Family Economics
Family Economics
A lecture delivered by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III during a study session on Family Economics organized by the Bishopric of Services.
I am pleased to be among you. I would have preferred to sit, listen, and learn, since you are experts in this field.
When we talk about family economics, we must distinguish between the rich family and the poor family—their economies are not the same.
We must also differentiate between economy and miserliness, between dignified living and luxury or extravagance. We should also distinguish between saving and hoarding money, which should rather be used to help those in need.
The first point I want to address regarding family economics is cooperation among all members.
Cooperation of All
By this I mean not placing the entire burden upon the father.
It is only right that everyone cooperates in managing the family’s finances. There is no harm in the wife working and assisting her husband.
The Book of Proverbs gives us the example of a working woman:
“A virtuous woman, who can find? For her worth is far above rubies… She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar… She stretches out her hands to the distaff… She extends her hand to the poor… and does not eat the bread of idleness.” (Proverbs 31:10–27). The passage lists many types of work she does.
In many churches, there are workshops that can showcase products made by productive families.
If a woman’s talents lie in sewing or embroidery, she can use them productively. But she may also have other gifts.
At the very least, she can make her own clothes and those of her children, saving her husband from spending large sums on ready-made garments. If she doesn’t know how, she can learn. The same applies to curtains, linens, and household fabrics.
Why not also learn to style her own hair and her daughters’ hair, instead of spending money and time at beauty salons?
She can also make jams and foods that are usually bought from stores. Gradually, she can avoid purchasing anything she can make herself—and teach this to her children.
Home Management
Teaching and training our daughters in home management brings joy to the household and supports the family economy.
It saves what would be spent on cooks and catering for parties, since many foods and desserts can be made at home.
Why not train our children to tidy their rooms, make their beds, arrange their desks, and clean the table after meals? Soldiers do this in the army, regardless of their education or family background. Officers and sailors also serve themselves on ships.
This teaches children order, independence, and responsibility, while saving the family the cost of domestic help.
Why not also train them to iron their own clothes, except in cases of necessity?
Family members can even make or craft household decorations or gifts. Homemade gifts often leave a deeper impression than those that are purchased.
The writer Tawfiq al-Hakim beautifully discussed similar ideas in his books Soft Hands and Sun of the Day.
Vocational Training
As women can work, so too can children learn practical skills.
They can train in repairing and maintaining the household’s electrical and electronic appliances, sparing the father such expenses. This includes electrical wiring, phone repairs, stoves, washing machines, radios, and televisions (if present), as well as plumbing work and even car repair—so they can fix it if it breaks down on the road.
I would need much more time to list all the skills children could learn to help their parents.
I encourage our youth to develop their talents and increase their capabilities. They must not think that sustenance will fall from heaven without effort, for God does not bless laziness.
Through such training, they gain experience and skill, spend their time in useful recreation, avoid harmful distractions, and contribute to the family economy. They also benefit personally and spiritually, for a mind occupied with productive work is less likely to wander into wrong thoughts.
We can also train children to make prizes for Sunday School. The Church could buy them for a symbolic price or accept them as donations from families who make them for fun. Thus they benefit spiritually and economically.
Rationalizing Spending
We should not be harsh with our children, but we must teach them to avoid waste and unnecessary expenses—and not spend on harmful things such as smoking.
I always say to every smoker I meet: by smoking, you destroy your health, your willpower, and your money—money that could support your family or the poor, or be used for something good.
If the family needs necessities, there is no need for luxuries. There is no need to keep raising the standard of luxury, spending all the income of a young husband on excessive things.
Part of rationalizing expenses is reducing waste and loss.
A careless child who breaks the household’s utensils or damages tools and appliances, who wastes electricity unnecessarily, or who loses items his father bought him—such a child burdens his father with avoidable financial strain. The same applies to any other family member.
Success
Success is essential—socially, spiritually, and economically. Socially, it gives a person a respected place in society. Spiritually, the Psalm says of the righteous man, “Whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3). Saint John also said, “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John1: 2).
A successful child helps his father economically. Failure, on the other hand, brings financial burdens—repeating school years, paying extra tuition, or private lessons.
A successful child brings joy and relief to his father. Some excellent students even receive government awards.
Successful youth can also acquire additional skills to increase their income—such as learning typing, shorthand, telex, or computer work. These can provide income, beneficial use of time, and financial relief for the family.
I myself worked during my student years; I did not wish to burden my family with expenses but even helped with their income. I speak not from theory but from experience. During my university studies, I had a scholarship for academic excellence, since in those days (the early 1940s) education required tuition fees.
A successful child may continue to higher studies, gaining advanced academic and professional degrees, and learning foreign languages—which opens greater opportunities.
Family Planning
Rich families may not be greatly affected by having many children—except in their ability to raise them properly.
But for poor or low-income families, family planning becomes an economic necessity.
Balanced Budgeting and Giving to God
Family economics should also include two key points:
- Balanced spending across all areas—so that no aspect is neglected or exaggerated.
- Including God’s right in the family income—through tithes, first fruits, and care for the poor, who are members of the greater human family.
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