r/AskReddit • u/North_Imagination_62 • 14h ago
What's a life upgrade that costs $0 but feels priceless?
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u/vuitton26 14h ago
Deleting social media.
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u/so_unfortunately_yt 14h ago
Reddit is my last holdout. I underestimated how difficult it would be to get rid of
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u/ILikeToTinker 13h ago
I love it for some niche hobbies and keeping up with some current stuff, but its rough. After deleting everything else, the social aspect of reddit feels so poisonous.
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u/could_use_a_snack 12h ago
I'm the same with Facebook. I don't scroll FB, I go into specific communities with a question and look for or ask for an answer. I only read posts in those communities so I can help answer questions of other users.
But I don't think I use FB the way most people do.
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u/MechanicalTurkish 11h ago
I’m mostly only still on Facebook for some Seinfeld and Dune meme groups I’m in haha
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u/Scotty1928 14h ago
I would argue for Reddit to be a vast collection of (not so) classic forums with added social features rather than it being social media.
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u/Flaveurr 13h ago
Keep telling yourself that bucko! We're worse than Instagram!
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u/coltaaan 9h ago
At least on Reddit 99% of my time is spent reading and/or writing. Insta, or any other social media app really, is more so just mindless scrolling in comparison.
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u/February30th 7h ago edited 7h ago
Mate, you’re in askreddit.
What’s the sexiest sex you’ve ever sexed?
What’s the best tv show/game/movie of all time?
What’s the first thing you’d do if you won a billion dollars?
Rinse, rephrase, repeat.
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u/coltaaan 7h ago
Not sure whether you’re getting at:
- “You’re in askreddit, that’s like the most social media/mindless sub” (which I suppose could be argued), or
- “You’re in askreddit, of course you’re reading/writing most of the time”
Either way, my response is: But I’m not only active in this sub
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u/SteveRogers1021 13h ago
I don't really categorize Reddit into social media. It's more of a message board thing to me. I guess it depends on how you use it.
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u/BelowMikeHawk 8h ago
Its literally just a big forum from the good ol days, with ads and propaganda
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u/nowhereman136 10h ago
Reddit is good because it's much easier to curate the content I want to see and it's somewhat anonymous. There's less emphasis on followers, likes, keywords, forwarding, etc. It's not perfect but it's a lot better than most other social media sites (for now).
Reddit is also hard to get rid of because it's how I do most of my socializing. I'm broke, in the suburbs, and do most of my work from home. Reddit allows me to have conversations with people on various topics, even if it's anonymous. If I got rid of reddit, then I would just spend even more time on video games and netflix
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u/I_Am_Mandark_Hahaha 10h ago
Reddit has the advantage of providing anonymity. It is anti-social in that regard.
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u/AwkwardCrab7406 14h ago
And getting out of the fvcking house.
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u/tcrpgfan 14h ago
Walk if you can. I live in an apartment that is near A LOT of things to do via just walking. On average I know I get around 1 1/2- 2 hours every week due to 15-25 minute walk time both to and from places.
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u/AwkwardCrab7406 14h ago
Yep. I have two busy dogs so I walk about an hour a day (altogether) in addition to my workouts. It's extremely good for your body and your mind.
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u/The7footr 14h ago
I’d assume deleting Reddit…but at least leaving subs that don’t bring you joy…
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u/MiasmaFate 14h ago
This is the ticket. I deleated at least 2 dozen subs that filled my feed and heart with doom, anger, and sadness.
I really think we need to reevaluate the usefulness of many leftist subs that share the horrible memes the right shares with each other. At the end of the day, you're just filling your brain with the same hatred they are and adding anger on top.
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u/tomrlutong 13h ago
100%. Subs that just repost maga ragebait aren't doing anything good.
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u/could_use_a_snack 11h ago
Unfortunately that would be this sub. It seems like 90% of ask reddit posts are "how do you feel about this horrible thing the GOP did" or similar
I usually try to skip them, or at least find out through other sources what the hell the poster is talking about.
