31 Brilliantly Simple Solutions That Prove We're Just Not Trying Hard Enough

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John Summers • Contributor
Mar 13, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

I absolutely adore clever solutions to problems that are barely problems at all. Seriously, it just proves that you don't need to wait for a full-blown crisis to kick your brain into gear—creativity can strike at any moment! Ever tried frying food and ended up repeatedly assaulted by sizzling hot oil splashes? Easy fix: just wear an enormous banana leaf apron with eyeholes poked out—problem solved in the most stylishly organic way possible.

Or how about when it's time to bake a birthday cake for someone turning 27, but—tragically—the store has run out of candles shaped like 2 and 7? Obviously, the sensible solution is to buy a 3 and a 9 candle and throw in two standard candles as a makeshift multiplication sign. Math genius? Absolutely. Did I feel incredibly silly for never thinking of it before? You bet!

These 31 examples of human ingenuity are precisely the type of creativity we all secretly aspire to. They're proof that life's tiny obstacles aren't roadblocks—they're opportunities to flex our inventive muscles, and maybe even make the world just a little bit more hilarious along the way.

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    PRIS
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    2303 CURTIS A. DEJARNATTE, D.M.D Advanced Comfort Dental
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    Cheezburger Image 10479815936
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    The clever part is doing it next to a first aid kit

    C FIRST AID + ALSCO HAPITISOIT
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    Making lasagna in a brownie pan so everyone gets an edge piece. BERKER SHERWAYSE ARE YOU CAN EAT
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    Tail wagglingly cute

    572 NORTHLAKE BLVD. YFLORIDA.COM SUNGLING GRAZ LAKEPARKMITSUBISHI.COM,
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    It saves ink!

    LONDON BY NIGHT NOONO
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    MUNIYOUSE
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    Oh, is your arm br...? But how did it happ...? Is the dog fi...?

    KNIK yes, it's broken. Walking my dog. Fell off curb. -Dog is fine.
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    Cheezburger Image 10479817728
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    Times Square with adblock enabled
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    Roger Roger

    Cheezburger Image 10479817472
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    Is it clever though?

    Cheezburger Image 10479817984
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    I tried so hard and got so far but in the end... GAS LIQUID SOLID 246810
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    I'm the king of the road!

    Cheezburger Image 10479818496
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    Superstore KAPOW!
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    Haskins_Elizondo @HaskinsElizondo Follow Didn't have the candles #2 and #37 so... Happy 27th birthday son! Birthe Loren 3:30 AM Apr 9, 2021 Birthy Loren QUI
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    PÃES E DOCES Freak Food Bea Fresh NESCAFÉ ROTISSER
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    SCIENCE IS Science Is Fun → FUN@sciencefunn. Follow Some people don't realize how big galaxies are, so I added a banana for reference: 2:26 PM Jun 4, 2024
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    MECODE
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    "We had a plumbing repair done and decided to make it festive" * AM-MM 0919 20 21 22 2
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    jordanreviewsittt ✪ 6d ... Starting a new business. Do you have an annoying boss or pretentious coworker? For the low low price of $5/month I'll comment on their LinkedIn "that's a stupid idea" every time they post something.
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    The Land Of Memes Follow Posted by SofyanChambers. Mon What would you do in this situation? Ghansah Jr. @Ghansah_jnr Switch to google chrome
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    It's... A Walken Freezer!

    MBMASTER-BILT 0.0
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    Cheezburger Image 10479821312
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    God Of Prozac D m
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    freddie bakery 1.6K 1K Top comments v 65 I want to bake free 940
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    кок
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    We stand no chance!

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    DOLLAR GENERAL 安 DOUBLE ENTUNDRA TEXAS KCY-8447 2
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