• On Tuesday, a man reportedly rushed through security at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, injuring five Transportation Security Administration agents in the process, according to a TSA statement.
• One TSA officer went to the hospital and four went to urgent-care clinics, TSA said. All have been released.
• A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal trespassing and resisting arrest, as well as misdemeanor assault.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Five Transportation Security Administration officers were injured after a man barreled through security at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, according to a TSA statement. 

The man, who police have identified as 19-year-old Tyrese Garner, is accused of trying to rush through security on Tuesday around 9:45 a.m. Survaillence footage appears to show him pushing through multiple TSA agents, causing them to fall on the ground, and punching several agents.

A group of agents then subdued the suspect. 

Lorie Dankers, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration, told Business Insider in a statement that one TSA officer went to the hospital and four went to urgent-care clinics. All have been released.

Read more:As TSA agents go unpaid, Travis Scott and Kanye West songs are blasting through JFK's loud speakers 

"This unprovoked and brazen physical attack against our employees is unacceptable," Dankers said. "We are grateful for our committed workforce and for the role they play in protecting the traveling public every day."

The man was later arrested on suspicion of criminal trespassing and resisting arrest, as well as misdemeanor assault.

The Phoenix Police Department was not immediately available for comment. 

SEE ALSO: TSA body scanners may be more likely to trigger false alarms if you're black or overweight

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• In preparation for my wedding and a lifetime of laziness, I decided to get my eyebrows microbladed by Piret Aava in New York City, otherwise known as the Eyebrow Doctor. 
• The hour-long process involves tattooing semi-permanent pigment into my brows to define their shape and fill in sparse areas. For two weeks afterward as the brows heal, you're not supposed to get them wet. 
• Since I couldn't wash my face normally with water and cleanser, I went through several bottles of micellar water instead to feel like a normal person.
• Here are my reviews of the five I used, from drugstore staples to a cult-favorite French brand that sells a bottle every two seconds around the world.

After I went to Aava Piret in New York City to get my brows microbladed before my wedding in August, I was in love with my newfound brows. I mean, I actually had brows. They were defined and full, and I couldn't wait to see how they'd look after they healed.

But I wasn't in love with the fact that I couldn't really wash my face properly as the brows healed in the weeks after the treatment. I wasn't supposed to get the brows wet so I had to be really careful washing my eyes or forehead. After giving myself a headache trying to figure out how to do it, I decided that using micellar water was the best way. 

I've used micellar waters on and off as part of my usual double-cleansing routine, but I usually follow up with a second cleanser. Since I couldn't use a cleanser anymore, I had to rely on some well-reviewed bottles and cult favorites instead. Every morning and night, I'd soak two cotton pads with micellar water and sweep them over my face to get every trace of oil, dirt, makeup, and general grimy-ness. 

Surprisingly, my paranoia of not being able to fully wash my face was just all in my head as my skin felt clean every time, and I didn't get any breakouts from clogged pores or leftover dirt and oil. Maybe I'll keep using micellar water after my brows are done healing.

Here are the five micellar waters I used while my microbladed brows healed: 

SEE ALSO: The best tinted moisturizers you can buy

Bioderma Sensibio H2o Micellar Water

Bioderma Sensibio H2o Micellar Water, available at Amazon, $14.90

Essentially the bottle that started the stateside micellar craze, Bioderma is a French drugstore staple. And that's not hyperbole — the brand claims a bottle is sold every two seconds globally. It only became available on Amazon a few years ago; I remember restocking on the travel-sized bottles when I went to Paris in 2011 because I couldn't find them anywhere else. 

I've been using this brand for years even before I knew what microblading was, and it's our top overall pick for best makeup remover. While there is an oil-free version for sensitive skin and one for combination or oily skin, I use the original one with the pink lid. It works instantly to remove my cushion compact base makeup, mascara, and even long-wear lipstick.

I usually use two cotton rounds for my face — the first to do an initial pass and the second to get anything left over like eyeliner that's really close to my lash line or waterproof mascara that needs a little soaking. 

There's no added fragrance so it won't irritate skin, but there is a light scent because of the cucumber extract. 

Here's our full review of Bioderma Sensibio H2o Micellar Water.

Vichy Pureté Thermale One Step Micellar Cleansing Water

Vichy Pureté Thermale One Step Micellar Cleansing Water, available at Amazon, $14.49

This one is much easier to find in drugstores and online, and I've gone through two bottles of this before I did my brows. 

The formula is said to be made with thermal spring water to hydrate more intensely, but I didn't see a major difference between this and others I've used. I did notice that the redness on my cheeks was mitigated a bit.

This one is also more hydrating than others thanks to vitamin B5, but I still use moisturizer after cleansing — same with all the other micellar waters. Unlike Bioderma though, this one has added fragrance so it might irritate people with sensitive skin.  

Son and Park Beauty Water

Son and Park Beauty Water, available at Sephora, $30

Beauty Water is pretty versatile and works as a toner and cleanser; if you've got a spray bottle, you can decant some and use as a facial spray too. I've used it both as a toner and cleanser, and like the hydration and brightening effects. 

It's a much larger bottle than the others and has other ingredients besides micellar water and vitamins, like green tea for antioxidants, rose water for hydration, and witch hazel for toning. The $30 price tag sounds like a lot compared to others here, but I think it's worth the price given the additional skin-care benefits. 

Dr. Jart + Dermaclear Micro Water

Dr. Jart + Dermaclear Micro Water, available at Sephora, $32

I used a travel-sized bottle of this recently in Savannah and was surprised at how well and how quickly it removed my waterproof eye makeup — which lasted through 80% humidity, so it was definitely hanging onto my skin for dear life.

I just laid a soaked cotton round on top of my eyes for a few seconds and most of the inky makeup easily lifted off my skin. I felt confident enough that I didn't need a second cotton round to finish the job, so I just used a cotton swab to get between my lashes.

This one is a little more hydrating than the rest because it has coconut water, though you'll still need moisturizer.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Micellar Cleansing Water,

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Micellar Cleansing Water, available at Amazon, $8.99

This one smells super fresh, but not sickeningly so. In fact, I look forward to the light cucumber scent because it makes me feel clean — which is the main reason I'm removing my makeup in the first place, right?

This one gets rid of my makeup as quickly and as well as the others, but also does a nice job of calming down my red cheeks a bit too. 

It also has a pump dispenser that I really appreciate. It draws the liquid up so all I have to do is press a cotton round on top of the bottle to dispense. With others bottle, you have to squeeze the water onto the cotton round, which isn't the most annoying thing as it's just ineffective when you're trying to get to bed faster.

• You can use Netflix codes to find very specific subsets of movies and shows on Netflix. 
• Once you know the link structure needed, you can use these codes to navigate to any section of the site, with categories as broad as "action/adventure" to ones specific as movies featuring a certain actor.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Navigating through Netflix is easiest when you either know the exact movie or show you want to watch, you're okay with sticking to broader genres, or you're fine with passively browsing the movies the site's algorithm throws at you.

But if you're interested in taking a more active role in your streaming experience, and looking into the smaller corners of the site that you wouldn't be able to get to via the main menus, you might want to use Netflix codes.

On Netflix, these codes are a string of numbers that are assigned to different subsets of the site (like "Korean crime thrillers" or "tearjerkers"), and they can be inserted into the site's URL to get to that section of the site.

Here's more about how to use them, and some codes you might want to keep on hand:

How to use Netflix codes

It's pretty straightforward, but you'll need to know the code to get started. Once you have it, use this basic link structure: "https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/CODE"

So, for example, if you wanted to get to all of the action comedy movies, you'd go to: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/43040

Netflix codes you may want to use

• Wine and beverage appreciation: 1458
• Cerebral Scandanavian movies: 995
• Korean crime thrillers: 434
• Creature features: 6895
• Campy movies: 1252
• Satires: 4922
• Tearjerkers: 6384
• Westerns: 7700
• Screwball comedies: 9702
• Cult TV shows: 74652
• Goofy courtroom movies: 285

You can find more codes here.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to delete a Netflix profile on a desktop, mobile device, or TV

• How to cancel your Netflix subscription, however you subscribed to it

• How to watch Netflix on your TV in 5 different ways

• How to change the primary language on your Netflix profile, on desktop and mobile

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• Mineral sunscreens use physical blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to scatter and deflect damaging UV rays away from the skin.
• Beautycounter's award-winning Countersun Sunscreen ($39) is my go-to for everyday wear — it's a reef-friendly mineral formula that protects against UVA/UVB rays as well as blue light. It's also relatively affordable, so I can afford to use it often. 
• Perhaps the best part of Countersun is that it doesn't leave a white cast on the skin. My only gripe is that it's only SPF 30. Below you'll find my full review.

After a couple of decades of life on earth as a pale, freckled person prone to the kind of sunburns that elicit condolences from strangers, I've come to accept sunscreen application as the consummate act of goodwill towards myself. 

This idea was strengthened when renown NYC dermatologist and dermatological surgeon Dr. Dendy Engelman told Business Insider that just 10-15 minutes of incidental sun exposure — driving with the top down, walking to the subway, exiting and entering different stores at an outdoor mall — can compound and cause "significant sun damage and accelerated aging over time." And while said sun damage affects how rapidly your skin ages — and how it ages (causing wrinkles, age spots, loose skin, spider veins, and a blotchy complexion) — its most important side effect is the potential of skin cancer.

Once I realized just how far off I was with my laissez-faire, just-don't-sunburn approach to sunscreen, I set out to find a formula that was good enough to actually inspire consistent, everyday wear  — and that would be affordable enough to be sustainable. 

I ended up trying out Beautycounter's Countersun ($39). It's a mineral sunscreen, meaning it uses physical blockers like non-nano zinc to deflect harmful rays away from the body — and sidesteps the potentially alarming news released by the FDA recently that the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens are being absorbed into your bloodstream. Though mineral blockers tend to get complaints for leaving a white cast on the skin (they sit on top of the skin, rather than being absorbed into it), Countersun has garnered much fanfare for its relatively inconspicuous cast, lightweight feel, and lack of unpleasant residue. It offers broad-spectrum coverage against UVA and UVB rays as well as blue light, and the tube is large enough (6.7 ounces) to justify spending almost $40 for sunscreen. It's also reef-safe, and it was an Allure Best of Beauty winner in 2018.

My review of Beautycounter Countersun Sunscreen

In person, Countersun impressed me enough to secure itself as my go-to everyday summer sunscreen. It spreads smoothly and leaves a luminescent sheen rather than a grey-white cast. The leftover film is thin and almost entirely unnoticeable — though not as invisible as you'll get with a chemical sunscreen that sinks into your skin. 