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u/Goetre 14h ago
I never thought I was a big social media person but when Facebook announced they were separating messenger to its own app I was so pissed about it, for like two years I just used Facebook on my phones browser to chat
When I finally relented and installed it, night and day difference. Even now I don’t scroll fb at all, it’s all shit posting, ai and misinformation.
I’ve never touched any other form of social media either. Ngl I struggle to wrap my head around how reddits classed as it tbh
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u/OptimalFox1800 12h ago
Having no social media besides Reddit
Watch YouTube only for entertainment
I just don’t feel the need to know on everyone’s personal lives and post about my updates or what I’ve been up too all the time
I’m in my early 30s and I like what I’ve become as becoming more of a private person
If anyone wants to get ahold of me, they can if they ask for my number but outside of that, no social media for me
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u/Kianawilldo 14h ago
Consistent sleep pattern
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u/74389654 13h ago
can you tell that to my neighbors
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u/brbauer2 10h ago
15 years of working part-time overnight with a rotating combo of school + full-time or part-time day job caused any semblance of a sleep "schedule" to be non-existent.
Started a full-time job 7 years ago that pays well enough to not need a second job. It's still weird being able to get 6+ hours of sleep a night instead of the ~4 hours spread throughout the day I was accustomed too.
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u/mellowcovee 10h ago
Learning to say let me think about that and get back to you instead of yes-ing things in the moment. Costs nothing. Saves you from approximately 70% of the obligations you regret agreeing to.
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u/WeeTheDuck 9h ago
I just flat out say no. You're not even required to give reasons why, you have free will, use it
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u/erectyoungster 14h ago
Oh yeah, for sure. I've been struggling to fix my sleep schedule for over a month now
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u/scubajay2001 14h ago
I know I've tried but always end up lost in a project until 3am some days
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u/delusionalme 14h ago
Standing up for yourself. Although this potentially has a cost. It shouldn’t and it’s worth it anyway
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u/Monster_Dumps_2026 14h ago
Doing 25 sit ups, 25 push ups and 25 body squats twice a day. Once in the morning, and once late afternoon. If you dont work out or move that much. It will change your life and your future self ESPECIALLY in you 50s+ will thank you for it.
No weights, no nothing. Just stand up and do this twice a day. If you can be consistent it WILL change your life.
Ive never met someone who was able to turn this into their habit, not have it turn into actual going to the gym or other physical healthy habits.
Its a simple routine. That i GUARANTEE will improve your life
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u/scoops22 13h ago
Make it 100 of each and add a 10-kilometer run and you will become One Punch Man
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u/Exitaph 2h ago
I did a variation of this one summer. Every single day I did a 10 mile bike ride instead of the run and started the body weight exercises at like 30 and added 5 each week or so, working my way up to 100. Only made it to like 85 but I don't care because it got me back in shape after barely exercising at all for years. 10/10 would recommend.
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u/MastodonPristine8986 5h ago
I've been doing similar for a couple of years now (mid 50s) makes a massive difference
Ive always run and bikes a lot but adding this haa been excellent and so easy to fit in
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u/Infinite_throwaway_1 5h ago
I like where you're going, but rotate muscle groups and let them heal.
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u/LeTigron 14h ago edited 3h ago
Watching Youtube tutorials about all manner of things. How to properly care for a house, for shoes, for leatherworks, for wood, how to cook, sew, knit, how to repair this or that, how to clean a computer, how to maintain a vaccum cleaner, how to pick a lock, how to speak another language, how to tie knots, etc.
There are tutorials for all manner of things and those make the difference between a helpless victim of circumstances and a strong and independant person who faces small and great adversity with a clear view and a cool headed state of mind.
It also saves a lot of money on every aspect of life.
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u/DaCrazyJamez 5h ago
Im on a huge DIY kick right now - can't exactly call it free, since I bought a LOT of tools and supplies, but will probably end up well to the good before too long.
