• You can easily change the AutoFill settings on your iPad by going into the Settings app on your iPad.
• When enabled, this feature is used to store your login information saved from websites, and automatically fill in your username and password.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you find yourself often forgetting passwords for online shopping accounts, membership logins, and more, the AutoFill feature on your iPad is great.

AutoFill allows users to save passwords and personal information entered on Safari, and uses that data to automatically fill in forms — and even access that data across all your devices using iCloud. 

The AutoFill feature is easy to enable in your iPad's Settings app, where you can also review, edit, and delete passwords you no longer need.

Additionally, you can disable the feature with a simple switch if you no longer wish to use it. You can also do this from your iPhone or from your Mac computer.

Here's how to do it on your iPad.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad (From $329.99 at Best Buy)

How to change the AutoFill settings on your iPad

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.

2. Scroll down and tap "Passwords & Accounts" in the fifth section of options. This will bring you to your password details.

3. If the AutoFill feature is turned on, you will see a green switch labeled "AutoFill Passwords." To turn this off, tap or slide the switch to turn it white.

4. Tap "Website & App Passwords" at the top of the list to view what's already saved. The gray number on the right-hand side shows how many entries have already been saved using AutoFill.

5. Based on your security settings, you may be prompted to enter your passcode or Face/Touch ID. Enter your passcode or biometrics if asked, which will bring you to a list of all of your AutoFill passwords.

6. To delete an entry, first swipe left until a red "Delete" option appears.

7. Tap "Delete" to confirm.

8. You can also tap on any password to view its individual details.

9. Tap "Change Password on Website" to bring you to its webpage on Safari.

10. You can also tap "Edit" in the upper-left hand corner to remove the websites associated with the username and password. What this means is that the password will still be saved, but your iPhone won't associate it with any website. Tap the red minus symbol to the left of a website name to erase it. Most passwords are only linked to one website, but some — like university logins — may connect to multiple, similar pages.

11. Tap "Done" in the upper-left hand corner when you're finished.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to fully silence your iPad in 2 different ways

• 'Why won't my iPad screen rotate?': How to turn off the Orientation Lock on an iPad or troubleshoot its screen

• How to leave a Family Sharing plan on an iPhone or iPad, in 2 different ways

• How to buy Kindle books on your iPad using Amazon's website

SEE ALSO: The best iPad cases you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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• There are many different kinds of cat beds, and cats, fickle creatures that they are, will all like different beds for special, mysterious cat reasons. 
• There are all kinds of cat beds out there, but the PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is our top pick with its unique dual-purpose design as a scratcher and a nice big cat bed your kitty can stretch out on.

Cats tend to sleep anywhere and everywhere they like, and they often repose in strange places like cardboard boxes or the top of bookshelves. Although your cat may be happy sleeping anywhere, doesn't he deserve a comfortable bed to call their own? A cat bed is good for more than just giving your cat a place to sleep, however. It can also give them a sense of comfort and security. Making sure that your cat has a bed of their own may also help to keep all of that fur off your own bed!

There are many different kinds of cat beds, and cats, fickle creatures that they are, will all like different beds for special, mysterious cat reasons. 

When it comes to picking the perfect cat bed, you have many options to consider. From traditional pillow-style beds to nest-style beds, heated cat beds, luxury beds and more, the possibilities are nearly limitless. Because there are so many choices out there, it could take you quite a while to go through them all. Luckily, we've done the hard work for you.

We have taken the time to do the research and read the reviews to come up with the five best cat beds. Below, you will find our top picks for the best cat bed overall as well as the best budget cat bed, the best covered cat bed, the best heated cat bed, and the best window perch cat bed. All you have to do is pick the right one for your cat.

Here are the best cat beds you can buy:

• Best cat bed overall: PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge
• Best budget cat bed: Aspen Pet Self-Warming Cat Bed
• Best covered cat bed: Armarkat Cave Cat Bed
• Best heated cat bed: K&H Thermo-Kitty Bed
• Best window perch cat bed: Original Kitty Cot World's Best Cat Perch
• Best natural cat bed: Twin Critters KittiKubbi Handcrafted Cat Cave
• Best outdoor cat bed: K&H Outdoor Kitty House

Updated 10/25/2019 by Lisa Sabatini: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides.

SEE ALSO: New pet owners can get everything they need in one place with this ingenious Amazon service

The best cat bed overall

The PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is a unique cat bed that doubles as a scratcher, providing your cat with a comfortable place to sleep and a nice scratching post.

The PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge isn't your average cat bed — it is so much more than that. With a unique curved design constructed from extra-thick cardboard, this bed doubles as a scratching post and a lounge-style bed. This cat bed will satisfy your cat's needs for scratching, helping him to relieve stress and get some extra exercise. Then, when he is done, he can curl up on top for a cat nap.

Naturally attractive to cats, the PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is an innovative cat bed that encourages your cat to stretch out and relax. With a reversible design, you get twice the use out of this cat bed and it comes with premium USA organic catnip to make it even more attractive. Simply take the product out of the box and set it on the floor or by the window, and it won't be long before your cat comes scratching and he'll be hooked right away.

The PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, which is why we made it our top choice. Not only does this cat bed have more than 7,000 positive customer reviews on Amazon, but it was named one of the top 10 cat beds by Pet Gear Lab. This cat bed also received rave reviews from Floppy Cats and Kitty Loaf. Simply put, everyone who has tried this bed seems to love it, and we think you and your cat will, too.

Though the PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge may be a little more expensive than other pet beds, you have to keep in mind that you're getting an all-in-one product. Not only is this a comfy bed for your cat to lounge on, but it doubles as a scratching post and it will give your cat some extra exercise.

Pros: Doubles as a lounge and scratching post, reversible for 2x the use, durable construction, unique design for comfort and easy scratching, comes with organic catnip

Cons: More expensive than some models, not padded, wears out over time

Buy the PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge on Amazon for $49.95

The best budget cat bed

Featuring heat-reflective technology, the Aspen Pet Self-Warming Cat Bed keeps your cat warm and cozy without the use of electricity. 

Though you can certainly find high-end and luxury cat beds, sometimes all you really need is a simple cat bed that gets the job done without any costly frills. The Aspen Pet Self-Warming Cat Bed fits this description to a tee, featuring a thickly padded base with plush bolsters and a soft, cozy material all over. This pet bed measures 19 inches in diameter and its circular shape makes it the perfect place for kittens and cats to curl up for an afternoon nap.

The Aspen Pet Self-Warming Cat Bed is thickly padded and covered in a faux lamb's wool material, but what really sets it apart is the fact that it utilizes heat-reflecting technology to keep your cat warm and cozy. This bed is lined with an interior layer of a special material that generates warmth without electricity, simply by reflecting your cat's own body heat. The bed also features a non-skid base so it stays where you put it, plus it is lightweight for easy transport and machine-washable for easy cleaning.

The Aspen Pet Self-Warming Cat Bed is one of Amazon's top sellers and it has more than 2,900 customer reviews, most of which are very positive. Some users find that the materials inside the bed make a crinkling noise, or that the filling can become unevenly distributed, but just as many had no problems with the bed whatsoever. Reviews from Topper's World and eHome Remedies speak to the versatility of the bed for cats of all ages and sizes as well as the benefits of the self-warming design.

If you are looking for a simple cat bed that provides your cat with a comfortable place to sleep without any pricey bells or whistles, we heartily recommend the Aspen Pet Self-Warming Cat Bed. Best of all, it is priced under twenty dollars.

Pros: Thickly padded base for comfort, padded bolsters for warmth, heat-reflecting technology, soft lamb's wool cover material, non-skid bottom, easy to clean and maintain

Cons: May be too padded for some cats, some materials may cause noise, may be smaller than the advertised size, may rock or tip if the filling becomes unevenly distributed

Buy the Aspen Pet Self-Warming Cat Bed on Amazon for $14.77

The best covered cat bed

Give your cat a place to rest in privacy and security with the cave-style, covered Armarkat Cave Cat Bed. 

Cats love to sleep in places where they feel secure, and no other cat bed offers the same degree of comfort and security as the Armarkat Cave Cat Bed. This cat bed features a cave-like design with a spacious interior and a padded, non-skid base. From the moment your cat steps inside, he will be enveloped in warmth and he'll love the privacy offered by the high sidewalls and the covered top.

Not only is the Armarkat Cave Cat Bed made from ultra-soft, pet-friendly materials, but it holds its shape better than some cave-style pet beds on the market. The cover is stain-resistant, but if it gets dirty, you can simply throw it in the washer and then hang to dry. Plus, if the cushion or cover ever wears out, you can easily order replacement parts from the manufacturer.

Reviewers from Heavyname this bed one of the best covered cat beds, and it's one of the site's top 10 choices for cat beds overall. With its spacious interior and cave-like design, this cat bed was named one of the best cat beds overall by Best Consumer Reviews. You'll also be glad to know that this cat bed has more than 1,800 reviews on Amazon, most of which are very positive.

For a covered cat bed that offers the ideal combination of comfort and affordability, we wholeheartedly recommend the Armarkat Cave Cat Bed. If this model isn't a good fit for your cat, try one of Armarkat's other cave-style cat beds.

Pros: Made from soft pet-friendly materials, skid-proof base, completely machine-washable and stain-resistant, filled with thick poly fill for comfort, cave-like design for security and warmth

Cons: May tip over if cat lies against the side, may wear out with frequent washing

Buy the Armarkat Cave Pet Bed on Amazon for $18.99

The best heated cat bed

Envelop your cat in heated comfort with the K&H Thermo-Kitty Bed, which features a 4-watt heater that gently warms to your cat and keeps him cozy.

Cats love to sleep on warm surfaces — that's why you'll often find your cat snoozing in a patch of sunlight or on top of a heating vent. If you're looking for a pet bed that will cushion your cat in heated comfort, we recommend the K&H Thermo-Kitty Bed. This heated cat bed features a soft poly-fiber-filled pillow and a nest-like shape that will envelop your cat in warmth any time of year.

The K&H Thermo-Kitty Bed comes in two sizes, a 16-inch and a 20-inch diameter, and both models feature a thickly padded pillow with 6-inch ortho-foam sidewalls to keep in the heat. This bed comes with an integrated 4-watt heater that warms the surface of the bed to 12 to 15 degrees above the ambient temperature in the room while your cat isn't using the bed. When your cat is using the bed, it gently heats the surface to complement their body temperature.

Love to Know named this bed one of the best indoor heated cat beds while Thoroughly Reviewed calls it "wonderfully comfortable" and ranks it first among their choices for the top 10 cat beds. This bed also has more than 1,300 user reviews on Amazon, most of which are overwhelmingly positive.

To give your cat a boost of extra-cozy warmth, purchase the deluxe model which comes with a removable hood, turning this heated cat bed into a covered bed for added security and comfort.

Pros: Simple but functional design, soft poly-fiber-filled pillow, nest-like shape, removable heater, cover is removable and machine-washable, provides safe and gentle warmth

Cons: Cover is not dryer-friendly, not recommended for outdoor use

Buy the K&H Thermo-Kitty Bed on Amazon for $44.99

The best window perch cat bed

The Original Kitty Cot World's Best Cat Perch gives your cat the best seat in the house to observe the outside world while lying in the lap of luxury. 

Cats love catching a glimpse of the outside world, whether it is watching birds flit from tree to tree or just watching people pass by. The Original Kitty Cot World's Best Cat Perch gives your cat the best seat in the house, allowing him to look out the window even if you don't have a window sill. Mount the perch on any window in your house at whatever height works for your cat.

The Original Kitty Cot World's Best Cat Perch is constructed from durable but lightweight materials including a weather-resistant fabric surface and stainless steel support cables. The perch attaches directly to the surface of the window with large suction cups that can hold up to 25 pounds of weight and are guaranteed not to come loose. Not only is this window perch highly durable, but it is also easy to clean with soap and water.

The Original Kitty Cot World's Best Cat Perch has more than 1,500 reviews on Amazon from satisfied customers who speak to the quality construction of this perch as well as its ease of use. A review from FeliFurni confirms that this window perch can support a surprising amount of weight and that it is built for durability. A review from Gadget Flow adds that the heavy-weight fabric is tough but easy to clean and resistant to chewing.

With the Original Kitty Cot World's Best Cat Perch, you can keep your cat safe indoors while still giving him the chance to see what's going on outside.  He'll also love basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun from their comfy window perch.

Pros: Gives your cat a view of the outside world, mounts to windows with large suction cups, durable stainless steel support cables, tough but lightweight frame, easy to clean with soap and water

Cons: Surface is not padded, suction cup may slip out of PVC fitting

Buy the Original Kitty Cot World's Best Cat Perch on Amazon for $44.95

The best natural cat bed

The Twin Critters KittiKubbi Handcrafted Cat Cave is made from all-natural materials that repel dirt, dust, odor, and stains to keep your cat warm and happy.

Many cat owners choose organic pet foods and natural cleaning products to reduce the number of chemicals and toxins their cats are exposed to, but did you know that chemicals and toxins can be found in the materials used in cat beds? If you are looking for a safe, non-toxic cat bed for your feline friend, we wholeheartedly recommend the Twin Critters KittiKubbi Handcrafted Cat Cave.

Made from 100% all-natural wool and handcrafted in a cave-like design, this cat bed is a great choice for any cat. From the moment your cat crawls inside, he will be cushioned in comfort and the breathable materials will keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The bed can also be flattened into a padded mat for cats who prefer that type of pet bed. No matter how he uses it, your cat will be hooked on this bed from the very start.

This cat bed has more than 780 reviews on Amazon and has been tested by a variety of pet product review sites and has received consistently high ratings. The Gadget Flow remarks upon the ultra-soft wool material as well as its ability to regulate temperature for year-round comfort while Kitty Cat Chronicles speaks to the benefits of natural wool as far as its ability to repel odor, dirt, and stains. Most reviews mention that some cats take longer to get used to the cave-like design than others but, once they do, it becomes their favorite place to sleep.

For a versatile cat bed made from natural materials, the Twin Critters KittiKubbi Handcrafted Cat Cave is our top choice. Not only is this bed safe for your cat, but it resists dirt, dust, odors, and stains to keep it clean and comfy for your cat.

Pros: Made from all-natural 100 percent wool, features a cave-like design, wool regulates temperature for comfort, naturally repels dirt and odors, space-saving design, handcrafted from non-toxic materials, can be used as a cave or flattened into a mat

Cons: Some cats don't like the cave-like design, not machine-washable (can be hand washed), natural materials may be irregular in shape or texture

Buy the Twin Critters KittiKubbi Handcrafted Cat Cave on Amazon for $64.88

The best outdoor cat bed

The K&H Outdoor Kitty House is a weather-resistant shelter that will keep your cat warm and protected from the elements. 

Some cats simply prefer having the freedom to roam around outside over the comfort and confinement of an indoor lifestyle. Even if your cat spends most of their time outside, he still deserves a safe and comfortable place to sleep. The K&H Outdoor Kitty House is a great choice because it combines the comfort of a cat bed with the safety and security of an outdoor shelter.

K&H Manufacturing is one of the top producers of premium pet products and its Outdoor Kitty House is no exception. In fact, this company invented the original outdoor heated cat house and perfected the design for superior comfort and ease of assembly. The K&H Outdoor Kitty House comes in a heated and unheated version with a weather-resistant exterior made from heavy-duty 600-denier polyester. With a solid roof and thick walls, this outdoor cat bed will keep your cat cozy and warm all year round.

The K&H Outdoor Kitty House has nearly 3,000 reviews on Amazon and receives excellent ratings from pet product review sites. Love to Know lists this product as one of its top choices in outdoor heated cat beds, speaking to the durability of the shelter and the ease of assembly. This cat house also makes Pet Lovers World's top 10 list for outdoor cat beds, making note of the dual-exit feature which prevents your cat from getting trapped inside by a predator.

The K&H Outdoor Kitty House is a great choice for outdoor cats, but for all the features it offers, it remains surprisingly affordable. You can purchase the unheated version or the heated version. Either would be a great buy.

