Lifehacker

If you own a property, chances are you have engaged in the time-honored adventure known as hiring a contractor." You've probably also learned that contractors operate inside of their own separate reality, where time moves differently and words often mean completely different things.Read more...

On June 2, 2015, I emailed Whitson Gordon, then editor-in-chief of Lifehacker, about a freelance writing opportunity on a fairly new, food-focused blog called Skillet." Eight years, five EICs, four corporate owners, at least as many CEOs, and two union contract negotiations later, I'm moving on. I'm just as surprised...Read more...

Hot chicken has foodie virality at the moment, but it isn't a passing fad. This spicy fried poultry has been searing the taste buds off of Nashvillians for generations. You can give large chicken cuts the hot chicken treatment, or shrink it down to party snack size. Bring a tiny piece of Nashville into your home with...Read more...

This year, Black Friday is on Nov. 24, but that has little relation towhen you can start taking advantage of Black Friday sales, with many retailers already jumping the gun, including Best Buy. Now, Dell has joined the race, announcing their own early Black Friday deals, with laptops, accessories, and more marked...Read more...

You never thought the day would come. You need skinless, blanched almonds, and you need them now. You could rush over to the grocery store and pray that they have blanched almonds on the shelf, but what if they don't? You can easily de-skin regular almonds at home in record time with a few common household items.

If storage limitations force you to delete files and photos you'd really rather keep, one solution is to invest in a plentiful cloud storage solution-and right now through Oct. 31, you can get a lifetime subscription to Koofr 1TB cloud storage for $119.97 (reg. $810) with code KOOFR.Read more...

I'll never forget when my maternal grandparents commented to my mom about my weight, basically telling her that her husky family wouldn't be allowed to sit on her dining room furniture for fear it would buckle underneath our girth. My mother replied by hanging up the phone, and my family was not on speaking terms with...Read more...

It might be hard to imagine, but there was a time when electricity was a novelty, and no one had power buzzing through their walls. Everyone alive today was born into an electrified world, and most of us take for granted that we can operate a wide range of electric gadgets just by plugging something in and pressing a...Read more...

When you think of pegging, what comes to mind? OK, stop thinking about that. Start thinking about ways to improve your memory instead, you pervert. There's a technique you can use called peg lists" to remember big chunks of information in order, so you should start pegging before big tests or presentations.

While Apple Music and Spotify are the two dominant music streaming services, there are plenty of other legitimate options to check out. Maybe you're looking for something that prioritizes the highest quality digital music experience possible; maybe you want something that works well free of charge; maybe your priority...Read more...

Many finance-related goals can be at least partially automated. While I generally caution against leaning on AI in personal finance, most money-saving apps are essentially like robo-advisors. That is to say, they have their limitations, but they have some major upsides as well. For the most part, these apps are...Read more...

Before the 1950s, filmmakers didn't think about teenagers as anything other than adults-in-waiting-accessories to the adult characters in films. That changed circa the release of Nicholas Ray's 1955 James Dean star vehicleRebel Without a Cause, the success of which made studios realize that teens were driving around...Read more...

Bird scooters may have taken over city streets in recent years, but the Bird brand has also extended its reach into the bike space with electric-boosted rides of the highest quality-through Oct. 31, you can get one on sale for $849.97 (reg. $2,299).Read more...

This week, the whole internet is talking about one young woman's journey into career disillusionment-specifically, her shocking discovery (shared via TikTok) that having a job cuts into your personal time in a major way. Meanwhile, youth in Britain are using the internet to gaslight their American cousins, and famous...Read more...

Welcome to Training Diaries, a new Lifehacker series about my journey to the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon. This series will cover all the ups, downs, and hill repeats on my journey to the biggest marathon in the world. Leading up to race day on Sunday, Nov. 5, I'll go over proper fueling, injuries and setbacks,...Read more...

For those who missed the great Roomba deals on October Prime Day, you've got another shot: Currently, Amazon is selling the iRobot Roomba i4 EVO for 48% off at $209.99 (normally $399.99). This is the same low price it hit during Prime Day, which is the lowest price it has been, according to Camelcamelcamel's price...Read more...

