The economic status of married male senior under-graduates, graduates, and GI-benefit students, and
attitudes toward a family finance course
by Shirley Jean Seifert Watson
A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE in Home Economics
Montana State University
© Copyright by Shirley Jean Seifert Watson (1967)
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to provide information about the major sources of income, major type of
expenditures, assets and liabilities, general insurance program, and attitudes toward a family finance
course available to and geared especially for the college married student. The questionnaire was
personally administered to forty-five GI-Benefit, senior, and graduate married male students during
April, 1967, at Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.
Results indicated that the seniors ranked first, GI-Benefit students . second, and graduate students third
in the areas of (1) monthly income, (2) dollar value of physical assets, (3) installment credit, and (4)
indebtedness.
As expected, food and housing were the primary expenditures of all respondents, with the GI-Benefit
students spending most, and the seniors least.
Most student respondents in each category felt their residence in Bozeman, Montana, reflected an
average standard of living.
Thirty-five and one-half percent of all students interviewed indicated they would! not participate in a
family finance course, but of those positive replies, another 28.8 per cent of them indicated they felt
budgeting would be a most beneficial area of study in family finance.
Ninety-one per cent of all respondents indicated their desire for employment, preferably for
study-related positions.
A slight majority of each category (53.3 per cent) felt that major money decisions should be a joint
decision between husband and wife.
More wills were in effect by GI-Benefit students (26.7 per cent) than by either of the other study
groups.
Car insurance was carried by all the respondents. Some type of life insurance was tcarried by most
students. Only 6.6 per cent of the GI-Benefit and 13.3 per cent of the graduate students did not carry
any. Family health insurance was carried by over half (66.6 per cent) of all the husbands interviewed. THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF MARRIED MALE SENIOR
UNDER-GRADUATES, GRADUATES, AND GI-BENEFIT
STUDENTS, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD A FAMILY
FINANCE COURSE
by
S h irle y Jea n S e ife rt W a ts o n
A t h e s i s s u b m itte d to th e G r a d u a t e F a c u lty in p a r tia l
f u lf illm e n t of th e re q u ir e m e n ts for th e d e g re e
of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
Home E co n o m ics
Approved:
j o i^ D e p a rtm e n t
C h a irm a n , Exam ining (Committee
a
2 ^
G r a d u a te D e an
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
B o ze m a n , M o n ta n a
A u g u s t , 1967
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I w o u ld l i k e to e x p r e s s my s i n c e r e th a n k s to M r s . E v ely n M c C o rm ic k ,
my a d v i s o r , for h e r g u i d a n c e a n d p a t i e n t a d v i c e th ro u g h o u t my g ra d u a te
s t u d i e s ; to D r 0 M a r jo ry B r o o k s , for h e r g u id a n c e a n d a s s i s t a n c e th ro u g h
t h i s p e rio d a n d h e r h e lp f u l a n a l y s i s of my t h e s i s ; to D r 0 Raymond H enjum
of th e E d u c a tio n D e p a rtm e n t for h i s tim e , h e lp f u l s u g g e s t i o n s , a n d u s e of
h i s p e r s o n a l t e x t s w h ile w ritin g my t h e s i s „
T h an k s a l s o i s g iv e n to. t h o s e m a rrie d m a le s w ho s o k in d ly p a r t i c i p a t e d
in my s tu d y b y g iv in g t h e i r v a l u a b l e tim e a n d in fo rm a tio n „
I am g r a te f u l to my p a r e n t s , M r 0 a n d M r s . Edwin S e i f e r t , 'f o r m aking
my c o l l e g e c a r e e r p o s s i b l e a n d fo r th e i r a id a n d i n t e r e s t i n my fa m ily a n d
s tu d ie s.
iv
TABLE O F C O N T E N T S
Pag e
VITA,.
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ii
A C KN O W LED GEM EN TS............................................................... ............................ .....
iii
ABSTRACT .
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
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v ii
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3
CHAPTER III
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE .
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CHAPTER IV
FINDINGS
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13
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, C O NCLUSIO N S, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
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54
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61
APPENDIX .
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LITERATURE CONSULTED
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64
-V -
LIST OF TABLES
T a b le
P ag e
I . S iz e of F a m ilie s .b y N um ber a n d
P e r c e n ta g e of T o tal
12
I I . M a jo r S o u rc e s of M o n th ly In co m e b y N um ber of
F a m i l i e s , A v erage D o lla r Amount a n d Proportion
b y P e rc e n t of T otal In c o m e . . . . . . . . .
II I.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
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14
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15
S o u r c e s of L oans to M arrie d G I - B e n e f i t , S e n io r,
a n d G r a d u a te C o u p le s : a n d th e P e r c e n ta g e of
T o tal I n d e b t e d n e s s R e p r e s e n te d : Iby Each S o u rce . . . .
30
D is tr ib u tio n of R e s p o n d e n ts R eg a rd in g Em ploym ent
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SB
R e s p o n d e n ts b y P e r c e n ta g e of Each C a te g o ry
S tu d ie d
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o . o .
D is t r i b u t i o n of F a m ilie s b y M o n th ly
Incomne B ra c k e ts . . . . . .
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R e s p o n s e s of H u s b a n d s in Each C a te g o r y R eg ard in g
a W ill . . . . . .
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VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
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o
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4.0
P e r c e n ta g e of W iv e s in Each C a te g o r y W ho Know
W h e r e th e W ill a n d O th e r Im p o rta n t F in a n c ia l
P a p e rs of H u s b a n d a re Kept . . . . . . . .
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41
P e rc e n t of S tu d e n t F a m ilie s b y C a te g o r y W ho
S u b s c r ib e d to V a rio u s I n s u r a n c e P la n s .
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4.2-
The N um ber a n d P e r c e n ta g e of th e T o tal G roup
S tu d ie d S u b s c rib in g to 'V a r io u s I n s u r a n c e P la n s . . . . .
4-3'
P e r c e n ta g e o f-R e s p o n d e n ts in C a t e g o r i e s W ith
R e s p e c t to Borrowing M o n ey to F in is h C o lle g e . . . . .
4'.7
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I n d i c a t e d Per C e n t of S tu d e n t P r e f e r e n c e for
Loan S o u rc e s to F in is h C o l l e g e . . . . .
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4.8
-v iLIST O F FIGU RES
Page
F ig u re s
1 „ A v e rag e N um ber of D o lla rs S p e n t for Food
a n d H o u s in g b y M a rrie d S t u d e n t s ...................................
2 „ S ta n d a rd of Living R e f le c te d by M a r rie d M a le
R e s p o n d e n ts b y P e r c e n ta g e in Each C a te g o r y
of th e S tu d y S a m p le . . . . . . . . . .
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26
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32
—v i i —
ABSTRACT
The p u r p o s e o f t h i s s tu d y w a s to p ro v id e in fo rm a tio n a b o u t th e m ajo r
s o u r c e s of i n c o m e , m ajo r ty p e of e x p e n d i t u r e s , a s s e t s a n d l i a b i l i t i e s ,
g e n e r a l i n s u r a n c e p ro g r a m , a n d a t t i t u d e s to w a rd a fa m ily f i n a n c e c o u r s e
a v a i l a b l e to a n d g e a r e d e s p e c i a l l y for th e c o l l e g e m a rrie d s t u d e n t . The
q u e s t i o n n a i r e w a s p e r s o n a l l y a d m in is te r e d to f o r t y - f i v e G I - B e n e f i t , s e n i o r ,
a n d g r a d u a te m a rrie d m a le s t u d e n t s d u rin g A pril, 1 9 6 7 , a t M o n ta n a S ta te
U n i v e r s i t y , B o z e m a n , M o n ta n a .
R e s u lts i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e s e n i o r s r a n k e d f i r s t , G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s .
s e c o n d , a n d g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s th ird in th e a r e a s of (I) m o n th ly in c o m e ,
(2) d o lla r v a lu e of p h y s i c a l a s s e t s , (3) i n s t a l l m e n t c r e d i t , a n d (4) i n d e b t ­
edness.
As e x p e c t e d , food a n d h o u s in g w e re th e prim ary e x p e n d it u r e s of a l l
r e s p o n d e n t s , w ith t h e G I - B e n e f it s t u d e n t s s p e n d in g m o s t , a n d th e s e n io r s
.le a s t.
M o s t s t u d e n t r e s p o n d e n t s in e a c h c a t e g o r y f e l t t h e i r r e s i d e n c e in
B o z e m a n , M o n t a n a , r e f l e c t e d a n a v e r a g e s ta n d a r d of liv i n g .
T h ir ty - f iv e a n d o n e - h a l f p e r c e n t of a l l s t u d e n t s in te r v ie w e d in d i c a t e d
t h e y w ould! n o t p a r t i c i p a t e in a fa m ily f i n a n c e c o u r s e , b u t of th o s e p p o s itiv e
r e p l i e s , a n o th e r 2 8 .8 p e r c e n t of th em i n d i c a t e d th e y f e l t b u d g e tin g w o u ld
be a m o s t b e n e f i c i a l a r e a of s tu d y in fa m ily f i n a n c e .
N i n e t y - o n e p e r c e n t of a l l r e s p o n d e n t s i n d i c a t e d th e i r d e s i r e for
e m p lo y m e n t, p r e f e r a b ly for s t u d y - r e l a t e d p o s i t i o n s .
A s l i g h t m a jo rity of e a c h c a te g o r y (5 3 .3 p e r c e n t) f e l t t h a t m ajor
m o n e y d e c i s i o n s s h o u ld b e a jo i n t d e c i s i o n b e tw e e n h u s b a n d a n d w if e .
M o re w i l l s w e re in e f f e c t b y G I - B e n e f it s t u d e n t s ( 2 6 . 7 p e r c e n t)
t h a n b y e ith e r of th e o th e r s tu d y g r o u p s .
C a r i n s u r a n c e w a s c a r r i e d b y a l l th e r e s p o n d e n t s „ Some ty p e of
l i f e i n s u r a n c e ; w a s c c a rrie d b y m o s t s t u d e n t s . O nly 6 . 6 p e r c e n t of th e
G I - B e n e f it a n d 1 3 .3 p er c e n t of th e g r a d u a te s tu d e n t s d id n o t c a r r y a n y .
F am ily h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e w a s c a r r ie d b y o v e r h a l f ( 6 6 .6 p e r .c e n t) of a ll
th e h u s b a n d s i n t e r v i e w e d .
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE
F u lto n w a s c o n c e r n e d a b o u t th e A m erican fa m ily w h e n h e s ta te d :
" „ . . n e v e r h a s th e r e b e e n in our h i s t o r y s u c h d e s p e r a t e n e e d for m en a n d
w om en o f i n t e l l i g e n c e a n d d e d i c a t i o n , m en a n d w om en w h o w i l l k n o w in g ly
s a c r i f i c e fa m ily tim e to a n s w e r a p le a to a c t i o n for la r g e r p u r p o s e s of
a w e s o m e u rg e n c y " (8),
T his i n v e s t i g a t o r w a s i m p r e s s e d by th e s i n c e r i t y sh o w n b y m arried
m a le s i n t e r v ie w e d in t h i s s a m p le to w a rd t h e ir e d u c a t i o n a l a tta in m e n t of a
c o lle g e d e g re e .
There a r e p r e s e n t l y o v er o n e t h o u s a n d m a rrie d s tu d e n t s
a t M o n ta n a S ta te U n i v e r s i t y .
This p l a c e s m a rrie d s t u d e n t s i n th e sam e
p ro p o rtio n to t o t a l e n ro llm e n t a s th e C l i c k a n d C a r te r (10) s t u d y , w h ic h
r e v e a l e d . t h a t am ong th e m o s t f r e q u e n t c o l l e g e a g e s , 1 8 - 2 4 , a b o u t one
of e v e r y s ix in c o l l e g e in 1956 w a s m a rrie d .
The m o tiv a tin g p r o c e s s m ay h a v e so m e b e a r in g on s t u d e n t fu tu re
f i n a n c i a l s u c c e s s ; h o w e v e r . C lic k a n d M ille r (11) w ro te t h a t " a lth o u g h
i t s e e m s s a f e to c o n c lu d e t h a t a n in v e s t m e n t in e d u c a tio n g e n e r a lly
i n c r e a s e s th e p r o b a b ility of f i n a n c i a l s u c c e s s , i t d o e s n o t g u a r a n te e its
atta in m en t. "
W h e th e r th e h u s b a n d s a re a tte n d in g c o l l e g e for e d u c a tio n i t s e l f , jor
th e m o n e ta ry r e w a r d s w h ic h fo llo w , t h i s i n v e s t i g a t o r w o u ld n o t v e n tu re to
g u e s s , b u t w o u ld re c o m m en d t h a t t h e p rim ary e d u c a tio n a l m o tiv a tio n s of
.-2 -
c o l l e g e m a rrie d m en w o u ld s e r v e a s a n i n t e r e s t i n g a n d e n lig h te n in g , b a s i s
for som e fu tu re s tu d y „
A lthough t h e r e a p p e a r s t o 'b e a c o n tin u in g , tre n d to w a rd m a rria g e of
y o u n g p e o p le w ho w is h to c o n t i n u e . t h e i r e d u c a t i o n , m an y m a rrie d c o lle g e
s t u d e n t s do not. f in i s h c o l l e g e (5). . The f i n a n c i a l a b i l i t y of m a rrie d s t u d e n t s
to m e e t t h e p rim ary e x p e n d i t u r e s . r e q u ir e d d u rin g c o l l e g e a t t e n d a n c e s h o u ld
b e of m a jo r c o n c e r n to c o l l e g e s . a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s „ .N o s t u d i e s w e re found
. t h a t w e r e c o n c e r n e d w ith t h e f i n a n c i a l s t a t u s of m a rrie d c o l l e g e s tu d e n t s in
t h e 'W e s t e r n - S t a t e s d u rin g t h e l a s t f i v e . y e a r s .
The p r e s e n t s tu d y s h o u ld b e
s i g n i f i c a n t to a l l p e r s o n s .w h o a r e c o n c e r n e d w ith t h e f i n a n c i a l pro b lem s of
th e c o l l e g e or u n i v e r s i t y m a rrie d m a le s t u d e n t .
The p u r p o s e of. t h i s s tu d y w a s to i n v e s t i g a t e th e fo llo w in g among
m a rrie d m a le s t u d e n t s :
(I) m a jo r s o u r c e s of in c o m e , (2) m a jo r ty p e s of
e x p e n d i t u r e s , (3) m ajo r a s s e t s and: l i a b i l i t i e s , (4) g e n e r a l i n s u r a n c e p ro ­
g ra m , a n d (5). th e ir a t t i t u d e s to w a rd a. f a m i ly - f in a n c e .c o u r s e a v a i l a b l e . t o
a n d g e a r e d e s p e c i a l l y . f o r t h e c o l l e g e fa m ily s i t u a t i o n .
. The c h a p t e r fo llo w in g , i s a r e v ie w of so m e of th e l i t e r a t u r e .c o n s u lte d
by th is in v e stig a to r.
Some p r e v io u s s t u d i e s . a n d i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a s s o c i a t e d
w ith t h e . f i n a n c i a l a s p e c t s of c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s : a r e i n c l u d e d .
CHAPTERJI
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
"T h e .h ig h l e v e l o f p r o s p e r ity w h ic h e n a b le d fa m ilie s to s u b s i d i z e
s t u d e n t m a r r ia g e s a l s o p e rm itte d m a rria g e u p o n m e a g e r e c o n o m ic r e s e r v e
b u t s u b s t a n t i a l fu tu r e e c o n o m ic p o t e n t i a l , " w ro te C h r i s t o p h e r s o n ,
V a n d iv e r e , ■a n d Kreuger (4).
Adams (I) w ro te c o n c e r n in g s t r u c t u r a l f a c to r s a f f e c t in g p a r e n ta l a id
to m a rrie d c h i l d r e n , , th a t t h e r e c e i v i n g o f a ll k in d s of a id w a s g r e a t e s t
d u rin g t h e - f i r s t t e n y e a r s of t h e young, c o u p l e 's m a rria g e . ' Thip fin d in g
s e e m e d to a g r e e w ith r e s u l t s of a c o m p a r a tiv e s tu d y of p ro b le m s of m ar­
r i e d . a n d s i n g l e . s t u d e n t s c o n d u c te d by F a lk (6).
H e tr i e d to d e te rm in e
w h e th e r m a rrie d s t u d e n t s e x p e r ie n c e d g r e a t e r d i f f i c u l t i e s in fo llo w in g
t h e i r a c a d e m ic p u r s u its .th a n d id s i n g le s t u d e n t s .
F a l k 's s tu d y in d ic a te d
t h a t e c o n o m ic c o n c e r n s Uor m a rrie d s t u d e n t s w e re l e s s th a n for th o s e s i n g le
s t u d e n t s , a n d i t w a s p o s s i b l e th a t fa v o r a b le f in a n c ia l c i r c u m s t a n c e s c o n ­
t r i b u te d to th e d e c i s i o n to marry- b e fo re c o m p le tin g c o l l e g e .
W h e n p a re n ts
c a n n o t , or do n o t , s u b s i d i z e s t u d e n t m a r r i a g e s , th e n s t u d e n t s m ay h a v e to
s e e k e m p lo y m e n t w h ile c o n tin u in g t h i s e d u c a t i o n .
K irk e n d a ll (18) , . i n
w ritin g a b o u t m a rrie d u n d e r - g r a d u a t e s o n .th e c a m p u s , s u g g e s t e d t h a t th e
.c o u p le m ig h t e x p lo re th e p o s s i b i l i t y of b o rro w in g m o n e y to c o m p le te .th e ir
c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y i f t h e y a r e w ith in a y e a r or tw o of g r a d u a ­
tio n .
H e s u g g e s t e d t h a t s t u d e n t s m a y h a v e w o rk e d so h a rd to a v o id
-4 -
b o rro w in g t h a t i t in te r f e r e d With th e i r g e ttin g th e q u a lity e d u c a tio n t h a t th e y
ought to .h a v e .h a d .
A lso ,- a s r e p o r te d in a n o th e r s t u d y , c a r ry in g a co m b in e d
b u rd e n of s tu d y a n d o u ts id e w ork m ay h a v e , lo w e re d s t u d e n t l e v e l of p e rfo rm ­
a n c e , in m an y p h a s e s o f l i f e , b o th m e n ta lly a n d p h y s i c a l l y (10).
In a s tu d y of h i s t o r i c e le m e n ts - l e a d i n g to i n c r e a s e d em p lo y m e n t a n d
a c c e p t a b i l i t y of w om en in s a l a r i e d p o s i t i o n s , -G re e n w a id an d G re e n w a ld
(12) c o n c lu d e d in part:
"T he tr e n d to w a rd m a r r ia g e .a t a n e a r ly a g e . i n d i ­
c a t e d t h a t t h e fe m a le w a s g e n e r a l l y n o t i n t e r e s t e d in p re p a rin g for a p ro ­
f e s s i o n a l c a r e e r " . The m a rrie d m a le s t u d e n t m ay h a v e f e l t a s . B o s s a rd (3)
e x p la in e d :
"T he w o rk in g w ife i s a n a s s e t " .
He a l s o w ro te t h a t " . . . th e
w o rk in g w ife b ro u g h t s e c u r i t y to t h e m a rita l u n io n e v e n i f s h e w a s n o t
w o rk in g " . . H o w e v e r, H offm an (17) w a rn e d t h a t em p lo y m e n t w o u ld i n c r e a s e
a w o m a n 's p o w er v i s - a - v i s h e r h u s b a n d b e c a u s e of th e s o c i a l l y d e fin e d
im p o r ta n c e of th e m o n e ta ry c o n t r i b u t i o n .
F a l k 1Sr (6) study, i n d i c a t e d a c o n ­
c e r n t h a t t h e w ife m ay b e a s s i g n e d c o n f lic tin g s o c ia l, r o l e s w h ic h s h e c o u ld
not fu lfill.
