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As part of the Real Simple Smart Money Awards, we’re highlighting the best shopping apps of 2020. From offering cashback to finding discounts, these shopping apps can do it all—and they work at some of your favorite retailers or with services you already use. Read on for the best shopping apps of 2020, or click here to see the other 2020 Real Simple Smart Money Award winners. What it is: Acorns made a name for itself with investment accounts that grow when users round up purchases and toss the difference into the market....

The Best Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe When I first met my husband we were in college in Utah and lived near a couple of his cousins. One of his cousins in particular loved to cook and invited us over to dinner on a regular basis. One of those nights he made us spaghetti. I’ll be honest, I’m not normally the biggest fan of spaghetti because often times homemade spaghetti sauce comes complete with my least favorite ingredient, onions....

The Best Ways to Pack Your Clothes Think Big, Then Edit Gather all the garments you anticipate needing—then put half of them back. Select clothes in the same color family, packing more tops than bottoms. For a five-day trip, you’ll likely need five shirts, two pairs of slacks or jeans, and one skirt, says Kathleen Ameche, author of The Woman Road Warrior ($15, amazon.com). The average 22-inch carry-on bag fits roughly two pairs of jeans, three sweaters, two dresses, and five shirts....

With its sturdy, rust-resistant aluminum pole and eight ribs, the patio umbrella holds steady whether it’s set around lounge chairs or the center of an outdoor dining table. And you can easily open and close the umbrella with its hand-crank system. It even tilts with a push of a button. To buy: $52; amazon.com. The 9-foot tall outdoor umbrella has a canopy that spans between 42 to 54 inches of shelter to cover a dining set of four to six chairs....

Scenario 1: Your refrigerator smells like leftover lasagna. Solution: Give your fridge’s shelves a quick wipe-down with an all-purpose cleaner to make sure there are no lingering spills producing odors. Soak a cotton ball in the liquid (we like vanilla here) and place it in a dish near the back of one of the shelves. The sweet scent will permeate your refrigerator’s interior until the cotton ball dries up. When it does, replace it with a fresh batch....

Considering buying a Cricut Maker or bought one and haven’t started using it yet? This guide to the Cricut Maker will help you better understand what you can make with a Cricut Maker, how easy it is to use, how much a Cricut Maker actually costs, and money saving tips to get the most bang for your buck! Find answers to all of the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask about the Cricut Maker and find out whether or not it’s right for you!...

To buy: $87 with coupon (was $101); amazon.com “After using beach umbrellas for years, this canopy purchase was the absolute best,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “My husband felt like setting it up was less work than our past umbrellas. It also provides so much more shade!” Another shopper added, “This is the best canopy for the money,” calling the tent “very sturdy and easy to take down and put up....

The hand towels are designed to function as a multipurpose towel that absorbs, cleans, and looks great in your kitchen space. Each towel is crafted from 100 percent cotton that absorbs liquids immediately, like a sponge. As the towel absorbs, the intricately designed herringbone patterns do not stretch and fray. Aside from the efficient absorbent features, the classic design makes the towels a stunning addition to your kitchen. They are soft and have a beautifully crafted blue striped pattern on them for a timeless touch, too....

The financial decisions you make now—if you didn’t make them earlier in the year—can help lower your tax bill next year, protect you from fraud, and even improve your health and the world around you. Whether it’s been a tough year that you want to end on a high note or you want to take steps now to make next year better, these suggestions can help. Aim to hit your contribution limit as soon as possible; waiting means losing time in the market for your investment to grow, says Manisha Thakor, founder of MoneyZen, a financial wellbeing consultancy....

To buy: $47 (was $85); allmodern.com. One of our favorite finds from this sale is the Kenmore area rug, which is up to 62% off for Cyber Monday. This Turkish design is one of AllModern’s most popular offerings, with an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 from over 6,500 reviewers. It’s easy to see why this style is a best-seller: The neutral tones and subtle pattern work with any decor, and the purposefully distressed design gives it a cozy, lived-in feel....

When you plump raisins, they magically expand and become irresistibly juicy and flavorful. Best of all, plumping raisins is easy—you don’t even need a recipe. Simply place a handful of raisins in a bowl, cover them in liquid, and let them marinate; Let your raisins plump while you cook the rest of your meal—or soak them overnight. Then drain the liquid and add the plumped raisins to your dish. They’re a secret flavor weapon in chunky dressings, beefy hand pies, a pot of braised chicken, and pasta....

“It’s safest to verbalize it,” said Janet Alvarez, executive editor of Wise Bread, a personal finance and credit management blog. “Have them write it down on a piece of paper they intend on destroying immediately after using it.” It goes without saying, you should only give that info to someone you trust. Need to pay a bill over the phone? Only do so if it’s on a recorded line from a trusted retailer....

And remember, period symptoms can differ by age, environment, and individual. So use this as a handy jumping-off point, but talk to your doctor or gynecologist if you’re experiencing unusual pain or irregularity—or if you’re just generally curious to know more. Days 1 to 7 What’s Happening to You: You’ve got your period, so both estrogen and progesterone levels are at their lowest point of the month. Your body is busy flushing out blood and tissue from the lining of the uterus, and your bloodstream carries high levels of prostaglandin (a group of lipid compounds that cause inflammation in order to heal damaged tissue and infections)....

The spot under consideration was nothing but a blank wall inside the living room they share with their three children, and to make it even more interesting, the couple didn’t want to simply pull up a rolling cart, plug in a mini-fridge, and call it a day. They were interested in making this into a layered project, complete with an aesthetic that would complement the home’s century-old roots. “This was part of a full renovation that started in January 2021 and was completed in September 2021,” says Stoffer....

To buy: $18; amazon.com More than a moisturizer, this serum also works to prevent signs of aging. Thanks to niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that does all sorts of great things for the skin, users can take advantage of the vitamin’s potential to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Niacinamide also helps clear up acne and works on improving the overall appearance of your skin. Reviewers who’ve tried the product have definitely noticed a difference....

To buy: $130 (was $250); amazon.com On particularly grimy areas, the Eufy Boost IQ 11S Max can detect higher dirt levels and increase its suction for even stronger cleaning power. It also uses an infrared sensor to help it navigate effortlessly throughout your house, avoiding obstacles like furniture and walls, and steering clear of staircases. This means you won’t have to worry about your vacuum getting stuck or broken when unsupervised....

To buy: $14 (was $24); amazon.com. “​​As a plus-size woman, it is hard to find things that fit properly. This sweatshirt is great! Good quality, comfortable, and TRUE TO SIZE,” said a five-star reviewer who added that they now “want one in every color.” To add interest and style, the sweatshirt features ribbing on the crewneck collar as well as the cuffs and the hem. Plus, the brand describes the fit as “close-but-comfortable with easy movement,” and many of the 6,600 perfect ratings and hundreds of five-star reviews confirm that the sweatshirt is soft and comfortable....

What Is Target’s Fall Designer Collection? Whether your wardrobe needs a more serious overhaul or you’re looking for a few finds to incorporate into your everyday or special occasion rotation, Target’s Designer Collection lets you shop from more than 100 items in clothing and accessories. The designer collections, curated from three designers for the 2022 season, are available in-store and online starting on October 9, but they’ll likely sell out quickly, so grab your picks while they last....