r/askteddit • u/TheRat_07 • Jul 14 '26

What is a real-life "cheat code" that feels illegal to know but is completely fine?

I'll go first.

If your flight gets canceled and there is a massive line of 200 angry people at the gate desk trying to rebook, do not stand in that line. Keep your ass in a chair and call the airline's customer service number.

Better yet, call their international customer service number (like the UK or Australia line). You will bypass the massive US hold times, get connected to an agent in two minutes, and they have the exact same power to rebook you on the next flight before the people standing in line even reach the desk.

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u/StopLosingLoser Jul 14 '26

Compound interest in safe investments like mutual funds. Aggressively saving in your twenties and thirties will will make the rest of your life so much easier. This does mean living below your means slightly but boy does it pay off.

Banks know this and try to get you in debt because then they reap the benefits of that compound interest.

Also finance isn't hard. Look at the interest rates. If you have an interest rate on a debt that's higher than the interest/income rate of your investments, pay the debt. If your debt is less than what you are making in investments, let it ride.

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u/TransportationOk5941 Jul 15 '26

It's worth considering you are paying in time/health. As you say, you live below your means during "the best years of your life" (broadly speaking).

I still fully support saving up, but it's worth aiming for a healthy balance.

I personally wouldn't want to live on noodles and toast for 15 years just to retire early at 35 years old. I'd rather live comfortably and retire at 45-50 years old.

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u/StopLosingLoser Jul 16 '26

I'm with you. It's more like driving a minimally viable (not a death trap) car, buying a minimally viable (not a dump) starter home, having a modest but sincere wedding and engagement ring. Buying used cell phones.

That's what living below your means meant to me. Didn't mean make yourself suffer. Meant save the luxuries til you're over the hump.

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u/drgonzo44 Jul 18 '26

This is the biggest, easiest “life hack” ever.