The extra wages a man and his wife make in summer task work are used to buy shoes and clothing. The ordinary wages are pretty much used up in paying rent and in buying the daily necessities of food and drink. The fare is always rough and poor, and a couple of pounds or so of bacon is all the meat a family will eat in a week. Few make any provision for sickness, and when sickness comes the laborer is compelled to rely on the parish doctor and parochial charity.

Yet in spite of small earnings there are a goodly number among the laborers who save money. With some it is a blind habit, with others it is simply miserliness, and with still others it is ambition. One does not see much chance for hoarding on the wages received, but the thrifty are always on the lookout to save their pennies. Persons who receive parish help are sometimes found to have a considerable sum laid by when they die.

Laborers marry early. The wife has usually been in domestic service, and often contributes the larger half of the little ready money that is spent in getting the scanty home furnishings.