The method of loci (or the loci technique) is a mnemonic memorization trickwith a number of uses, from helping people with mild cognitive impairment learn and remember information to getting someone ready to give a speech. You can use it, too-for whatever you need to remember.

I love a savory souffle, but I really hate whipping egg whites. Don't get me wrong, I love what the ever-versatile egg white can accomplish once whipped, but it's such a drag(even with a machine), that I often avoid the fluffy food altogether. The sformati is a boon for us lazy souffle lovers. This tender, airy, and...Read more...

Right now, Sonos is offering up to 20% off some of their best-selling home theater sets. That includes the Sonos Arc, the company's flagship soundbar that offers eleven Class-D amps, three tweeters, and eight woofers. The Arc comes with Trueplay tuning, which uses your iPhone's microphone to tune the EQ to best match...Read more...

Another tricky one! I found the first two categories easy, and the last two devilishly hard. But I also don't watch much sports. If you're looking for the Connections answer for Friday, October 27, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the...Read more...

Even on high-end models, most TV speakers suck. Bad speakers are the reason you might have trouble understanding the dialogue in shows and movies, and you don't need a surround sound setup to do better-basically any soundbar will do wonders for your TV's audio. Currently, Woot is giving you an opportunity to upgrade...Read more...

The TOKK CAM C2+ is a discrete wifi Camera you can use at home, in your car, or on your body-and right now, it is marked down to $60.99 (regularly $89).Read more...

If you want to know how to clean an air fryer, don't look to TikTok. You can look there for other hacks, sure, but for sprucing up the air fryer, you need better sourcing. The information on the video-sharing app is pretty misguided and you'll regret attempting it, but if you follow the tried-and-true methods outlined...Read more...

I have plenty of ideas for useful features for X (formerly known as Twitter), but audio and video calls aren't on my list. Unfortunately, they seem to be on Elon Musk's, as the app now allows users to call one another for some reason. Yay?

As hard as it is to believe, a lot of people still smoke cigarettes-nearly 30 million people in this country alone. Aside from the well-proven health impact, smoking also has a long list of unattractive physical effects, like yellow stains on your skin and hair, marks on your clothing, the delightful skin condition...Read more...

Whether you live in a rambling mansion or a tiny shack (or something in between), your house should be a place of refuge and rest. It's where you're at your most vulnerable, where you sleep every night, unconscious and at the mercy of an uncaring universe. So it's natural that people freak out when they notice their...Read more...

Experienced drone owners likely won't be dazzled by the ProVision foldable 4K HD camera drone with gesture control-but for those who aren't advanced flyers, it's a great starter model. And you can take advantage of this early holiday sale and get it for $69.97 (reg. $109), no coupon code required, now through Oct. 31.

The keys to an inoffensive last-minute Halloween costume are simple: People need to be able to tell what you are, and it has to be something you can pull together quickly using what's already lying around the house. Googling last minute DIY costume" will serve you up a bunch of blog posts that assume you have sewing...Read more...

As soon as the weather started to chill down, I started thinking about Thanksgiving sides. That might sound unreasonably early but I'm about to make it rain potatoes. For an incredibly simple, time-saving twist on the classic, make potatoes au gratin with jarred Alfredo sauce.

It's getting near Halloween, when the veil between the living and the dead grows thin, so I traveled to a notoriously haunted picnic table during a solar eclipse to find ghosts with my iPhone.

The Apple Watch is much more than just a wrist computer. Sure, it helps you track your workouts, answer calls, and manage notifications. But it's also a fashion accessory, with customizations limited not only to what band you're using, but also your watch face.

Bad news: Apple's raising subscription prices. Apple Arcade is jumping from $4.99 to $6.99, News+ from $9.99 to $12.99, and Apple TV+ from $6.99 to $9.99. (Remember when the latter was $4.99?) If you subscribe yearly, Apple TV+ is going from $69 to $99.

If you need a basic, reliable laptop but don't want to spend a small fortune, this refurbished 2018 HP Chromebook is from model year 2018 and is currently on sale for $106.99, marked down from its usual price of $150. Its grade B rating means it has some cosmetic imperfections, but these don't impact performance.Read more...

Halloween is our darkest holiday, so it naturally spawns dark misinformation, whether it's the famous razor-blade-in-the-apple myth, the persistent rumors about black-cat butchery, or the specter of mischief night" arsonists. At the risk of dampening the mystique of Halloween, here are four things people are getting...Read more...