It's another plus that Beautycounter is a clean beauty brand that already nixes more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals, known as the brand's Never List, so you don't have to do the work of sussing out which ingredients you do and don't need to be afraid of. They do it for you. Since I stopped wearing foundation earlier this year, I know I'll be wearing this sunscreen even more than makeup, so what's in it is more important to me than most products I buy. Which means that, while I wish it was even cheaper than $39 for a big tube, it's a price I'm willing to pay every few months for a clean formula that I really love. 

My one gripe is that I wish it was a higher SPF than 30. Typically, I look for something with at least SPF 50, though the American Academy of Dermatology technically recommends SPF 30 and above, and Beautycounter recommends reapplying after 40 minutes of swimming and at least every two hours otherwise (which is longer than I typically get out of a chemical SPF 30). Still, I could do with fewer applications — though I suspect you can't have much higher SPF without a starker white cast.

The bottom line

All in all, Countersun is the best mineral sunscreen I've found for everyday use and, per Dr. Engelman, the best thing to look for in a sunscreen, aside from the nitty gritty formula, is whichever one you'll use consistently. This one uses physical blockers rather than chemicals, comes without the suspicious and harmful ingredients I don't want but also don't want to be responsible for screening out (good on you, Beautycounter), and goes on without creating the white cast that mineral sunscreens are known for.

And, if sunscreen can be flattering, the sheer luminosity is ... pretty flattering. If you're looking for a reef-safe, affordable, broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen option, I highly recommend you check this out sooner rather than later.

Countersun Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30, $39

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• Finding the time to cook and eat healthy, satisfying meals can be difficult when you have a busy schedule. 
• Meal delivery service Freshly is filling the gap by offering healthy, gluten-free, ready-to-eat meals that can be heated up in three minutes or less. 
• I was lucky enough to try the service for a month and, while I don't think it will ultimately work for my lifestyle, I was impressed with the sustainable packaging, healthy options, and how tasty the meals were.
• One major con is that there aren't many vegetarian or vegan options — but if you eat meat, this may be a good option for you. 

I love cooking. From chopping vegetables to experimenting with seasonings, every aspect of making a meal is a fun adventure. I even enjoy going to the grocery store to scavenge for the perfect ingredients.

Yet, even as someone who who genuinely likes to cook, a busy schedule can make cooking feel more like a chore than an enjoyable activity. There's always takeout, but most delivery apps hit you with a number of fees making ordering in an expensive pursuit, not to mention that I usually default to something less than nutritious — pizza, anyone?

Freshly is a meal delivery service that sends healthy, sustainable, ready-to-eat meals right to your doorstep. After seeing the branded boxes pop up everywhere around me, I was intrigued. I got to try the service, and taste plenty of meals, over the past month. I'll take you through how Freshly works and what I thought about the service below. 

How does Freshly work?

Freshly makes good on its mission to make healthy eating easy. All of its meals are gluten-free, but you won't miss it anyway. 

Here's how it works: First, pick out your plan. There are four options: 

• 4 meals per week: $49.99/week or $12.50/meal
• 6 meals per week: $59.99/week or $9.99/meal
• 9 meals per week: $89.99/week or $9.99/meal
• 12 meals per week: $107.99/week or $8.99/meal

Shipping is always free, so the price you see is the price you get.

Once you've picked your plan, you get to pick your desired delivery date. Rather than sending the whole weeks worth of meals to you on Monday, Freshly lets you choose to receive meals any day of the week, so you can pick a date that best fits your schedule. 

Once you've picked your delivery date, Freshly will show you the menu for that given week, and you get to select which meals you want (you can even double-up if you want to order one of them multiple times). A typical week has 30 options, give or take. The selection of meals always includes an array of cuisines and dietary preferences, but not many vegan or vegetarian options. This service is definitely heavy on the animal proteins.

With its emphasis on making healthy meals, Freshly makes it easy to find all the nutrition info you could want for each meal. Under every meal is an array icons that tell you if the meal is paleo friendly, dairy free, and high protein, among other facts. If you want to do a deeper dive into a particular meal, click on it and you can find even more information — down to every ingredient and calorie count. 

How are the meals delivered?

The meals arrive as pre-made single portions packed in one big box. Inside the box is a layer of biodegradable recycled denim insulation, which keeps your meals fresh, and two big ice packs, which can also eventually be recycled. Actually, everything inside the box (even the box itself) can be recycled, so points to Freshly for sustainability efforts. If you're worried about ordering food when you might be out of town, just know these ice packs stayed frozen for almost 48 hours.

Meals are meant to be kept in the fridge — not frozen — and are all marked with an expiration date, though in general most meals will last a week. 

How long do they take to make?

Freshly meals should take three minutes or less to heat up in the microwave. Freshly suggests you plate these meals rather than eat right out of the container, which I did when I had a little more time and clean dishes. For meals that could be "made" in three minutes or less, I was impressed by the flavor these meals packed.

What do they taste like?

The homestyle chicken with butternut mac and cheese was a hearty, indulgent dish that snuck in plenty of protein and veggies. While zucchini noodles are usually a sad, limp alternative to pasta, Freshly's take in their pesto turkey meatballs with zucchini noodles was zesty and flavorful — the perfect balance of protein and veggies for a midday lunch.

I appreciated Freshly meals most on days when I came home late starving and not wanting to cook. Knowing I could get a healthy, satisfying meal in minutes kept me from getting hangry. 

Pros 

After trying the service, here are three things I think Freshly does best, in no particular order. 

1. Convenience: Coming home to a ready to eat meal makes life easy. Pop it in the microwave and have a full dinner in less than three minutes. The packaging also makes these pretty portable, so you could bring them with you as packed lunches for work too. Plus, the meals come right to your door. It doesn't get more convenient than that. 
2. Nutrition: When you order from a restaurant, you usually don't know what's really in your meal. So, you may think you're ordering a healthy dinner, but you don't know what cooking oils, sugars, or other hidden ingredients could be making that meal less than ideal. Freshly, on the other hand, is transparent about health. Everything is always natural, gluten-free, and follows the brand's specific health guidelines. If calories or dietary preferences are important to you, picking out your meals on Freshly and being able to see exactly what is inside is helpful. 
3. Taste: Convenience shouldn't come at the cost of taste — after all it's still a meal. Freshly works with talented chefs to dream up and cook all of its meals. It's not just grilled chicken and broccoli, Freshly dabbles in all kinds of cuisine — from chicken tikka masala to a low-country boil, there are plenty of adventurous options.

Cons

Here are three things I think Freshly could do better with, in no particular order. 

1. Vegetarian options: I'm not a vegetarian, but I wanted to try some of the vegetarian meals to get a sense of what the service is like for everyone. The vegetarian selection is pretty small, and most of the veggie-based meals didn't seem as appealing to be honest. If I was a vegan or vegetarian, I'd probably get bored of the selection, especially if I wanted to order six or more meals a week.
2. Price: I don't think Freshly is noticeably more expensive than other meal delivery services, but I was surprised that four meals a week lands each one at $12.50. I understand why the price is what it is, but I still found it a little pricey. Of course, you're paying for the convenience of not having to do anything but open your microwave. And, Freshly's emphasis on sustainability makes me more apt to support them than competitors. But, I feel like I'd be remiss not to mention that this isn't the most affordable option out there.

The bottom line

Freshly is a great service, but I think it's better suited for some types of people than others. If you're someone who hates cooking, grocery shopping, and often finds yourself too busy to even whip up pasta or scrambled eggs, this service will make your life so much easier. No thought or effort, just pop a meal in the microwave and you're set. 

If you're someone who likes to cook, go out to dinner often, or are more particular about what you eat, you may be better off trying a meal kit instead. Personally, I found six meals a week to be too much. When dinners came up as spontaneous social outings, I didn't want to refuse, but I also didn't want to waste my meals, which made me feel lukewarm about eating them. And, sometimes I didn't want to eat the meals I had chosen a week earlier. I like to eat what I feel like eating in any given moment, and pre-planning all of your meals kind of takes that control away. 

I really do like cooking for myself, though, and when I don't, I like to treat myself to meals out. Since my schedule usually gives me enough time to do those things, I probably wouldn't commit to Freshly again. But, I see why Freshly has been gaining so much traction recently. For anyone that wants quick, healthy, and convenient meals with little effort, I'd recommend the service. 

Sign up for a Freshly subscription here

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• Apple says its new iOS 13 software for the iPhone will introduce the ability to send unknown calls straight to voicemail.
• The feature takes into account whether a phone number has been mentioned in an email or text message and will allow calls from these numbers to ring.
• The new setting comes as automated spam calls have been on the rise in the US.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Spam phone calls are a growing problem in the US, and there's no indication the issue will be resolved anytime soon.

Nearly 48 billion robocalls were made in the US in 2018, according to Cision, representing a 56.8% increase compared to 2017.

But when Apple's iOS 13 software launches this fall, iPhone owners could have a better way to deal with them.

The new software update, which Apple announced earlier this month at its Worldwide Developers Conference, is expected to introduce a setting for silencing unknown and spam callers.

The new feature uses Siri to filter out calls from phone numbers that aren't found in your iPhone's Contacts, Mail, and Messages app, reducing your chances of answering your phone only to find an automated scammer on the other end.

These screened calls are sent straight to your iPhone's voicemail.

This capability isn't on by default, but users can enable it in iOS 13 by launching the iPhone's settings menu, scrolling down to the phone option, and toggling the slider next to "Silence Unknown Callers," as outlets such as 9to5Mac and MacRumors have reported.

You may not always have a person's contact information saved in your phone, which is why Apple's new feature takes numbers mentioned in emails and text messages into account. But keep in mind this applies only to Apple's Mail and Messages app.

If there's a phone number that's mentioned in a third-party service like Facebook Messenger, Slack, or WhatsApp that isn't referenced in Apple's Messages app, it sounds like your iPhone would still screen it. The same likely applies to an email sent to one of your accounts that isn't linked to Apple's Mail app.

Apple's iOS 13 update isn't expected to launch until later this year, likely in September, to coincide with the company's annual iPhone unveil. But those with an Apple developer account already have access to the beta version of iOS 13, and Apple typically releases an early unfinished version of the software to the public in the summer.

Apple isn't the only company trying to cut down on spam calls. Last year, Google announced a feature for the Pixel 3 that can screen spam calls and provide transcriptions in real time.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Google is a huge fan of hiding games and tricks, called Easter eggs, in its services.
• In honor of Pride Month, Google Sheets contains a special Easter egg that turns your spreadsheet into a colorful rainbow to celebrate the LGBTQ community.
• Here's how to take advantage of the Easter egg during the month June, and add some pride to your next spreadsheet.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Google is known for adding fun tricks and games to its services for tech-savvy users and developers to discover. In honor of Pride Month, the tech giant has added a Pride-ful one to make your bland spreadsheets a bit more exciting.

