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15 Smart Life Hacks That You Should Try Today

tea bag life hack for smelly shoes
Last updated May 30, 2026 | By FinanceBuzz Editors

Stop throwing money away — use what you already have at home

Vinegar as a Fabric Softener: Add half a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle instead of liquid fabric softener. It softens clothes, eliminates detergent buildup, and costs pennies per load compared to $10+ name-brand bottles.

Bread Clip Cable Labels: Save the plastic clips from bread bags and use them to label your charging cables and cords. No more buying label makers or cable tags — and no more unplugging the wrong thing.

Dry Erase Marker on Mirrors: Use a dry erase marker to write reminders, grocery lists, or to-dos directly on bathroom mirrors. Wipes off clean with a dry cloth — no sticky notes, no notepads required.

Rubber Gloves for Pet Hair: Pull on a rubber dishwashing glove and run your hand over upholstered furniture to collect pet hair. The static pulls hair into clumps fast — no lint roller needed.

Old Newspaper for Window Cleaning: Crumple up old newspaper to wipe down glass and mirrors instead of paper towels. It leaves no lint or streaks and costs nothing if you already have it in the recycling bin.

These little swaps prove you don't need to spend more to live better. And that same logic applies in more ways than you think. If you want your money to work harder across the board, check out these offers from our partners below:

See if your credit card debt is eligible for this debt relief program

If you have a lot of debt, getting out of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it may get to fix. If you don’t take control of it early on, it can add undue stress to your life for years. But what if there was a way to get out of debt once and for all?

National Debt Relief could help. If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their certified debt specialists may be able to help you resolve your debt for less than you owe — with one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero upfront fees, and you could be debt-free in 24-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions and get connected with a caring debt specialist. The consultation is completely free and only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify!1

See if your $30k+ in credit card debt is eligible for National Debt Relief

Set up direct deposit and complete qualifying activities - pocket $400

If you aren't banking with Truist, you're missing out on a boost of extra cash just by following a few simple steps.

Earn a bonus of $400 after you open a new Truist One Checking account online between March 26, 2026 and July 9, 2026 using promo code AFL400TR1Q226.2To earn the $400 bonus, your account needs to receive at least 2 qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more and complete 20 qualifying debit card purchase transactions within 120 days of account opening. The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. Terms apply.

This is a great way to supercharge your earnings. It basically takes no extra work at all other than following the steps above. Plus, your new account offers benefits like no overdraft fee and options to avoid a monthly maintenance fee on top of the bonus.

Open your account and earn a $400 bonus

Cut your cleaning bill in half with these simple swaps

Baking Soda Scrub for Pots and Pans: Sprinkle baking soda directly on stuck-on food and scrub with a damp cloth. It works as well as most name-brand abrasive cleaners at a fraction of the cost — a large box runs about $1.

Lemon for Cutting Board Odors: Cut a lemon in half and rub it across a smelly wooden cutting board. The acid neutralizes odors naturally, no need for specialty wood cleaners or deodorizing sprays.

Cornstarch for Glass Cleaning: Mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with water and vinegar for a streak-free window cleaning solution. It's cheaper than any commercial glass cleaner and most households already have it in the pantry.

Coffee Grounds for Fridge Odors: Place a small bowl of dried used coffee grounds in your fridge instead of buying baking soda boxes. If you already brew at home, this costs you nothing.

White Bread for Picking Up Glass Shards: Press a slice of white bread firmly over the area where glass broke to safely pick up tiny shards. It catches fragments that a broom misses — no expensive adhesive lint rollers needed.

Borrow from your home's equity to help you get through 2026

If you own your home, a cash-out refinance from Rocket Mortgage3could help you consolidate your debt. You could pull money out of your home without a second mortgage or HELOC … meaning you could tackle your debt head-on while eliminating multiple monthly payments.

For example, let's say you're able to take out $50,000 with a cash-out refinance. You use $20,000 to pay off high-interest debt and $30,000 for home renovations, lowering your total monthly payments and increasing your home's value. That's a win-win.

