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Life is full of problems, big and small, and everyone has to deal with them. Running away from them to a remote island won't solve them; the pesky darn things seem to know how to get around, constantly finding a way to haunt us. Most of us mortals don't have the money for it in the first place.

So we have to solve them. And, believe it or not, we can do it even without having all the answers. All it takes is a little creativity. And to show you that human ingenuity has no limits when it comes to making life easier, Bored Panda has compiled a list of clever life hacks. Can't cut an onion without tearing up? Put on your ski goggles. Don't have a coin for a supermarket trolley? Use a round-headed key instead. In a way, I guess, we're all engineers, applying rational thinking to develop solutions. We just need to remember it.

#1

I Wanted Natural Light In A Basement That Has No Windows

I Wanted Natural Light In A Basement That Has No Windows

Paid $10 for two old windows, painted them, frosted the glass, installed them into my wall with LED lights behind them. Now it’s always 2 pm at the basement bar.

ZZbrew Report

Don't worry to implement an idea you've just come up with, even if you think it looks dumb. Bence Nanay Ph.D., who is a BOF Research Professor of Philosophy at the Centre for Philosophical Psychology at the University of Antwerp, for example, thinks that stupidity is part of human nature.

"We are influenced by various cognitive biases that we are not aware of," Nanay wrote in Psychology Today. "The music we are listening to influences our opinion of the wine we drink, the weight of the spoon influences how creamy we find the yogurt and our moral assessment of strangers depends on what movie we have just watched. I call this paradigm of empirical findings the 'We're All Stupid' paradigm."

#2

That’s Brilliant

That’s Brilliant

Rae Ellis Report

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Go Hawks
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy cow! I'm gonna try that. My yard is like an Alfred Hitchcock movie; it's reduculous. Learning new things👍

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According to Nanay, even expert probability-theorists are very easily fooled into making the most basic mistakes about probability and wine experts routinely mistake white wine with added odorless colorant for red wine.

"I argue that we should embrace our stupidity. Rather than setting ourselves up to fail all the time, we should take our emotion-infused, irrational, oversimplifying mental setup as the baseline," Nanay said, adding that it is only in those rare and exceptional moments when we manage to overcome our stupidity and achieve true rationality.

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To put it simply, you won't come up with something extraordinary if you're afraid to fail -- we all do.

#3

After Repeating 6 Times That I Want To Cancel My Comcast Xfinity, I Finally Figured Out How To Get Them To Stop Arguing And Actually Do What I Asked

After Repeating 6 Times That I Want To Cancel My Comcast Xfinity, I Finally Figured Out How To Get Them To Stop Arguing And Actually Do What I Asked

BaseballFan2019 Report

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Tabitha L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got on the phone to cancel my cable subscription and every time they would start trying to convince me to stay, I would start screaming "I want to cancel my cable" over and over. Did I sound like a lunatic? yes. Was the phone call over in 5 minutes? Yes.

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#4

My Dog Rolo Has Always Been A Messy Drinker, My Girlfriend Turned His Water Bowl Into A Moss Garden To Keep The Place Tidy

My Dog Rolo Has Always Been A Messy Drinker, My Girlfriend Turned His Water Bowl Into A Moss Garden To Keep The Place Tidy

TheSquireOfTheShire Report

#5

My Dad’s T Got Splattered With Bleach, He Decided To Fix With More. I Found It Adorable

My Dad’s T Got Splattered With Bleach, He Decided To Fix With More. I Found It Adorable

o0geck0o Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend did this with a pair of pants and ended up giving it a tie dye look using more bleach.

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#6

My Grandpa Uses The Actual Hardware For Labeling The Drawers

My Grandpa Uses The Actual Hardware For Labeling The Drawers

Zandor8000 Report

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Dragonfruit'nrollerskates
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Before my grandpa passed away, he was an inventor. We were looking for some solder in his old workroom the other night, but instead we found some letters that he had sent to my grandma when he was in the navy in a drawer. She had been looking for them for a long time, and we where able to return them to her :)

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#7

This Gentleman At Target Who Reversed His Hooded Sweatshirt To Make A Puppy Pocket

This Gentleman At Target Who Reversed His Hooded Sweatshirt To Make A Puppy Pocket

reddit.com Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Naww, such a lil cutie. I remember when I had a customer came into my work and opened up her backpack and inside was a baby joey. It needed regular feeding so couldn’t be left in it’s own. I couldn’t tell anyone coz she could have gotten kicked out of the shop as animals are not allowed unless they are registered service animal.