Adding a special function to the A1 cell in Google Sheets will change your spreadsheet from drab black-and-white page to a colorful rainbow sheet celebrating the LGBTQ community. The trick — also called an "Easter egg" — was shared by Ben Collins, a Google Sheets developer who runs a popular weekly newsletter sharing tips and tricks for using Google services.

Read more: 26 games and tricks hidden within your Google search bar

This Pride Month trick relies on the MID spreadsheet formula, a function that allows you to play around with text-based strings of data. But if you're like me, and don't understand how Sheets functions work, there's an easier way to still get the LGBTQ-themed Easter egg.

There's one simple step — just input this code to the A1 cell in your spreadsheet:

=ArrayFormula(TRANSPOSE(MID("PRIDE",ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN("PRIDE"))),1)))

After inputting this string of text, watch your Google Sheets spreadsheet come to life.

Google's Easter egg celebrating Pride Month is a neat trick, but Google hasn't had the best month when it comes to its LGBTQ users and employees. Earlier in June, Google-owned YouTube controversially decided to not remove videos from its platform full of racist and homophobic slurs about a Vox journalist. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki have both apologized for the decision, but said they're standing by their policies to keep the videos online.

SEE ALSO: The 23 most powerful LGBTQ+ people in tech

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Apple CEO Tim Cook was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremonies for both Stanford University and Tulane University this year.
• His speeches reflected on the themes of accepting responsibility, having the courage to listen to others and to see things differently, and making an impact that will be remembered long after you're gone.
• Here's a look at some of the best pieces of advice from Cook's commencement speeches.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

When Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage at Stanford University's commencement ceremony last Sunday, he urged graduates to learn from the recent controversies that have surrounded Silicon Valley tech giants like Facebook and Google in recent years. 

"Lately, it seems this industry is becoming better known for a less noble innovation: the belief that you can claim credit without accepting responsibility," Cook said. "We see it every day now. With every data breach, every privacy violation, every blind eye turned to hate speech. Fake news poisoning our national conversation. The miracles in exchange for a single drop of your blood."

Cook made a powerful statement about accepting responsibility when addressing Stanford's 2019 graduates, but it's just one of the many lessons he imparted to college graduates this year.

SEE ALSO: Apple CEO Tim Cook explains why you don't need a college degree to be successful

Be a builder.

During his speech at Stanford, Cook encouraged graduates to be builders — to make lasting contributions that will make a difference long after they're gone.

"Builders are comfortable in the belief that their life's work will one day be bigger than them, bigger than any person," he said. "They're mindful that its effects will span generations. That's not an accident. In a way it's the whole point."  

'Your mentors may leave you prepared, but they can't leave you ready.'

Being prepared isn't the same as being ready, another key piece of advice Cook shared with Stanford's 2019 graduates. Cook learned this lesson himself after Apple co-founder and former chief executive Steve Jobs died in 2011. 

"And when he was gone, truly gone, I learned the real visceral difference between preparation and readiness," he said. 

"When the dust settled, all I knew was that I was going to have to be the best version of myself that I could be." 

'Don't waste your time living someone else's life.'

Cook reiterated the famous advice his predecessor gave when addressing Stanford graduates in 2005. "Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life," Jobs said 14 years ago.

"Don't try to emulate the people who came before you to the exclusion of everything else, contorting into a shape that doesn't fit," Cook said last Sunday to Stanford's class of 2019. "It takes too much mental effort, effort that should be dedicated to creating and building. You'll waste precious time trying to re-wire your every thought. And in the meantime, you won't be fooling anybody." 

'If you want to take credit, first learn to take responsibility.'

A central theme of Cook's Stanford commencement speech was the importance of accepting responsibility.

Cook didn't mention any specific tech companies by name. But his remarks about data breaches, privacy violations, fake news, hate speech, and "false miracles in exchange for a single drop of your blood" seem to reference companies such as Facebook, Google's YouTube, and Theranos.

"Graduates, at the very least, learn from these mistakes," he said. "If you want to take credit, first learn to take responsibility." 

Don't believe the saying: 'If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.'

You've probably heard this expression countless times. But in another speech Cook gave to graduates — at Tulane University on May 18 — he said his tenure at Apple taught him that this maxim isn't true at all.

"At Apple, I learned that's a total crock," he said. "You'll work harder than you ever thought possible. But the tools will feel light in your hands." 

Take risks to build something better.

"Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of being too cautious," Cook said to Tulane University's 2019 graduates. "Don't assume that by staying put, the ground won't move beneath your feet. The status quo simply won't last. So get to work on building something better." 

Be open to looking at things in a different way.

When addressing Tulane's graduates, Cook urged graduates to open their eyes, look at things in a new way, and to have the courage to listen.

In what may have been another reference to Facebook, which has been criticized in the past for the "filter bubble" it creates, Cook encouraged graduates to "push back" against algorithms that "pull toward you the things you already know, believe, or like."

"It shouldn't be this way, but in 2019 opening your eyes and seeing things in a new way can be a revolutionary act," he said. "Summon the courage not just to hear but to listen. Not just to act but to act together." 

'Be motivated by your duty to build a better world."

Tackling big problems is never easy, but Cook urged Tulane's graduates to embrace the challenge.

"From climate change to immigration, from criminal justice reform to economic opportunity, be motivated by your duty to build a better world," Cook said. "Young people have changed the course of history time and time again. And now it's time to change it once more." 

Try.

"Call upon your grit," Cook told Tulane's graduates. "Try something. You may succeed. You may fail. But make it your life's work to remake the world." 

• "Anna Lytical," the drag queen persona of Google engineer Billy Jacobson, has a YouTube channel teaching beginners how to code.
• The aim of the channel is to make coding inclusive: "If we do not take part in building the technology around us then we will not be represented in it," Anna Lytical said.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

A Google engineer is using his drag persona to teach novices how to code on YouTube. 

The engineer, Billy Jacobson, began performing as "Anna Lytical" almost two years ago, but only launched the YouTube channel four months ago. The name Anna Lytical is a nod to his personality. "I'll always be analytical even if I'm not Anna Lytical," Jacobson said in an interview with Megan Friedman for Google's Passion Projects series about employees. 

Besides teaching beginners the "holy trinity" of web development — HTML, CSS, and JavaScript  — Anna Lytical is creating an inclusive space for coders to-be, which in turn will make technology more representative of all folks who use it. 

"I'm a drag queen and a software engineer, and I want you — queer person, feminine person, woman, anyone who supports this — I want you to learn how to code," Anna Lytical says in a January video titled "ATTENTION QUEENS: learn to code & take over the world w/ me."

"Technology is all around us, the websites we use, the apps we use. If we do not take part in building the technology around us then we will not be represented in it," Anna Lytical continues.

Anna Lytical goes on to outline the lack of representation we're already seeing in technology, like getting on a dating app and then finding that it doesn't fit your needs correctly, or filling out a form that only gives you two gender options. This exclusivity of technology can be ameliorated by code, and having diverse coders to program it, Anna Lytical says. 

"We're going to build websites together, we're going to build apps together. For now, I'll be your representation: I'll build the kinds of apps we want to see in the world, I'll use the references we know," Anna Lytical concludes. 

The genesis of Anna Lytical

"A few years ago, I was feeling kind of lost in New York City, a city I'd grown up in and, at one point, felt so connected to," Jacobson said in an interview with Business Insider. "One way I'd felt connected to New York was through performances." 

Around the same time, he began re-watching "RuPaul's Drag Race" and consequently attending drag shows in the city. 

"There's something about it that really drew me in," Jacobson said. "I saw a place where I'd get to have a queer, LGBT audience, and get to do whatever I wanted." 

And so Anna Lytical was conceived. 

Anna Lytical appeared in around 10 performances, first doing traditional drag acts, à la lip sync, but then beginning to mix in skills Jacobson acquired through his day job as an engineer.

On Halloween at one of Anna Lytical's haunts, Pieces gay bar in Greenwich Village, Anna Lytical did a performance mashing up "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and the song "Blue" by Marina and the Diamonds. Anna Lytical made a blue dress with an explosive baking soda and vinegar mix that would inflate the outfit when she removed her belt, just like the Willy Wonka character of Violet Beauregarde, who physically swells into a giant blueberry when she eats a three-course dinner chewing gum with a blueberry pie dessert. 

Anna Lytical eventually went on hiatus, as Jacobson found drag competitions to be physically taxing — before even hitting the stage, it takes two hours for Anna Lytical to do makeup, hair, and clothes — but work soon sparked an idea for Anna Lytical's next venture.

"I work in developer relations at Google, so it's our job to explain to other engineers how to use our tech, and that inspired me a little," Jacobson explained. "People on my team make videos to show how to use the Google Cloud products, so (I thought) maybe there's something here to do with my drag." 

Enter Anna Lytical, the queen of code.

"I look at drag queens, and they are problem solvers."

Anna Lytical think of the YouTube channel, which currently has more than 1,400 subscribers, as a college for coding, with each video series serving as a class. The current series, "Beyond Binary: Intro to Computer Science," launched on Wednesday. In it, Anna Lytical teaches in a self-described Suze Orman-meets-Rachel Maddow look, blazer and all. The series will be all about creative problem solving with code. 

Anna Lytical's videos marry drag culture and queer culture with coding concepts: "Show off your sickening MUG: Adding images to your site," "As queer people, we get to choose our family...our font-family: Intro to Google fonts," and "Programming is a construct, TEAR IS APART: Is HTML Programming?" are just some of the tutorial titles. 

Inclusivity and representation are the ultimate goals of Anna Lytical's videos, with the intended audience being folks who are often at the periphery of computer science. 

"The people I'm trying to target are young queer artists," Anna Lytical said. "I see these people who might be doing drag as their art — makeup, sewing, styling wigs  — or LGBT people who are making fan art for their favorite diva. The skills that they need, that they (already) have to do all these things, translate so well into those skills you need to be a good engineer."

"I look at drag queens, and they are problem solvers. They have $5 and they want to make an outfit, they're going to make something gorgeous," Anna Lytical continued. "Creative problem solving is what makes a good engineer, so if I can show that to someone who is already doing that kind creative problem solving, hopefully I can get some of them into the world of tech."

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook learned the 'visceral difference between preparation and readiness' after taking over Apple for Steve Jobs, and it's life advice everyone should hear

Join the conversation about this story »

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• New York City real estate is notoriously expensive.
• That fact is perhaps never more obvious than when NYC home prices are compared to overseas real estate. 
• While $2.2 million will get you a two-bedroom condo in Manhattan, for the same price you can get an entire 37-acre private island in Italy.
• The only structure on the island, which sits less than 1,000 feet off the coast of Sicily, is a 16th-century tower in need of restoration.
• Agenzia Romolini Immobiliare, which holds the listing with Christie's International Real Estate, says the tower can be converted into a private residence or opened up to the public as a museum.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's no secret that New York City real estate is pricey. 