The m an y f o i e s a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of w i f e , m o th e r, h o u s e ­
k e e p e r ,. a n d w a g e e a r n e r w e re e m p h a s iz e d b y Frank (7) a s s o m e of th e c o n ­
f l i c t i n g s o c i a l r o l e s a w o rk in g w ife s h o u ld e x p ec t, to a s s u m e .
C o n s u m e r c r e d i t , a s . a f i n a n c i a l a i d h a s b e e n u s e d b y many, young
n ew ly w ed s.
H e rrm a n n (15) a d d r e s s e d a w o rk s h o p on "The T e e n a g e Parent"
p r e s e n t e d b y t h e U n iv e r s ity E x te n s io n S e r v ic e of th e U n iv e r s ity of C a l if o r ­
n ia in 1964 c o n c e r n in g th e e c o n o m ic p ro b le m s of t e e n - a g e n e w ly w e d s .
He
-5 -
s t a t e d , " o o . t h e .. ..dependence- on c o n s u m e r c r e d i t a n d p a r e n t s ' h e lp h a v e
m a d e r e a l i n d e p e n d e n c e a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e for t e e n - a g e c o u p l e s " (15) „
■M a r c h a n d a n d .L a n g fo rd s tu d ie d th e a d ju s t m e n ts of m a rrie d s tu d e n t s
a n d t h e i r p ro b le m s a n d c o n c lu d e d th a t:
" „ „ „n e a r ly a l l of t h e m en w e re
a t t e n d i n g s c h o o l u n d e r th e; 1G I-B ill of R i g h t s ', b u t m o s t f a m ilie s n e e d e d
s u p p le m e n ta r y in c o m e " (19).
. Frank s h o w e d c o n c e r n for t h e f i n a n c i a l m a n a g e m e n t of m a rrie d s t u ­
d e n t s . i n h i s r e p o r t on h o u s in g for th e m a rrie d s t u d e n t s .
Frank r e f e r r e d .to
t h e g ra d u a te - m a rrie d s t u d e n t s w h e n h e w ro te -t h a t t h e y u s u a l l y h a d bu t
l i t t l e in c o m e for liv in g a n d lim ite d fu n d s, for p u r c h a s in g h o u s e h o l d e q u ip m e n t, w h ic h a t t h e e n d of t h e i r r e s i d e n c e , h a d to b e s o ld a t a s a c r i f i c e or
m oved a t c o n s i d e r a b l e e x p e n s e w h e n th e y w e n t e l s e w h e r e (7).
F i n a n c i a l d e c i s i o n s m u s t b e m ad e d a ily - b y m a rrie d s t u d e n t s . W i s e
u s e of t h e m oney r e s o u r c e . i s n o t e a s i l y l e a r n e d . N e i s s e r (21) re p o rte d
t h a t y o u n g p e o p le c a m e to c o l l e g e w ith a t t i t u d e s to w a rd m o n ey d e riv e d
from d i r e c t e x p e r i e n c e w ith i t , from e x p l i c i t t e a c h i n g s i n . t h e i r h o m es a n d
im p lic it t e a c h i n g s of t h e - c u l t u r e .
in fa m ily liv in g a n d s ta t e d :
G ross w a s concerned about m anagem ent
"The r e s o u r c e of m oney i s m o s t c l o s e l y r e l a t e d
to e c o n o m i c s . . The c o n c e p t of s c a r c i t y m a k e s in h e r e n t th e .im p o r ta n c e of
a l l o c a t i o n am ong m an y u s e s " ,(13).
w ro te th a t:
S te w a rt a g r e e d w ith G ro s s , w h en h e
" E v e ry o n e s h o u ld know t h e : v a l u e of m oney a n d a p p r e c i a t e . t h e
a d v a n t a g e of t h r i f t .
T h o se w ho d o m o t h a v e k n o w le d g e in t h e s e f ie ld s a r e
- 6-
g reatly - h a n d ic a p p e d " (23) „
H e o f lin fo u n d t h a t c o l l e g e . g i r l s (m arried ju n io r s ) re c o m m e n d e d th a t
m ore c o u r s e s s h o u ld b e m ad e a v a i l a b l e to n o n -h o m e e c o n o m ic s m a j o r s ,
som e' of whom s e e m e d to - b e h a v in g m ore p ro b le m s in s u c h a r e a s a s m a n ­
a g e m e n t, m e a l p r e p a r a t i o n , r e a r in g of c h ild r e n a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p s „ " T h e s e
g ir ls f o u n d , h o w e v e r , t h a t e v e n a p la n n e d .b u d g e t d id n o t a lw a y s c o v e r
" e m e r g e n c ie s '" (16).
• M a r u ll s p o k e to t h e S em in ar o n Home E c o n o m ic s E d u c a tio n for L atin
A m erica h e ld J u n e , 1 9 6 4 , in ."Mexico u n d e r th e a u s p i c e s of FAD, U NICEF,
a n d t h e M e x ic a n G o v ern m en t:
" . . . th e tr a in in g of w om en so th a t th e y c a n
m ore a d e q u a t e l y a s s u m e t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s in t h e m o d e rn w o rld i n ­
e v i t a b l y in v o lv e s a c o m p r e h e n s io n of a l l e c o n o m ic a s p e c t s in h e r e n t in th e
fa m ily s tr u c tu r e w ith in our s o c i e t y " (20).
G ra ta (22) s t a t e d t h a t c l a s s e s s h o u ld ,b e p la n n e d for a d u l t s a n d y o u th
in h o m e - m a k in g c l a s s e s . i n c o m su m b r a n d d is t r u b u t i v e e d u c a t i o n .
H ender­
s o n (14) s u g g e s t e d th a t: w e p e r s u a d e s t a t e d e p a r tm e n ts of e d u c a t i o n , t h a t
i n s t e a d of c e r tif y in g for "h o m e e c o n o m ic s " , t h e y c o u ld
of i t .
c e r t i f y for p a rts
H e n d e r s o n m e n tio n e d .fo u r p a r t s , o n e of w h ic h i s fa m ily f in a n c e
(w hich i s o f te n ta u g h t t o d a y b y b u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n . t e a c h e r s w h o h a v e
. l i t t l e b a c k g r o u n d or t r a in in g for i t ) .
U g e lo w s p o k e before.-the e l e m e n t a r y , s e c o n d a r y , a n d a d u l t s e c t i o n
of t h e 5 6 th .A n n u al M e e tin g of t h e A m erican H om e E c o n o m ic s -A s s o c ia tio n
-7-
a n d sa id , t h a t , " „ „ . poor m oney.-m anagem ent w a s o n e of th e prim ary p ro b lem s
of th e h o m e m a k e r i n -Cook C o u n ty , I l l i n o i s , - a n d r e s u l t e d . i n s k e t c h y m e a l s ,
. n o n - p a y m e n t of r e n t , a n d la c k of a d e q u a t e c lo th in g " (2 4 ).
U g e l o w 's c h a r -
a c t e r i s t i c s of p oor m o n e y m a n a g e m e n t w e re t r a i t s w h ic h h a v e , b e e n n o te d .in
so m e m a rrie d c o l l e g e .fa m i l i e s j b y t h i p - in v e s tig a to r on a n in fo rm al b a s i s .
q uoted, a
He
c a s e - w o r k e r a s s a y in g , " T h e y b e c a m e m o th e rs a s . g i r l s a n d . l e f t t h e i r
ow n m o th e r s ' h o m e s - w ith o u t- le a r n in g h o w to. b e c o m e ^ h o u s e w iv e s " ( 2 4 ) .
P e r­
h a p s t h i s . i s a p roblem w h ic h .m ig h t b e s tu d ie d a s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of som e
c o lle g e m a rria g e s .
. Bogner a n d - S e ib e r t (2) m a d e -a s tu d y of th e s o c ia l, a n d e c o n o m ic b a c k ­
g ro u n d of s t u d e n t s . e n r o l l e d a t M ia m i U n iv e r s ity in O x fo rd , O h io , in 1 9 6 1 .
. D a ta r e v e a le d ; t h a t a b o u t 2 5 . 0 per cent; of th e s t u d e n t s w e re e m p lo y e d d u rin g
th e a c a d e m ic y e a r . - M a le s t u d e n t s a v e r a g e d a n in c o m e of $ 5 6 2 .0 0 for th e
s c h o o l y e a r in .co n tra st, t o - $ 1 5 0 .0 0 . for f e m a le s tu d e n t s d u rin g t h e s c h o o l
year.
T h r e e .o u t of fo u r w o rk e d d u rin g th e sum m er a n d e a r n e d from $ 1 0 0 .0 0
to a lm o s t $ 8 0 0 . 0 0 .
T w o .th ird s e a r n e d . . l e s s . t h a n - $ 5 0 0 .0 0 . About o n e :fifth
o f th e s t u d e n t s ; h e l d . a . s c h o l a r s h i p - ( m e n p re d o m in a te d ).
About h a l f of th e
s c h o l a r s h i p s h a d a , v a l u e o f $ 2 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 or l e s s w h e n .fig u re d o v e r a fo u ry e a r p e r io d .
- A s tu d y b y G lick a n d C a r te r (10) w a s -th e -b a s is fo r a n a r t i c l e ; b y G e r s o n (9) o n t h e . l e i s u r e a n d m a r ita l s a t i s f a c t i o n o f c o lle g e-.m arrie d c o u p l e s .
—8—
G lic k a n d C a r te r (10) s e l e c t e d a s a m p le of fif ty c o u p le s a tte n d in g th e
U n iv e r s ity of M o n ta n a a t M i s s o u l a , M o n t a n a , d u rin g w in te r q u a rte r of
1958 to s tu d y m a rria g e p a tte r n s a n d e d u c a tio n a l l i v i n g .
Eight per c e n t
of t h e c o u p l e s . h a d . b e e n m a r r i e d . l e s s th a n four y e a r s , a n d 5 2 ,0 per c e n t
h a d o n e. or m o re-o ff s p r i n g , . M e a n a g e s w e re 2 6 ,1 a n d 2 2 , 4 for h u s b a n d s
and w iv e s r e s p e c t i v e l y .
A v erag e m o n th ly in c o m e s w e r e . f a i r l y w e ll d i s ­
p e r s e d . - - 2 2 , 0 p e r c e n t h a d in c o m e s of l e s s th a n ' $ 1 7 5 .0 0 w h i l e . 3 0 .0 per
c e n t had. in c o m e s , of $ 3 2 5 .0 0 or m o re . . The c o u p le s .te n d e d to b e la rg e ly
i n d e p e n d e n t of p a r e n ta l s u p p o r t. . I t is i n t e r e s t i n g to n o t e . t h a t in d iv id u a ls
w ho w e re r e l a t i v e l y d i s s a t i s f i e d in .m a r r i a g e - f e l t t h a t t h e i r f in a n c ia l, s i t u ­
a tio n r e s t r i c t e d th e i r l e i s u r e a c t i v i t i e s to a g neat d e g r e e .
C h r i s t o p h e r s o n , V a n d iv e r , a n d .K ru eg e r (4) w ro te a b o u t t h e m a rried
c o l l e g e s t u d e n t in 1 9 5 9 ,. b a s e d on a s tu d y by. C h r is to p h e r s o n of c o lle g e
m a r r i a g e s . i n . p u b l i c a n d p r iv a te i n s t i t u t i o n s o f h ig h e r le a r n in g b e tw e e n t h e
y e a r s 1943 and. 1 9 5 8 .
The m o s t o fte n m e n tio n e d m a rita l d i s a d v a n t a g e w a s
f i n a n c i a l h a r d s h i p , b u t t h e r e -w a s ..little i n d i c a t i o n t h a t f i n a n c i a l s t r a i n w a s
u n a n t i c i p a t e d or u n a c c e p t a b l e t o . t h e c o u p l e s . i n te r m s .o f t h e i r long ra n g e
g o a l s . T w e n ty -fo u r p e r c e n t of th e w iv e s w e re a tte n d in g c o l l e g e and
u n e m p lo y e d o u t s i d e the^hom e; 1 0 .0 p e r c e n t w e r e - a tt e n d in g c o l l e g e a n d . a l s o
w e re em p lo y e d o u ts id e .th e - h o m e ; 3 1 . 0 p e r c e n t w e re e m p lo y e d o u t s i d e . t h e
;h o m e -a n d w e re , n o t a tte n d in g , c o lle g e ; and,.. 3 5 .0 p e r c e n t w e r e f u ll - tim e
-hom em akers.
S tu d e n t f a m ilie s w e re d o in g v e r y - l i t t l e p u rc h a s in g , on t i m e -
-9 -
paym ent p la n s .
Some o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s . i n d i c a t e d t h a t t e l e v i s i o n s a v e d
m o n ey w h ic h m ig h t o t h e r w i s e h a v e - b e e n u s e d for more e x p e n s i v e r e c r e a tio n ;
t e l e v i s i o n w a s " c o m p a n y " for th e w ife a n d / o r c h ild r e n during, t h e h o u rs
w h e n th e h u s b a n d w a s o c c u p ie d w ith h i s s t u d i e s „ A m a jo rity of s tu d e n t
f a m i l i e s . r e c e i v e d th e ir in c o m e s from tw o or m ore s o u r c e s . . N in e te e n per
c e n t of th e h u s b a n d s d id n o t c o n tr ib u te d i r e c t l y to th e in c o m e of th e ir
fa m ilie s.
The g o v e rn m e n t s u p p lie d 5 2 . 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e W o rld W a r II a n d
Korean W a r v e t e r a n f a m ilie s w ith p a rt of th e i r in c o m e .
Some f i n a n c i a l
s u b s i d i e s w e r e r e c e i v e d b y 3 8 . 0 p e r c e n t of th e stu d en t, f a m ilie s from
p a r e n t s , r a n g in g from 5 . 0 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l m o n ey in c o m e of th e fa m ily
to 8 0 . 0 p e r c e n t .
The a b o v e s t u d i e s . h a v e n o t c o m p a re d t h e m a rrie d s t u d e n t s . b y a c a ­
d e m ic g r o u p s , nor h a v e th e y i n v e s t i g a t e d th e m a jo r e x p e n d i t u r e s , a s s e t s ,
l i a b i l i t i e s , a n d i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e of th e s t u d e n t s .
The fo llo w in g c h a p te r
w ill p r e s e n t th e r e s u l t s of t h o s e a r e a s a s r e v e a l e d b y t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
CHAPTER I I I
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
In s tru m e n t: A s tr u c tu r e d in t e r v i e w form w a s d e v i s e d w ith t h e . a s s i s t ­
a n c e of f a c u l t y m em b ers o f t h e Home E c o n o m ic s , E d u c a tio n , a n d E co n o m ics
D e p a rtm e n ts a t M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity ,
The-form (s e e Appendix-A) w a s
u s e d to o b ta in in fo rm a tio n a b o u t t h e m a jo r s o u r c e s of i n c o m e , m ajor e x p e n d ­
itu res
a s s e t s and. l i a b i l i t i e s , a t t i t u d e s to w a rd t h e i r l e v e l of l i v i n g ,
a t t i t u d e s to w a rd a fa m ily f i n a n c e . c o u r s e , la b o r fo r c e p o t e n t i a l , e x i s t e n c e
of a w i l l , w i f e 1s k n o w le d g e of t h e ; l o c a t i o n of f i n a n c i a l p a p e r s , g e n e r a l i n ­
s u r a n c e p la n ,- and; t h e . a t t i t u d e of t h e m a rrie d m a le s t u d e n t to w a rd borro w in g
m o n e y to f i n i s h c o l l e g e .
The o r ig i n a l q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e re a d m i n i s t e r e d . t o t e n v o l u n t e e r s , a n d
r e v i s i o n s w e re m a d e on t h e . b a s i s of th e ir r e c o m m e n d a tio n s ,
. Sam ple:
A n .IBM. lis tin g , of m a r r i e d - s t a t u s m a le s t u d e n t s w a s o b ta in e d
from t h e . r e g i s t r a r ' s o f f i c e .
Prom t h i s l i s t f i f te e n s t u d e n t s w e re ra n d o m ly
s e l e c t e d from e a c h of th e fo llo w in g m u tu a lly e x c l u s i v e c a t e g o r i e s :
G I-
B e n e f i t , S e n io r , a n d G r a d u a te S tu d e n ts., ■U pon th e re c o m m e n d a tio n of t h e
g r a d u a te c o m m itte e , f i f t e e n s t u d e n t s from e a c h of th e t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s
w e re re c o m m e n d e d a s a n a p p r o p r ia te s a m p le p o p u la tio n s i n c e th e y w erb
■to b e ra n d o m ly s e l e c t e d .
T h is m ad e a t o t a l s a m p le p o p u la tio n of 45 m a le
m a rrie d s t u d e n t s , -A p p o in tm en ts w e re m a d e w ith t h o s e s e l e c t e d for p e r s o n a l
■a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f th e d a t a g a th e r in g form .
- li­
l t w a s found t h a t th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s ' a v e r a g e a c a d e m ic c l a s s
s ta n d i n g w a s 3 . 1 3 , or ju n io r .
There w e re th r e e f r e s h m e n , tw o s o p h m o r e s ,
fiv e j u n i o r s , o n e s e n i o r , th r e e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s , a n d o n e s p e c i a l g ra d u a te
stu d en t.
The o th e r two c a t e g o r i e s w e re c o m p r is e d , 1 0 0 .0 0 per c e n t e a c h ,
of s e n io r a n d g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s .
There w e re 3 . 6 c h ild r e n p e r G I-B e n e f it fa m ily .
G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s r a n g e d from tw o to s e v e n .
The fa m ily s i z e of
The s e n io r fa m ilie s a v e r a g e d
3 . 0 6 c h ild r e n p e r fa m ily a n d r a n g e d in s i z e from tw o to fiv e m e m b e r s . There
w e re 2 .7 3 c h ild r e n p e r g r a d u a te s t u d e n t fa m ily ra n g in g in num ber from tw o
to fo u r.
M a n y of th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s w e re n ew or re tu rn in g s tu d e n t s
w h o h a d a l r e a d y b e g u n th e ir f a m i l i e s .
The n u m e ro u s o ffs p rin g of th e s e n io r s
m ay h a v e b e e n th e r e s u l t of e a r ly m a rria g e s b e fo re c o l l e g e .
S ix ty per
c e n t of th e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s in te r v ie w e d i n d i c a t e d th a t th e ir fa m ily num ­
b e re d th r e e p e r s o n s , a n d o n e th ird of them i n d i c a t e d th a t th e ir fa m ily c o n ­
s i s t e d o n ly of th e h u s b a n d a n d w i f e .
th e s i z e of e a c h fa m ily .
T a b le I on th e fo llo w in g p a g e s h o w s
TABLE I •
S iz e of F a m ilie s b y N um ber* a n d P e rc e n ta g e + of Total from Each C a te g o ry
S en io r
G I-B e n e f it
S iz e of
Fam ily
No *
.
N o .*
P e r c e n ta g e+
G ra d u a te
5
3
20. 0%
7
3
6
4 0 .0 .
2
13.3
9
4
4
26.7
4
26.7
I
O O
• «.
2
1 3 .3
•°°
2
13.3
5
.
o.
as
46. 7%
2
.
P e r c e n tage+
CO
No.*
CO
CO
P e r c e n ta g e+
All S tu d e n ts
N o. *
P e r c e n tag e+
15
33. 4%
6 0 .0
17
37.8
6.7
9
2 0 .0
**
2
4 .4
2
. 4 .4
6
7
Total
Fam ily
M e m b e rs
M ean
•
e
o
O O
D •
O .
C
o
o
e
•
54
46
41
141
3.6
3 .1
2.7
3 .1
* The n um ber of fa m ilie s e m b ra c in g t h i s h o u s e h o ld s i z e , in c lu d in g th e s tu d e n t in te r v ie w e d .
