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With everything that’s going on in 2020, the ’90s seem like paradise. With its weird trends and retro tech, the ‘90s bring out a bit of nostalgia in a lot of us who were kids or teens then. Just in case you’ve forgotten about what life was like in that era, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

Bored Panda has a nostalgia trip waiting for you. We’ve collected a whole bunch of ‘90s life hacks that seem quirky when we read them from the 2020s. Like what to do if your Tamagotchi goes off to live on a ‘farm’ and what to do if your old school mouse is lagging. Upvote your fave ‘90s tips and tricks, dear Pandas, and share your own old school life hacks in the comments! When you're done enjoying this list, have a look through our post about outdated problems that no one today relates to anymore.

Technology and trends have changed a lot in the last few decades. Ramona Pringle, the Director of the Creative Innovation Studio and Associate Professor at the RTA School of Media at Ryerson University, spoke to Bored Panda about the fast pace of changes in technology, what we can expect to see in the future, and how important entertainment that connects us is. Scroll down for our interview with her.

Discover more in '90s Life Hacks That Are Totally Useless Now (31 Pics)

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#1

If You Want To Download A Song, Start Downloading Before Bed. It Should Be At Like 99% By The Time You Wake Up

Old computer download window showing a file named theinternet.zip with an unrealistic 4,381 years remaining time.

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    #2

    If Your Mouse Is Lagging, Take Out The Ball And Clean It. It's Probably Just Dusty

    Bottom of an old 90s computer mouse with a removable ball, illustrating 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh man, the times when I'd forget to do that for ages... the gunk that accumulated in there! And I remember several friends of mine who didn't realize you had to clean it out -- they just thought their mouse was no longer working.

    #3

    Use Sites Like Mapquest To Print Directions For Where You're Heading. Never Get Lost Again

    Printed MapQuest directions taped inside a car windshield, showcasing outdated 90s life hacks that are now totally useless.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For really long trips, I still like to do this, just in case I lose cell connectivity at any point. (But I kinda do miss the days of maps. In Los Angeles, you *had* to have a Thomas Guide — which is a massive book of the entire sprawling metropolitan area — in your car if you weren't a native and wanted to find your way around.)

    “We don’t know what the future holds, and anyone who says that they do is selling snake oil,” Pringle told Bored Panda. “But, there are certain things we can count on: we love stories, and we love to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Be it oral storytelling, books, blogs, movies, or video games, we’ve never lost our love of narrative.”

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    She continued: “Equally true, even when we can’t go into a concert hall or colosseum, we look for ways to be together, connected, and part of a communal experience. The tech might change, but these will continue to be the drivers of our entertainment experiences,” she explained what immovable values lie at the core of entertainment tech change.

    According to the Director of the Creative Innovation Studio, there will be big changes happening in entertainment technology in the next decade. “Immersion and interactivity have long been goals for creators and media makers when it comes to how technology can influence entertainment,” she said.

    #4

    Never Shut Down Your Computer Unless You See The "It's Now Okay To Shut Down Your Computer"

    Message on black screen in orange text reading it is now safe to turn off your computer referencing 90s life hacks.

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    #5

    If The Game Isn't Working, Just Take It Out And Blow On It

    Person blowing on a 90s video game cartridge, illustrating useless 90s life hacks still remembered today.

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    #6

    If You Have A Quick Message For Someone, And You Are Near A Payphone But Don't Have 25 Cents, Dial 1-800-Collect And When It Asks To Say Your Name, Say The Message Real Fast. ::ring Ring:: "Hello?" "You Have A Collect- Call From [ma-Practiceisovercomepickmeup], Will You Accept The Charges?

    Close-up of a 90s life hacks payphone showing coin slot and call rates, illustrating outdated technology and communication methods.

