• An iPhone's autocorrect feature can be useful for predicting and correcting the words you type, regardless of misspellings.
• But sometimes autocorrect gets it wrong and substitutes the wrong word, causing annoyance or awkwardness for the typist.
• If you're tired of the feature, you can turn off autocorrect on an iPhone in a few quick steps.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When you have a message you want to get across as quickly as possible or are distracted while typing, autocorrect can be a great feature to have on your iPhone. The idea that your phone can pick up on what word you mean to use, even if your spelling of it leaves much to be desired, is pretty impressive, and autocorrect is a valuable feature that many people appreciate.

That said, it's not foolproof. There are occasions in which autocorrect gets it very wrong, which is an annoyance at best, and potentially disastrous at worst. Plus, some people just don't like or want the feature turned on.

Thankfully, turning off autocorrect on your iPhone is a quick and easy process. Here's how to do it.

How to turn off autocorrect on an iPhone

1. From your iPhone's home screen, look for the "Settings" icon and tap on it to open a menu of options.

2. Scroll down until you see the option for "General" and tap on it. You will then be taken to the next screen of options featuring settings for the basic workings of your iPhone.

3. Once on the "General" options screen, scroll down to locate the "Keyboard" selection, which will allow you to adjust your typing preferences.

4. Under the "All Keyboards" header, locate the "Auto-Correction" option. When enabled, the button will be colored green.

5. To disable autocorrect, click on the "Auto-Correction" button so that the button to the option's right is no longer green.

6. Note that it may also be helpful and/or desirable to disable the options for "Auto-Capitalization," "Check Spelling," and "Predictive" as well. This ensures that when typing, your text will appear exactly as you type it rather than corrected for spelling, capitalization, etc.

Disabling autocorrect on your iPhone can be reversed quickly should you later find the feature useful or desirable to use. Simply follow the same process as above and ensure that the button to the right of the relevant option in your keyboard settings screen is green.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to change your Apple ID on an iPhone

• How to diagnose and remove any virus from your iPhone

• 'Why won't my iPhone charge?': How to diagnose and fix common iPhone charging problems

• How to change the name of your iPhone

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Mark Zuckerberg outline Facebook's new 6-principle approach to privacy

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• When it comes to wallets, I prefer simplicity. It doesn't need to look great (though that helps), but it should be big enough to hold all the essentials and small enough to fit in a pocket. 
• The Quinn Card Holder from Pixie Mood is slim, sleek, very affordable at $22, and made from cruelty-free materials.
• I've been using this wallet for months now and I'm impressed with how much it can fit and how well it has held up after continual use.
• Note: The price will show up as $30 CAD on Pixie Mood's website, but should be processed in USD when the order is placed. The US equivalency is $22.32.

I've been searching for the perfect wallet for what feels like forever.

It used to be that my bulky leather wallet housed almost every receipt and card I've ever had, but only made its way into the rotation when I was carrying a large purse. For days when I traveled with a small crossbody bag, I moved the important stuff into a coin purse. And, if I ever went bag-free, I'd just shove my most-used cards and a little bit of cash into the card holder on the back of my phone and call it a day. 

The problem with constantly moving all of your important cards around — besides the fact that it's an annoyance — is that things can easily get misplaced, which isn't great news when it comes to difficult-to-replace ID cards and such. 

That's why I thought it was time to finally make a change. Time to find a wallet compact enough to fit into my back pocket but with enough space for all of the cards I could need on any given day; one that would let me keep my most-used cards easily accessible. Durable materials and stylish designs would be a plus, but surely not what I was would base my choice on.

Sometime in the end of summer when my wallet search was kicking into high gear, the Pixie Mood Quinn Card Wallet landed on my desk. 

Since my coworker handed it to me for a team review of Pixie Mood's standout styles, I haven't switched my wallets once. There's hasn't been any reason to, frankly. It's stylish, made of a durable material, and holds everything I need. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it's an affordable $22.

The specs

Pixie Mood makes vegan leather bags that are trendy, practical, and socially responsible all at once. Instead of real leather, Pixie Mood uses polyurethane for its wallets and bags, a synthetic form of leather which is actually more lightweight than the real deal. Since real leather is touted as a luxury material, the idea of a faux version can sometimes seem like a cheap imitation. In reality, all of Pixie Mood's bags and wallets are not only cute, but have a high quality look that suggests they're much more expensive.

Technically, the Quinn is not really a wallet, but a card holder. It has a slim profile with five card slots on the front and a zip-around compartment that can hold coins, bills, and other small bits. At just over five inches long and three inches tall, this can fit in pretty much any bag or pocket. While it may seem too small to be a substantial wallet, it holds a surprising amount inside. At the moment, I have seven cards and six MetroCards (I know, I need to deal with that) scattered throughout the five card slots. Inside the zip compartment I have some business cards, receipts, and a few stray coins. 

The Quinn, despite being faux leather, has a nice pebbled leather feel. Mine is a pretty seafoam green color, and while I believe that was a special summer edition, you can still find plenty of other great colors. They have your classic neutrals, like black and grey, as well as jeweled tones like spruce green and even shiny metallics. 

In my experience, most $20 wallets act like $20 wallets. The zippers frequently get jammed, seams burst too soon, and the materials look as cheap as they are. The Quinn, on the other hand, has a classic look and is particularly durable. Of course, after frequent use, light-colored materials will show wear, so if you're worried about that I'd recommend going for a darker color.

Bottom line

If you're in the market for a new wallet, the Quinn from Pixie Mood is an easy choice. It's cute, durable, cruelty-free, and just over $20 — making it a choice that your style, values, and budget will all like. Personally, my litmus test for this wallet was to see how long I could go without switching my things to another wallet, even if just for the day. Considering this has been my only wallet for months now, things seem to be going pretty well and I don't see the need for a more expensive option. 

Get the Quinn Card Wallet for $22 at Pixie Mood

Shop vegan leather bags, wallets, and more at Pixie Mood

Note: The price will show up as $30 CAD on Pixie Mood's website, but should be processed in USD when the order is placed. The US equivalency is $22.32.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Asking for time off at work can be an intimidating task. 
• Joseph Grenny, co-founder of VitalSmarts and co-author of "Crucial Conversations," has seven tips to help you get the vacation days you deserve.
• The key is to have explicit conversations with your boss so you know what's expected of you, both in how much time you can take off, and your role at work during your time off.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Vacation days are essential for employees who need a break from their daily grind. Time off relaxes and replenishes workers, and improves productivity when they return to the job. 

According to US Travel, average vacation days in America began to decline in 1993, from around 20 days used per year, to an all-time low in 2014 of 16.2 days used per year. Since then, however, Americans have taken more paid time off, bringing the average up to 16.8 days used per year.

Some people dread asking for time off, and assume taking less time off is expected of them, according to Joseph Grenny, co-founder of VitalSmarts and co-author of The New York Times best-seller, "Crucial Conversations."

Grenny spoke to Business Insider about the best ways to ask for PTO, and how to get it.

SEE ALSO: From your waitress to the head cook, here's how much everyone makes in a restaurant

1. Have an explicit discussion with your boss

One of the most important aspects, according to Grenny, is having explicit conversations where you find out exactly what's expected of you.

When Grenny started VitalSmarts three decades ago, he knew that he and his three co-founders would be racing to be the guy who worked the hardest. "We'd look at each other 20 years later and have our kids calls us 'Uncle Dad,'" Grenny said. "We didn't want that, so we had a very explicit discussion early on."

Make sure to have an open discussion with your employer about how much time off is expected from employees, and if workers are required to answer emails while they're away.

2. Make sure you know what the company's expectations are

Grenny warned that many employees take less time off because they assume it's the norm, and as a result, they let their vacation days go to waste.

"You need to figure out what you're comfortable with, and conversations are the vehicle for establishing expectations with others," said Grenny. "If you don't let [your boss and coworkers] express it to you explicitly, sometimes you hold yourself to a standard that they don't expect, and you end up taking less advantage of some of these generous policies than you could."