+ The p e r c e n ta g e of m a rrie d s tu d e n t s in t h i s c a te g o r y w ho r e p r e s e n t e d e a c h h o u s e h o ld s i z e .
CHAPTER IV
FINDINGS
The m a jo r soulrces of in c o m e .fo r a ll g ro u p s o f th e s tu d y s a m p le w e re
from th e em p lo y m e n t of h u s b a n d , em p lo y m e n t of th e w i f e , a n d from th e
m o n th ly a l l o w a n c e of th e " G I-B ill o f R ig h ts" (s e e T ab le II on th e ,fo llo w in g
pag e).
D a ta f u r n is h e d by th e .r e s p o n d e n t's in d i c a t e d th a t th e m o s t p o p u la r
m o n th ly in c o m e b r a c k e t s w ere: $ 3 0 0 .0 0 - $ 3 9 9 .0 0 for the. s e n i o r a n d g r a d ­
u a t e s t u d e n t f a m i l i e s , a n d $ 4 0 0 .0 0 - $ 4 9 9 .0 0 for th e G I-B e n e f it s tu d e n t
fa m ilie s a t M o n ta n a S ta t e .U n iv e rs ity d u rin g s p rin g q u a rte r o f 1967 (s e e T a b le
III. on p a g e 15).
The G I - B e n e f it s t u d e n t f a m ilie s h a d a h ig h e r m o n th ly in c o m e th a n d id
th e s e n io r or g ra d u a te , f a m ilie s .
T h e .to ta l m o n th ly -in c o m e for th is g r o u p ,
$ 7 , 0 2 8 . 0 0 , p ro v id e d e a c h .f a m ily w i t h a m e a n m o n th ly in c o m e of $ 4 6 8 . 5 3 ,
a m e d ia n of $ 4 7 0 . 0 0 , a n d a n in c o m e w h ic h h a n g e d from a low of $150.00 to
a h ig h o f $ 6 7 5 . 0 0 .
The m a jo r c o n t r i b u t i o n ,to w a rd th e m o n th ly in c o m e of G I-B e n e f it s t u d ­
e n t f a m ilie s w a s m a d e .b y th e w o rk in g w iv e s w ho e a r n e d from $ 5 0 .0 0 to
$ 1 50.00 m o n th ly .
S i x t y - s i x a n d s i x - t e n t h s p e r c e n t of t h e w iv es' c o n tr ib ­
u t e d , m o n th ly , a n a v e r a g e of $ 2 7 8 .1 0 to th e ir f a m i l i e s .
T h e .to ta l a v e r a g e
m o n th ly le a rn in g s of th e w i v e s , $ 2 , 7 8 1 . 0 0 , w o u ld h a v e a llo w e d only $185.40
p e r G I-B e n e f it fa m ily if th e i r c o m b in e d s a l a r i e s h a d b e e n u s e d to r e p r e s e n t
a l l w iv e s o f th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d .
Their m e d ia n in c o m e a n d
TABLE II
M a jo r S o u rc e s of M o n th ly Incom e b y Number of F a m i l i e s , ^
A verage D o lla r Amount2 a n d Proportion by Per C e n t3
of T otal In co m e
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
3 6 .0 %
2 .1
. • .
$ 2 7 9 .4 0
1 9 .0
3
$ 3 0 6 .6 7
1 5 .4
13
$ 2 7 5 .3 8
$ 1 5 0 .0 0
1 1 .0
3
$ 1 5 6 .6 7
8 .0
I
$ 1 0 0 .0 0
7
2
2
$ 1 9 8 .7 1
$ 2 0 0 .0 0
$ 1 5 0 .0 0
00 0, 00
2
$ 1 3 5 .0 0
. . 6
6 6 . 6 6 6
6 0 0 0 0 .
06 0 0
6 0 0
..............
.,.OO
0 6.
. 0 0 0 .6
6.0.
.............
.. O .
6 0 0
6 0.
O O
1.
2.
3.
3 0 .0
$ 2 6 8 .7 5
$ 1 2 5 .0 0
O O •
...........................
5
8
I
$ 2 7 8 .1 0
$ 1 4 0 .0 0
. O O O O I
•
•
6
..OO
•
O O O O O
O O O
0 . 0 0 0
. 6 0 0
.0 0
0
0
. O O
I
I
I
$ 1 2 0 .0 0
$ 5 0 .0 0
$ 3 5 .0 0
.......... ..
6 .7
5 .0
•
0 . 0
2 .0
0 .8
0 .7
0000
$ 1 9 4 .6 0
6 6.
I
0 6
• 6 • •
..............
•. . .
6 6
.
1 .8
5 .0
. . . .
6 6
$ 1 0 .0 0
0
1 7 .5 %
O
.
CO
CO
(NI
.
as
.
O
.
Per
Per
Per
C e n t 3 N o . 1 D o lla rs ^ C e n t 3 N o . 1 D o lla rs ^ C en t^
O
10
W o rk in g W iv e s
G I-B e n e f it A llo w a n c e .
15
H u s b a n d s Employed
5
by M . S . U . . . . . .
H u s b a n d s Employed
5
off C a m p u s .................
H u s b a n d 's Summer
Em ploym ent S a v in g s
S a v in g s A c c o u rtts
R e la tiv e s a n d F r i e n d s
P a re n ts
M o n ta n a V o c a tio n a l
R e h a b ilit a tio n Act . .
N a tio n a l D e f e n s e Loan .
N a tio n a l G u a r d ................
.
F e llo w s h ip s . . . . . .
G ra d u a te S tu d e n ts
CD
Cn
N o . 123 D o lla rs ^
.
Senior
G I-B e n e f it
S ource of M o n th ly
Incom e
0 6
.
0 .2
6 6..
.66
6 6 . 6 6 6
. . .
..............
....
••
$ 1 9 3 .3 3
1 0 .5
3
• O
The num ber of f a m ilie s to w h ic h th is p a r tic u la r s o u rc e of inco m e w a s a v a i l a b l e .
The a v e r a g e num ber of d o lla r s per month e a r n e d by t h o s e fa m ilie s in v o lv e d .
The p e r c e n ta g e of to ta l m o n th ly in c o m e c o n trib u te d by t h e s e s o u r c e s .
TABLE III
D is tr ib u tio n of F a m ilie s by M o n th ly
In co m e B ra ck e ts
Incom e
B ra c k e t
Number of F a m ilie s
G I-B e n e f it
S tu d e n t
F a m ilie s
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$1
000
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
,0 0 0
-
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$1
99
199
299
399
499
599
699
799
899
999
,0 9 9
I
I
I
5
3
4
Senior
S tu d e n t
F a m ilie s
I
4
7
...
...
G ra d u a te
S tu d e n t
F a m ilie s
4
7
2
...
I
2
...
...
...
...
•••
I
...
•. •
...
. ••
I
...
-16-
th e m ode for th is group w e re .I d e n tic a l -- $ 3 0 0 .0 0 p e r m o n t h .
The $ 2 , 7 8 1 . 0 0
e a r n e d b y th e w iv e s r e p r e s e n t e d 4 0 . 0 p e r c e n t of th e . t o t a l m o n th ly -in co m e
( $ 7 , 0 3 8 . 0 0 ) r e c e i v e d b y G I -B e n e fit s t u d e n t r e s p o n d e n t s .
The s e c o n d m a jo r s o u r c e of in c o m e t o a ll G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t f a m ilie s
w a s th e G I-B e n e f it a llo w a n c e .fro m th e U n ite d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t. T h is m o n - th l y p a y m e n t to e a c h fa m ily v a r ie d from $ 7 5 .0 0 to $ 1 5 0 .0 0 , m ak in g a n a v e r ­
a g e m o n th ly p a y m e n t to e a c h fa m ily of $ 1 4 0 .0 0 .
This a l l o w a n c e p ro v id e d
3 0 . 0 p e r c e n t of th e to t a l m o n th ly in c o m e ( $ 7 ,0 2 8 .0 0 ) of a ll G I-B e n e fit
s t u d e n t f a m ilie s r e p r e s e n t e d b y th is , s tu d y ... The m e d ia n a n d mode from
t h i s s o u r c e of in c o m e w a s c a l c u l a t e d a t $ 1 5 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th .
O nly -one G I-
B e n e fit fa m ily d id n o t s u p p le m e n t th e G I - B e n e f it s t ip e n d w ith em p lo y m en t
b y h u s b a n d or w if e .
O ne th ir d of a l l the G I - B e n e f it s t u d e n t h u s b a n d s w o rk e d on c am p u s
for a m e an m o n th ly in c o m e of $ 2 7 9 .4 0 e a c h . T h e y e a r n e d front $ 5 2 .0 0 to
$ 2 9 5 .0 0 m o n th ly for a t o t a l m o n th ly in c o m e of $ 1 , 3 9 7 . 0 0 .
If a l l G I-B e n e fit
h u s b a n d s h a d w o rk e d on c a m p u s -to e a rn t h e s a m e d o lla r t o t a l , th e ir m o n t h ­
ly -in c o m e w o u ld h a v e m e a n t o n ly $ 9 3 .1 3 p e r month for e a c h fa m ily .
The
. t o ta l e a r n in g s of a ll h u s b a n d s ( $ 1 , 3 9 7 . 0 0 ) p e r m onth,, h o w e v e r , r e p r e s e n t e d
19 .0 p e r c e n t of th e t o t a l m o n th ly in c o m e ,($ 7 ,0 2 8 .0 0 ) of a l l G I-B e n e fit
fa m ilie s.
The m e d ia n s a l a r y r e c e i v e d b y t h i s group of e m p lo y e d h u s b a n d s -'
w a s $ 3 0 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th .
- 1 7 :-
A s e c o n d g r o u p , o n e th ird of a ll G I-B e n e f it h u s b a n d s , w orked off
c a m p u s t o e a r n (at th a t time) a m o n th ly a v e r a g e in c o m e o f $150.00 e a c h .
T heir m o n th ly s a l a r i e s . r a n g e d from $ 4 0 .0 0 to $ 2 5 0 . 0 0 , a n d th e i r to ta l
d o lla r e a r n in g s w e re $ 7 5 0 . 0 0 , w h ic h r e p r e s e n t e d 11.0 p er c e n t of t h e . t o t a l
G I-B e n e f it fa m ily -in c o m e .($7,0.28,00) for o n e m o n th .
If a l l G I - B e n e f i t h u s ­
b a n d s h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d in e a r n in g t h e - $ 7 5 0 . 0 0 , th e i r m o n th ly e a r n in g s w o u ld
h a v e c o n tr ib u te d o n ly $ 4 0 .0 0 to e a c h of th e i r f a m ilie s . The m e d ia n a n d m ode
for t h i s group of o f f - c a m p u s w o rk in g h u s b a n d s w a s $ 2 0 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th .
A tre m e n d o u s v a r ia tio n in th e .incom e l e v e l s o f t h e s e n io r s tu d e n t s
in te r v ie w e d o c c u r r e d d u rin g A pril, 19 6 7 , a c c o r d in g to d a t a r e c e i v e d from
t h e r e s p o n d e n t s in t h i s c a te g o r y (s e e T a b le I I I'o n p a g e . 15).
O ne s e n io r
s t u d e n t i n d i c a t e d th a t t h e m o n th ly in c o m e from a l l s o u r c e s . f o r th e d i s p o s a l
of h is fa m ily w a s $ 1 , 0 5 0 . 0 0 .
This in c o m e w a s a lm o s t n i n e . t i m e s a s much
a s t h a t i n d i c a t e d by th e s t u d e n t w h o s e t o t a l m o n th ly in c o m e for h is ,f a m ily
w a s o n ly $ 1 2 0 .0 0 .
The to t a l m o n th ly -in c o m e of a ll s e n io r f a m ilie s i n t e r ­
v ie w e d w a s $ 5 , 9 6 1 . 0 0 , th e m e an in c o m e for s e n io r ..f a m ilie s w a s $ 3 9 7 . 4 0 ,
a n d th e m e d ia n in c o m e of i h e s e; f a m ilie s : was; $ 3 2 5 . 0 0 .
m o n th ly in c o m e a p p e a r e d for th e m a rrie d s e n io r s :
Two m odes, of
$ 3 5 0 .0 0 a n d $ 2 5 0 .0 0 .
T his s tu d y a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h q t s e n io r s t u d e n t s r e c e i v e d . t h e i r in co m e from
a g r e a te r d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n of s o u r c e s th a n d id th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t fa m ilie s
—1 8 —
or th e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t fa m ilie s (s e e T a b le II on p a g e 14).
V
As w ith th e G I-B e n e f it g r o u p , th e g r e a t e s t m ajo r s o u r c e of in co m e
for s e n i o r s 'd u r i n g the. a c a d e m ic y e a r w a s t h a t earned- by th e w orking
w iv e s.
I
F i f t y - t h r e e a n d t h r e e - t e n t h s o f th e w iv e s w o rk e d a n d e a r n e d an
a v e r a g e of $ 2 6 8 .7 5 p e r m o n th , or 3 6 .0 -per c e n t of th e to ta l in c o m e
.($ 5 ,9 6 1 .0 0 ) for th is g ro u p of s e n io r s t u d e n t f a m i l i e s .
r a n g e d from $ 1 2 0 .0 0 to $ 4 0 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th .
Their e a r n in g s
The m e d ia n a n d m o d e , a s
r e v e a l e d b y d a ta from th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , w a s $ 2 5 0 . 0 0 .
A s e c o n d m a jo r s o u r c e of in c o m e .to s e n io r f a m ilie s w a s th e sum m er
e m p lo y m e n t of t h e . h u s b a n d . F o r t y - s i x a n d s i x - t e n t h s p e r c e n t re p o rte d
t h a t th e y w e re a b le to d ra w a s u b s t a n t i a l am o u n t e a c h month from th e ir
\
sum m er s a v i n g s . This w ith d ra w a l v a rie d from $ 7 5 .0 0 to $ 4 0 0 . 0 0 , an
a v e r a g e of $ 1 98.71 for e a c h s t u d e n t in v o lv e d in t h e s e . t r a n s a c t i o n s . The
to t a l m o n th ly w ith d r a w a ls of the. s t u d e n t s in te r v ie w e d w a s $ 1 ,3 9 1 .0 0 .
This c o m p ile d 2 3 .3 p er c e n t o f t h e . t o t a l m o n th ly in c o m e ( $ 5 ,9 6 1 .0 0 ) of
th e m a rrie d s t u d e n t s c o n t a c t e d .
The th ird m a jo r s o u r c e of in c o m e w a s e m p lo y m e n t "by M o n tan a: S ta te
U n iv e r s ity of m a rrie d s e n i o r s t u d e n t h u s b a n d s . Although o n ly 19:. 9 p er
c e n t w e re e m p lo y e d , th e y e a r n e d a n a v e r a g e of $ 3 0 6 .6 7 p e r m o n th .
T heir s a l a r i e s ra n g e d from $ 7 0 .0 0 to $ 6 5 0 .0 0 m o n th ly for a t o ta l d o lla r
in c o m e of $92 0 .0 0 . p e r m o n t h .
This c o m p ris e d 15 .4 p e r c e n t of th e to ta l
-19-
m o n th ly in c o m e ( $ 5 ,9 6 1 .0 0 ) of a l l s e n io r s t u d e n t s . The m e d ia n in co m e
of c o l l e g e - e m p l o y e d h u s b a n d s w a s $ 2 0 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th .
The fo u rth m a jo r s o u r c e of in c o m e .to s e n io r f a m ilie s w a s off cam p u s
em p lo y m e n t b y 1 9 .9 p e r c e n t o f th e h u s b a n d s d u rin g th e s c h o o l term .
They
a v e r a g e d $ 1 5 6 .6 7 e a c h (b e tw e e n e x tr e m e s of $7 5 .0 0 a n d $ 4 0 0 .0 0 )'per m o n th ,
w h ic h c o m p r is e d 8 . 0 p e r c e n t of th e to ta l in c o m e ( $ 5 , 9 6 1 . 0 0 ) of a l l s e n ;o r
fa m ilie s.
The d a t a c o n c e r n in g e a r n e d in c r e m e n ts b y s e n io r h u s b a n d s off
c a m p u s e a c h m onth r e v e a l e d th a t th e m e d ia n for th is s o u r c e of in co m e w a s
$ 1 5 0 .0 0 .
Two of th e s e n io r h u s b a n d s m a d e .r e g u la r w ith d r a w a ls a v e r a g in g
$ 2 0 0 .0 0 p e r m onth from th e ir s a v i n g s w h ic h h a d b e e n a c c u m u la te d over
a p e rio d of y e a r s for t h i s p u r p o s e .
T h e s e w ith d r a w a ls c o m p ris e d 6 .7
p e r c e n t of th e t o ta l am o u n t ( $ 5 , 9 6 1 . 0 0 ) o f th e m o n th ly s t u d e n t in co m e
to s e n io r f a m ilie s from a ll s o u r c e s .
R e l a tiv e s a n d fr ie n d s a c c o u n t e d for 5 . 0 p e r c e n t of th e to ta l
m o n th ly in c o m e ( $ 5 ,9 6 1 . 0 0 ) of th e s e n io r r e s p o n d e n t s .
Two of the
s e n io r s t u d e n t s in te r v ie w e d r e p o r te d r e c e i v i n g a n a v e r a g e of $150.00
p e r m o n th .
There w a s no in d i c a t i o n to th is i n v e s t i g a t o r t h a t th e m oney
w a s from p a r e n ts of e ith e r h u s b a n d or w ife; b u t r a t h e r , from a " s h i r t t a il" ty p e of r e l a t i v e .
T h e .re m a in in g in c o m e .re c e iv e d b y m a rrie d s e n io r s w a s from four
-20-
s o u r c e s „ O ne s t u d e n t r e c e i v e d $ 1 2 0 .0 0 p e r month from th e M o n ta n a V o ca­
ti o n a l R e h a b ilit a tio n A c t , a n o th e r h a d j u s t a p p lie d for a n d r e c e i v e d a G IB en e fit s t i p e n d of $ 1 2 5 .0 0 . p e r m o n th , a th ird r e c e i v e d a N a tio n a l D e f e n s e
Loan a m o u n tin g to $ 5 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th , a n d th e fourth r e c e i v e d N a tio n a l G u ard
p a y of $ 3 5 .0 0 p e r m o n t h .
G r a d u a te s t u d e n t f a m ilie s h a d th e lo w e s t t o t a l m o n th ly Incom e of th e
c a t e g o r i e s i n te r v ie w e d ( $ 5 ,5 1 3 .0 0 ) ; h o w e v e r , th e s i z e of th e g r a d u a te
s t u d e n t fa m ily w a s a l s o th e s m a l l e s t o f th e s t u d e n t s a m p le s (s e e T ab le I ) .
The r e s p o n d e n t s in t h i s c a te g o r y d id n o t i n d i c a t e th e w id e d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n
of in c o m e s o u r c e s t h a t th e s e n io r fa m ilie s h a d r e p o r te d , b u t it a p p e a r e d to
t h i s i n v e s t i g a t o r t h a t th e m o s t s a t i s f y i n g s o u r c e of in c o m e to t h o s e h u s b a n d s
d e s i r i n g e m p lo y m e n t w a s a s a l a r i e d p o s i t i o n a t M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity in
a s tu d y -re la te d jo b .
This i n v e s t i g a t o r n o t e d , on a n in fo rm al b a s i s , th a t
som e s t u d e n t s f e l t t h a t a s a l a r y s a c r i f i c e h a d b e e n m ade in a c c e p t i n g th e
u n i v e r s i t y p o s i t i o n s , b u t th a t th e e x p e r i e n c e w o u ld pro v e e x te m e ly v a lu a b l e
a f te r c o l l e g e w h e n t h e y w e re r e g u la r ly e m p l o y e d . There a l s o a p p e a r e d to b e
a m a tte r of " p rid e " w h ic h p r e v e n te d th e ir c o n d o n e m e n t of t h e w i f e 's e m p lo y .m en t, e x c e p t w h e re s u c h e m p lo y m e n t w a s j u s t i f i e d by h e r tr a in in g in a s p e ­
c i a l f ie ld or b e c a u s e c h ild r e n w e re c a u s i n g a f in a n c ia l d r a in on th e fa m ily
reso u rces.