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#8

I Should Do It Myself As Well

I Should Do It Myself As Well

africaquiche Report

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#9

Friend's Sister Lost Her Car Key While Jogging, Someone Else Made Sure She Found It

Friend's Sister Lost Her Car Key While Jogging, Someone Else Made Sure She Found It

Majestic_Beard Report

#10

Changed The One Earphone Rubber To Black To Quickly See Which Is Which

Changed The One Earphone Rubber To Black To Quickly See Which Is Which

mankaden Report

#11

Putting Together Furniture? Use Some Of Its Styrofoam Packaging For Keeping Small Parts From Disappearing

Putting Together Furniture? Use Some Of Its Styrofoam Packaging For Keeping Small Parts From Disappearing

cute-e-lad Report

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#12

Hand Sewing A 1/4 Inches Hem And I Hate Juggling The Ruler

Hand Sewing A 1/4 Inches Hem And I Hate Juggling The Ruler

AutumnRaeElizabeth Report

#13

He’s So Small He Can Sneak Through The Fence When He Goes Outside, So He Must Wear The Escape-Proof Wiener Bun Of Shame At Potty Time

He’s So Small He Can Sneak Through The Fence When He Goes Outside, So He Must Wear The Escape-Proof Wiener Bun Of Shame At Potty Time

veedublin Report

#14

Wearing A Face Mask For An Extended Period Of Time. Sew A Button To A Headband To Keep From Destroying Your Ears

Wearing A Face Mask For An Extended Period Of Time. Sew A Button To A Headband To Keep From Destroying Your Ears

dorothy.grayderoque Report

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Lyra Fortune
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An original idea which I'm sure could benefit essential workers and us alike

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#15

This Bra Used To Protect A Horse's Infected Eye, Whilst Also Allowing It To See

This Bra Used To Protect A Horse's Infected Eye, Whilst Also Allowing It To See

Bastard_Wing Report

#16

Sneaky Grandpa

Sneaky Grandpa

kittycattwitch Report

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn't it sad to be societally forced to do something literally against your beliefs to come up with such an idea?

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#17

You Can Connect Two Ziplock Bags By Flipping One Inside Out To Make A Larger One

You Can Connect Two Ziplock Bags By Flipping One Inside Out To Make A Larger One

Vega_128 Report

#18

"Grandma, Do You Have Some Rice That I Can Put My Phone In? It Got Wet." - She Pulls This Out Of A Cabinet

"Grandma, Do You Have Some Rice That I Can Put My Phone In? It Got Wet." - She Pulls This Out Of A Cabinet

joshamiddleton Report

#19

My Husband Made This Book-Holder-Opener For Me To Ease Hand Cramping

My Husband Made This Book-Holder-Opener For Me To Ease Hand Cramping

Nextdy Report

#20

A Life Hack For Anyone In Higher Education

A Life Hack For Anyone In Higher Education

hwitteman Report

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But they still have to pay for those $400 books written by their professor...

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#21

When You Don't Have A Suit But Need One

When You Don't Have A Suit But Need One

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#22

When Your Phone Touch Is Broken

When Your Phone Touch Is Broken

K_Tenshi Report

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Laura Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its these techno tips that are invaluable for us non technos who would never work these things out

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#23

Instead Of Buying Those Cheap Plastic Chair Mats, I Bought A Box Of Laminate Flooring Planks And Put Them Together. Took Less Than 10 Minutes And Feels Sturdy. Chair Rolls So Smooth

Instead Of Buying Those Cheap Plastic Chair Mats, I Bought A Box Of Laminate Flooring Planks And Put Them Together. Took Less Than 10 Minutes And Feels Sturdy. Chair Rolls So Smooth

sexydorito Report

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Troux
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks good but you should buy a mat for the chair to protect that laminate floor. You can get plastic ones for pretty cheap.

