What Hacks Reduce 'Friction' in Your Daily Life?

Oneguyinmelb on 22/07/2020 - 15:19
Last edited 28/07/2020 - 12:40

I've been on a home automation kick the past month and was wondering what other life hacks the OzBargain community has to reduce 'friction' in your daily life?

Now friction is probably a silly word to use, and will lead to a lot of replies about lube. Basically I'm just looking for little hacks you have in place to make your everyday life easier - and hopefully cheaper in the long run.

Do you stock up on Toilet Paper when it's on special, or do you subscribe so a new pack arrives every fortnight/month?
Is there a way you combine exercise with work/entertainment?

Anything that will help give me more time in the day or minimise decision fatigue.

Summary of the most useful and regular comments below:
• Electric Locks - Saves forgetting keys, giving access to family and friends.
• Robot Vacuum Cleaner - more suited to those without small children OR hiring a cleaner once a fortnight.
• Calendar Reminder to take bins out, especially if there is alternating Green waste and recycling weeks.
• Temptation Bundling – Pair an unpleasant activity (exercise, ironing) with a pleasant one (Netflix, audiobooks, etc).
• Apple/Google Pay so carrying a wallet is less important
• PriceHipster and OzBargain Subscriptions on monthly/quarterly consumables. Alternative is Amazon Subscribe and Save.
• Tile tracker for keys and wallet.
• Password Managers – BitWarden is free, paid for 1Pass or Dashlane
• Automatic top up and direct debits.
• Smart Lights and Plugs, pair with routines for Alexa or Google Assistant.
• Pyroletic Oven – No more oven cleaning (just oven dusting?)
• HelloFresh / Lite and Easy – Easier for those without kids

General Discussion

Comments

  • FatBlanket on 29/07/2020 - 08:10
    +4

    I get a special kind of joy when I’m laying on the couch and the dishwasher is washing my dishes, the washing machine my clothes, the robot vacuum cleaning my floor and I’m changing the tracks I’m listening to via HomePod.

    Sometimes friends and family come by and poke me with stick to check that I’m alive.

    • capslock janitor on 29/07/2020 - 09:13

      🤣🤣🤣🤣

    • OzBozo on 30/07/2020 - 20:39

      Or maybe just anything with a screen. That’s a bit far. Maybe the landine too

  • sarahlump on 29/07/2020 - 13:24

    Metamucil! or psyllium husk.

  • Tasmaniac on 29/07/2020 - 17:37
    +1

    I know some people who outsource their wives with trips abroad. They seem quite happy.

  • 1968 on 02/08/2020 - 12:17
    +2

    Use a Thermos at home whenever boiling the kettle.. Stops having to re-boil it 10 times a day for those working from home etc..

  • baldur on 04/08/2020 - 14:08

    surprised by the little mention of meal prep. it is an amazing time saver when you cook only once or twice per week!

  • grasstown on 09/08/2020 - 19:37

    Loving no longer collecting qantas and velocity points. Rushing to Coles and woolies is over.

  • grasstown on 09/08/2020 - 23:45

    And not making appointments back to back. Nowadays I space timed appointments out so that I return home after each or so plenty of time between

    • Allwentmarching on 15/08/2020 - 11:03

      Thats not a bad idea so many doctors dentist etc run late.

  • Allwentmarching on 15/08/2020 - 11:04

    Im on a couple of committees for sports clubs and I found putting zoom on my phone helped with meetings I can listen to the meeting while folding washing or whatever and unmute myself if I need to say something.

  • Ughhh on 15/08/2020 - 11:14

    A robot vacuum is a good "hack". But the cat likes to leave his toys on the floor, causing a friction to my hack. Now I need a hack for my cat.

    • baldur on 15/08/2020 - 13:41

      a robot cat?

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