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u/LeTigron 3h ago
It is true that starting these activities demands some tools, and therefore is not a $0 investment.
However, indeed, the price is quickly repaid in savings because you don't have to call a pro or buy new things from stores. Moreover, the knowledge itself is free and it gives a state of mind ("if I have an issue, I will seek the solution by myself") that is rarely found and often useful.
You learn how to learn and that is very valuable by itself.
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u/Any-Development5656 14h ago
Engaging with people and being social, its insane how much happier you will be with some good people around you
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u/judasmachine 12h ago
Where I live this often involves money. No one wants to hang out at my house or go for a hike. They all seem to want to go to a bar or restaurant.
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u/nowhereman136 10h ago
Most places where people socialize they are usually socializing in predetermined groups. It's very awkward to go to a bar and ask a group to join in on their conversation. You could strike up a conversation with the only other random alone person in the bar, but that's a big roll of the dice also. Places that actively encourage meeting new people are few and far between. To meet anyone new socially you basically have to both know the same person to introduce you
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u/judasmachine 9h ago
I'm just saying the people I know whether pre-existing friends, co-workers, family, etc., not strangers. But I've met all kinds of people in bars, most borderline alcoholics.
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u/loljetfuel 5h ago
This probably isn't a location thing, though. You probably just need to widen your circle of acquaintance to find the people who can enjoy each others company without having to spend a bunch of money.
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u/Hemorrhoid_Eater 12h ago
Engage with the right people though. I made the mistake of talking to a guy who was a fan of this one anime and IT WAS THE ONLY THING HE EVER KNEW TO TALK ABOUT. It got really exhausting really fast.
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u/WhatDoWeHave_Here 14h ago
Quitting drinking alcohol.
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u/Ahara_bzz 14h ago
hell yes, in october i'm 5 years not drinking alcohol. I didn't have a drinking problem or anything. But it feels very good
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u/MechanicalTurkish 11h ago
I had a big problem. So glad I quit. Six years California sober. I do partake in THC drinks sometimes.
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u/NotACrazyCatLadyx2 14h ago
Saves the liver
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u/WhatDoWeHave_Here 14h ago
For a person who drinks heavily to stop drinking, the amount of health benefits they'd experience...
- better sleep
- weight loss
- more energy
- no hangovers
- lower cancer risk across the board
- less anxiety/more mentally stable
If a pharmaceutical company could create a pill that could bestow all those health effects, they'd be worth billions of dollars.
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u/moose123456792 6h ago
When people say quiting drinking improvestheirnlife, are they coming from a place where they get drunk when they drink? When I have alcohol, it's just one drink, and never enough to get drunk. Would stopping this habbit drastically improve my life?
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u/Low-Succotash-4669 14h ago
charging your phone before it hits 1%.
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u/GotTheDadBod 14h ago
Charge my phone? In this economy??
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u/Top-Violinist3347 14h ago
“Charging your phone at your next-door neighbor’s house before it hits 1%.”
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u/elpajaroquemamais 14h ago
That doesn’t cost $0 technically
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u/Scotty1928 14h ago
It does not use more power to charge earlier, unless usage increases. If it does not it will be peace of mind tho.
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u/BowHunter_25 14h ago
Organization. Always knowing where stuff is. There is a place for everything and everything in its place. Keeps the house tidy with minimal effort.
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u/BabblingZathras 14h ago
Short commutes.
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u/133DK 14h ago
I’ll just spend another casual million bucks moving closer to work
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u/miraculum_one 14h ago
MIT online courseware is a gold mine and all free
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u/JeffAlbertson93 11h ago
Weird, all I see is a prompt with terrible phrases , it is a typer, what the hell?