The median asking price for a home in Manhattan is about $1.7 million, according to StreetEasy — and that won't necessarily give you much space or many amenities to speak of.

In the West Village, for instance, one of the most coveted neighborhoods in the city, $1.7 million will buy you a two-bedroom loft, with no outdoor space or amenities apart from a laundry room and storage.

If you increase your budget to $2.2 million, you can get a two-bedroom condo at Lincoln Square, which has about 1,273 square feet of living space and comes with building amenities such as a 60-foot swimming pool and sauna, a lounge, fitness center, and indoor basketball and squash courts.

In Italy, on the other hand? For the same price as a two-bedroom Manhattan apartment, you can buy an entire 37-acre private island.

An island about 985 feet off the coast of Sicily in southern Italy is for sale for $2.2 million, The New York Times reported. 

Anna Brunellini, a representative from Agenzia Romolini Immobiliare, which holds the listing with Christie's International Real Estate, told Business Insider that while the official asking price is 2.9 million euros, or about $3.3 million, the owner would accept offers in the region of 2 million euros, or about $2.2 million.

There's currently no place to live on the island: The only structure is a 16th-century tower in need of restoration. The tower was originally built as part of a defense system protecting Sicily against attacks from Corsair pirate ships, according to the listing.

Brunellini said the current owner has never used the island and that it's been "neglected" for a long time.

"The owner is open to selling the property to anybody who wishes to restore the tower to convert it into a private residence, representative building, corporate image or creating a museum allowing tourists to appreciate not just the naturalistic value of the island but also the historical, artistic and archaeological ones," Brunellini said.

The island is a five-minute boat ride from the coastal town of Isola delle femmine, and about 40 miles from Palermo, Sicily's largest city.

SEE ALSO: Rich New Yorkers are fleeing to Miami to escape high taxes. I spent 3 days there, and it was immediately clear why so many people are making the move.

DON'T MISS: I toured the most expensive condo for sale in a Billionaires' Row skyscraper in NYC, a $58.5 million residence that spans the entire 87th floor. Here's what it looks like inside.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Self-made billionaires don't get to the three-comma club without first becoming millionaires.
• Rafael Badziag interviewed 21 billionaires for his book, "The Billion Dollar Secret," and they all told him how they made their first $1 million.
• Many earned it through founding their own business or through investments.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Many of the world's richest billionaires built their wealth from scratch.

Rafael Badziag, an entrepreneur and expert in the psychology of entrepreneurship, spent five years conducting face-to-face interviews with 21 self-made billionaire entrepreneurs around the world (defined as those with a net worth of at least $1 billion) and researching their lives and companies. 

In his book "The Billion Dollar Secret: 20 Principles of Billionaire Wealth and Success," he shared how each of those billionaires made their first $1 million. Some earned it through the businesses they founded, while others earned it through investments or by working for someone else's company.

For the purposes of this slideshow, unless otherwise specified, we assumed that any of Badziag's subjects whose net worth we were not able to verify with Forbes' net worth listings is worth at least $1 billion. All information on the billionaires comes from Badziag's book.

SEE ALSO: An entrepreneur who interviewed 21 billionaires says the same 6 habits helped make all of them successful

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Mohed Altrad made his first million in the scaffolding business.

Net worth: $2.6 billion

Altrad is the founder and chairman of Altrad Group, which offers services and equipment for the construction industry in more than 100 companies and is a world leader in scaffolding. Altrad owns the Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club and has written three novels.

Tony Tan Caktiong made his first million in the food service business.

Net worth: $3.6 billion

Caktiong is the founder and chairman of Jollibee Foods, Asia's largest food service company. It operates 13 restaurant chains and has more than 4,300 restaurant outlets in 18 countries worldwide.

Jack Cowin made his first million with fried chicken.

Net worth: $1.6 billion

Cowin is the owner, chairman, and managing director of Competitive Foods Australia, one of the country's largest food processors. It's also the country's largest franchisers of restaurants, introducing fast food to Australia with KFC, Burger King, and Domino's Pizza.

Cai Dongqing made his first million by selling little toy trumpets.

Net worth: $1.6 billion

Dongqing is the founder and chairman of Alpha Group, an animation corporation in China. It also has operations in movies, operas, theme parks, and other interactive activities ranging from entertainment to consumer projects. Dongqing has been called the "Walt Disney of China."

Tim Draper made his first million with a venture capital investment in Parametric.

Net worth: Unknown

Draper is a Silicon Valley venture capitalist. He's considered to be one of the most connected investors in Silicon Valley and is credited as the inventor of viral marketing, according to Badziag. Draper founded VC firms Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Draper Associates.

Sergey Galitsky made his first million through the distribution business.

Net worth: $3.4 billion

Galitsky is the founder and CEO of Magnit, Russia's largest food retailer and non-state employer. It has more than 17,000 convenience stores, cosmetic stores, hypermarkets, and supermarkets.

Peter Hargreaves made his first million with financial services.

Net worth: $3.9 billion

Hargreaves is an industry leader in the UK's financial services sector. His business, Hargreaves Lansdown, manages assets up to $120 billion.

Frank Hasenfratz made his first million through defense work.

Net worth: $1 billion

Hasenfratz is the founder and chairman of Linamar, which specializes in the production of automotive powertrain systems and wind turbines. It's considered "one of the most innovative, tech-savvy, and profitable enterprises in the industry," Badziag wrote.

Naveen Jain made his first million working for Bill Gates.

Net worth: Unknown

Jain has a hefty resume: He's the founder of Infospace (now Blucora), which provides Internet-related services; Intelius, a public records business; TalentWise, which helps employers complete background checks; Moon Express, which develops commercial lunar landers; Bluedot, a tech company that provides location data; and Viome, a biotech company. He is vice chairman of Singularity University and trustee of the XPrize Foundation.

Kim Beom-Su made his first million through computer games.

Net worth: $2.6 billion

Beom-Su is the founder and chairman of South Korean internet company Kakao. Kakao operates mobile messenger KakaoTalk, which is used by 95% of Korean smartphone owners; search engine Daum; and music streaming service Melon.

N.R. Narayana Murthy made his first million with software.

Net worth: $2.4 billion

Murthy is the cofounder and CEO of software giant Infosys, the first Indian company to be listed on NASDAQ. Infosys has minted six other billionaires and more than 4,000 millionaires. Murthy has been hailed as one of the 12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time by Fortune magazine.

Hüsnü Özyegin made his first million working as a bank president for 13 years.

Net worth: $1.9 billion

Özyegin has created 75 companies in 12 countries. He's also the founder of Özyegin University in Istanbul. He founded Finansbank and then branched out his business activities to finance, retail, real estate, energy, health, and hotels.

Lirio Albino Parisotto made his first million with electronic retail.

Net worth: $1.4 billion

Parisotto is the largest investor in the Brazilian stock market. He founded Videolar, an early manufacturer of audio and videotapes, floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Now, it's a petrochemical company and major manufacturer of plastic materials in Brazil.

Dilip Shanghvi made his first million with psychiatric medicines.

Net worth: $7 billion

Shanghvi is the founder and managing director of Sun Pharmaceuticals, India's largest drug maker. He's the world's wealthiest person in the pharmaceutical industry.

Ron Sim made his first million by selling household products.

Net worth: $1.4 billion

Sim is the founder, chairman, and CEO of OSIM International, which makes high-end massage chairs. He's also a stakeholder in Singapore and China malls and owner of TWG Tee, Brookstone, Richlife, and GNC.

Michal Solowow made his first million in construction.

Net worth: $3.2 billion

Solowow has started and sold several companies in the construction, real-estate development, retail, and production sectors. His main assets are in the floorboards, ceramics and tiles, and chemical industries. He also invests in tech and startups.

Petter Stordalen made his first million with a "project in Trondheim to connect three shopping centers into one, where nobody believed, and I believed, and the bonus was one million."

Net worth: $1.4 billion

Stordalen has been dubbed the "King of Hotels." He's behind the Nordic Choice Hotels chain, which has nearly 200 hotels. His corporate group, Strawberry, operates in real estate, finance, hotels, and the arts.

Frank Stronach made his first million by selling automobile companies.

Net worth: $1.5 billion

Stronach is the founder of Magna International, one of the world's biggest auto parts suppliers. He founded Stronach Group, America's leading racetrack owner and operator. He's also one of the world's most successful horse breeders and owners.

Manny Stul made his first million wholesaling innovative giftware.

Net worth: $1.3 billion

Stul is the chairman of global toy manufacturer of Moose Toys, one of the fastest growing companies in the industry. It's received more than 40 awards worldwide.

Chip Wilson made his first million with sports apparel.

Net worth: $4.1 billion

Chip Wilson is the founder and former CEO of Lululemon Athletica. He's also the founder of Westbeach, which specializes in surf, skate, and snowboarding clothes, and is involved with Kit and Ace, which specializes in technical casual wear.

Cho Tak Wong (Cao Dewang) made his first million through the production of water meter glass.

Net worth: $2.1 billion

Dewang is the founder and chairman of Fuyao Group, the world's largest manufacturer of automotive glass. He's a heavy philanthropist and the most respected entrepreneur in China, according to Badziag.

• International overweight bag fees range from $50 to $200 depending on airline carriers and how much your bag is over the predetermined limit.
• This $9 digital luggage scale can save you hours of frustration and hundreds of dollars even if you don't consider yourself an overpacker.
• It can weigh bags and suitcases up to 100 pounds. It also weighs less than five ounces itself, so it won't add much to your overall bag weight.

There's no bigger rush than finding an international flight deal. There's also no bigger buzzkill than finding out that there are unreasonably low bag weights.

So, before I went on a two-week, three-city vacation to Australia, I bought this $9 digital luggage scale from Etekcity. It saved me from having to pay $80 in overweight baggage fees on that trip alone.

After booking my tickets to Australia, when I read that passengers could only bring one carry-on and one personal item that totaled to 15 pounds and check-in bags couldn't be more than 40 pounds, I knew I was going to have a hard time packing. Even though I was traveling for two weeks, you can bet that I was packing three weeks' worth of clothes, accessories, shoes, and makeup. Not to mention I had to save space for all the souvenirs I'd bring home.

The digital scale proved to be a lifesaver. I was able to weigh my bags throughout my packing process so I packed more thoughtfully (I guess I didn't need five pairs of jeans after all) and avoided paying overweight baggage fees on all the legs of my trip.

The scale is super small and weighs under five ounces so it'll barely register in your suitcase, and using it is fool-proof.