3. Ask guardrail questions

If you're a new hire, asking general questions about vacation time can help you out later on when it's time to ask for time off yourself.

Grenny gave sample questions to ask your boss: "How does it typically work? What do people typically do? Can you give examples of people who have abused it? So now I know what both normal looks like and what abuse looks like, and I can find my way in between those two guardrails."

• Placing FaceTime video calls with an iPad is a great way to connect with people, as the large, crisp screens make the other party seem almost present there with you.
• You can also use the FaceTime app to place audio calls, turning your iPad into a veritable phone with no calling plan required.
• Unlike iPhones, iPads can't connect to cellular networks, so you will need to have Internet access to make FaceTime work.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The FaceTime app that comes preloaded on every recent iPhone and iPad is one of the greatest tools we have for staying connected to one another. While in decades past, the real time video call was the thing of science fiction, today it is such a commonplace option most of us take video calling for granted. That is, right up until it's time to start a FaceTime session on a new iPad, and we realize we actually don't know how to use it.

Don't worry, using FaceTime on iPads is as easy as a few taps. But first, if you're scrolling left and right on your iPad and just can't find your FaceTime app, make sure it's not locked by parental settings. Click the Settings app, then tap "Screen Time," then "Content & Privacy Restrictions" (you'll likely need a password here) to make sure FaceTime is allowed.

And if you still can't find it, just download FaceTime onto your iPad from the app store. After that, it couldn't be much easier to use FaceTime on an iPad.

How to make a FaceTime call on iPad

1. Tap the FaceTime app to launch it.

2. Tap the blue "+" icon at the top of the screen.

3. Type in the name (if you're FaceTiming a contact), email address, or phone number of the person you wish to reach.

4. Tap the "Audio" or "Video" button to send the call.

Assuming the person on the receiving end accepts, you will then be connected, either in a live video chat wherein you can see through their iPad or iPhone's screen-side camera and they yours, or an audio call where you can speak but neither party can see one another.

And if you wish to start a group conversation, simply hit the blue "+" before placing the call and enter another contact, email, or number. You can have up to 32 people on a group FaceTime session, though your screen will be pretty cluttered if you actually go with that many people.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to sync your iPhone and iPad with your email, photos, text messages, and more

• How to backup your iPad to iCloud or a computer

• How to properly clean an iPad screen without damaging your device

• How to delete apps on your iPad (and save their data)

SEE ALSO: The best tablets you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Camilo Maldonado was born in Colombia and as a child came to the US, where he was raised in poverty by his widowed mother.
• After graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, he got an MBA from Harvard Business School. His career then took him to Wall Street and start-ups before he launched a personal finance site with his twin brother.
• Here are seven money lessons that have a larger impact to your financial stability than you realize, and that he believes everyone should learn before they hit age 30.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

I recently turned 30 years old, which is a scary time financially. You're old enough to feel like you should have made more progress financially, but young enough that realistically you are still battling the challenges of a modern young adult, like paying back student loans and an increasing cost of living.

According to the 2014 Census figures published in August of 2018, the median net worth of single-person households under the age of 35 is $4,166. If you exclude equity from a primary home and the related mortgage, the figure drops to $3,310.

They say that 30 is the new 20 — and from a financial standpoint, it certainly looks that way. It used to be common to work your way through college and graduate at 22, debt-free, and immediately start saving for a down payment on your home. It's virtually impossible to do that now, since the cost of tuition has increased nearly 8x faster than wages have over the past 30 years.

Read more:Warren Buffett on the best choice he made for his career — and 7 tips for how we can all emulate his good decision-making

Today's new graduates are saddled with tens of thousands of student loans. Upon graduation, you're not even thinking about saving for a down payment on a home because for the next few years, you're working to repay the student loan companies.

It can be scary to turn 30 and feel like you face an uphill battle from the very beginning, but there are a few lessons that you must learn if you are determined to build a solid financial foundation for your future.

SEE ALSO: It takes a $300,000 salary to be middle class in cities like San Francisco and NYC, and a financial expert gives the 'sad' breakdown of why

1. Harness the power of retirement accounts

Looking at the most recent census data, the median value of retirement accounts was $10,000.

That figure is powerful, because it's 140% or 2.4x larger than the overall median net worth for single-person households under the age of 35. Only home equity represents a larger share of wealth for this group.

This means that retirement accounts are one of the most reliable ways for young people to build wealth. Interestingly, the share of net worth is split roughly equally between 401(k) and IRA accounts.

Unfortunately, the data shows that many young people are not contributing to a 401(k) or IRA account since the median net worth is so much lower than the median value of those types of accounts. Both types of accounts use tax-savings to incentivize people to save for retirement, but the 401(k) has the added benefit that employers can make matching contributions into those accounts.

2. Leverage the stock market and learn how to invest

If they are able to save money, many people keep their money in a bank account because they are intimidated by the stock market or are afraid of losing money. Contrary to those fears, the second largest contributor to net worth for young people aside from their home is stocks and mutual fund shares.

If you are not investing because you don't know how to do so, you are likely not familiar with low-cost index funds. These investments are simple, highly effective and extremely affordable. This is also the way I was taught to invest my money by my finance professors at both Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of Business. As one professor would say, "Picking individual stocks is for dummies."

By investing in index funds like Fidelity's FZROX or Vanguard's VTSAX, you are essentially investing in the entire stock market, giving you broad exposure to many different companies while lowering the chance of picking the wrong company or sector to invest in. They also charge virtually no fees, which means that more of your money is staying in your account. No investment is guaranteed, but this is the way the world's top money managers recommend individual investors to invest their money.

3. Realize that you can't buy happiness sooner rather than later

Evolutionarily, we are all coded to want more than we already have. It's what has allowed humankind to advance to heights that would have barely been imaginable even as recently as a few hundred years ago.

One negative side-effect of this drive is that it's easy to want to keep up with the proverbial 'Joneses.' Learning that money can't buy you happiness is a lesson that everyone will eventually learn. Books like "Tuesdays With Morrie" or Randy Pausch's famous "Last Lecture" highlight the fact that at life's end, the most important things are hardly related to a desire for more physical objects or purchases.

Learning this lesson will allow you to avoid making costly mistakes like not saving for retirement in lieu of spending hundreds of dollars on fitness classes. There's a balance to everything.

• The Met Gala 2019 theme is "Camp: Notes on Fashion."
• It reportedly costs $30,000 for a ticket to attend the Met Gala.
• However, that's just the beginning of all the costs associated with the $3.5 million event.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The first Monday in May hosts the party of the year in the fashion world.

Dubbed the Oscars of the East, the Met Gala themed "Camp: Notes on Fashion," is tonight, celebrating the Metropolitan Museum of Art's newest exhibition at the Costume Institute.

With 200 pieces on display, featuring high-end designers from Alexander McQueen and Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano to Virgil Abloh, the exhibition focuses on exaggerated fashion. "Camp fashion can be humorous, ironic, or simply extreme in its nature," wrote Lauren Alexis Fisher for Harper's Bazaar.

Helmed by Vogue's Anna Wintour (and co-chaired this year by Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Gucci's Alessandro Michele, and Serena Williams), the Met Gala is known for its best-dressed and worst-dressed celebrities, socialites, and businesspeople who walk the red carpet in their interpretation of the theme.

Anyone who is anyone is there, at least according to Wintour's handpicked and closely scrutinized guest list. 

Last year's guests didn't disappoint, from Rihanna's pope-inspired ensemble dripping in diamonds to Blake Lively walking the red carpet in $2 million worth of jewelry.

The cost to make an appearance during fashion's biggest night out is a steep one, and the cost to make the event happen is even bigger. For $30,000 a ticket, those who passed Wintour's approval can attend the $3.5 million event.

