Advice on home & living.

What should you ask about when inspecting a potential house to buy?

Ask specifically about body corporate fees, since the costs and inclusions can vary wildly and agents may not volunteer the full picture.

Should you let delivery or service people into your home when you're not there?

Be cautious about who you let into your home unsupervised; real estate agents have a legal right to inspect with 24 hours notice, but other service people (like smoke detector technicians) are a personal judgment call and some people would avoid it entirely.

How can you fix slow home Wi-Fi speeds?

Log into your router via its IP address (often found on the back of the router, commonly 192.168.1.1) using the default admin credentials if unchanged, identify older/legacy devices dragging down the whole network, and move them to a separate guest or slower-band network so newer devices can use the faster 5GHz band unimpeded.

Should you buy cheap new furniture or old furniture?

Tommy says he'd rather buy a good quality old item for cheap than a cheap new mass-produced item, since cheap new furniture often looks good in photos but turns out to be low quality.

How do you protect your home from car break-ins?

Install at least one security camera covering the driveway and front door area, starting simple rather than waiting for a perfect setup.

How should you handle movers or contractors helping you with a big job like moving house?

Don't hesitate to let removalists take everything you've set aside (even bulky items) rather than trying to handle extra items yourself to save them trouble — it ends up being more hassle than it's worth; also, getting them coffee is a good gesture.

How do you build relationships with new neighbours?

Ease into conversations with new neighbours gradually — make eye contact a couple of times first, then approach directly to start chatting once you've built some familiarity.

How should you prepare for a smooth house move?

Have everything packed into boxes before the removalists arrive so they can simply load and go, rather than leaving loose items and small bits and pieces to sort out on the day.

How should you handle a neighbour making too much noise?

Tommy suggests writing a considerate letter rather than immediately escalating to aggressive confrontation or body corporate, noting you don't know what the other person might be going through.

What should you do if a tradie or company delivers the wrong materials/colour for your build?

Push back and at least try to negotiate a discount if the end result still looks acceptable, since companies may prefer to avoid a costly fix if the mistake isn't too noticeable.

When should you send Christmas gifts to make sure they arrive on time?

Tully Smyth notes that physical presents should be posted by 14 December to ensure on-time delivery, and suggests starting Christmas shopping earlier this year due to expected shipping delays.

How can I avoid giving away personal information when posting travel photos on social media?

Avoid posting photos of boarding passes, tickets, or documents with personal details, as hackers can use embedded information (name, date of birth, booking references) to access accounts like frequent flyer portals.

How can I reduce digital clutter and reclaim time on my phone?

Regularly audit and delete unused podcast subscriptions, apps, and YouTube channels—Josh suggests doing this at least once a week, and trying deleting your top three most-used apps for a week to see how much time you get back.

How do you grow social engagement for a new spin-off show?

George Martin suggests putting more deliberate effort into editing and social content—finding the funny bits, linking clips back to the guest, and treating it as 'a different creative muscle'—which he says is easier to prioritize for a weekly show than for a daily show with less time per episode.

What's the best way to clean glasses without damaging them?

Avoid tissues like aloe vera-infused ones because they leave an oily film; instead, run the glasses under hot water first and then wipe with toilet paper.

How can I make myself more likely to actually use or value something I make for someone else?

Be personally involved in the process of creating it (the IKEA/smoothie effect) — people value and follow through on things more when they've had a hand in making them, rather than receiving them pre-made.

How much extra will I get back on my tax return for working from home during COVID-19?

According to Hot Accountant (relayed by Josh), the work-from-home deduction works out to roughly $150 extra on a personal tax return, not the large windfall some expect, and the claiming process has been simplified.

What do you need to install a home sauna?

Infrared saunas can be plugged into normal household power, but saunas with coal or heating elements need to be hardwired into the circuit by an electrician, likely costing under a grand to install.

Should you say something if you know about undisclosed property defects during a sale inspection?

Tommy felt it wasn't his place as a tenant to flag known defects to the building inspectors, believing the responsibility for disclosure sat with the real estate agent and their morals, whereas Josh said he'd likely have mentioned it to the inspector himself.

What can you do if gym reformers are sold out during COVID lockdowns?

Find a detailed online plan for building your own Pilates reformer and have someone handy build it for you from ordered parts.

How do you avoid forgetting to put detergent or other steps in household chores?

Tommy jokingly references the 'tiny habits' method—pairing new habits with existing ones (e.g., 'after you brush your teeth, just wash your pants')—as a way to build consistent chore routines.

What type of vacuum cleaner is best for larger homes with mixed flooring?

Tommy recommends a cyclonic vacuum for effectiveness on both floorboards and thick carpet, describing how satisfying it is to see the dirt separate via the cyclone mechanism, and suggests sweeping solid debris first before vacuuming in larger spaces.

What should I do with secondhand clothes I no longer want?

Rather than dealing with the hassle of selling clothes (admin, market stalls, haggling), just donate them, even if they were expensive.

How should you confront a neighbour you suspect left a passive-aggressive note?

Catch them off guard with a cheerful, upbeat greeting first so they don't have time to prepare a lie, then slip in the real question.

Should you buy a luxury car before owning a home?

Josh suggests he personally feels he should own a house before buying a luxury car, though he questions whether this is just a culturally inherited assumption rather than a hard rule, especially since some people choose to rent long-term instead.