Once you've packed your bag or suitcase, loop the scale around any handle. Then lift the scale up for a few seconds, and the digital display will show how much your bag weighs. From there, you can repack as needed in the comfort of your own home — not at the airport in front of 12 annoyed passengers and future seatmates. Even if you aren't an overpacker like me, you'll have total peace of mind just in case check-in agents try to scam you and say your bag is over the weight limit.

Since I bought this scale, I've used it on trips to Iceland, Hong Kong, Turks and Caicos, Greece, and more, and have never had an issue with overweight baggage. In fact, it's helped me discover that I had more room in my suitcase for shoes.

Buy the Etekcity Digital Luggage Scale from Amazon for $8.99

SEE ALSO: 26 packing essentials we never travel without — from a $150 mobile WiFi hotspot to a $6 pack of face wipes

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Join the conversation about this story »

• The rent in Hong Kong is so high that residents are considering putting down offers on haunted homes, according to Bloomberg's report on an REA Group Ltd. study.
• Earlier this year, Hong Kong was named the most unaffordable city in the world for the ninth year in a row.
• Residents are living in 4-by-6 units and sleeping in McDonald's restaurants as a result of the housing crisis.
• Meanwhile, The Peak, Hong Kong's most expensive neighborhood, is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the world, including a $191 million mansion that Alibaba founder Jack Ma may have purchased.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Housing costs are so high in Hong Kong that residents are thinking about moving in with ghosts.

Bloomberg reports that more than half the 1,001 respondents in an REA Group Ltd. study said they would consider buying a haunted home to save money.

The findings are particularly impactful when considering that, in Hong Kong, living in a haunted house is considered taboo. Homes in Hong Kong that have been the sites of suicides, murders, or accidental deaths are considered haunted. These homes can be priced as much as 20% lower than other homes in the area, according to Bloomberg.

Read more:Inside the most expensive neighborhood in the world's most expensive city

The housing situation in Hong Kong is an ongoing crisis. In 2017, Business Insider reported that over 200,000 people live in 20-foot "coffin homes" where the starting rent is around $180 a month. These 4-by-6 homes are stacked on top of each other in apartment buildings with ladders in the halls to help residents get to upper-level units.

But that's not all people are doing to avoid high rents —as Business Insider previously reported, some of Hong Kong's homeless residents, dubbed McRefugees, have resorted to calling 24-hour fast-food restaurants home.

Earlier this year, Hong Kong was named the most unaffordable city in the world for the ninth year in a row. About one in five people live below the poverty line. The wealth gap is so extreme that overlooking the streets where locals are sleeping in restaurants sits the most expensive neighborhood in the city — The Peak. Jack Ma, the Chinese billionaire who founded Alibaba, is said to have purchased a $191 million mansion in the neighborhood in 2015.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• The world is facing an extreme trash crisis.
• Single-use plastic, including water bottles, straws, and bags, contribute to much of the pollution worldwide.
• Having a "zero waste starter kit" on hand can make it easier to say no to single-use items.

We are in the midst of a mega trash crisis. In 2016, more than 480 billion plastic bottles were sold worldwide. Nearly 2 million plastic bags are used per minute. Takeout orders make up around 269,000 tons of plastic waste that's entered our oceans.

While there's serious debate about who is responsible for this mess, there's no doubt that consumers can help to be part of the solution by consciously consuming less.

The zero-waste movement embodies this ideology; those who practice zero waste aim to use less, reuse what they have, and find alternatives to single-use products that have become ubiquitous around the world (hi, plastic straws). While any zero waster will tell you that it's impossible to be perfect — sometimes you simply can't avoid plastic packaging — the goal is to change everyday behaviors to become more sustainable.

Perhaps it's ironic to be sharing a guide of things to buy when the end goal is to be buying less, but consider this a beginner's manual to starting your zero-waste journey. You probably have many of the items listed below, and if that's the case, use them!

Hopefully this list will inspire you to set up your own "waste less" kit that you can keep close. When you go out into the world prepared, it'll be easier to use fewer single-use items while enjoying all the wonderful things this life has to offer.

See also: I'll never use plastic straws again after finding these metal ones that don't change the taste of my drinks at all

SEE ALSO: This $11 reusable K-cup filter saves me more than $1,000 a year on coffee

A reusable water bottle

S'well Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, from $33.75, available at Amazon (price varies by color)

This one's a given. A reusable water bottle will prevent you from buying plastic bottles or using plastic cups. And, while "water" sure is in the name, you can use these vessels to hold pretty much any liquid, so long as you're willing to clean it.

There's no need to go fancy here: If you're down with toting a glass mason jar around or still have your Nalgene bottle from summer camp, those both make great options. If you're in search of an upgrade, however, there are plenty of options that manage to be hip, cute and stylish, even though we're still talking about a water bottle.

S'well bottles are among the more popular brands on the market. They're beloved for their sleek design, their ability to keep drinks hot or cold, and their condensation-free exterior.

A reusable mug or thermos

Contigo Autoseal West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug, from $14.39, available at Amazon (price varies by color) 

If you're a big coffee or tea drinker, or if you hold meetings at cafes, a reusable mug of some sort should be in your starter pack. Chances are you have a ceramic mug at home. If you mostly stick to hot beverages in the office, you might be fine to keep this mug on your desk and call it a day.

If you're an out-of-office beverage drinker, however, a thermos could serve your starter pack well. Contigo thermoses are a household fave because of their impeccably sealed lids (no drips!) and bewildering power to keep hot drinks scorching for hours.

A set of wooden cutlery

Tatuo Bamboo Cutlery Flatware Set (2-pack), from $13.99, available at Amazon

Fancy you with your own set of cutlery! This is the antidote to plastic straws, forks, and knives (and in this case, chopsticks!). Keeping this little pack with you at all times means you'll never have to stoop to using flimsy plastic soup spoons and you can be the kind of person who refuses silverware from your takeout order.

This particular cutlery set comes with a little straw cleaner, meaning you won't have to guess at whether your straw is actually clean or not. As a two-pack, you might keep one set at the office and the other in your bag or car.

A cloth napkin

MEEMA Cotton Cloth Napkins Set (4-pack), $24, available at Amazon

An old hand towel should do the trick here, but for a little luxury, check out this cute pack of washable napkins. The average American uses an estimated 2,200 standard 2-ply napkins every year. That's a lot of preventable, single-use waste. Having a rotation of cloth napkins on hand means you can wash the dirty ones and keep yourself clean without trashing the environment.

A tote bag

BeeGreen Foldable Grocery Tote Bag, from $12.99, available at Amazon

A tote bag is more than a bag to tote: It's a statement piece that says, "I'm cool and I care." Whether you want to give off intellectual vibes by hauling a bag stamped with the name of a prestigious publication or you want to world to know you adore porcupines, a tote bag can share the message.

More importantly, a tote bag is invaluable to always have on hand because it makes it easier to avoid using plastic bags, a serious environmental offender. The packable tote bag reigns supreme for this purpose because you can attach it to your purse, briefcase or keys, making spontaneous shopping stops possible without giving in to plastic.

A few cloth bags

Leafico Drawstring Produce Storage Bags (12-pack), $17.87, available at Amazon

It'd be wise to store some other bags within your tote bag — you'll find them useful for carrying produce from the grocery store and keeping any precious items separate from your stinky gym sneakers. You can of course look to your stockpile of tote bags for this, but if you'd like to start fresh, these canvas satchels are great for carrying fresh bakery bread (refuse the paper bag that usually comes with it) and everything else.

Some carryout tins

Bruntmor Nesting Stainless Steel Food Containers, $13.95, available at Amazon

Upgrade your stockpiles takeout containers to something more mature: These stainless steel containers hit all the sweet spots for packed lunches and taking home leftovers. (Seriously, you can ask your server to put your food in your container rather than a rinky dink plastic tub.)

This handsome set is equipped with leak-proof lids and because the containers fit inside each other, they can help alleviate some of your storage woes.

A menstrual cup

Dutchess Menstrual Cup (2-pack), $15.99, available at Amazon

People with periods have the right to use any type of hygiene product they'd like to care for their monthly flow. But if you're interested in finding a way that produces less waste than conventional products like tampons or pads, a menstrual cup could be a good option for you.

The Dutchess Cup is a fan favorite for its comfortable fit, latex-free material and leak-proof powers. The cup comes in different sizes for bodies both pre- and post-childbirth, so make sure to select the one that's right for you.

Bar soap

Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Bar Soap (6-pack), $26.40, available at Amazon

Bar soap, people. It's in again. While this is a sensitive subject for body-wash apologists, bar soap undeniably produces less waste than liquid gels that use hard-to-recycle plastic materials.

Evidence shows that bar soap cleans just as well as body wash, so there really aren't any excuses. Try choosing a bar that isn't wrapped in plastic, like one of Dr. Bronner's that comes in cardboard and many fun, fresh scents.

• Shelter Island is a secluded, 8,000-acre island a five-minute ride from the Hamptons, the ritzy vacation destination of choice for wealthy New Yorkers.
• I spent a day on the island and it was immediately clear why it's known as the "un-Hamptons."
• The island was quiet, charming, and serene, with a laid-back vibe and a conspicuous lack of entertainment and nightlife.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Hamptons has long been the vacation destination of choice for New York City's wealthy elite. 

But just a five-minute ferry ride away is a secluded, 8,000-acre island that's been called the "un-Hamptons" for its tranquility, uncomplicated lifestyle, and lack of Hamptons crowds.

Peter Humphrey, a Douglas Elliman real-estate agent who lives on the island, said Shelter Island has a completely different environment from the Hamptons, noting that it's more "mellow" and "relaxed." And he doesn't think the island will become Hamptons 2.0 anytime soon.

"This place will be slow to change," Humphrey told me.

The island only has about 2,500 full-time residents, a number that swells to around 15,000 in the summer. About three quarters of the homes on the island are vacation homes, Humphrey said. 

I spent a day on Shelter Island, and I immediately understood why it's called the "un-Hamptons." Here's what it was like.

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Shelter Island is a secluded, 8,000-acre island on the eastern end of Long Island in New York.

It's only about a five-minute ride from the Hamptons, the ritziest vacation destination of New York City's wealthy elite.

The island is about a three-hour drive from New York City, depending on traffic.

It's only accessible by ferry.

Shelter Island sits right in between the North Fork and the town of Greenport to the north, and the South Fork, which includes most of the Hamptons, to the south.

The green section of Shelter Island that can be seen on the map is a 2,100-acre nature conservancy, the Mashomack Preserve.

On a recent spring day, I drove out to Shelter Island from New York City.

The drive to Greenport, where I boarded the ferry, took about three hours. Once I got to the ferry, it was only about a five-minute ride to the island. A round-trip ticket for a car and one driver costs $18. 

On the side of the island closest to the North Ferry, the main street is aptly named North Ferry Road.