And that's just the beginning of all the money that goes into — and comes out of — what André Leon Talley refers to as "the Super Bowl of fashion."

Take an inside look at the money behind the Met Gala.

SEE ALSO: Here's what all the celebrities wore to the 2018 Met Gala

SEE ALSO: Anna Wintour says her dream Met Gala guests would be Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton, and that the only rule of the fashion event is that attendees not take selfies

It reportedly cost $3.5 million to produce the Met Gala in 2016.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Tickets for the Met Gala reportedly cost $30,000 — that's enough to put a family of four over the poverty line. Some sources say tickets can even cost up to $50,000.

Source:Fortune, Page Six

Tables go for $275,000 to $500,000. They cost even more if they're paid for by sponsors. Yahoo sponsored the Met Gala 2015 and reportedly paid $3 million for two tables.

Source: Fortune, Page Six

• A common trait the world's best leaders exhibit is love, says billionaire philanthropist Melinda Gates. 
• The same can be true of workplace managers who create loving environments and empathize with their staff, Gates told Business Insider US Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell.
• Gates described how she created a positive work environment during her time as a manager at Microsoft.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The world's greatest leaders, from Marin Luther King Jr. to Nelson Mandela, all exhibited one trait that rarely gets talked about: love.

The best leaders can also empathize with others, which is an extension of love, billionaire philanthropist Melinda Gates says.

"Love is the most powerful and underused force for change in the world. You don't hear about it in policy discussions or political debates," Gates wrote in her book, "The Moment of Lift."

"Mother Teresa, Albert Schweitzer, Mohandas Ghandi, Dorothy Day, Desmond Tutu, and Martin Luther King Jr. all did hard-headed, tough-minded work for social justice, and they all put the emphasis on love. It's a mark of our culture's uneasiness with love that political candidates never talk about it as a qualification for holding public office." 

Read more: How to solve a problem with no apparent solution, according to top problem solver Melinda Gates

Gates recently sat down with Business Insider US Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell to discuss her book and solutions to the world's biggest problems, like poverty and inequality. She said the same principles of leading with love can extend beyond politics and into the workplace.

Managers should express love and empathy for their employees, especially during difficult times in their personal lives. In doing so, workers feel more comfortable being themselves at work. Gates said while you should keep your personal problems at home, an organization that encourages everyone to feel comfortable with one another has the most success.

"When you reach out and connect with somebody over their humanity, that ultimately is love — whether you name it or not," Gates told Business Insider.

Gates strove to create a positive work environment during her time as manager at Microsoft. Coming out of Duke University with a masters degree in business, Gates felt uncomfortable with Microsoft's aggressive, competitive environment. While she contemplated leaving at first, Gates decided to stay and ended up attracting people from all over the company to join her team.

When coworkers asked how she attracted so many talented engineers, Gates said she remained true to herself, and that led to a more welcoming work environment where people eventually began requesting to join her team.

"In my view, love is one of the highest qualifications one can have," Gates wrote in her book.

"As one of my favorite spiritual teachers, Franciscan priest Richard Rohr, says, 'Only love can safely handle power. For me, love is the effort to help others flourish—and it often begins with lifting up a person's self-image."

Read Melinda Gates' full interview with Business Insider, or watch below »

SEE ALSO: How to solve a problem with no apparent solution, according to top problem solver Melinda Gates

DON'T MISS: Something interesting happened when Bill Gates started driving his daughter to school

Join the conversation about this story »

• The standard version of Google Analytics is a free online tool that Google provides to help you understand, analyze, and improve your website traffic.
• It's easy to create a Google Analytics account and start tracking your site performance, as long as you can edit your site's HTML <HEAD> tag.
• There are a lot of reports available which let you see real-time performance, how pages perform over time, your conversion rate for e-commerce campaigns, and more.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Just the name is intimidating to some people: Google Analytics. It might help to know that analytics is the name for the branch of mathematics dedicated to analyzing data, and is generally used to tease out meaningful patterns that can be used to generate statistics and make predictions about future trends.

That said, you don't need to know or perform any math to use Google Analytics— all of that is done in the background for you.  

What you can do with Google Analytics

Google Analytics — commonly abbreviated as GA — is a free tool that Google provides to help you understand, analyze, and improve your website traffic. It provides graphs and data that you can use to understand information about your site. Here are just a few examples of the kind of information you can learn using GA:

• How many unique visitors click on the site and specific pages within it.
• How many overall page views go to specific pages (and the site in general). Pageviews are different from unique visitors, since the same person might click on a page more than once.
• How long visitors are spending on each page during their visit.
• What your "bounce" rate is — in other words, what percentage of your visitors are leaving the site after looking at only a single page, rather than following links to other pages.
• Information about your visitors' demographics, including where they are from, and what kind of browser or mobile device they're using to visit.

It's important to note that only the site's owners and managers can see GA data, so strangers, visitors, and competitors cannot, for example, access your Google Analytics page (at least not without your permission or login information).

How to create a Google Analytics account

To get started, you need to create a Google Analytics account for each website you own or manage.

1. Go to the Google Analytics homepage and sign into your Google account if needed.

2. If you don't already have a GA account, click "Sign Up."

3. Follow the setup instructions by entering the name and URL of your web site, along with other details, and click "Get Tracking ID."

4. On the next page, you'll be given a tracking code that you need to add to the <HEAD> tag on each page of your website that you want to be able to monitor in GA.  You can add that tag manually in an HTML editor (following the directions provided by Google) or, if you use a web service like Wix or Squarespace, the webpage editor can do this automatically for you.

After creating your account, you can enable other people to see your GA page:

1. On your Google Analytics page, click the Gear icon in the lower left corner to open the Admin page.

2. Click "User Management." You should see your own login information.

3. Click the blue plus sign in the upper right corner of the screen.

4. Click "Add users," and enter the email address for each person you want to add to the GA account. They'll each get an email inviting them to GA with their own unique password. You can always return here to revoke their permission.

A quick tour of Google Analytics

Once you have a working GA account, you can log in at any time and get a snapshot of your site's performance. Here are some key places to start:

• The Home tab displays a brief dashboard of your site's performance, including traffic, how many users are on the site at this very moment, and where your traffic is coming from.

• The Real-Time tab is rich with valuable information, especially if your site is news-focused or publishes timely information. It'll show you who is on your site minute-by-minute along with which pages on the site are currently trending, and where that traffic is coming from.

• The Behavior tab is critical for understanding what pages are performing well (and which ones are doing poorly). The Site Content section of the Behavior tab is a favorite for site editors and content managers, because it shows the traffic for every page on the site for any timeframe you might want to see.

• The Conversions tab is where you can find how ecommerce campaigns are performing. Here you can establish goals and see whether traffic is translating into actual revenue.

Learn more from Google

Google has a wealth of online instruction and tutorials for Google Analytics. If you want to learn how to use this tool, you should start with Google Analytics Academy, which is a collection of videos and articles that introduce you to every aspect of the site.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to turn Google SafeSearch on or off

• How to enable cookies in Google Chrome on a desktop or mobile device

• How to share photos, PDFs, and other files on Google Drive

• How to set up and customize Google Alerts to stay updated on the topics that matter most to you

SEE ALSO: 'What is Google Express?': A guide to Google's online shopping service

Join the conversation about this story »

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Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network if you apply for a credit card, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers generous rewards on dining, but a slate of newcomers have been trying to take its place as the best card for dining.
• Last fall, the American Express® Gold Card was refreshed with new benefits, including an even better rewards earning rate at US restaurants.
• There are a lot of similarities between the two cards, but also some important differences. Here's what you need to know to decide which is right for you.

When it launched in 2016, the Chase Sapphire Reserve was the king of dining rewards. With 3x points for every dollar spent on dining — which was defined broadly enough to include everything from restaurants to cafés and bars — it was the obvious go-to to maximize points anytime you ate out.

