Nobody wants to be the neighbor everyone complains about. But sometimes, Indianans don’t realize their habits are annoying the folks next door.

Whether it’s blasting music at all hours, letting your dog turn someone else’s yard into a bathroom, or parking like the world revolves around you, there are plenty of ways to make enemies in your own neighborhood.

These are some of the worst neighbor habits Indianans overlook that can make you the talk of the block—for all the wrong reasons.

Ignoring Noise Etiquette

We all love a good party, but if your neighbors know your weekend plans because they can hear your music through the walls, it’s a problem.

Noise complaints are one of the biggest issues Americans report, especially in busy cities. In New York City, noise complaints topped the 311 hotline with over 738,000 calls in 2024.

No one wants to listen to your 2 AM karaoke session or hear your subwoofer shaking the walls.

Just be considerate. Keep the volume reasonable, especially at night. If you’re having people over, let your neighbors know, or at least turn it down when it gets late.

The occasional gathering is fine, but if your place sounds like a nightclub every weekend, don’t be surprised when your neighbors start giving you the side-eye.

Messing Up Trash Day

Trash day isn’t complicated—take your bins out on time, don’t leave them sitting out for days, and don’t let your garbage spill all over the place.

If your trash is constantly a mess, you’re not just annoying your neighbors—you’re inviting pests.

Keep your trash contained and follow the collection schedule. It keeps the neighborhood looking clean and avoids unnecessary issues.

Letting Kids Run Wild

Kids playing outside is great. But if they’re running through other people’s yards, screaming at the top of their lungs at 6 AM, or messing with cars, you’re going to hear about it.

Unsupervised kids can cause all sorts of issues, from accidental damage to being a general nuisance.

Teach your kids about boundaries and respect for other people’s property. Making sure they play safely and don’t bother the whole neighborhood keeps everyone happy.

Neglecting Your Yard and Home Exterior

Look, few people expect your house to look like a Pinterest dream. But if your yard is turning into a jungle and your house looks abandoned, your neighbors are going to be annoyed.

A messy property doesn’t just bring down your home’s curb appeal—it makes the whole neighborhood look bad.

Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, and pick up random junk lying around. It’s really not that hard, and it keeps the place looking nice for everyone.

If your home is the one that looks like a haunted house, don’t be surprised if you get some HOA letters or complaints from neighbors who are sick of looking at your overgrown mess.

Being a Parking Menace

Parking is already a pain in a lot of neighborhoods, so don’t make it worse by being that person who parks like they own the whole block.

Blocking driveways, hogging multiple spots, or constantly parking in front of someone else’s house is a surefire way to make enemies.

You’re not the only person who needs to be careful; if you have guests over, make sure they aren’t blocking driveways or taking up too much space.

A little common courtesy goes a long way in keeping neighborhood peace.

Letting Your Pets Be a Problem

We get it—your dog is adorable. But if your pup is barking nonstop, roaming the neighborhood unsupervised, or leaving “presents” in other people’s yards, that’s not cute.

A LendingTree survey found that problem pets are one of the biggest complaints among neighbors.

Be a responsible pet owner. Train your dog not to bark at every leaf that blows by, clean up after them, and make sure they aren’t terrorizing the neighborhood.

Your neighbors will appreciate it.

Being Unfriendly or Just Plain Rude

You don’t have to be best friends with your neighbors, but at least acknowledge their existence.

Nothing is more awkward than living next to someone for years and never getting so much as a nod or a “hello.” About 24% of Americans admit they dislike at least one neighbor, often because they seem rude or unfriendly.

A simple wave or small talk about the weather won’t kill you.

Being approachable makes life easier if you ever need to borrow a tool, get a package that was delivered to the wrong house, or deal with a community issue.

Ignoring Community Rules

Some neighborhoods have rules—whether it’s a homeowners’ association (HOA) or just unspoken agreements among neighbors. Blatantly ignoring them is a fast track to annoying everyone around you.

If there are guidelines about yard maintenance, noise levels, or where you can put your trash bins, follow them.

It’s not about being controlled—it’s about making sure everyone can enjoy the neighborhood without unnecessary drama.

Throwing Constant Ragers

Everyone likes a good get-together, but if your house is party central every weekend, you might be pushing your luck.