Pros: Shelters your cat from cold and weather, made from heavy-duty 600-denier polyester, water- and weather-resistant exterior, two doors, insulated roof and walls for warmth, removable clear plastic flaps for a second exit, easy to assemble, comes in heated and unheated versions, 1-year warranty

Cons: Not waterproof (should be placed in a semi-sheltered area), some users have trouble with the heated version, may be too small for large cats

Buy the K&H Outdoor Kitty House on Amazon for $45.95

Check out our other great cat guides

Best cat carriers

Travel makes many cats nervous. To keep your cat safe and secure, you need to invest in a high-quality cat carrier. Cat carriers come in all shapes and sizes with different designs depending on the intended use. Here are our top picks for the best cat carriers:

Best cat carrier overall: Sherpa Deluxe Pet Carrier  

Best budget cat carrier: Necoichi Ultra Light Portable Cat Carrier 

Best cat carrier for air travel: Pet Magasin Luxury Soft-Sided Cat Carrier 

Best hard shell cat carrier: Petmate Two-Door Top-Load Kennel 

Best cat carrier backpack: Pet Gear 1-GO2 Plus Traveler Rolling Backpack Carrier

Best automatic cat feeders

Some automatic cat feeders are simple and easy to use, while others are more complex with a companion app and many special features. Here are the best automatic cat feeders you can buy:

• Best cat feeder overall: PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed
• Best automatic cat feeder for multiple cats: Super Feeder Automatic Cat Feeder
• Best microchip cat feeder: SureFlap Microchip Pet Feeder
• Best gravity cat feeder: Bergan Petite Gourmet Feeder

The best cat collars

There are a wide variety of different cat collars out there, many of which you may not have ever heard about. Because there are so many cat collars on the market, it can be difficult to make the right choice. We've done the research, and here are our top picks for the best cat collars:

• Best cat collar overall: Rogz Catz Breakaway Cat Collar
• Best customizable cat collar: GoTags Custom Embroidered Cat Collar 
• Best breakaway cat collar: Blueberry Adjustable Breakaway Cat Collar 
• Best flea collar for cats: Bayer Seresto Cat Flea Collar 
• Best GPS cat collar: Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker

The best cat harness and leash

Most cats won't let you get a harness anywhere near them, but some do like a stroll in the park. For those special cats, you need a cat harness and leash. There are several types of cat harnesses available, from basic to vest-style. Here are the best cat harnesses and leash you can buy:

• Best cat harness overall: Kitty Holster Cat Harness
• Best budget cat harness: PupTeck Adjustable Cat Harness
• Best cat harness for indoors: PetSafe Come With Me Kitty Harness
• Best cat harness for large cats: Best Pet Supplies Voyager All-Weather Harness
• Best cat leash: Flexi Vario Cord Leash

The best cat food

Cats need lots of protein and fat in their diets to be healthy, so it's important that you feed them the best cat food. Whether you're shopping for wet cat food or dry cat food, we've researched many cat food brands to give you high-quality options. Here are our top picks:

• Best cat food overall: Ziwi Peak wet cat food
• Best dry cat food: Acana dry cat food
• Best wet cat food: Nature's Variety Instinct wet cat food
• Best grain-free cat food: Wellness grain-free cat food
• Best organic cat food: Castor & Pollux organic cat food

The best medicated cat shampoo

Shampoo for cats is easy to find online, but the sheer volume of options can make it difficult to choose. Lucky for you, we've done the research to bring you our top picks for the best medicated shampoo for cats. 

• Best cat shampoo overall: Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Shampoo for Dogs & Cats
• Best cat shampoo for skin allergies: Earthbath All Natural Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo
• Best cat shampoo for bacterial skin infections: PetMD Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Shampoo
• Best cat shampoo for fungal infections: Curaseb Chlorhexidine Medicated Shampoo
• Best cat shampoo for fleas and ticks: Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor

The best cat bowls

Some cats are picky about their food bowl. That's why it's important to choose the right one for their needs. When it comes to choosing the best cat food bowl for your cat, there are a number of factors to consider. Here are our top picks for the best cat bowls:

• Best cat food bowl overall: Dr. Catsby's Whisker Relief Cat Bowl
• Best affordable cat food bowl: OurPets Durapet Stainless Steel Cat Dish 
• Best double cat food bowl: URPOWER Stainless Steel Pet Feeder 
• Best interactive cat feeder: Northmate Catch Interactive Feeder for Cats 
• Best elevated cat food bowl: Necoichi Raised Cat Bowl 
• Best gravity feeder cat bowl: Bergan Petite Gourmet Feeder

• Carole Zimmer has been a journalist for 30 years covering news for Bloomberg, NBC, National Public Radio, and public radio programs including Marketplace.
• She is the host of an award-winning podcast called Now What? which features conversations with people that most of us are curious about — like Gloria Steinem and Mandy Patinkin.
• Zimmer talks to these people in their homes or offices, not in a studio, where they are surrounded by objects that evoke memories that are important to them.
• She says the wisdom they have shared has helped her have a more positive attitude toward life.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Over the past four years, I've interviewed many people I've always wanted to meet. I was eager to meet them to learn some of their secrets. What inspires them? How do they navigate all the bumps in the road that we come across every day? What big decisions have they made that changed their lives? What makes them feel joyous when they get up in the morning?

The way I got to meet people who had something to teach me about success, fulfillment, and inspiration was I started a podcast called "Now What?" I created the program after leaving a job at a major media company where I had worked as a reporter and producer for 15 years. I said goodbye on a Friday and when I woke up the following Monday, I found myself sitting in my living room staring at the paintings on the wall, not sure what to do with myself. There were no deadlines I had to meet, no assignments to research. No one was standing over my shoulder waiting for me to finish a script for a program that was about to go on the air.

I didn't feel liberated. I felt lost. And that's when I decided that I wanted to hear from wise people who could tell me things about how they had conducted their lives in periods of uncertainty or when they doubted themselves or felt at sea.

I was lucky. I had known Gloria Steinem for many years and she agreed to be my first guest. 

We spent the afternoon in her Manhattan brownstone talking about all the important things before going through her closet where Gloria showed me her favorite motorcycle jacket with the spikes. Besides being smart and funny and principled, Gloria has great taste in clothes. 

SEE ALSO: 6 incredibly successful celebrities who've publicly grappled with burnout

1. Gloria Steinem on feeling satisfied with your life

Gloria Steinem grew up in Ohio, living in a trailer in which her father Leo used to travel around and sell antiques. When Gloria was 10, her parents divorced. Gloria's mother Ruth had had a nervous breakdown before Gloria was born. During Gloria's childhood, Ruth spent time in and out of mental institutions. Despite having a difficult family situation, Gloria went on to graduate from Smith College, become a journalist, and gain a reputation as one of the most important feminists of the 21st century.

She describes herself as an optimist:  

"I hope you're going to interview a lot of people who are over 60 and 70 because I think there are all kinds of different rewards. All the old jealousies pretty much go away. Your old lovers become your family. One of the big moments I keep trying to explain to my friends was when I was in a taxi going downtown and you know I couldn't use my iPhone or something and I was actually looking out the window. And I suddenly thought, you know, I don't want anything I don't have. And it's a great feeling. I don't know how to describe it. It doesn't last. It's a flick of a second. But it's a kind of feeling of well-being. And at one with the universe."

Hear more from my time with Gloria Steinem.

2. Carl Reiner on the joys of being old

When Carl Reiner was 28, he co-wrote and acted on "Your Show of Shows" with Sid Caesar. He then got the idea to write a situation comedy based on his own family life. The series, which became "The Dick Van Dyke Show," ran for five years and won 15 Emmys. In the 60s, Reiner and his friend Mel Brooks began doing a comedy sketch at parties. Reiner was the straight man and Brooks was the 2,000 Year Old Man who had 42,000 children — and not one of them ever came to visit. Reiner also directed Steve Martin in "The Jerk" and "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid." At 97, Reiner is one of the oldest celebrities on Twitter. He tweets every night.  

"I check the obits in the morning. If I'm not in it I'll eat breakfast. But now I look at the obits differently. I used to look to see how old people were you know and usually they're much younger. Instead of getting upset by it, 'I say beat you. I got you beat.' Every once in a while there will be a 100-year old. I say, 'You win.'"

Reiner also does something else every morning. He walks around the block in his Beverly Hills neighborhood, singing a song that Bing Crosby recorded called the Tumble Down Shack in Athlone. 

Reiner sings:

"I'm a long way from home and my thoughts ever roam to ould Erin far over the sea. There's a bright gleaming light guiding me home tonight down the long road of white cobblestone. Down the road that leads back to that tumble down shack, to that tumble down shack in Athlone.

"That's it," he says. "I've got to go back to work." 

Hear more from Carl Reiner on the joys of being old.

3. Norman Lear on one possible secret of living a long life

In the 1970s and 80s, Norman Lear was the king of television, creating one hit series after another including Sanford and Son, the Jeffersons, and All in the Family. Two years ago, Lear, who is 97, sold a new show to NBC about adventures in a senior community. In 2019, Lear made Emmy history when his show, Live in Front of a Studio Audience, was nominated for Outstanding Variety Special, making Lear the oldest person ever nominated for an Emmy.  ABC has renewed Lear's Special for two more installments. 

"I have been getting up every single day for 95 plus years and doing the same thing. Looking forward when I go to sleep to the taste of coffee the next morning. I make a big deal out of breakfast. I love breakfast. I usually have a thin slice of bagel with some smoked salmon and a large salad. So a lot of people think 'Oh, he has a salad. That's why he's feeling good.'"

Do you get terrified of dying?

"No, I don't. I don't wish it and I started to say I'm not looking forward to it, but I am in the sense that some questions will be answered. Even if there's no question answered, that's an answer. Sorry, no more questions. It's just another long sleep."

Hear more from Norman Lear on one possible secret of living a long life.

4. Mandy Patinkin on embracing his struggles

Sixty-six-year-old Mandy Patinkin plays CIA officer Saul Berenson on "Homeland." He's also an Ambassador for the International Rescue Committee and every season when he finishes shooting "Homeland," he goes to a refugee camp to try and help the people who are living there.

 "I would not have learned any of those things that I know today at this moment without the struggles I faced earlier. I didn't get to pick and choose in a candy store exactly how to be and behave. My nature was just what it was. I did the best I could. Sometimes it wasn't what I wished for. But I got to live long enough, thank God, and I got to have great children and a great wife and great friends. And great opportunities and great teachers. And then I got cancer, you know, in 2004 and I don't wish anyone to get cancer but it sure makes you look at the sunrise and sunset differently. It sure makes you look at every day since that diagnosis in a very different way. You want to make the most of it. You want to be better if you can. Not just to make the cancer go away, just not to waste the day and the precious time you have."

Hear more from Mandy Patinkin on embracing his struggles.

5. Alan Alda on how to communicate

Eighty-three-year-old Alan Alda worked as a waiter and a clown before landing the role of Captain Hawkeye Pierce, a surgeon in a mobile unit in the Korean War. "M*A*S*H"  lasted for 11 seasons and became one of the biggest TV hits ever. Alda helped start the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stonybrook University, which has trained more than 10,000 scientists and doctors to better communicate. He's been married to his wife Arlene for 62 years.  

"If you really want to communicate, pay attention to me. The essence of communication is when you think of me rather than you. What's happening in the other person's head is more important than what's happening in your head. You have a message. If you just spray the message at me I'm not going to get it. You have to get into where I live. You have to be aware of what's happening to me. Conversation is a partnership. It's a democratic process."

Hear more from Alan Alda on how to communicate.

6. Sheila Nevins on how she thrived in a male environment before the #MeToo era

Eighty-year-old Sheila Nevins spent 35 years at HBO, where she made more than 1,100 documentaries and won 65 Emmy awards. She's the author of "You Don't Look Your Age" where she reveals that she's had an eye lift, two face lifts, and "enough Botox to detonate Iran." Nevins wears leg warmers all year round.

 "I followed the recipe of my time. The recipe of my time was to use what you were given to get what you want. I didn't sleep with a million bosses. Anyway, they're all dead. But I would say that I did not turn away advances. I really never turned someone down. I would say 'Oh, please don't.' I did the little baby thing or 'I'm going to tell your wife.' I followed the rules of the day. The rules of the day were to accept it, to comply with it and to be a little girl. I think I perfected the little girl voice. Instead of saying I'm a woman and get your hands off, I perfected that little girl voice."

How did you move on with your life after you left your job?

"The exit was extremely painful. The weaning off the job was torture. It was torture. But once I walked out the door, the air was clear. I think that I actually should not have died at my desk. I did think I would. I did think that was the place to die. And I'm not dying so fast. But I would say that I've accepted the fact that I'm a temporary resident. I'm on loan from eternity." 

Hear more from Sheila Nevins on how she thrived in a male environment before the #MeToo era. 

Carole Zimmer is the host of the award-winning podcast "Now What?" Curated conversations with people you want to know. (Subscribe for free here.) She's a journalist with more than 30 years of experience working in radio, television and digital media including Bloomberg News, NPR and NBC. Her work has also appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York Magazine, and other publications. She has received numerous awards including an Edward M. Murrow award for her radio documentary, "Stalking a Silent Killer." You can find more of her work at carolezimmer.com.

• There's a wide variety of business podcasts out there, making it hard to figure out which ones are worth a listen.
• Business Insider asked professors, successful MBA grads, CEOs, and other thought leaders what their favorite podcasts are, and compiled a list of 24 picks.
• From hard-hitting interviews to thought experiments, here's what top leaders are listening to regularly. 
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

While many people have opinions about the best business podcasts to listen to, Business Insider searched far and wide to assemble a group of select industry thought leaders — CEOs, business school professors, authors, notable career experts, exceptionally successful MBA grads, and other movers and shakers — to chime in with their favorites. 

These individuals argue that these 24 podcast picks are almost as instructive as getting an MBA degree. So if you're looking for a quick and free education that doesn't require going back to school for two full years, you'll want to add these to your playlist.

1. HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

Thibaud Clément is the CEO and cofounder of Loomly, a brand success platform with more than 130,000 users that raised a seed round of more than $3 million and experienced around 600% revenue growth in 2018.

Clément, who has an MBA from the University of Ottawa, stated that as the CEO of a fast-growing startup, he finds HBR IdeaCast to be "a reliable business resource that comes with the quality stamp of [HBR], meaning high editorial standards, sharp guests, and a well-rounded show."

He said that the popular podcast helps him reflect on different aspects of his role, with "practical insights and advice" that he can actually leverage on the job. 

"In one episode, you learn about how to better manage personal challenges such as how to thrive as a working parent or how to be less distracted at work," explained Clément. "In another episode, you may be provided with insights on how to grow as a professional, like how to find and keep your company's soul or what great coaching looks like. Yet in another episode, you will be led to think about the societal impact of business on society and vice versa, including what dematerialization impacts the economy or how African-Americans [advance] at work."

He added that he frequently finds himself recommending it to other professionals. "[T]here is always — at least — one of their 700+ episodes that comes to mind when discussing a specific topic," Clément said. "You simply cannot go wrong with this podcast."

2. Behind The Numbersby eMarketer

Clément said that this podcast is "one of the best podcasts for all things digital," noting that it's "particularly helpful to understand how digital media and marketing are evolving today — and what this means for the business world tomorrow." 

The eMarketer podcast also offers flexible options to tune in: "[T]he show is available in a daily format (offering deep dives on specific topics) or in a weekly roundup (gathering key industry insights), so that you can easily fit it in your agenda," said Clément.

3. Safe For Work by Wondery

Lauren Miller, leadership coach for MBA students at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business and adjunct faculty at the Integrated Innovation Institute, stated that workplace-oriented podcast options "tend to be overwhelmingly saturated in technology and entrepreneurship topics, and are often based on either pop trends or very specific research in management science." 

But she identified Safe For Work as one of the few podcasts that she "listen[s] to, scribble[s] notes about, and re-listen[s] to whenever [she] feel[s] a little unfocused."  

"Liz Dolan, former CMO at Nike, leads this podcast about real-life workplace issues such as navigating networking events for introverts, resume solutions for gaps in employment, how to create better work meetings, and bouncing back from a work failure," Miller explained. "[It's] very conversational in nature and an easy listen. They take a cheeky approach and aren't afraid to 'call a spade a spade' when it comes to workplace frustrations." 

She added that since the Safe For Work podcasts are about 20 to 25 minutes in length, they're "perfect for a morning commute." 

4. Coaching For Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

"Dave Stachowiak is a master at interviewing business leaders and getting to their kernels of truth," said Miller. She said that episodes such as "The Way to Get Alignment With Your Boss," "Performance Measurement That Gets Results," and "How to Make Your Work More Visible" are some of her favorites.

Miller advised that since these interview-style podcasts "are richer and a bit denser," you should make sure you carve a good block of "focus time" — 30 to 40 minutes — to tune in to them. 

5. The Unmistakable Creative by Srini Rao 

"Srini Rao [founder of Unmistakable Creative] has raw, intense, and personal conversations with business and creative leaders in a wide variety of positions and industries," said Miller. "The focus of this podcast is looking within to push ourselves to achieve more meaningful success." 

Miller points to "How to Go From Idea to Done," "Why a Tolerance for Discomfort Is Essential to Peak Performance," and "The Psychology of Visionaries" as favorite episodes.   

6. The Tim Ferriss Showby Tim Ferriss

Jan-Christopher Nugent, CEO and cofounder of ecommerce solution provider Branded Online, which offers ecommerce solutions that have helped companies achieve 100% growth, said that "[p]odcasts are a great way to get a wealth of content in an easy to consume format. And the willingness of people who are the top of their game to give a roadmap as to how they got there, truly can't be found anywhere else."

