Life Hacks

[Tiberius]

Got any simple but mind-bogglingly brilliant tips for making life easier?

Here's a few...

If you are painting, put a rubber band on the tin of paint so that it stretches across the opening. Then you can wipe the excess paint off the brush by using the rubber band and stop the side of the paint tin from getting messy.

Use a staple remover to help you put keys on your keyring.

If you have a bunch of cables laying around from your TV or computer stuff, loop them up and put them in empty toilet paper roll tubes to keep them neat.

Have you got any tips like this?

 

[trekkiedane]

I love these paper-clips:

I also use them to keep a stack of bottles in the fridge to one side of the shelve they're lying on.

These hacks are not mine though, just ones I've seen and am using.

 

[Tiberius]

Doesn't matter if you came up with them or not. Just share the tips! Those are some great ones!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^^ I've got about a hundred binder clips, in all sizes. I used to work in our warehouse that recycles & stores cubicle parts.

I really need to do that computer cable set-up.

 

[bluedana]

Three simple safety tips when taking little kids to a big, crowded place (like Six Flags).

1. Dress them in the same bright color t-shirt, e,g, yellow.
2. Take a picture of them with your cell phone when you first enter the park, next to a fixed object, like a statue or sign. Anybody would be able to tell what they're wearing that day, and how tall they are.
3. Write your cell phone number with a Sharpie on their inner upper arms (not anywhere they'd have to lift up clothing to reveal). If they get separated from you, park officials can call you directly rather than page you. (Sharpie ink comes off skin with a few washings.)

 

[Lonemagpie]

Never mind this low-level stuff - where's the code for God Mode, no clipping, and Infinite Ammo...?

 

[Holdfast]

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A

 

[Gary Mitchell]

I know the code for god mode but I'm not telling.

 

[shivkala]

I've found this infographic to be a useful source of Life Hacks. It's too big to post here, so I'm linking it.

It contains simple hacks such as putting your hangers backwards into your closet. Then, when clean it and put it back, put it in the correct way. After 6-12 months, donate/discard the clothes still facing backwards.

 

[trampledamage]

Three simple safety tips when taking little kids to a big, crowded place (like Six Flags).

1. Dress them in the same bright color t-shirt, e,g, yellow.
2. Take a picture of them with your cell phone when you first enter the park, next to a fixed object, like a statue or sign. Anybody would be able to tell what they're wearing that day, and how tall they are.
3. Write your cell phone number with a Sharpie on their inner upper arms (not anywhere they'd have to lift up clothing to reveal). If they get separated from you, park officials can call you directly rather than page you. (Sharpie ink comes off skin with a few washings.)

Good plan! I'll remember this.

 

[IndyJones]

I've found this infographic to be a useful source of Life Hacks. It's too big to post here, so I'm linking it.

It's an interesting read, but the eye patch thing is a total urban legend, and who has 2 cups of salt to waste just to get a cold soda?

 

[shivkala]

Yeah, they're not all winners. The "send a file called 'School Project' but make it an mp3 or jpg instead of a doc" is less of a hack and more of a "desperate last minute attempt." I've known some professors who wouldn't give you credit or extra time for that.

 

[Kestra]

There are a ton of these kinds of things on Pinterest. I haven't read through them myself but I've definitely seen the paint can and binder clips there. I wish I knew some myself to share! Oh, how about, if you have cookies that are too hard, throw a piece of bread in with them in a sealed container. They'll soften up and a piece of bread isn't too difficult to spare usually.

 

[shivkala]

^

I recently came across a recipe for hamburgers using bread. Take a piece of bread (per pound of ground beef) and cut off the crust. Soak the bread in 1/4 cup of milk for five minutes. Add the meat and any seasonings you are going to use. Form into patties and then grill or fry until you've got it at your desired doneness.

The hamburgers come out extra moist and flavorful. No more dried out hamburger patties!

 

[RevdKathy]

This:

 

[trekkiedane]

This:

that is SO funny -I'm gonna try that tonight if I can find my glow-sticks.

 

[RevdKathy]

This:

that is SO funny -I'm gonna try that tonight if I can find my glow-sticks.

We expect pics!

 

[trekkiedane]

We expect pics!

Erhm... I may need to wait till I get my camera repaired then

 

[Trekker4747]

I love these paper-clips:

I also use them to keep a stack of bottles in the fridge to one side of the shelve they're lying on.

These hacks are not mine though, just ones I've seen and am using.

The butterfly paperclip. One of my favorite devices ever.

 

[Holdfast]

A couple of money-saving tips:

1) If you really want to aggressively save money at some point, my tip is always sleep on any non-essential purchase, no matter how small the amount. If you still really want it the next day, sleep on it again. If you still want it on the 3rd day, buy it. But you'll be amazed how much you don't buy using this method.

2) Set yourself a clear target for the net worth you want to be at time of retirement and calculate backwards (using average growth rates) to figure out how much you need to have accumulated at significant milestones in order to remain on track. This breaks down a vague long-term goal into a series of practical short-term steps, which makes it much more manageable.