30 Crazy Useful Facts You've Never Heard Before

1 | Your pantry burns money.

That Americans aren't the most conscientious Earth-dwellers isn't really anything new. But have you ever considered the sheer amount of food you throw out? The average American household wastes about $1,500 each year in thrown out food that could have been saved. That might as well be a pay raise! And for some popular food myths, check out the 20 Worst Food Myths That Still Persist.

2 | Your dollar's power varies by state.

According to a recent Tax Foundation report, the purchasing power of $100 differs pretty greatly among the 50 states. That Benjamin is effectively worth $116.01 in Mississippi, but only $84.18 in Hawaii. And for more on what makes every state special, check out The Best Joke Written About Every U.S. State.

3 | Checking your bag is risky business.

According to the Wall Street Journal, airlines lose one out of every 1,000 bags. And before you think that a 0.01% chance is unimaginably slim, think of it this way: for every four flights (planes typically carry 250 passengers), a bag will be lost. So, yes, you're always smarter to carry on.

4 | Yes, there's a best time to book flights.

Between 105 and 54 days out. That's the sweet spot. But, by pulling the trigger at exactly 54 days, you can reap savings of nearly 50 percent.

5 | Your gym is emptier than you think.

Good intentions (and lots of money spent) can only get you so far. A recent study found that 67% of gym memberships never even get used—especially after the new-year-new-me rush of January. So if you think you're struggling to score a squat rack as is, just imagine how much worse it could be. And for a serious burn while you're there, try out the 30 Workouts That Burn More Than 500 Calories an Hour.

6 | Your tires siphon gas.

Tire pressure is measured by pounds-per-square-inch (PSI). And here's the kicker: for every 10-degree Fahrenheit temperature fluctuation, your tires drop a PSI point. According to the folks at Pro Car Mechanics, every point drop causes a 0.4% decrease in fuel economy. Now, ask yourself when the last time you pumped air into your wheels was?  Hey, there's a reason refilling your tires is The Number One Way to Increase Your Gas Milage.

7 | Recycling pizza boxes is a no-go.

Contaminants like grease and cheese don't separate from paper fibers during pulping processes, so pizza boxes don't cut it. The same goes for many other grease- or grime-soiled paper products, like paper towels, napkins, and paper plates. So maybe consider eating in instead of delivery!

8 | Your laundry detergent actually does matter.

There's nothing quite like the fresh smell of clean laundry. It's pretty well-known that Tide is America's favorite laundry brand. But using a photospectrometer, Reviewed.com found that you get the best clean—as far as total removal of stains and odors—from Persil ProClean. The brands All and Gain came in at fourth and fifth place, respectively. (Tide, your favorite, is second—and earned the distinct honor of "best value.") And for more domestic facts, bone up on the 20 Household Items That Could Be Dangerous.

9 | Eating out is burning a hole in your pocket.

A survey from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that Americans spend an average of $250 per month eating out. That's more $3,000 each year! And no, that figure doesn't include booze expenditures.

10 | Low-flush toilets save 7 percent on water bills.

If you don't want to replace your old toilet, try putting bricks or pebble-filled water bottles in the tank. This will help you use less water when you flush.

11 | Bragging boosts confidence.

According to Lifehacker, a recent study found that those who wrote down and vocalized their best qualities before entering a job interview left better impressions and performed better. Pro tip: just don't be a jerk about it.

12 | You really do have a good side.

Research shows that people prefer the left side over the right. Go ahead, try turning your head to the right in your next picture with your friends. Just don't tell them, or you'll be fighting over who stands where.

13 | Your phone dies faster when it dips below 50 percent.

According to Popular Science, the life of your phone's lithium-ion battery is greatly affected by your charging habits. To help the battery live longer and prevent it from dying at a faster rate, it's best to plug it in at 50 percent—and not to let it get to the full 100, either.

14 | Flying? You truly have nothing to worry about.

You know that "flying is statistically safer than driving," but the latest figures slam-dunk that point home with a fury. While over one million people die in road crashes every year, only 0.000024% of annual airline departures result in fatal crashes. And for more on air travel, try to avoid doing these 15 Things You Should Never Do On An Airplane.

15 | Your exercise outfit makes a difference.

Certain clothes will help your body breathe. And some research suggests that your clothing choices affect your exercise motivation, especially with activity-specific clothes. For fitness-ready digs to wear, check out the 7 Gym Clothes That Feel As Good As They Look.