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#24

Someone At My Work Created A Clock Out Of Two Cups To Keep Track Of How Fresh The Coffee Is

Someone At My Work Created A Clock Out Of Two Cups To Keep Track Of How Fresh The Coffee Is

spaced_bar Report

#25

In Queensland We Get A Lot Of Insects Who Escape The Heat By Getting Inside Via The Drains. My Wife Had This Idea As A Barrier. Those Are Stocking Socks

In Queensland We Get A Lot Of Insects Who Escape The Heat By Getting Inside Via The Drains. My Wife Had This Idea As A Barrier. Those Are Stocking Socks

clag Report

#26

The Vet Said The Anti-Scratch Cone Would Be $50.00. Tractor Supply Had It For $19.95

The Vet Said The Anti-Scratch Cone Would Be $50.00. Tractor Supply Had It For $19.95

SgtMaxFightmaster Report

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ZombieGirl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But you can get an actual cone from a pet store for the price of that hat, lol

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#27

I Was Running Late For Work And Couldn't Find Her Leash, This Is How I Walked My Dog This Morning

I Was Running Late For Work And Couldn't Find Her Leash, This Is How I Walked My Dog This Morning

i_browse_at_work Report

#28

Crazy Sore Muscles But No Bath Tub? Improvise. Adapt. Overcome

Crazy Sore Muscles But No Bath Tub? Improvise. Adapt. Overcome

Anna_Banananana Report

#29

To Remove Strong Adhesive Labels From Plastic Containers, Simply Put Them In The Freezer For A Few Hours Before Peeling

To Remove Strong Adhesive Labels From Plastic Containers, Simply Put Them In The Freezer For A Few Hours Before Peeling

brokenchemicalbonds Report

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Steve Barnett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you, I will try this next time. If it does work, whether you're male or female, I will divorce my wife and marry you. This has been a bane of my life for so long; my wife will understand.

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#31

The Easiest Way To Water Your Garden

The Easiest Way To Water Your Garden

5_Frog_Margin Report

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Eduard Korhonen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That will only work if it's raining. But if it's raining, they're getting watered anyway

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#32

Use Bobby Pins To Untie Stubborn Shoelaces

Use Bobby Pins To Untie Stubborn Shoelaces

Oh_No__Im_Just_Lame Report

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Scagsy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plus! If you live in real-world computer game, you can also use them to pick locks

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#35

If You're Like Me And Have A Broken Laptop Hinge

If You're Like Me And Have A Broken Laptop Hinge

griffinonthego Report

#36

I Use The Selfie Camera More To Plug Things Into The Back Of My Computer Than To Actually Take Selfies

I Use The Selfie Camera More To Plug Things Into The Back Of My Computer Than To Actually Take Selfies

mkbhd Report

#37

Why Is This Not Marketed As A Feature On All Wheelbarrows?

Why Is This Not Marketed As A Feature On All Wheelbarrows?

reddit.com Report

#38

Hate When Companies Ask For Your Email Address? This Is For You

Hate When Companies Ask For Your Email Address? This Is For You

Mrs_Olson2011 Report

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Ivo H
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure if this isn't only gmail-specific thing. Always make sure your email provider supports this before using it for real services.

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#40

Cables Managed

Cables Managed

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Láďa Durchánek
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks so good I want to buy some cables just to have them organised.

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#41

My Grandma's Elderly Neighbors Have A Hook And Pulley System To Pull Groceries Up To Their Kitchen

My Grandma's Elderly Neighbors Have A Hook And Pulley System To Pull Groceries Up To Their Kitchen

Proteus2007 Report

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#42

Many Thanks To The Stranger Who Let Me Know There Was No Bog Roll Today. I'll Be Doing This In Future When I Can

Many Thanks To The Stranger Who Let Me Know There Was No Bog Roll Today. I'll Be Doing This In Future When I Can

--cheese-- Report

#43

Reuse A Pringles Can For Other Snacks That Come In Bags To Avoid Loud Bag Crinkling In The Office

Reuse A Pringles Can For Other Snacks That Come In Bags To Avoid Loud Bag Crinkling In The Office

jchabotte Report

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kate h
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This might also work for my dogs, who would sleep through a home invasion but can hear a crinkling bag from 6 rooms away.