If your neighbors can hear your music, smell the bonfire, and see the drunk people stumbling to their cars at 3 AM, you’re probably not winning any popularity contests.

Be considerate with how often and how late you throw gatherings. If you’re planning something big, give your neighbors a heads-up.

And, for the love of everything good, make sure your guests aren’t being obnoxious outside.

Being Passive-Aggressive

Leaving anonymous notes, giving dirty looks, or making snide comments instead of addressing issues directly just creates more tension among neighbors.

If something your neighbor does bothers you, talk to them like an adult. Passive-aggressive behavior makes everything worse.

A calm, polite conversation usually goes a lot further than a note that says, “Maybe if you mowed your lawn, the rest of us wouldn’t have to look at your jungle.”

Being Nosy

Nobody likes a nosy neighbor. If you’re constantly peeking through your blinds, eavesdropping on conversations, or interrogating people about their personal lives, you’re going to make people uncomfortable or downright angry.

Give your neighbors space.

Friendly small talk is fine, but if you’re acting like the neighborhood detective, you’re doing too much.

Being a good neighbor isn’t hard. Just be considerate, follow common courtesy, and don’t be the reason your neighbors are complaining in the group chat.

Easy, right?

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If you’re a Pennsylvania boomer—or any American boomer—you probably learned some skills in class that felt like a big deal at the time.

You sharpened pencils by hand, practiced perfect cursive, and hoped the filmstrip wouldn’t break halfway through science. There were no tablets or smartboards. Just chalk, rulers, and a whole lot of patience.

But flash-forward to now?

Many of those school lessons are long gone. Kids today don’t even know what a card catalog is.

Here are some of the old-school skills boomers learned in class that modern-day life no longer requires.

Penmanship Class

Remember sitting for what felt like hours practicing perfect cursive?

Boomers learned how to loop their Ls and curve their Gs with military precision. Cursive was a big deal.

Teachers handed out worksheets with dotted lines. You’d trace over letters until your hand cramped and the paper ripped.

Some even got graded on how pretty their writing was. Seriously—neatness mattered.

But today? Most schools don’t even teach cursive anymore. Kids are typing before they can spell. And when they do write, it’s often in messy print or emojis.

Typing on a Typewriter

Learning to type was a rite of passage.

Boomers sat in long rows in typing class, fingers hovering over clunky keys, waiting for the bell. Every mistake meant starting over. There was no delete key—just whiteout and frustration.

Speed and accuracy were everything. You’d hear the clack-clack-clack of keys and the ding of the carriage return over and over.

Students even had to memorize where their fingers went—home row was gospel.

Now? Most people type on glass screens. Auto-correct fixes the typos, and voice-to-text does the rest. The rhythm of a typewriter is long gone.

Using a Card Catalog

Before Google, there was the library card catalog.

Rows of tiny drawers, each stuffed with index cards. You had to look up a book by title, author, or subject. It was like playing detective—with paper.

Boomers learned the Dewey Decimal System like it was a second language. Finding one book could take 15 minutes if you were lucky.

And when you finally found it? You had to write down the call number and then go searching for it on a dusty shelf.

These days, you just type the title in a search bar and click. Some kids have never even touched a library drawer.

Home Economics Class

Home ec was serious business.

Boomers learned how to sew on buttons, bake biscuits, and plan balanced meals. Some even had to carry around fake babies to learn about parenting.

It wasn’t just cooking and cleaning—it was life prep.

Girls were often expected to master these skills. Boys? Not so much. It reflected the gender roles of the time.

Today, many schools have dropped home ec or renamed it “life skills.” And while cooking’s still useful, you don’t need to make a perfect pie crust in gym shorts at 15.

Shop Class

If home ec was for the girls, shop class was for the boys.

Boomers learned how to use saws, drills, and sanders. They made birdhouses and bookends like mini-carpenters.

It was hands-on learning, and students took pride in building something from scratch.

But as schools shifted to tech-focused education, shop class started disappearing. Insurance costs, safety concerns, and budget cuts didn’t help either.

Now, most teens build things with coding, not wood. And fewer people know how to fix a chair than ever before.

