Lifehacks/Frugality

[THEINCREDIBLEdork]

Sounds like more junk trying to clutter up my system tray.

[Saint DH]

I've downloaded it and was using it. It definitely feels nice on the eyes at night, but it is kind of hard to read the screen. I imagine that will just take some getting used to, though.

[Mr. Blonde]

Originally Posted by Dirty Harry

I've downloaded it and was using it. It definitely feels nice on the eyes at night, but it is kind of hard to read the screen. I imagine that will just take some getting used to, though.

2 days in you won't even notice. you will be amazed at how bright the screen is "normally"

Flux reduces the amount of blue wave length light at night. Blue light is on the lower end of the visual spectrum of engery... close to ultraviolet light. During day time, there's lots of UV light. During night, there's less. The problem is monitors release a lot of blue light, even at night.

The cells of your retina detect these changes in light and relay it to the suprachiasmatic nuclei of your hypothalamus. The visual pathway is kind of wacky, so I won't get into the confusing details... But, when the lower amount of blue light is detected at night, the SCN will release norepinephrine to your pineal gland. The pineal gland will now begin to release melatonin.

Melatonin is pretty much absent in your body during day time. When it is released it does a lot of stuff, such as help induce the onset of sleep. So in a nutshell, this software has little to do with your eyelids and more to do with your sleep hygiene and maintaining proper sleep cycles while using a computer.

[heurisdick]

Edit: Nevermind

[Orgazmo]

On Remembering Shit

If an idea strikes you at an inopportune time, make something out of place to remind yourself of the idea.

For instance, if you're in the shower and you remember that you need to pay your electric bill, put your towel somewhere other than where it normally is. When you go to dry off, you'll instantly be reminded to pay the bill. Likewise, if you're about to fall asleep and remember something important, throw a pillow toward the other side of the room. Upon waking, you'll see the pillow and remember there was something important that needed done, and, unless you're a retard, you'll be able to piece together what it was.

If there's something that you need to remember to take with you the next time you leave the house (like tickets to a show you're going to or your spurliegaut before you go to a ham carving seminar), place it on top of your keys. It'll be tough to get to the keys without being reminded to take the important item.

[Saint DH]

I do something similar to placing shit on my keys. I'll put something on my back pack or next to my wallet. It really is sound advice, you will not forget whatever it was you didn't want to forget.

Come to think about it, I do the other thing you suggested in certain situations, too. For example, when I need to pay my electric bill, there will be a yellow tag hanging from my doorknob that says "disconnect notice" and I instantly remember that I need to pay the electric/gas bill.

[angry pancake]

I can't ever find my keys cause I keep burying them under other stuff.

[Ironic Mustache]

Originally Posted by angry pancake

I can't ever find my keys cause I keep burying them under other stuff.

Exactly this.

[Ugly Bastard]

A good lifehack Orgazmo educated me on for when you're in Vegas (it's worked beautifully for me anytime I've tried): Room Upgrades in Las Vegas Casino Hotels

What else... hmm... I dunno. I love lifehack tips that involve just being super cheap and getting things for free that you're supposed to pay for. Like I'll jew people around on random things sometimes and it works a lot more than your average square probably guesses it would. Random example: was at a Gap a while back, got up to the counter with like $60 in merchandise, and told them I had a 25% off coupon but I lost it. The girl behind the counter immediately made it into her problem and ran down a manager to see what kind of discount they could offer me. I ended up saving like $12 from whatever random coupon code crap she entered.

Another one is anytime you're a little upset at a restaurant or service, just explain the situation and ask for a discount (or even for the entire meal to be comped if it was bad enough). I used to be a huge pussy about stuff like this and just take everything on the chin and now I'm basically the completely opposite; if a restaurant messes up my order or if the service is inadequate I'll call over a manager and explain the situation. Just be really nice about it and ask them what they can do to make it right. I've had multiple completely free meals in the past year by causing a minor shit-fit.

A friend of mine once told me that everything in life is for sale and everything is negotiable. Once you internalize that you realize it's basically true.

[Repugnant Abomination]

Sounds a little douchey to me.

[Ugly Bastard]

Yea in our pushover society people complaining when they get bad service is "mean" or "douchey". Just part of the territory of living in a feminized society that values sensitivity over truth.

[Repugnant Abomination]

Whoa, whoa...Let's pump the brakes, UB. Let's pump the brakes.

[DDTempest]

Originally Posted by Ugly Bastard

Another one is anytime you're a little upset at a restaurant or service, just explain the situation and ask for a discount (or even for the entire meal to be comped if it was bad enough). I used to be a huge pussy about stuff like this and just take everything on the chin and now I'm basically the completely opposite; if a restaurant messes up my order or if the service is inadequate I'll call over a manager and explain the situation. Just be really nice about it and ask them what they can do to make it right. I've had multiple completely free meals in the past year by causing a minor shit-fit.