What seemed to be the busiest part of the road had a gas station, a liquor store, a hardware store, a café, and a bar.

The hardware store doubles as a toy store.

Along with hardware and toys, the shop sells fishing equipment and beach gear.

There's also Marie Eiffel, a neighborhood café recommended to me by a local.

I went inside for lunch and found that the café offers a variety of seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and pastries, including vegan options.

People were sitting outside enjoying the June sunshine and water views.

Everyone was very casually dressed and seemed in no hurry to get anywhere.

I started driving around the island with no particular destination.

It wasn't a problem to drive slowly and stop for photos, as there were hardly any other cars. The thought of traffic on the island seemed laughable. 

Shelter Island is known for its bed and breakfast and boutique hotel culture. The Chequit, which made Fodor's Travel's list of 15 best hotels in the US, is a three-minute drive from the North Ferry station.

Built in 1872, the hotel was recently bought and renovated by Salt Hotels.

"It has the feeling of a bed-and-breakfast stay, but a dreamy one (perhaps in the movie version of your life) with cleaner, more contemporary style," reads the Fodor's review of The Chequit. "Likewise, its location on Shelter Island, one of the quietest, most 'untouched' places in the area, creates what a Hamptons getaway looks like in our imaginations (and more rarely reality): exclusive yet understated, rustic yet luxurious, and far from beach traffic or a crowded train car."

Rates start at Chequit range from $495 to $856 during the summer months.

Driving through Shelter Island felt like driving through a quiet, lazy suburb.

Compared to New York City, it felt like another world: calm and bucolic.

The homes on Shelter Island range in size and style. I didn't see many sprawling mansions like those that can be found in parts of the Hamptons.

All the homes I saw seemed to be very well-maintained.

And although it may not be the Hamptons, Shelter Island residents are still willing to pay for their idyllic seclusion.

The median price of homes currently listed in Shelter Island is about $1.5 million.

It's rare to find a home selling for less than $800,000 or $900,000, Humphrey told me.

Shelter Island has no regulations for the style of new homes being built, Humphrey told me, which has led to an eclectic mix of styles.

One home was being built in an ultra-modern style, a stark contrast from many homes on the island.

Shelter Island has its own schools, police department, and fire department.

There's no hospital, however, which could be problematic for elderly residents.

Shelter Island has no shortage of access to water.

The island has four marinas, five public beaches, and several ponds and creeks. 

On the northwest edge of the island is the Sunset Beach Hotel, which has 20 ocean-view rooms.

In the summertime, rooms at the beachfront hotel start at about $450 per night.

The hotel bar and restaurant serves "healthy and delicious summertime food of the French Riviera and coastal Italy," according to its website.

Unfortunately, it wasn't open during my visit, but I was told the area can get quite lively in the summertime. 

Just down the waterfront from the Sunset Beach Hotel is the Pridwin, an all-wood resort hotel that's been open since 1927.

A standard room starts at about $244 per night, with a two-night minimum.

Like many of the hotels on Shelter Island, the Pridwin is only open from May through Labor Day.

When late afternoon rolled around, it was time to head back on the ferry for the drive to New York City, but I found myself reluctant to leave the island.

While its Hamptons neighbors to the south have become overcrowded, pretentious, and wildly expensive, Shelter Island is quiet, laid-back, and it isn't trying too hard. While it may not be cheap, it's still a bargain compared to the Hamptons, where median home prices reach nearly $11 million in some parts.

The "un-Hamptons" describes Shelter Island perfectly, and that's exactly what makes it so appealing. 

• While many of my colleagues and friends love their PopSockets grips, I think they're overrated. 
• In my experience, the Speck GrabTab ($9.95) is a better phone grip and stand.
• It might not come in as many colors or patterns, but it's more secure, more comfortable to hold, and less obtrusive. 

There are over 40 million PopSockets grips attached to phones around the world. Some of those grips belong to our very own editors, who regularly rave about the affordable phone accessory as one of the most useful things they own. 

Their usefulness is clear, plus they come in hundreds of different designs (including swappable ones) to suit your personality, but... I still don't love them. 

The accessory I prefer over PopSockets grips is Speck's GrabTab ($9.95). 

Read more:20 innovative and cool accessories for the new iPhone you got for the holidays

The GrabTab also sticks to the back of your phone and works as a grip and a stand. Instead of a button that pops out, it's a sliding loop that can be adjusted to your finger size or locked tightly in place. 

Ever since I started using the GrabTab a few months ago, I can't imagine holding my phone without it. Because the loop is attached to the card-sized, 3 mm-thick backing, there's no way my phone will fall from my hands, unless my finger comes out of the loop. With PopSockets grips, I sometimes felt like I could drop my phone because there's nothing to catch the fall if my finger slips. With GrabTab grips, whether the train jolts unexpectedly or I fall asleep with my phone in hand, my phone is safe since I'm almost "wearing" it. 

The sliding design is also conducive to a range of finger sizes and holding positions. You can loop any of your fingers through, or loop more than one finger as well. Personally, I've found the most comfortable position (shown in the top image) is putting my middle finger through the loop while my other fingers rest lightly on the back and my phone sits in my palm. 

Read more: I used to think PopSockets Grips were unnecessary — now they're my favorite iPhone accessory under $10

Despite the fluid flexibility of the grip "mode," the GrabTab is sturdy and secure as a stand. When you slide the loop all the way to the end, it clicks into place and lets you prop up your phone. I've never realized how convenient a stand is when watching videos, but I've discovered (likely light years behind the general populace) just how nice it is to keep my hands free as I follow along cooking and workout videos or watch a TV show while eating lunch. 

The GrabTab's slim construction is supposed to allow for wireless charging, but according to other reviewers, this capability can unfortunately be hit or miss. If you're looking for a wireless charging-compatible accessory, the GrabTab may not be reliable. However, as a general grip and stand, I've found it to be very reliable. It sticks firmly to my phone case and stays there, no matter how hard I try to pry it off, and always feels comfortable and secure in my hand. 

The one area I will say that PopSockets is miles ahead in is the range of color and design options. Though there are a handful of solid colored, striped, and patterned GrabTab styles, they can't compare to the full rainbow of PopSockets available.

With these flaws in mind, the GrabTab still prevails for me and is where I would spend my $10. 

Shop the GrabTab for $9.95 at Amazon here

Shop the GrabTab for $4.99 at Best Buy here

Join the conversation about this story »

• Real-estate investors are purchasing 20% of the starter homes on the market, reported Ben Casselman and Conor Dougherty for The New York Times.
• They're outbidding other buyers by paying in cash, and some are buying houses before they've even been put on the public market.
• It's tough competition for millennials, who already struggle with buying their first home because of high housing prices and a shortage of starter homes.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Starter homes are scarce. In 2018, they represented just 20.9% of available housing inventory in the US, according to Trulia.

The US housing market is currently a seller's market— this causes home prices to shoot up, leaving minimal inventory at the middle and low ends, Spencer Rascoff, Zillow's CEO, previously told Business Insider. But there are other factors driving the shortage, too: rising construction costs, restrictive zoning rules, and changing consumer desires, reported Ben Casselman and Conor Dougherty for The New York Times. 

That spells bad news for millennials — who are already financially behind because of a higher cost of living, student loan debt, and a fallout from the recession — looking to buy their first home. And real-estate investors are only making the problem worse.

In 2018, investors bought roughly 20% of US starter homes (homes priced in the bottom third of the local market) — twice that of 20 years ago, Casselman and Dougherty wrote, citing real-estate data provider CoreLogic. In the most popular markets, they bought nearly 50% of the most affordable homes and 25% of all single-family homes.

Some investors flip the houses, others rent the houses out, and some resell the houses when they appreciate, which could take weeks or years, they reported. A growing number of hard-money lenders are helping their endeavors, and "in some cases, wholesalers make unsolicited offers on properties, then flip them to investors without putting them on the public market," Casselman and Dougherty wrote. 

Read more: Millennials are making 3 key decisions that are wiping out the starter home — and it's changing what homeownership in America looks like

Millennials face another challenge on the track to homeownership

The investors are tough competition for millennials, who are losing territory in the battleground of starter homes that they already can't afford.

Millennials buying their first home today will pay 39% more today than they would have nearly 40 years ago, according to Student Loan Hero. A report by SmartAsset found that in some cities, the median home outweighed the median income by so much that it could take nearly a decade to save for a 20% down payment.

Read more: Here's the salary you'll need if you want to afford a mortgage in 17 major US cities

And some of those who have saved enough to buy are forced to wait — and up their budgets — as they continuously lose out on potential homes to the cash-paying investors.

Fatou Ceesay, age 38, told Casselman and Dougherty she's spent two years losing bids to cash buyers. Some sellers are requiring cash, while some listings quickly disappear only to pop up again several weeks later at a higher price, she said. She's since increased her budget from $300,000 to $350,000.

Millennials' inability to get their hands on their first home in the face of tough economic conditions and a cutthroat market is creating new trends.

For one, thing, as Business Insider previously reported, millennials are resorting to renting for a longer time. Some unmarried millennial couples are buying homes together before getting engaged just so they can split the cost of buying a home. And others are delaying homeownership so long that by the time they do buy, they've saved enough money to buy a luxury home, bypassing the starter home stage altogether.

Read the full article at The New York Times »

SEE ALSO: Here's how much a typical starter home costs in every state

DON'T MISS: The only right way to save money for a house

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Mount Everest is not the hardest mountain to climb — here's what makes K2 so much worse

• Personal bankruptcieshave been on the decline since the recession ended, but one reason people may not be filing for them is that the process is too expensive.
• Personal bankruptcy is largely driven by unexpected causes, like medical debt.
• There are two ways people can eliminate debt: by filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.
• However, student loan debt is non-dischargeable — debtors still need to pay it off.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

There's a dark irony to personal bankruptcy.

Indebted consumers can declare bankruptcy for debt relief — but they need to pay to do so.

With average attorney costs for Chapter 7 cases (more on what that means in a bit) around $1,200, the cost of filing might be why bankruptcy filings have declined since the Great Recession to hit a 10-year low: Debtors can't afford the lawyers they need in order to file, reported Andrew Keshner for MarketWatch.

Around 12.8 million consumer bankruptcy petitions were filed in the federal courts from October 2005 to September 2017, according to US Courts. 

But what's driving personal bankruptcy in the first place? Turns out, several factors.

Personal bankruptcies are mainly driven by unexpected causes 

Personal bankruptcy is most often caused by an unexpected change in circumstances, such as a loss of income or emergency medical issues for which the debtor is under-insured, attorney Simon Goldenberg of The Law Office of Simon Goldenberg, PLLC told Business Insider.