Memorizing Phone Numbers

This might sound wild to anyone under 30, but boomers could rattle off a dozen phone numbers without blinking.

Your best friend’s house, your grandma’s landline, the pizza place down the street—you just knew them.

If you forgot one? You were out of luck. No one carried a contact list in their pocket.

Memorization was part of school too. You learned emergency numbers, area codes, and how to use a rotary phone.

Now, most people don’t even know their partner’s number. If it’s not in your phone, it might as well not exist.

Writing Checks and Balancing a Checkbook

Boomers didn’t have online banking. They had ledgers, pens, and a strong grip on math.

Schools taught students how to write checks properly—complete with the date, the amount in numbers and words, and a neat signature.

They also learned to balance a checkbook, which meant tracking every deposit and expense by hand. Miss one and you were in trouble.

While checks still exist, they’re fading fast. Most people use debit cards, apps, or online payments. And balancing a checkbook? That’s what your banking app does automatically now.

Diagramming Sentences

This one gave a lot of students nightmares.

Boomers had to break down every sentence into parts—subject, predicate, direct object, and so on.

You’d draw lines and angles like a tiny architect, trying to figure out where every word fit.

It was all about structure. Teachers believed it helped you understand grammar better.

But today, hardly anyone teaches this anymore. Language arts classes are more focused on writing style and reading comprehension.

Plus, most adults can’t diagram a sentence now—and they’re doing just fine.

Using Slide Rules and Long Division

Before calculators were allowed, boomers had slide rules.

They used them to figure out math problems, especially in science class. It took patience—and good eyesight.

Even basic math meant doing it the long way. Long division, multiplication tables, and solving by hand were part of daily life.

Some teachers wouldn’t even let you use a calculator until high school.

Now? Kids can solve equations with a phone or laptop. And most won’t ever see a slide rule unless they find one in a grandparent’s attic.

Filmstrip Projectors and Overheads

If you were a boomer, you remember the excitement of a filmstrip day.

The lights went out, the reel clicked to life, and the narrator droned on about frogs or ancient Rome.

Teachers used overhead projectors too—transparent sheets, dry-erase markers, and a lot of smudging.

Boomers sometimes had to operate these machines for class presentations. It felt high-tech back then.

Now, everything’s digital. Projectors are smart, lessons are on PowerPoint, and students are more likely to use iPads than push reels.

Making Flashcards by Hand

Studying meant scissors, index cards, and a stack of flashcards taller than a soda can.

Boomers made them by hand—writing the question on one side and the answer on the other.

You’d flip through them before a quiz, hoping some of it would stick. It was time-consuming but effective.

Today, students can use apps like Quizlet to make digital flashcards in seconds. They can even add images, audio, and share them with friends.

No paper cuts. No lost cards. Just study and swipe.

Learning Cursive Signatures

Cursive wasn’t just for penmanship—it was for your identity.

Boomers were taught to develop their own unique signature, and you practiced it over and over. Signing your name was a milestone.

Teachers said it was important for checks, documents, and being an adult.

But now, a lot of forms don’t even need handwritten signatures. People sign with their finger on a screen or click a button online.

Some young adults don’t have a signature at all. And that once-prized skill? Kind of optional.

Taking Notes With Shorthand

Shorthand was the text messaging of the past.

Boomers learned special symbols and squiggles that helped them take notes super fast—especially in business or journalism classes.

It was its own secret code. You’d hear something in class and jot it down in what looked like hieroglyphics.

Stenography machines even used it in courtrooms and meetings.

Now, most students just type everything or use speech-to-text tools. Shorthand is rarely taught, and unless you’re a court reporter, it’s pretty much obsolete.

Learning To Read Analog Clocks

Boomers grew up with analog clocks on every wall. You had to know how to read them—no digital displays or smartwatch faces.

Learning meant understanding the hour hand, minute hand, and how to count by fives.

Some kids even took tests on telling time. And being five minutes late? That was on you.

Today, digital clocks are everywhere. Some kids struggle to read analog faces because they rarely see them.

And if you want to know the time, just ask your phone.

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Let’s be real—your hair can either make you look fresh and stylish or add a few extra years you don’t need.

And who wants that?

