April 1967

Is there a simple way to organize your tax records?

Indeed there is. Just use Form 1040 as your guide, and build your record-keeping system around the receipts, canceled checks, and other evidence needed to back up each section of the form.

When should you file an amended tax return?

If you should discover you overpaid on your taxes in the past three years, you can file an amended return and obtain a refund, plus interest.

What happens if a husband and wife die in a common disaster?

The chance that a husband and wife will die in a common disaster is fairly remote, statistically speaking. However, if this did happen, their combined property holdings could pass in a way neither of them intended, causing legal tangles and creating hard feelings.

GOOD NEWS FOR MEN!

Space-conscious hi-fi and stereo owners will be glad to know about this compact, bookshelf-type speaker unit.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE GALS, TOO!

Don't run out of soft water! A new solid-state electronically automated water softener, called the AQUA-SENSOR, detects water hardness and automatically starts recharging, only when needed. Tank or appliance styled cabinet models.

TENSION, ANXIETY, AND NERVOUS DISTRESS: HOW TO COPE WITH EVERYDAY PRESSURES

A world free of stress would be a world without achievement. Behind every human accomplishment lie worry, frustration, and discontent. But some men and women-- unable to cope with these forces-- are left exhausted and emotionally depressed. How well do you handle everyday pressures? This article will show you how stress should be channeled in your life, and also warn about potential danger signals.

DECORATING WRONGS MADE RIGHT

CRADLES

Peregrine White, reportedly the first child born to Pilgrim parents in this country, was rocked to sleep in a hooded wicker cradle. Made in the Orient and transported across the ocean on the good ship Mayflower, that historic cradle now reposes in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was the great-great-great-granddaddy of the hundreds of thousands of cradles, large and small, good, bad and indifferent, in which subsequent generations have been rocked to dreamland on these shores.

JUST HOW DOES INSURANCE WORK?

This is the eighth article in an important ten-part series prepared by the Editors of Better Homes and Gardens. It is designed to bridge the gap between economic theory and the very personal business of paycheck-to-paycheck economics. The series was written especially for this magazine by Mr. Martin Mayer, one of the country's leading authors in the fields of education and economics.

VERY SPECIAL KITCHEN CENTERS

HOW TO BUILD A BUILT-IN

A good built-in is probably the least expensive way of storing your possessions short of piling them in a corner of the room, and a well-designed built-in does wonders for the decor of any part of your house. However, built-ins probably look pretty formidable if you're the average guy, with only a few tools and little woodworking experience. But, we're going to prove to you that you don't need a lot of tools, time, money, or skill to build a really handsome and useful built-in for your home.

A HOME ADDITION WITH TWO-WAY STRETCH

Thinking about adding on? If so, which do you need more-- a dining room or family room? The owners of this bungalow wanted both, so they included them in a compact addition that has just 336 square feet of floor space.

BRIGHT IDEAS FOR A SUN PORCH

TEN SPECIAL VACATION TOURS

Looking for a really memorable early-summer vacation? Then schedule yourself an 11-day cruise on the liner SS Brasil to Montreal and Expo 67, Canada's international exhibition.

AN ISSUE BIG AS ALL OUTDOORS!

HERE ARE 24 COLOR PAGES OF IDEAS AND PROJECTS THAT POINT THE WAY TO A SUMMER FULL OF PLEASURE!

STEP BY STEP THROUGH A DIAGNOSTIC CENTER

Within a short time after our November issue went on sale, we received letters by the hundreds, asking for more information about car diagnostic repair centers. The letters were in response to "New Hope For Your Number One Car Problem" (page 46, November 1966 issue).

WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT SIZE PAN?

Improvise! With a little kitchen calculation, you can go ahead with the recipe anyway. Of course a good selection of pans and molds makes cooking more fun. But, if you're still assembling your collection, these simple guidelines will help you cook with what you do have:

HOW SAFE IS YOUR BAGGAGE WHEN YOU TRAVEL?

Actually it's very safe unless you ask for trouble and leave things unattended in places where they can be stolen.

WALLS THAT WORK

What are the walls at your house doing? If they're just separating rooms and holding up ceilings, you're missing the best bonus a home can have-- built-in storage. Hard-working, unobtrusive storage walls subtract only inches of living space, and they add convenience by the cubic foot. Here's a pair of excellent examples.

TIMELY DECORATING

A clock, in addition to its practical timekeeping function, is an important decorating accent. And with today's wide choice of clock styles, you can match the mood of every room. Here we show a sampling of what's available, ranging from the elegance of Empire design to the simplicity of modern.

HANDY HOMES FOR SMALL APPLIANCES

ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR FREEZER?

Efficiency-minded homemakers ... home freezers as one of their biggest assets. If you're fortunate enough to own one or ... to purchase one soon, here ... some pointers you'll want ... remember:

HERE'S HOW TO PLANT A TREE

The earlier you plant a tree in the spring, the better-- roots need time to get established before top growth starts. Trees add to the beauty and comfort of your home and can even be considered as an investment in your property since they become more valuable as they get older. So, invest wisely-- spend just a few extra dollars to get top quality. Then, protect your investment by carefully planting the tree where it will do the best job.

HOW DO YOU READ A RECIPE?

Ever find yourself perplexed by a recipe term? You have lots of company-- even the most experienced cooks are baffled at times! Here are some of the most commonly misunderstood terms, translated to help you approach each recipe with new confidence--

KNOW YOUR CAR'S FUSES

If an electric component on your car stops functioning, the first thing that should be checked is the fuse for that circuit. Normally you'll probably wheel into the nearest service station or garage, tell them the symptoms, and leave the fuse finding up to them.

FOCUSING ON A FOCAL POINT

HOW TO ORDER PLANS FOR HOUSES AND PROJECTS

THIS IS A VERY ADAPTABLE HOUSE PLAN

HOW TO BUY LAWN SEED

When you plant a lawn, the choice of seed is as important as the seedbed preparation. How can you choose the best kind and quality of seed? To help you buy wisely, we have asked Dr. Robert W. Schery, one of America's foremost lawn authorities, to answer the questions our readers most frequently ask us about lawn seed.

SLAT SHADES--SIMPLE BUT SMART

A CHILD'S ROOM--AND HOW IT GREW!

San Francisco and a land of contrast

California is crowded, particularly during the big spring and summer season of family travel. There's no way to beat the crowds, so just relax and join them --because California is worth it!

Atlanta and the Old South

Few vacation regions offer more variety than the heart of the Old South. Families have always loved it, for in this fascinating and varied land everyone can always find his own delights. Take the state of Georgia, the pivot of our tour: you'll recognize it as the California of the Atlantic, complete with sun-drenched beaches and wild mountains, salty ocean breakers and tink-kling brooks in silent valleys.

SHOPPING EDITOR'S CHOICE

Discover the fun and convenience of shopping by mail! You can order with complete confidence any of the items shown: each company will refund your money if you're not delighted.

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

We chaperoned the spring formal at the high school last week. I can understand how Nature works her magic with the trees and flowers, but how does she go about making all the girls twice as pretty overnight?