Ten ways to cut costs in the home

In August 1914, a Times correspondent sat down with his lady wife to work out some household economies that would help them, and the country, survive the war.
This is the list they came up with (warning - you may find some of their cost-cutting efforts more useful than others):

War Programme
1. The servants must take 25 per cent less wages.
2. We must have no guests to stay in the house.
3. No casual entertaining; no theatres; no outings for pleasure costing over 2s 6d each; no taxis; only third-class travelling.
4. No wines, spirits, or cigars.
5. Neither of us must have one single new article of dress for at least a year.
6. No newspapers except The Times and one feminine weekly.
7. If any golf, no caddies; and only on the home course.
8. No Christmas, birthday, or wedding presents.
9. Rigid economy in food; no soups, entrees, sweets (ie, crystallized fruits, etc), or fruit, beyond what is thought necessary for the boy's health, except from our own garden; only joints, plain puddings, and simplest food.
10. Strict economy in coal, gas, and electric light.

And how did they get on? Click on this link to read their report back, two years into the programme: A Lesson from Life, from The Times, February 3, 1916

Comments

[Alison]

Sounds just like our house, without the servants that is.

[Tamsin]

A very interesting and informative article.

I especially like the idea of offering your guests the food you would eat anyway...

Beans on toast it is! :)

[Giaco]

What is, a trial for the Third World War?!

The truth is the greed of some people; a few people...

[Rod]

All sound ideas but I'm not sure if my servants will be up for a 25% wage cut. I need to check and see if they are unionised.

[LSleight]

All sound ideas if they apply.
Mine is to switch of the tele which saves electricity. Then we can talk to each other again.

[carlos]

What an uncanny coincidence. That's the exact same plan I have been taking myself. Oh, and we make our own jam now.

[Mum]

Sounds like fun.