For Nugent, "a podcast has to be not only insightful but also entertaining." 

In describing why The Tim Ferris Show fits this bill, Nugent said that "sometimes the best new idea comes from someone outside of your field. [Ferris'] guests include CEOs, athletes, and entertainers, and [he] not only gives business acumens but also daily routines, books, and other habits that contributed to their success."

7. Perpetual Traffic by DigitalMarketer

Nugent also gave a plug for Perpetual Traffic as another podcast that he listens to regularly.

"The hosts are enthusiastic, and I can compare what they are seeing in the broader marketplace … against what my company's clients are experiencing to create actionable tactics," he said.

8. How I Built This with Guy Raz by NPR

Debika Sihi, associate professor of economics and business at Southwestern University, recommends this podcast by NPR "to almost everyone pursuing a degree in business or just interested in business."

"This phenomenal podcast navigates the journeys of different entrepreneurs that have built some of the world's most well-known brands or innovations," she said. "This podcast is wonderful because rather than focus only on the outcomes or drivers of a successful venture, it focuses on the entire process, including how individuals learn from early challenges." 

She added that as you listen to different episodes, "common themes" emerge about ideation and product or service development. "These themes offer cautionary lessons listeners can consider, or at least be aware of, in their own business careers," said Sihi. 

Sarah Welch — the chief marketing officer at CarGurus, an automotive research and shopping website that, based on monthly unique visitors, has become the largest online automotive marketplace in the US in just over a decade — seconded Sihi's recommendation of How I Built This for its "[a]mazing entrepreneurial journeys with incredible lessons learned that could be applied to any business."

9. Hidden Brain by NPR

Welch — who earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2002 — caveated that while NPR's Hidden Brain is not technically a business podcast, it's highly relevant to business as host Shankar Vedantam "uses science and storytelling to reveal fascinating and unconscious patterns that drive human behavior." 

She added that as a marketer and a leader she finds "a lot of the insights highly relevant in thinking about how to effectively influence people, as well as how to control for unconscious biases of [her] own that might lead to sub-optional decisions."

10. upside by upside

This podcast is dedicated to highlighting interesting startups outside of Silicon Valley, and one of Welch's top recommendations. 

"As a leader of several Boston-based companies that people always assumed must have been Bay Area (TripAdvisor, CarGurus), this one really speaks to me," explained Welch.

11. WorkLife with Adam Grant by TED

In this TED original podcast, organizational psychologist Adam Grant "explore[s] the science of making work not suck," according to the podcast's website. Grant is a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of many bestselling business books including "Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World" and "Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success."

Adam Medros is the president and COO of online learning platform edX, which was founded by Harvard and MIT and, according to the company's website, is home to more than 23 million learners. Medros, who earned his MBA from Harvard Business School, explained that WorkLife is on his "always listen list" because it always makes him think about organizational challenges and opportunities from a different perspective. WorkLife was among Apple Podcasts' most downloaded new shows of 2018, and spent two weeks in the number-one spot on the entire podcast chart.

12. Exponentby Ben Thompson and James Allwortha 

Exponent is about tech and society. The podcast offers "tech strategy that goes with Ben's awesome [blog] Stratechery," explained Medros.

13. Build by Maggie Crowley 

Build's host Maggie Crowley is a former Olympian turned Harvard MBA student turned director of product management.

"[Crowley] at Drift is doing a great job talking about product management and building great products," said Medros of this podcast.

14. The Knowledge Project by Farnam Street

Jarie Bolander is the founder and COO of healthcare systems company Lab Sensor Solutions, Inc., which has been part of two accelerator 500 startups and has raised $1.1 million to date.

Bolander, who has an MBA from the University of Phoenix, describes The Knowledge Project, hosted by Shane Parrish, as "a masters class in mental models and optimum performance." 

The podcast has had more than 10 million downloads and features interviews with a wide range of business thought leaders, from Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman to Stanford University's Greg Walton. "The topics are wide ranging and foster the most important thing missing from MBA school — internal mindset," said Bolander.

15. My First Million by The Hustle and Shaan Puri

Bolander also likes My First Million, which he explained as "[i]nsightful interviews with founders who went from zero to hero, or rather $0 to $1 million," noting that the conversations presented by The Hustle and Shaan Puri are "engaging and personal with a lot of nuggets of wisdom." 

16. Trill MBA Show by Felicia Ann Rose Enuha

Marin Heiskell, a manager at Deloitte Consulting and industry leader in Deloitte's Diversity and Inclusion Practice, as well as a 2010 graduate of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, recommends Trill MBA Show as the "top podcast for MBAs — especially MBAs of color." 

Hosted by Felicia Ann Rose Enuha, who has an MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business (and dubs herself "The Trillest MBA You Will Ever Know" on the podcast's website), The Trill MBA Show "is one of the realest career advice podcasts out there, as it provides candid advice and experiences for MBAs on preparing to succeed in corporate America," according to Heiskell.

"Felicia has guests from various industries share their lessons learned — including lessons from failed attempts at following the cookie-cutter advice given in business school or in business books like 'find a sponsor!,' 'gain an advocate!,' and 'lean in!'," she said.

She added that what makes this podcast "real" is that it offers a "safe space to talk about what advice has worked and what hasn't — and why."  

"It is clear that Felicia's goal is to create Trill MBA graduates: educated people of color equipped with advice from those who look like them who didn't get it right all the time," shared Heiskell.

17. TED Podcasts by TED 

Todd Markson, the chief strategy officer at education and technology company Cengage— the largest US-based provider of teaching and learning materials for higher education — graduated from the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business in 2004 and worked as a principal at Boston Consulting Group and a partner at Wolverine Ventures before joining Cengage. 

"One of the key components to being a master of business is to always challenge yourself to explore and embrace new ideas," said Markson. "This is what I love about the TED Podcasts. You are constantly exposed to some of the world's greatest thinkers — coming from every industry, on every topic." 

He added that it "challenges you to question what you know, and think about things in a new way. I've found this to be more important than any lesson learned in a classroom, is to listen and learn from others. You'd be surprised what you can apply to your life and business." 

18. Freakonomics Radio by Stitcher

"Freakonomics is a great listen for any individual in business or with strategy ambitions," said Markson. "It's a good reminder of the wild and often unthinkable connections there can be between seemingly unrelated things. It challenges our conventions on a wide span of topics, and does so in a fun, compelling, and impactful way."

He added that it's forced him to "push to always explore things beyond face value and look for new ways to approach things and new ways to solve old problems." 

19. The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast by Darren Joe

William Taylor is a career development manager at MintResume, which offers resume templates and other career resources for job search candidates and employers.

With over 12 years of experience in career advising, coaching, and recruitment, Taylor "strongly recommend[s]" The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast.

"[F]ormer MBA admissions director Darren Joe gives MBA applicants the inside scoop on how to craft a successful application for top-ranked schools," said Taylor. "He interviews admissions directors and students from around the world who offer their opinions and advice on how to get accepted to programs like Wharton, MIT Sloan, INSEAD, London Business School, and more."

20. Cold Call by Harvard Business School

Pratibha Vuppuluri is the chief blogger at She Started It!, an online resource guide for working moms, and has more than a decade of experience in the financial services industry — including as a consultant at UBS and an assistant vice president at Deutsche Bank. She was also part of a team selected to represent Columbia University in the Global Social Venture Competition from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business — before she launched her own venture.

Cold Call, Vuppuluri said, "gives you a taste of what it's like to study at Harvard's legendary MBA program. In every episode, a [HBS] faculty member discusses a case study that they've written and taught. They also provide insights into the program." 

21. Planet Money by NPR

When Lauren Beitelspacher — the division co-chair and associate professor of marketing at Babson College — teaches graduate classes, in addition to using How I Built This to help students "realize that the founders can't do it alone and have to surround themselves with trusted people who have complementary skill sets," she also likes to use NPR's Planet Money.

"Planet Money is great because it gives relevant examples of economic concepts," explained Beitelspacher. "My favorite episode is 'The Starbury.' In this episode, Stephon Marbury tries to create a shoe to compete with the Air Jordan on affordability, and it just couldn't sell in the United States. This creates great conversations around marketing, branding, and distribution."

22. Reply All by Gimlet Media

Beitelspacher less frequently also recommends Reply All to students.

"It focuses on how the Internet has changed the way we communicate and shop," said Beitelspacher. "It's fascinating for discussions around go-to-market strategies and word of mouth."

23. Masters in Business by Bloomberg

Roland Polzin is the chief marketing officer at Wing, a startup launched in 2016 that offers a 24/7 mobile virtual assistant app powered by a hybrid of human and artificial intelligence. 

In addition to his C-level position, Polzin is also in his last year at the full-time MBA program at UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, specializing in business strategy. "Although there is no perfect substitute for the overall MBA experience, I listen to Masters in Business," said Polzin. "It's an excellent addition to MBA classwork and gives me insights to many topics from different angles. They present current and highly relevant information to me as an entrepreneur and allow me to expand on my personal experience beyond my immediate network and environment." 

24. The #AskGaryVee Show Podcast by Gary Vaynerchuk

Matt Erickson is the marketing director at National Positions, a Los Angeles-based digital marketing agency that has served thousands of clients across multiple industries, media channels, and target markets.

Erickson, who has an MBA from California State University at Sacramento, said the #AskGaryVee Show is a favorite of his.

"Gary is one of the few who is not afraid to speak his truth, break down problems to the core, and go beyond the spreadsheets."

Erickson also appreciates that the podcast helps listeners gain a "deep-seated sense of thinking on your feet and about practical solutions to business problems."

"Most of Gary's content includes discussions with other business entrepreneurs — the information being offered is much more real-time than what you get from most textbooks," Erickson concluded.

SEE ALSO: An MBA admissions expert who's helped students get into Stanford, Wharton, and London Business School explains exactly how to nail the personal essay

READ MORE: Required reading: These are the books top professors at the best business schools in the country are having their MBA students read

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We did a blind taste-test of KFC and Popeyes fried chicken — here's the verdict

• Dora Puig is the top real-estate broker in the Miami area by sales volume, according to REAL Trends, a residential brokerage industry publication. 
• She sold more than $189.4 million worth of homes in 2018.
• Puig, who founded Luxe Living Realty, usually wakes up at 7 a.m., eats breakfast at her home on the Venetian Islands, and drives 10 minutes to her office in Miami Beach for a team meeting before a day of open houses and other events.
• Some days, she'll take the ferry straight to Fisher Island, the richest ZIP code in the US, where residents have an average income of $2.2 million and where Puig sells multimillion-dollar condos.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Dora Puig is the top real-estate broker in the Miami area by sales volume, according to REAL Trends, a residential brokerage industry publication. 

Puig sold more than $189.4 million worth of homes in 2018. Her listings include multimillion-dollar condos on Fisher Island, the richest ZIP code in the US, where the average income is $2.2 million and the median home value is about $3.2 million.

Puig, who started out as a real-estate associate in Beverly Hills in 1989 and now runs Luxe Living Realty, wakes up at 7:00 a.m. and starts her day either at her office on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, or on Fisher Island.

Here's a look at Puig's typical day, as described to Business Insider, selling multimillion-dollar homes in Miami. 

SEE ALSO: I got access to the richest zip code in the US, an island off Miami where the average income is $2.2 million, the beaches have sand imported from the Bahamas, and the preferred mode of transportation is golf carts. Here's what it looks like.

DON'T MISS: A day in the life of the top real-estate broker in the US, who sold $2.2 billion worth of homes in 2018, wakes up at 5 a.m. every morning, and works out with a personal trainer 3 times a week

Dora Puig is the top real-estate broker in the Miami area by sales volume. She's the founder and principal broker of Luxe Living Realty.

She sold more than $189.4 million worth of homes in 2018, according to REAL Trends, a residential brokerage industry publication. 

Puig lives on the Venetian Islands, a chain of artificial islands in Miami and Miami beach where many luxury homes can be found.

The median home sale price on the Venetian Islands is $3.01 million, according to Redfin.

Puig wakes up at 7 a.m. and starts her day by eating breakfast at home.

She has coffee, a plain omelet with avocado, and fruit almost every morning.

Some days, Puig will go directly from her house to Fisher Island, the richest ZIP code in the US, where she serves as the sales and marketing director for Palazzo Del Sol and Palazzo Della Luna, two of the newest condo developments on the island.

"Known for its privacy, safety, security and exclusivity, there are no roads that go to Fisher Island," Puig said. "You have to take the automobile ferry or your personal yacht."

To get to Fisher Island from Puig's house, it's about a 10-minute drive to the ferry terminal and then another 10 minutes to get across the Government Cut channel to her office on the island.

On other days, Puig drives the 10 minutes to her office on Miami Beach's famed Lincoln Road, a pedestrian mall full of shops, restaurants, and businesses. She typically gets to the office by 9:15 a.m.

Puig likes to be the first to arrive every morning to her Luxe Living Realty office so she can prepare for the bi-weekly brokerage meeting with all of her agents.

"I love using my expansive video wall to debut listings for the team, have development project representatives present for us, and to lead team trainings in everything from branding and social media to wellness and healthy living," Puig said.

She has a second property lounge in South Beach's South of Fifth neighborhood. 

At 10:30 a.m., brunch is served in the office for the team meeting.

"I like to cater my meetings and open houses with the delicious and healthy food from our favorite family-owned neighborhood spot, Pura Vida," Puig said. "We even have our own 'Luxe Juice' green juice, packed with antioxidants to keep us revitalized during long days of showing gorgeous properties and meeting with clients."

At 11:30 a.m., Puig heads to Palm Island in Miami Beach for an open house at one of her listings, a seven-bedroom waterfront home that's asking $12.95 million.

The nearly 7,000-square-foot home includes tropical gardens and 100 feet of waterfront.

Puig says she has the highest open house turnouts of any broker in the city.

Puig said she "loves connecting with the best agents in the city" during her open houses.

"I set the tone by setting it up as a full-blown event that requires planning, signage, catering, and promotional marketing to drive dozens of brokers and potential buyers to the property," she said.

After stopping at home to quickly change clothes, Puig hops on the ferry to Fisher Island.

She has an afternoon of promoting her biggest listings: Palazzo Della Luna and Palazzo Del Sol.

It's about a seven-and-a-half minute ferry ride across Government Cut, where Biscayne Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.

 It's "just enough time to do my makeup and take a call from a high-profile client before arriving in paradise," Puig said.

Now that she's camera-ready, Puig meets the crew of a new television show called "The 10 Percent, Miami Mansion Edition."

She gives them a tour of one of the Palazzo Del Sol residences, a $15.9 million condo that's the only Bottega Veneta-designed residence in the US.

The 5,000-square-foot residence comes with a wraparound terrace as well as access to the building's amenities, which includes a butler-staffed aperitivo bar and waterfront lounge, a private movie theater, massage rooms, hair and makeup salon, and a pool terrace with towel and refreshment service.

At 2:45 p.m., Puig meets with a dozen international students from Italy, Russia, and Turkey who are part of the Real Estate Masters program at Florida International University and touring Fisher Island as part of their course curriculum.

"As their 'luxury industry visit,' I'm more than happy to guest lecture them on the state of the luxury market in Miami and abroad and give them tips to achieving their own success in luxury real estate when they return home," Puig said.

She gives an overview of Fisher Island and then shows the students Palazzo Della Luna, the newest condo building on the island, which includes 50 waterfront residences.

She sends the students on their way back to campus with Palazzo Della Luna gift bags.

At about 6 p.m., after another wardrobe change and a 30-minute car ride during which she worked on a $14 million deal, Puig arrives at the oceanfront estate of one of Palm Beach's wealthiest families for a private cocktail reception and event she co-sponsored.

"Of course I had to raise a glass first to the day's success," she said. "It's all in a day's work!"

Puig works late — until 7 or 8 p.m. — and sometimes she'll go out for dinner with clients at trendy restaurants in South Beach such as Estiatorio Milos or Le Sirenuse At The Surf Club.

Puig told Business Insider fish and sushi are some of her favorite dishes. 

But most nights, Puig comes home after work to relax in her poolside Balinese gazebo. Sometimes, she meditates there and watches the sun go down over downtown Miami.

She usually eats dinner at home with her husband and then sends some emails until bedtime, which tends to be somewhere between 10 p.m. and midnight. 

• McAfee, a cybersecurity firm, has released its annual list of the "most dangerous celebrities," which ranks which celebrities produce online search results most likely to lead to malware and viruses.
• The No. 1 spot for 2019 belongs to actress Alexis Bledel, the star of "Gilmore Girls" and Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale."
• These are 2019's 10 most dangerous celebrities in the US who generate the riskiest search results.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nearly two decades have passed since the infamous Anna Kournikova virus swept the internet, but the names of celebrities are still being used to trick internet users into giving away their information.

