17 Hacks to Make Your Life Easier

1. Take 5-10 minutes each day tidying up while at the same making sure to put whatever it was you were using back where it was. It's not difficult and keeps the place clutter free
2. Keys always goes in the same place, every time. No more lost keys.
3. Coin jar keeps coins from being nomadic.
4. Books go on bookshelf, CDs go in CD tower, Pictures go on wall/desk/shelf.
5. If you don't have a desk/shelf, keep an eye out for those things at the dumpter area of an apartment complex, people throw good furniture away monthly. Its sad really.
6. It takes 5 minutes to make the bed in the morning, faster after having done it for a while.
7. Wash your sheets regularly.
8. Put dirty clothes in dirty clothes bag/hamper. Wash them once a week, hang freshly clean clothes in closet (I hate folding so I just hang them ALL up.)
9. Remove the plates/cups from room daily, place in sink, wash dishes daily (takes 2-3 minutes to wash them if done daily, seriously) One or two dishes is easier/faster to do than a week's worth.
10. Vacuum/sweep daily, this keeps dust from collecting on surfaces as quickly. Also dust about once a month.
11. USE A TRASHCAN AND EMPTY IT WHEN IT GETS FULL. (Note this only works if you actually place unwanted boxes, bags, half-eaten food, fast food refuse, etc. in the trashcan) Please recycle if at all possible.
12. If you want to get fancy, you can get a small file cabinet for 30-40 bucks at Target or something. Get folders, I found a labelmaker at Staples for 10 bucks, and organize your documents/mail. You could have categories like: Rent receipts, bank statements, utility bills, credit card bills, taxes, school records, job-search, car maintenance, and other. I keep a paper shredder next to mine so when I sort my mail I can shred the unimportant stuff like credit card offers.
13. Credit card offers: DO NOT ACCEPT THEM. Only keep one credit card handy FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES. Not being able to get McDonald's one day is not an emergency. Something like: Holy shit my only means of transporting myself to work/school needs $500 worth of repairs...
14. Speaking of McDonald's, minimize fast food consumption, you'll gain alot more in the long term if you make attempts to cook for yourself. Get a cookbook. You'll end up saving money, learning to cook, and eating a better diet.
15. Shop at thrift stores where you can find really nice furniture, appliances, and clothing and really low prices. Buy used and refurbished. I rarely ever buy anything new anymore.
16. Never buy a new car, its a waste of money to buy new, stay away from dealerships. Look for somebody selling their car, ask to drive it around the block, take it to a shop and pay them $20-$50 to inspect it. Tell them you're thinking about buying it and ask them for advice. ALL used cars will have some sort of problem requiring repair. If you're planning on spending $1200 for a car, then $800-$900 should be for the car and the rest for repairing immediate issues. Don't focus on the cosmetics, instead make your purchase based on the car's mechanical condition. Yes, I've found great cars for $800 and less.
17. After getting a car, go to a car parts store and get the repair manual for that model. Often, stuff like replacing the brakes, fuel filter, oil changes, exhaust repair, battery replacement, etc. is insanely easy to do. Older cars from the 90s and early 2000s are much easier to work on than new models since manufacturers now like to design it so you MUST go to their authorized service center to get it something simple done. My friend has a new car where the freakin battery has a support bar over the top of it so it can only be removed at a shop.

Original post by psychopete