See how much could be available to you:Visit Rocket Mortgage and click “Take cash out.” Then use the simple calculator to estimate how much cash you could get out of your home.

See how much cash you could get

Join the website that has paid out over $59,000,000 for taking surveys

You do NOT need to get a second job to make some easy extra cash.

Because now, there’s a company who has paid out over $59 million dollars to users … just for taking simple questionnaires.

This company operates in a high-demand industry servicing Fortune 500 clients. And they’re paying normal people a piece of that $49 million every day, just to give honest opinions on products and services from companies like Walmart, Apple, FedEx, and more.

It’s called Branded Surveys. And when you complete their questionnaires, you can get paid a nice chunk of cash. Their clients are hungry for real feedback, and thus, are willing to pay a premium.

It also requires ZERO skills, no startup cost, and you can start earning money as early as today. The best part? It’s free to sign up, and you’ll earn 100 bonus points as a new member!

Sign up with Branded Surveys

Access up to $150 per day of your paycheck with no mandatory fees

If you need a few dollars in between paychecks, a little daily cushion can go a long way.

With the EarnIn app4 you can access up to $150 per day of your paycheck and up to $1,000 per pay period — and EarnIn won’t charge you any mandatory fees.

Yes, you read that correctly. You have the option to access your pay as you work and not have EarnIn charge you at all. The EarnIn app does not charge any interest or mandatory fees on a standard Cash Out.

You even have the option to access the money within minutes for a small fee.5

The best news? There is no credit check, no interest, no late fees – ever.

How to get started:

  1. Visit EarnIn and create an account.
  2. Link your bank and employment info.
  3. EarnIn will verify your paycheck and you’re all set!

Get started with EarnIn here

Pay no interest into 2028 with this no annual fee card

If you're struggling to pay down high interest debt (or you're planning a major purchase this year), this might be the exact thing you need. There's a card that allows you to completely pause credit card interest into 2028 ... and the best part is that it could be easier than you think.  

BankAmericard® credit card is an extremely powerful card that gives you 0% intro APR for an astounding 21 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers. (Then APR is 14.99% - 25.99% Variable.) That's right — you could finance large purchases you've been sitting on without paying massive interest. Or, transfer crippling high interest debt to this card and let your payments go directly to paying down your balance, without piling on additional interest charges. 

And here's what makes it even better — there's no annual fee. So every dollar you're saving on interest stays right where it belongs: in your pocket. If you've been waiting for the right moment to tackle your debt or pull the trigger on a big purchase, this card is hard to beat.

Apply now for the BankAmericard® credit card 

Ohio residents, see if you could save on new windows

Old windows drive up your home's electric bill. But if you live in Ohio and your windows are 5+ years old, you could save now.

HomeBuddy connects you with pre-screened local contractors who install energy-efficient windows that could help reduce energy bills and keep your home more comfortable.

It’s easy to get started. Answer a few quick questions and you could be matched with a contractor who can set up an estimate. The entire process is hassle free.

Get started now if you check these 3 boxes:

  1. You own your home.
  2. Your windows are 5+ years old.
  3. You live in an available ZIP code.

Complete this short questionnaire to get started

Make your groceries and pantry staples work double duty

Olive Oil for Squeaky Hinges: A small dab of olive oil on a squeaky door hinge quiets it instantly. Skips the hardware store run for WD-40 and uses something most people already have in the kitchen.

Banana Peel for Shoe Scuffs on Floors: Rub the inside of a banana peel on scuffed hardwood or laminate flooring to reduce the appearance of surface marks. The natural oils buff lightly without leaving residue or requiring expensive floor polish.

Rice to Dry a Wet Phone: Submerge a wet phone in a bowl of dry uncooked rice for 24 to 48 hours. The rice absorbs moisture and can potentially save you a costly repair or replacement — and a cup of rice costs next to nothing.

Petroleum Jelly for Stuck Jar Lids: Rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly around the rim before storing any jar you open regularly. It prevents the lid from sticking and saves you from cracking the glass or buying a grip tool.

