Real Simple Subscription
Real Simple is the new magazine for the way you want to live today. You’ll find actionable solutions to streamline the ways you manage your life. Systems for reducing clutter, saving time, and reducing stress. Inspiring ideas about home, food, money, clothes, health, work, family, and holidays.
I’ve read the negative reviews of Real Simple, and quite frankly, I don’t understand what they’re talking about. This magazine is my favorite of all, and each month it offers thoughtful advice, product reviews, and a wealth of information the helps to simplify how you arrange, clean, and furnish your house as well as helping you find the best products out there.
To the criticism:
Too many ads? Have you ever read a magazine? I work in the magazine industry and the only way magazines support themselves is through advertising. Any healthy magazine abides by a 70-30 ratio–70 percent ads to 30 percent articles. That’s just the way it is. The magazines with little to no advertising either charge a fortune for ads (which not all publications can do), are about to go under, or are mere newsletters.
Products shown too expensive? This magazine isn’t about blatant consumerism. It’s about an idea that I’ve learned well–if you only want to buy once, buy quality. I’ve too often purchased a $12 toaster only to realize a year later when it fizzled out on me that it was, in fact, a $12 toaster. It’s more economical to buy quality and not keep tossing cheap, defective products into a landfill. Plus, the magazine also offers a host of “good, better, best” options, so you can choose the option that fits your budget, as well as quick, simple, three-ingredient recipes, and ways to make the most of leftovers. Not exactly advice for millionaires!
Too shallow? Each issue offers a variety of advice on making the most out of your life, from your finances, to your family, to your friendships.
Criticism of breastfeeding? Oh please. It’s one article. Write a letter to the editor about it, but don’t trash the whole magazine over one article.
This is a great magazine for anyone looking for invaluable tips and interesting articles about slower, more deliberate living in a fast-paced age. Plus, it’s all wrapped up in a gorgeous package. I can understand why it wouldn’t be to some people’s taste–it’s not necessarily for the inveterate frugal shopper. But some of the criticism in this forum seemed way over the top.
