The Well-Balanced Wardrobe, pg. 270
By stocking your closet with items from the five “clothing groups,” you’ll never have to ask the dreaded question, “What should I wear?”

Make Up Time, pg. 282
Restore sanity to your morning routine with beauty shortcuts that will get you out the door fast — and feeling relaxed.

Photo Release, pg. 308
Your digital camera is full of snapshots from birthdays and summer vacations. Now what? Show off your pictures in digital frames, online albums, or photo books.

Q. Which of These Pants Is a Size 10?, pg. 155
A: They all are. A look at the elastic art of sizing clothes, and why a size 6 isn’t always a size 6.

Money Made Easy, pg. 177
File jointly or separately? Invest in a 401(k) or a Roth IRA? Financial advisers give their 2 cents on 18 common (but vexing) money dilemmas.

A Month of Dinners, pg. 290
Are your nightly menus feeling warmed over? Break out of that dinner rut with six basic recipes, 24 variations, and shopping lists to see you through the next 30 days.

The Guide

Beauty

What does the jargon on product labels really mean?, p. 111

The best gels, mousses, and sprays for your hair type, pg. 125

Body

When to dump a disappointing doctor, pg. 133

Olive oil? Yes. Butter? Not so much. How to choose healthy fats, pg. 141

Style

Hooked on belts — four styles, 12 ways to wear them, pg. 165

Life

Changing the world: a step-by-step guide, pg. 185

Draw your relatives closer with fun, new family traditions, pg. 193

In Every Issue

Simple Solutions, pg. 69
Create graphic gift wrap by taking a page from a wall calendar; effortlessly file away memories; problem-solving products of the month; and more.

Road Tests

Face powder, pg. 237

Corduroys, pg. 243

Vacuums, pg. 251

Frozen pizza, pg. 259

Real Inspiration, pg. 49
Think beyond plastering four sides of a room when decorating with wallpaper. These scrappy ideas show how leftover pieces dress up a space to gorgeous effect.

The Organizer, pg. 205
A reader’s home office in Austin, Texas, was overwhelmed by overdue notices and lost invitations until Real Simple tamed it with storage tips and organizing know-how.

Plus...

Why Not?, pg. 16

Web Exclusive: Chocolate Tasting Grid

Web Exclusive: Be True to Your School: Classic Books Set in the Classroom

Editor’s Note, pg. 43

Contributors, pg. 44

Credits, pg. 347

Real Simple To Go, pg. 354

Cooking

Twenty-four clever recipes that spring from the bottoms of condiment jars, pg. 327

Fake It, Don’t Make It: Blackberry Cobbler, pg. 341

Shopping List/Recipe Index, pg. 344

Soul

Thoughts, pg. 12

Your Words, pg. 55
What’s your most reliable beauty shortcut?

Web Exclusive: More of Your Most Reliable Beauty Shortcuts

Life Lessons, pg. 97
A teen entered a pageant for college money and got an education instead.

The Motivator, pg. 263
Lose your to-do list.

Finding Happiness, pg. 314
A 9/11 widow builds a future — and a new home — for her six children.

Real Life, pg. 352
Meet a Real Simple reader.

Web Exclusive: Jennifer Hertsenberg's Big Decision