Toothpaste for Cloudy Headlights: Apply a small amount of non-gel white toothpaste to cloudy plastic headlights and buff in circles with a damp cloth. It restores clarity at the cost of a pea-sized squeeze versus $20+ headlight restoration kits.

Save up to $2,000 on every flight you take (yes, it’s crazy)

Sounds kind of insane. And maybe you’re skeptical if this actually works or not. But either way … you’re probably curious. If you want to save a ton on travel (even international), Dollar Flight Club makes it so you could potentially pay less for any flight you take.

They’ve been helping travelers save since 2016 (so you know they’re the real deal), shipping crazy flight deals straight to your email — up to 90% off normal price for many flights. Just pick your destination and let them do the rest. They hunt deals 24/7 so you don’t have to.

Now, some insider info: They *do* offer a free version … but it puts you on a 2-3 month waitlist. Skip the wait and get instant access to the best deals with a Premium+ membership instead. For a limited time, FinanceBuzz readers can try Premium+ free for 14 days!

How to try Premium+:

  1. Enter your email at the link below.
  2. Pick your departure airport and dream destinations.
  3. Enter your payment info and start your free trial of Premium+.

This is the fastest way to unlock the best flight deals that could save you up to 90% off flights. At the end of the trial, you’ll be upgraded to the $99 per year membership.

Enter your payment info here to start your free Premium+ trial

Earn up to 5% cash back at restaurants and home improvement stores with this incredible card (unlock up to $1,070 in value over the next year!)

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing welcome bonus and benefits. Apply for the Discover it® Cash Back (Rates and fees) and you can earn up to 5% cash back at restaurants and home improvement stores now to June 30, 2026, on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate. 

There's no annual fee, and Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This generous welcome offer and the top-notch cash back rewards provides an estimated $1,070 value in the first year!6 Plus, you'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. The welcome offer combined with the up to 5% cash back reward rate could be worth up to 10% cash back in the first year!

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then APR 17.49% - 26.49% Variable. That means you could use this card to fund large purchases or even potentially get out of debt. If you dine out or shop at home improvement stores even once a month, this card is practically a no-brainer!

Click here to apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back.

Stop paying contractors for home repairs

This unique company makes it so you could stop paying contractors so much money for repairs. It sounds crazy, but they’ve been around since 2008 and cover appliances and systems in your home that could break down from wear and tear.

Say your AC unit breaks down during a heatwave. Don’t pay $1,500 for repairs. Instead, pay a $100 service fee with Choice Home Warranty, and they come and fix it ASAP. This could save you $1,400 almost instantly!

Choose a plan here and lock in ultra-low 2025 rates (for a limited time). Whenever a covered system breaks down, make your claim online or give them a call. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.7

Choose a plan from Choice Home Warranty here and lock in 2025 rates

P.S. Use the links above for $50 off and 1 month free. We don’t know how long this will last, so take advantage of it today before it disappears.

Save as much as 80% on weight loss meds

If you’re finally ready to lose weight, GLP-1s — like Semaglutide & Tirzepatide — burn fat fast.8 And this company we found called Remedy Meds gets them to you 80% cheaper!

It might sound crazy, but Remedy Meds operates on a cash-only basis and does not accept insurance. This is how they’re able to provide up to 80% off the typical cost of weight-loss medications like Ozempic® and Zepbound®. (You can pay via credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard.)

Skip the surgeries, diets, and expensive costs of weight loss. Get real results with GLP-1s at 80% less than name brands! Plus, get access to U.S.-based doctors 24/7 when you go through Remedy Meds. No insurance is required and there are no hidden fees.

Dr. Ritu Chopra (from the show "The Doctors") says this is the future of weight loss. Join now before prices go up! You could get pre-approved in as little as 2 minutes.

Limited Time Offer: Right now you can get $120 off your first order!

Take the quiz to get up to 80% off weight loss medications starting at $179/month ($6/day)