Lifehacker

If every surface in your home is perpetually covered in books, knick-knacks, and other junk, you probably need more shelves. Filling your home with practical shelving can offer the perfect solution to your clutter problems and give you a creative way to display your books, plants, photos, and everything else.

We recently talked about a credit card that helps you pay your rent, but what about a card that helps you pay your student loan? There’s a new card that will do just that—offering 2% cash back on purchases which can be applied to an array of student loan servicers. Here’s a look at whether it’s a good card for you.

For most dogs, human food is the ultimate forbidden fruit, which makes backyard barbecue season tricky for their owners. If you’re heading to a Fourth of July party with your pup in tow, you probably already know to keep them away from the fruit salad (grapes) and the burger toppings (raw onions). But there are other…Read more...

After months in limited, invite-only closed beta, Xbox Cloud Gaming is now publicly available. The service is still technically in beta, but is now included for all Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, adding even more value to what is arguably the best service in gaming.

Aristotle was pretty perceptive about issues that still carry an urgency in modern times: Friends of utility, pleasure, and mutual admiration still exist, as are the respective styles of friendship that you might encounter over the course of a relationship. You can filter Aristotle’s concept through the lens of modern…Read more...

Food insecurity has long been a concern for many Americans—a problem exacerbated by the pandemic, which left nearly 1 in 4 households struggling to meet this basic need. There are resources out there for those who need additional support, and now, there’s a Google Map to help people find them.

When a food you or your pets enjoy (or recently consumed) gets recalled, it can be a bit unsettling. Sure, not every recall has the potential to send you running for the commode—the severity of any recall varies depending on the product and reason for concern. Sometimes it’ll simply be a dietary supplement that didn’t…Read more...

Now that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for ages 12-17, all teens are eligible to be vaccinated—but some teenagers who would like to get vaccinated can’t, because they lack parental consent. In a recent poll, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 3 out of 10 parents surveyed said they would…Read more...

While it’s true airfares have jumped due to post-pandemic demand (not to mention a pilot shortage), the premium seats usually filled with business travelers are an exception to the rule, mostly due to reduced corporate travel. That means you can more easily find deep discounts on first and business class fares for…Read more...

Since 2001, the Fast & Furious films have been the go-to for racing action spectaculars. They’re wildly popular, and justifiably so, though not to everyone’s taste. Maybe you’re riding the high of the latest, F9, or maybe you’re looking for a racing movie with something different to offer.Read more...

I’m not above an impulsive social media-fueled purchase. I bought the “TikTok” booty leggings (and a young man shouted at me from his automobile while I was wearing them), and I purchased an exfoliating scrub (also for my butt), but I’ve never acquired a piece of cookware because I saw it on Instagram. I do, however,…Read more...

It’s not easy to strength train without weights. Once you’re able to do full pushups by the dozens, for example, they’re training your endurance more than building your strength. And while moves like pull-ups provide more of a challenge, they’re often impossible for beginners. But there’s a workout that covers the…Read more...

When I’m out enjoying nature, it seems a little weird to spray synthetic chemicals all over my body. So I always take a look at the “natural” insect repellents when I’m buying bug spray. Some are legit, with EPA-registered ingredients that effectively repel bugs while being safe for skin. Others are made of…Read more...

Perhaps our phones are trying to do us a favor by erring on the side of politeness, but boy, they sure do love to try to keep us from swearing, don’t they? Unless you actually do regularly mean to playfully tell your friends to “duck off,” there are a few ways you can fix iOS Messages’ sometimes helpful, often…Read more...

Grocery stores seem pretty unassuming, but the aisles of your local grocer are the product of a very strategic design. If you’re a keen observer (or if you shop regularly at a variety of stores) you’ve probably realized the produce is basically always in the same place, as are the baked goods, meat aisles, grab-and-go…Read more...

While rent is easily the biggest monthly expense for millions of Americans, rent payments rarely earn rewards or improve credit scores, as most people are forced to pay by check. That’s where the new Bilt Rewards program steps in, offering the first credit card that can pay your rent without the usual third-party…Read more...

