Marie and her fellow workers are paid for piece work and earn approximately $7.00 per week. Marie's total earnings for 1908 are $328.00 which like her brother and sister, she turns over to her parents so that the family can make ends meet. The family's earnings are based on only forty-four weeks of work since the mill workers went on strike for four weeks in 1908; civic and religious holidays as well as a reduction in activity at the mill account for the remaining four weeks. The Blanchet family always feared these lay-offs. Other years had been more severe. The Blanchet's budget must cover the expenses of nine children, three of whom work at the mill and five of whom are quite young. The family manages to cut down costs by cultivating a garden in the summer and making most of the clothing it needs. Almost half of the family's income ($590.00) goes for basic expenses such as food, lodging and heating.
Their savings this year were used to pay back debts contracted while the father was the only wage-earner. As you can see, food constitutes a substantial part of the family budget. Though they now live in the city, the Blanchets, nevertheless, retain the country custom of serving rich food in copious amounts. It is not easy to reduce the food portion of the budget.