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#44

Use A Fork When Grating Last Bits Of Food To Avoid Possible Injury And To Shred Really Really Really Quickly

Use A Fork When Grating Last Bits Of Food To Avoid Possible Injury And To Shred Really Really Really Quickly

derdeutschvolk Report

#45

My Grandma’s Technique For Cooking With Hot Oil

My Grandma’s Technique For Cooking With Hot Oil

ItsMe_YO Report

#46

When Disassembling Items, Punch Your Screws Thru Some Cardboard And Label The Sets. This Will Help You Retain Your Hardware, Remember Placement And Order Of Reassembly

When Disassembling Items, Punch Your Screws Thru Some Cardboard And Label The Sets. This Will Help You Retain Your Hardware, Remember Placement And Order Of Reassembly

KaiserBobby Report

#47

My Mom Uses Ski Goggles When She Cuts Onions

My Mom Uses Ski Goggles When She Cuts Onions

ditto_ditto__ Report

#49

This Genius Watching Taken Using A Clear Plastic Bag To Hold His Phone On A Plane

This Genius Watching Taken Using A Clear Plastic Bag To Hold His Phone On A Plane

kimantor1 Report

#50

Don't Have A Coin For A Supermarket Trolley? Use A Round Headed Key Instead

Don't Have A Coin For A Supermarket Trolley? Use A Round Headed Key Instead

ReadyPlayer85 Report

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Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stick your key into a small hole where it doesn't belong? No thanks, that's a good way to lose a key.

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Rissie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That seems unnecessary if you have something on you that does the trick

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Magpie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aldi's here ( Australia) sold a little disc, that comes with a key ring thingy. Works well, and it's always handy.

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Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a store policy, not a specific country. ALDI does this.

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sorlag110
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sweden is nearly cashless now, practically no store make you have to rent them anymore. The strange side effect is less trolleys are stolen than before. And they've realized most times they are stolen, they don't end up far from the store, so they can look around the block and return them easily.

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Coat Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i know myself, I'd forget about the key and stand at my front door with 4 bags in streaming rain searching for my key that I forgot in the trolley. No thanks. Good to know, but still no.

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Monday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait....why do we need a coin for a supermarket trolley?

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M O'Connell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It encourages you to put them back in a corral in the parking area, or back at the front of the store, rather than letting them free-range and damage people's vehicles.

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Midnightoil
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't just keep a quarter in the change holder in the vehicle that you just use for a cart???

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Max L.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Doesn’t work here abroad because there’s a small... drawer to put the coin in that goes all the way in

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fubukifangirl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I discovered Canadian quarters work just as well as American quarters in these.

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Phunny Philosopher
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My state accepts Canadian quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies as if they are US coins. I never thought anything of it until I tried using a Canadian quarter at a Texas airport, haha

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James Mills
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

don't use a fully rounded key, use a key that's half rounded half flat, that way its easier to get it out.

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mia kinlo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don’t have to pay to use a cart here, we just grab one. I live in the US in Medford

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Roxy Eastland
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Businesses literally give away shopping trolley tokens as marketing merch, or else they can be bought really cheaply. Clip on your keyring and you'll always have one with you.

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Gracie Mae
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i'm gonna have to try this! (don't worry @Troux, I have a 'useless key collection'!)

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Hannah Marshall
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then snap your key? Yeah, no thanks. I'd rather yet a trolley key for 50p

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Sue Sanders
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then just let the cart roll around the parking lot, bumping into vehicles, maybe causing an accident; or hand the cart over to someone who's just arrived and take their quarter . . .

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Mumof1
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope - needs to be the right size key anyway. It's not a One Size Fits All thing

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Celtic Pirate Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that would be called cheating, or maybe scamming - they're like .25 dude.

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Brent Kaufman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not even slightly cheating or scamming. They just want you to leave something of importance so that you'll remember to put the cart back and get back your coin or key. It is NOT a payment that you are cheating someone out of.

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Karin Krüger-Jubber
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do you need a coin for a trolley? We don't have that where I'm from...

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Valerie Page
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would that be South Africa? Then so much more civilised than Europe and USA . Or do you have servants to return the trolleys to the park? btw No offence intended ... just curious

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Arctic Fox Lover
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And it's better than a quarter, too, because for the key, you have a handle to pull it back out. But for a quarter... Eh, not so much.h

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Marcia Ferris
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son us a guitarist. He uses a so are puck for this purpose.

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Darwinist
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is my pet peeve when it come to shopping in some stores.

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Dolevaal
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really hope this one wont break even you wanna put it out again.

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Yolkie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somebody will steal this and I think everything in your house combined costs more than a coin

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Sean Harrison
Community Member
3 years ago

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There are supermarkets that actually charge money you to use a shopping cart?

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
3 years ago

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Surefire way to get your key stuck and still be without a cart.

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