Exciting archival package!

In tidying up her house, Nana told me that she unearthed a ledger she kept as a newlywed of the household expenses. She said later it was too tedious to keep- but she maintained it fastidiously form 1942-1949. Rather than pitch it, she mailed it to me, and I've had the great joy of leafing through it.

Of course I am shocked by the price of things- in 1944, they spent $4.75 every month for moorage- that is RENT people! And Tuition, at the UW, cost $44/ semester. But I am also impressed by how carefully Nana kept this ledger. There are notes in it for $0.25, mouthwash, $0.30, shoeshine. I probably can't claim to be a newlywed myself anymore- but I don't have nearly this handle on the cash flow of our household.

There are some mysteries too. In 1944, there is an entry for Puppy, and then later dog food- but only a few month. What puppy? And for a while, there were entries for cigarettes, and then abruptly not. Why did Papa quit?

There is also the paper trail of real life too. In 1946, there is a huge sum to a Frieght company, and then the household expenses include paying A L&P (Alask Light and Power- same as in Juneau today). The 'College Expenses' Chapter is relegated to the back to make way for a 'Baby' Chapter. There are some chapters that Papa maintained in his neat handwriting, like Household Maintenance. And the chapter on recreation denotes all the shows, ballets and ball games, and even the ferry trips and vacations of most of a decade.

After some more investigation- I'll share anything else cool I find. In the meantime, I'll take care of this in case anyone else wants to see it someday.