Nearly three years later, the rewards landscape has become more crowded than ever, and the Sapphire Reserve, or "CSR," has some heavy-hitting competition. Last year, American Express refreshed its Premier Rewards Gold card, rebranding it the American Express Gold Card.

The two cards bear a lot of similarities: They have hefty annual fees but a handful of benefits and credits to offset it, they earn bonus points on dining, and they both have a handful of valuable ways to redeem points. But there are also a handful of differences, some of which are pretty significant. There's also the Citi Prestige card, which offers an incredible 5x points on dining, but Citi's rewards program is trickier to navigate to get top value.

With that in mind, which card — the Sapphire Reserve or AmEx Gold— is best for you? Read on to find out.

Keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that make these cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which can far outweigh the value of any rewards.

When you're working to earn credit card rewards, it's important to practice financial discipline, like paying your balances off in full each month, making payments on time, and not spending more than you can afford to pay back. Basically, treat your credit card like a debit card.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the American Express Gold Card from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and benefits of 2019

The annual fees — and the credits that offset them

Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the AmEx Gold have hefty annual fees — the Sapphire Reserve is $450, and the AmEx Gold is $250.

However, both cards offer a few annual statement credits on purchases that — if you would have made those purchases anyway — significantly offset the fees.

The Sapphire Reserve comes with a straightforward and easy-to-use $300 travel credit. The first $300 you spend on travel-related purchases every cardmember year is credited back to your account. The "travel" category is expansive, including everything from subways, taxis, parking, and tolls to airfare and hotels.

When you subtract that credit from the annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve only costs $150 per year.

The AmEx Gold has two different statement credits.

The first is up to $120 each year in dining credits, broken into monthly $10 portions. These credits only apply to a few participating chain restaurants — specifically Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and some Shake Shack locations — but they also apply to popular food ordering services GrubHub and Seamless. The credits apply automatically to any qualifying purchase.

The AmEx Gold also offers up to $100 in airline fee credits each calendar year. Every January, you pick one airline for that credit to apply toward. While the credit doesn't cover tickets, it covers incidental fees like checked bags, seat assignments on basic economy tickets, change fees, and more. Sometimes you can even be reimbursed for airline gift cards that you can apply toward tickets, even though this is an unpublished benefit — do some Googling to see whether that works on your airline of choice.

Assuming you take full advantage of both credits, the effective annual fee for the AmEx Gold is just $30.

Rewards: The earning on both cards is substantial

The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points per dollar spent on every dining or travel purchase (except for the first $300 of travel each year that is covered by the travel credit).

Both categories are broadly defined: Dining includes things like bars, cafes, restaurants, food trucks and booths, pubs, and in many cases, bakeries or ice cream shops. Travel, meanwhile includes everything from subways, taxis and Ubers, parking, and tolls, to flights, hotels, cruises, and more.

Travel website (and Business Insider e-commerce partner) The Points Guy subjectively values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2¢ each (more on that later), meaning you'd earn about 6% of value back on every dollar you spend.

The AmEx Gold Card offers a higher 4x points per dollar spent at US restaurants, as well as 4x points back at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year — 1x point per dollar for anything beyond that) and 3x points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or with AmEx travel.

The AmEx card's restaurant category is similarly broad as the Sapphire Reserve's — I've gotten the category bonus at restaurants, bars, pubs, and cafes. The supermarket category excludes big box stores where you might buy groceries, like Target or Walmart, but includes most dedicated US supermarkets.

The Points Guy also subjectively values AmEx Membership Rewards points at 2¢ each, so going by that metric, you get a huge 8% of value back from the Gold Card — beating the Sapphire Reserve.

The travel category is much more restrictive. If your spending is more split between travel and dining, you may be better off with the Reserve. There may also be room in your wallet for both, especially considering that the AmEx Gold's effective annual fee is so low.

There's one other important difference to note: Even though the AmEx Gold earns higher rewards on dining, that's only applicable in the US. At restaurants when you're abroad, you'll only get 1x point per dollar spent. The Sapphire Reserve still earns its category bonuses when you use your card overseas.

Welcome bonuses: Earn a lot of points right away.

When you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve you can get 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months— assuming you haven't opened a Sapphire-branded card in the past four years.

That bonus is worth $500 as cash back, $750 when used to purchase travel through Chase's booking portal, or potentially more when you transfer it to airline partners to book flights — more on all of that in a moment. Using The Points Guy's general valuation, which is a subjective aggregate of the realistic potential values you can get from points, it would be worth about $1,000.

The AmEx Gold Card offers 35,000 points when you spend $2,000 in your first three months with your new card.

The Gold has a lower bonus, but also a lower spending requirement to earn it. The higher earning rates on US restaurants, plus the rates at supermarkets, might make up for that.

The value AmEx offers when you use points for cash back is poor, although you can get around $350 towards flights if you book through AmEx travel, but potentially more by transferring to airline partners. Based on The Points Guy's valuation, that's about $700 in value.

• Military working dogs are trained to do tough jobs under harsh conditions, but they're still dogs.
• While their training is specialized, some aspects are universal and will apply no matter what you're trying to teach your dog.
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories. 

As a Military Working Dog handler in the US Marine Corps, I got to work with some of the best trained dogs in the world.

These dogs can sniff out bombs that have been buried underground, sniff out drugs that are hidden in ceiling tiles, take down a man three times their size, and track a person long after they're gone to find criminal suspects or lost kids.

As a handler paired up with an explosive detection dog, my job was to train him, maintain his skills, keep him healthy, make sure he got exercise, and make sure he was healthy. After graduating from dog handling school, I was paired with my first dog, Kuko.

As a new handler with an experienced dog, I had to get up to his level before we could be an effective team. Once I got there, I could start teaching him new things to take our team to the next level.

While you may not be training your dog to find bombs buried in mud or drugs hidden in a car bumper, there are some keys to training dogs that will apply no matter what skills you are trying to teach.

SEE ALSO: Take a look at a day in the life of a military working dog

1. You have to build a relationship.

The first thing you do upon meeting your new MWD is begin to build rapport. If you take home a brand-new puppy, you begin training by establishing a relationship with the dog. With so many dogs in a unit's kennel, handlers take turns dropping food pans for the dogs twice a day.

However, when a handler partners with a new dog, it's a good idea to let that handler drop their dog's food for a few days to establish a good bond. The dog begins to associate the handler with good things.

This was particularly important with our, shall we say, "crankier" dogs. While our dogs weren't trained to be mean, they aren't the friendliest dogs either. They have a serious job to do, and they are serious dogs.

I've seen handlers get bit by their own dogs more than a few times. Two of the best dog teams in my first unit had scars from their dogs. Training too hard, too fast with a dog that doesn't trust you yet can lead to frustration on both sides and usually doesn't lead to good results.

2. Groom your dog every day.

Grooming your dog helps build the relationship, keeps the dog clean and healthy, and lets you check them over from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail for any problems. With hair covering most of them, dogs can have serious issues developing that you can't see until you brush them.

If your dog is running around in wooded areas, check in their ears, their paws, and in between their paw pads for ticks. Even with preventative medication, ticks can bite dogs and infect them with multiple diseases that can be devastating or deadly. Even a small cut on the paw can turn into something bigger if not treated properly, and dogs that don't feel good aren't good students.

One of our dogs contracted a tick-borne disease that nearly killed him. While we never found the tick, the dog tested positive for Babesia. He only survived because his handler had noted that he seemed more and more lethargic over the course of about three days.

Because she was watching him closely, she noticed when his gums and tongue went pale, indicating a serious problem. He was rushed to the vet, where aggressive treatment saved his life. His recovery was long and difficult and led to his retirement, but the vets and vet techs care about the dogs and will save them if possible.

3. Consistency is key.

During this rapport-building time, start laying the foundations for the training that you want to do with your dog.

Don't let them get away with things that you won't accept later. Reward good behavior with praise, attention, play, or treats. Once training begins, consistency is going to be key to getting good results.

