Lifehacker

The housing market looks like hell for the foreseeable future. Your home is probably the most expensive thing you'll ever own, and that expense goes beyond the closing price. For most of us, it'll be the largest purchase we'll ever make, and the biggest debt we'll ever take on-and that's before all the hidden,...Read more...

Sleep can be frustrating. When you're desperate to get some much-needed rest, you stare up at the ceiling, so alert you could probably pilot a Moon lander. But when you're at work or in class and desperately need that level of wakefulness, you find your head nodding and you keep losing time in five-minute increments.

This 2021 LG Gram laptop is on sale for $799.99, marked down $499 from the regular retail price. It's an open-box item, hence the discount-it's excess inventory from store shelves that are still in new condition and put in clean packaging.Read more...

You could fill a book with dumb things people believe about COVID-19. Unethical actors taking advantage of public fears about a deadly disease is as predictable as it is depressing, and, as infections rates climb from new variants, misinformation and lies are spreading almost as quickly as the virus itself.Read more...

Okay, today's puzzle is ridiculous, and breaks from tradition in a way I haven't seen before. If you're looking for the Connections answer for Thursday, September 7, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Beware, there are spoilers below for...Read more...

If you're looking to add a high-resolution, high-performing monitor to your gaming rig, the Samsung Odyssey G70B ultrawide gaming monitor-with an ultra HD panel-offers 27 inches of display to play your games in super-sharp 4K.And right now, it's 29% off for a price tag of $569.99.

It's pepper season, but if you planted some earlier this spring, you already knew that. Much like tomatoes, I'm having a hard time keeping up with my pepper plants, but that's OK: Lots of peppers means lots of pepper jelly. Not only is this Southern spread easy to make, it cans like a dream. (It was, in fact, the...Read more...

Buffets are great if you come hungry and have a plan of attack. You need to be sure you're going to eat more than what you paid to get in; otherwise, you might as well order a single dish and call it a day. Frontier's Go Wild! All-You-Can-Fly is a traveler's buffet-but it's not for everyone. If you think you have the...Read more...

The mere name dog park" suggests a haven for our four-legged friends, but many veterinarians and pet parents argue that dog parks are unsafe. These anti-dog park advocates point to a list of potential issues-anxious dogs, unchecked animal aggression, and disease transmission among them. But while that all sounds bad,...Read more...

Garlic stinks. But, hey, that's why we love it so much. This pungent allium flavors sauces, intensifies condiments, and adds complexity to marinades, but it has a nasty habit of leaving its fragrance behind, particularly on human hands. Whenever I mince these oily cloves, the robust aroma seemingly clings to my...Read more...

The cost of everything is rising, but the cost of housing is particularly troubling for many. Having a roof over your head and a place to sleep is crucial to your ability to function in society, but rents have been consistently rising over the last few years. As a result, people are seeking creative housing solutions-a...Read more...

The effects of global climate change are already wreaking havoc, and all evidence suggests things are going to get worse in the near future. Learning how to deal with/survive extreme weather-floods, hurricanes, tornados, heat- is likely to become increasingly important for everyone, and one viable strategy could...Read more...

Samsung's new foldable is already $200 off: As of Sept. 6, 2023, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is available on Amazon for $799, 20% off the smartphone's retail price of $999.99.

Marble cakes are as classic as hot fudge sundaes. They remindme of cute, energetic elderly folk chatting over tea and cake-even though I never see this, I'm sure they're out there. It's wholesome and comforting. But sometimes getting a good marble pattern in a loaf cake can be more elusive than the recipe suggests....Read more...

When shopping for a mortgage, you'll likely encounter two key terms: Annual percentage rate (APR) and interest rate. While these terms often get thrown around interchangeably, understanding the difference between them can help you choose the best loan option. Here's the difference between an APR and an interest rate,...Read more...

This4-in-1 charging station is a compact power hub that offers wireless and wired charging for multiple devices simultaneously, and it's on sale right now for $25.99 (reg. $49). With a total charging output of 30W, including 2 USB ports and 1 USB-C port, it supports wireless charging for Qi-compatible devices like...Read more...

