Includes bibliographical references (pages 241-244) and index.

Coming home stories--What some moms say about their decision -- The eleven miserly guidelines -- Guideline one: don't confuse frugality with depriving yourself -- Guideline two: remove little wasters of your money -- Guideline three: keep track of food prices -- Guideline four: don't buy everything at the same store -- Guideline five: buy in bulk whenever possible -- Guideline six: make your own whenever possible -- Guideline seven: eliminate convenience foods -- Guideline eight: cut back on meats -- Guideline nine: waste nothing -- Guideline ten: institute a soup and bread (or baked potato) night -- Guideline eleven: cook several meals at once and freeze them -- Special needs -- Some great recipes -- Be wary of warehouse clubs -- Stretch the season -- Dinner on meeting night -- Birthdays, holidays and special occasions -- The baby (diapers, baby food, clothes, baby-sitting) -- The cost of working -- Clothing -- The husband -- Ten ways to get your kids to save -- Miscellaneous tips: photo developing, gas, milk, bread machines, coffee, decorating and furniture, hair care, cosmetics, credit cards, vacations, tools and appliances, paint and varnish, legal advice, check charges and bank fees, long distance phone carriers, seasonal savings chart -- Medical expenses -- Utilities -- Crafts for kids -- Safer and cheaper -- An easy $10,000 -- Appendix a: menu plans -- Appendix b: substitutions, equivalency tables, metric conversions -- Appendix c: additional resources.