Cybersecurity firm McAfee recently released its annual list of most dangerous celebrities, based on online searches for actresses, singers, and other high-profile people whose names yield results leading users to viruses, malware, and websites that can access your personal information and data.

"[Consumers] are interacting with content across multiple devices and conducting potentially dangerous searches across the internet to find the latest information or gossip without fear of consequence," McAfee wrote about its study. "For cybercriminals, this creates a field day to lure unsuspecting consumers to malicious websites that may install malware or steal personal information and passwords."

To create its list, McAfee compiled terms associated with these celebrities that often produce malicious results, such as internet searches for nude pictures, illegal video streaming, and other pirated downloads. URLs and websites that appeared in search results were ranked on how risky they are as well. Additionally, the sheer popularity of these celebrities — and thus, how often people looked them up — was also taken into consideration.

These are the 10 most dangerous celebrities in the US in 2019, according to McAfee:

SEE ALSO: Jennifer Aniston's record-breaking debut on Instagram highlights 'The Aniston Effect' as her 'Friends' costars each gain over 1 million followers

10. Tessa Thompson

Actress Tessa Thompson has been a popular search term this year thanks to leading roles in "Men in Black: International" and "Avengers: Endgame."

9. Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj caused many of her fans to panic in September after tweeting that she was retiring from music— although she has since clarified she's already recorded music, and is working on her fifth album.

Minaj also recently revealed on Instagram that she married her boyfriend of one year, Kenneth "Zoo" Petty.

8. Lil Wayne

Rapper Lil Wayne hasn't necessarily done anything headline-worthy in 2019, so it's interesting that he made this year's list of most dangerous celebrities.

McAfee told Business Insider that Lil Wayne's position on its list can be attributed to the rapper's summer tour with rock band Blink-182, as well as "fans continuing to search for illegal downloads, performances, interviews and older music well into 2019."

7. Jackie Chan

Rumors circulated earlier this year that martial artist Jackie Chan would make appearances in sequels for both "Rush Hour" and "The Karate Kid."

However, Chan's representatives shot down that speculation in April, and said that someone was falsely using the identity of a "motion picture industry professional to release false information concerning the hiring of the crew, casting, audition and other matters in connection with the pictures 'Rush Hour 4' and 'The Karate Kid 2.'"

6. Jimmy Fallon

Late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallow regularly features a rotation of high-profile A-listers participating in funny skits and games. It's resulted in many clips from "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" to go viral, and likely attracted many users distracted by the allure of star-studded videos to see whether they were clicking on something malicious or dangerous.

5. Lupita Nyong'o

Actress Lupita Nyong'o was the star of the horror film "Us," which was released this year to secede Jordan Peele's breakout directorial debut from 2017, "Get Out."

Nyong'o also recently released a children's picture book, "Sulwe," which Nyong'o has said is meant for girls of color to "see more dark skin in a beautiful light."

4. Anna Kendrick

It's been more than 10 years since Anna Kendrick stole the show as a minor character named Jessica Stanley in the "Twilight" movie, and she's since had iconic roles in "Pitch Perfect," "Up in the Air," and "A Simple Favor."

Although she's stayed relatively quiet acting-wise in 2019, Kendrick is known for being hilarious on social media, and has started pursuing roles as an executive producer.

3. Sophie Turner

Turner became a household name through her regular role on "Game of Thrones," which came to an end this year. Turner has remained a public figure, however, thanks to her marriage to Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers and regularly memorableInstagram Stories.

2. James Corden

Like Fallon, James Corden hosts a talk show where he regularly chats with celebrities and high-profile personalities, and maintains a wildly popular segment called "Carpool Karaoke."

This year, Corden also hosted the Tony Awards and will star in the upcoming "Cats" movie.

1. Alexis Bledel

Alexis Bledel's career started out with roles as a young, small-town girl in "Gilmore Girls" and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." She emerged again with her role on Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale," which came to an end this year, but it's not entirely clear why Bledel tops McAfee's list.

McAfee didn't have a cut-and-dry reason behind it either, but attributed her No. 1 spot to an influx of users searching online for illegal streams of "The Handmaid's Tale."

• Nearly half of Americans who have paid back a loan or debt have done so by following a payment plan, according to a new survey from Insider and Morning Consult.
• About 20% received financial help and 13% had their loans forgiven, while others declared bankruptcy or received a financial windfall.
• The survey is part of Insider's new series, "The State of Our Money," which looks at financial health among Americans.
• Read more personal finance coverage.

Paying off debt seems intimidating, but it can be done.

A new survey from Insider and Morning Consult polled 2,096 Americans about their financial health, debt, and earnings for a new series, "The State of Our Money." Of those surveyed, 1,613 have paid back a loan or debt before. Here's how they did it (note that respondents could select more than one option):

• 49.5% followed a payment plan
• 20.6% received financial help from friends and/or family
• 13% had loans forgiven by a creditor
• 11.5% declared bankruptcy
• 11.5% received a financial windfall, including inheritance, winning the lottery, and returns on investments

The results show the importance of taking charge when it comes to paying off debt. Nearly half of respondents took action and followed through with a strategy or payment plan, while the other half were able to repay their debt due to events one can't particularly count on happening.

How to pay off debt when it feels like you can't

To pay off debt fast, you should first list all sources of debt — such as credit-card debt, student loans, and a personal loan — along with the outstanding balance, interest rate, minimum payment, and payment due date, wrote Business Insider's Tanza Loudenback.

Call your bank and ask for a lower interest rate. If you have credit-card debt, consider consolidating all your balances onto one card with a 0% introductory APR and paying off the balance within the promotional period. Then follow the debt avalanche method: Paying off the most expensive debt first (the one with the highest interest rate) so you can save money on interest.

If you don't follow through with a payment plan and aren't fortunate to receive a financial windfall, financial help, or have your loans forgiven, you may end up joining the 11% of respondents who declared bankruptcy.

While bankruptcy can "be a powerful and affordable way of eliminating debt," attorney Simon Goldenberg of The Law Office of Simon Goldenberg, PLLC, previously told Business Insider, it's not as simple as it seems.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy — liquidation bankruptcy for people with limited incomes, that aims to discharge all debt — involves more risk, attorney William Waldner of Midtown Bankruptcy previously told Business Insider. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is less risky but more involved — it involves a restructuring of debt, in which the debtor makes payments for three to five years, with the goal of getting the debt discharged at the end.

So bankruptcy may not wipe out the debt the way you think it will.

SEE ALSO: Credit-card debt is surprisingly common among millennials, but many of them aren't worried about paying it off

DON'T MISS: Millennials are buckling under all kinds of debt, and they're freaking out

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• On a recent trip to Mexico City, I went to a Lucha Libre match at Arena México.
• It was an incredible spectacle that blew away my already high expectations.
• It doesn't matter if you're into wrestling or not — I'm not! Lucha Libre is for everyone.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A few weeks ago, as I bought tickets for a Lucha Libre show in Mexico City on Ticketmaster, I didn't know what to expect.

Something regarding masked wrestlers? And there was that Jack Black movie I didn't see? That's about it.

What I experienced was eye-opening: an hours-long comedy show with over a dozen different actors performing marvelous feats of acrobatics. Lucha Libre appeals to all ages, despite offering attendees a waterfall of booze, and all walks of life — ticket costs are low, and don't go very high. Whether you're a wrestling fan or not, it was an experience that I would unequivocally suggest to anyone lucky enough to visit Mexico City.

Here's what it was like attending a CMLL Lucha Libre match in Mexico City on an average Tuesday night.

Lucha matches at Arena México were running several times weekly when I bought tickets. We arrived in Mexico City on a Sunday, and I got tickets for Tuesday night.

Lucha Libre literally means "free fight," but is often translated as "freestyle fighting." The phrase specifically corresponds to the decades-long tradition in Mexico of masked, Greco-Roman-style wrestling. 

You can buy tickets ahead of time, on Ticketmaster, or you can just walk up to the ticket booth on the night of the show.

If you don't speak any Spanish, and/or you want to guarantee a seat for a particular night, your best option for getting Lucha Libre tickets is Ticketmaster. I easily bought tickets with my credit card and picked them up at the box office on the night of the show. 

Notably, there isn't just one Lucha Libre league (or "promotion," in the parlance of wrestling). 

The one I went to see — CMLL, or Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (World Wrestling Council) — is the most popular. I asked friends who are into wrestling, and they all suggested seeing CMLL. So I did!

Before and after the event, street vendors sell all types of snacks. Lucha masks are also for sale, which you can wear during the show.

After a short trip through security, we were inside — greeted by a massive mural of luchadors, a gift shop, and a Michelada stand.

Here's a closer look at that mural:

A plaque commemorates the founder of the CMLL, Don Salvador Lutteroth Gonzalez, and the 80-plus-year legacy of Mexican wrestling he left behind.

The wrestling promotion, originally known as Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling Enterprise), was started in 1933. The name was changed in the early '90s for a variety of reasons, but the company has remained dedicated to the sophisticated absurdity that is Lucha Libre.

The show kicked off with a dance troop at 7:30 p.m. sharp — the Lucha Libre equivalent of cheerleaders.

The dancers set a foundation for the night's theme: "What is this?" After a few moments of dancing, the troop faded into the presentation of over a dozen different luchadors.

After a brief introduction, the first luchadors entered the ring. But even their entrances were no casual affair.

The immediate takeaway from Lucha Libre was the ridiculous acrobatics used for ring entrances. Several fighters ran through the dancers, leapt over the side of the ring head first, and rolled on the ground into a standing position. Tag team partners assisted each other in dramatic entrances. Trios entered together, each affecting their own ridiculous stance mid-air.

And every fighter, without fail, presented themselves to the crowd for cheers — or boos, in the case of the "heels" (bad guys).

After a few more fighters entered the ring, the "fights" began.

Wrestling is, of course, not much of a "fight." There are good guys and bad guys, and dramatic character arcs along the way, but the "fight" part of the match isn't much of a fight. It's a kind of physical play with overwrought characters and a sports-like structure.

It's something we all know, but TV has a magical way of masking a lot of the fake hits and carefully-landed acrobatics made to look painful. It's less like a play and, through the magic of television, slightly more believable.

Seeing it up close, in person, makes it much more like a theater production. All those intentionally missed punches look much less real in person. But none of that matters: The audience and the actors are all in on the ruse together, and everyone involved has to buy in for it to work.

It's this aspect of Lucha Libre I found particularly endearing: The audience was there to have a good time, and the fighters were focused on delivering. There is no ego whatsoever, and if one is present it's being used as a joke. The event and its attendees have a shared sense of humor that's irresistibly charming. You can't help but join in — I certainly couldn't.

The booze certainly didn't hurt: During the match, concessions vendors offer beer, soda, and snacks delivered right to your seat.

It is extremely easy to enjoy yourself at the Lucha Libre match. You sit back, and vendors offering any number of different things — from beer to spice-covered peanuts to ceviche — stop by, ready to take your order.

If you'd like, you can venture out to the concessions stands, but there's no reason to bother. 

Want a torta (sandwich)? They're available, and perhaps you'd like some chips with that? Or fresh palomitas (popcorn)? No problem. How about a fully loaded Michelada, which includes two full beers poured into a massive cup, plus various spices, lime juice, and a tamarind-encrusted straw to drink it through? And would you like chamoy on that? (Yes, you would.)

After my first Michelada "con todo" (with everything), I settled on a giant beer instead.

There's a clown-like silliness to the characters that matches so well with the action, which is all paired with incredibly impressive acrobatics and slapstick physical comedy.

Whether luchadors are literally slapping each other on the chest, or poking each other in the eyes, or acting cartoonishly shell-shocked from a hit, there's a level of silly slapstick to the event that reassures everyone of its unseriousness.

This was one of many different instances where one man used another man's neck as a pivot for being thrown.

To call wrestling "fake" is to dramatically undersell what's actually being performed.

That the wrestlers aren't actually beating each other up has nothing to do with the fact that they're impressively throwing each other around without killing someone.

With all the dangerous leaps and swings and falls, all while essentially performing physical comedy, it must be tremendously insulting to hear what you're doing is "fake." I was blown away by their physical ability alone, and my sides hurt from laughing so much at the ridiculous antics happening in the ring.

A variety of tag teams opened the show, but the main event of the night featured a one-on-one match between Caristico and Forastero.

It was a battle filled with dramatic moments, and one of the fighters even had his mask partially ripped off — the ultimate offense. As you can see above, the fight ended up with both fighters outside of the ring entirely. 

Things weren't looking so good for the hero.

As is so often the case in theater, the dramatic arc of the final match pitted the good guy (Caristico) against the bad guy / "heel" (Forastero) — and the bad guy spent most of the match winning.

Whether he was literally leaping headfirst out of the ring at his opponent, or ripping his mask off, Forastero was the clear favorite to win for much of the round. What would happen?!

Wouldn't you know it, out of nowhere, Caristico pulled himself together and took out the bad guy. He kept his mask mostly intact, and lived to fight another day.

Lucha Libre is some of the most professional silliness I've ever seen, and that's directly up my alley. It knows how ridiculous it is, embraces that, and goes all in. It flatters its audience by giving it enough credit to know the fight isn't "real" — and that's not the point.

Lucha Libre is far from Broadway theater, nor does it aim to be that. It is, however, far more gripping and enjoyable than most theater productions I've seen.

The sense of a shared irreverence among the audience and the production is charming in a way that's impossible to convey — you must go and feel it for yourself.

Get a closer look at what I'm talking about by watching some of the very match I attended right here:

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• Christophe Georges, the CEO of Bentley's Americas division, told Business Insider that exercise is an important part of his morning routine.
• Georges frequently travels between North America and Europe, which makes that routine difficult to follow sometimes, but when he's not traveling, he makes a point of using an exercise bike for 45 minutes in the morning.
• Georges said his exercise routine energizes him and counters the exhaustion he feels from international travel.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Christophe Georges, the CEO of Bentley Motors Inc. — Bentley's Americas division — frequently travels between North America and Europe, which can leave him jet lagged.

So on days when he's not traveling, Georges makes it a priority to exercise in the morning. 

"My routine, when I am at the office — when I travel, it's not always easy — is every morning, I go to the gym, and I bike for 45 minutes," Georges said in an interview with Business Insider.

Georges said his exercise routine energizes him and counters the exhaustion he feels from international travel.

The benefits of Georges' morning routine are backed by science, as participants in multiple studies have displayed mental and physiological benefits after exercising in the morning. A 2019 study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that working out in the morning improved the ability of its participants to focus and make good decisions. And a 2019 study from the International Journal of Obesity found that participants who exercised in the morning tended to lose more weight than those who exercised in the afternoon. (A story from The New York Times emphasized that the study examined in the journal article was not designed to test the effects of exercise timing, and one of the study's authors told the publication that exercising at any point in the day has benefits.)

• Read more:
• I flew home from Sydney, Australia, to New York with a stop in LA. It made me miss the 20-hour nonstop flight I took on my way there.
• I biked to work every day while living in Berlin and I was shocked by how much easier it was than in New York
• Elon Musk said Tesla only makes the Model S and Model X for 'sentimental' reasons. Here's why I'll miss them if they go away.
• I rode in one of Zoox's self-driving cars in San Francisco — and it was more comfortable than the Uber and Lyft I took to and from the airport

SEE ALSO: This tough-as-nails $125,000 fully electric SUV will be able to go where the Tesla Model X can't

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is known for keeping his private life largely under wraps.
• He gave us a glimpse into it on Sunday, however, by posting a video of his son playing piano at a seniors home in Pasadena.
• You can watch a video of the younger Musk playing below.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tesla and SpaceX's billionaire CEO Elon Musk gave us a glimpse into his family life on Sunday by posting a video of his son playing piano at a seniors home.

"Took my son to play piano for the seniors home in Pasadena," Musk tweeted. "It was lovely to see them smile."

Upon the request of a follower, Musk also included a 31-second clip of his son playing a classical piece on a grand piano.

Musk did not name the piece, but it appears to be "Deux Arabesques" by Claude Debussy, a French composer active around the end of the 19th century.

You can watch it here:

Musk has five sons with his first wife, Justine. It's not clear which son was playing the piano, or how old he is. Musk is famously private about his personal life.

The billionaire — currently worth $22 billion — has made his philanthropic side known in the past. In 2012, he vowed to donate the majority of his wealth during his lifetime and has made many sizable donations to causes he cares about in past.

In 2014, Musk co-founded a small school named Ad Astra — Latin for "to the stars" — in Hawthorne, California, for his children. The school's curriculum includes artificial intelligence, ethics, and building things from weather-balloons to battle-bots.

Sports and music, however, are not included.