If you are training the dog to sit, set the dog up to succeed by training in the same area every time. Keep your voice the same. Don't change the way you say the command. Don't give the command unless you are prepared to reward.

• Meghan Markle has given birth to a royal baby boy.
• The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry welcomed their first child, who has yet to be named, on Monday morning.
• Raising a royal child can cost as much as $1 million, according to one estimate. Here's how much the royal baby has cost so far.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Meghan Markle has given birth to a baby boy.

The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry welcomed their first child, who weighed in at 7 pounds and 3 ounces, on Monday morning at 5:26 a.m., according to the couple's Instagram account. He does not yet have a name.

"I'm very excited to announce that Meghan and myself had a baby boy this morning, a very healthy baby boy," Harry said in the statement from Windsor cited by ITV. "It's been the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension. But we're both absolutely thrilled. We're both absolutely thrilled and so grateful for all the love and support from everybody out there, it's been amazing, so we just wanted to share this with everybody."

Buckingham Palace tweeted confirmation that Markle went into labor early Monday following an announcement of the couple's plans to keep the details surrounding the birth secret until they had time "to celebrate privately as a new family."

Raising a royal child isn't a cheap endeavor — one estimate put the cost of raising Prince George to adulthood at $1 million.

While many details surrounding the birth of the latest royal baby haven't been revealed yet (except that he wasn't born in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London, per royal tradition, according to CBS), here's how much the royal baby has cost so far.

SEE ALSO: Meghan Markle has given birth to a baby boy

DON'T MISS: Kate Middleton's delivery of her third baby probably cost less than a typical birth in the US

Meghan had a baby shower in Manhattan worth $200,000, according to a Vanity Fair estimate.

Serena Williams, a friend of Meghan's, paid for the party, which included a flower-arranging lesson and dessert tasting with a Michelin-star chef, Katie Nicholl for Vanity Fair reported.

Along with her friends, Meghan spent her time in the city dining in exclusive restaurants, according to Catriona Harvey-Jenner for Cosmopolitan.

Williams paid $75,000 to host the shower in a penthouse suite at The Mark, a hotel on the Upper East Side.

The suite includes two floors, five bedrooms, four fireplaces, six bathrooms, two powder rooms, and Central Park views, according to Nicholl.

Meghan arrived at the shower in style — she reportedly flew from London to New York via private jet for an estimated $100,000.

According to Nicholl, one of Meghan's friends owns the jet and covered the cost as a gift.

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NOW WATCH: See inside the $2.8 million 'Flintstones' house in California that sparked a viral following and a lawsuit

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• 85% of Athleta's redesigned swimwear collection is made from sustainable materials like recycled nylon, putting the company one step closer towards its 2020 goal of making 80% of its materials with sustainable fibers. 
• Performance and style aren't compromised in the process. The supportive, comfortable suits are perfect for active lifestyles, while the UV-protective fabric keeps up with long, summer days under the sun. All the styles are cute, ranging from classic to trendy. 
• We tried some of the bikini tops ($49-$79), bottoms ($49-$69), and one-pieces ($98-$128) and found that Athleta's three-year process of making the swim collection paid off. 

If you're an active woman, you might already know that Athleta is a great place to find all the apparel to help you perform on land, from the leggings you run in and the work-appropriate pieces that are okay to sweat in, down to the underwear you'll be surprised to find really does make a difference. 

This summer, it's also one of our recommended places to get a swimsuit. 

As part of Athleta's 2020 goal of making 80% of its materials with sustainable fibers, it recently released a new swimwear collection with 85% of the fabrics made from recycled materials. 

These two new fabrics are called AquaRib, which features Econyl, a 100% regenerated nylon fiber made from fishing nets and other discarded nylon, and H2Eco, made from recycled nylon. In making the H2Eco fabric, Athleta has already diverted more than 39,000 pounds of waste from landfills. 

Read more: The best women's swimsuits you can buy

Athleta CMO Sheila Shekar Pollak says, "As a B Corp, we take our role in protecting our planet for the next generation seriously and have incorporated this mission into everything we do. At our size, we know we can make a big impact on perception, on demand, and ultimately on the industry." 

More and more companies are making products from unexpected but sustainable materials such as recycled plastic water bottles. We've discovered time and again that there's often little to no compromise in quality, efficacy, and price of the final product, and Athleta's swimwear is no exception to this positive revelation. 

The supportive and stretchy suits let you move around comfortably in and by the water, and since they have a UPF rating (how well the fabric protects against UV rays) of 50+, you won't have to cut your summer swim time short. The material also dries quickly so you're not wallowing and soaking in a clingy, too-wet suit. 

Read more: The best active swimsuits for women

You have tons of styles to choose from, including classic cuts and solid colors, as well as more flashy or fashion-forward pieces. Right now, the collection has more than 400 items. Bikini tops cost $49-$79, bottoms $49-$69, and one-pieces $98-$128. 

4 women at Insider Picks tried these stylish and sustainable swimsuits from Athleta— here's what we thought:

Adriata Bikini Top, $59, available in 2 colors and Freestyle Camo Bottom, $59, available in 1 color

Athleta swim surprised me in the best possible way. It’s flattering, comfortable, and built for summer days spent laying on a chair beachside or spiking the ball on a sandy volleyball court.

Sometimes swimwear sizing can be tough to gauge online — I’ll order the recommended option for my cup size as I did here (typically medium), and wind up guessing on bottoms (I fluctuate between 26-27 and wear a size four in jeans). I went true-to-size here and got small bottoms and the fit is unusually perfect — not so loose you’re afraid you’ll lose them in an unfortunate wave, and not so tight that it looks like you no longer fit in them. As Francesca notes (below), the best thing about Athleta’s suits may be that they simply sit on top of you, rather than adding segments or panty lines.

All in all, I didn’t expect to love Athleta swim as much as more expensive designer pairs I’ve wound up buying in the past, but these are a great foolproof pair to feel comfortable and confident in — which is ideally the point. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

Loop Back One Piece, $108, available in 3 colors:

When it comes to bathing suits, I usually keep it pretty simple. I never purchase a red bathing suit because I feel like red is a bold statement, and also the color lifeguards wear. This time, I decided to just go for it. I chose the Loop Back one piece suit in, you guessed it, red! It didn't look too risqué or like a lifeguard’s uniform.

When I tried it on, I liked the adjustable straps and the ability to create a perfect fit without compromising the intricate, and cute, back. It also felt comfortable around the thighs and butt. Some bathing suits can feel so tight and squeeze you in all the wrong places, but the Loop Back suit sat nicely on my entire body. The one thing I would note is that the cups felt pretty stiff. I’m assuming, with wear, they’ll soften up.

It’s still too cold to really get use out of this suit, but I splashed some water on the fabric and cups, and they both dried fairly quickly. I’m excited to put it on and take a dip this summer! —Francesca Rea, Insider Picks content producer 

Wrap Halter Bikini Top, $69, available in 7 colors and Twist Bottom, $49, available in 7 colors: 

The classic halter style is given an update with a wrap-around add-on here. The wrap, which is an additional layer attached to the cups, isn't only a stylish look — it also provides more support around your bust so you feel extra secure, and the back ties give you a more personalized fit. 

This top has an underwire, which I personally prefer in my swimsuits for both the aesthetic and functional support, while the cups dry quickly and are removable. I agree with Francesca's point above — they are slightly stiff, though not uncomfortable. 

I loved the Twist Bottom because the cut and fit are the Goldilocks "just right," medium seat-medium rise standard, but they look more interesting than a regular triangle bottom. The twist waistband is flattering and even more importantly if you plan on spending all day at the beach, always comfortable. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

South Swell Bikini Top, $49, available in 9 colors: 

I’ve shopped at Athleta for years and I have been happy with every one of my purchases from the store, so I was eager to see how the sustainable swim line matched up to the quality of the rest of their products.