As the world continues to reopen, parents’ phones everywhere are lighting up with invitations from their kid’s friends to have some good, old-fashioned summer fun, which is a relief for many who’ve been cooped up with their kids all day for the past year. However, despite the increase in social activity among adults, …Read more...

Tin foil is one of the most versatile items you have in your kitchen—probably more versatile than you realize. You likely use it for grilling veggies and baking salmon in the oven, but it’s useful for much more than just cooking. Tin foil can also clean cast iron skillets without jeopardizing the pan seasoning,…Read more...

Temperature control is one of the hardest things to wrap your head around as a baby charcoal griller. There are no dials to twist, no knobs to adjust, and the only numbers you’ll find are on probably extremely inaccurate thermometer. (Depending on where you place your thermometer in relationship to the coils, it can…Read more...

Getting your hands on a good book to read is as easy as clicking “borrow” on your tablet. If you’re a slow adopter to the world of e-books, you should know that you can download thousands of e-books and their audio counterparts from your phone, computer, or tablet—for free. Here’s how to quickly and easily borrow an e-…Read more...

The hummingbird feeder I’ve hung on the porch is one of my unexpected joys in life. I originally hung it because hummingbirds kept checking out a certain spot—I’m convinced my house’s previous owners hung a feeder there—and every summer they show up again and demand I feed them. So I do.Read more...

While I appreciate everything a smart speaker assistant can help me with, I don’t want to get caught in long conversations with Alexa. I certainly don’t need her to respond out loud to every request or make suggestions on totally separate topics when all I asked her to do was turn off the lights.

If you send “congratulations” or “happy birthday” to someone using Messages on an iPhone, they’ll get a little surprise along with it: a shower of confetti or some celebratory balloons will rain down or float around on their screen along with your words. It’s a neat little trick embedded in the messaging platform—but…Read more...

Network-attached storage (NAS) devices are external hard drives with network connectivity. They’re essentially private cloud drives you can set up in your home to access your files remotely. They’re convenient, but if you use a My Book Live and My Book Live DUO NAS drive from Western Digital, you should disconnect it…Read more...

With Independence Day around the corner, food chains are looking to lure you away from the grill with discounts and deals that you can redeem on, before, and even after July 4. Here’s a look at some promotions that will save you some green while you celebrate the red, white, and blue:Read more...

Healthy food has a reputation for being expensive, but there are lots of ways to eat well on a budget. That’s where the subreddit r/EatCheapandHealthy comes in. Its archives are full of recipes that don’t break the bank while being high in protein, full of veggies, or low in salt and sugar. And they have tons of ideas…Read more...

The truth regarding the existence of alien life has long been rumored to be out there, but only now, with the publication of the government’s report on UFOs, has it finally arrived. Well, sort of.

I signed up for Paramount Plus before the launch, back when they were offering a 50% discount if you were willing to pay for a year in advance. This seemed like a good decision back when I was binging the first season of The Real World in preparation for the debut of the 30-years-later reunion special. Since then, I…Read more...

We’re living in a sort of golden age of fake meat products. Meat-free foods that are shaped like meat have flooded the market, making it easier than ever to find soyrizo at the grocery store, or an Impossible Burger at Burger King. These products give vegetarians and vegans something that’s easy to grill at a BBQ, but…Read more...

Windows 11 was officially unveiled this week, and many eager users are checking to see if their PCs can run the upcoming OS with Microsoft’s Windows Health Check app. However, some are surprised to learn that their PCs aren’t “Windows 11 ready,” despite having new, high-end hardware.

Maybe you lived through the 1990s. In which case: Congratulations on surviving an era in which flannel shirts could be paired with day-glo jams and no one would bat an eye. You’re here now, and that’s what’s important. Others can only sit at their grandparents knees’ and reminisce about a time when computers needed a…Read more...

After more than a year of feeling endlessly cooped up, we’re emerging from our pandemic isolation to do all the things we once took for granted—go for a mask-free run, hit up a local festival, take the kids to the beach, get on an airplane. All of that means being out in the sunshine, which feels glorious after a…Read more...

A 2021 survey by Mattress Advisor found that 50% of the participants enjoyed sleeping in the nude, with more than half of the nude sleepers saying it was more comfortable, along with others who said it helps them sleep better. Aside from temperature control and general comfort, there are other reasons that sleeping…Read more...