• Read more:
• Elon Musk is worth about $22 billion and has never taken a paycheck from Tesla — here's how the notorious workaholic and father of 5 makes and spends his fortune
• Inside the turbulent personal life of Elon Musk, who called his estranged father 'a terrible human being' and who says he must be in love to be happy
• Elon Musk, who claims he's low on cash, recently sold his LA mansion for nearly $4 million — and that was just one of several properties he owns in the area. Take a look inside his real-estate portfolio.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Most maps of Louisiana aren't entirely right. Here's what the state really looks like.

• While you never want to need a first aid kit, should that need arise, you'll be glad you planned ahead and kept some high-quality medical supplies on hand.
• The First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit is our top choice because it's compact, carefully curated, and affordable, too.

First, permit me to share a few words on my relationship with the first aid kit. I keep a stocked first aid kit in both of our cars, in the home, at the ready for travel, and packed and ready to go with my hiking gear. I also have a few bandages tucked into my wallet. Now, I'm not a disaster prepper or anything like that. In fact, I'm pretty confident that society will be just fine in the long run, and I'd generally recommend people spend more time managing their retirement portfolio than stocking their fallout shelters.

I do very much like being prepared, though. It's just that my preparation is for cuts, scrapes, and burns around the home, a twisted (or broken) ankle or painful insect bite sustained out in the field, or even a car accident that requires more serious and expedient medical attention. As a frequent camper and hiker, I know that having a first aid kit is at times not simply a good idea, but an absolute necessity. When you're a three-day hike from the nearest hospital, you'd better be able to count on your own supplies in the event of injury or illness.

When I first started heading out into the woodlands and mountains, I carried a homemade first aid kit tucked into an old Altoids tin. It had all the basics, like bandages, antiseptic wipes, medical tape, anti-itch and burn relief gels, and so forth. In fact, I think I assembled a pretty solid little kit, and it served me well over the years. But there were a few problems: The ointments and gels would almost invariably dry out over time, the tape and bandages would grow brittle and lose their adhesion, and every time I used this or that component, I had to be sure to later re-stock it, and it was often hard to keep track of what I needed on an ad hoc basis. When I switched to a professionally assembled kit, I spent a few more dollars but got a lot more peace of mind.

How to choose the right first aid kit for you

A good first aid kit isn't a mobile trauma center, but it will provide the basic supplies you need to mitigate the ill effects of an accident, injury, or sudden illness. Remember, it's first aid, not final, comprehensive aid. When choosing a first aid kit, you need to think about who might depend on it (in terms of the sheer number of people and the age and disposition of the user), where it will be stored and/or carried, and in what situations the likely users might endure an injury or illness.

Any first aid kit worth considering will have the supplies needed to treat minor cuts, punctures, burns, and other such common injuries. Beyond that, the suitability of a given kit depends on a careful consideration of factors ranging from weight to packaging to redundancy of the supplies included. You know where you'll be when you might need first aid and/or who might be depending on your help.

Choose the first aid kit that best suits the people and the situations in which they'll be, and then hope you never have to use it. With those tips in mind, read on to see which of our top picks is best for your needs.

Here are the best first aid kits you can buy in 2019:

• Best first aid kit overall: First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit
• Best first aid kit for the office: Be Smart Get Prepared 250 Piece First Aid Kit
• Best first aid kit for the car: TripWorthy Travel First Aid Kit
• Best first aid kit for disaster preparedness: Lightning X Products First Responder First Aid Kit
• Best first aid kit on a budget: Coleman All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit

Updated on 10/28/2019 by Connie Chen: Updated links and prices. 

The best first aid kit overall

The First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit comes with all the basic medical supplies you need for quick diagnostics and the treatments of many maladies. 

The First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit packs 299 doctor-recommended supplies into a soft-sided case measuring just 9.25 by 7.5 inches on its sides and about three inches deep. It's only about the size of a hardcover book, but within this kit, you will find the tools needed to assess and treat everything from a scraped finger to a heavily bleeding gash, and from a mild headache to a high fever.

This First Aid Only kit comes with comprehensive wound cleaning and closure supplies, including multiple butterfly strips, gauze rolls and pads, and several types of bandages, not to mention the various alcohol, antiseptic, and antibiotic wipes and ointments. It's the perfect triage kit for all sorts of common injuries.

The kit also comes with an array of supplies invaluable to the person administering first aid, such as sterile vinyl gloves, a single-use thermometer, tweezers, and nickel-plated scissors. And for all that, this first aid kit still costs less than $20.

With nearly 2,000 ratings on Amazon, the First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit enjoys an excellent 4.7-star rating. One customer who keeps the kit at her workplace says it has made her "pretty much the go-to girl for medical needs," while another owner says it's "great for eitherthe car or to put in a backpack on hiking trips."

The reviewers with wiki.ezvid.com called this first aid kit "organized in a logical way that makes supplies easy to identify." A video reviewer on YouTube also noted how the plastic partition pockets help keep the various supplies grouped together for quick and easy access.

Pros: Compact but comprehensive, great low price, well organized

Cons: Limited shelf life, included tape is inferior

Buy the First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit on Amazon for $16.82 (originally $26.74)

The best first aid kit for the office

The Be Smart Get Prepared 250 Piece First Aid Kit is OSHA and ANSI compliant and covers the first aid needs of up to 50 people, making it perfect for the office.

The Be Smart Get Prepared Kit is a large, comprehensive first aid kit designed to meet the needs of several dozen people. It's a great choice for businesses, retail locations, schools, churches, and even for the home. What this rather bulky kit is not suitable for travel or camping.

The kit is housed in a large hard plastic case that helps keep the components organized and protected, though the case is not watertight or resistant to moisture or temperature fluctuations that can affect some of the components, so it needs to be stored in a temperate indoor environment.

The Be Smart Get Prepared 250 Piece First Aid Kit has all the wound care components you would expect, from alcohol prep pads to antiseptic towelettes to multiple bandages in varied size. What sets this kit apart from the others in terms of suitability for use in the office or at a school are the medicines it comes with. Many of these medicines are something you will have ready access to at home, but not at work, school, or on other such locations.

The kit includes two types of pain and anti-inflammatory tablets and antacids, as well as cold packs, another handy feature for use when a kitchen with ice in the freezer might not be nearby.

The Be Smart Get Prepared 250 Piece First Aid Kit has a solid 4.4-star rating on Amazon, with a customer named Jeffrey saying "it is so great to have everything in one place." An owner named Loren speaks for many when she says it's "full of stuff I hope I never have to use."

A writer with SurvivalBlog.com appreciated how the kit was "organized in compartments ... inside the sturdy plastic case," while a description from Survival Safety Supplies noted its "comprehensive selection of first aid items."

Pros: Great choice for workplace, comes with selection of medicines, hard plastic shell protects components

Cons: Case is bulky and not water resistant, latches prone to failure

Buy the Be Smart Get Prepared 250 Piece First Aid Kit on Amazon for $21.99

The best first aid kit for the car

With the TripWorthy Compact Travel First Aid Kit in your car, truck, or boat, you'll be ready to face minor medical emergencies even when you're miles from home.

While I wouldn't recommend the Trip Worthy Compact Travel First Aid Kit for the hiker or the mountaineer, it's the perfect choice for the person, family, or group of friends traveling by car, boat, or even by bike or canoe. There are plenty of completely waterproof first aid kits designed expressly for use on the water, but as they tend to be bulkier, I'm recommending this one for the boat and/or the car — just try to keep it dry.

The kit is a bit too big for a trekker's backpack, but it's the perfect size for stashing in the trunk, under the seat, or in a bicycle's panniers.

It features six different types of adhesive bandages, gauze pads, butterfly strips, wraps, and tape, so getting a wound covered up will be easy. Cleaning out minor wounds won't be an issue either, thanks to the wipes and ointments that come tucked away in this compact kit.

Now, aside from size, why do I think this is a great first aid kit for travel? Five reasons. The TripWorthy Compact Travel First Aid Kit comes with a compass, an emergency blanket, a poncho, a rescue whistle, and a glow stick, all of which can help make the difference in a survival situation you endure while far from the comforts — and the supplies — of home. That moleskin blister pad won't hurt, either.

I do wish the kit had any itch relief ointments and burn gels included, but you can always add those later.

Video reviewer Daddy-O Geek called the kit "very compact" yet said it came with "everything you need." In a write up with Gear We Are, a tester noted its great price point and its "medical grade quality components."

Pros: Comes with great survival gear, compact but comprehensive, features multiple bandage types

Cons: Packed tightly making it hard to quickly locate items

Buy the TripWorthy Travel First Aid Kit on Amazon for $11.97

The best first aid kit for disaster preparedness

If you are cut off from emergency services following a natural disaster or in times of civil unrest, you'll be glad you have the Lightning X First Responder First Aid Kit.

Whether you foresee a time when there won't be anyone on the other end of the line when you dial 9-1-1 or if you just really like to be prepared for any potential accident or illness, keeping the Lightning X First Responder First Aid Kit at home is the way to go. Yes, this kit is overkill for most households, but it's also pretty much the last kit you'd ever need to buy (not counting the items that merit periodic replacement, like alcohol wipes).

Anyone in need of first aid or preparing to administer it will appreciate the many bandages, the rolls and pads of gauze, the antiseptic wipes, the ointments, the tapes, and more. The person with some actual medical training will appreciate the stethoscope, the sphygmomanometer, the airway kit, and other more advanced medical tools. In the right hands, this kit is essentially a mobile trauma center, but in any hands, it's got all your basic and intermediate first aid needs covered.

This comprehensive first aid kit comes loaded in a lightweight, ergonomic backpack with padded straps and reflective stripes, so should you need to take it on the go, you'll be comfortable and highly visible. While it's a great choice for the well-prepared home, this kit was designed for emergency response professionals to use in the field, after all.

Amazon customers have mostly issued five-star reviews, with one owner saying the Lightning X First Responder First Aid Kit is "a perfect size and comes with a good variety of supplies," while a fellow customer calls it simple an "excellent product."

The gear review with Wiki.Ezvid.com noted the kit's "reinforced bottom for stability and water-resistance" that helps protect the supplies and called Lightning X kits ideal for "first responders dealing with an extremely wide range of emergencies."

Pros: Comprehensive supplies, features advanced medical gear, comes with backpack

Cons: Pricier than other options, many components not needed for basic first aid

Buy the Lightning X First Responder First Aid Kit on Amazon for $124.99

The best first aid kit on a budget

The Coleman All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit costs less than a fancy cup of coffee, but it can help you treat all sorts of minor scrapes, scratches, bug bites, and more.

If you need to treat a compound fracture or a sucking chest wound, you're probably going to need a more advanced medical kit than this one. But more often than not, the damage we endure is more along the lines of minor cuts and scrapes, burns and bites, and the occasional puncture wound. For those everyday injuries, the Coleman All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit is the ideal choice.

It costs so little that there's really no excuse not to buy one (unless you essentially assembled your own using a tin that once housed mints...), and given the diminutive size of this kit, you can (and should) bring one along whenever your travels might lead you away from ready access to medical treatment.

Into that charming little tin, Coleman packed several antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, sting relief wipes, and a total of sixteen bandages in five different size and shape varieties. There is also a razor blade you might use to cut away clothing or trim medical tape and gauze (not included) and a pair of safety pins that ... you probably won't use.

On the whole, people love this kit. It has a 4.5 out of five-star rating on Amazon, and most comments are along the lines of remarks left by an owner named Anna, who says it's a "perfect little kit. An owner named Ashley says the Coleman All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit is " great for your average day to day cuts, scrapes, and stings."

A video reviewer with Abel Adventures appreciated the small size and light weight of the Coleman kit, noted that it's made in the United States, and said it was certainly "worth the $6" he paid for it.

Pros: Very affordable, lightweight and compact, perfect for travel

Cons: Not at all comprehensive

Buy the Coleman All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit on Amazon for $6.99

Check out our guide to the best emergency kits you can have at the ready

• Tea leaves are far superior to tea bags, but things get messy without a proper tea infuser.
• The Finum Brewing Basket is the best tea infuser for most mugs and teapots with its roomy fine mesh basket design.

Tea is serious business and real aficionados prefer loose leaf tea over the leftover leaves most companies stuff into tea bags. However, if you want to brew tea properly, you are going to need the right equipment. In addition to getting one of the best electric kettles to bring your water to just the right temperature for the leaves you're using, you'll also want a tea infuser to separate the leaves from your brew once it's ready.

Picking the best tea infuser sounds like a simple task, but it's actually quite complicated. Tea experts will even tell you not to get an infuser and truly let your tea leaves float in the hot water to maximize their flavor. If you're going to follow that approach, you'll still need a strainer to keep the leaves out of your drink. However, you can get the flavor or uninhibited tea leaves with the best tea infusers. The more space you give your tea leaves to move around inside the infuser, the better. 

We've researched tea blogs, read expert reviews, and done our own personal testing to find the very best tea infusers you can buy. We also selected the best tea infuser travel mug and teapot to accommodate those who want to drink tea on the go or consume a whole pot's worth. Before we get into our picks, here are things to consider when choosing the best tea infuser for your needs and a few tips on how to make the most of your tea.

There are lots of different kinds of tea infusers, including brewing baskets, mesh metal balls, cute silicon infusers, as well as travel mugs and teapots with infusers built into the design. 

• Brewing baskets: Brewing flavorful, rich tea requires the perfect temperature of water, quality tea leaves, and the right amount of space. Brewing baskets are deep and spacious, so they provide ample room for the tea to float about and brew properly. The bigger the basket, the better. 
• Ball tea infusers: Mesh and metal tea balls are small, compact, and easy to use. Some have long handles and others have a ball-and-chain design. The mesh is good at keeping out fine tea particles, but tea balls are typically too small to properly infuse your tea with the full flavor of the leaves. Tea experts don't recommend ball-style infusers, but we've included our favorite long handle one. 
• Silicone tea infusers: Silicone tea infusers are similar to mesh metal balls, so the smaller ones aren't great for getting the most flavor out of your tea. Some people complain about silicone leaving a taste to the tea, but most buyers love their fun silicone tea infusers. If you're a casual tea drinker, you may like one of the cute designs by Fred & Friends, which we recommend. 
• Travel mugs with infusers: Travel mugs with infusers are great for tea lovers on the go. Many come in glass housings, but they're not terribly durable. We chose a travel mug with a more traditional thermos-style design that's durable, but you will need to buy the compatible metal tea infusing basket separately. Luckily, the pair cost about $25. 
• Teapots with infusers: If you typically drink a pot of tea or want to share with others, you'll want a teapot with an infuser built in. There are lots of teapots in all kinds of materials from glass and ceramic, to clay and cast iron. The size of the infuser is the most important thing — it should be as big as possible to let the tea brew well. We've chosen a durable glass teapot with a giant metal mesh brewing basket. 

Here are the best tea infusers you can buy:

• Best tea infuser overall: Finum Brewing Basket
• Best tea infuser with a long handle: OXO Good Grips Twisting Tea Ball 
• Best quirky tea infusers: Fred & Friends
• Best tea infuser travel mug: Contigo West Loop Travel Mug
• Best teapot with an infuser: Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot

Updated on 10/28/2019 by Connie Chen: Updated links, prices, and formatting.

SEE ALSO: The best electric kettles you can buy

The best tea infuser overall

The Finum Brewing Basket lets your tea leaves swim around in hot water to make excellent tea in any mug or teapot.

The more space your tea leaves have to roam, the better your brew will taste. The large Finum Brewing Basket is the very best tea infuser you can buy if you want a versatile, roomy steeper for your tea.

Although it has a plastic frame, the mesh is made of stainless steel, and it's so fine that nary a tea leaf will escape into your teacup or teapot.  The plastic frame is heat resistant, so you won't burn your fingers when you lift the basket out of the mug or teapot. You can flip over the plastic lid to make it into a tray to hold the brewing basket when your tea is done brewing.

The large Brewing Basket's plastic arms allow it to fit inside any mug that's 2.8 to 4 inches wide, and it's tall enough to simply stand up in shorter mugs or tea cups at just under 4 inches. The company also makes a medium-sized one that's a bit smaller to fit cups that are 2.3 to 3.5 inches wide.

Many tea fans love the Finum Brewing Basket, including expert reviewers at The Wirecutter, who say that it gives the tea more room to move around than any other infuser. They also like the plastic frame because it won't burn your fingers when you try to remove the infuser.

Some tea purists argue that the plastic changes the taste of the tea or that plastic is bad for you — even if it's BPA free — but The Wirecutter asked experts if plastic was a problem, and they said no. Opinion is divided on the merits of plastic versus metal tea infusers, but we don't imagine it will make a huge difference to most people. If it does, try one of our other picks from the slides below.

Buyer reviews on Amazon are very positive as well, and most of those buyers are hardcore tea drinkers. Buyers love how easy it is to clean and the low price point is another big draw. One reviewer bought it out of frustration with other higher-priced tea gadgets and fell in love with the Finum Brewing Basket. It just goes to show that you don't need expensive equipment to make great tea.