Every once in a while I'll go with a bold print, but I typically play it safe and go with a solid style that provides a clean look. I chose this simple top and was happy to find that the color was eye-catching, but not to the point of being obnoxious.

I loved the overall style of the suit and liked the sporty look of the top. I wasn’t too fond of the material because it felt a little more rigid and less elastic than what I'm used to, but it still had enough stretch to be comfortable while moving around.

The suit looked and fit wonderfully, but due to my preference for a little more stretchiness, it probably won’t be my go-to for the summer months. With that being said, I would still recommend it to anyone looking to be more eco-friendly with their wardrobe. —Megan Foster, Insider Picks intern

The bottom line

All in all, we were pleased to find that Athleta's swimsuits could be comfortable, performance-optimized, and stylish at the same time.

As you look for ways to reduce your environmental impact, the collection is a reminder that even the small things — like a bikini top — can make a difference. 

Shop all swimsuits at Athleta here

Join the conversation about this story »

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• It can be hard to decipher which car cleaning products are actually good and which ones are just marketed well — even for a product writer and car enthusiast like myself.
• I recently came across Ethos Car Care, a startup making simple car-care products that are easy to understand and to use.
• I got the chance to test some of its formulas on my own car, and I really pleased with how well the formulas worked.
• Other products include car shampoo, tire shine, wheel cleaner, interior detailer, wax, all-purpose cleaner, and more.

A few weeks ago I found myself stuck, aimlessly staring at a wall of car cleaning products in a local auto parts store for more than 30 minutes. What was supposed to be a quick trip to the store before a Saturday afternoon car wash turned into what felt like half an hour of mulling over a life-altering decision.

All I needed was tire shine and wheel cleaner. But I had to choose between wet tire shine, ultra-wet tire shine, extreme tire shine, untouchable tire shine, hot tire shine, foamy tire shine, and gel tire shine. I was stumped on which ones were actually good because they all seemed to have some kind of marketing spin promising this or that.

The same level of ambiguity and confusion exists for just about every other type of car cleaning product you might need, too. 

I ultimately settled for whatever was on sale and hoped for the best. As I was leaving the store, I thought to myself that it really shouldn't be that hard for someone like me, a product reviewer and car enthusiast, to pick out good cleaning products, never mind the average consumer. 

Unhappy with the products I ended up choosing, I started searching for alternatives that were simply good, with no misleading or confusing jargon, and I came across a promising new startup called Ethos Car Care.

Founded in 2017, Ethos Car Care was created as a simple and effective alternative in the overly-saturated, aggressively marketed car cleaning and detailing industry. Rather than putting a ton of time and effort into coming up with some catchy marketing campaign, Ethos has invested its resources where it matters the most: in the product itself. Working with chemical engineers and professional detailers, Ethos Car Care has put thousands of hours into developing, refining, and testing its USA-made products.

From premium ingredients to simple product labels, Ethos Car Care aims to eliminate the hassle of trying to decipher the difference between dozens of variations of the same product or buying watered-down garbage that has a cool label. It sounded like exactly what I had been hoping for after my struggles in the auto store, so I decided to give them a try.

Ethos Car Care sent me nearly its entire product line up and I put them to the test on my own car.

Using the car shampoo

The first product I tested was the Car Shampoo. The soap is highly-concentrated, so you won't need loads of it to create a lot of suds, and the formula is pH balanced, which means that it won't strip away waxes, sealants, or protective coatings. I recently treated my car with 303 Touchless Sealant, a hydrophobic silicon-based spray, so I was happy to know it wouldn't be stripped away.

No matter how concentrated soaps say they are, I've always added extra (whether washing my car, laundry, or dishes), but I stuck to the recommended two ounces for a full bucket of water and it went a remarkably long way. 

If you've been using dish soap for your car washes, I'd recommend stopping immediately and switching to this. The initial results of dish soap are great, but that's because of its abrasiveness. It'll eat away at dirt, right along with the wax, and eventually the finish of the paint.

Using the non-abrasive wheel cleaner and tire shine

Next, I addressed my wheels and tires with — you guessed it — the Wheel Cleaner and Tire Shine. I have to reiterate how refreshing it is to use products that are simply named. Lots of variety only makes it harder to pick a good product.

It took me so long to pick out similar products at the auto store because I've always been cautious about what I put on my car. Some wheel cleaners are highly abrasive and I'd hate for them to ruin the clear coat, polished lips, or 24-karat gold-plated pieces I have on some of my cars. As for tire shine, it's usually really hard to find one that doesn't slick up onto your bumper and quarter panels.

The Wheel Cleaner quickly broke down brake dust, making it a lot easier to get them clean, and it didn't damage my wheels. It also has a nice cherry scent, although that doesn't matter too much. Rather than being an aerosol, the Tire Shine is water-based and doesn't slick. It gave made my tires a clean shine, but it's not too shiny like I lathered them up with Vaseline. 

The bottom line

While I haven't had the chance to put all its products to test just yet (I have to wait for my car to get dirty again), it was great to see that Ethos Car Care makes a selection of ceramic products including Ceramic Car Shampoo, Ceramic Wax, and Ceramic Refresh. The products use silicon dioxide, which repels water and dirt, giving your car a longer-lasting clean. If you've had your car professionally ceramic coated and you need to upkeep the finish or you just want to add a layer of protection to your car, these are great choices.

And with other products like Interior Detailer and Leather Conditioner, you can make your car equally clean on the inside. The full range of products shows that they're building a brand with true car enthusiasts in mind. 

If you're looking car cleaning products that are easy to understand and use, I strongly recommend Ethos Car Care. Whether you're a meticulous car enthusiast aiming for perfection or a responsible car owner who just appreciates a clean ride, their products will save you the trouble of scouring through the innumerable choices on the market. 

Shop all Ethos Handcrafted Auto Care products on Amazon now. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Astronomers just captured the first image of a black hole. Here are the horrifying things that would happen if you fell into one.

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Whether you're just planting some seeds indoors or a complete vegetable garden in your yard, you can make gardening easier and more enjoyable with these eight products.
• From essential tools to soil testers, these must-have products can help make annoyances like weeding more comfortable, increase the success of your first plant babies, and more. 
• They're also all available on Amazon for easy ordering and fast shipping.

Whether you want to grow flowers or plants, or even vegetables that you can then enjoy with your family, gardening can be a fun and rewarding activity. 

But first, you'll need a few basic supplies like a trowel and some gloves to make your job a little more comfortable. No matter what level of gardener you are, or whether you're working indoors or out, you'll find ways to make gardening easier with these picks.

Best of all, they're on Amazon for easy ordering, so you can just go down the list and add them all to your cart. Here's to your newfound green thumb.  

Essential tools to get started

Buy the UKOKE 12-Piece Garden Tool Set on Amazon for $34.98

If you purchase all of the basic gardening tools you need individually, you'll be looking at a steep bill. The UKOKE 12-Piece Garden Tool Set offers a comprehensive selection of gardening tools at an impressively affordable price.

The kit contains a cast aluminum alloy trowel, cultivator, hand rake, weeder, and transplanter, along with carbon steel pruning shears and a stainless steel pair of hand snips for trimming flowers. The hand tools feature an ergonomic design with a soft grip handle which helps to prevent slipping and hand fatigue.

Additional tools include gloves, a kneeling pad, a spray bottle, and a waterproof garden apron. Everything fits into the included tote bag. These aren't top-of-the-line garden tools, but in terms of the overall assortment included and performance, they're worth the investment, especially if you're just getting into gardening. For heavy-duty use or use in hard, clay soil, you'll want to upgrade to heavier tools, but this set will get the hobby gardener started.

Quality yet affordable gardening gloves

Buy the Atlas Gardening Gloves on Amazon for $7.38

The Atlas Gardening Gloves outperform other gloves on multiple fronts from overall durability to the natural feel.