You dread going to work and feel stressed, stagnant, or unhappy when you're there. You can feel in your bones it's time to leave this job, but the thought of actually taking that leap is a daunting one. As I've written about before, sometimes searching for a job can feel like a full-time job itself.Read more...

Gaming laptops have come a long way in recent years, especially as full-sized graphics cards made the jump to these portable gaming machines. But when it comes to choosing a budget gaming laptop, there's a lot of bad mixed in with the good. These five laptops are only the good.

I introduced my kids to video games a couple of years ago, and I love that it not only gives us something to share, it teaches them to persevere even when things seem difficult. But despite all the pros of picking up a joystick and duking it out on Super Smash Bros., they're still in front of a screen, which can lead...Read more...

As a food writer and recipe developer, I try to not let my personal preferences cloud my judgment. This isn't very hard, because I will eat pretty much anything, except for celery, which my palate inexplicably rejects each and every time it crosses my teeth. The vegetable is hard to avoid. It's a fixture in mirepoix,...Read more...

Wordle is great, but it only lasts for one word a day. Once you solve the puzzle (or lose it), you need to wait until tomorrow to try again. If you're too impatient for the next Wordle, you might just have to make your own.

With heavy storm activity moving across North America, and autumn moving in, there are bound to be some downed power lines here and there. But what do you do if you see one near you? Knowing how to handle this dangerous situation is important to avoid shock and minimize fire risk. Here's how to keep yourself and...Read more...

Growing up with a uterus, you're taught that getting your period is a sign of good health, with the added benefit of relaying that you're not pregnant. But periods are costly, sometimes painful, and annoying at best. While people have been skipping periods by taking hormonal birth control for years, many still think...Read more...

If you're looking for the Connections answer for Wednesday, September 6, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Beware, there are spoilers below for September 6, NYT Connections #87! Scroll to the end if you want some hints (and then the answer) to...Read more...

If you're interested in cybersecurity and the world of IT, this iCollege Complete 2023 Cybersecurity Developer and IT Skills Bundle is on sale for $69.99 right now. iCollege is an online learning institution with a 4.7-star rating on Indeed, and this sale is for 26 courses with more than 400 hours of instruction in...Read more...

Homemade mayonnaise is a different beast from the store-bought stuff. Even my favorite brands-Kewpie and Duke's-can't hold a candle to the rich and tangy DIY mayo. The texture is less jiggly, the flavor fresher, and you can customize it by playing around with the acid (vinegar or lemon?), eggs (whole or yolks only?),...Read more...

No matter how advanced science gets, we'll always reach a wall on forecasting the weather into the future-and that threshold, on average, is two weeks. That is how long an unaccounted-for event in our environment takes to have a significant impact on the weather. If you're planning on inviting friends for a picnic or...Read more...

The true measure of any home gardener is their first tomato. Not just any tomato, but one of those giant heirloom slicers, which they will display with smug self satisfaction over social media. The earlier in the summer, the better, which leads gardeners to do all kinds of wacky things to get bigger plants in the...Read more...

Ice has become a given in cocktail culture, but there are good reasons to do without. You avoid overly diluting your drink, it's friendlier on the environment, and you could be a forerunner in the scaffa (room-temp drink)trend. Or maybe you're here because you simply ran out of ice. It happens. Luckily, you don't need...Read more...

I first had labneh at a Lebanese restaurant in Tampa, Fla., and I became instantly enthralled. It had the tang of yogurt and the richness of cream cheese, and it caused me to put away pita in a way hummus never could. I then spent many years purchasing it in fancy grocery stores before I realized I could make my own.

When you hear the word commune" or the term communal living," you might immediately think of 1960s counter-culture radicals living on a farm somewhere, or of a cult that ended in dramatically violent fashion back in the 1970s. But the concept is getting a fresh look in the modern age.

Swirl Wines is offering 15 bottles of mixed wines for $64 right now (reg. $225). The price doesn't include taxes or shipping, but still, each bottle winds up costing less than $10 each to have wine delivered to your doorstep.

One of the pains of gardening is that with annual vegetables, you have to start over each year. Sure, you move forward with the accumulated knowledge of gardening years past, but you still have to grow a seed from scratch and nurse it along until it's mature enough to produce vegetables. For peppers, this can be tortur...Read more...