16 | The world's luckiest number is "16".

Analysts have declared that the number 16 is the most-drawn number in lotteries across the world. It's been drawn 191 times. The number 18, on the other hand, has only been drawn four times. Those figures, it bears mentioning, are for global draws. For stateside stats, be sure to check out The Most Common U.S. Powerball Numbers of All Time.

17 | Starting a finance company can make you rich.

The tech industry gets a lot of hype, but it's not even close to the most profitable industry for new business ventures. Inc.com reported in 2016 that accounting, tax prep, bookkeeping, and payroll services are best, with a 18.3 percent profit margin.

18 | But scoring a finance degree likely won't.

The best ROI comes from entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial studies degrees, which bring in an average annual salary of nearly $112,000. Accounting and finance degrees? Just over $81,000.

19 | You live among a veritable colony of dust mites.

Often, ignorance is bliss. (We apologize for the forthcoming fact enlightenment.) These disgusting bugs are far too small for the naked eye to see. To put it in perspective, "a gram (about a half teaspoon) of dust contains as many as 1,000 dust mites and 250,000 allergenic dust mite fecal pellets." Oy.

20 | There are a lot of fish in the sea.

If you spent this last Valentine's Day at a table for one, you're not alone. Of the adult American population, according to Statistic Brain, 44 percent of people are single.

21 | Women are tougher on impressions.

If you're trying to bust out of the single mold, beware. According to that same study by Statistic Brain, it only takes 15 minutes to make a first impression on a man, while it takes an hour on a woman. So whether you're wooing or working, be patient.

22 | Bundling up will boost your productivity.

Cornell University found that raising an office's temperature from 68 to 77 decreased typing errors by 44 percent and raised output by 150 percent. At colder temperatures, our bodies and minds aren't as productive. If you can't get your boss to up the thermostat, wearing a jacket—though not as effective—will help too.

23 | Hiring managers want so-called "soft skills."

In a recent LinkedIn study, over half of the surveyed business leaders name soft skills—like leadership initiative, time management, communication, and collaboration—as more important to them in employees than hard skills ("I know how to code!" "I can do math!" "I can write complete sentences!"). Personal developmental and growth opportunity seems to be chief among hiring managers.

24 | Cheese can keep your dreams safe.

Per research conducted by the British Cheese Board (yes, that's a real organization) and published in Nature, eating cheese can help cut back on the frequency and intensity of nightmares. In fact, per the results, eating cheese before bed can even increase your likelihood of having pleasant dreams.

25 | Selfies are more dangerous than sharks.

If you're in the habit of taking selfies, you may want to reconsider; selfie-related deaths are on an exponential incline. Per researchers from Carnegie Melon University, in 2014, 15 people died mid-selfie. In 2015, 39. In 2016, 73. Put in perspective, in 2017, there were only 5 fatal shark attacks—in the entire world. So be safe when you selfie.

26 | Produce is cheaper when it's in season.

By picking up a tomato—or a peach, or broccoli, or whatever—when it's out of season, you're doing more than offending your taste buds: you're offending your bank account, too. Produce can climb by up to a dollar per pound during the off season. Make sure you're buying during the right time of year by making use of a freshness tracker, like Ripe Track.

27 | Procrastination increases productivity.

According to a study in Cognition, taking a step away from your work can improve your work efficiency. So next time you feel your productivity slipping, take a break. Run an errand. Go for a walk. Get a pastry. Your boss will thank you.

28 | Changing your desktop background can slash stress.

Yes, really. By switching the standard Microsoft rolling greens for a serene landscape, according to research in in the Journal of Cybertherapy and Rehabilitation, you can bet on seeing your stress levels precipitously drop—and you cognitive function improve. Need an idea of where to start? Check out The Best Computer Desktop Backgrounds for Optimizing Your Life.

29 | Potato chips are the worst.

On average, according to Harvard University researchers, potato chips are the single biggest culprit behind weight gain. They're solely responsible for nearly 2 pounds of added weight per person—per year. And for more wild info, learn the 20 Crazy Facts Guaranteed to Blow Your Mind.

30 | Your Kobe beef probably isn't Kobe beef.

These days, you see it all the time: "Kobe," typically next to a significant price uptick than your standard sirloin. Thing is, there's an overwhelming likelihood that you're overpaying. Only nine restaurants in the country serve the real deal. For a look, here's our roundup of The Only Restaurants in American That Serve Real Kobe Beef.

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