I love these gloves because while they offer excellent protection against thorns and scrapes, I can still feel thin branches through them for increased dexterity and control. They're breathable, so they don't get hot and uncomfortable during the summer, but the nitrile coating is strong. Unlike thicker leather gloves, these naturally curve and bend with your hands, and I can comfortably wear them for multiple hours at a time.

It's evident that careful design and thought went into creating these gloves. There are no seams in the fabric and they're even machine washable. I particularly like the longer cuff, which offers you a little extra coverage without adding too much heat.

If you anticipate doing a lot of gardening and needing multiple pairs of gloves, you can save some money by purchasing the Atlas Gardening Gloves in a four-pack on Amazon for $16.77.

A special seat to reduce the strain on your knees and back

Buy the Vertex Garden Rocker on Amazon for $57.77

You may feel just great digging around in the dirt for hours — until you stand up. Then your knees and back will let you know they don't agree with all of the work you just did.

The Vertex Garden Rocker is designed to help keep you comfortable when you're weeding or planting, reducing the strain that gardening puts on your knees and back. The rocker features a contoured seat with a foam cushion that swivels and twists, giving you the support you need without restricting your movement. You can also adjust the height to find the position that's most comfortable for you.

Weighing just three pounds, this seat is pretty versatile, so you can also use it when painting, crafting, and more.

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Marvel and Adidas have teamed up for a limited-edition collection of basketball sneakers.
• The Marvel x Adidas "Heroes Among Us" collection is made up of six sneakers, each with a different Marvel superhero theme: Black Panther, Iron Man, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Nick Fury, and Thor.
• Inspired by the superheroic nature of professional basketball players, the collection includes shoes from James Harden, Damian Lillard, Candace Parker, Tracy McGrady, and John Wall. Prices range from $110 to $180 for men's sneakers and $90 to $110 for kids' sneakers.
• There are no "Avengers: Endgame" spoilers in this post. You can scroll down to learn more and shop in peace.

While Marvel's comics have been entertaining people for generations, the record-breaking blockbuster hit "Avengers: Endgame" proves just how big the cult fan base is.  To celebrate the release of the epic sequel, the iconic comic brand is teaming up with Adidas to launch a limited-edition collection of basketball sneakers.

Inspired by Marvel superheroes, the "Heroes Among Us" Collection uses the sneaker styles of some of its most heroic signature athletes — James Harden, Damian Lillard, John Wall, Candice Parker, and Tracy McGrady — to create a six-sneaker collection.

The Dame 5 takes on The Black Panther, the Harden Vol. 3 takes on Iron Man, the N3XT L3V3L takes on Captain America, the Pro Vision takes on Captain Marvel, the T-Mac 1 takes on Nick Fury, and the Marquee Boost takes on Thor.

Each sneaker uses on the colorway of each superhero's costume and comes packaged inside a collector's edition Marvel shoe box. This is definitely the kind you hold on to.

Each sneaker is available in men's sizes starting at $110 and the "Black Panther" Dame 5, "Iron Man" Harden Vol. 3, and "Captain Marvel" Pro Vision are available in kids' sizes starting at $90.

Whether you're a die-hard fan of Marvel comics and movies, a fan of basketball and the explosive players that make the game exciting, or both, you'll be hard-pressed to find cooler sneakers to add to your collection.

Shop the Marvel "Heroes Among Us" Collection at Adidas now. 

Also available at Foot Locker and  Finish Line.

Marvel's Black Panther x Adidas Dame 5

Available for men, $125

Available for kids, $100

Marvel's Iron Man x Adidas Harden Vol. 3

Available for men, $150

Available for kids, $110

Marvel's Captain America x Adidas N3XT L3V3L

Available for men, $180

• Business Insider asked real-estate agents around the country about what it's really like working in their industry.
• Many real-estate agents wish their clients knew all the behind-the-scenes work they do beyond showing homes. 
• Others said they wished their clients would stop assuming all real-estate agents are rich.
• Here are 10 things real-estate agents wish they could tell their clients, from how much money they really make to "your home isn't selling because you have no taste."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Life as a real-estate agent probably isn't as glamorous as you think.

Business Insider asked real-estate agents around the country about what it's really like working in the industry, the best and worst parts of their jobs, and what they wish they could tell their clients.

While some agents chose to remain anonymous, all were independently verified by Business Insider. 

From how much money they really make to "your home isn't selling because you have no taste," here are 10 things real-estate agents wish they could tell their clients. 

SEE ALSO: A California developer is building a super-luxe gated community in Malibu with only 5 houses that cost up to $100 million each, and Jeff Bezos' top security guy is helping make the compound 'paparazzi-proof'

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1. "It's far less lucrative (per transaction) than you think."

Being a real-estate agent isn't as glamorous or lucrative as you might think, according to those in the industry.

Brian Suico, a realtor based in Vancouver who sells homes priced around $700,000 on average, said he wishes he could tell clients "how much we pay in real-estate fees and marketing... Everyone thinks we are rich. Some of us are, but like every business we spend money to make money and we take risks and some of us are very talented at our jobs."

An agent based in Washington added that most agents only earn "a small fraction of the gross commission paid, and we have to pay all of our expenses and taxes from that. It's far less lucrative (per transaction) than you think."

2. "I would never want to tell a client that they are unappreciative, but at times it definitely feels that way."

Many agents said they wish clients knew how much work they do behind the scenes.

"We don't just open doors and we wear many hats," said Spencer Cutler, a Corcoran real-estate broker based in New York City. "Yes, part of our job is to show expensive properties in Manhattan, but we're also a transaction coordinator, marketer, therapist, salesperson, telemarketer, CFO, CEO, accountant, analyst, negotiator, teacher, etc."

Claire Groome, an agent at Warburg Realty who sells homes that cost between $1 million and $20 million in New York City, said brokers do a lot of work that goes unnoticed and she wishes clients knew "how hard (yet rewarding) our jobs are. It's an expertise."

Scot Dalbery from REAL New York, who deals with rental properties in New York City, expressed similar sentiments.

"Especially in the era we live in now where people think everything can be done instantly and for free through a website or app, clients don't realize the amount of hours spent researching listings, calling agents, making appointments, verifying information, all while answering every text or email from the clients themselves," he told Business Insider. "... I would never want to tell a client that they are unappreciative, but at times it definitely feels that way."

3. "You have no taste."

Mary Hall Mayer, an agent at Warburg Realty in New York City, said she wishes she could sometimes tell her clients one harsh truth: "You have no taste which is why your property can't achieve that price."

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• Dandy Blend, an herbal coffee substitute, features dandelion root, chicory root, barley, and rye and tastes just like the real thing.

• Coffee, with its high acid content and diuretic properties, can lead to dry, inflamed skin, but Dandy Blend is packed with vitamins and nutrients that aid in the overall health of the body — including skin health.

Quitting coffee is one of those things I dabble in, without fail, at the beginning of every new year.

Intellectually, I know the habit isn't great for my body — but I always go back to it because, as researchers have shown, caffeine addiction is real. Some of the symptoms of coffee withdrawal prove it: Headaches, fatigue, and irritability set in when the caffeine-spiked morning Venti goes away.

I have another theory about coffee addiction, though. In my experience, the habit of making, pouring, grabbing, and sipping on a cuppa is just as addictive as the caffeine itself. When my hand is grasped around a warm mug and that sweet-bitter taste hits my tongue, I feel like the day has officially begun. So when I made up my mind to quit coffee once and for all, I knew I needed a replacement habit — something that would easily fit into my already-established morning routine and trick my body into perking up.

Enter herbal coffee, or more specifically, Dandy Blend.

Dandy is an herbal blend featuring dandelion root, chicory root, barley, and rye. It looks strikingly similar to instant coffee and is just as easy make; you simply scoop a heaping tablespoon or two into a hot cup of water and stir. Voilá! "Java" is served. But where Dandy differs from other herbal coffee alternatives I've tried is that it actually tastes like the real thing. Chicory root mimics that full-bodied coffee taste I've grown to love, but in a slightly earthier way.