What should you do if you accidentally receive or open someone else's mail?

Most people are advised to simply 'return to sender' (RTS) by putting the mail back in the mailbox rather than opening or binning it, since only Australia Post can legally dispose of undeliverable mail and opening others' mail is mail tampering.

What's the best way to add liquid to a powder mixture (e.g. icing)?

Add less liquid than you think you need and mix gradually, because you can't easily go backwards once you've added too much.

How do you decide between home birth and hospital birth?

Stacey June suggests it's not about being anti-hospital but about only going to hospital if medically necessary, noting that going to hospital too early or associating it with labour progression can actually elongate labour.

How do you figure out what you actually want in life?

Identify your top 5-10 personal values (e.g. freedom, gratitude, variety) individually and as a couple, then make every major decision check against alignment with those values rather than against what society or other people expect.

Should I buy a home or keep renting?

Question the cultural default that renting is 'throwing money away'; consider that buying comes with large fixed costs and limited flexibility, and that renting can offer more experience and flexibility if those are higher personal values than safety.

Is it legally required to steam clean carpets when moving out of a rental property in Australia?

You must leave the property in a reasonably clean condition, but you are not legally required to steam clean the carpets, even though landlords and agents often insist you do.

How can you negotiate a lower rent price on a rental property?

Ask the agent questions first (why the price dropped, why it hasn't been filled) to gauge motivation, then propose a longer lease term (e.g., 2 years instead of 1) in exchange for a lower weekly rate, since landlords value long-term tenants.

Where should cleaning sponges be stored to avoid cross-contamination?

Toilet-cleaning sponges should be kept separately in the bathroom, not alongside or in the same spot as kitchen dish sponges, to avoid spreading bacteria.

How should I handle household chores I've been avoiding?

Just do the chore (like washing or using the dishwasher) immediately rather than avoiding it, since the stress of an eventual argument about it is worse than just doing the task.

How can you get a cheaper deal on a new apartment?

Approach developers of nearly finished apartment buildings and ask if any off-plan buyers defaulted on their deposit before settlement; you may be able to buy the unit for the remaining balance, effectively discounted by the forfeited deposit amount.

What should you do before house-hunting to avoid missing out on a property?

Get your paperwork and loan pre-approval sorted before you start looking at properties, since finding a place you like without pre-approval ready can cause you to miss out.

How do you persuade a property manager to give you an apartment?

Tommy suggests the key is building a personal relationship with the actual real estate agent/individual decision-maker rather than just submitting a generic application, noting that knowing someone or building rapport (as he did when he got his Bondi Beach apartment despite having low income) is far more effective than a persuasive email alone.

What can and can't you use/eat when house-sitting?

Josh and Tommy suggest alcohol is strictly off-limits when house-sitting, but using appliances like outdoor power points for clippers, or eating opened/shared food like chocolate, may be more acceptable depending on the situation — though it's often ambiguous.

What's the best first smart home device to buy?

Buy a cheap smart speaker (Google Home Mini or Amazon Echo Dot), then add a Philips Hue light bulb and a smart plug/switch (Arlec, TP-Link or D-Link) for a lamp, so you build the habit of talking to your home before expanding further.

Should I get Google Home or Amazon Echo in Australia?

Choose Google Home for better ecosystem integration in Australia, but be aware that if you use a paid G Suite/Google Workspace account rather than a personal Gmail account, Google Home's calendar features won't work properly — in that case, use Amazon Alexa instead.

What's a less confrontational way to raise a noise complaint with neighbours?

Rather than accusing neighbours outright, explain the specific effect of their behaviour (e.g., smoke drifting into a baby's room) as a factual observation instead of a demand to stop.

How should you think about doing the right thing (like cleaning up after yourself) without guilt driving you?

Josh argues it's better to act out of a sense of duty and genuine desire to do the right thing rather than out of guilt or fear that someone else will have to deal with it.

How can you reduce clutter and household tension?

Create a defined 'home' or system for every item (like hooks and hangers) rather than relying on just tidying up, since storage and systems reduce the effort needed to stay organized.

How can a creator stay humble and not get discouraged by other mediocre content online?

Recognise the IKEA effect — you'll overvalue content you made yourself — and adopt a 'no one gives a fuck' baseline filter for your own work; this keeps expectations realistic and reduces irritation at other low-quality content around you.

How should you deal with annoying neighbours who won't follow shared bin/recycling rules?

Josh argues that passive-aggressive gestures (like moving their rubbish bag to their door) won't work on people who are already careless and unlikely to connect the dots; direct, explicit confrontation is more effective, even if uncomfortable.

What's the responsibility that comes with owning a dog?

You have to take the dog out regularly regardless of weather, rather than just letting it out the door and hoping for the best; that ongoing commitment is what separates a real dog owner from a part-time one.

Why is sleep important?

Sleep is framed as the most important thing for overall health, worth prioritizing over early morning activities like going to the gym.

How do you deal with cleaning up after a dog in public?

Josh describes carrying both a poop scoop and bags, and when tools are insufficient, hiding the shovel in a garden bed rather than carrying it around, as a practical workaround.

How should I think about decluttering or minimalism?

Be conscious about whether you're buying something out of impulse rather than need, and remember that your memories aren't contained in your possessions.