CONSUMER AFFAIRS Despite the wastrel public image of Americans, there are those in this country who are frugal and for whom thrift is not a pejorative. To such forerunners as Amy Dacyczyn's The Tightwad Gazette (1992), The Penny Pincher's Almanac for Modern Frugality (1992), and Mary Hunt's The Best of the Cheapskate Monthly (1993), add Yates's book. Yates is upfront about her Christian leaning (she says that this book is 'written for Christian women and published by a Christian firm'), but this does not impinge unduly upon or detract from the wealth of money-saving ideas she offers. Some chapter headings include 'Clever Gift Giving,' 'Fashion on a Shoestring,' 'Resourceful Recreation,' 'Eating Out,' and 'Car Savvy.' Her chapter on pets is unique to this sort of book, and she thoroughly covers purchasing, storing, and preparing food, tucking representative recipes here and there. She's got good ideas about credit and debt, recycling and reuse, and even rag protocol. A fun and useful book. Alex Wenner, Indiana Univ. Libs., Bloomington--LJ 04/01/1995.