Pros: Lots of room for tea to brew, mesh doesn't allow tea leaves to escape, fits in most mugs, comes in two sizes, you won't burn your hands when you pull out the basket by the plastic rim

Cons: Plastic sides and rim may deter some

Buy the large Finum Brewing Basket on Amazon for $12.74

Buy the medium Finum Brewing Basket on Amazon for $11.38

The best tea infuser with a long handle

The OXO Good Grips Twisting Tea Ball takes the fuss out of tea making with a simple stainless steel ball infuser design.

Tea purists say you need more space to brew your tea properly, but sometimes a ball infuser is easier for a single cup of tea. The OXO Good Grips Twisting Tea Ball is the best tea infuser for people on a budget who are just making tea for themselves.

It's a brilliant design that turns your tea infuser into a tea scoop as well. With a twist of the rubbery end of the long handle, the stainless steel ball splits in two and one half of the ball rolls back to make a tea scoop. You scoop up your tea, close the ball, and drop it in your teacup with the hot water. It's very simple and requires no fuss.

The ball infuser has perfectly sized holes that don't let big tea leaves through. You may find a few stray leaves in your cup now and then, though. Although the Twisting Tea Ball is small, if you don't pack too much tea in there, the leaves will still have space to move and expand with the water. If you have very fine tea with many small particles, you may have some left in your cup. OXO says it's best used with whole leaf teas and tea pearls.

When you're done brewing your tea, you take it out, open it with a twist, and toss out the leaves. A simple rinse later, and you're done. I own two of these Twisting Tea Balls, and they're great. When I don't want a full pot of tea, I pop one in my mug. Sometimes a leaf or some tea particles get into the cup, but it's negligible.

User reviews on Amazon call the Twisting Tea Ball the best infuser they've ever used and praise how easy it is to clean. Negative reviews mention tea leaves and dust escaping the infuser and landing in the cup, but that's inevitable with most infusers — you'll always end up with some tea dust or small leaf fragments unless you're using a very fine mesh infuser. 

Overall, for less than $10 (current Amazon price), the OXO Twisting Tea Ball is an excellent deal.

Pros: Easy to use, long handle for easy extraction, almost no tea escapes, sturdy tool, affordable price

Cons: Small area for tea to brew

Buy the OXO Good Grips Twisting Tea Ball on Amazon for $9.95

The best quirky tea infusers

Fred & Friends designs the most eccentric and adorable tea infusers you can find anywhere from Mr. Tea to the Manatea.

Tea infusers don't have to be boring utilitarian objects. Fred & Friends makes some of the cutest and craziest tea infusers we've ever seen. If you're into funny kitchen gadgets, you'll love these tea infusers.

Serious tea snobs may turn up their noses at these small silicone tea infusers, but others will simply add them to their wonky collection of weird tea infusers. Fred & Friends makes all kinds of funny designs, including Mr. Tea, Manatea, a sloth, a whale, and more. Whatever humorous one you choose, they're mostly the same design.

The silicone infusers have little holes in them that shouldn't let tea escape once it's in there. Unlike metal infusers that can get hot from the tea and burn you when you try to remove them, silicone tea infusers stay relatively cool. The infusers are also really easy to clean.

Buyers on Amazon bought the Fred & Friends infusers mainly for the funny designs and novelty appeal, but most agree that the infusers get the job done well, too. The infusers are small, though, so they can be finicky to use and they won't circulate the tea leaves around in the water

They're probably best for the casual tea drinker, kids who love tea, and people who just want a funny infuser in their collection. Regardless, for less than $10, Fred & Friends' tea infusers are a fun, cute purchase for your tea making habit.

Pros: Lots of cute designs to choose from, easy to clean, silicone stays cool in hot water,

Cons: Small space for tea to brew, some complain about silicone changing the taste

Buy the Fred & Friends Manatea on Amazon for $5

Buy the Fred & Friends Mr. Tea on Amazon for $12.14

Buy the Fred & Friends Sloth on Amazon for $9.79

The best tea infuser travel mug

The Contigo 16oz Stainless Steel West Loop Travel Mug and Tea Infuser keeps your tea warm and brews great tea with its own infuser.

Travel mugs are very popular for tea and coffee drinkers because they can keep your drinks warm for hours. There are lots of travel mugs with tea infusers built in, but most of them are made of either fragile glass or plastic, which may leave a strange taste in your tea. Our favorite travel mug and a tea infuser combination is the 16oz Contigo West Loop Travel Mug and Tea Infuser (sold separately).

Contigo's West Loop Travel Mug is a great option all on its own, but the addition of a special tea infusing basket to its classic design makes it even better for tea drinkers. The infuser is made out of stainless steel with etched holes for steeping, and it measures 4.4 high and 2.3 inches wide, which is pretty decent for a travel mug infuser.

The company's autoseal lid prevents leaks and spills, while the vacuum insulated mug design keeps heat in longer. The addition of the tea infuser makes it an even better deal in our view, though you do have to buy the infuser separately from the mug. Contigo does sell a set, but it sells out often, and the price is the same regardless. 

Buyer reviews on Amazon are positive, and tea drinkers love that the infuser is easy to clean and remove from the travel mug. Some reviewers mention that it's more durable than the other glass tea infusing travel mugs they've owned. The stainless steel design also ensures that you don't get a weird plastic taste in your tea.

In my personal experience, glass travel mugs don't keep tea warm enough and they break easily while you're on the go, which is not a good thing at all. Plastic travel mugs also seem incapable of keeping tea above a tepid temperature, and often, the infusers break. The Contigo West Loop Travel Mug and Tea Infuser avoids all those pitfalls, and at less than $30, it's a good deal.

Pros: Stainless steel design, built-in mesh infuser basket, keeps tea warm, durable build

Cons: Pricey and the infuser section isn't huge

Buy the Contigo 16oz Stainless Steel West Loop Travel Mug on Amazon for $7.50 and up

Buy the tea infuser on Amazon for $12.60

The best teapot with an infuser

The Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot lets your tea leaves mingle with the hot water in a giant brewing basket to make a delicious pot of tea. 

Sometimes a cup of tea just isn't enough — you need a full pot. The 700ml Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot is a beautiful Japanese teapot made of strong glass, which has a giant mesh brewing basket, so your tea leaves can be fully immersed in the hot water.

Hario's teapot comes in three different sizes to suit your brewing needs. The 700ml one holds about three 8-ounce cups of tea, while the 300ml teapot is really only for one big cup. We recommend the bigger one for anyone who likes to have friends over for tea or just drinks multiple cups in one sitting. It's lovely to watch tea steep in a glass teapot, and it'll look gorgeous in any home.

The mesh is very fine, so your tea leaves shouldn't escape its confines while you brew the tea. The teapot itself is short and squat with a cute short spout, a big lid, and a slim handle. The Wirecutter calls it the best teapot with an infuser that you can buy, primarily because of the big open mesh brewing basket inside.

Reviewers on Amazon love how beautiful and simple the Hario teapot is. The only complaint is that it is very fragile, but that's common for teapots of all kinds, whether they're ceramic or glass. It's relatively easy to clean, too, because the tea spout isn't long and narrow and the brewing basket is nice and big.

The low price tag, big brewing basket, and pretty design make the 700ml Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot the best one you can buy. If you want an even cheaper option and you have access to an Ikea, the Riklig teapot is very similar, and it's the one I personally use.

Pros: Big brewing basket makes great tea, fine metal mesh material doesn't let tea leaves escape, short spout is easy to pour, glass design is pretty, inexpensive

Cons: Glass is fragile

Buy the 700ml Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot on Amazon for $17.33

Tips on how to brew the perfect tea

To make the most of the expensive tea leaves you've bought, you need to make sure the water you use to brew them is correct. 

Most experts agree that white and green teas should be brewed at temperatures between 160 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit, with white teas on the lower end of that range. Oolong teas should be brewed between 180 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit, while black and herbal teas need 212 degrees Fahrenheit to reach their peak.

Brewing times will vary, and many tea shops will give you advice on how long to brew your tea. A lot of it is personal taste, too, so do what makes you happy. 

You can also read the thoughts of tea enthusiasts on Reddit, Lifehacker, Serious Eats, Tea Geek, and World of Tea.

For more tea-related buying guides, check out our full guides to the best old-fashioned kettles and the best electric kettles.

• Measuring cups are a must-have for anyone who loves to bake and cook.
• After much research, we found that the KitchenMade Stainless Steel Measuring Cups are the best for dry ingredients and the Pyrex 4-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set is the most accurate for wet ingredients.

Most star bakers and Europeans use kitchen scales to ensure that they get the perfect amount of each ingredient into their recipes, but us mere mortals in the US typically stick to recipes based on dry and wet cup measurements. However imprecise cup measurements may be, you can still find great wet and dry measuring cups that will get you closer to accurate measurements for recipes. 

There are all different kinds of dry measuring cups out there, and some are more durable than others. Cheap plastic sets and flimsy metal ones never last very long — either the handle snaps off or it bends under the least amount of pressure. We recommend you invest in a good sturdy pair of stainless steel measuring cups for dry ingredients that will last you a lifetime. Thicker plastic ones are also acceptable, but they won't last quite as long. 

Although longer handles may look classy on measuring cups, sets with shorter handles have better balance when they're standing empty or stacked together in your cupboard. A good grippy handle with smooth edges is best for comfort, and you need a set with clear, etched measurement markings that won't fade over time or peel off as some printed labels do. 

If you're working with European recipes, you'll probably want a set of measuring cups that have milliliter markings. Should you run into a recipe that measures in grams and you don't have a kitchen scale, Doves Farm has a great conversion chart for different types of ingredients.

When it comes to wet ingredients, you'll want a sturdy set of glass measuring cups. Plastic measuring cups for wet ingredients always seem to get stained, and the plastic can absorb and transmit unwanted flavors to your ingredients. Glass is simply the best way to go. You should also check for metric measurements, comfortable handles, clear marking, and a good spout for pouring the wet ingredients.

Here are the best measuring cups you can buy:

• Best overall for dry ingredients: KitchenMade Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
• Best overall for wet ingredients: Pyrex 4-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set
• Best magnetic set: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
• Best affordable set: OXO Good Grips Plastic Measuring Cups
• Best stainless steel set: Bellemain Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set
• Best set for scooping: Norpro Grip-Ez Stainless Steel Measuring Cups

Updated on 10/28/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting. 

The best measuring cups overall

The KitchenMade Stainless Steel Measuring Cups are sturdy enough to last you a lifetime, and you'll get accurate measurements for dry ingredients in recipes.

While cheaper metal measuring cups have flimsy handles that bend or cut into your hands, KitchenMade's set is comfortable to hold and it'll last you a lifetime — the company even has a lifetime 100% money-back guarantee to prove it. 

The cups are made out of one piece of stainless steel, so the handles won't snap off. The steel is reasonably thick, too, so you don't have to worry about the handle bending under pressure. There's a hole in the handle of each cup in case you want to loop them together or hang them in your kitchen.

Measurements are etched into the short handles in both milliliters and cups, so you won't get confused with metric measurements. The measurements are also listed on the side of the cup, and the 1/4 cup measurement has a handy half-measure line for when you need 1/8 cup in a recipe.

Although you should really get measuring cups for wet ingredients, too, if you want to use KitchenMade's set for wet ingredients, you can, thanks to the small pouring lip and flat bottom.

Buyers on Amazon can't get enough of these measuring cups. One reviewer even said they'd finally found the "perfect set of measuring cups." The Wirecutter and its panel of expert bakers agree that KitchenMade's measuring cups are the best ones you can buy for measuring dry ingredients while baking or cooking. The site noted how accurate the cups' measurements were and appreciated the durability of the stainless steel design.

Pros: Sturdy stainless steel design, short handles, etched measurements in both cups and milliliters, lifetime 100% money-back guarantee

Cons: Pricey

The best measuring cups for wet ingredients

The Pyrex 4-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set for wet ingredients can't be beat with its sturdy design, clear markings, and great price.

When it comes to measuring wet ingredients, there's only one brand that comes to mind: Pyrex. The company has been making glass measuring cups for wet ingredients for 90 years, and it's still the top brand among bakers and chefs. The Pyrex 4-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set is ideal for any recipe with its 1-cup, 2-cup, 4-cup, and 8-cup capacities. 

Although these measuring cups are made of glass, they are very sturdy and shouldn't break easily. The nonporous glass doesn't absorb odors or flavors the way plastic inevitably does, and these cups won't warp or melt in the presence of hot ingredients. 

Pyrex guarantees that you can pop its measuring cups in the oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, or dishwasher without any problems, too, so you can get a lot of use out of this set. The company also offers a two-year warranty in case of any defects or problems, and you can feel good knowing you bought something that's American made.

More importantly, though, Pyrex's measuring cups offer accurate measurements, clear markings in cups, ounces, quarts, and milliliters. The spout pours well without dripping and the handle is comfortable to hold, too.

The set is the number one best-seller on Amazon, and user reviews are mostly positive. The Wirecutter says that Pyrex makes the best measuring cups for liquid ingredients, and couldn't find many comparable alternatives that even came close to challenging the Pyrex cups.

Although you can buy the measuring cups individually, the set is a much better deal.

Pros: Glass design is strong, no odor absorption, clear metric and imperial measurements, two-year warranty, easy to clean, good spout for pouring liquid ingredients.

Cons: None

The best magnetic measuring cups

The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups with Magnetic Snaps are easy to grip and measure dry ingredients with great accuracy.

If you don't want to pay more than $20 for a set of measuring cups the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups with Magnetic Snaps are your best bet. They're not the cheapest ones you can buy, but they're far better than the lower-priced options.

These are sturdy stainless steel measuring cups with excellent grippy handles and clearly etched measurement markings. You don't have to worry about bent or broken handles because the steel is relatively thick. The handles also have magnets inside, so they stick together when you stack them. The magnets aren't terribly strong, but they have enough force to hold the cups in place in your cupboard.

The set comes with 1/4-cup, 1/3-cup, 1/2-cup, and 1-cup measurements, and in tests by Cooks Illustrated, OXO's set had the most accurate measurements. The Smart Consumer was also favorably impressed with the OXO measuring cups, and reviews on Amazon are positive.

The only complaint we have with the set is the lack of metric measurements, but most people won't need to measure in milliliters, anyway. There's also a matching set of teaspoons you can buy with magnets in the handles if you want your baking gear to match.

Pros: Sturdy stainless steel, magnetic stacking cups, clear etched markings, grippy handles, decent price

Cons: No metric measurements

The best cheap measuring cups

The OXO Good Grips Plastic Measuring Cups are an affordable alternative to the high-end stainless steel sets.

OXO also makes our favorite budget measuring cups with the Good Grips Plastic Measuring Cups. These sturdy plastic measuring cups snap together for easy storage in your cupboard and make it easy to measure dry ingredients for any recipe with clear markings for half and full measurements.

OXO includes a scraper with the cups, so you can level off ingredients as you bake. The measurement of each cup is engraved in the handle, so you can always know which one is which, but there are also colorful measurements stamped on the sides. Those marks typically wear off over time, so it's good that OXO made indelible markings on the handle, too.

The inside of each cup has a half measure line for when you need to cut a recipe in half, but can't be bothered with the math. Although the cups are made of plastic, they are BPA free and relatively sturdy.

For this price, you're not going to get the same quality as you would with a pair of solid stainless steel measuring cups, but if you just need a set for occasional use, these affordable plastic ones are perfectly fine. 

User reviews on Amazon are mostly positive, though most people wish the colorful markings for each measuring cup wouldn't rub off quite so easily. The Smart Consumer and Wise Bread agree that these OXO plastic cups are a decent budget option if you can't splurge on stainless steel measuring cups.

If you can afford the pricier OXO set or our top pick from KitchenMade, your measuring cups will likely last you longer. However, this is the best affordable plastic set you can buy, and if you take care of it, the OXO plastic set should last you a good amount of time. The only other downside is the lack of milliliter markings, but most US buyers won't need those.

Pros: BPA-free plastic, half measurement lines, comes with a scraper, clear measurement markings, very affordable price

Cons: Plastic isn't as durable, no milliliter markings

The best stainless steel measuring cups

The Bellemain 6-piece measuring cup set is nearly identical to our top pick, but will set you back a few dollars less.

The Bellemain Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set, which boasts six pieces, caught my attention when it came up as the single most popular measuring cup set on Amazon. In fact, more than 3,500 customers on Amazon have given the set a nearly perfect 4.9-star average rating, which is rare, to say the least.

The thing about the collection from Bellemain is that it's nearly identical to our favorite from KitchenMade. The set is made of stainless steel, and thanks to each cup's flat bottom, they won't tip over and are great for nesting inside one another for compact storage. Each cup is made with a single piece of dishwasher-safe steel, and thus far, I haven't had any issues with bending or pieces snapping off.