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    “For the last decade, we’ve leaned into virtual reality because of how it enables both of these. We can step inside a world and have influence over it, and the story or experience that unfolds. I think one of the things we can expect moving forward is, in a sense, the opposite of virtual reality. Instead, more of an enhanced reality or fictional reality, wherein the entertainment isn’t in a headset, but instead, all around us,” she said.

    “A decade ago, we didn’t talk to robots. Today, many of us do. Siri and Alexa are some of the more common bots, but we already interface with non-human characters regularly. As technology advances, including augmented reality and mixed reality, I think we can expect that entertainment will be something we can engage with off of the screen, but out in the world, with characters and stories we can engage with throughout the day, or throughout our houses.”

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    #7

    When Burning Your Next Ripped Smashmouth, Nirvana Or Alanis Morisette Cd, Make Sure You Close All Open Programs To Avoid Buffer Underrun

    CD-R disc inserted in a computer's CD drive, illustrating 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So many CDs were ruined while burning, lol. I bought so many blanks that even all these years later I still have a stash of them.

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    #8

    When You Get A 2-Day Rental From Blockbuster In The Evening, You Actually Have Until The Morning Of The Third Day To Return It Without A Late Fee

    Blockbuster Video storefront at night, representing 90s life hacks and outdated entertainment technology.

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    #9

    Keep A Disposable Camera In Your Glove Compartment. If You Get Into A Car Accident You Can Use It To Take Photos For Insurance Purposes

    Vintage disposable Fujifilm camera resting on a wooden surface, representing 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    Pringle added that she believes that the way that people engage one another will have a huge effect on entertainment. “Look at e-sports. Whoever would have thought that people would play money to watch other people play games? Media that engages us and gives us something to gather around, be it together, or virtually, is something that will always appeal to us,” she pointed out.

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    “I think we can expect to see the ebb and flow of experiences that bring people together offline and then on screen, or online, as well. In the last few years, we’ve seen the rise of interactive and immersive venues like the museum of ice cream or the Dr. Seuss experience,” Pringle told Bored Panda.

    #10

    If You Get A Prank Call, Just Dial *69 To Call Those Jokers Back And Confront Them

    Animated character Moe Szyslak from The Simpsons holding a pink phone in a bar setting, 90s life hacks concept.

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    #11

    Can't Afford A Magic Eye Poster? Simply Take A Photo Of Some TV Static, Stick It To Your Wall And Tell Everyone It's A Dolphin

    Old CRT television showing static on screen, representing 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    Dave Nalesnik
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ooohhh, that’s a cold trick to pull on your annoying friend who was always able to see the 3D image before you ever could 🤣

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    #12

    In Simcity, Press Ctrl+shift+c And Enter 'Motherlode' For An Extra 50,000 Simoleans

    Screenshot of a classic 90s city-building computer game interface showing detailed pixelated urban landscape.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, haha. And a similar hack for The Sims -- after that I never ran out of money. Now where's the hack for that in real life???!?

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    “These are places we can go, with friends and family, and have a shared experience. It feeds back into our online experiences because we can share photos or memories and these environments are designed to foster that. Certainly, as we find ourselves in a time of social distancing, we’re seeing new creative ways of “being together” even when we’re apart. So I think we can expect to see entertainment that helps us connect, be it online or off, and immerses us in an experience, story, or community.”

    #13

    Grab The Free Aol Floppies At Comp USA Checkout Stands, Then Place A Piece Of Tape Over The Lock Hole. Reformat The Disk, And Use Them For Personal Files

    Hand holding a 90s America Online floppy disk for Windows, showcasing outdated technology and vintage life hacks.

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    #14

    When Leaving Your Car Hide Your Radio

    Close-up of a vintage car stereo showing time and radio settings, illustrating 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    #15

    If You Don't Have Any More Room In Your Packed Bags Before Flying Somewhere, Wear Cargo Pants And Cram A Bunch Of Stuff In The Pockets. To Avoid Getting Gouged On Drinks At The Airport, Stuff A Couple Bottlers Of Soda In Those Pockets, And A Plastic Flask

    Three views of olive green cargo pants worn by a person, showcasing 90s life hacks style with multiple pocket designs.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hey, I don't care if they're not "fashionable" any more - I still wear cargo pants, and still do this. 😉

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    #16

    Save Yourself A Lot Of Time And Invest In A Vhs Rewinder

    Black vintage electric shoe polisher from the 90s placed on a patterned fabric surface, a useless life hack now.

