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Premavathy et,al have identified ten important factors influencing the use of resources:
1. Size of Income
Money is a very versatile resource. This resource has a number of alternate uses. It can be exchanged for non-human resources suc as material goods and also for human resources such as skill, time, energy, etc. The size of income is correlated with the purchasing practices with decisions such as to when clothing and furnishing should be discarded, with the amount of paid help available to the homemaker, and with the presence of facilities and equipment in the home. When the size of income is more, there is a possibility that the family will be able to attain more' number of these goals. Larger the money income, higher will be the satisfaction of the family members. While the size of income affects the use of all resources, most of the information available on-this resource stresses the effect of income size upon its distribution oil the family needs.
2. Socio-Economic Status:
Social status indicates. a perceived relationship of a person to the social group. Social status accounts for differences in family values, attitudes, decision making and in expenditures pattern. In the modem urban areas, status is something which is achieved and not ascribed through birth. There is a social stratification in the society, as all people do not enjoy the same life style. An individual has many different positions in a society, each of which may have distinct status implications. Therefore, the individual's status is a composite of these different and sometimes contrasting aspects, rather than the result of anyone. These aspects and their interrelationships are constantly changing. The complexity of status determination demands great care in the selection if indices to status. Status groups are classified as upper-upper class, low-upper class, upper-middle class, lower-middle class, upper-lower class, and lower-lower class. Many families consciously or unconsciously, choose upward mobility as their goals. Upward mobility occurs only in terms of their education and occupation. To maintain a higher status, a family has to live up to it and this directly governs their expenditure pattern, values, goals and standards of status.
3. Occupation:
Traditionally the family's life-style, which include time schedule, the entertainment schedule etc. has been influenced by the husband's or the head of the family's occupation. The time schedule of the doctors and businessman's family differs from that of an ordinary middle income salaried family. The other factors such as the size of income, the status of the family, and their social circle, are also to a large extent determined by the occupation of the father. Traveling allowance, housing facilities etc. are all determined by the occupation, which again affects the status and the living styles of the family.
4. Gainful Employment of the Homemaker:
Women in the paid labour force affect resource allocation of all family members. Adding to a family income is considered one of the major reasons for married women for taking up gainful employment. The expenditure pattern also changes with the employment of women. Gainfully employed women use more purchased services, spend more on transport, clothes, labour saving devices, fast food etc.
5. Size and Composition of the Family:
The family size, age and sex make up the family composition that affects their resource usage. If a large family attends to maintain the same level of consumption as that of a small family, it is clear that it will require more commodities and services. Food, clothing, personal care, medical care and entertainment expenditures vary quiet directly with the size of the family while expenditures for equipment, housing and home furnishings are less variable as the size of the family changes.
The availability of the resources like time and energy for use increases as the size of the family increases. Similar to the size of the family, in the use of time, energy and other resources the composition of family assumes importance, If a large family is made up of adolescence and adults, more human resources are available' and extra demand on money resource may be expected. In a family where there is a grown up daughter, she may contribute to the availability of human resources by sharing the activities of her mother whereas a grown up boy may not be able to do so. Thus, the composition of the family in terms of sex affects the availability and use of their resources.
6. Motivation! Attitude:
Motivation is an internal attitude. It is the way people use what they have that is important in meeting and establishing their goal. It directs or limits the quantity, quality, and the mixture of resources that a person is willing to use in goal attainment. When two children of the same family have two different attitudes, the one with increased motivation and positive attitudes than the other child, will do a better job as compared to the other. In a family where there is no motivation of family members with unfavorable attitudes towards the availability and use or resources, it is likely to affect the kind and number of goal achieved by them.
7. Education:
Formal education has direct influence on the amount of income earned. Person with increased education have more likelihood of earning better than others. Women with more of formal education tend to take up gainful employment and so have less number of children thereby affecting the size of the family. Educated people have more geographic mobility, increased income and economic stability.
8. Family Heritage and Cultural Background:
This is an influential factor in transmitting family values. In our Indian society, we have joint family system in which grandparents, parents and children live together. The traditions, values, beliefs of the family are transmitted from older generation to the younger generation orally.
The cultural background of the family also affects the use of resources as the eating and spending, hobbies, their beliefs, festivals, superstitions etc. all are governed by this factor. This directly influences the way family utilizes its resources on various occasions or similar situations.
9. Location of the Family:
The location of a family within any community in relation to shopping areas, schools, place of husband's work and so forth will affect the homemaker's use of time, energy and other resources. Families living near the city, all the community facilities such as markets, schools, parks, dubs, banks, post office, etc. will be easily available to the family that may affect the use of resources such as time, energy and specially the money.
There is some marked difference in the use of their resources between the families in village area from the city families. Village families make up for an exchange of values because of the close, almost enforced association of families. In a city, families are so busy within themselves that they have no time for socialization or to think of culture. Whatever they, need, they buy them from tl1e market. Similarly, families living a good shopping complex will have the tendency of spending more on clothes, eating out, shopping, etc. and so on. Nearness to or being away from the place of work or a school may affect the expenditure on transport or similar needs.
10. Health:
Health of all family members is important in home management. It is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being. Illness can make increased demand on managerial activities and resources such as money, time and energy. All such major resources are diverted when a family member's health is affected. A family, which enjoys good health, has an increased availability of resources to utilize or to meet more of their needs.
The efficient utilization of resources for attaining the family goals is influenced by the following factors according to Bharti and Jecintha(1994).
- Aim and objective: Any resource can be utilized differently by different families/individuals based on the aim and objective set by them and the specific needs.
- Family set up: The use of resources differ greatly with the size, set up, stage of family life cycle and the values, goals and standards of the family.
- Surroundings and environment: Effective use of resources is also influenced by the social as well as natural environment.
- Education of family members: If the family members are educated, the resources are utilized more efficiently and effectively. Lack of education may lead to wastage of resources.
Ex: time utilization.
- Skill and abilities of the home maker: The use of family resources is affected to a maximum content by the skill and abilities of the house wife. A skillful and able home maker will use the resources more efficiently than the unskilled person.
- Economic conditions of the family: Money is the most important resources both for attaining other resources as well as their usage.
Ex: use of soaps and detergents to wash cloths by a machine or a maid servant.
On management of resources, the essential thing to consider is the use of resources and not just the acquisition of goods, goals can be achieved only through the use of resources. Therefore the optimum distribution of resources determines the degree to which a family is actually striving towards a particular goal. Families should gear their management process towards achievement of short term and long term goals and increase the satisfaction of the family members.
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