These Are the Best Subreddits That Will Make Your Life Better
People still like to filter their searches through Reddit because it’s an old-school holdover from the hairier days of the internet in the sense that it’s still run almost exclusively by real people – people who are genuinely interested in the subject and want to discuss it. With a refreshing lack of influencers, paid barkers, or dark, algorithm-controlled templates, Reddit can be incredibly helpful when you need information or opinions.
But Reddit isn’t perfect . It has its share of weirdos, bad actors, shitposters and trolls. And some of his subreddits are completely useless, filled with content repurposed from other subreddits or websites, uninformed opinions, and even targeted misinformation. With over 100,000 active subreddits and over 50 million active users, Reddit is an incredible resource – if you know where to look .
The thing is, not all subreddits are the same – so which subreddits are really useful? Here is a short list of some of the best.
Ask on Reddit
If you value crowdsourced information, r/AskReddit should be bookmarked, visited, and searched often. Questions (and answers) vary greatly in coherence and practicality, but if you have a question about just about anything, there’s a good chance it’s been asked here at least once. And this is the subreddit where the real value of Reddit shines through, because while you’ll have to sift through some immature or frankly delusional responses, you’ll also get tons of real, lived responses and suggestions. And if you’re curious, yes, you can even ask AskReddit what are the best subreddits .
Buy for life
Vimes’ “Botsov” theory of socio-economic injustice makes it clear that paying more for better products is always worth it if you can afford it. Over time, well-made durables will pay for themselves by not having to replace them multiple times over many years. Even in the best of economic times, people prefer to buy durable, well-made products over cheap crap that breaks almost immediately. But Amazon is awash with fake reviews and counterfeit goods, and with the exception of luxury brands, it’s sometimes hard to know what’s going to last, but this subreddit is filled with great first-hand information from people who’ve owned the stuff for literally years or who’ve already done the research for you.
travel
Traveling these days is expensive and difficult. Of course, we retain the wonderful ability to travel literally anywhere in the world in a maximum of a couple of days, but sorting out logistics is a full-time job. And if you have the funds to plan your trip, where should you go? A tourist place full of other travelers, or a secret place unknown to the big world – how to find such a place? This subreddit is a great resource for all aspects of travel, from tips on where to go and how to get there, to information on specific local events, unexpected issues, and travel funding. If you’re planning to go somewhere, it’s a good idea to park here for a while.
personal finance
If you find money mysterious but have money or want more money, this is a great resource. The community here ranges from the ignorant rich (people who have $5 million in IRAs but think they belong to the middle class) to wobbly accountants whose posts are filled with acronyms and legal language, but in between are hardworking people with their mind on their money. and their money on their mind. The end result is that if you have questions about 401k, mortgages, savings accounts, paying bills, compound interest, taxes, or anything else related to personal finance, you’ll find plenty of answers right here.
poverty finance
The seedy spiritual sister of r/PersonalFinance , r/PovertyFinance was created when people became frustrated with the rich tone of another subreddit. People who only struggle to pay rent end up not caring too much about the right investment vehicle for a sudden inheritance. While much of r/PovertyFinance is given to desperate people asking for heartbreaking advice, there’s also a ton of practical information and advice here. If your own financial situation is far from rosy, this is a great resource – at least it will remind you that you are not alone and you are not the only person who is struggling, even if it sometimes seems so.
Free
r/Freebies is sort of an extension of r/PovertyFinance , r/Freebies is a community where people help each other by pointing out where to get free stuff. This includes apps that offer free stuff when you sign up, companies that run promotions, coupons, and anything else that results in you getting something for free. Whether you’re trying to save a penny or just enjoying the thrill of breaking down the capitalist system we operate in, this should be on your daily checklist so you can take advantage of all the free services you can get, some of which are real savings. .