While most people rely on a steady income to pay bills and maintain their standard of living, a tough economy can make it difficult to quickly find a new job, Goldenberg said, adding that it becomes only a matter of time until depleted savings can no longer cover expenses.

"Even with a steady income, an emergency medical bill for thousands of dollars could be a struggle to tackle," he said.

In fact, 66.5% of all bankruptcies are related to medical issues, either because of expensive medical bills or time away from work, reported Lorie Konish for CNBC, citing a study by the American Journal of Public Health. The study looked at court filings for a random sample of 910 Americans who filed for personal bankruptcy between 2013 and 2016, and found that 530,000 families file for bankruptcy every year for medical issues or bills.

According to the study, other reasons for personal bankruptcy include unaffordable mortgages or foreclosure (45%), spending or living beyond one's means (44.4%), providing help to friends or relatives (28.4%), student loans (25.4%), and divorce or separation (24.4%).

Read more: An astounding number of bankruptcies are being driven by student loan debt

Attorney William Waldner of Midtown Bankruptcy told Business Insider he's had an influx of clients dealing with divorce, such as single mothers who are taking care of multiple kids and not getting enough support or single men paying for legal fees.

Goldenberg also cited loss of income provider (such as a spouse) and high-interest loans as drivers of personal bankruptcy, along with loss of business and bad investments.

High-interest loans can be related to student loan debt. According to a new LendEDU study, 32% of consumers filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (coming to that soon) carry student loan debt. Of that group, student loan debt comprised 49% of their total debt on average.

Personal bankruptcy is affected by location and age

The factors contributing to personal bankruptcy also depend on where debtors live, Waldner said. In an expensive city like Manhattan, people are more likely to quickly fall behind on rent or taxes, he said. But in different parts of the country, medical debt might be more common, he added.

Age and life stages also play a role. Bankruptcy filings have declined from 1991 to 2016 for people ages 18 to 54, but they have increased among people ages 55 to 74, reported Tara Siegel Bernard for The New York Times, citing the Consumer Bankruptcy Project.

Read more: A growing number of Americans over age 65 are filing for bankruptcy just to get by, and it could signal a larger problem in the US

The rate of people 65 and older filing for bankruptcy has tripled since 1991, Siegel reported. Respondents of the study cited too much debt, a decline in income, and too many healthcare costs as contributing factors. Many of them have co-signed loans for their children and taken on the burden of student loan debt, Siegel wrote. 

What's the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

"For many struggling borrowers, bankruptcy can be a powerful and affordable way of eliminating debt," Goldenberg said. There are two different processes debtors can file for to eliminate their unsecured debt. Unsecured debt, such as medical debt or credit card debt, is debt not related to an asset.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is liquidation bankruptcy for people with limited incomes who can't pay back all or a portion of their debt. The debtor has to prove they don't have the income to get out of debt (which varies by state), and the goal is to discharge all debt.

Chapter 7 is quick — resulting in a fast discharge — but debtors might have to give up more of their property so that a trustee can sell it for the benefit of unsecured creditors, Nancy Rapoport, a Garman Turner Gordon professor of law at the UNLV Boyd School of Law, told Business Insider.

Chapter 13 involves a restructuring of debt — the debtor makes payments for three or five years, with the goal of getting the debt discharged at the end. In exchange for paying off as much debt as possible during the repayment plan, the debtor gets to keep more of their own property, rather than seeing it sold to benefit unsecured creditors, Rapoport said.

This process enables people to settle their debts for less than the full balance, Goldenberg said. It also offers them protection from collections.

And legal fees incurred prior to bankruptcy may be dischargeable in bankruptcy, according to Goldenberg.

One debt-elimination process is quicker, but the other is less risky

Chapter 7 is more commonly filed, and more often associated with medical debt, according to Waldner. Chapter 13 more commonly deals with debt related to mortgages, savings, and taxes, he said.

While many debtors want to file for Chapter 7 because it's a quick and easy process, he said, it involves more risk. If they made transfers to others, that could put those people in peril. For example, if they had $180,000, and gave $20,000 to an aunt, $30,000 to a divorce attorney, $50,000 to their daughter, and so forth, the judge could go after those assets.

"Chapter 13 is better because it's the only voluntary form of bankruptcy," he said. "It's much less risky, but more involved. If you file 13 and it doesn't work out, you can walk away. That's not the case with Chapter 7."

Debtors still need to pay their student loan debt

However, one personal bankruptcy driver — student loan debt — is generally non-dischargeable in bankruptcy, Goldenberg said. Those seeking to discharge their credit cards and other unsecured debts would free up their budget to pay student loans, he said.

SEE ALSO: The riskiest places to swipe your debit card

DON'T MISS: Your credit score isn't the only number lenders use to decide if you're trustworthy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This giant 1950s town replica in California is a new kind of treatment center for people with Alzheimer's

• Business Insider asked real-estate agents around the US about what it's really like working in their industry.
• We asked agents about the biggest mistakes people make when trying to buy a home. 
• Some common mistakes buyers make include making lowball offers, and getting distracted by the "flashy" details and ignoring the actual quality of a home, according to agents.
• One agent said too many people hold out too long for the "perfect" home and then regret not buying one they liked early on.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Business Insider asked real-estate agents around the US about what it's really like working in the industry, what they wish they could tell their clients, and the biggest mistakes they see people making when trying to buy a home.

Some of the common mistakes buyers make are making lowball offers, holding out too long for the "perfect" home, and getting distracted by the "flashy" details and ignoring the actual quality of a home.

One agent said too many people hold out too long for the "perfect" home and then regret not buying one they liked early on.

Here are the 13 biggest mistakes people make when buying a home, according to real-estate agents.

SEE ALSO: 10 things real-estate agents wish they could tell you — but won't

SEE ALSO: 13 luxury real-estate agents reveal what it's really like working with millionaire and billionaire clients

1. Assuming every home's price is negotiable.

Jared Barnett, a Compass agent who works with homes between $2 million and $5 million in New York City, told Business Insider the biggest mistake a buyer can make is assuming every home has a negotiable price.

"Sellers use different strategies when pricing their home," Barnett said. "Sometimes it is priced with room for negotiations, but other times it's priced to get multiple offers, potentially going over the asking price."

Barnett said it's not uncommon for a buyer to lose the first couple of properties they make an offer on because they've underbid when the home is priced to sell.

2. Getting distracted by the "flashy" details and ignoring the actual quality of a home.

"It's important not to be seduced by the icing on the cake," Brian K. Lewis of Compass, who sells $2 million to $10 million homes in New York City, told Business Insider. "Ignore the icing and focus on the substance of a home — the quality of the construction and the level of finish."

Buyers should pay attention to the lot and/or the building and thoroughly inspect the property, he said.

"Many homes can be 'botoxed' to look pretty on the outside," Lewis said. "Focus on the bones and structure — a deep dive will reveal the truth."  

David Tortolini agreed that many buyers pay too much attention to superficial factors. 

"They focus too much on flashy things, like granite counters and stainless steel appliances, that often have many other problems or are in a bad location, and bypass homes that have been very well taken care of and are in a great location but aren't updated," Tortolini said.

3. Not putting down the largest down payment possible.

Alan Hedrick of Compass, who deals with homes in the $2.5 million range, said one of the biggest mistakes a home buyer can make is not putting down a large enough down payment.

"Putting a larger down payment could significantly reduce your monthly spending on your mortgage," Hedrick said. "It's okay to ask for outside help, like a gift for a down payment if it will help you obtain homeownership faster." 

4. Making a lowball offer.

According to Tim Swearingen of Coldwell Banker Bain in Washington and Oregon, who works with homes priced at $1.2 million on average, one big mistake is "offending the seller with lowball offers — let the brokers gauge the clients informally with each other," he said. "We are paid to negotiate and have a fiduciary duty to our clients. Let us work."

Michael K. Davis, an agent at Compass who deals with homes at an average price of $1.6 million in New York City, said many buyers think they can simply make all-cash lowball offers and they'll be accepted.

"While cash is king, it doesn't always get deals done," Davis said.

5. Limiting your search to a specific style of home.

Dana Bartel, an agent at Compass who works in the Hamptons with homes that cost an average of $1.5 million, said too many buyers limit their focus to a certain style of house.

"A home is where you make it and if it works for your lifestyle," Bartel said. "Not necessarily what it looks like on the outside."

6. Not thinking about selling the home one day.

Buyers often forget that they'll most likely sell their home at some point, according to Gerard Marino, who does sales in the $300,000 to $500,000 range in southwest Florida.

"They forget that eventually they will need to sell," Marino said. "Most everything can be fixed but location, location, location can't be fixed. Buy location, NOT price. "

7. Trying to buy without a broker.

Gill Chowdhury of Warburg Realty, who sells homes for an average of $2 million in Manhattan, says one major mistake is when a buyer tries to buy a home directly without a broker.

"I don't care how good you are at math, how crazy your excel skills are, there are too many intangibles that you won't be able to calculate for and you'll make a mistake," Chowdhury said. "For what? The theoretical savings of 1% or 2%. You're kidding yourself."

Buyers are "leaving money on the table" if they don't let a good broker represent them, says Martin Eiden, who sells homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn for between $700,000 and $7 million.

"Buyers who come direct, without a broker, always overpay," Eiden said.

8. Overlooking important details like the condition of the roof or hot water tank.

"Buyers go with what they feel and many times ignore the 'important' details in a home such as: is the electric up to code? If it isn't, not only is it a fire hazard, but it is costly to update," Noemi Bitterman of Warburg Realty, who deals with homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn with prices between $500,000 and $1.75 million, told Business Insider.

Other important considerations include the condition of the roof, the hot water tank, and the boiler, Bitterman said.

9. Passing on a great home early in the search because you think you'll find something better.

"Some clients pass over ideal properties early on in the search in the hope that they'll find something better," Lisa Camillieri of Warburg, who sells homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn in the $400,000 to $1.2 million range, said. "This strategy almost never works."

Butch Haze, who sells homes between $3 million and $10 million in the San Francisco area, said many first-time buyers see the best home first.

"They will pass it up because they saw it too early in their search process and they will spend years looking for that one perfect house they wish they made the offer on," Haze said. "Now the market has moved on them and they are paying more for less which no one likes to do."

Buyers should trust their instincts, even if they find something they love right off the bat, he said.

"Love is hard to find and should be cherished when it happens," Haze said.

10. Not seeing the true potential of a home.

Marilyn Blume of Warburg Realty, who sells $2 million to $3 million homes in New York City, said many buyers don't look at the "bones and potential" of a home and instead get "distracted by something immaterial such as bright red walls or ugly kitchen cabinets."

11. Holding out for the "perfect" home.

"At least in NYC, waiting too long to move forward on an apartment they love" is a big mistake, said Michael Bello of REAL New York, who does $5,000-per-month on average rentals in the city.

