There appear to be limited differences between employed and nonemployed wives in their use of strategies to relieve time pressures. Holding income and life-cycle stage constant, neither wives' employment nor recent entry into the labor force are significant determinants of the purchase or ownership of labor-saving durables, such as microwave ovens and dishwashers. Although working wives prepare fewer meals, if income or life cycle is held constant, working wives and nonworking wives are generally similar with respect to method of meal preparation and shopping behavior.