With Dandy Blend in my cup, my first two coffee-free weeks flew by without any of the headaches and irritability I anticipated… probably because Dandy Blend is more than just a coffee substitute — it's actually healthy. Whereas coffee is highly acidic (which can cause heartburn and stomach issues) and a diuretic (which leaves the body dehydrated), Dandy Blend can reduce inflammation in the body (thanks to dandelion root) and regulate digestion (courtesy of barley and chicory root).

But the biggest change I noticed from cutting out coffee? My skin started to G-L-O-W.

"Coffee may cause insulin resistance, which is your body's ability to process sugar, and that can stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce extra oil," Jill Therese, a skin and nutrition specialist and the founder of Heal Your Face With Food, tells Business Insider. "Excess oil can lead to blocked pores on the skin and potential breakouts." Additionally, the caffeine content in coffee directly stimulates the adrenal glands. "This overstimulation of the adrenals over time can lead to dehydration and premature aging down the road," Therese says. So if you struggle with problem skin and consume coffee on a daily basis, you may want to cut back to see if caffeine is the culprit.

My improved skin tone wasn't just a result of eliminating coffee — it turns out, Dandy Blend is full of glow-inducing vitamins and minerals, too. "Dandelion root is like the nectar of the gods for your skin because of its ability to support the liver's detoxification process," Therese notes.

The liver has long been connected to skin issues, since it's basically the body's detox center. When the liver isn't functioning properly, it doesn't filter toxins out of the body, and these toxins can show up on your skin in the form of pimples, rashes, and even eczema and psoriasis. "Dandelion increases the flow of bile in the liver and as a result, all excess hormones and toxins are efficiently processed out of the body," Therese explains. "This leads to better digestion, less stress, and much clearer skin."

The chicory root in Dandy Blend helps as well. It's packed with antioxidants to neutralize the effects of pollution on the skin (like wrinkles, fine lines, inflammation, and age spots) and features high levels of Vitamins A and K — two of the most important vitamins for skin health. Vitamin A is famous for its anti-aging and anti-acne properties, while Vitamin K boosts the body's ability to heal, so skin issues clear up faster and don't leave scars behind.

As soon as I realized that ditching my daily cup of joe in favor of Dandy Blend would lead to better skin, I knew I'd be off coffee for good. I've even altered my go-to Dandy recipe to include additional skin-boosting benefits.

Want my clear skin recipe?

In an eight ounce cup of hot water, I mix together one tablespoon of Dandy Blend, a half tablespoon of bone broth collagen (for plumper, firmer-looking skin), and one tablespoon of coconut oil (since healthy fats help to keep skin moisturized from the inside out). You can also make this with cold water and add ice cubes, if you're into a cold brew-esque experience.

After a week of Dandy, I promise you won't miss coffee — or the inflammation, dehydration, and dull skin that come with it — at all.

Buy Dandy Blend Herbal Coffee at Amazon from $12

SEE ALSO: This $12 magnesium and vitamin C serum brightened my dull, tired skin practically overnight

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• Aeroflot Flight SU1492 made an emergency landing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport on Sunday.
• Of the 78 passengers and crew on board the Sukhoi SuperJet 100, the violent landing and subsequent fire took the lives of 41 people.
• Dramatic video of the landing quickly spread across the internet showing the plane bouncing violently down the runway, followed by images of flames and thick black smoke billowing from the jet.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Aeroflot Flight SU1492 made an emergency landing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport on Sunday. Of the 78 passengers and crew on board the Sukhoi SuperJet 100, the violent landing and subsequent fire took the lives of 41 people.

"Aeroflot extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of those who lost their lives on flight SU1492 Moscow-Murmansk," the airline said in a statement. "The crew did everything in its power to save passenger lives and provide emergency assistance to those involved. Tragically, they were unable to save all of those aboard."

"Our thoughts and hearts are with those who have suffered an unspeakable loss. We mourn with you," Aeroflot added.

The SuperJet is a Russian-made regional jet that first entered service in 2011. According to Airfleets.net, Aeroflot has 50 of the planes in its fleet, each with room for 87 passengers. The aircraft used to operate Flight SU1492, registration number RA-89098, was delivered to Russia's national airline in September 2017.

Read more: Harrowing video shows rough landing that may have caused the deadly fire on a Russian airliner.

According to the airline, Flight SU1492, en route from Moscow to the city of Murmansk in northwestern Russia, suffered "malfunctions on board the aircraft" shortly after takeoff. As a result, the crew declared an emergency and returned to the airport. Later, one of the plane's pilots told Russian media that the Sukhoi Superjet 100's communications systems failed due to a lightning strike.

Dramatic video of the landing quickly spread across the internet. The first video to be posted shows the plane coming to a stop on the runway with flames and thick black smoke billowing from the rear of its fuselage. A second video soon emerged showing the plane bouncing violently down the runway when its main landing gear appears to collapse and catches fire.

Here's how Aeroflot Flight SU1492 unfolded:

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Aeroflot Flight SU1492 is a daily scheduled flight from Moscow to the city of Murmansk inside the Arctic Circle. On Sunday, May 5, the flight was operated by a Sukhoi SuperJet 100, registration number RA-89098.

Aeroflot Flight 1492 took off from Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport on Sunday at 6:03 p.m. local time.

Five minutes into the flight, the SuperJet has turned north toward Murmansk and climbed to an altitude of 10,500 feet. It's unclear when the communications failure caused by lightning occurred. However, it's most likely to have happened before this point.

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Mother's Day 2019 is Sunday, April 12. 
• Yup, you're looking at the calendar correctly. That's very soon, but you still have a chance to get a thoughtful and unique gift that feels like something you thought of weeks ago.  
• Many are subscription services or gift cards, while others are from Amazon, where two-day Prime shipping is really swooping in to save you this year. 
• Find more Mother's Day gift ideas here. The most helpful ones for your current predicament are the 34 Prime-eligible Mother's Day gifts on Amazon that are all under $25 and 25 unique Mother's Day gifts that are Prime eligible and guaranteed to arrive in time. 

We've all been there — Mother's Day starts creeping closer and closer, your schedule starts getting more chaotic, and suddenly it hits you. "I forgot to find a gift!"

Whether it just slipped your mind to prepare ahead of time or you decided to give gifts last-minute, we've got you covered. 

This list proves that last-minute Mother's Day gifts can still be thoughtful and unique — from clever subscriptions to useful gift cards and everything in between (all of which can be e-mailed to the recipient just in time). 

Check out our picks for last-minute Mother's Day gifts she'll think you pored over. 

DON'T MISS: We asked female founders and CEOs of popular retail startups like Parachute, Brandless, and Cuyana for their top Mother’s Day gift ideas

An Amazon Prime membership to make her life easier

Amazon Prime membership, $39 for 3 months or $119 for a year

The gift of Amazon Prime is always one that'll be met with extreme appreciation given that it is both practical and actually thoughtful. If the recipient already has a membership, the money will convert into a gift card that they can use on anything they want from the site. 

A Birchbox subscription for beauty and skincare lovers

Birchbox subscription, starting at $45 for 3 months

There's a reason Birchbox is so popular — it's a super affordable way to find and learn about new beauty, skincare, and grooming products without the risk of spending too much on full-sized options she might not like. For $45, you'll be able to gift three months worth of boxes right to her door. For a more substantial option, you can gift six months for $84, or 12 months for $156.  

A box from Fanchest filled with her favorite team's gear

Fanchest team boxes, starting at $59

Chances are, if the person you're gifting is a serious fan, she'll love anything you get her with her team's logo emblazoned on it. Fanchest delivers boxes full of licensed memorabilia for NHL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and NFL teams at a great value, and even has an option for babies. They also offer overnight and two-day shipping.