases the expense 1oo per cent, while at no time does one secure anything of the satisfaction in use that is secured in the better class goods. Cheapness means, perforce, haste or flaw in manufacture. This results, naturally, in ill-shaped, defective ware. Durability seems to be a thing no longer estimated, so little does it enter into account in manufacture or purchase. Nowhere is the difference more marked than in kitchen utensils. Spoons with soldered or riveted handles, ready to part company with the bowls on the first real test of strength or heat, are poor economy. The same is true of the enamel ware which crackles and chips off with the first accidental heating or "sticking on" of food, after which it is unfit for use. So one might enumerate many illustrations of false economy of this nature. It is the part of wisdom to pay a little more at the time and thus secure better wearing qualities and far greater satisfaction. The cheapest is rarely wise.

On the other hand, a medium-priced article in many things has real worth to recommend it to one practising close economy. In such purchases as bed or table linen and toweling, for example, the difference between a medium and high-priced grade may represent the difference between hand work and machine, between embroidered or hemstitched articles and plainer. Since this is not a question of durability, a purchaser has a legitimate right to weigh the differences in the light of her allowance and decide in favor of the plainer if it be wiser. It should, however, always be a decision based on an intelligent consideration of values. One should never be at a loss when detecting coarse, loosely woven and shoddy fabrics or other evidences of cheap work. Other differences she may be justified in weighing, never that.

One may purchase most supplies either in a department store or in one devoted to a single or limited line of goods. There is, on the whole, a difference to be found both in quality and price of the stock in the two places. The grade of goods in the specialty store is usually better and the price somewhat higher. The department store has gained great popularity because of the convenience of purchasing everything in one place and because of competition in prices which seem at sight to favor trading there. The careful buyer will frequently find the difference in price more than equalized in the quality of the purchase. This is especially noticeable in kitchen furnishings. The sharpness of the competition has tended to lower prices in the specialty store as far as the quality of the wares will allow.

Supplies may be classed as (1) furnishings or utensils which are subjected to wear and consequently must be replenished from time to time, as furniture, bedding, carpets, kitchen, laundry and dining-room furnishings; (2) such supplies as are consumed in one way or another and so must be replenished, as fuel, food, soap and the like, and (3) such miscellaneous supplies as daily newspapers, magazines, plants, flowers, etc.

In buying these supplies one may divide them into essentials or "must haves" and accessories or "may haves." The first division one must secure at once. It is well to leave the second list to be remodeled after one has lived in a house for a while.

It is surprising to one who has some experience like camp life to find how few the absolute essentials really are. Many accessories have.come to be looked upon as "must haves" through long use. The evidence of some utility in everything, together with refinement of taste in every selection, are the great essentials in giving a home the subtle charm and comfort which we covet. Furnishings need not be many in number nor elaborate in quality to satisfy these requirements. The greater the simplicity the more satisfactory, usually.

The following are lists of kitchen, laundry, dining-room and bed-room furnishings, with average prices. The amount of equipment required is determined by the size of the family and its demands. For two peo- ple of simple tastes the kitchen utensils may be quite limited and the dining-room furnishings few. The same things are required in bed-room fittings as for a large family, but not in such numbers.