Lifehacker

Dates can already be stressful, but throw in the curveball of their costs, and, well, they can feel more anxiety-inducing than they’re worth. It’s normal to want to “wow” your date with a solid first impression, but the good news is that they don’t need be super expensive. You can surprise your date with something…Read more...

Whether you’re jumping into a major DIY project or you just have some yard work to do or a picture frame to hang, the cost of buying new, high quality tools can add up quickly—so skip the hardware store and start shopping estate sales instead.

Somedays I feel deeply disconnected from the “food content” traveling across social media, almost to the point of doubting my own powers of perception. Yesterday was such a day. On Facebook, I saw people coo over an obviously mealy, pale tomato before watching a woman store fresh blueberries and hard boiled eggs in…Read more...

When most people think of growing peppers, they become devilish fiends for heat, goosing up ghost peppers and evil hybrids intended to max out the Scoville scale. I kindly propose you consider the other end of the pepper family, in which flavor and body takes precedence over the ability to burn out the pipes on either…Read more...

The word “hobby” has a lot of unfair connotations. When someone describes an activity as a hobby, they’re implying that it’s not serious, or it’s not “professional” work. But many people are incredibly skilled at their hobby, and it’s not uncommon for people to turn a hobby into a more serious endeavor. Plus, hobbies…Read more...

I garden for one reason: the sheer delight and utility of always having what I want to eat available outside my door. Not outside my door as in a “There’s a store down on the corner and this is why I live in the city” kind of way, but in a “I can always pull a carrot, onion and some celery from my yard at 10 p.m. if I…Read more...

While the internet might be abuzz about Apple’s expensive Vision Pro VR headset, there was plenty of other news to come out of WWDC 2023. For those of us with an iPhone, the biggest story might just be iOS 17. While the update won’t be the most revolutionary one Apple has ever issued, it adds plenty of few new features…Read more...

Travel-sized items have their place. I swear by my little dopp kit that has a travel toothbrush, mini tube of toothpaste, pint-sized deodorant, and a short-handled razor in its own protective case. These items last nearly forever, take up very little space in my suitcase, and work just as well as their full-sized…Read more...

The Kiru Knife Kitchen Master 8" Chef Knife is a versatile kitchen tool with a mirror-polished blade and an ergonomic G-10 Garolite handle. And until June 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get this Japanese chef knife on sale for $79.97 (reg. $156).

Last weekend, my boyfriend came home with a bag of pre-shaped burger patties and cheap hot dogs. (Someone brought too many to a cookout.) I was thrilled, because I love burgers and hot dogs, no matter the price point. We had hot dogs one day and burgers the next, and still had plenty of each leftover, which was great…Read more...

While butterfly bushes don’t need much water and bloom beautiful flowers, they have a bad side too. In many places in North America, some species of butterfly bushes (Buddleia) are invasive. They can sprout almost anywhere—including on buildings and pavement—and don’t have native adversaries to keep them in check.Read more...

Job hunting is tedious, but sometimes AI can help make it a little easier. Resoume is an AI-assistant resume writer that can help you craft professional-quality resumes, cover letters, and CVs in a fraction of the time it could take you on your own. Right now, a lifetime subscription to this AI resume writer is $39.99…Read more...

Apple’s WWDC keynote featured Mac product updates, a new “spacial computing” headset, and what felt like a rushed section of OS updates. But while Apple covered all the big new features, there are many small and interesting ones heading to your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch this fall that Apple didn’t make time to…Read more...

Travel rewards are a nice bonus for joining an airline or hotel membership program or holding a co-branded credit card, but it’s a bummer when those points and miles you’ve spent so much to accumulate evaporate due to an expiration policy.

If you have a cluttered, cord-riddled desk, you should consider this 13-in-1 docking station that can mirror displays, transfer data, and more. Right now it’s almost 30% off, at $49.99 (reg. $70).Read more...

When it comes to finding love online, it’s all about making that great first impression. After all, we live in a swipe culture with itchy trigger fingers. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need your bio in tip-top shape. In fact, according to eharmony’s recent Get Who Gets You data report, 28% of daters say…Read more...