Picture perfect apples are tumbling into grocery stores with no sign of stopping. Make the most of this bounty by cooking up one of the more concentrated iterations of apple-apple butter, with a twist. It's always been a dippable, spreadable, velvety smooth fall favorite, but take it a step further with a dose of...Read more...

Best Buy's early Black Friday sale doesn't start until Oct. 27, but that hasn't stopped them from putting out great deals. One of their latest deals is this ASUS Zenbook 14X Intel i7 laptop for $699.99 (originally $999.99) with free shipping, which runs until Oct. 27. This is the lowest price it has hit, according to H...Read more...

No one wants to screw over the cable companies over more than me. When Comcast almost doubled my rate a few years ago I decided it was time to ditch the box and try something else, which led me to digital antennas.Read more...

Paramount+ has a handful of original titles worth watching in November. On one end is Lawmen: Bass Reeves (November 5), a Wild West drama starring David Oyelowo as the real-life Bass Reeves, the first Black deputy U.S. marshal to work west of the Mississippi. On the other is Colin From Accounts (November 9), an...Read more...

Just when I think I'm done experimenting with scrambled eggs, I encounter a new (to me) preparation, and I am once again wowed by the versatility of the ingredient. While I usually go for a soft, custardy scrambled egg, I recently learned about telur gulun, an Indonesian egg skewer made with deep fried scrambled eggs.Read more...

Maybe AI isn't some passing fad-certainly every tech company is racing to add as many AI features to their products as possible, Google included. Bard is the company's answer to ChatGPT, and it even integrates with Google products like Docs, YouTube, and Gmail.

Wireless internet has come a long way from the days of enduring trial and error to integrate your modem and router. Now you can find entire both devices combined into one, which makes setting up your wireless network a whole lot easier and cleaner, with fewer wires and devices in the mix. If you're planning on...Read more...

If you're tired of static wallpapers, you can add a bit of flair to your smartphone by choosing a live wallpaper-that is, using a Live Photo, gif, or short video as your wallpaper. Before you opt to go live, though, you should know it comes with a small hit to your phone's battery life, and on older phones, it may...Read more...

Today is another cute little puzzle, and not too hard-I'd even say it's NIFTY. If you're looking for the Connections answer for Thursday, October 26, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I'll explain the meanings of the trickier...Read more...

While most of us aren't going to move to an acreage to build out a homestead, there are tiny bits of the lifestyle that can help you save money, grow more of your own food, and feel self-sufficient. I long thought root cellars, a staple of older homes, weren't possible living in the city, but it turns out, a root...Read more...

There are times when I've needed two identical cake pans, and only had one shallow pan to work with, and there have been times when I just needed a deeper pan, for something big, like a Basque cheesecake. Instead of making one cake layer at a time, or sacrificing a deep dish apple crisp for multiple shallow ones, just...Read more...

In terms of themed food, Halloween allows for the most creativity. It's the only time of year you're encouraged to be off-putting and gross; as a kind of creepy woman, it's a nice change of pace. I don't have to hide my freaky proclivities. I can lean into them. Here are a few of my favorite (culinary) ways to do just...Read more...

The Amysen is a smart plug that allows you to control whatever you plug in with your voice or another smart device-and right now, a four-pack of Amysen Wi-Fi Smart Plugs is on sale for $23.99 (reg. $49).

According to new research, looking at past photos of your partner can actually increase loving feelings and overall satisfaction within your relationship. Remembering and reminiscing over the good times is also known as romantic nostalgia," and according to Gabriela Reyes, LMFT and Chispa App's Resident Relationship...Read more...

When you have a lot of tasks to accomplish on a given day, there are a few different approaches you can take to kick-start your productivity. You can eat the frog"-that is, get your hardest, most demanding responsibility out of the way before anything else. On the other hand, you could bang out something especially...Read more...

I can tell you already what you can expect for Black Friday-when you see a good early deal for something on your list, you should jump on it, as items will sell out. Best Buy is one of the few major retailers who have already put out their plans, which includes this TCL 65" Q5 4K QLED Smart TV with a $200 discount,...Read more...