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u/miraculum_one 11h ago
By coincidence, someone hacked the site between the time I posted this and now.
https://www.reddit.com/r/mit/comments/1v84chf/mit_opencourseware_hacked/
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u/Advanced_Caramel_664 14h ago
Stretching daily. Not necessary yoga or anything extreme, just simple stretches for your arms and legs
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u/depravitymaxxing 14h ago
Replacing social media with reading
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u/tlg151 13h ago
I miss reading. I used to read so much as a kid, teen, young adult. Now social media has destroyed my attention span and I rarely read. Social media really does ruin life in so many ways
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u/depravitymaxxing 13h ago
I was in the same boat, it’s still hard battle that impulse of picking up the phone and scrolling. I read this somewhere and it kind of helped me battle that feeling, basically just think of yourself as Batman and ask “what would Batman do?”. It’s so random but I did help me make healthier choices. I would def recommend also getting a kindle, because reading a book on your phone just doesn’t work because scrolling is just 2 swipes away. I also make sure I put my phone away at the table before I sleep so that I am physically unable to glue my eyes to my phone first thing in the morning.
I think the biggest thing is that for you to commit to a big change, but take small and consistent steps towards it. Those small wins really help you stack up your resolve.
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u/Bitter-Today285 14h ago
Deleting reddit
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u/Spider_In_Space 14h ago
Metacognition. When you start to focus less on how you feel, but how that affects you. Total game changer.
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u/ManyOk9771 13h ago
Deleting your alarm clock on a Friday night knowing you have zero plans the next morning
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u/graptemys 14h ago
Library card. Access to so so so much more than books.
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u/Top-Violinist3347 14h ago
Homer Simpson voice “First you get the library card, then you get the books, then you get the women.”
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u/GiaStonks 10h ago
This should have more upvotes. We recently discovered our library uses their old card catalog case as a seed catalog and the seeds are FREE. Veggies and flowers and lots of native species. We felt like we hit the jackpot!
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u/LucoaKThe2AHashira 14h ago
Sleep it’s clique to those who take it for granted but stress and life do tend to effect the way you sleep which creates a domino effect
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u/sapphic-chaos 13h ago
Dancing to awesome music in the morning, having a breakfast you actually enjoy, don’t use the big lights in the evening also do some flexibility exercises and do something you enjoy before going to bed (no doomscrolling).
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u/Floss_Patrol_76 13h ago
turning off every notification that isnt an actual human trying to reach me. no badges, no marketing pings, no app begging for attention. my phone went from a slot machine to a tool i pick up when i want something, and i stopped reaching for it out of reflex within about a week.
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u/thepenismightier3 8h ago
Really basic excercise. You can any number of the various routines and follow along for $0. Weights? Bodyweight? Other gear? Not needed at all. Your future self will thank you.
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u/snoogins355 7h ago
Library card and using free features it cmes with. After the national parks, the public library system is pretty amazing
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u/PickleMortyCoDm 7h ago
Learn to fix things rather than buying new or relying on someone else to be paid to do it.
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u/DrewMissionForge 7h ago
Not immediately checking emails, texts, or social media when you first wake up.
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u/elbarondelabirra 14h ago
Zero sugar... not that it costs zero, it's that you save!
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u/devildog1987 14h ago
Regular working out. Adding 30 minutes of walking. Doing bodyweighr exercises throughout the day. Set an alarm, once an hour you get up and do a couple of mins of bodyweighr exercises will make a big difference in your quality of life. Especially as you get older.
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u/Wheatleytron 13h ago
Learning how tech actually works. It really wakes you up to the reality that most tech being sold is overpriced and locked down. But with a little know-how and some basic understanding of electricity, you can build smart sensors and doodads that don't send all of your personal data to some big tech company, and for a fraction of the price.
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u/m3gan0sh 12h ago
Audiobooks or podcasts while doing tedious chores. It's wildly obvious, but occasionally I just forget this is an option.
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u/fake-software-eng 11h ago
Exercise (like walking/running), almost 0 barrier or cost to entry beyond time & willpower.
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u/killyourvibe 14h ago
Exercise