Some hairstyles just aren’t doing us any favors after 50. Whether it’s because they’re outdated, unflattering, or just plain boring, it’s time to ditch them for something way more attractive.

These are some of the hairstyles that could be aging you and what you can do instead to stay looking as young as you feel in West Virginia.

The Super Short, Tight Perm

Okay, tight perms had their moment—like, a few decades ago. But now? They can look way too stiff and give that “helmet hair” vibe.

Not to mention, the process can seriously dry out your hair, making it more brittle and prone to breakage.

If you still love curls, go for something softer and more natural-looking. Loose waves or beachy curls can give you volume without looking like you stepped out of the ‘80s.

A curling iron or hot rollers can do the trick, or you can try a modern perm with bigger, bouncier curls.

Long, Lifeless Hair

A lot of women think longer hair makes them look younger. But if it’s thin or lifeless, it can actually do the opposite.

As we age, our hair naturally gets finer and drier, and long, limp hair just makes that more obvious.

If you love length, try adding layers to bring some movement and volume back. Or, if you’re feeling bold, a shoulder-length cut or a sleek bob can be super flattering.

Plus, regular trims and deep conditioning treatments will keep your hair looking fresh and healthy.

Heavy, Blunt Bangs

Blunt bangs can be really tough to pull off, especially as we get older. Instead of framing your face in a flattering way, they can feel heavy and draw attention to forehead lines rather than softening them.

A better bet?

Wispy or side-swept bangs. They add just the right amount of coverage without looking too harsh.

Curtain bangs are another great option—they frame your face in a really flattering way and are super trendy right now.

The Classic Bowl Cut

Unless you want to look like you time-traveled from the ‘70s, the bowl cut needs to go. The super-rounded shape doesn’t do anyone any favors regardless of their age—it just makes the hair look stiff and outdated.

And if you’re dealing with thinning hair, it can actually make that more obvious.

A softer, layered pixie cut or a chic bob is a much better option. It keeps things modern and flattering without looking too rigid.

Ask your stylist for layers to add movement and keep things fresh.

Overly Teased Hair

Big hair had its glory days. But overly teased styles just feel stuck in the past.

Plus, teasing can actually damage your hair over time, making it look frizzy and brittle. Not cute.

Instead, go for soft, natural volume. A little root-lifting spray, a good blow-dry with a round brush, or even some velcro rollers can give you the lift you want—without the stiff, crunchy look.

Effortless volume is the goal!

The Outdated Bob

The bob is a classic, but not all bobs are created equal. A chin-length, one-length bob can sometimes look too boxy and stiff, making your face look wider and emphasizing sagging.

Yikes. We don’t need that!

A modern bob should have some movement. Layers, an asymmetrical cut, or a slightly longer lob (long bob) can make a world of difference.

A soft, angled bob is also a great way to keep things stylish and youthful.

The Ultra-Short, Spiky Pixie

Pixie cuts can be super chic, but the ultra-short, spiky version? Not always the best choice.

It can come off a little too severe, which can actually highlight fine lines rather than soften them.

If you love short hair, try a textured pixie instead. A little length on top with soft layers and side-swept bangs can make it look way more flattering.

Volume on top can also help balance out your whole look.

The One-Length Cut

Flat, one-length hair can be a total buzzkill. Without layers or shape, hair can look heavy and lifeless—especially if it’s fine or straight.

Adding layers can make a world of difference. They add body, shape, and movement, making your hair look fuller and more modern.

Face-framing layers are especially great because they highlight your features in all the right ways.

Extreme Side Parts

A deep side part can sometimes look dramatic in a not-so-good way. It can emphasize thinning hair and make everything feel a little lopsided, which isn’t the most flattering look.

Instead, try a softer side part or even a slightly off-center part.

These little tweaks can make your hairstyle look way more balanced and fresh without a major change.

The Same Cut You’ve Had for Decades

We all get attached to our go-to hairstyles, but sticking with the same cut for decades? That can make you look older, not younger.

Hair trends change, and your face shape and hair texture change over time, too; what worked in your 30s might not be the best choice now.

You don’t have to do anything drastic, but even small updates can make a huge difference.

A few layers, a fresh new length, or a slight style tweak can bring your look up to date while still feeling like you.