The a v e r a g e m o n th ly -income of t h e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t fa m ilie s
w as $ 3 6 7 .5 3 .
T heir m o n th ly in c o m e s r a n g e d from $ 2 0 0 .0 0 to $ 6 7 8 . 0 0 .
-21-
D a t a fu rth e r I n d i c a t e d t h a t th e m e d ia n was- $ 3 6 6 .0 0 a n d t h e m ode w a s
$ 3 0 0 .0 0 .
The m o s t f r e q u e n tly o c c u r in g m o n th ly in c o m e w a s in th e $ 3 0 0 .OGf-
$ 3 9 9 .0 0 bracket- (s e e T a b le III on p a g e I ) .
Among th e m a rrie d g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s , th e g r e a te r p e r c e n t a g e of th e
in c o m e w a s e a r n e d b y t h e h u s b a n d s .
E ig h ty -six and s ix -te n th s per c e n t
of them w e re e m p lo y e d b y M o n t a n a S t a t e U n iv e r s ity for a t o t a l m onthly
in c o m e of $ 3 , 5 8 0 . 0 0 , a n ,average of $ 2 7 5 .3 8 . for t h o s e e m p lo y e d .
M o n ta n a
S ta te U n iv e r s ity c o n t r i b u t e d , th ro u g h g r a d u a te a s s i s t a n t s h i p s a n d i n s f r u c t o r s h i p s , 6 5 .0 p e r c e n t of th e to t a l m o n th ly in c o m e ( $ 5 , 5 1 3 . 0 0 ) of a ll
m a r r i e d g r a d u a te s t u d e n t f a m i l i e s .
Their c a m p u s s a l a r i e s r a n g e d from
$ 1 0 0 .0 0 p e r m onth ( p a r t- tim e g r a d u a te a s s i s t a n t ) to $ 6 3 0 .0 0 p er month
(in stru c to rsh ip ).
The m e d ia n s a l a r y for t h e s e c o l l e g e - e m p l o y e d h u s b a n d s
w a s $ 2 4 4 .0 0 p er m o n th , a n d th e mode w a s $ 2 0 0 . 0 0 .
The w iv e s of g ra d u a te , s t u d e n t s e a r n e d 1 7 .5 p er c e n t of th e to ta l
m o n th ly in c o m e ( $ 5 ,5 1 3 . 0 0 ) for a ll f a m i l i e s : i n . t h i s g r o u p .
T h ir ty - th r e e
a n d o n e - t h i r d p e r c e n t of a l l w iv e s w e re a t th at, tim e e m p lo y e d and th e y
e a r n e d a t o t a l of $ 9 7 3 .0 0 p er m o n t h .
Each w o rk in g w ife c o n tr ib u te d an
a v e r a g e of $ 1 9 4 .6 0 to h e r fa m ily from a n in c o m e ra n g in g from $ 6 5 .0 0 to
$ 3 5 0 .0 0 p e r m o n t h .
The m e d ia n s a l a r y for t h i s group w a s $ 1 83.00 per
m o n th .
Three f e llo w s h ip s p ro v id e d the. th ird m a jo r s o u r c e of in c o m e for g r a d ­
u a t e s t u d e n t f a m ilie s ; two NASA F e l l o w s h i p s , o n e for $ 8 0 .0 0 p e r month and
-2 2 -
o n e for $ 2 5 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th , a n d a th ird f e llo w s h ip (unnamed) b ro u g h t in
$ 2 5 0 .0 0 p e r m o n t h . T h e s e f e llo w s h ip s c o m p ris e d 1 0 .5 p e r c e n t of th e
to t a l m o n th ly in c o m e of ( $ 5 , 5 1 3 . 0 0 ) r e c e i v e d b y g ra d u a te s t u d e n t s a t
t h a t tim e .
The fo u rth s o u r c e of in c o m e w a s -the w ith d r a w a ls from a s a v in g s
a c c o u n t e s t a b l i s h e d th ro u g h th e h u s b a n d 's sum m er e m p lo y m e n t.
N in e ­
te e n a n d n i n e - t e n t h s p e r c e n t of th e m a rrie d c o u p le s m ad e m o n th ly w ith ­
d r a w a ls a v e r a g in g $ 1 3 5 .0 0 p e r m o n t h . T h e s e w i t h d r a w a l s , ra n g in g from
$ 1 0 .0 0 to $ 1 6 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th , p ro v id e d 5 . 0 p e r c e n t of th e t o ta l m o n th ly
in c o m e ( $ 5 , 5 1 3 . 0 0 ) of a l l th e g r a d u a te m a rrie d fa m ilie s r e p r e s e n t e d by
■this s tu d y .
O ne h u s b a n d e a r n e d $ 1 0 0 .0 0 p e r month t u t o r i n g , a n d a n o th e r r e ­
c e i v e d $ 1 0 .0 0 from h is w i f e 's p a r e n t ’s m o n th ly c o n t r i b u t i o n s .
These c o n ­
tr ib u tio n s p ro v id e d o n ly 2 . 0 p e r c e n t of th e m o n th ly in c o m e of a ll m arried
g r a d u a te s t u d e n t f a m ilie s ( $ 5 ,5 1 3 .0 0 ) d u rin g s p rin g q u a rte r of 1967 a t
M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity .
N in e te e n a n d n i n e - t e n t h s p e r c e n t o f th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s i n d i - '
c a t e d t h a t th e y r e c e i v e d so m e ty p e of tu itio n w a iv e r for s p rin g q u a rte r a t
M o n ta n a S ta te U n i v e r s i t y .
The r e s p o n d e n t s s t a t e d th e m o n e ta ry v a lu e of
t h e s e w a iv e r s a s $ 9 0 . 0 0 , $ 1 0 0 . 0 0 , a n d $ 5 0 0 .0 0 e a c h , for a n a v e r a g e
e x e m p tio n of $ 2 3 0 .0 0 p e r q u a r t e r .
The t o t a l d o lla r v a lu e of t h e s e w a iv e r s
-2 3 -
for t h a t q u a r te r w a s $690 „ 00 „ Each of th e th r e e f a m ilie s w a s b e n e f ite d b y
a n a v e r a g e of $76". 66 p e r m o n th .
T h i r ty - n in e a n d n i n e - t e n t h s p er c e n t of t h e s e n io r s r e p o r te d r e c e iv in g
a id w ith th e i r tu i t i o n for a t o t a l e s t i m a t e d d o lla r v a lu e of $ 5 9 2 .0 0 for th e
q u a rte r.
This m e a n t t h a t e a c h of t h e f a m ilie s w ho r e c e i v e d th is a id w a s
b e n e f i t e d b y a n u n e a r n e d in c r e m e n t of $ 9 8 .6 6 p e r q u a r t e r .
O ne fam ily
r e p o r te d t h a t th e y a r e to r e c e i v e $ 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 p e r y e a r from h e r g r a n d p a re n ts
w h ile t h e y a r e in c o l l e g e .
A nother fa m ily r e c e i v e d $ 7 5 .0 0 p e r month from
an unnam ed re a lty r e n ta l.
A nother s t u d e n t re p o r te d h e h a d r e n t e d ou t h is
h o m e .in a n o th e r to w n for $ 1 7 0 .0 0 p er m o n th .
The v a lu e of t h e s e in c r e m e n ts
w a s t o t a l e d a t $ 1 , 3 2 0 . 3 3 p e r q u a r t e r , or a n a v e r a g e of $ 1 6 4 .3 3 e a c h q u a r ­
t e r for e a c h of th e f a m i l i e s in v o l v e d .
In th e a r e a of t u i t i o n w a i v e r s , g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s s e e m to h a v e a n
a d v a n t a g e o v e r u n d e r g r a d u a t e s b e c a u s e of th e num ber of a s s i s t a n t s h i p s
a v a i l a b l e to th em for g r a d u a te s t u d y .
S i x t y - s i x a n d s i x - t e n t h s p er c e n t
of th e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s r e c e i v e d a fe e w a iv e r of som e a m o u n t.
Almost-
6 0 .0 p e r c e n t r e c e i v e d t h e i r w a i v e r s from M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity a n d
6 . 6 p e r c e n t r e c e i v e d f e e w a i v e r s th ro u g h t h e N a tio n a l S tu d e n t Aid F und.
The t o t a l v a lu e of f e e w a iv e r s for a l l g r a d u a te a s s i s t a n t s in te r v ie w e d in
t h i s s tu d y a t M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity w a s e s t i m a t e d a t $ 8 7 5 .0 0 per
q u a r t e r , or $2,91.66 p er m onth t o t a l .
The m e a n in c re m e n t for t h e to ta l
-2 4 -
g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s a m p le w a s $ 3 2 .0 0 p e r m onth p e r m a rrie d g r a d u a te s t u d e n t .
The o n e m a rrie d s t u d e n t w ith N a tio n a l S tu d e n t Aid Fund a s s i s t a n c e p a id no
t u itio n a t a l l .
This o b s e r v e r n o tic e d on a n in fo rm al b a s i s t h a t no g ra d u a te
s t u d e n t c a r ry in g a n a s s i s t a n t s h i p w ith a t u itio n w a iv e r h a d c a r e f u l ly e s t i ­
m a te d h i s tu itio n s a v in g :
r a t h e r , m an y e x p r e s s e d the a t t i t u d e th a t "W e
d o n 't p a y m uch c o m p a re d to th e r e g u la r s t u d e n t .
W h a te v e r t h e c a s h i e r
a s k s for w h e n w e r e g i s t e r , th a t is w h a t w e 'l l p a y w ith no q u e s t i o n s a s k e d
a s to h o w i t i s c a l c u l a t e d , not. to th e a c t u a l n um ber of d o l l a r s ' s a v e d '" .
S in c e t u itio n w a iv e r s a n d th e in v e s t m e n t in c o m e w e re a v a i l a b l e to
th e s t u d e n t s a n d b e c a u s e u n e a r n e d in c re m e n ts h a v e a w a y of b e c o m in g
a p a rt of th e f a m i l y 's d i s p o s a b l e in c o m e for c o n s u m e r p u r p o s e s , t h e s e
w e re a d d e d to th e t o t a l a v e r a g e m o n th ly in c o m e of e a c h fa m ily .
This a d ­
ju s t m e n t c h a n g e d th e G I-B e n e f it s tu d e n t s from a n a v e r a g e m o n th ly in co m e
of $ 4 6 8 .5 3 to $ 4 7 3 . 6 4 .
On t h i s s a m e . b a s i s , th e a v e r a g e m o n th ly in co m e
o f ' th e m a r r ie d s e n io r s t u d e n t s w a s a d j u s t e d from $ 3 9 7 .4 0 to $ 4 8 5 . 5 2 .
The a v e r a g e m o n th ly in c o m e of th e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t w a s a d j u s t e d from
$ 3 6 7 .5 3 to $ 3 8 6 . 9 7 .
The m a jo r e x p e n d it u r e s for a ll g ro u p s o f th e s tu d y sam p le- w e re In.,
th e a r e a s o f h o u s in g a n d food (s e e Fig u re I on p a g e 26).
The G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t fa m ilie s p a r t i c i p a t i n g in t h i s s tu d y s p e n t
a t o t a l of $ 1 , 2 1 0 . 0 0 , for a n a v e r a g e of $80.66 e a c h month for h o u s i n g .
-25-
F if t y - n i n e a n d n i n e - t e n t h s p e r c e n t s p e n t l e s s th a n th is .a m o u n t, w h ile 1 3 ,3
p e r c e n t s p e n t m ore th a n $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 .
The l e a s t am ount s p e n t for h o u s in g b y
a n y G I-B e n e f it fa m ily w a s $ 3 8 .0 0 ; th e m o s t w a s $ 1 6 0 . 0 0 .
All th e s e n io r f a m ilie s in t h i s s tu d y s a m p le s p e n t a t o ta l of $ 1 , 0 3 2 . 0 0
e a c h m onth for th e ir s h e l t e r f a c i l i t i e s , or a n a v e r a g e of $ 6 8 .8 0 p er fam ily
e a c h m o n t h . L e s s th a n th e a v e r a g e n um ber of h o u s in g d o l l a r s w a s s p e n t by
3 9 .9 p e r c e n t of th e f a m i l i e s , a n d no s t u d e n t in te r v ie w e d i n d i c a t e d th a t h e
sp e n t over $ 1 0 0 .0 0 .
D a ta fu rth e r i n d i c a t e d th a t fa m ily h o u s in g d o lla rs
s p e n t e a c h m onth r a n g e d from $ 3 5 .0 0 to $ 1 0 0 . 0 0 .
The g r a d u a te s tu d e n t
h u s b a n d s in te r v ie w e d s p e n t a t o ta l of $ 1 , 2 5 0 . 0 0 e a c h month for h o u s in g
w h ic h w a s a n a v e r a g e of $ 8 3 .3 3 p e r fa m ily .
F i f ty - th r e e a n d o n e - th ir d
p e r c e n t s p e n t l e s s th a n t h i s a m o u n t, a n d 1 3 .3 p e r c e n t s p e n t o v er $ 1 0 0 . 0 0 .
The l e a s t am o u n t s p e n t for h o u s in g w a s $ 5 0 .0 0 ; th e m o s t s p e n t w a s $ 1 2 5 .0 0
A lthough t h e t o ta l e x p e n d itu r e for food by e a c h of th e g ro u p s s tu d ie d
te n d e d to i n d i c a t e a lm o s t a . r e v e r s e of th e group e x p e n d it u r e s for h o u s in g ,
th e m e d ia n s a n d m o d e s s h o w a c l e a r p ic tu r e of t h e s e food e x p e n d i t u r e s .
The G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s s p e n t a t o t a l of $ 1 , 4 7 5 . 0 0 p e r month for
g r o c e r i e s , w h ic h w a s a m e an of $ 9 8 .3 3 p e r fa m ily .
D a ta i n d i c a t e d th a t
6 0 .0 p e r c e n t of th e G I - B e n e f it r e s p o n d e n t s s p e n t l e s s th a n th e m e a n , w h ile
th e o th e r 4 0 . 0 p er c e n t s p e n t m o re .
The m e d ia n for t h i s group w a s $ 8 0 .0 0
p e r m onth for g r o c e r i e s , a n d th e mode w a s $ 7 5 .0 0 p er m o n th .
N um ber
of
D o lla rs
200
180
iH r a p j
1 6 3 .3 3
160
140
120
itr
.:L i
9 8 .3 3
i
K>
CT)
8 0 .6 6
I
v i
■Ir :
G I-B e n e fit
C a t e g o r i e s of M a rrie d S tu d e n ts
Y /////A
Food
F ig u re I .
H o u sin g
Food a n d H o u sin g
A verage N um ber of D o lla rs S p e n t for Food a n d H o u sin g by M a rrie d S tu d e n ts
-2 7 -
The s e n io r s t u d e n t r e s p o n d e n t s s p e n t a t o t a l of $ 1 , 2 3 5 . 0 0 e a c h month
for g r o c e r i e s .
fa m ily .
The m e an food e x p e n d itu r e e a c h month w a s $ 8 2 .3 3 for each
The m e d ia n a n d m ode for th is group w a s $ 8 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th .
The g r a d u a te s t u d e n t fa m ilie s s p e n t , a c c o r d in g to th e w ritte n r e ­
s p o n s e s , a t o ta l of $ 1 , 2 0 0 . 0 0 p e r m onth for g r o c e r ie s for a m e an of $ 8 0 .0 0
p e r fa m ily e a c h m o n th .
The m e d ia n for t h i s group w a s $ 7 5 .0 0 p er m o n th ,
a n d th e m ode w a s $ 1 0 0 .0 0 p e r m o n th .
The G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t r e s p o n s e s i n d i c a t e d th a t 1 9 .9 p e r c e n t of them
h a d a t o n e tim e o w n e d t h e ir ow n h o m e , a n d th a t 1 9 .9 per c e n t of them w e re
p r e s e n t l y h o m e - o w n e r s . The t o ta l e q u ity of th is group in hom e o w n e rsh ip
w a s $ 9 , 7 0 0 . 0 0 for a m e an of $ 3 , 2 3 3 . 3 3 .
Some G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s (39.99
p e r c e n t) a l s o in d i c a t e d o th e r a s s e t s to t a l i n g $ 2 1 , 8 6 5 . 0 0 w h ic h w a s a m ean
of $ 3 , 6 4 4 . 1 6 .
T heir a s s e t s w e re d i s t r i b u t e d am ong in v e s t m e n t s in c o rp o r­
a t e s t o c k s , m u tu a l f u n d s , c a r s , l i v e s t o c k a n d s a v i n g s .
M a rrie d s e n io r s t u d e n t r e s p o n s e s i n d i c a t e d th a t 1 9 .9 p e r c e n t of
th em h a d a t o n e tim e o w n e d th e ir ow n h o m e , a n d 2 6 .6 6 p e r c e n t of them
w e re p r e s e n t l y p u r c h a s in g a hom e w h e n t h e y a n s w e r e d t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e .
The t o t a l e q u ity i n d i c a t e d b y th e 2 6 .6 6 p e r c e n t w a s $ 1 2 , 2 0 0 . 0 0 , and th e
m e an a p p lie d to th em w a s $ 3 , 0 5 0 . 0 0 .
S i x t y - s i x a n d s i x - t e n t h s p e r c e n t of
th e s e n io r s i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e y o w n ed a s s e t s to ta lin g $ 4 2 , 1 7 5 . 0 0 for a mean,
of $ 4 , 2 1 7 . 5 0 w h ic h w a s d i s t r i b u t e d am ong hom e f u r n i s h i n g s , c a r s , U . S .
-28-
S a v in g s B o n d s » farm la n d , l i f e - i n s u r a n c e , c o r p o r a te s t o c k s , a n d b o n d s „
The g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t a lth o u g h 2 6 .6 p e r c e n t of them
h a d a t o n e tim e o w n e d t h e i r own h o m e , a t th e tim e th e y a n s w e r e d th e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e n o n e of them w e re h o m e - o w n e r s , w h ic h of c o u r s e w ould
r e p r e s e n t no e q u ity for t h i s g ro u p in th e h o m e - o w n e r c a t e g o r y .
H o w e v e r,
5 3 . 3 p e r c e n t of th e g r a d u a t e s s tu d ie d d id sh o w a s s e t s t o t a l i n g $ 2 5 , 5 0 0 . 0 0
for a m e an of $ 3 , 1 8 7 . 5 0 p e r fa m ily , w h ic h w a s d i s t r i b u t e d am ong s a v i n g s ,
lif e i n s u r a n c e , m u tu a l f u n d s , b o n d s , c a r s , a n d h o u s e h o ld f u r n i s h i n g s .
The c u m u la tiv e d e b t of a l l m a rrie d m a le s tu d e n t s s u r v e y e d t o ta le d
$ 8 4 , 9 8 6 . 0 0 , w h i c h , if i t w e re a s s u m e d e q u a l l y b y a ll s t u d e n t s in th is
s a m p l e , w o u ld h a v e m e a n t t h a t e a c h fa m ily w a s in d e b te d to o n e s o u rc e
or a n o th e r for a n am o u n t of $ 1 , 8 8 8 . 5 7 .
O v er h a l f of th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s , 5 3 .3 p e r c e n t , h a d a to ta l of
$ 2 7 , 3 8 9 . 0 0 in lo a n s from v a r io u s s o u r c e s , w ith a m e an i n d e b t e d n e s s of
$ 3 ,4 2 3 .6 3 .
