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10 Weird Little Hacks That Make Life 100% Better

Last updated Jan. 10, 2026 | By FinanceBuzz Editors

It's tempting to think you've seen it all. Especially when it comes to earning money. But the truth is, you don't know what you don't know — at least, not until somebody clues you in. That's what we're here for.

These weird little hacks are things you might not think of when it comes to earning and using money. But they could make life 100% better, if you use them well. Let's check it out.

Cancel your car insurance

Driving without car insurance is illegal, but if you do this, you’re not actually breaking the law.

This tool can help you see if you’re overpaying for car insurance in just a few clicks. You’d be shocked by the difference. $159 per month is what they wanted to charge me. I thought that was the best price, don’t even look anywhere else. Right? Wrong.

I used Insurify and now I’m able to pay just $51 a month for two cars.1Too many insurance companies do this. They push up our rates and make us pay even more. But if you want to try this tool and compare and potentially score same-day savings, here’s what to do:

  1. Click the link below and enter your zip code, date of birth, and phone number.
  2. Answer a few questions about your car’s make and model to get matched with top offers.
  3. Choose the best quote for you and lock it in before rates go up.

Compare rates now and see if you could score same-day savings today!

I can hardly believe I waited so long to do this, but I’m glad I finally did. It only took me two minutes. Super fast. You have to trust me on this. Just try it out.

Stay healthy like the blue-zones with these bizarre habits

Lemon Peel for Joint Pain Relief: The oils in lemon peel contain anti-inflammatory compounds. Some people swear by rubbing lemon peel directly onto sore joints or soaking the peel in olive oil for a few weeks to create a natural pain-relief balm.

Nose Breathing for Better Endurance: Train yourself to breathe through your nose during exercise to improve endurance, oxygen efficiency, and reduce stress.

Chewing Gum for Focus: Chewing peppermint gum while studying or working can improve focus and memory retention, likely due to increased alertness.

Sungazing for Circadian Rhythm Reset: Spend 5-10 minutes outside in the morning light to reset your circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality (just don’t stare directly at the sun).

Staying Cool to Burn More Fat: Exposure to cold (like cold showers or outdoor exercise in winter) can increase brown fat activation and boost metabolism.

You could be overpaying for your retirement planning

Fees matter. High fees can cut into your returns and affect your overall nest egg. But the ways fees are levied vary. Some are “fee only,” charging a flat rate regardless of usage. Others take a percentage of all assets under management. Some earn commissions directly from mutual funds or other financial products, which presents a significant conflict of interest.

This free matching quiz helps Americans get matched with up to three fiduciary advisors who serve their area so they can compare and decide which advisor to work with.

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

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

Earn a bonus of $400 when you open a new Truist One Checking account online between October 30, 2025 and March 25, 2026 using promo code AFL400TR1Q425.2To 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. 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

Turn your home’s value into extra cash

If you want to pay a large expense now, like a home improvement project or credit card debt, you may have considered using your home equity as leverage to borrow a large sum of money.

But with interest rates rising in recent years, a cash-out refinance or home equity loan may not make financial sense.

Here’s a potential solution: Get a home equity line of credit (HELOC) instead.

Using LendingTree’s simple HELOC matching tool3 (yes, the company from the commercials), you can compare rates and see what works for you.

How a home equity line of credit is different: Your line of credit acts similar to a credit card, where you can withdraw funds when you need them, and you’re only responsible for minimum monthly payments for what’s called the “draw period,” which is usually 10 years. After this borrowing period ends, you pay off the rest of your balance during an extended repayment period, which is usually 20 years.

Plus, as a revolving line of credit, rates are usually variable, so you won’t be locked into a fixed rate if they ever go lower.

To get started:

  1. Check out LendingTree’s HELOC matching tool.
  2. Answer a few questions.
  3. Be matched with personalized offers for you.

Visit LendingTree

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.4

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.

Simplify your household chores with these odd tricks

Rubber Band for Stripped Screws: Placing a rubber band over a stripped screw head can provide the grip needed to remove it.

Shower Cap for Packing Shoes: Covering shoes with a shower cap when packing prevents dirt from transferring to clothes.

Aluminum Foil in Dishwasher: Adding a crumpled ball of aluminum foil to the dishwasher can help remove tarnish from silverware, making it shinier.

Toothpaste for Filling Nail Holes: White toothpaste can be used as a quick fix to fill small nail holes in walls.

Ditch expensive store bought products for these affordable alternatives

Banana Peel Shoe Polish: Use the inside of a banana peel to shine leather shoes. The natural oils help clean and condition the leather.

Frozen Sponge Ice Pack: Soak a sponge in water, place it in a ziplock bag, and freeze. It creates a reusable ice pack that doesn't drip as it melts.

Aluminum Foil for Dull Scissors: Fold a piece of aluminum foil several times and cut through it with dull scissors to sharpen the blades.

Car Wax for Faucet Shine: Applying car wax to bathroom faucets can prevent water spots and keep them shining longer.

Rubber Band for Paint Can Drips: Stretch a rubber band across the top of a paint can to wipe off your brush without making a mess on the rim.

Ask this company to pay off your credit card debt

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 gets 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 $10,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their representatives might be able to assist you in consolidating your debt into one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero fees until your debt is resolved, and you could be debt-free in 24-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions. It only takes 30 seconds to see if you qualify!5

Try National Debt Relief

In 2023, 353 million victims had their data exposed

That's right. In 2023, 353 million victims had their data exposed across 3,200 data breaches. That’s not to mention the American adults that lost $47 billion to scams and identity fraud in 2024 alone.

Data brokers profit by collecting and sharing your data when you go online, exposing you to ads, scams, and identity theft. But you can safeguard your privacy and get off their sites with Aura. It’s surprising how much this affordable protection can improve your safety (especially when you shop online).

Plans start at $7 per month, and you can choose a family plan that outmatches most others — including Dark Web monitoring to scour data breaches and leaks for your sensitive personal data — such as Social Security numbers (SSN), Medicare information, and phone numbers.

Before you make your next online purchase, protect what you’ve built for a fraction of what it could cost you if your data were compromised.

Save up to 68% when you sign up for protection today!

Save up to $800 on Car Insurance Annual Premiums 6
SmarterAuto - O&O Auto Insurance
  • They work with 90+ partners and are trusted by over 2 million drivers to shop for auto insurance
  • It takes less than two minutes and the tool is free to use
  • There is no catch and no hidden fees to get matched
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