If you like empty
If you’re anything like me, you spend a huge amount of time trying to keep up with new music, books, and other cultures. There are so many of them, and yet it can be insanely difficult to find one that suits your particular taste. That’s what makes this subreddit so useful – if you know what you already like, you can probably find a few suggestions here for things that will be in the same wheelhouse. It also covers a fairly wide range of media and art forms, so if you’re looking for new pop punk covers or fresh verses to absorb, this is your stop.
DataIsBeautiful
This subreddit is all about beautiful, well-designed infographics and charts, but its usefulness goes beyond aesthetics. The data visualizations highlighted here tend to be great to look at, but also easy to understand and offer insights you didn’t even know existed. If you need specific data points, this is a good place to start looking because the visualizations you find here will be top notch. But it’s also just a good place to scroll, because you’re bound to stumble upon some new information.
Out of loop
Have you ever come across a link to a current trend, event, or scandal for which you don’t have absolutely zero context? In a world where TikTok and YouTube celebrities you’ve literally never heard of can have millions of fans, this is an increasingly common situation for people. Luckily, there is r/OutOfTheLoop to explain these things to you. If you’re confused by the link, chances are someone else is too, and has already asked about it here. It’s a great way to keep up with what’s happening in pop culture without devoting your life to scanning live streams until the madness hits.
Ask Historians
Everything you need to know about our current world, you can learn from history because it repeats itself. But popular history has been polluted by crappy television re-enactments, substandard school textbooks, and episodes of Doctor Who . If you want to know the real truth about past events and historical facts, this subreddit is a goldmine. Many of the questions here have long, well-organized answers that are actually still shorter and easier to read than a boring encyclopedia article, and most respondents linger to answer additional questions.
Ask the Science
Similar to r/AskHistorians , in this subreddit people post their questions about science and get reliable answers from real scientists. The subreddit rules make a determined attempt to curb disinformation or the amateur hour by requiring sources and credentials so answers are trustworthy and discussion is calm and the tone is collegial. That’s right: there’s a place on the internet where you can ask how mRNA vaccines work, and the discussion will be peer-to- peer . Protect this subreddit at all costs.
ExplainLikeImFive
This subreddit is exactly what it sounds like: people take incredibly complex topics and boil them down to a simple summary that even an idiot like you can understand. This is not a place where you will learn how to code in Python or become a world famous economist, but it is a place where you can go from bewilderment to basic understanding in just a few clicks. It’s invaluable for those moments when you just need to quickly scratch the surface of an item – and it’s been around long enough to already embrace the deep, deep vein of items.
Subreddit of your local community
If you live somewhere, there is a non-zero chance that someone created a local subreddit for your city. You may already be part of Nextdoor or something, but trust me, your local subreddit will be more interesting and more private. These subreddits are usually a great place to find out about events and politics in your city, as well as endless restaurant reviews and warnings about crime, infrastructure issues, and more. It’s also a great place to remind yourself that there are smart and funny people in your city.
IAMA
This is a subreddit where people come to answer questions. And by “people” I mean almost all people, from celebrities promoting projects to ordinary people with interesting jobs. “AMA” stands for “Ask Me Anything” and the range of interview topics and their areas of expertise span the gamut from economics to science to professional insight. AMA celebrities tend to get the most attention, but it’s the little-known people who take the time to share their experiences here that make this resource invaluable. If you want to know what it’s like to be a firefighter, a prisoner, or whatever, there’s probably an AMA somewhere in the archives of this subreddit.
Listen to this
Need new music in your life? This subreddit is a wild ride. Basically, people post music they find interesting, which means it’s a hodgepodge of anything . The posts are tagged (sometimes roughly) with genre and subgenre information so you can avoid the Black Metal Funk Hybrid Harmonica Duet category, and the offerings are heavily geared towards indies, unsigned and obscure artists – but that’s a special sauce here because it’s practically guaranteed that you will hear music that you have never heard before.
Latest professional advice
While searching the subreddits can yield a wealth of information, many subreddits maintain FAQs and other live documents displayed in their sidebars. Diving into them can often solve all your problems because the community is aware of the common questions and dilemmas that people face.