Google is the closest thing society has to a sage, but not everyone is good at combing through the mountains of information that the world’s imminent search engine might dredge up. And not everyone wants to research something either, scouring to find a source that suits your needs and that gives you answers you can…Read more...

You might be receiving more money in the mail from the IRS, but it’s not a fourth stimulus check—it’s a “plus-up payment.” You’ll only receive this check if your third stimulus payment was calculated using income stated in your 2019 tax return, and if your income was less in 2020 than it was in 2019. Here’s how the…Read more...

For as long as I can remember, even when I was very small, I have always loved pickles. Quick pickles, lacto pickles, sour pickles, sweet pickles, fried pickles—all are good in my eyes (and mouth). I like the big pickles you can grab out of the bin at theme parks, and the half sours they place on your table at…Read more...

Are you the person your friends and family turn to when they need a pizza recommendation? If not, do you want to be? If so, you may be interested in learning more about applying to become your state’s Head of Pizza—a position made up by Slice, a pizza ordering platform designed for independent pizzerias. Here’s what…Read more...

Masks may be coming off, and shots may be getting in arms, but we’re still feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on manufacturing and shipping. Along with things like appliances and lumber, there’s also a shortage of chlorine tablets for swimming pools. Here’s why that happened, and what you can use instead of…Read more...

Starting a new prescription medication may not seem like a big deal, but when you think about it, you’re introducing a new substance into your body, and should go in as informed as possible. Ideally, your health care provider would have gone over any potential side effects of the medicine with you, but there’s more to…Read more...

Allergies are, quite literally, irritating. They turn what’s supposed to be your serene outdoor space into a sneeze-inducing hellscape. In the United States, approximately 19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children have allergic rhinitis—better known as hay fever, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of…Read more...

Unless your job involves a lot of shipping, it can be hard to know which service best suits your needs—and your budget. Maybe UPS is cheaper in some parts of the country than others for the type of package you need to send. Or perhaps FedEx has better rates on overnight shipping to your destination.

Now that we’re out and about again, we may be spending less time on home improvement projects—especially compared to the past year-and-a-half. Being stuck at home all the time with very few socialization options gave us the time to devote to our living spaces, and get some of those tasks that had been hanging over our…Read more...

Different pots have different uses for your home plants and planters. Plants behave differently in plastic containers than they do in glazed ceramic pots, and each pot has its own set of care instructions. So what is the difference between these various pots and planters? It comes down to breathability and moisture…Read more...

You probably know what it’s like to have a bad boss. You might even know what it’s like to be one. Certainly at work (and if life) nobody likes a micromanager, but a boss who can’t be bothered to actually lead the team or check-in with their direct reports is just as bad.

The point of lifting weights is to challenge your body, such that your body rises to the challenge by building muscle. The more you lift, the stronger you get. And yet, too many people get talked out of ever putting some fucking weight on the bar.Read more...

Not many people first think of the United States when it comes to planning a relaxing island getaway—the thought of an island vacation might instead conjure images of a tropical beach in the Caribbean or the south of France. That’s fair; but there are several island destinations right here in the United States worth…Read more...

A couple of weeks ago, I picked a flat of Hood strawberries. Hoods are sweet, delicate, and prone to going bad before you can process them all. So I utilized my usual strategy of drinking through my berry haul.Read more...

Where do you go to find surprising true facts from history, backed up by solid sources and told with nuance? You may be shocked to hear the answer is: Reddit. The sub called r/AskHistorians specializes in exactly this, with experts writing in-depth answers to questions about any area of history.Read more...

There are few things more disappointing in the height of summer than pulling a lukewarm beer or spoiled food out of your cooler. Truly keeping food and beverages cold in very hot weather may seem like an impossible task, but it can be done if you pack your cooler strategically. Here’s how to do it.

This past spring, I set out to design and maintain a sustainable garden in my backyard—and a big part of that project has involved using chickens to fertilize my soil and help process my compost pile. All of their pecking, scratching, and depleting the backyard of its resources can be redirected and contained to one…Read more...