Older People Reveal Their Biggest "Cheat Codes" To Life
As much as we all like to deny it, as it turns out, you actually DO get wiser with age. Older people can certainly say some...out of touch...things sometimes, but they've also got a lot of life experience us young folks don't have. Besides, you know what they say: respect your elders.
So in the spirit of learning, I found this fascinating thread on Reddit where older people answered the question: "What's your favorite cheat code in life?" And boy oh boy, they did NOT hold back with their answers. Let's go through some of the top-voted responses, shall we?
"Learning something the proper way the first time around is the best shortcut."
"Sobriety."
"Live below your means and build a security fund, or an 'F-you fund,' as I like to call it. Not much is better than reaching the point where you don't need a job."
"Left my 'just married' paint on the car going on two years now. People let me over, and the cops leave me alone."
"My grandfather used to tell me he was too poor to buy cheap stuff. It took me a bit to understand what he meant."
"Not listening to what the media tells me is normal. Car, house, job, etc. I do what makes sense to me and makes me happy."
"Sleep. Seriously. Good sleep is a game-changer."
"If you never failed, you never tried anything new."
"Don't buy gifts for people. Usually they aren't appreciated anyway."
"Never put anything on a credit card that you won't have when the bill comes."
"Don't let other people ruin your day. They don't deserve that power."
"Things usually look better in the morning. In other words, try not to sweat the small shit."
"At 61, I don't need more stuff, but my neighbour and I like to look. For example, we go to Ross (a store here), look at things, and then we leave empty-handed. We call it Ross therapy. It's just fun to look without buying."
"'Delete.' Before sending something, I ask myself if I need to say that. I 'delete' often."
"Asking for the 'nice guy' discount. I heard it worked about listening to This American Life, and they said it worked about 30% of the time. Of course, this isn't for the grocery store or other places where the price is set in stone, but in many other cases, it is available."
"Buckets. I have my work life, my family life, my spiritual life, and my community life. I dedicate effort to each of them. As a result, no part is neglected, and I leave my world a little better than I found it."
"Except for a mortgage, never ever pay interest for anything. No car loan, no credit card debt, no home equity loan, no payment plan, no interest of any kind. Interest represents hours you work and pay you receive for absolutely no value."
"Always be polite and respectful, no matter how badly you are treated by the other person. Arguing with fools is a complete waste of time."
"Tell people when you don't understand, and ask them to explain it again. I can't believe how many directors, VPs and CEOs are so afraid of appearing stupid."
"Marriage: Communicate; everything is easier when you do that. Work: Pretend you give a fuck."
"Greet everyone with a big smile, and a 'hello,' even if it's fake. Most people will mirror it."
"Spend your money and time on experiences, not things."
"Quit all the pointless, time-wasting nonsense — waxing your car, polishing your silverware, ironing your clothes, etc. Just stop all silly chores and replace them with better stuff like reading books, playing with your pets, taking walks in nature, and visiting friends."
"It's okay to read your favorite book again."
"If money can fix it, it's not a problem. (This doesn't suggest that everyone has loads of money, but that those problems that money cannot fix tend to be the real problems.)"
"Max out the company match on your retirement benefits. That money is part of your compensation — take advantage of it."
"You can microwave frozen vegetables to cook them. For 27 fucking years, I've been ignoring the microwave, and I consider myself a decent cook."
"Marry someone you like and who makes you laugh. Laughter can get you through a lot of tough situations."
"Everything comes down to time or money. Which one are you willing to spend?"
"If thoughts are the problem, thinking isn't the solution. Move your body through nature and everything will be alright."
"Plan out your life in a quad chart: one-year, five-year, 10-year, and 20-year goals. Continue to update your chart. This helps me to get where and what I want in life."
"Pay yourself first. Put money in savings first, pay your bills, and then you can spend the rest of your check. Because you can spend your money down to zero, you don't feel deprived."
"If something has to be done, don't wait until the last minute. Jump on it first, then relax knowing that you have nothing to worry about."
"If a product line has a 'good, better, best' range, the 'good' range is budget and low-quality. The 'best' are overpriced and have features that don't really matter. This means the 'better' models are the best value."
"No one is as smart as they think they are. No one is as stupid as you want them to be."
Now, older people, tell us in the comments below: what's one life lesson you think not enough young people know? Give us all your wisdom!
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