This m e d ia n w a s. $ 7 8 4 .5 0 a n d th e m o d es of t h i s bo rro w ed
m o n ey w e r e . $ 4 0 0 .0 0 a n d $ 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 .
If t h i s i n d e b t e d n e s s h a d b e e n e v e n ly
d i s t r i b u t e d am ong a l l G I - B e n e f it r e s p o n d e n t s th e a v e r a g e d e b t p er fam ily
w o u ld h a v e b e e n $ 1 , 8 2 5 . 9 3 .
The s o u r c e s from w h ic h t h e s e lo a n s w e re
o b ta in e d b y d o lla r s a n d p e r c e n t a g e of th e t o t a l i n d e b t e d n e s s ( $ 2 7 ,3 8 9 .0 0 )
w e re:
1 7 .9
p a re n ts, $ 1 6 ,7 0 0 .0 0 ,
p e r c e n t;
6 1 .0 p e r c e n t ;
b a n k s , $ 4 ,9 0 0 .0 0 ,
N a tio n a l D e f e n s e L o a n s , $ 2 , 5 2 0 . 0 0 , 9 . 2
p er
-29-
c e n t; c r e d i t u n io n s , $ 1 , 8 6 9 , 0 0 » 6 .8 p er c e n t; a n d f i n a n c e c o m p a n i e s »
$ 1 , 4 0 0 . 0 0 , 5 .1 p e r c e n t .
T a b le IV on th e fo llo w in g p a g e s h o w s a c o m p a r i-
so n of th e c a t e g o r i e s .
S e n io rs n o t o n ly h a d th e g r e a t e s t i n d e b t e d n e s s a s a group b u t a l s o
i n d i c a t e d a w id e r d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n w h e n th e y e s t a b l i s h e d lo a n s o u r c e s .
E i g h t y - s i x a n d s i x - t e n t h s p e r c e n t of t h e s e n io r fa m ilie s h a d a to ta l of
$ 4 4 , 9 0 0 . 0 0 in lo a n s from v a rio u s s o u r c e s , for a m e an o f $ 3 , 4 5 3 . 8 5 .
The
m e d ia n a n d m ode for t h i s c a te g o r y of m a rrie d s t u d e n t s w a s $ 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 .
H a d e a c h fa m ily b o rro w e d m o n e y , th e i n d e b t e d n e s s p e r fa m ily in th is
g ro u p s t u d i e d w o u ld r e p r e s e n t a t o t a l of $ 2 , 9 9 3 . 3 5 .
S o u r c e s by d o lla rs
a n d p e r c e n t of th e t o t a l i n d e b t e d n e s s in c u rre d by t h i s g ro u p w ere: p a r e n t s ,
$ 1 2 , 6 0 0 . 0 0 , 2 8 .0 p e r c e n t ; b a n k , $ 1 0 , 9 0 0 . 0 0 , 2 4 .2 p e r c e n t ; V e teran s
A d m in is tra tio n , $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 , 2 2 .7 p e r c e n t ; f r i e n d s , $ 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 , 1 3 .3 per
c e n t; f i n a n c e c o m p a n i e s , $ 1 , 3 0 0 . 0 0 , 2 . 9 p e r c e n t; N a tio n a l D e f e n s e L o a n s ,
$ 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 , 2 . 2 p er c e n t; M a s o n ic F r a te rn a l O rd e r, $ 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 , 2 .2 per
c e n t; M o n ta n a S ta te U n i v e r s i t y , $ 7 0 0 . 0 0 , 1 . 5 p e r c e n t;
Loan F u n d , $ 7 0 0 . 0 0 ,
ASME S tu d e n t
1 . 5 p e r c e n t ; c r e d i t u n i o n s , $ 6 0 0 . 0 0 , 1 .3 p e r c e n t ;
a n d a lif e i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y , $ 1 0 0 . 0 0 , 0 . 2 p e r c e n t .
A t o t a l l i a b i l i t y fig u re of $ 1 2 , 6 9 7 . 0 0 a p p lie d to t h e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s ,
3 9 .9 p e r c e n t of whoin h a d b o rro w e d m o n e y .
The m e an d o lla r v a lu e of th e
l o a n w a s $ 2 ,1 1 6 .0 0 . The m e d ia n a n d m ode for t h i s group w a s $1,000 .00 . If
TABLE IV
S o u rc e s of L oans to M a rrie d G I - B e n e f i t , S e n io r, and G ra d u a te C o u p le s
a n d th e P e r c e n ta g e of T otal I n d e b t e d n e s s R e p r e s e n te d by Each S ource
M a r rie d S tu d e n t C a te g o ry
S ource
G I-B e n e fit
'ASME' S tu d e n t Loan Fund*
Bd-Illc S
C r e d it U n i o n s .......................
F r i e n d s ..................................
F in a n c e C o m p a n ie s . . .
Life I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n ie s
M a s o n ic F ra te rn a l O rder .
M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity
U n ite d S tu d e n t Aid. „ .
N a tio n a l S tu d e n t Aid Fund
N a tio n a l D e f e n s e
E d u c a tio n Loan . . . .
P a re n ts . . . . . .
.
V e te ra n s A d m in is tra tio n .
e
e
e
o
e
e
o
17.996
6 .8
o
•
e
.
o
c
e
5 .1
O O O O O O
. 6
0
0
0
0
Senior
G ra d u a te
1 .5 %
2 4 .2
1 .3
1 3 .3
2 .9
0 .2
2 .2
7 .9 %
6 .7
1 .5
0
0
.
0
9. 2
6 1 .0
0
0
7 .9
O O O O O O
2. 2
2 8 .0
2 2 .7
1 8 .5
5 9 .0
.
.
.
.
.
.
*This w rite r did n o t n o tic e th e 'ASME' S tu d e n t Loan Fund on th e r e s p o n d e n t 's
p a p e r u n til a f te r h e h a d g o n e , and no c a m p u s o f f ic e s c o n ta c te d h a v e b e e n a b le to
s u p p ly a n y in fo rm a tio n c o n c e rn in g t h i s s o u rc e of s tu d e n t a i d .
-31-
a l l r e s p o n d e n ts , in th is c a t e g o r y h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d in th e t o t a l i n d e b t e d n e s s ,
e a c h fa m ily w o u ld h a v e , o w ed $ 8 4 6 . 4 6 .
The s o u r c e s of t h e . l o a n s .by d o lla r s
a n d p e r c e n t of th e to tal- ( $ 1 2 ,6 9 7 .0 0 ) w e re:
p a r e n t s , $ 7 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 , 5 9 .0
p e r c e n t; N a tio n a l D e f e n s e L o a n s , $ 2,3.611:00,_ 18. 5 !p e rc e n t; N a tio n a l S tu d e n t
Aid F u n d , $ 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 , 7 . 9 p e r c e n t; b a n k s , $ 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 , 7 . 9 p e r c e n t; and
c re d it u n io n s , $ 8 4 7 .0 0 , 6 .7 p e r c e n t .
This w rite r w o u ld lik e to p o in t o u t th a t w h ile p a r e n ts did n o t m ake a
n o t i c e a b l e c o n tr ib u tio n to th e m o n th ly in c o m e of s t u d e n t s , th e am ount
a tt r i b u t e d to. them a s a s o u r c e of lo a n fu n d s w a s s i z e a b l e a n d s u b s t a n t i a l
for b o th th e G I-B e n e f it a n d g r a d u a te f a m ilie s r e p r e s e n t e d by t h i s s tu d y
sam p le.
A m a jo r ity of. th e s t u d e n t s in e a c h c a te g o r y i n d i c a t e d th e y f e l t th e ir
s t a n d a r d of liv in g r e f l e c t e d a n a v e r a g e o n e ( s e e F ig u r e .II on p a g e 3 2 ).
R e s p o n s e s . i n d i c a t e d t h a t 3 3 . 3 p e r c e n t of th e .G I-B e n e fit s tu d e n t s
f e l t t h a t th e ir n e ig h b o rs w o u ld th in k th e ir s ta n d a r d of liv in g a p p e a r e d .to
b e a b o v e a v e r a g e ; 4 0 . 0 p e r c e n t f e l t th e ir n e ig h b o rs w o u ld h a v e in d ic a te d
a n a v e r a g e s t a n d a r d of liv in g ; 2 0 .0 p e r c e n t f e l t th e y w e re b e lo w a v e r a g e ,
a n d 6 . 7 p e r c e n t d i d n 't k n o w or c a r e .
F e w e r s e n io r s t u d e n t s , 2 6 .7 p e r c e n t , f e l t th e s ta n d a r d o f liv in g
r e f l e c t e d to n e ig h b o rs w a s a b o v e a v e r a g e ; 5 3 .3 p er c e n t r e s p o n d e d a v e r a g e ;
1 3 .3 p e r c e n t r e p l i e d b e lo w a v e r a g e ; a n d 6 . 7 p er c e n t c o u l d n 't d e c id e
P e rc e n ta g e
100 _
5 3 .3 %
4 6 .7 %
4 0 .0 %
2 6 .7 %
2 6 .7 %
1 3 .3 %
1 3 .3 %
Senior
G ra d u a te
V /////Z
Below A verage
F ig u re 2.
A v erage
Above A verage
S ta n d a rd of Living R e f le c te d b y M a rrie d M a le R e s p o n d e n ts b y P e rc e n ta g e in Each C a te g o ry
of th e Study S a m p le .
-33-
w h e th e r h e w o u ld h a v e, i n d i c a t e d a low or s ta n d a r d le v e l of liv in g a s
a p p ly in g to h is fa m ily .
A lo w e r p e r c e n t a g e o f g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s , 1 3 .3 p e r c e n t , th a n e ith e r
G I-B e n e f it or s e n io r s t u d e n t r e s p o n d e n t s , in d i c a t e d that, th e y a p p e a r e d to
h a v e h a d a s t a n d a r d of liv in g a b o v e a v e r a g e ; 4 6 . 7 p er c e n t b e lie v e d th e
n e ig h b o r s ' r e p l i e s w o u ld h a v e . b e e n a v e r a g e ; 2 6 .7 p e r c e n t i n d i c a t e d . t h e
a n s w e r w o u ld h a v e . b e e n b e lo w a v e r a g e ; a n d , 1 3 .3 p e r c e n t h a d 'n e v e r
in q u ir e d ' a n d 'd i d n 't k n o w or c a r e ' .
The t o t a l i n s t a l l m e n t c r e d i t a s s u m e d b y 5 9 .9 p e r c e n t of th e G IB e n e fit s t u d e n t s i n t e r v ie w e d w a s $ 6 9 2 . 0 0 .
The m e an for t h o s e s tu d e n ts
w a s $ 7 6 .8 9 ; h o w e v e r , th e m e an p e r fa m ily for a l l G I-B 'en efit fa m ilie s
w o u ld h a v e . b e e n l e s s :
$ 4 6 .1 3 .
The ite m s m o s t o fte n m e n tio n e d a s b e in g
p u r c h a s e d on i n s t a l l m e n t c r e d i t w e re c a r s a n d e n c y c l o p e d i a - m a g a z i n e
c o n tra c ts.
M ore s e n io r f a m i l i e s , 6 6 .6 p e r c e n t , h a d c o n t r a c t e d for s lig h tly
m o r e .in s ta llm e n t o b l i g a t i o n s , $ 7 9 0 . 0 0 , w h ic h w a s a m e a n i n s t a l l m e n t
p a y m e n t e a c h m onth of $ 7 9 .0 0 fo rh th d se fa m ilie s i n v o lv e d .
If a ll s e n io r
fa m ilie s h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d in th e t o t a l i n s t a l l m e n t c r e d it a s s u m e d by a ll
s e n io r s ($ 7 9 0 .0 0 ) th e i r p e r fa m ily d e b it w o u ld h a v e b e e n $ 5 2 . 6 6 .
The
ite m s m o s t o fte n ..listed b y th e s e n io r r e s p o n d e n t s a s b e in g i n s ta llm e n t
p u r c h a s e s w e re c a r s , e n c y c l o p e d i a s , w a s h e r s , a n d d r y e r s .
-3 4 -
F ew er g r a d u a te s t u d e n t r e s p o n d e n t s , 2 6 . 6 p e r c e n t , i n d i c a t e d th e y
w e re u s in g th e i n s t a l l m e n t ty p e of c r e d i t .
T heir t o ta l s a m p le in d e b t e d n e s s
b y i n s t a l l m e n t c o n tr a c t w a s $ 1 7 3 .0 0 w h ic h w a s a m e an o f $ 4 3 .2 5 for o n ly
t h o s e on c o n t r a c t .
H o w e v e r, if a ll g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s in .this c a te g o r y h a d
p a r t i c i p a t e d in th e to t a l d e b t ($ 1 7 3 .0 0 ) th e i r per. fa m ily l i a b i l i t y w o u ld h a v e
b e e n o n ly $ 1 1 , 5 3 .
The g r a d u a te m a le s l i s t e d c a r s , w a s h e r s , d r y e r s , a n d
e n c y c l o p e d i a - m a g a z i n e p u r c h a s e s a s th e g o o d s s u p p lie d th ro u g h in s t a l l m e n t
c o n tra c ts.
" B u d g etin g " w a s th e r e s p o n s e m o s t o fte n r e c e i v e d to th e q u e s ti o n s
" If a c o u r s e . i n . f a m i l y f i n a n c e w e re a v a i l a b l e , w h a t w o u ld y o u lik e to
learn ?".
A s u b s t a n t i a l n u m b er of a l l r e s p o n d e n t s in te r v ie w e d ( s ix te e n ou t
of fo rty fiv e) w o u ld n o t h a v e p a r t i c i p a t e d in s u c h a c o u r s e a c c o rd in g to
d a t a r e c e i v e d . o n th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e .
The G I-B e n e f it r e s p o n d e n t s i n d i c a t e d th a t 4 0 .0 p e r c e n t of them
w o u ld n o t p a r t i c i p a t e ; th e .r e m a i n d e r o f t h i s c a te g o r y r e s p o n d e d in th e f o l ­
lo w in g m an n er:
1 9 .9 p e r c e n t for b u d g e tin g , 1 3 .3 p e r c e n t for th e s tu d y of
i n v e s t m e n t s , 6 .7 p e r c e n t r e l a t e d to lo a n s a n d .th e tru e i n t e r e s t r a t e w h en
b o rro w in g , 6 . 7 p e r c e n t l i s t e d i n s u r a n c e , 6 . 7 p e r c e n t w a n te d to know
h o w to m a k e m o n e y , a n d 6..;7 p e r c e n t w o u ld p a r t i c i p a t e .
O n ly 2 0 .0 p e r c e n t of th e s e n io r r e s p o n d e n t s i n d i c a t e d th a t th e y w ould'
n o t p a r t i c i p a t e u n l e s s i t w a s r e q u ir e d in t h e i r a re a of s t u d y .
The r e s p o n s e s
-3 5 -
of th e r e m a in d e r of t h i s s tu d y s a m p le i n d i c a t e d th e fo llo w in g a r e a s of a
fa m ily .fin a n c e c o u r s e to b e of s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t :
4 6 . 7 p er c e n t in d ic a te d
th e ir s p e c i a l n e e d for b u d g e t i n s t r u c t i o n , 1 3 .3 p er c e n t r e s p o n d e d w ith
i n s u r a n c e , 1 3 .3 p e r c e n t w a n te d lo a n s a n d t h e tr u e i n t e r e s t r a t e of
b o rro w in g m o n e y , a n d 6 . 7 p e r c e n t w a n te d to know how to " b re a k c o n ­
t r a c t s w ith m a g a z in e a n d e n c y c l o p e d i a c o m p a n ie s " . S e c o n d . a r e a s of
i n t e r e s t a n d n e e d w e re l i s t e d b y 3 3 . 3 p e r c e n t o f th e s e n io r r e s p o n d e n t s .
T heir a r e a s w e re:
i n s u r a n c e b y 1 9 .9 p e r c e n t , in v e s t m e n ts b y 6 . 7 p e r c e n t,
a n d h o w to s a v e on t h e food b ill by 6 . 7 p e r c e n t . It i s i n t e r e s t i n g to n o te
t h a t th e m a rrie d s e n io r w ho w a n te d to know m ore a b o u t s a v in g on th e food
b i l l " s o h e c o u ld t e l l w ife " , a l s o w a n te d to know "h o w to b re a k c o n t r a c t s
w ith m a g a z in e a n d e n c y c l o p e d i a c o m p a n ie s " . H is fa m ily c o n s i s t e d of two
(in c lu d in g h im s e lf) a n d th e i r t o t a l m o n th ly e a r n e d in c o m e w a s $ 8 3 5 .0 0 per
m o n th .
H e p a i d $ 1 0 0 .0 0 p e r m onth for g r o c e r i e s , $ 9 0 .0 0 m o n th ly for re n t
a n d u t i l i t i e s , l i s t e d a s s e t s of $ 1 , 8 0 0 . 0 0 , a n d l i a b i l i t i e s of $ 1 , 2 0 0 . 0 0 .
H e h a d no w ill in e x i s t e n c e , a n d b e l i e v e d t h a t th e m ajor m o n ey d e c i s i o n s
s h o u ld b e m a d e b y th e h u sb an d ..
H e d id i n d i c a t e th a t h is n e ig h b o r s in
m a rrie d h o u s in g " m ig h t s a y th a t w e liv e f a i r l y w e l l " .
G r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s , lik e th e G I-B e n e f it h u s b a n d s , i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e y .
w e re n o t to o i n t e r e s t e d in th e s u b j e c t of fa m ily f i n a n c e .
L ack of i n t e r e s t .
—36 —
a n d p e r h a p s l a c k of im m e d ia te f i n a n c i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s , m ay h a v e in f lu e n c e d
th e 4 6 . 6 p er c e n t of a ll g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s . i n t e r v i e w e d to i n d i c a t e th a t th e y
w o u ld n o t p a r t i c i p a t e .
P o s itiv e r e p l i e s . t o th e q u e s t i o n d id b rin g th e f o l­
lo w in g r e s p o n s e s a s a r e a s of n e e d a t th e tim e o f th e stu d y :
b u d g e tin g b y
2 0 . 0 p e r c e n t of th is s tu d y g ro u p , i n s u r a n c e s b y 2 0 .0 p er c e n t , i n v e s t ­
m e n ts b y 6 . 7 p e r c e n t , a n d t a x a t i o n b y 6 . 7 p e r c e n t .
O n e .r e s p o n d e n t
i n d i c a t e d a s a s e c o n d a r e a of n e e d in fo rm a tio n r e g a rd in g lo a n s a n d th e
tru e i n t e r e s t ra te , of b o rro w e d m o n e y .
B u d g etin g w a s. i n d i c a t e d a s a .d e s ir a b le a r e a of fa m ily fin a n c e by
o n e of th r e e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s w ho h a d i n d i c a t e d h is fa m ily m ig h t h a v e
r e f l e c t e d a .lo w s t a n d a r d of li v i n g .
O ne o f tw o s e n io r s w ho in d ic a te d a low
s ta n d a r d of liv in g by h i s fa m ily m en tio n ed , th e b u d g e t in r e l a t i o n to fa m ily
fin a n c e.
O nly o n e of th e .f o u r g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s , h o w e v e r , w ho h a d i n d i ­
c a t e d th e ir fa m ily h a d a . l o w s ta n d a r d o f liv in g fe lt b u d g e tin g w o u ld .b e
w e ll w o r th w h ile .
O ne G I - B e n e f it s t u d e n t w ho had. i n d i c a t e d th e low s t a n d a r d of
liv in g w o u ld n o t t a k e s u c h a c o u rs e , in fa m ily f i n a n c e , n e i t h e r w ould tw o
g r a d u a t e s w ho r e s p o n d e d s i m i l a r l y .