"The 'perfect apartment' doesn't exist here," Bello said. "If you find a place that checks seven of the 10 boxes you're looking for, you should take it. 'I love it, but I'm going to keep looking' = you're going to lose out on the apartment you love and then regret delaying later on."

12. Focusing too much on online listings.

Another common mistake is becoming obsessed with "that 'one listing' they found on the internet," Scot Dalbery of REAL New York, who deals with rental properties in New York City that are $4,000 a month on average, told Business Insider.

"So many clients are adamant about only seeing the one listing they found online in their own research, that they don't realize there are other, often better, options out there," Dalbery said, adding that online listings often portray an artificial picture of a home.

"So people often become disappointed when finally seeing that dream listing in-person and become discouraged," he said. "That's where I step in to ensure them that we will find something even better as long as they trust me to take the reins."

13. Buying a home you're hesitant about.

Robin Kencel of The Robin Kencel Group at Compass in Connecticut, who sells homes between $500,000 and $28 million, said one mistake often emerges over time, after a buyer has been living in the home. 

"Overall, I would say, if you have any doubts, second guesses or are spending more time worrying about some aspect of the purchase, rather than being excited about it, then it's not the right home for you and it's probably best to walk away from it," Kencel said. "If I sense any of these things from my buyers, I have a heart to heart with them to make sure that they are wholly confident in their decision."

• The largest homes currently on the market in the US range from 32,000 to 70,000 square feet.
• We teamed up with Zillow to take a look at the largest homes for sale, from a historic Virginia manor to a recently renovated Bel Air mansion.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

The largest home for sale in the US is a whopping 70,000-square-foot abandoned Philadelphia mansion. To offer some context, that's about 15,000 square feet larger than the White House.

We teamed up with Zillow to look at the largest homes currently on the US housing market, including Red Sox owner John Henry's Florida vacation home and Cher's former Beverly Hills estate. Other luxury properties in the top 25 range from a historic Virginia manor to a recently renovated Bel Air mansion with room to park 80 cars.

Read more: There are too many multimillion-dollar mansions for sale in Los Angeles, and real-estate agents are going to extreme lengths to get them off the market

Many of these homes have been on the market for years, as luxury homes have become hard to sell. Previous reporting from Business Insider's Lina Batarags shows that customized houses — like many of the country's largest — are hard to sell as they include extremely personalized features that do not appeal to every buyer.

Keep reading for a look at the largest homes for sale in the US:

SEE ALSO: Millennials don't want to buy baby boomers' sprawling, multi-bedroom homes, and it's creating a major problem in the real-estate market

NOW READ: 13 luxury real-estate agents reveal what it's really like working with millionaire and billionaire clients

25. A Beverly Hills mansion previously owned by Hollywood names such as Cher and Eddie Murphy is now up for sale. The home has 32,000 square feet of space.

Cher's former home includes a 7,000-square-foot guest house in addition to the 20,000-square-foot main house. The Moroccan-style buildings also include a luxury stable on the 14-acre property.

Price: $48,000,000
Size: 32,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms
Location: Beverly Hills, California

24. A massive home in Colorado is over 32,000 square feet.

In addition to spacious bedrooms, the property — located south of Denver— includes a cigar lounge, a professional wellness studio, and a guest cottage.

Price: $19,750,000
Size: 32,254 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 6 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms
Location: Englewood, Colorado

23. Reasonably priced compared to other luxury homes of its size, a 33,000-square-foot Wisconsin mansion is on the market for a little over $3 million.

The home sits on almost 55 acres and includes two master suites and kitchens.

Price: $3,095,000
Size: 32,775 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms
Location: Liberty Lake, Wisconsin

22. Priced at almost $15 million, a Utah luxury home features 33,000 square feet of space.

The luxury home offers direct access to all four of Park City's ski resorts, and also includes 20 lockers to store guests' winter gear.

Price: $14,950,000
Size: 33,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 14 bedrooms, 22 bathrooms
Location: Park City, Utah

21. A large equestrian property is available in Florida for $23.6 million.

The equestrian estate — known as La Victoria Farm— includes two gated entrances to the main residence and barn.

Price: $23,600,000
Size: 35,785 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 7 bedrooms, 12.5 bathrooms
Location: Wellington, Florida

20. Another Florida property includes almost 37,000 square feet of floor space.

The beachfront property includes a library, home theater, and a barber shop. The French Normandy-style home is currently llisted for almost $60 million with Ashley McIntosh, Gary Pohrer and Vince Spadea of Douglas Elliman.

Price: $59,900,000
Size: 36,993 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 7 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms
Location: Palm Beach, Florida

19. For $10 million less, a 36,000-square-foot Bel Air mansion is also on the market.

According to the compound's Zillow listing, the luxury home includes approximately 20,000 square feet of entertainment space alone.

Price: $49,900,000
Size: 36,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 8 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms
Location: Los Angeles, California

18. A 36,000-square-foot Santa Ana home offers views of Catalina Island and Newport Beach.

The luxury home includes a 15-car garage, along with a "panic room."

Price: $19,900,000
Size: 36,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 20 bedrooms, 26 bathrooms
Location: Santa Ana, California

17. Known as "The Oaks," a 36,000-square-foot country estate sits on lakefront property.

The estate — located on Lake Thonotosassa in Florida— includes the main house, a 2-story guest house, a boat house, and a horse barn.

Price: $22,000,000
Size: 36,361 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 8 bedrooms, 26 bathrooms
Location: Thonotosassa, Florida

16. A luxury estate in the Philadelphia area consists of almost 37,000 square feet.

The $10 million mansion includes three separate wings surrounding a stone courtyard. The property also includes a tower where guests have 360-degree views of the 29-acre spot.

Price: $10,000,000
Size: 36,957 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 9 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms
Location: Fort Washington, Pennsylvania

15. A $23 million Dallas mansion is over 37,000 square feet — and includes its own outdoor waterpark.

Located behind 20-foot-tall gates, the estate also includes sports courts on the 4-acre property.

Price: $23,000,000
Size: 37,133 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 10 bedrooms, 17.5 bathrooms
Location: Dallas, Texas

14. Another massive Bel Air mega-mansion is on the market, complete with glass walls throughout the home for unobstructed views.

Nicknamed "The Billionaire," Business Insider's Katie Warren previously reported the luxury home received a hefty $100 million price cut this year.

Price: $150,000,000
Size: 38,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 12 bedrooms,31 bathrooms
Location: Los Angeles, California

13. A large Virginia estate is also on the market.

The stone manor was built in 1776 and includes a carriage house and additional residences.

Price: $29,950,000
Size: 38,500 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 22 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms
Location: Warrenton, Virginia

12. A 40,700-square-foot estate is available in Knoxville Tennessee.

The luxury home — known as "The Village Collina" — offers views of the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains.

Price: $14,995,000
Size: 40,768 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 8 bedrooms, 13.5 bathrooms
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

11. John Henry— owner of the Boston Red Sox, The Boston Globe, and Liverpool Football Club — lowered the asking price of his 41,000-square-foot Boca Raton mansion in April.

The lakefront property is known as Tashun or "House of Peace" and features 19 bathrooms. Boston Red Sox owner John Henry cut the asking price by $10 million— the home is now on the market for $15 million.

Price: $15,000,000
Size: 41,010 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 7 bedrooms,19 bathrooms
Location: Boca Raton, Florida

10. A 43,000-square-foot mansion is for sale in Summerland, California.

The luxury home is currently listed for $65 million.

Price: $65,000,000
Size: 43,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 11 bedrooms,14 bathrooms
Location: Summerland, California 

9. Another massive Beverly Hills property is on the market for a whopping $150 million.

The 43,000-square foot luxury home is newly rebuilt, and it includes parking space for up to 80 cars when entertaining.

Price: $135,000,000
Size: 43,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 17 bedrooms, 30 bathrooms
Location: Beverly Hills, California

8. Known as "Brisa Del Mar," a 43,000-square-foot home is available in Lantana, Florida.

The luxury Florida home includes an eat-in kitchen and a private dock.

Price: $26,695,00
Size: 43,386 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 10 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms
Location: Lantana, Florida

7. A large property in upstate New York includes its own tennis court.

The 44,000-square-foot property is driving distance to Manhattan and includes eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Currently on the market with The Julian Team of Compass, the property includes a private boat dock.

Price: $6,200,000
Size: 44,039 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms
Location: Hewlett, New York

6. A former corporate retreat — known as "Serenity Ridge" — includes over 45,000 square feet of space.

According to the property's listing, the home was originally built as a family or corporate retreat. As a result, it includes an entertainment wing, multiple dining areas, and a 29-car garage. The property is currently on the market for $12.9 million and includes an art collection.

Price: $12,900,000
Size: 45,212 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 11 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms
Location: Parker, Colorado

5. A 50,000-square-foot Utah mansion joined the luxury market a little over a month ago.

The spacious home includes an impressive double-staircase entryway along with an indoor swimming pool.

Price: $25,000,000
Size: 49,568 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 6 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms
Location: Springville, Utah

4. A 50,000-square-foot property in Westlake Village, California received a $25 million price cut in March.

The hilltop home includes a 5,000-square-foot master suite, along with a collector's museum and four pools "inspired by the Monet Gardens of Giverny, France." According to the home's Zillow listing, the impressive property also includes a working 5-acre organic farm.

Price: $59,995,000
Size: 50,255 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 12 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms
Location: Westlake Village, California

3. Located on Lake Windmere in Florida, a 51,000-square-foot private estate sits on 18 acres of private property.

According to Zillow, the Georgian-style mansion has views of Disney fireworks every night and includes a massive chef's kitchen. The home has double the number of bathrooms as it does rooms.

Price: $28,500,000
Size: 51,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 7 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms
Location: Windermere, Florida

2. The 50,000-square-foot Muy Grande Ranch and Resort is currently for sale in North Michigan.

The property includes 12 suites 1,400 square feet apiece and can accommodate a total of 40 guests. In addition, the ranch includes personal cabins and a ranch keeper's house.

Price: $6,400,000
Size: 55,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 21 bedrooms, 30 bathrooms
Location: Millersburg, Michigan

1. Lynnewood Hall ranks as the largest home for sale in the United States, with 55 bedrooms and 70,000 square feet — over 15,000 square feet larger than the second-place ranch.

According to the estate's Zillow listing, "Lynnewood Hall one of the largest surviving Gilded age Mansion in the Philadelphia area." The Neoclassical mansion has 110 rooms total and was built between 1897 and 1900 for industrialist Peter A.B. Widener. The historic home — which has sat empty for at least a decade — will require millions of dollars in renovation.

Price: $11,000,000
Size: 70,000 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 55 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms
Location: Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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