:: neighborly advice

A Woman's Tool Box

Did you know that women represent 45 percent of the labor force? Nearly 80 percent work outside the home, and 75 percent of mothers of young children are employed. Married couple earners comprise more than 70 percent of the labor force and the average working wife contributes 35-40 percent of her family's annual income; among wives who work year-round, the average contribution is greater than 40 percent.

At The Mercantile "sharing values with neighbors" is our way of recognizing the hard work of our Nebraska, Coloado and Wyoming families.

If we all took time to think about the work within the home, as well as outside of the home that women do, it is truly amazing.

Here is a holiday suggestion: create a "women's tool box" so she has all the tools necessary to fix and repair things around the house the rest of us never seem to get to.

• Tool box
• Screw drivers,
  • Phillips and standard
• Tape measure
• Laser level
• Hammer
• Cordless drill/driver
• Staple and glue gun
• Pliers set
• Small pipe wrench
• Drill bit set
• Stud finder
• Utility knife
• Assortment of nails, screws, and picture hangers.

The Mercantile can help you put this "women's tool box" together just in time for Christmas.