All o f th e s e n io r s t u d e n t s , h o w e v e r,
w ho h a d . i n d i c a t e d a low l e v e l of liv in g a l s o in d ic a te d a n a r e a of fam ily
f i n a n c e . b y w h ic h .th e y f e l t th e y w o u ld .b e n e f.it.
T h e .la b o r fo r c e p o t e n t i a l am ong m a rrie d m a le s tu d e n t's on th e c am p u s
of M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity a p p e a re d , to b e .high . On a n .in fo rm a l b a s i s ,
O
-37-
m an y i n d i c a t e d th e y f e l t th e ir s a l a r i e s did n o t a lw a y s c o m p e n s a te for th e ir
w ork o u tp u t on th e j o b „ There w a s a h ig h p r e f e r e n c e for s t u d y - r e l a t e d
p o s i t i o n s b y 6 6 .6 p e r c e n t of th e G I-B e n e f it s tu d e n t s ; by 7 9 .9 p er c e n t
of s e n io r s t u d e n t s a n d g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s .
Some s e n i o r s , 1 9 .9 p e r c e n t , w o u ld t a k e a n y jo b , w ith p re fe re n c e
i
to w a rd i n s u r a n c e s e l l i n g by 6 . 6 p e r c e n t; a n d for a m e c h a n i c 's job
(au to m o tiv e ) b y 1 3 .3 p e r c e n t .
All s e n io r s w e re e ith e r e m p lo y e d or i n d i ­
c a t e d th e i r d e s i r e fo r e m p lo y m e n t w h ile a t t e n d i n g s c h o o l .
S e n io rs w e re
s p l i t e v e n ly o n th e ir p re fe re n c e , for p a r t - t i m e and. f u l l - t i m e em ploym ent;
4 6 . 6 p e r c e n t i n d i c a t e d p a r t - t i m e a n d 4 6 . 6 p e r c e n t c h e c k e d th e f u l l ­
tim e .re sp o n se .
T e a c h in g on e ith e r a p a r t - t i m e or f u l l - t i m e b a s i s w a s d e ­
s ir e d b y o n e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t .
F u ll - tim e e m p lo y m e n t w a s p re fe rre d
b y 4 6 . 6 per c e n t of th e G I-B e n e f it
h u s b a n d s in t h i s stu d y ; p a r t - t i m e e m p lo y m e n t b y 3 3 .3 p e r c e n t .
m e n t w a s d e s i r e d b y 1 3 .3 p e r c e n t d u rin g th e a c a d e m ic y e a r .
No e m p lo y ­
Employment
on e ith e r p a r t - t i m e or f u l l - t i m e b a s i s w a s a c c e p t a b l e to o n e G I-B e n e fit
stu d e n t.
This i n v e s t i g a t o r n o te d on a n in fo rm al b a s i s t h a t th e s tu d e n t w a s
u n e m p lo y e d a n d lo o k in g for a j o b .
The a lte rn a tiv e 's to a s t u d y - r e l a t e d
p o s i t i o n for t h i s group w e r e .o u td o o r farm a n d la b o r e r , in s u r a n c e s a l e s m a n ,
and any c le r k -s e llin g p o s itio n .
G r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s , 5 3 . 3 p e r c e n t , p re fe rre d em p lo y m e n t on a p a r t tim e .b a s is a n d 2 6 . 6 p er c e n t p re fe rre d th e f u l l - t i m e b a s i s .
O ne s tu d e n t
-3 8 -
w ouId a c c e p t e ith e r p a r t - t i m e or f u l l - t i m e e m p lo y m e n t.
w a s. i n d i c a t e d b y tw o s t u d e n t s for th e fo llo w in g r e a s o n s :
No em p lo y m en t
one; h e ld a
f e l l o w s h i p , th e o th e r c a r r ie d a h e a v y lo a d .o f s t u d i e s w h ic h le f t no tim e
a v a i l a b l e . f o r e m p lo y m e n t.
As a l t e r n a t i v e s .to s t u d y - r e l a t e d p o s itio n s , " a n y ­
th in g " w a s t h e . r e s p o n s e i n d i c a t e d b y t h e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s (s e e Table V).
TABLE V
D is tr ib u tio n of R e s p o n d e n ts
R eg ard in g Em ploym ent
N um ber of R e s p o n d e n ts
C a te g o r y
Yes
G I - B e n e f it
■
)
No
14
I
S e n io r
15 '
O
G rad u ates
13
2
D a ta r e c o r d e d in r e s p o n s e to q u e s t i o n num ber s e v e n , "W ho s h o u ld
m a k e .t h e m a jo r m oney d e c i s i o n , i n y our f a m i l y ? " , s h o w e d a lm o s t i d e n t i c a l
r e s p o n s e s from t h e 't h r e e c a t e g o r i e s in t e r v i e w e d .
In e a c h g ro u p .o f r e s p o n ­
d e n t s , s l i g h t l y m ore t h a n h a l f f e l t th a t th e d e c i s i o n s s h o u ld b e a jo in t o n e
(s e e T a b le V I).
-39TABLE VT
R e s p o n d e n ts b y P e r c e n ta g e of
Each C a te g o r y S tu d ied
C a t e g o r i e s S tu d ie d
R esponses
S e n io rs
. O O O
^ 4 6 .7 %
G r a d u a te s
.
.
.
.
4 6 .7 %
CO
CO
LO
CO .
CO
LO
CO
CO
LO
Joint
O
O
H usband
*<]
W ife
as
CD
G I-B e n e f it
T hat th e m a jo r m o n e y d e c i s i o n s s h o u ld b e th e h n s b a n d 's r e s p o n s i ­
b ility w a s i n d i c a t e d by 4 0 . 0 p er c e n t of th e G I-B e n e f it r e s p o n d e n t s , 5 3 .3
p e r c e n t f e l t t h a t th e d e c i s i o n s s h o u ld b e a jo i n t (b e tw e e n h u s b a n d a n d
w ife) o n e , a n d 6 . 7 p e r c e n t f e l t th a t t h e d e c i s i o n s of im p o r ta n c e s h o u ld
b e t h a t of th e w i f e .
R e s p o n s e s of th e s e n io r a n d g r a d u a te h u s b a n d s - r e v e a l e d i d e n t i c a l
resp o n ses:
4 6 . 7 p e r c e n t f e l t t h a t th e h u s b a n d s h o u ld m ak e th e m ajor
m oney d e c i s i o n s , a n d 5 3 . 3 p e r c e n t f e l t t h a t th e d e c i s i o n s s h o u ld b e of
a jo i n t n a t u r e , b e tw e e n h u s b a n d a n d w i f e .
A m in o rity o f a l l g ro u p s s tu d ie d h a d a w ill in e f f e c t a t th e -time of
t h i s s tu d y ( s e e T a b le V II).
-4 0 TABLE VII
R e s p o n s e s , o f H u s b a n d s in Each C a te g o r y
R e g a rd in g a W ill
-
C a t e g o r i e s S tu d ie d
R esponses
G I-B e n e f it
No
7 3 .3 .
6 .7 %
CO
2 6 .7 %
CO
CD
Yes
S en io rs
G ra d u a te s
6 .7 %
9 3 .3
As sh o w n in t h i s t a b l e , m ore G I-B e n e f it h u s b a n d s a n d f a th e r s i n d i ­
c a t e d h o w e v e r , t h a t th e y h a d w i l l s th a n d id th e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e r e s p o n d e n ts
of th e s e n io r a n d g r a d u a te s tu d y g ro u p s c o m b i n e d . ■W i l l s in e f f e c t a t th a t
c
tim e w e re i n d i c a t e d b y 2 6 . 7 p e r c e n t o f th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s ; b u t o n ly b y
6 . 7 p e r c e n t of th e s e n i o r s , a n d by a s a m e p e r c e n t a g e , 6 . 7 of th e g r a d u a te
stu d en ts.
W h e n a s k e d if th e w ife k new th e lo c a t io n of th e ir w ill a n d o th e r im ­
p o rta n t f i n a n c i a l p a p e r s in c a s e of s u d d e n d e a th of th e h u s b a n d , a ll the
s e n io r m a le r e s p o n s e s i n d i c a t e d th a t t h e i r w iv e s d id k n o w .
H o w e v e r, 6 . 6
p e r c e n t of th e g r a d u a t e s s a i d "no" , w h ile 13 .3 p er c e n t of th e G I-B e n e fit
s t u d e n t s i n d i c a t e d th a t th e y j u s t " d i d n 't know " if th e w ife w o u ld be a b le
to fin d i t or n o t (s e e T ab le VIli) „
-41TABLE VIII
P e r c e n ta g e o f W iv e s in Each C a te g o r y W ho Know W h e re the
W ill a n d O th e r Im p o rta n t F in a n c ia l P a p e rs
of H u s b a n d a r e Kept
• ■ . . ' P ' 1; / ^
C a t e g o r i e s S tu d ie d
R esponses b y th e hu sb an d
G I-B e n e f it
S en io r
G ra d u a te
Yes
86.7%
No
• ••00
6 .7
D o n 't Know
1 3 .3 '
0• o • •
1 0 0 .0 %
93.3%
H e a lth a n d c a r i n s u r a n c e p o l i c i e s w e re th e m o s t f r e q u e n tly c h e c k e d
r e s p o n s e s to th e in q u ir y c o n c e r n in g th e ir g e n e r a l in s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e .
This
w r ite r b e l i e v e s th a t th e d a ta r e c e i v e d in r e f e r e n c e to c a r i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e
c o n firm s th e h u m a n e le m e n t o f k n o w in g t h a t in s u r a n c e i s a g o o d th in g „ bu t
u n l e s s i t is r e q u ir e d b y - la w i t is o fte n a v o id e d b e c a u s e o f th e f in a n c ia l
o b lig a tio n s a fa m ily m ay a l r e a d y h a v e a s s u m e d .
A b r e a k - d o w n of d iff e r e n t
ty p e s of com m on i n s u r a n c e p o l i c i e s a n d th e p e r c e n ta g e o f r e s p o n d e n t s by
g r o u p , re a ffirm s t h i s w r i t e r 's b e l i e f (s e e T a b le IX and X o n th e fo llo w in g
pag es).
C a r i n s u r a n c e w a s th e m o s t p o p u la r i n s u r a n c e s u b s c r i b e d to by th e
s tu d y s a m p l e .
At th e tim e of th is s t u d y , 100 p e r c e n t of th e in t e r v i e w e e s
-4 2—
TABLE IX
Per C e n t o f S tu d e n t F a m ilie s b y C a te g o r y
W h o S u b s c r ib e d to V arious I n s u r a n c e P la n s
C a te g o ry S tu d ie d
26.6
46.6
53.3
59.9
CO
CO
1 9 .9
6.6
Term Insurance . . . . . . . . . .
26.6
39.9
CO
Endowment . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. 6
1 9 .9
CO
CO
CO
....
....
6. 6
Personal Property
. . . . . . . .
Straight Life Insurance
. . . . .
Limited Payment Life Insurance
!F11*
.
OO O O O O O O OOOOO OO
CO
39.9
CO
100.0
CD
f—’
100.0
Car . ....................... ....
6.6
. . . . . . . . . .
6. 6
.OOO
OOOO
Personal Liability . . . . . . . .
. O. .
6. 6
.OOO
$ 1 , 0 0 0 Death Benefit on
Life Insurance . . . . . . . .
.OOO
6. 6
....
Home Owners
as
CO
66.6%
59.9%
H e a l t h ......................................... ....
Graduate
*<1
CO
Senior
O
GI -Benefit
O
O
Insurance
Plan.
-4 3 ..TABLE X
The N um ber.arid .R erce n ta g e of th e T otal Group: S tu d ie d
S u b s c rib in g to V arious I n s u r a n c e P la n s
G roup S tu d ie d (45 r e s p o n d e n ts )
In su ran ce
Plan
Number
P e rc e n ta g e
30
C a r . ......................................... ....
45
P e r s o n a l P r o p e r t y ........................................ .... .
17
CO
66.6%
H e a lth . . ................................. ....
S tr a ig h t Life I n s u r a n c e ........................ . . .
22
48.8
L im ite d P ay m en t Life I n s u r a n c e . . . . . .
5
1 1 .1
Term I n s u r a n c e ............................................. . .
16
3 5 .5
E n d o w m e n t .............................................................
9
1 0 0 .0
t>~
O
O
(NI
I
2.2
. ■................................. .... .
I
2.2
P e r s o n a l L i a b ili ty ..................................... .... .
I
2.2
$ 1 ,0 0 0 D e a th B e n e fit on
Life I n s u r a n c e . . . . . . . . . . .
I
2.2
Hom e O w n ers . .
-44-
c a r r ie d c a r i n s u r a n c e of o n e ty p e or a n o t h e r , u s u a l l y th e minimum re q u ire d
b y M o n ta n a Law; h o w e v e r , th ro u g h in fo rm al c o n v e r s a t i o n a fe w i n d i c a t e d
th e y h a d b e e n c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e p o t e n t i a l i n a d e q u a c y of th e minimum a n d
t h a t th e y h a d a d d e d e x tr a c o v e r a g e to th e l e g a l b a s e a m o u n t.
The r e s p o n s e s
to t h i s q u e s t i o n a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h a t a ll m a rrie d s t u d e n t f a m ilie s h a d a t l e a s t
o n e c a r in u s a b l e c o n d i t i o n .
C o n v e r s a tio n a n d o b s e r v a t i o n s by th is w rite r
w ith th e r e s p o n d e n t s r e v e a l e d th a t th e c a r s m ig h t h a v e a v e r a g e d fiv e to
e ig h t y e a r s in a g e , w ith a few n e w c a r s (gift of a p a re n t a t th e tim e of
th e i r m a rria g e ) a n d so m e v e ry old v e h i c l e s in s u c h poor c o n d itio n th e y
a p p e a r e d b a r e ly c a p a b l e o f p ro v id in g s a f e tr a n s p o r t a t i o n for th e fa m ily .
This
w r ite r a l s o w a s i m p r e s s e d from c o n v e r s a t i o n s w ith th e s t u d e n t s of th is s tu d y
s a m p le t h a t t h e p u r c h a s e of a n e w c a r w ill r e c e i v e p rio rity a f t e r th e a tia d e m ic
a c h ie v e m e n t o f t h e ir d e g r e e a n d s e c u r i t y of em p lo y m e n t i s a t t a i n e d .
T a b le I (on p a g e 12) r e v e a l e d thatt t h e m a jo rity of s t u d e n t s h a v e o ff­
s p rin g s o i t i s n o t s u r p r is in g to fin d t h a t h e a lt h i n s u r a n c e i s th e s e c o n d
m o s t im p o r ta n t i n s u r a n c e to b e found am ong m a rrie d s t u d e n t s in th is c a t e ­
g o ry .
The d a t a o b ta in e d i n d i c a t e d t h a t 5 9 . 9 p e r c e n t of th e G I-B e n e f it
s t u d e n t f a m i l i e s ,. 6 6 .6 p e r c e n t of th e s e n io r s tu d e n t f a m i l i e s , and 7 3 .3
p e r c e n t of th e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t f a m ilie s in t h i s s tu d y s a m p le c a r rie d
h e alth in s u ra n c e .
P e r s o n a l p ro p e rty i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e w a s c a r r ie d b y 3 9 . 9 p er c e n t
—45 —
of th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t r e s p o n d e n t s ; b y 26„6 per c e n t o f th e s e n i o r s ,
a n d b y 4 6 . 6 p e r c e n t of th e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s „
Life i n s u r a n c e w a s p o p u la r w ith m o s t m a rrie d s t u d e n t s a c c o rd in g to
th is stu d y .
O n ly a s m a ll p e r c e n t a g e of s t u d e n t s a b s t a i n e d from c a rry in g
a n y ty p e of lif e i n s u r a n c e p r o t e c t i o n .
This g ro u p w a s 6 . 6 p e r c e n t e a c h
of th e G I-B e n e f it a n d s e n i o r s a m p l e s a n d 1 3 .3 p er c e n t of t h e g ra d u a te
stu d en t sam p le.
S tra ig h t lif e i n s u r a n c e w a s th e m o s t p o p u lar; i t was c a r r ie d by
5 3 .3 p er c e n t of th e G I - B e n e f it s t u d e n t s , b y 5 9 .9 per c e n t of th e s e n io r
s t u d e n t s , a n d b y 3 3 .3 per c e n t of t h e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s .
Term i n s u r a n c e w a s th e s e c o n d m o s t p o p u la r ty p e o f i n s u r a n c e
c a r r i e d on th e h u s b a n d s . It w a s c a r r ie d b y 2 6 . 6 p e r c e n t of t h e G I - B e n e fit s t u d e n t s a n d b y 3 9 . 9 p e r c e n t of th e s e n io r a n d g r a d u a te s t u d e n t g ro u p s
in te r v ie w e d in t h i s s tu d y s a m p l e .
E ndow m ents w e re h e ld b y 6 . 6 p er c e n t o f th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s ,
b y 1 9 .9 p e r c e n t of th e s e n io r s t u d e n t s , a n d b y 3 3 .3 per c e n t of th e
g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s .
L e a s t p o p u la r w a s th e lim ite d p a y m e n t lif e i n s u r a n c e p o l i c y .
O n ly
1 9 .9 p e r c e n t of th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s a n d 6 . 6 p e r c e n t o f th e s e n io r
a n d g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h i s ty p e of c o v e r a g e .
O th e r m ajo r i n s u r a n c e p o l i c i e s h e ld by m a rrie d s t u d e n t s w ere:
fire
—4 6 —
i n s u r a n c e b y 6 . 6 p e r c e n t of th e g r a d u a te sa m p le ; hom e o w n e rs p o lic y by
6 . 6 p e r c e n t of th e G I - B e n e f it s t u d e n t s ; p e r s o n a l l i a b i l i t y a n d a $ 1 ,0 0 0 .0 0
d e a th b e n e f i t e a c h b y 6 . 6 p e r c e n t of th e s e n io r s t u d e n t s .
W h e n th e r e s p o n d e n t s of t h i s s tu d y w e re a s k e d i f th e y w o u ld borrow
m o n e y to f i n i s h c o l l e g e , 4 0 . 0 p er c e n t of. th e G I-B e n e fit h u s b a n d s a n d 13.3
p e r c e n t of th e s e n io r a n d g r a d u a te h u s b a n d s -re sp o n d e d w ith a d e f in ite "No",
n o t e v e n for th r e e q u a r t e r s . Borrowing m o n e y to f in i s h c o l l e g e in th re e
q u a r te r s w a s p o s i t i v e l y a n s w e r e d b y 2 0 .0 p e r c e n t o f th e G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t
r e s p o n d e n t s , b y 2 6 . 7 p e r c e n t of th e s e n i o r s , a n d b y 2 0 .0 p e r c e n t of th e
g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s .
The p e r c e n t a g e s of t h o s e i n d i c a t i n g t h e y w o u ld borrow
m o n e y to f i n i s h s i x q u a r te r s of c o l l e g e w a s m uch l e s s ; 1 3 .3 p e r c e n t of th e
■G I - B e n e f i t , 6 . 7 p e r c e n t of th e s e n i o r , a n d 6 . 7 p er c e n t of th e g ra d u a te
stu d en t c a te g o r ie s .
The G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s w e re a n e x c e p tio n w h e n fe w er
of th em i n d i c a t e d t h e y w o u ld borrow m o n e y to f in i s h n in e q u a r te r s of college,,
for o n ly 2 6 . 7 p e r c e n t of th em i n d i c a t e d s u c h a c ti o n m ig h t b e d e s ir a b le ;
h o w e v e r , 5 3 . 3 p e r c e n t of th e s e n io r s a n d 6 0 .0 p e r c e n t of th e g ra d ­
u a t e s t u d e n t g ro u p s i n d i c a t e d a p p ro v a l of s u c h a c ti o n
('see Table X I).