All cups include both mL measurements as well as cup sizes, which are clearly noted on the handles. While there aren't markings on the inside of the cups, the six-piece set does cover all the standard measurements — that is to say, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 1 cup.

The edges of these cups aren't terribly sharp, which is quite useful for folks without dishwashers (or who just prefer to hand wash their cups). And thanks to the wide handle, you won't have these measurers slipping out of your hand. — Lulu Chang

Pros: Solid construction, accurate measurements, lower price and nearly identical construction to other high-ranking measuring cups  

Cons: No markings on the insides of the cups

The best measuring cups for scooping

The Norpro Grip-Ez Stainless Steel Measuring Cups are narrower than most, which makes them perfect for reaching into a jar of sugar or bag of flour without doing any damage to the cup or the container.

Most measuring cups are indistinguishable when it comes to their design, but that's not quite the case with the Norpro Grip-Ez Stainless Steel Measuring Cups. Considerably narrower than the other cups you might find, and more closely resembling a large spoon than a cup, I've grown particularly fond of this set as it's extremely useful for scooping. And after all, isn't that generally what you're doing with dry ingredients?

Serious Eats gives the Norpro set top marks when it comes to the best dry measuring cups, noting that they did the best in terms of accuracy of measurement. Moreover, the "Grip-Ez" aspect of the product's name comes into play with the rubber coating on the handles. This makes grabbing the cups quite comfortable, and of course, helps in ensuring that they don't move around in your hand. There's also a small indentation in the handle that allows your pointer finger to rest comfortably as you're scooping. Be warned though, it's designed for right-handed folks, and lefties may find the notch a bit less than comfortable.

The Norpro comes in a set of five, so you'll get 1/8 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup and 1 cup in your collection. Better still, the 1 cup measure actually features markings on the inside of the cup. While they're not going to be nearly as accurate as the other cups in your set, they do work well for approximations, or for situations in which all your other cups are dirty, and you're left with just the one big guy.

Constructed with two pieces, the Norpro still feels quite sturdy, seeing as the handles are securely fastened to the actual bowls. Of course, that's not quite as break-resistant as cups made with a single piece of steel, but as far as two-part construction goes, this feels pretty solid.  — Lulu Chang

Pros: Shovel-like shape makes for easy scooping, great grip (for right-handed folks), accurate

Cons: Expensive, rubber grip isn't totally sealed to the handle, which could allow for some buildup

Check out our guide to the best measuring spoons

The best measuring spoons you can buy

The best measuring spoons are accurate, easy to read, have metric and US measurements, and will last you for the rest of your life. 

We combed through countless user and expert ratings and reviews of dozens of measuring spoon sets while researching our list. We settled on our top picks based on their design, accurate measurement, strong track record, and the manufacturer's willingness to stand behind their product with a warranty or guarantee. Here are our top picks for the best measuring spoons:

• Best overall: 1Easylife 18/8 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons 
• Best for narrow jars: Spring Chef Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
• Best easy-to-read set: Palada Stainless Steel Engraved Measuring Spoons
• Best for hand comfort: CIA Masters Collection 6 Piece Measuring Spoon Set

• People have been constructing gingerbread houses for hundreds of years.
• Make this classic holiday decoration an enjoyable part of your family's tradition by using a great kit like our top pick, the Wilton Petite Gingerbread House Kit.
• It comes with everything you need to build a festive little candy cottage that will look and taste great.

The history of gingerbread stretches back thousands of years, with verifiable accounts of ginger-flavored cakes dating back to Ancient Rome. Ginger made its way to the western world as crusaders returned from their campaigns to the Middle East in the late 11th Century and throughout the 12th and early 13th Centuries. The sweet, spicy root added flavor and preservative qualities to foods and was soon a prized staple used in myriad foodstuffs.

Gingerbread houses, too, have a long history. Bakers were making stylized edible houses not unlike those known in the modern era as far back as the early 1800s. Figurines made from gingerbread arrived as much as 500 years before that. Medieval bakers mastered various types of gingerbread shaping, and even in centuries past, this tasty bread was often associated with the Christmas holiday.

In my family, the making of gingerbread houses has a relatively long history, too, though one often fraught with woe. For every great-looking gingerbread house made in my home, there have been two that ended up collapsed and consumed before ever taking shape. See, while my wife tends to take her time carefully constructing a solid base house and allowing the icing to dry and such before she starts decorating, I traditionally rushed through the construction part, eager to get to the decorations. This usually results in a house that is structurally unsound and prone to catastrophic failure.

Our young son has also yet to master the patient art of proper gingerbread house architecture, and his also often break apart. But that's really not the worst thing ever, as a fallen gingerbread house is nothing more than candy and cookies.

If you and your family (or you and your friends or coworkers or your cats) want to make a great gingerbread house this holiday season, I can't help you be a meticulous, cautious builder, but I can recommend a few great gingerbread kits that will at least give you the materials and some of the tools needed to create a charming candy cottage. What you do with the stuff is up to you. And for the record, eating it is a fine option, especially after the roof caves in for the second time.

Here are the best gingerbread house kits you can buy:

• Best overall: Wilton Petite Gingerbread House Kit
• Best affordable kit: Candyland Gingerbread House Kit
• Best kit for kids: Wilton Gingerbread Cookie Kit
• Best DIY kit: Juvale Gingerbread House Silicone Mold Kit
• Best Hanukkah kit: Chanukah House Cookie Kit

Updated on 10/28/2019 by Remi Rosmarin: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

The best gingerbread house kit overall

The Wilton Petite Gingerbread House Kit is a compact classic that's easy to make, looks lovely, and tastes great, too.

The larger the gingerbread house, the harder it is to make. And that's not because larger gingerbread houses require more decorations than their smaller counterparts, but rather because larger sheets of gingerbread tend to crack quite easily. If you and the kids want to build an edible holiday decoration that won't break apart during the construction phase, then smaller is always better.

And while the finished house you'll get from the Wilton Petite Gingerbread House Kit lives up to the adjective in its name, it's such a lovely little structure that you won't mind the diminutive size a bit. Besides, at 5.25 inches wide, 5.75 inches deep, and 4.5 inches tall, this tasty holiday house is the perfect size to serve as a centerpiece on the dining room table, to perch on a deep windowsill, or to rest on a countertop or shelf, adding charm and cheer and without taking up too much room.

The kit comes with colorful gumballs, gumdrops, hard candies, colored fondant, icing, and more, including, of course, panels of sweet and spicy gingerbread. Building the house shouldn't take more than a half hour and kids and adults alike can have a hand in the process.

The Wilton Petite Gingerbread House Kit scores a four out of five-star average rating on Amazon. One customer named Dana called it a sturdy "fun family Christmas project," while a customer named Joyce admitted that she and her family "had a blast building it" and then they "ate it."

A video reviewer with Disney Toy Wishes demonstrated the ease of building a Wilton gingerbread house using just the materials included in her kit, and the result was indeed lovely.

Pros: Easy to build, solid and sturdy design, great selection of decorations

Cons: Smaller than most other options

The best low-cost gingerbread house kit

The Candyland Gingerbread House Kit comes with everything you need to make a lovely and delicious little cookie house.

You remember the beloved game Candyland from your childhood, right? Well, now you can relive the joys of moving a little game piece up that sweet, colorful road by building a Candyland-themed gingerbread house and then eating it!

OK, to be honest, nothing about this gingerbread house kit has anything to do with Candyland other than the fact that it's marketed as such and that you can cut a few characters out of the box itself to use as "scene setters."

But here's the thing: You're not buying this gingerbread house kit out of nostalgia for childhood game night, you're buying it because it costs less than fifteen bucks and comes with everything you need to create a lovely little holiday decoration that you can also, should you choose, consume.

In the kit, you'll find four walls, a roof, a chimney, an icing packet, and four kinds of candy. And of you choose to cut out the Candy King, Candy Fairy, and the two kids on the back of the box, you can add them to the festive tableau, too. Just don't eat them — they're made of cardboard.

A lady named Elizabeth who built a gingerbread house using the Candyland Gingerbread House Kit called the kit "perfect, cute, and cheap," though she did add that "there's nothing really Candyland about it."

But hey, $14.99, right? And you're going to eat it eventually, anyway. Or throw it out, so you'll get over the lack of classic game resemblance.

Pros: Low cost, multiple candies included, easy construction

Cons: Bares little relation to stated theme

The best gingerbread kit for kids

Building a gingerbread house is the hard part, and decorating it is the fun part, so skip the house and instead decorate cookies with the Wilton Gingerbread Cookie Kit.

Let's be honest, while decorating gingerbread houses is lots of fun, building the base gingerbread house can be time-consuming, painstaking, and overall frustrating. And if you think sticking together those walls and the roof with icing well enough that the structure actually stands is tricky as an adult, just imagine a kid trying to do it!

So skip the house building but don't skip the holiday gingerbread decoration by using the Wilton Gingerbread Cookie Kit. It comes with eight pre-baked and ready to decorate (and/or eat...) gingerbread cookies in classic "gingerbread man" shape and includes green and white ready-to-use icing, red fondant, and multiple kinds of candies in classic Christmas colors. Kids can be as detailed or as basic as they'd like with the decorating, and there's no worry about a roof cave in or wall collapse.

Oh, and by the way, Wilton also throws in an extra bag of multicolored jawbreaker candies, so use those on the cookies or just eat 'em.

An Amazon reviewer named Barbara raved about the Wilton Gingerbread Cookies Kit, calling it a "great item and price" and saying they were "easy to do," as well. However another shopper reported that many of the cookies in three kits she ordered arrived broken, so order with enough time to request replacements and/or be ready to do some surgical repair work using medical grade icing.

Pros: Very easy project, comes with multiple icing colors, extra candy bag included

Cons: Rather expensive, some cookies may arrive damaged

The best DIY gingerbread house kit

With this one set of molds, you could make a thousand gingerbread houses or more; the Juvale Gingerbread House Silicone Mold Kit is all you need. Well, that and some gingerbread batter, candy, icing, and time.

OK, yes, in order to use the Juvale Gingerbread House Silicone Mold Kit to make your own gingerbread house, first you're going to need to master your gingerbread baking techniques. But don't worry: Before recommending this kit, I researched the process by reading through a host of different recipes, and it turns out it's not that hard to make gingerbread batter. Smoothing it into the molds perfectly every time might take a bit of practice, though.

Once you have the batter making and baking down pat, you can use the Juvale Gingerbread House Silicone Mold Kit again and again, making the best gingerbread houses of your life.

Not only does the kit come with molds for the standard six panels of a gingerbread house (two pieces of the roof, front, back, and sides, e.g.) but it also has a door, pine trees, a snowman, a reindeer and sleigh, and other baked decorations. When you use all the included shapes and add your own favorite candies and colored icing, your DIY gingerbread house won't rival store-bought options, it will far surpass them.

And in the long run, it's a lot cheaper to build gingerbread houses from scratch than to go with store-bought kits, too.

The Juvale Gingerbread House Silicone Mold Kit has a solid 4.4-star average rating on Amazon. One customer loves how the silicone molds "really hold the details and make the pieces easy to pop out," while others love how they could also be used for making shaped chocolate and gelatin treats.

A Mokey International write-up about the Juvale gingerbread mold kit notes that the durable silicone molds are safe for use in the "freezer, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and oven."

Pros: Makes detailed and lovely gingerbread panels, saves money over time, features unique accessory shapes

Cons: Requires separate purchase of all materials

The best Hanukkah gingerbread kit

The Chanukah House Cookie Decorating Kit makes holiday DIY decorating a multi-faith experience.

OK, let's get this out of the way at the start: The Chanukah House Cookie Decorating Kit is not technically a gingerbread house kit at all. The walls and roof of this little cottage are made from vanilla cookie dough, not gingerbread. But will it still make a charming and edible house that looks and tastes great? Yes, so I'm not going to get too hung up on it.

And besides, beyond the icing, sprinkles, candy beads, and decorative sugar you'd expect from any such kit, the Chanukah House Cookie Decorating Kit also comes with multiple dreidels, a dreidel spinner, and chocolate Hanukkah coins.

What's perhaps most notable about this kit, though, beyond the fact that it's not Christmas themed, is the fact that it comes with a large cookie base and sides with cut out slots and slats designed to fit together.

Once built and with icing dried, this holiday house will be sturdier than any other gingerbread house on the block, and easier to move around as needed, too.

When those eight days of celebration have ended, it will taste great, too. And yes, of course, it's kosher. Which you have the right to expect considering this unique holiday house kit costs almost forty bucks.

Pros: Unique take on holiday house, comes with dreidels, sturdy design

Cons: Expensive, not technically gingerbread

Check out our other great Christmas decorating guides

The best Christmas decorations you can buy

A beautifully decorated home is part of the wonder of the holiday season. We've rounded up the best decorating essentials for your home to make it easier for you.

That's why we've gathered up the top suggestions for a wide range of Christmas décor. Whether you go all-out decorating for the holidays, or just stick with a tree covered with a few glass balls, we've got the best of the best for your holiday home.

Here are the best Christmas decorations you can buy:

• Best faux tree: National Tree Company's Douglas Fir
• Best tree stand: Krinner Tree Genie Christmas Tree Stand
• Best ornaments: Shop all ornaments at Target
• Best tree topper: Christmas Snowman Tree Hugger
• Best tree skirt: Valery Madelyn Traditional Holly Leaves Tree Skirt
• Best wreath for your front door: Woodland Eucalyptus Wreath
• Best holiday inflatable: Inflatable Snow Family
• Best stockings: Needlepoint Stockings from L.L. Bean
• Best garland: Home Accents Holiday Pre-Lit Plaza Garland
• Best advent calendar: Byer's Choice Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
• Best quirky decoration: Christmas Incandescent Tinsel Llama

• Costco has existed in some form since 1976.
• That's because the modern-day company is the product of a 1993 merger between Costco and Price Club.
• The first warehouse bearing the name Costco, however, opened in Seattle in 1983.
• Costco provided Business Insider with historical photos of the chain's inaugural warehouse. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Costco is a staple of the big-box-store landscape. It's been around for a while and has attracted a devoted flock of members thanks to its low prices and bulk sizes.

But the wholesale retailer's origin story is a bit complicated. You see, modern-day Costco is actually the result of a 1993 merger between Price Club and Costco. Price Club kicked off in 1976, and Costco followed suit seven years later.

Read more: 50 foods that Costco employees and members love

Costco provided Business Insider with a number of photos of the company's first warehouse.

These images provide a glimpse into what making a Costco run would've looked like back when Ronald Reagan was in the White House and "Maniac" was topping the Billboard charts.

SEE ALSO: Costco employees share their 9 best tips for getting an even better deal on your next shopping trip

DON'T MISS: Here's what happens when you show up at Costco without a membership card, according to employees

SEE ALSO: Costco employees share 31 things they'd love to tell shoppers but can't

Jim Sinegal and Jeff Brotman first dreamed up the idea for Costco Wholesale in 1982. Brotman, who died in 2017, was an attorney who was inspired to open a European-style wholesaler after taking a trip to France.

Source: "Service Management: The New Paradigm in Retailing"

Brotman told CNN in 2009 that he ended up cold-calling Sinegal, and the two hit it off.

Source: CNN

Sinegal was a retail executive who'd previously worked under the businessman Sol Price at a warehouse club called FedMart.

Source: "Service Management: The New Paradigm in Retailing"

Price had founded his own chain, Price Club, on July 12, 1976, in San Diego. Price Club exclusively offered memberships to small-business owners.

Source: Costco

Sinegal and Brotman later told CNN that they planned to essentially "clone Price Club" when they launched the first-ever Costco in Seattle in 1983.

Source: Costco

Years later, Price Club and Costco merged to become the Costco we all know and love today.

Source: Microsoft

But the first warehouse bearing the Costco name kicked off its grand opening with a business show on September 15, 1983.

Back when it first opened its doors, Costco offered business owners memberships for a $25 annual fee.

Meanwhile, "Group Gold" Costco members could shell out $30 a year to gain access to the warehouse chain.

Sinegal told the Motley Fool that the chain's first 100,000-square-foot warehouse was a "pretty simple facility" that lacked "many of the enhancements that we've added to the business since then."

Source: Motley Fool

In 2009, he also told CNN that the "crowds weren't overwhelming" at first, but "business built up" gradually. Sinegal served as Costco's CEO from 1983 until his retirement in 2011.

Source: CNN

Costco's low-priced, bulk-size offerings ended up catching on with shoppers.

Source: CNN

Less than a year after it was founded, Costco began to expand across the Pacific Northwest ...

Source: Costco

... launching stores in Portland and Spokane in 1983.

Source: Costco

Sinegal explained the chain's rapid expansion to the Los Angeles Times in 1985, saying, "We are working to get established in certain markets, to preempt those markets."

Source: The Los Angeles Times

The emergence of Sam's Club, Walmart's answer to the influx of members-only warehouse clubs, also spurred further expansion.

