Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 1.djvu/124

 had for 6 d. And an ounce would last you quite a month instead of a week. There is one big item of expenditure that should not be lost sight of. In winter, fire is required in the room during the day time if you use the room. For those who use the library in the case of students, the expense does not amount to much. But for others, it amounts to nearly 2 shillings per week. For 2 shillings you can get 4 scuttles coal. But, as fire is not required generally from April to September, we may put down on an average one shilling per week for coals. This ends the extra expenditure per week which may be thus summed up : d Washerman's bill 11 Bathing 6 Travelling expenses 6 Stamps, etc. 6 Hair-cutting 2 Soap 1 Tooth powder 1 Coal 12 Margin 3 ______ Total 4 s-0 d With 7s for the room rent and 4s for extras we have 9s remaining for food. It may here be remarked that a saving can be effected even in the 11s, whenever required, so that it may be spent on food or buying books and many other useful things. Thus, for instance, out of 6d for stamps, etc., only a penny or two may be spent. One penny, I suppose, would be absolutely necessary for writing home a postcard. Fortnightly baths (in winter especially) may take the place of weekly baths when a sponge bath is taken daily. Similarly, at times, nothing may be spent in travelling. It is an expense to be counted, not necessary to be incurred. The aim ought to be not to spend more than one pound per week on an average and live comfortably. Passing now from this comparatively incontestable part of the question of the cost of living, we reach the most important and contestable part of the question, viz., the cost of food. There is so much to be said on this part of the subject, so much prejudice and misunderstanding to be removed that to treat the subject fully would require a separate and larger book.