Watering your garden or grass the correct amount can be tricky. If there’s hot weather, you can water too little or water at the wrong time of day and burn the foliage. Watering too much is just as bad and can cause the roots of some plants to rot. Plus, there’s the water bill to think of. But there’s a gadget that…Read more...

This week, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) came with a ton of feature announcements, but not every iPhone, iPad, and Mac will be getting upgrades. Several popular iPhones, iPads, and Macs are being cut from the list of devices that will get new versions of Apple’s software. Here are the Apple devices…Read more...

If you’re traveling this summer, you might reconsider using the ice bucket in your hotel or motel room. According to this video posted on TikTok by former hotel manager Melissa Hanks, there’s a good chance someone has used the receptacle for something unspeakable.

Last week Congress agreed to raise the debt ceiling, narrowly avoiding a first ever default in U.S. history. While the crisis has been averted for now, the deal only buys us around two more years before we’re facing the same risk of the government defaulting on its debt.

A new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General called “Social Media and Youth Mental Health” outlines how social media changes teens’ brains and impairs their social skills. These scary findings may send you into a panic, wondering if you should uninstall the internet from your home. While you know banning social media…Read more...

Oysters are like grapes: The best ones come from rough homes. A grape from a warm, comfortable climate is fat and happy but watery and bland, and I’ve found the same to be true of everyone’s favorite slippery bivalve. Coming from Mississippi, the first oysters I tasted were huge specimens that hailed from the balmy…Read more...

Creative types know all too well how many apps come on the market every year promising to help them execute their vision. While many of these programs are great, unfortunately that means a whole lot of subscription fees and App Store purchases for those who need a bunch of different tools to handle different aspects…Read more...

This year’s WWDC is one for the history books. Apple made is usual software announcements, introducing iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and watchOS 10, and even introduced the largest MacBook Air yet. However, the talk of the town won’t be the next iPhone update or the 15-inch MacBook Air: It’s definitely the new…Read more...

It’s WWDC time again, which means Apple is showing off the new features in its suite of operating systems—including, this year, a huge update for the software that powers Apple Watch. Currently available in beta and expected to launch later this year, watchOS 10 boasts lots of new features, including enhanced watch…Read more...

My best breakfast days are right after a grocery shop, when the fridge is stocked with everything I need. This is shortly followed by the awkward days before my next shop, in which I Frankenstein meals together with random cabinet finds. It was during such an awkward day that I discovered pancake bread.

If you’re concerned about targeted advertising, data mining, and other online privacy issues, you may want to start using a VPNs—a simple, effective way to help secure your browsing and conceal your digital footprint. If you want a VPN that also comes with a personal firewall, you should consider the Deeper Connect…Read more...

The internet is a place full of dark corners, deep rabbit holes, endless mazes, and wild threads. But with the chaos comes storytelling gold: These 12 podcasts use communities like Reddit, Yelp, Twitter, and Tumblr to launch into a different part of the digital world, with their hosts as your able tour guides. Buckle…Read more...

It’s well-established that physical clutter impairs your productivity and focus, so you should try to tidy up your desk and surroundings as often as possible—but you should also start applying that practice to your desktop. So much of our lives takes place on the phone and computer, so a cluttered digital space is no…Read more...

Having your iPhone stolen is traumatic enough, but it hurts more to know that your most intimate data is also in the hands of unscrupulous individuals. Fortunately, there are more than a few things you can do to ensure that even if thieves find a way to steal your iPhone, they won’t get a hold of your data easily.

Life can take some unexpected turns. Most of us imagine a specific trajectory to our lives: You grow up, move out, get a job, and live independently from that point forward. Reality often turns out a bit different, and we have to get creative about our finances and our living situation. When we hear the phrases…Read more...

I am always looking for ways to make oatmeal more interesting, and I’ve got another strong lead. I’m a big fan of boiling oats in strong tea or bulking them up with a steaming bounty of sausage and pickles, but the colder, lazier overnight oats need a little love too. Use yesterday’s coffee or cold brew to put a…Read more...