I roll with a similar approach but I rock it reverse psychology style. When they stop and ask how something is I'll respond "it's pretty terrible, you can have it back" and if they offer to get me a new one I say "no I'll stop and get food somewhere else on the way home" ... this usually mindfucks the shit out of them because they think you are clearly not trying to get something for free and they overcompensate to make sure. Throw in a comment like "I'm not sending food back here, I know what they do to food that's sent back" and the manager usually shits himself.

[DDTempest]

To keep yourself from snacking, store all of the food in your cabinet label side facing out, the boxes are to entice you to eat whats inside, and they work ... but if you are just looking at a list of nutritional information, its less enticing and reminds you that food is to keep you alive ... not for snacking fatass.

[angry pancake]

Use a dirty sock when masturbating. That way you won't have a single clean sock that is unsoiled. Also, the pairs stay sorted together.

[heurisdick]

Originally Posted by Ugly Bastard

A friend of mine once told me that everything in life is for sale and everything is negotiable. Once you internalize that you realize it's basically true.

I was in Afghanistan, and they would have people come on base to sell shit. If you didn't haggle the shit out of them, they would not have any respect for you (or so I heard). I'm guessing it's like this in the countries that actually worry about survival, not in Europe or America. I think it's some kind of faux pas to haggle here.

But because of that, we're all out of practice. America is probably easier to negotiate in because nobody knows what the fuck they're doing and/or don't have the balls to really challenge the other person.

Obviously not talking higher level business deals. Just more the everyday stuff.

And I got my ass handed to me in Afghanistan. I was shopping with a girl that was pretty good at it. She would sit down with the guy for about half an hour and come away paying about 25% of what he originally wanted. I, however, asked him the price of what I was getting. He told me like $40. I said "can you lower it?" He said "No, that's almost what I paid. If I lower it, I'll lose money." So I said Ok, I'll take it. She started laughing.

[Ironic Mustache]

Originally Posted by heurisdick

And I got my ass handed to me in Afghanistan. I was shopping with a girl that was pretty good at it. She would sit down with the guy for about half an hour and come away paying about 25% of what he originally wanted.

Half an hour negotiating? FUCK that. That's for poor people scraping for a few bucks a day to live on. If you live in California, Texas, etc., you live close enough to Mexico that you have some experience and realize what to pay for shit. If something "costs" $40, it actually costs about $2.50, but they'll be happy as shit to sell it to you for $5. Give them $10 'cause all things considered, are you really that big of an asshole that you're going to jew down a full day salary, what you're going to spend on your next shitty tequila shot? Maybe, but you still shouldn't.

Originally Posted by heurisdick

I, however, asked him the price of what I was getting. He told me like $40. I said "can you lower it?" He said "No, that's almost what I paid. If I lower it, I'll lose money." So I said Ok, I'll take it. She started laughing.

If you speak the language you get perks. Starting prices in Mexico are cut in half if you speak Spanish. I can only imagine the sand nigger discount.

[heurisdick]

It's even worse over there than Mexico. They were striking it rich off people like me. Even when she would negotiate them down, they were still going home with quite a sum of money compared to what they're used to having. That's why I didn't really feel that bad about getting ripped off. I knew I was making their month.

[Saint DH]

Save money on shampoo by not using any. The shit is terrible for your hair/scalp anyways. It contains a chemical degreaser that's probably capable of degreasing an engine block. If you start to smell bad, just put conditioner in your hair about once every week or two. Your hair will look better and you won't waste money on ridiculously overpriced faggot shampoo.

Also, you can save money by not buying toliet paper anymore. Instead, save all that junk mail you've just been throwing away in the past and use that to wipe your ass instead. It kind of hurts at first, and your asshole might bleed. Give it time your asshole will toughen up.

[Ironic Mustache]

Originally Posted by Dirty Harry

It kind of hurts at first, and your asshole might bleed. Give it time your asshole will toughen up.

I just wanted to see if taking these sentences out of context was funny. Yep.

[Orgazmo]

?

[Ugly Bastard]

Originally Posted by Dirty Harry

Save money on shampoo by not using any. The shit is terrible for your hair/scalp anyways. It contains a chemical degreaser that's probably capable of degreasing an engine block. If you start to smell bad, just put conditioner in your hair about once every week or two. Your hair will look better and you won't waste money on ridiculously overpriced faggot shampoo.

Also, you can save money by not buying toliet paper anymore. Instead, save all that junk mail you've just been throwing away in the past and use that to wipe your ass instead. It kind of hurts at first, and your asshole might bleed. Give it time your asshole will toughen up.

I started shampooing only every other day a while back just bc of how much it degreases/dries out your hair. Dunno if I have the stones for dropping it altogether. Interesting tip though at any rate.

[Ironic Mustache]

Does it really dry you out that much? Enough to cut your washing in half?

[Ugly Bastard]

IMO, my hair looks much better when I haven't washed it in 36-48 hours than it does within the first 12ish hours after a wash.

[Ironic Mustache]

This conversation could turn into gay any second now.