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    #17

    When Playing Simon, Assign Each Color A Number. Count Them Out As They Light Up, It's Easier To Remember A Number Sequence Than Colors

    Simon electronic memory game with colorful buttons and box, representing 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    #18

    Twist A Knotted Slinky Counter To The Knot, Then Twist Back The Opposite Direction To Quickly Fix A Messed Up Slinky

    Metal Slinky toy being stretched out by hand, a classic 90s life hack now considered totally useless.

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    #19

    If A Winged Tamagotchi Appears On Your Screen, It Means That Your Tamagotchi Decided To Go Back To It's Home Planet. But Don't Despair, Simply Press The (A) And (C) Buttons At The Same Time And Your New Egg Is Ready For Hatching

    Pink digital pet keychain with heart decorations, a popular 90s life hack toy now mostly considered useless.

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    #20

    Computer Frozen? Hold Ctrl+alt+delete To Close The Application Or Restart

    90s life hacks showing an old Microsoft Ctrl, Alt, Delete shortcut keyboard on a wooden surface with a cable.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I mean, it's still one of the best methods. Get to the Task Manager and k**l the frozen app.

    #21

    Your Computer Game Running Too Fast Or Too Slow? Switch The Turbo Button On Your Computer Case On/Off

    Close-up of old computer buttons showing power, turbo, reset, and H-disk, illustrating 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    #22

    Convince Your Friends That You're A Supercool Raver By Sticking Strips Of Coloured Tin Foil To Your Trousers

    Three young men wearing glowing 90s life hacks pants with bright neon patterns indoors at night.

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    #23

    Frost Your Tips For 100% Success With The Ladies

    Two young men in a library setting, one with bleached hair, illustrating 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    #24

    Hold Your Slammer Between Two Fingers, And Throw It Down Hard While Spinning It. This Will Cause Most Of The Pogs To Flip! If You're Playing For Keeps, Jackpot!

    A hand holding colorful pogs on carpet with scattered 90s life hacks collectibles and a yellow container in the background.

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    #25

    Pad All Important Files To 1.45mb So They're Too Big To Be Stolen On A Floppy Disk

    Man holding a 90s floppy disk at a desk, symbolizing outdated 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never heard of this back in the day -- but it wouldn't have worked, anyway, since lots of archive managers (WinZip, etc.) offered you the option to archive a large file into 1.44MB chunks which couldl be put on floppies and then restored to the large file later.

    #26

    Tired Of Paying The Outrageous 3$ For A Pop At The Movies? Wear Cargo Pants And Sneak Snacks In That Way

    Beige cargo pants with multiple buttoned pockets, showcasing a 90s life hacks fashion trend that is outdated today.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah geez, another cargo pants hater, haha. I love my cargo pants, and I will die on this hill! 🤣

    #27

    Don't Want People To Read Your Diary? Simply Hide It Inside An Empty Sliding Doors Vhs Case

    90s life hacks useless now shown with vintage Sliding Doors VHS tape featuring Gwyneth Paltrow on wooden surface.

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    #28

    Use A Safety Pin To Securely Attach The Ty Tag To Your Beanie Baby And Ensure It Won't Lose Value

    Colorful vintage Beanie Baby plush bear with a TY tag, representing 90s life hacks that are totally useless now.

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    #29

    Fool Friends Into Thinking You're Wearing A Global Hypercolour Shirt By Dipping Your Hands In Bleach And Touching Your Clothes

    Handprint on pink fabric demonstrating a 90s life hack that is totally useless now in dim light setting.

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