If you’re still shopping for the right gift for your dad for Father’s Day (or for yourself for no particular reason), these JBL Live Free NC+ headphones are on sale now through June 11 for $59.97. They’re wireless and they have active noise-canceling for up to 21 hours of listening time.Read more...

Modern gardening often involves weeding, turning the soil, fertilization, and pest control. But permaculture is the practice of growing a garden with the least amount of intervention possible, relying on companion planting, native insects, and adding cover crops to control weeds. In a permaculture food forest, fruit…Read more...

On the surface, the concept of multitasking sounds dynamic and kind of cool—the word originated in the 1960s computer boom, after all, and retains its connotations of hyper-competency and over-achievement. We’re all obviously capable of handling multiple tasks at once, and we have limited time in our busy lives, so…Read more...

Memorial Day weekend hit a new record since the pandemic started, with 2.74 million people traveling on that Friday, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). With high demand of traveling, low seat supply, and, of course, inflation, flights this summer will be more expensive than usual. However,…Read more...

I still love receiving mail, but most of what lands in my mailbox these days isn’t cards from people I know or magazines I look forward to every month. Rather, it’s junk that goes right into the trash can or recycling bin. Stopping real-world junk mail isn’t as straightforward as clicking “unsubscribe” in a junk…Read more...

A humbling thing about working on the internet is thinking you are keeping up with all the latest trends. I spend my professional and personal life online, so I must be hip, right? Wrong, of course. Case in point: the 0.5 selfie (pronounced point five or sometimes zero point five). Have you heard of it? Neither had I. …Read more...

Video games have never looked better than they do now. While AAA studios push graphical fidelity ever further, other developers realize their imaginative worlds with expressive art styles like pixel art, cel-shading, and hand-drawn animation that are impressive in their own unique way.

I am a big Facebook group lurker. Anytime I’ve tried to be more active, and post or reply to someone else’s post, something annoying happens, and I end up quitting in a fit of disproportionate rage (or being banned for unnecessary snark). This has happened with countless music and horror movie groups, and it has…Read more...

After years of being relegated to the basement, laundry rooms have largely moved above ground in homes built over the last 25 or so years.Read more...

We’re a few weeks away from the official start of summer, and if the record-breaking air travel numbers from the unofficial start of summer—Memorial Day Weekend—are any indication, the rest of the season will be a busy one.Read more...

For those without the outdoor space necessary for a traditional garden, growing plants—including vegetables—in containers is a great option. Unfortunately, not all vegetables can grow and flourish in containers. Instead of setting yourself up for failure, avoid planting these vegetables in containers.Read more...

When was the last time you cleaned your luggage? No, not using a vacuum attachment to suck up any dirt, crumbs, and schmutz that have accumulated inside your suitcase over the years—although you should do that too. We’re talking about cleaning, or at least wiping down, the outside.Read more...

It’s one thing to take your job seriously, but some people don’t stop there. Instead, they take it upon themselves to intervene in situations that don’t concern them, going above and beyond their job description—and not in a good way.Read more...

It’s summer road trip season, and whether driving is your preferred way to travel, or you can’t afford pricey plane tickets, no one wants to get stuck in traffic. While there are no surefire ways to avoid congested roads and highways completely, with a little planning, you can at least minimize the time you spend at a…Read more...

Screen time is often vilified in our parenting culture. Parents who let their kids have unlimited or lots of time on tablets or in front of the TV are deemed “lazy” or uninvolved. It’s a bit of a status symbol to some if you don’t even own a TV or if your child hasn’t ever played a video game. The American Academy of…Read more...

From defects on Prius inverters, to canceled Lufthansa flights and false advertising from Vizzy hard seltzer drinks, there is something for most people to claim from the class-action settlements happening in June.

In addition to bringing us the summer solstice—the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere—June is packed with celestial events, from meteor showers to planet sightings. Throughout the month, Mars and Venus will be getting closer together in the western night sky, while Saturn and Jupiter will be visible…Read more...

When it comes to our health or our legal needs, one of the biggest pain points is identifying a professional we can trust. Finding a new doctor, dentist, or lawyer can be stressful; those that come recommended by friends or colleagues often aren’t taking new patients or clients, and a search of your insurance…Read more...