Page:What to do for Uncle Sam; a first book of citizenship (IA whattodoforuncle00bail).pdf/120

116 The extra money that your father has after he has paid the family’s living expenses he perhaps puts in the bank. The bank pays him a certain number of cents on each dollar for the use of this money. Boys and girls should have bank accounts just as soon as they can, and there are times when Uncle Sam asks to borrow money of his people for the use of which he pays. These are important uses of money, for it helps it to change hands, and be useful in many ways. And it is still your money and increasing a little in amount all the time.

Our friends in Europe have had a fashion of laughing at us in the past, because we were extravagant. They said that we ate too much, and bought too many useless things, and were not economical in spending our money. It was all quite true, but we are changing that now. We are learning how to spend and save wisely.

We ought to say to ourselves before we buy anything:

"Do I need this? What is it going to do that will be good for me or my family? Where can I buy it more cheaply? Even if it does cost a good deal, will its use to me be of more value than the money?

It is nearly always cheaper to buy sugar and make candy than to buy it. When you buy a