-47TABLE XI
P e r c e n ta g e of R e s p o n d e n ts in C a t e g o r i e s w ith R e s p e c t
to Borrow ing M o n ey to F in is h C o lle g e
C a t e g o r i e s S tu d ie d
G I-B e n e f it
R esponses
G ra d u a te
S tu d e n ts
..
as
CO
I-1
CO
as
CO
CO
I— I
O
as
O
No
S en io r
Yes
3 q u a r te r s
2 0 . 0
6 q u a r te r s
9 q u a r te r s
26.7
2 0 . 0
13.3
6 .7
6 .7
26.7
5 3 .3
60.0
G I - B e n e f it s t u d e n t s ^ i n d i c a t e d s e v e ra l, s o u r c e s for b o rro w in g m o ney to
f in i s h t h e ir c o l l e g e d e g r e e a s th e ir f i r s t p re fe rre d s o u r c e for them a s an
in d iv id u a l.
Fo 2 0 .0 p e r c e n t , th e ir f i r s t s o u r c e for b o rro w e d m o n ey w o u ld
be a bank.
It w a s fo u n d t h a t 2 6 . 6 p e r c e n t w o u ld a p p ly for a N a tio n a l
D e f e n s e Loan fir s t; o n e s t u d e n t w o u ld f i r s t c o n t a c t th e M o n ta n a S ta te U n i­
v e r s i t y S tu d e n t Aid O ffice ; a n d a n o th e r s t u d e n t w o u ld f i r s t a s k h is p a re n ts
for th e n e c e s s a r y f i n a n c e s (s e e T a b le XII on th e fo llo w in g p a g e ) . The s e c ­
o nd c h o i c e s of t h e s e s t u d e n t s i n d i c a t e d th a t of th e to ta l v o te s c a s t , 1 9 .8
p e r c e n t of th em w o u ld i n v e s t i g a t e th e lo a n d e p a r tm e n t of a b a n k . O th e r
-4 8 TABLE XII
I n d i c a t e d Per C e n t of S tu d e n t P re fe re n c e for Loan
S o u rc e s to F in is h C o lle g e
C a t e g o r i e s S tu d ie d
S en io r
G ra d u a te
20.0%
26.6%
00800
26.6'
1—
I
26.7%
to
O
O
R esponse
1—
I
G I-B e n e f it
F ir s t C h o ic e
B0. IflkS o e
o . o o o o o o
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
6.7 ,
6 .7 '
O
O
CO
P a re n ts
6.7
CO
CO
M . S . U . S tu d e n t Aid
O ffic e
.
CO
CO
N a tio n a l D e f e n s e Loan
.....
6. 7' ,
A n y U o S 0 G o v e rn m e n t
S o u rce * * * * o *
00000
6. 7
00000
C r e d it U n i o n s .............................
.....
6. 7
00000
F r ie n d s
.....
.....
CO
•CO
[—I
6. 7 .
0 o 0 » o » o
00000
OOOOO
6. 7
R e l a tiv e s
* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
H o n o r a r i e s ...................................
S e c o n d C h o ic e
„ „
as
CO
CO
CO
N a tio n a l D e f e n s e Loan.
19.8%
CO
CO
CO
B an k s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6.7
.....
6. 7
-49TABLE XII ( C O N T 0)
G I-B e n e f it
R esponse
Sen io r
G ra d u a te
C r e d it U n i o n s .................
6 .7 %
OOOO
OOOO
P a re n ts . . . . . . . .
6 .7
6 .7 %
. . CO
M 0S 0U 0 S tu d e n t Aid
O ffic e . . . . . .
'6.7
6 .7
1 9 .9 %
F in a n c e C o m p a n ie s
6 .7
O. • O
• OO•
F r i e n d s .............................
. . O•
6 .7
6 .7
Life I n s u r a n c e . . . .
*• 0 •
6. 7
6. 7
6. 7
OOOO
R e l a tiv e s . . . . . . .
Form er Em ployer . . . .
.
No S e c o n d C h o ic e
I n d ic a te d .................
0 . 0
6 .7
.OOO
1 9 .9
6. 7
6 .7
Third C h o ic e
26.7%
19.9%
20.0%
F in a n c e C o m p a n ie s . . .
6 .7
6 .7
P a re n ts . . . . . . . . .
6.7
2 0 .0
N a tio n a l D e f e n s e Loan .
. O O .
6 .7
6 .7
R e l a tiv e s
OOOO
6 .7
o . o o
6 .7
6 .7
B a n k ....................................................... ....
.
o
o
.
o
e
M . S . U . S tu d e n t Aid
O f f i c e .........................
CO
e
CO
I— I
o
1 3 .3
-5 0 TABLE XII ( C o n t J
G I-B e n e f it
R esponse
Fr! GIldS
e
e
e
o
e
o
e
e
c
No Third C h o ic e
In d ic a ted . . . . . .
O O O O O
26.7%
S en io r
O O O O O
1 9 .9 %
G ra d u a te
1 3 .3 %
6 .7
-5 1 -
n o m in a tio n s for s e c o n d c h o i c e a s a lo a n s o u r c e w ere:
N a tio n a l D e f e n s e
L o a n , c r e d i t u n i o n s , p a r e n t s , th e s t u d e n t a i d 'o f f i c e a t M o n ta n a S ta te
U n i v e r s i t y , a n d a f i n a n c e ■c o m p a n y .
of t h e t o t a l v o t e .
Each of t h e s e r e c e i v e d 6 . 7 p e r c e n t
G I-B e n e f it s t u d e n t s n a rro w e d th e r a n g e of a c c e p t a b l e
t h i r d - c h o i c e s o u r c e s for b o rro w in g m o n e y .
They i n d i c a t e d t h a t 1 9 .9 per
c e n t of th e m w o u ld s e e k a b a n k l a s t , a n d t h a t p a r e n ts a n d a f in a n c e
c o m p a n y -( eaCh w ith .6 .7 p e r c e n t) w o u ld s e r v e th e o th e r s a s th e ir th ird
s e l e c t i o n ( s e e T a b le XII on t h e p r e v io u s p a g e ) .
S e n io r s t u d e n t s s e e m e d m ore k n o w le d g e a b le th a n th e o th e r r e s p o n d e n t s
a b o u t p o t e n t i a l s o u r c e s of b o rro w in g m o n ey a s i n d i c a t e d b y th e i r ra n g e of
responses.
Some s e n i o r s , 2 6 . 6 p er c e n t , w o u ld a p p ly f i r s t t o a bank;
f e w e r , 2 0 .0 p e r c e n t , w o u ld c o n t a c t t h e s t u d e n t a id o f f ic e a t M o n ta n a
S ta te U n iv e rs ity ; a n d e a c h of th e re m a in in g fiv e s t u d e n t s w o u ld c o n t a c t
f i r s t o n e of t h e fo llo w in g f iv e s o u r c e s :
p a r e n t s . N a tio n a l D e f e n s e L o a n ,
c r e d i t u n i o n , a n y U . S . G o v e rn m e n t s o u r c e , a n d r e l a t i v e s .
The s tu d e n t s
i n d i c a t e d t h a t for t h e ir s e c o n d s o u r c e of f i n a n c i a l a id e a c h of th e fo llo w in g
s o u r c e s r e c e i v e d 6 . 7 p e r c e n t of th e v o te s o f th is group:
f r i e n d s , th e
s t u d e n t a id o f f ic e a t M o n ta n a S ta te U n i v e r s i t y , p a r e n t s , f i n a n c e c o m p a n i e s ,
c a s h v a lu e of. lif e i n s u r a n c e a n d r e l a t i v e s .
The th ird s o u r c e s to w h ic h
t h e s e s e n i o r s t u d e n t s w o u ld h a v e a p p l i e d a r e l i s t e d in o rd e r of th e ir
p r e f e r e n c e b y th e s t u d e n t s in te rv ie w e d ; p a r e n t s , 2 0 .0 p e r c e n t; b a n k s ,
-52-
2 0 . 0 p e r c e n t; a n d , 7 . 6 p e r c e n t for f i n a n c e c o m p a n i e s » N a tio n a l D e f e n s e
L o a n s , r e l a t i v e s , a n d M . S . U . s t u d e n t a id o f f ic e (s e e T a b le XII on p a g e s
48 a n d 4 9 ).
The g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s s u r v e y e d in t h i s s a m p le d id n o t , a s th e o th e r
tw o c a t e g o r i e s of s t u d e n t s , c o n s i d e r a b a n k a c c e p t a b l e a s t h e i r f i r s t
s o u r c e of b o rro w e d m o n e y .
T h e s e s t u d e n t s i n d i c a t e d a s sh o w n by d a ta
c o l l e c t e d , t h a t 2 6 . 7 p e r c e n t w o u ld c h o o s e a N a tio n a l D e f e n s e L o a n .
T his p r e f e r e n c e w a s fo llo w e d b y 2 0 .0 p e r c e n t for p a r e n ts a n d 1 3 .3 per
c e n t of th e s t u d e n t s fa v o re d t h e tw o fo llo w in g s o u r c e s ;
o f f ic e a t M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity , a n d f r i e n d s .
t h e s t u d e n t a id
O n ly 6 . 7 p er c e n t of
th e g r a d u a te r e s p o n d e n t s i n d i c a t e d t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e for r e l a t i v e s a s f i r s t
c h o ic e ; a n o th e r 6 . 7 p e r c e n t i n d i c a t e d h o n o r a r ie s a s t h e i r f i r s t c h o i c e .
O ne th ir d of t h e g r a d u a t e s in th is s a m p le i n d i c a t e d t h a t a b a n k w o u ld b e
th e i r s e c o n d s o u r c e of b o rro w e d m o n e y .
N e x t in p e r c e n ta g e of to ta l
s t u d e n t s e c o n d - s o u r c e p r e f e r e n c e w a s th e s t u d e n t a id o f f ic e a t M o n ta n a
S ta te U n iv e r s ity w ith 1 9 .9 p er c e n t .
Each of th e fo llo w in g s o u r c e s r e c e i v e d
6 . 6 p e r c e n t of th e t o t a l v o te for s e c o n d c h o ic e :
f r i e n d s , form er e m p l o y e r s ,
th e c a s h v a lu e of lif e i n s u r a n c e , a n d a N a tio n a l D e f e n s e Loan,.
The th ird
s o u r c e of b o rro w e d m oney b y th e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s i n d i c a t e d a b a n k w o u ld
b e p re fe rre d b y 2 6 . 7 p er c e n t of a l l g r a d u a t e . r e s p o n d e n t s .
F in a n c e c o m ­
p a n i e s , f r i e n d s , a n d p a r e n ts e a c h r e c e i v e d 1 3 .3 p er c e n t of th e p r e f e r e n c e
-5 3 -
fo r t h i r d - c h o i d e .
A N a tio n a l D e f e n s e Loan a n d th e s t u d e n t a id o ff ic e a t
M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity e a c h . r e c e iv e d 6 „ 6 p e r c e n t of th e t o t a l p r e f e r e n c e
v o te b y p e r c e n t a g e for th ir d p l a c e .
(See T a b le XII on p a g e s 48 ,l49:> arid 50).
C H A PT E R 'V
SUMMARY, C O NCLUSIO N S, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
S u m m ary . . The p u r p o s e o f t h i s s tu d y w a s to -p r o v id e f i n a n c i a l i n f o r ­
m a tio n a b o u t m a rrie d c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s . . F o r ty - f iv e m a rrie d m a le s tu d e n t s
a t M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h i s s tu d y d u rin g s p rin g
q u a r t e r , 19 6 7 .
A s tr u c tu r e d - in te r v ie w form w a s p e r s o n a l l y a d m in is te r e d to
g ro u p s of ra n d o m ly s e l e c t e d G I - B e n e f i t , s e n i o r , a n d g r a d u a te m arried m a le
stu d e n ts.
L i m i t a t i o n s . o f t h i s s tu d y a r e r e p r e s e n te d , or lim ite d b y t h e .follow ing
fa c to r s :
(I) Some of th e n a m e s s e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t e d m a rrie d c o u p le s who
e i t h e r h a d f i n i s h e d s c h o o l or h a d d ro p p e d o u t,, in w h ic h c a s e t h e nam e
im m e d ia te ly p ro c e e d in g w a s u s e d , (2) The r e s p o n d e n t s m ay h a v e a n s w e r e d
q u e s t i o n four ("H ow w o u ld y our n e i g h b o r s . d e s c r i b e y o u r s ta n d a r d of liv in g
a t y our B o zem an r e s i d e n c e ? ") w ith a n e x p e c t e d r e s p o n s e - r a t h e r th a n th e i r
tr u e f e e l i n g , a n d (3) K now ledge of th e a c t u a l food e x p e n d itu r e w a s d iffic u lt,
for t h e m a le s b e c a u s e n u m ero u s, o th e r h o u s e h o ld a n d b a th ro o m s u p p lie s
w e re u s u a l l y p u r c h a s e d in th e g ro c e ry s to r e a s w e l l .
C o n c l u s i o n s . It w a s c o n c lu d e d from t h e .fin d in g s o f t h i s s tu d y th a t
of a l l th e m a rrie d s t u d e n t s in t e r v i e w e d , 5 7 . 7 per c e n t w e re em p lo y ed on
e i t h e r a p a r t - t i m e or a .f u ll- tim e b a s i s ; 5 1 .1 p er c e n t of t h e ir w iv e s w e re
em p lo y e d ; a n d th e m e an m o n th ly in c o m e fo r e a c h fa m ily from a l l s o u r c e s
for a l l r e s p o n d e n t s c o n t a c t e d w a s $ 4 3 9 . 6 7 .
The h u s b a n d a v e r a g e d
-55-
e a r n in g s of $ 2 4 8 .8 6 m onthly; th e w iv e s a v e r a g e d $ 2 5 6 .6 9 from th e ir
m o n th ly s a l a r i e s .
D a ta fu r th e r i n d i c a t e d t h a t w iv e s p ro v id e d more d o l l a r s p e r fam ily to
t h e G I-B e n e f it a n d s e n i o r f a m ilie s t h a n d id t h e h u s b a n d s .
G ra d u a te s t u d e n t s
w e re a b l e tinxt- only, to p ro v id e m ore in c o m e d o lla r w is e to th e f a m ily , 'through
g r a d u a te a s s i s t a n t s h i p s , b u t a l s o , . f o r t h i s . r e a s o n , fe w e r of th e w iv e s
fo u n d i t n e c e s s a r y to s e e k em p lo y m en t o u t s i d e t h e .h o m e .
The a s s i s t a n t -
s h i p s h e ld b y o v e r h a l f of th e .g r a d u a t e . s t u d e n t s a tte n d in g M o n ta n a S ta te
U n iv e r s ity a t t h a t tim e a l s o e n a b le d th e m to r e c e i v e t u itio n w a iv e r s „
D a ta from t h i s s tu d y i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e m ajor e x p e n d it u r e s of e a c h
s t u d e n t c a te g o r y in te r v ie w e d w e re Tor h o u s in g a n d fo o d .
G ra d u a te f a m ilie s
s p e n t th e l e a s t for food; a n d th e G I-B e n e f it fa m ilie s th e m o s t . .The. s e n io r s
i n d i c a t e d t h e y s p e n t l e s s for h o u s in g a s a g ro u p b e c a u s e m o s t of them h a d
b e e n a b l e to o b ta in c a m p u s h o u s in g a v a i l a b l e a t l e s s c o s t t h a n h o u s in g
from in d e p e n d e n t s o u r c e s .
It w a s c o n c lu d e d t h a t t h e m a jo r p u rp o s e .f o r w h ic h i n s t a l l m e n t c r e d i t
h a d b e e n o b ta in e d b y t h e s e m a rrie d s t u d e n t f a m ilie s w a s for th e p u rp o s e
of hom e la u n d r y f a c i l i t i e s , w a s h e r s a n d d r y e r s .
S en io r s t u d e n t s w e re
.more h ig h l y . o b l i g a t e d to m o n th ly p a y m e n ts t h a n w e re e i t h e r of th e o th e r
tw o c a t e g o r i e s i n t e r v i e w e d .
G ra d u a te s t u d e n t a n s w e r s i n d i c a t e d th e
l o w e s t freq u e n cy , of i n s t a l l m e n t . i n d e b t e d n e s s a t t h a t ti m e . .
-5 6 -
A lthough n o n e .of th e g r a d u a t e ;s t u d e n t s w e re i n v e s t i n g in a hom e a t
t h e tim e of t h i s s t u d y G I-B e n e f it r e s p o n d e n t s ' r e p l i e s i n d i c a t e d th a t th e y
h a d a t o t a l ,equity of $ 9 ,7 0 O„00 to w a rd .h o m e - o w n e r s h ip , a n d t h e s e n io r s
h a d e v e n m ore ( $ 1 2 ,2 0 0 ,0 0 ) „
The d a t a c o l l e c t e d from t h e s e . t h r e e g r o u p s .i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e s e n io r
s t u d e n t s h a d c o l l e c t i v e a s s e t s o f $ 5 4 , 3 7 5 , 0 0 , w h ile t h e G I-B e n e fit
s t u d e n t s h a d $ 3 1 , 5 6 5 , 0 0 , a n d t h e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t fa m ilie s e v e n l e s s ,
.$ 2 5 ,5 0 0 .0 0 ,
D a ta from t h i s s tu d y s h o w e d t h a t th e r e w a s l e s s i n d e b t e d n e s s r e p o r te d
b y t h e g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s th a n b y t h e .GI- B e n e f it-o r g r a d u a te s tu d e n t g r o u p s .
P a re n ts a n d b a n k s w e re t h e s o u r c e of m o s t s t u d e n t l o a n s , b o th in d o lla r s
a n d f r e q u e n c y ,. F in a n c ia l a id g iv e n b y t h e p a r e n ts w a s u s u a l l y r e p r e s e n t e d
b y a lump- sum r a t h e r t h a n b y a m o n th ly a m o u n t.
It w a s c o n c lu d e d from d a t a r e c e i v e d t h a t m o s t of t h e s t u d e n t s b e ­
l i e v e d t h e i r s t a n d a r d of liv in g to b e a b o u t a v e r a g e , a n d th e r e - w e r e more
s t u d e n t s w h o -b e lie v e d ' t h e y w'ere b e lo w a v e r a g e . t h a n a b o v e a v e r a g e a t
t h e i r r e s i d e n c e h e r e in B ozem an d u rin g th e a c a d e m id y e a r ,
A m a jo rity o f a l l r e s p o n d e n t s , in d ic a te d th e y w o u ld p a r t i c i p a t e i n a
fa m ily f i n a n c e c o u r s e , i f o n e w e re a v a i l a b l e to th em a n d g e a r e d e s p e c i a l l y
fo r t h e m a rrie d c o l l e g e S tu d e n t fa m ily , . The a r e a s of i n t e r e s t m o st o fte n
i n d i c a t e d m ay h a v e r e f l e c t e d th e i r f e l t n e e d for s u c h h e l p . - T h e s e a r e a s
-5 7 -
w e r e b u d g e tin g a n d th e tru e c o s t of b o rro w in g m o n e y .
It w a s c o n c lu d e d on th e b a s i s of t h i s s tu d y t h a t th e p o te n tia l p a r t tim e a n d f u ll tim e la b o r fo r c e am ong a l l m a rrie d c o l l e g e m a le s in te r v ie w e d ,
i f tr u l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of a l l student's in' t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s , w a s 9 1 . 0 per
c e n t.
In g e n e r a l , i t m ay b e a s s u m e d , on th e b a s i s of t h i s s t u d y , th a t
n in e o u t of t e n m a rrie d s t u d e n t m a le s d e s i r e g a in fu l e m p lo y m e n t during
t h e a c a d e m ic y e a r i n p o s i t i o n s r e l a t e d to th e i r s t u d i e s .
