r/LifeProTips

▲ 482 r/LifeProTips+1 crossposts

LPT: If you always forget whether you locked the door, say ‘I’m locking the door’ out loud while you do it. You’ll actually remember it later

Locking the door is so automatic your brain doesn’t bother storing the memory. Saying it out loud forces you to pay attention for a second, so when the panic hits halfway down the street, you can actually recall doing it.

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u/UnlimitedSprinkles98 — 3 days ago
▲ 4.3k r/LifeProTips+1 crossposts

LPT - learn to express opinions additively, if it can be read negatively it will be.

I have an aunt I love so much. When we see her, she’ll say “it’s been so long since we’ve seen you!” It isn’t meant to be negative, but it does feel judgmental for how we’re distant and don’t make more effort to travel home. My mom says “I’m so happy to see you” and my cousins express how much easier it is to reconnect with my mom because they don’t need to start with an apology.

But then I just read a bunch of people complaining about a stupid political decision’s outcome. They all agree, but the comment replies that are all in the same direction start with “it’s not that, it’s this” or “worse …”. This makes the poster feel like they’re being argued with - but I’m sure that’s rarely if ever the goal. “And on top of that”, “also”, and “to make it even worse” or even “it’s not just that, it’s also this” is language of support and addition, not confrontation.

Support those going your way, we are better off making friends than putting allies off.

Note: we need a communication flair.

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u/Mathemodel — 7 days ago

LPT: You can use vaseline as a lubricant for metal parts like squeaky hinges, and it lasts a long time too.

The primary application of petroleum jelly is as an industrial lubricant. It costs nothing to make and they just mark up some of it to be sold as a skincare product (i.e. Vaseline)

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u/Ishmael_1974 — 9 days ago

LPT: Never Shop at Whole Foods? Turn Off “Use My Mobile Number” to Prevent Others from Using Your Account

Just caught somebody using my Prime subscription at a Whole Foods a few towns over, and this seems like it could be a common thing. Was on with support after finally getting to speak to real person who wanted me to fill out a Suspicious Activity form but couldn't offer any more help.

They used their own card for payment so there was really no harm done, but after looking at it more logically, I then realized it was just probably someone using my phone number at check-out. You can turn this setting off by going into the Amazon app and hitting Account > Program Options > Whole Foods Market Settings > Phone Number Verification and un-check Use My Mobile Number.

Don't know why this isn't off by default. Hope this saves people some peace of mind.

Edit: For those that don't understand why this is an issue ... their purchases showed up under my amazon orders, so my immediate thought was that my account was hacked.

Edit 2: A few people have reported in the comments that they were able to check out with their main Amazon payment method at Whole Foods using their linked phone number. This seems to be the main part of the scam. Once they find a cashier that will let them use the card on file, they will buy half the store. Don't let them take your money.

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u/Xplic1T — 10 days ago

LPT: When you're stuck and about to ask someone for help, write the message as if they know nothing about your problem. Half the time you'll solve it before you hit send.

Spell out what you're trying to do, what you expected, what actually happened, and what you already tried. Writing it for a stranger forces you to notice the step you skipped or the assumption you never checked. If it doesn't solve it, you've at least written a question people can actually answer quickly.

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u/UpstairsContest3781 — 9 days ago

LPT Keep your (US) out of state number, if you can.

I moved across the country a few years ago and kept my old phone number. The only people that would have a good reason to call me from that area code are folks I already have in my phone. Every other number with that old area code? It's 99% spam; usually those "you selling your house?" scams, political scams. As soon as I see that old area code show up, I just decline or block.

Keeping your old number is a lot simpler, anyway, but this is a nice little bonus.

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u/ItsAllSoClear — 9 days ago

LPT: Don't use the iPhone/iPad Markup marker tool to redact screenshots its strokes aren't fully opaque, and anyone can reveal what you covered by adjusting exposure and contrast.

When you screenshot something sensitive an account number, an address, a password the instinct is to scribble over it with the black marker in iOS Markup until it looks like a solid black bar. The problem: the Markup marker tool doesn't draw fully opaque lines; it's effectively a highlighter, and even scribbling over the text multiple times won't fully cover it. If you share that screenshot, anyone can open it in a photo editor, crank up the brightness, brilliance, and contrast, and read the text you covered up.

Instead, use the Add Shape tool + to place a solid, filled rectangle over the text make sure the fill is solid, not just an outline, or simply crop that section out of the image. Both methods leave no room for error.

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u/Even_Dingo_9306 — 10 days ago

LPT Give least privilege permissions on all devices by default and only escalate on a per-need basis. Just because your phone requests your location doesn't mean you have to give it!

It's very easy to let all the small permissions get ahead of you over the course of a devices lifecycle and you're looking back thinking "why did does this thing even have screen record access??"

In an age of blinding accepting terms and conditions, people are saturated with requests that they blindly accept or ignore and you should always question the access that you're allowing on your own devices; especially when it directly relates to your privacy/security/best practice/piece of mind.

You can always enable it later but if in doubt just say NO.

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u/modestplume — 10 days ago

LPT: If you accidentally get oil in your phone speaker, a vacuum might save it

A couple of days ago, I was cooking and accidentally spilled some oil on my phone. Some of it ended up getting into the speakers. I wiped everything down, but afterward the audio was noticeably muffled and I figured I had probably ruined them.

On a whim, I put the hose of my vacuum near the speaker to see if it could pull any of the oil back out. To my surprise, it actually worked. Oil started coming out, I wiped it away, and my speakers immediately sounded normal again.

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u/Bright-Degree-7922 — 10 days ago

LPT: Test your smoke alarms and Replace every 10 years.

I’m sure everyone knows this but ignores it. Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years. If you have a house and have a fire, there’s a good chance your insurance company won’t cover you if your alarms are over 10 years old.

Secondly, test them. Monthly is recommend. Hit that test button. I’ve come across alarms that are just dead. Less than 10 years old, good battery, and nothing or a very faint sound. Most alarms will come with a 10-year warranty.

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u/Nehal1802 — 11 days ago

LPT: Learning a new language? Try having your imaginary arguments in your new language.

I’m sure we’ve all stood in the shower having imaginary arguments with those who have wronged us, or maybe I am a complete weirdo…

If you’re in the shower, rehearsing an argument or something you’d say to that particular DBag AssChapeau who’s making your life harder than necessary, try using the language you’re learning to argue.

I’ve just had an incredibly successful imaginary argument with a previous professor in a language I am learning and not only is it amazingly satisfying, it’s also helped me retain more vocabulary than I would have.

Now if only he would stick to the script…

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u/sinskins — 10 days ago

LPT Watch YouTube through the Chrome app on mobile, it doesn't have any ads

Bonus is that it adds friction before you can watch YouTube, making you 1% more productive (maybe) 😆

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u/tallwalldesigns — 10 days ago

LPT: don't use the USPS flat rate boxes

If you go to the post office looking to mail a package, they may offer you a flat rate box. These boxes are also available in other places like office supply stores that do shipping. They will tell you that it is a flat price regardless of what you put in it, or where it is going, and is therefore more convenient.

That is true, but what they don't tell you is that in the majority of cases, it will be more expensive than regular non-flat rate pricing. In most cases, it will be cheaper for you to use your own box and pay by weight and distance. You can reuse any box (e.g., Amazon) or buy a new one.

The only exception is if what you are mailing is particularly small and heavy, AND is going a long distance (like across the country). In that case, flat rate might be cheaper. Based on my experience, flat rate is cheaper about 10% of the time.

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u/GreenHorror4252 — 9 days ago