For years, I've shied away from making popsicles. They tend to come out just a little too icy. Yet, of all things-not cream, not yogurt, not anything dairy-based-tofu saved the day. Tofu is a sweet and savory sensation in more ways than I can count, so I suppose it comes as no surprise that she's got yet another trick...Read more...

Not only is handheld PC gaming now a reality, you actually have quite a few great options to choose from. One of the most notable, of course, is Valve's Steam Deck, beloved for its easy-to-navigate menus and excellent emulation. However, the new Lenovo Legion Go is also an enticing device, albeit a bit more expensive...Read more...

Fall in the garden is often thought of as a time for harvesting and putting it to bed for winter. In areas where temperatures during the winter get below freezing, you might think you can't grow anything in the winter months. This is only partly true-you won't be able to harvest anything in the coldest months, but you...Read more...

When you think of fiction podcasts, you probably think of serious, speculative, and/or dystopian fare like The Bright Sessions or Limetown. But podcasting is a medium, not a genre, and there are fiction shows of all kinds-including a ton of hilarious, offbeat comedies. My favorite funny fiction podcasts take you to...Read more...

Student loan payments are starting back up soon, and while some borrowers may get a break on their monthly bill, the burden on budgets will increase for many. If your workplace offers employee benefits, you may be able to claim more than $5,000 in tax-free assistance toward your student loans. Here's how to tap your...Read more...

Labor Day has come and gone, which means it's now time to lean into fall, including cooler weather and changing leaves-and enjoy it while it lasts. To that end, SmokyMountains.com puts out an annual fall foliage map, which indicates when fall colors are likely to be at their best across the country, broken down to the...Read more...

If you're looking for the Connections answer for Tuesday, September 5, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Beware, there are spoilers below for September 5, NYT Connections #86! Scroll to the end if you want some hints (and then the answer) to...Read more...

This refurbished 2019 Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is on sale for $399.99 right now (reg. $899). It has a 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, an 8MP rear camera, a 1.2MP front camera, and up to 10.5 hours of battery life. It's been cleaned, professionally tested, and certified to work...Read more...

Every house is a complex system. When all the parts are working correctly you'll have a dry, warm place in which to weather a storm. When parts of that system stop working correctly, you'll have a very, very long night instead. Keeping your house in working order sometimes requires expensive repairs, replacements, or...Read more...

A little one doesn't come when you call them, but they're probably just distracted, right? You are constantly asking older kids to turn down the volume on the TV, iPad, or Nintendo Switch, but they are just really absorbed in their activity, right? Maybe-but these are also signs of hearing loss in kids.Read more...

Birthday parties for kids can get way too expensive. I know this isn't exactly a hot take-we've all been to over-the-top parties with clowns and petting zoos-but I still wince when I think about the Benjamins I dropped this year for pizza and video games at what I believed would be an affordable affair to celebrate my...Read more...

This refurbished Macbook Air is on sale for $399.99 right now (reg. $575). It's originally from 2017, but it has been refurbished with a Grade B" rating, which means there may be faint scuffs that don't affect its performance. It has a 13.3-inch display with 1440 x 900 resolution, a full-sized backlit keyboard, and...Read more...

I'm a 70s baby, and the badge of my people is our incredibly strong feelings for fondue. And, you know, talking cars and Care Bears and an unwilling affection for the Bee Gees. But fondue endures in a way K.I.T.T. can't.Read more...

Having separate types of paint for indoor versus outdoor use may sound like a marketing ploy to get us to buy more paint-reminiscent of when advertisers a century ago tried to convince women to switch from a single all-purpose skin cream to using separate products for day and night. However, in this case, there are...Read more...

I have (somewhat infamously) written about recipes you should never make. As I jotted down this recipe for cheese curds, I genuinely assumed no one would follow my lead; it was simply too laborious for such chaotic times. I'll let you in on a secret: I don't even like cheese curds, or at least I thought I didn't.Read more...

Cheesemaking can be really labor intensive, with a lot of time spent stirring, standing, and waiting around for milk to fulfill its curdy destiny. But then the workload drops off, and you have to transfer your efforts to a cheese cave and wait while it hangs out in Tupperware or a vacuum-sealed plastic bag.