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What is a “poor person hack” you picked up during a hard time that you still use today, even if you don’t have to?

· 3 min read

“What is a ‘poor person hack’ you picked up during a hard time that you still use today, even if you don't have to?”

The Community’s Top 5 Hacks​

Below we’ve distilled the funniest, most useful hacks from the Reddit crowd. No usernames, just pure, unfiltered wisdom.

1. Google Is Your New Best Friend​

“Google the fix for something that is broken and if you think you can do it try, the amount of crooks in appliance repair is insane”

The Takeaway:
When the toaster stops popping, don’t call the repair shop—call the internet. A quick search will reveal a DIY tutorial, a YouTube video, or a forum thread where someone else has already spent the time figuring out the ancient art of flipping a toaster’s crumb tray. You’ll save money, learn a new skill, and maybe even impress your friends with a toaster that works again.

2. YouTube: The DIY Encyclopedia​

“There’s a YouTube video for diagnosing and repairing just about every appliance in your home. I’ve replaced my freezer’s icemaker, my dryer’s motherboard, my washer’s intake valve, to name a few.”

The Takeaway:
Think of YouTube as your personal appliance repair school. From “How to replace a dryer’s motherboard” to “Fix your fridge’s icemaker in 5 minutes,” the videos are often step‑by‑step, narrated by people who actually know what they’re doing (or at least are good at pretending). If you can’t afford a professional, you can’t afford to ignore the wealth of knowledge out there.

3. Costco Chicken: The Budget Superstar​

“$5 Costco whole chicken 1x week, top ramen, rice, beans and eggs. This got me through months of low income months. It was like $50‑$60 for a month of 2 meals/day”

The Takeaway:
A whole chicken for five dollars? Yes, please. Pair it with a pantry staple like rice or beans and you’ve got a month’s worth of meals that are both filling and incredibly budget‑friendly. The trick is to plan meals around the chicken so you never run out of protein—plus, you’ll never have to leave the house for a grocery run.

4. Broth: The Secret Sauce of Survival​

“Boil the carcass down for broth for soup later!”

The Takeaway:
Don’t toss that chicken carcass. Simmer it for a couple of hours and you’ll end up with a savory broth that can be turned into soup, rice dishes, or a flavor boost for whatever you’re cooking. It’s the ultimate “use every part” hack that turns a cheap meal into a gourmet experience.

5. Meal Prep for the Masses​

“Soup, spaghetti, chicken and vegetable rice. Make enough for three days.”

The Takeaway:
Batch cooking is a life‑saver when you’re on a budget. Make a big pot of soup, a pot of spaghetti, and a veggie‑packed rice dish. Portion them out for the next three days (or more, if you’re a hoarder). You’ll have dinner ready, the fridge stays organized, and you’ll never have to panic when the fridge looks empty.

TL;DR​

When life’s budget got tight, the Reddit community turned to:

  1. Google for cheap appliance fixes.
  2. YouTube for step‑by‑step repair tutorials.
  3. Costco’s $5 whole chicken for a month’s worth of meals.
  4. Chicken carcasses into broth to make everything taste better.
  5. Batch‑cook soups, pasta, and veggie rice for days of convenience.

So the next time you’re short on cash, remember: a quick search, a video, a chicken, a pot of broth, and a little planning can keep both your wallet and your stomach full.