It w a s c o n c lu d e d on th e d a t a r e c e i v e d from t h i s s tu d y t h a t more
s t u d e n t s b e l i e v e t h a t m a jo r m o n e y d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g s h o u ld b e a jo in t
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b e tw e 'b n tth e h u s b a n d a n d w ife th a n of e ith e r p a rtn e r a l o n e .
The d a t a from t h i s s tu d y i n d i c a t e d th a t l e s s th a n o n e s t u d e n t - h u s ­
b a n d in t e n h a d a w i l l in e f f e c t .
M o s t of th e h u s b a n d s w e re c o n f id e n t th a t
t h e i r w iv e s k n e w w h e re t h e m o s t im p o r ta n t f i n a n c i a l p a p e r s w e re k e p t .
C a r i n s u r a n c e w a s c a r r ie d b y a l l th e r e s p o n d e n t s .
Some form of
li f e i n s u r a n c e w a s c a r r ie d b y m o s t s t u d e n t s , h o w e v e r , o n e G I-B e n e fit
h u s b a n d a n d tw o g r a d u a te h u s b a n d s did n o t .
F a m ily h e a l t h in s u r a n c e
w a s c a r r ie d b y o v e r h a l f ( 6 6 .6 p e r c e n t) of a l l th e h u s b a n d s in te r v ie w e d .
M o re s t u d e n t s i n d i c a t e d t h e y w o u ld borrow to f i n i s h n in e q u a rte rs
of c o l l e g e th a n to f in i s h s i x q u a rte rs ..
Borrowing to f i n i s h s i x q u a rte rs
w a s t h e th ird m o s t p o p u la r r e s p o n s e , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t th e y w o u ld e ith e r
b o rro w s u b s t a i n t i a l l y for th r e e y e a r s , or l e s s h e a v i l y for th e l a s t y e a r
-5 8 -
of c o l l e g e a t t e n d a n c e .
The m o s t f r e q u e n tly m e n tio n e d s o u r c e of borro w in g
m o n e y to f i n i s h th e re q u ir e m e n ts for g r a d u a tio n w a s a b a n k .
R e c o m m e n d a tio n s . In lig h t of d a t a p ro d u c e d by t h i s s t u d y of th re e
c a t e g o r i e s of m a rrie d m a le s t u d e n t s i t i s h o p e d t h a t th e fo llo w in g s u g ­
g e s t i o n s w ill b e of e d u c a t i o n a l a n d e c o n o m ic v a lu e:
1. S tu d e n ts a n t i c i p a t i n g m a rria g e b e fo re .the c o m p le tio n of th e if.
a c a d e m ic d e g r e e s h o u ld e x p e c t t h a t e ith e r o n e or b o th of th e m m ay h a v e to
s e e k g a in fu l e m p lo y m e n t.
2.
After m a r r i a g e , f i n a n c i a l a id b y t h e p a r e n ts u s u a l l y c o n s t i t u t e s a
lo a n .
3 . C o l l e g e p e r s o n n e l in c o n t a c t w ith m a rrie d c o u p l e s a n tic ip a ti n g
c o l l e g e e n t r a n c e s h o u ld w a rn them of t h e p ro b a b le n e c e s s i t y of em p lo y m en t
b y h u s b a n d a n d / o r w ife to fu lf ill th e i r f i n a n c i a l o b l i g a t i o n s .
4 . B uilding c o m m itte e s .o f c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s s h o u ld g iv e c o n ­
s i d e r a t i o n to m a k in g more h o u s in g a v a i l a b l e to s t u d e n t f a m i l i e s .
5 . C u rric u lu m p la n n e r s m ig h t c o n s i d e r th e d e s i r a b i l i t y of a fam ily
f in a n c e c o u r s e a s a n in t e g r a l p a rt of t h e s t u d e n t c u r r i c u l u m .
6. T e a c h e r s of fa m ily f i n a n c e c o u r s e s s h o u ld p l a c e b u d g e tin g and
t h e c o s t of c r e d i t h ig h o n the. p re fe rre d l i s t of a r e a s of s tu d y a s th e c o u r s e s
a r e m ad e a v a i l a b l e to m a rrie d s t u d e n t s w ith s p e c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n for
sin g le s ta tu s s tu d e n t s »
7. T e a c h e r s a t t h e s e c o n d a r y l e v e l m ig h t p la c e m ore e m p h a s is on
fa m ily f in a n c e for th e s t u d e n t s b e c a u s e of th e p o s s i b i l i t y of e a r ly m a rria g e
fo llo w e d b y c o l l e g e a t t e n d a n c e .
8 . The M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity e m p lo y m e n t s e r v i c e m ight b e a b l e
to .w o rk m ore c l o s e l y w ith t h e M o n ta n a S ta te Em ployment s e r v i c e in fin d in g
g a in f u l em p lo y m e n t for s t u d e n t s » a n d s t u d e n t w i v e s » c o m p a tib le w ith th e ir
in te re sts and a b ility .
R e c o m m e n d a tio n s for F u tu re S t u d i e s .
The c o m p a r is o n s of G I - B e n e f it
-59-
s e n i o r , and. g r a d u a te ' m a rrie d s t u d e n t s ^at M o n ta n a S ta te U n iv e r s ity w e re
m ad e on th e b a s i s of " o p e n end" q u e s t i o n s a s k i n g for c a t e g o r i c a l in fo rm a ­
tio n .
In th e e v e n t a n o th e r s tu d y is m ad e r e l a t i v e to m a rrie d s tu d e n t f i n ­
a n c e s , a la r g e r q u e s t i o n n a i r e w ith m ore s p e c i f i c q u e s t i o n s c o u ld b e d e v is e d .
The c o m p e t e n c e of m a rrie d m a le s to a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s re g a rd in g b a s i c
e x p e n d it u r e s i s u n c e r t a i n , b e c a u s e th e w ife m ay h a v e a s s u m e d th is r e s p o n ­
s i b i l i t y , p a r t i c u l a r l y in th e a r e a of food m a r k e tin g .
A d m in is tra tio n of th e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e s to b o th m a rita l p a r tn e r s m ay s e r v e to r e v e a l a d d itio n a l u s e ­
fu l d a t a .
A lim ite d a g e group b e tw e e n 19 a n d 30 for a fu tu re s a m p le s tu d y m ay
c o n tr ib u te in fo rm a tio n m ore c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of th e m a jo rity of m a rrie d stu>d e n ts.
The a g e of r e s p o n d e n t s in th e p r e s e n t s tu d y w a s n o t ta k e n in to
c o n sid e ra tio n .
This i n v e s t i g a t o r o b s e r v e d , on a n in fo rm al b a s i s , th a t t h e
fe w e x tr e m e ly h ig h t o t a l fa m ily m o n th ly in c o m e s w e re i n d i c a t e d by m a le s
o v e r 30 y e a r s of a g e .
R e s p o n d e n ts w e re o b v io u s ly d u b io u s a b o u t w ritin g th e i r n am e on th e
q u e stio n n a ire .
They w e re e x tre m e ly c o o p e r a tiv e a b o u t ta k in g th e t e s t ,
h o w e v e r , a n d d i s c u s s i n g th e i r p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e s on a p e r s o n - t o - p e r s o n
b a sis.
This w r ite r w o u ld a l s o re c o m m en d t h a t fu tu re s t u d i e s b e h e ld on a
p e r s o n - t o - p e r s o n b a s i s o u t s i d e th e ho m e e n v iro n m e n t.
This s i t u a t i o n
-60-
w o u ld g iv e r e s p o n d e n t s n o t o n ly th e o p p o rtu n ity to a s k q u e s t i o n s b u t m ight
a l s o e lim in a te a n y i n f l u e n c e t h e p r e s e n c e of th e m a rita l p a r tn e r w o u ld h a v e
on t h e r e s p o n s e s .
This w rite r b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e c o m p a r is o n of two g r o u p s » o n e w h ic h
w o u ld r e c e i v e no c o u n s e l i n g , a n d t h e s e c o n d , w h ic h w o u ld r e c e i v e
s y s t e m a t i c f i n a n c i a l c o u n s e l i n g , w o u ld c o n tr ib u te u s e f u l d a t a in th e
s p e n d in g h a b i t s of m a rrie d ' s t u d e n t s w ho l e f t c a m p u s b e c a u s e o f th e ir
f i n a n c i a l i n c a p a c i t y to fu lf ill th e i r f i n a n c i a l o b lig a tio n s h e r e a t M o n ta n a
S ta te U n iv e r s ity a n d w o u ld b e w e ll w o rth i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
APPENDIX
C l a s s in C o l l e g e ? ________________________ N am e
N um ber in fa m ily (in c lu d in g s e lf) ? _____________
W h a t a r e y our m ajo r s o u r c e s of in c o m e p er month:
$___________________ from
G I - B e n e f it_____________
$_____ _______________from____________________________
$_____ .______________from_____________
$___________________from
_____ _________________
O ther: (Such a s — do y ou ow n a n y th in g t h a t p a y s you m o n th ly d iv id e n d s :
O r, do you r e c e i v e a n y tu i t i o n w a i v e r ? W h a t a n d h o w m u c h ? )
$
_____________ from_________ :___________________ ______________________,
_from_
$_________________
_from_
$ _________________
from
$ _________________
W h a t a r e your m ajo r e x p e n d it u r e s p er m onth ?
$___________________ for_________________________
$___________________ for_________________________
$___________________ for ■
_____
$___________________ for_________________________
_is t h e t o t a l am o u n t of i n s t a l l m e n t p a y m e n ts p er
m onth for t h e fo llo w in g it e m s : _________ _
3.
____________________ H a v e you e v e r o w n e d y our ow n h o m e ?
_____________________Do you p r e s e n t l y ow n y our own
hom e?
$___________________ Is t h e e q u ity
( p r e s e n t v a lu e m in u s in d e b t e d n e s s )
on th e ho m e w e a r e p r e s e n t l y b u y in g ?
O th e r a s s e t s in c lu d e : ( S t o c k s , b o n d s , r e a l e s t a t e , e t c . )
P l e a s e l i s t a n d g iv e t h e i r e s t i m a t e d v a l u e .
■$___________________ for______________________________ ;_________________
$_______ ____________ for_______________________________________
$___________________ .for________________________________________________
$__________________ _£ or
________________ ___________________________ _
At th e p r e s e n t tim e w e h a v e lo a n s from th e fo llo w in g s o u r c e s :
$_____________ ,_____ from_______________________________________________
$___________________ from______________________________________
$___________________ from________________________ :______________ __ _____
$___________________ from______________________________________________ _
-63-
4.
H ow w o u ld your n e ig h b o rs d e s c r i b e y o u r s ta n d a r d of liv in g a t y our
• B ozem an r e s i d e n c e ?
5.
If a c o u r s e i n fa m ily f i n a n c e w e re a v a i l a b l e , w h a t w o u ld you lik e to
le arn ?
6.
If you w e re to s e e k p a r t - t i m e
(X) of fu ll tim e
m e n t, w h a t ty p e of w ork w o u ld you l i k e to d o ?
7.
W ho s h o u ld m a k e t h e m ajo r m o n ey d e c i s i o n s in your fa m ily ?
____ _(X) em p lo y ­
P l e a s e a n s w e r " y e s " or "no" to t h e s t a t e m e n t s th a t follow :
8.
Do y o u h a v e a w ill ? _______________
If y ou p a s s e d a w a y t o n i g h t , d o e s y our w ife know w h e re y our w i l l ,
s e c u r i t i e s , a n d o th e r f i n a n c i a l c o n t r a c t s m ay b e f o u n d ? ;__________
9.
I n s u r a n c e : Do y ou h a v e th e f o llo w in g ?
_____________________H e a lth
_______________ C a r
_____________________P e r s o n a l P roperty
____________________ Life: (a) S tr a ig h t Lif e
_______________________
(b)
L im ited Pay m en t Life
_____________________
(c) ■Term
________________________
(d)
Endow m ent
O th e r i n s u r a n c e : ____________________________________________________
IOo
I w o u ld b o rro w m o n ey to f in i s h th r e e q u a r te r s of c o l l e g e „
I w o u ld bo rro w m o n ey to f in i s h s ix q u a r te r s of c o lle g e ,.__
I w o u ld b o rro w m o n ey to f in i s h n in e q u a r te r s of c o l l e g e
If y our a n s w e r i s " y e s " to a n y of th e ab o v e:
M y f i r s t s o u r c e of m o ney w o u ld b e _________________
M y s e c o n d s o u r c e of m o ney w o u ld b e ______________
M y th ird s o u r c e of m o ney w o u ld b e ________ _______
-64-
LITERATURE CONSULTED
1.
A d am s, B e r t.
S tr u c tu ra l F a c to rs A ffectin g P a re n ta l Aid to M arrie d
C h ild re n .
Journal of M a r r ia g e a n d th e F am ily 26', N o . 3
(Aug. 1 9 6 4 ), p p . 3 2 7 - 3 3 1 .
2.
B o g n e r, N e a l e a n d J o se p h S e i b e r t .
A S tu d y of th e S o c io -E c o n o m ic
B ac k g ro u n d s of P a re n ts of M iam i U n i v e r s i t y (Ohio) S t u d e n t s .
Jo u rn al of E d u c a tio n a l R e s e a r c h 5A, No. 7 (M ar. 19 61), p p .
755-757.
3.
B o s s a r d , Jam es H . S „ M a r r ia g e a s a S ta tu s - A c h i e v i n g D e v i c e .
In
M a r ria g e a n d F am ily in th e M o d e rn W o rld e d ite d by C a v a n .
N ew York:
4.
Thom as Y . C ro w e ll C o m p an y (1 9 6 0 ), p p . 1 9 - 2 4 .
C h r i s t o p h e r s o n , V ictor A. , a n d J o s e p h V andiver w ith M a r ie K re u g er.
The M a r rie d C o lle g e S tu d e n t.
M a r ria g e a n d F a m ily Living
2 2 , N o . 2 (M ay I960),, p p . 1 2 2 -1 2 9 .
5.
D u v a l l , E v ely n M illis . R e s e a r c h F in d s .
M a r ria g e a n d Fam ily Living
2 2 , NO. I (F eb . 1 9 6 0 ), p p . 7 6 - 7 7 .
6.
F a lk , L a u re n c e L.
A C o m p a ra tiv e S tu d y of Problem s of M a rrie d and
S in g le S t u d e n t s .
J o u rn a l of M a r r ia g e a n d th e F am ily 2 6 , No,.
I
2 (M ay 1 9 6 4 ), p p . 2 0 7 - 2 0 8 .
7.
F r a n k , L a w re n c e K.
H o u s in g for M a r rie d S tu d e n ts .
Jo u rn a l of Home
E c o n o m ic s 4 9 , JNb . 5 (M ay 1957), p p . 3 4 7 - 3 5 0 .
-65-
8.
F u lto n , W a l l a c e C„ The A m erican F am ily a n d T im e .
J o u rn a l of
M a r r ia g e a n d th e F am ily 2 6 , N o . I (F eb. 19-64), p p . 6 - 9 .
9.
G e rs o n , W alter M .
L e is u re a n d M a r ita l S a t i s f a c t i o n of C o lle g e
M a rrie d C o u p l e s .
M a r r ia g e a n d F am ily L iving 2 2 , N o . 4
(N 6 v . 1 9 6 0 ), p p . 3 6 0 -3 6 1 .
1 0 . C l i c k , Paul a n d H ugh C a r t e r .
L iv in g .
M a r ria g e P a tte rn s a n d E d u c a tio n a l
A m erican S o c io lo g ic a l R ev iew 2 3 , (J u n e , 1958),
pp. 294-300.
11. C l i c k , Paul a n d H erm an P 0 M i l l e r .
The im p o r ta n c e o f a C o lle g e
E d u c a tio n .in C a r e e r S u c c e s s .
In M a rria g e a n d F am ily in
th e M o d ern W o r l d , e d ite d b y C a v a n .
12.
G r e e n w a l d , S h irle y a n d W illia m G r e e n w a l d . H is to r ic B a s is for
F em alp .Labor F o rce P a r t i c i p a t i o n .
n o m ic s
13.
O p . C i t . , p p . 3 0 3 -3 1 0 .
Journal of Home Eco­
5 5 , N o . 5 (M ay 1 9 6 3 ), p p . 3 4 8 - 3 5 2 .
G r o s s , Irma H . Im p a c t o f C e r ta i n B a s ic D i s c i p l i n e s on Home
M a n a g e m e n t in F a m ily L i v in g .
Jo u rn al of Hom e Econom ics
5 8 , N o . 6 (June 1 9 6 6 ), p p . 4 4 8 - 4 5 2 .
1 4 . H e n d e r s o n , G r a c e . I s s u e s C o n fro n tin g Home E co n o m ics in C o lle g e s
and U n iv e r s itie s .
Jo u rn al of Hom e E c o n o m ic s' 5 7 , N o . 10
(D e c . 1 9 6 5 ), p p . 7 5 9 - 7 6 4 .
1 5 . H e rm a n n , R o b e r t.
E conom ic P roblem s C o n fro n tin g T e e n a g e N e w ly w e d s
Jo u rn a l o f Hom e E co n o m ics 5 7 , N o . 2 (F eb . 1 9 6 5 ), p p . 9 3 -9 7
—66 —
16.
H o e f l i n , R u th .
W h e n S h a ll W e M a r ry .
Tournal of Home Econom ics 47,
N o . 6 (June, 1 9 5 5 ), p p . 4 1 6 - 4 1 8 .
17.
H o ffm an , Lois W l a d i s . E ffe c ts o f th e Em ploym ent o f M o th e rs of
P a re n ta l Pow er R e la tio n s a n d th e D iv is io n of H o u s e h o ld T a s k s .
M a r r ia g e a n d F a m ily Living 2 2 , N o . I (F eb. 1960), p p . 27-35.
18.
K ir k e n d a ll, L e s te r A.
M a rrie d U n d e rg ra d u a te s on th e C am p u s:
An
A p p r a i s a l . In M a r ria g e a n d Fam ily in th e M o d ern W o r l d . Op. C it.
pp.
19.
261-269.
M a r c h a n d , J e a n a n d L o u is e L a n g fo rd .
A d ju s tm e n ts of M a rrie d S t u d e n t s .
Jo u rn al of Hom e E co n o m ics 44, No. 2 (F eb. 1952), p p . 1 1 3 -1 1 4 .
20.
M aru ll, Jose.
The F a m ily a s a n E co n o m ic U n it.' Jo u rn al of Home
E c o n o m ic s 5 8 , N o . 4 (Apr. 1 9 6 6 ), p p . 2 5 6 - 2 5 9 .
21.
N e i s s e r , Edith G
E m o tio n al a n d S o c ia l V a lu es A tta c h e d to M o n e y .
M a r ria g e a n d F am ily Living 2 2 , N o . 2 2 , (M ay 1 9 6 0 ), p p .
1 3 2 -133.
22.
G r a t a , Pedro T.
E d u c a tio n for Hom e a n d F a m ily L iv in g .
Journal of
H om e E co n o m ics 4 1 , N o . I (Jan. 1949), p p . 5 - 7 .
23.
S te w a rd , V e rn e .
Are They Q u a lif ie d for M a r r ia g e ?
M in n e a p o lis :
T .S .
D e n n is o n a n d C o m p a n y , In c ., 1964.
24.
U g e ld w , E thel I .
M o b iliz in g t h e P o te n tia l of Home E co n o m ics for Low
In c o m e F a m i l i e s .
Jo u rn al of H om e E co n o m ics 5 7 , N o . 8
(O c t. 1 9 6 5 ), p p . 6 4 8 - 6 5 0 .
3
N372
W33?
c o p .2
Watson, S .J .S .
The economic s ta tu ;
o f married male sen i,)
under-graduates, grad
u a te s , and G l-b e n e fit stu d en ts
and a t t i t u d e s tow ard a fa m ily .
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