Source: Sam's Club

"When Walmart announced it was going into the discount warehouse business, we had to compete and grow quickly," Brotman told CNN in 2009.

Source: CNN

"That's why we expanded as fast as we did," the Costco cofounder said.

Source: The Los Angeles Times

By the end of 1984, 200,000 Americans had become Costco members.

Source: Costco

That same year, The Associated Press dubbed both Price Club and Costco as "key players" in the wholesale-retail game.

Source: Newspapers.com

Costco filed for an IPO on December 5, 1985, according to the company's website. Price Club had already gone public back in 1980.

Source: Costco

Investopedia calculated that anyone who bought 100 shares of Costco — at $10 a pop — would have made $138,768 by December 1, 2018.

Source: Investopedia

Just three years after opening its doors, Costco was a $1 billion company, Sinegal told CNN.

Source: CNN

At that point, the chain boasted "17 locations, 1.3 million members, and 3,740 employees," according to Costco's website.

Source: Costco

Costco and Price Club merged in 1993. Initially, the new company went by PriceCostco, ultimately switching to the name Costco Companies Inc. in 1997.

Source: Costco

A former employee who started at Price Club in 1984 and stayed with the company for 20 years told Business Insider that initially after the merger, there was a slight divide between "red" Costco warehouses and "blue" Price Club warehouses.

"When I was a corporate auditor for the company, the first thing the folks at the warehouse would ask me is, 'Are you red or blue?'" he said.

But he added that employees eventually got on the same page. "It wasn't really a bad thing," the former employee said. "Price Club had evolved into a different animal, and Costco really took us back to bare bones."

Are you a current or former Costco employee with a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com.

• By day, 32-year-old Lindsey Palar works a 9-to-5 as the diversity training and education director at her local college, Western Michigan University.
• By night, and weekends too, she manages OPEN Vegan Eats, a Kalamazoo, Michigan food business that she cofounded with her partner, Paul Vugteveen.
• As bootstrappers, the days are long and nights are tough. Palar says there are moments when she and Vugteveen have to remind themselves to trust the process.
• The couple's 9-to-5 paychecks allow them to be creative with the way they run their company, especially when typical rules of business – like making the most profit – don't fit their values.

Lindsey Palar decorates her office with the things she loves the most: a photo of her mom, colorful artwork that brightens the room, a portrait of her deceased dog, memorabilia of the people who inspire her.

A 32-year-old bootstrapper, Palar is becoming an entrepreneurial expert. In the midst of running her own business, she maintains an eight-hour work schedule at a day job, and shakes about a dozen hands between sunrise and sunset.

By day, Palar works a 9-to-5 as the diversity training and education director at her local college, Western Michigan University. By night, and weekends too, she manages OPEN Vegan Eats, a Kalamazoo, Michigan food business that she cofounded with her partner, Paul Vugteveen. To date, the couple's built a mailing list of 400 subscribers, and keeps a regular base of customers that attend their pop-up events. 

As bootstrappers, the days are long and nights are tough. Palar says there are moments when she and Vugteveen have to remind themselves to trust the process. On some days, working just a 9-to-5 is hard enough — but Palar says entrepreneurs can find peace of mind in establishing a set of values that connects their business to their personal life. 

Bootstrapping to build a dream

Palar and Vugteveen started OPEN Vegan Eats after years of working in the restaurant industry. Palar says she had a "sense of agency" to make veganism an equitable food choice that defied the culture of mainstream veganism – high income, predominantly white clients. The food space was a way to address inequality and occupational segregation in the restaurant industry, too.

Rather than fishing out seed funding, Palar says the funding for OPEN Vegan Eats came after she and Vugteveen saved up enough cash from their day jobs for a successful launch. 

Palar attributes much of OPEN Vegan Eats growth to Vugteveen. Prior to transitioning into a day job, she says Vugteveen focused exclusively on OPEN Vegan Eats for nearly two years before going back to a 9-to-5. Vugteveen built the businesses' foundation during that time, implementing accounting and management systems that permit them to work day jobs without the added stress of operating a startup.

Vugteveen says he spent over a year building recipes and accumulating pots and pans. Today, OPEN Vegan Eats has a database of over 100 recipes. The food incubator has evolved into a business that creates food spaces in a variety of formats – catering, pop-ups, and consulting.

How they get it done

Palar is friendly in nature. She smiles at everyone she meets. Her demeanor makes her accessible; she's often stopped by students while walking through campus. As I switch my camera dial between manual and fully automatic mode, Palar greets every snap with a subtle laugh, occasionally reminding herself to act natural. 

After a text that I had arrived to her office after a two-hour drive from Detroit, she greeted me near the edge of the parking lot before I could reach the walkway of building. 

Running a small business while working a day job isn't easy. Only about half of businesses with employees survive at least five years. Still, Palar has the blueprint for survival. 

Wary of ethical lines, Palar works hard to keep her business and day job separate. While she never brings it up, often times Palar is approached by her day-job coworkers about providing meals at staff retreats. Last year, Palar says, a colleague mentioned OPEN Vegan Eats as a potential food option for a department gathering, unaware that Palar was co-owner of the business. 

One time, she recalled, Palar asked around and searched through campus policy about being paid to provide food for campus departments. While there are restrictions, Palar says it's possible as long as she isn't hired to provide food to her own department. 

"I don't want to feel like I'm promoting in my role at work," she says.

But in a small city where a single business can have an equitable impact, it's a hard subject to avoid when you've developed a name for yourself. Palar's work to build an inclusive community resonates. In many ways it's helped her business, too. Despite the desire to keep her 9-to-5 and the food incubator separate. Palar tells me it isn't unusual for business to intersect with her day job: "[the Office for Sustainability] held an event and hired OPEN Vegan Eats."

"Some students who work in the office had heard about OPEN Vegan Eats in the community, so they reached out," she says. 

Staying humble — and true to their values

A humble small business owner, Palar advises entrepreneurs to utilize day jobs as a source of investment income for their business. She says the security of a 9-to-5 allows OPEN Vegan Eats to grow in an organic way, putting the business in position to test new ideas without the risk of financial loss. With a reliable 9-to-5 paycheck, Palar says its an added comfort to know that she and Vugteveen's personal financial obligations are covered. The extra security allows them to be creative with the way they run their company, especially when typical rules of business – like making the most profit – don't fit their values.

For example, as a practice, OPEN Vegan Eats is staff-free, using on-call workers to staff large catering events when needed. Palar and Vugteveen handle the grunt work. They're willing to take a pay cut in order to pay workers a higher wage; or make a service affordable. One time, Palar recalled, the two split tips down the middle with an on-call worker — meaning the worker got half, while Palar and Vugteveen took 25% each — at a catering event.

Palar is also innovative in monetizing the business opportunities that arise at her 9-to-5. 

She uses the word-of-mouth buzz surrounding OPEN Vegan Eats as a marketing tool, and looks at the promotion as advertising dollars that recycles itself. 

While she has plans to expand, she's against the idea of OPEN Vegan Eats growing for the sake of growing, choosing strategy and impact over increasing profits.

"If we can't afford to pay someone a decent wage, I don't want to hire someone," says Vugteveen.

When a job doesn't feel right, both say it isn't unusual for OPEN Vegan Eats to pass up a paycheck in order to maintain the integrity of the business.

The strategy works. Since its founding in 2016, OPEN Vegan Eats has seen a 2,238% percent growth in earnings. The business grossed $858 in 2016 and $20,064 in 2018 – the year it was established as an LLC.

The success of the business is a combination of grit and goodwill. While most clients can afford their food prices, Palar and Vugteveen don't shy away from potential clients who cannot. They understand the concept of risk and reward.

Earlier, while shopping at a local food co-op, Vugteveen said the money he was spending to prepare food for a wedding tasting was more than he was making for the event. Though, Vugteveen told me, the potential financial gains for being booked for the actual wedding was worth the risks. 

Their advice to others

As he tucks a can of Red Bull in the refrigerator of the Battle Creek, Michigan commercial kitchen he cooks out of, Vugteveen, who has Type 1 diabetes, tells me he transitioned back to a day job to help with the cost of his medical bills – and for extra household income. Vugteveen says that even with Palar's medical insurance through WMU, out-of-pocket costs for his disease can reach up to $6,000 per year.

With long days, Vugteveen keeps a constant stream of data from his blood sugar on his cell phone. He also takes an injectable once per day. 

Despite his disease — the consequences of untreated Type 1 diabetes is life or death — Vugteveen spends most days on a roll. He has 5 a.m. runs on most mornings, and works a 9-to-5 as the hospitality director of Pretty Lake Camp in Mattawan, Michigan. Some days he preps meals for OPEN Vegan Eats until midnight. Other days he spends his evenings managing finances and keeping up with recipes.

When I ask him if his health causes him to take months off, he pauses. "I've taken weeks off."

I ask for his advice to others. 

"You're going to be tired," says Vugteveen.

When I ask Palar, "People are going to give you a lot of advice. We had people tell us 'you should do a brick and mortar or package and sell [at a grocery store].'"

"I would advise people to do what makes sense to them," she adds.

Vugteveen says that perseverance is the key to bootstrapping.

"Keep putting in the work," he says.

Vugteveen says that financial literacy and regular business filings are important, too. 

"Sometimes it doesn't seem like anything is going to stick," says Vugteveen. "If you're passionate about it, you're going [to eventually] get traction."

SEE ALSO: Here's how much things have changed for women-owned businesses since the '80s (and how far we have to go), by the numbers

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Animated map shows how cats spread across the world

• Bernard Arnault is the third-richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $102.4 billion, according to Forbes.
• Arnault, 70, was the second-richest person in the world for a time when he surpassed Bill Gates earlier this year, CNN reported.
• Arnault is chairman and CEO of LVMH, the world's largest maker of luxury goods that brought in nearly $53 billion in revenue in 2018.
• LVMH has offered to buy Tiffany & Co, which would be the luxury goods company's largest acquisition ever.
• Four of Arnault's five children work at LVMH brands that include Louis Vuitton, Rimowa, Berluti, and TAG Heuer. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

French businessman Bernard Arnault is the third-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $102.4 billion, according to Forbes. Bloomberg, meanwhile, pegs his net worth slightly lower at $96.5 billion. 

Arnault is the chairman and CEO of LVMH, the world's largest maker of luxury goods, making him the richest person in the fashion industry. LVMH, which recorded more than $53 billion in revenue in 2018, is made up of 70 companies including Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Dom Perignon Champagne, TAG Heuer, and Rimowa. And, in October, LVMH offered to buy Tiffany in an attempt to expand in luxury jewelry.

Arnault is growing richer at a faster rate than many other billionaires. Since the beginning of 2019, his fortune has risen by $28 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. 

In March, the French billionaire overtook Warren Buffett in March to become the third-richest person in the world, Bloomberg reported. A few months later, he surpassed Bill Gates to become the world's second-richest person for a brief period before dropping back to third. And in October, Arnault made $5.1 billion within 48 hours after a surge in share prices of his conglomerate.

Here's a look at Arnault's career, life, and family.

Marissa Perino contributed to reporting.

SEE ALSO: Meet the Ambanis, the richest family in Asia, who live in a $1 billion skyscraper and mingle with royals, politicians, and Bollywood stars

DON'T MISS: 25 years after Amazon's launch, Jeff Bezos is the richest person alive. Here's how he makes and spends his billions.

Bernard Arnault is the third-richest person in the world, worth an estimated $102.4 billion, according to Forbes. He's the richest person in Europe by far.

Bloomberg pegs Arnault's net worth slightly lower at $96.5 billion. 

The 70-year-old French businessman is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, known as LVMH, a position he's held since 1989. LVMH is the world's largest maker of luxury goods.

Source: Bloomberg

The business is a family affair; four of Arnault's five children hold positions at LVMH brands.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault's wealth is now exceeded only by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. According to Forbes, Arnault's fortune currently trails Gates' by $3.4 billion.

Source: Bloomberg,Forbes

Arnault owns a 96.5% stake in Christian Dior, which controls 41% of LVMH.

Source: Bloomberg

LVMH, which recorded more than $53 billion in revenue in 2018, is made up of 70 companies that sell products such as Louis Vuitton leather goods ...

Source: Bloomberg, LVMH

... TAG Heuer watches ...

... and Dom Perignon Champagne. In 2018, LVMH brought in $53 billion in revenue.

Source: LVMH

Arnault comes from the northern French town of Roubaix.

Source: Bloomberg

He studied engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique, a prestigious school in Paris that counts three former French presidents and three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni.

Source: Business Insider, Bloomberg

After graduating, Arnault spent a stint working for his father's construction company, Ferret-Savinel, before entering the luxury goods industry. He became CEO of luxury goods holding company, Financiere Agache, in 1984.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault married Anne Dewavrin in 1973 and they had two children together before separating in 1990. Arnault remarried to Helene Mercier, a Canadian concert pianist, in 1991.

He reportedly wooed her by playing Chopin and other classical composers for her.

Source: Forbes

The French billionaire and his wife live on Paris's Left Bank south of the Seine River, a historic area that includes neighborhoods such as the Latin Quarter and St. Germain-des-Prés.

Source: Bloomberg, The New York Times

In their home, Arnault keeps a collection of modern and contemporary art from artists that include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Maurizio Cattelan, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault has five children: two with his first wife and three with his current wife.

Source: The New York Times

Antoine Arnault and Delphine Arnault are his two children from his first marriage.

Source: The New York Times, LVMH

Delphine, Bernard's oldest daughter, is the apparent heiress to the LVMH empire.

Source: The New York Times

She started her career at American consultancy firm McKinsey & Co. in Paris and is now the executive vice president at Louis Vuitton.

Source: Business of Fashion, The New York Times

In January 2019, Delphine became the youngest member of LVMH's executive committee at age 43.

Source:MDS

Delphine married Italian wine heir Alessandro Vallarino Gancia in 2005 in what Forbes called "France's wedding of the year." The couple divorced in 2010.

Source: Forbes, Business Insider

She now reportedly lives with tech billionaire Xavier Niel and has one daughter. But Delphine is notoriously private about her personal life. "I'm quite discreet," she told the Financial Times in a rare 2014 interview. "I think I’d rather focus on my work."

Source: Financial Times

Delphine's younger brother, Antoine, is chief executive of menswear label Berluti and chairman of the cashmere label Loro Piana, both LVMH brands.

Source: The New York Times, LVMH

In addition to those roles, Antoine was named head of communication and image for LVMH in June 2018.

Source: Business of Fashion

His partner is supermodel Natalia Vodianova, whom he reportedly met on a shoot for a 2008 Louis ­Vuitton campaign when he was the brand's head of communications.

Source: W Magazine

The couple lives in Paris with their two children and Vodianova's three children from a previous marriage.

Source: W Magazine

Alexandre, the son of Bernard Arnault and Helene Mercier, is the CEO of Rimowa, a German luggage brand owned by LVMH.

Source: The New York Times, LVMH, Getty Images

The luggage company he runs brings in more than $455 million in annual revenue.

Source: LVMH

Alexandre travels frequently between Cologne, Germany, where Rimowa luggage is made, London, his hometown of Paris, and Los Angeles, where Rimowa has a store.

Source: The New York Times

He's reportedly friends with Evan Spiegel, the chief executive of Snap, Snapchat's parent company. Spiegel called Alexandre "a really creative guy," according to The New York Times. "He's constantly thinking about the brand and how to express that."

Source: The New York Times

Alexandre's younger brother, Frederic, also has a role at LVMH. He joined the conglomerate as the strategy and digital director at Swiss luxury watch brand TAG Heuer, LVMH's largest watch brand, in 2018.

Source: The New York Times

Frederic graduated from his father's alma mater, École Polytechnique in Paris, and interned at Facebook and consulting firm McKinsey before joining LVMH as the temporary head of connected technologies at TAG Heuer in 2017.

Source: The New York Times

Arnault's youngest son, Jean, is the only one of his children not involved at LVMH.

Source: The New York Times

Like many billionaires do, Arnault travels by private jet.

Source: Getty Images

He owns a sprawling vacation villa in glitzy Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera ...

Source: Telegraph

... where he has been seen enjoying some tennis matches.

Source: Getty Images

Arnault has also reportedly spent at least $96.4 million on residential properties in Los Angeles, in the Beverly Hills, Trousdale Estates, and Hollywood Hills neighborhoods.

Source: The Real Deal

Arnault has rubbed shoulders with some of the world's influential figures, in the fashion world and otherwise. In 2017, he met President Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York City right before Trump's inauguration to discuss expanding LVMH factories in the US.

Source: WWD

He was photographed at parties with Lady Diana, Princess of Wales.

Source: Getty Images

Arnault was reportedly friends with Apple founder Steve Jobs, who once said to Arnault: "You know Bernard, I don’t know if in 50 years my iPhone will still be a success but I can tell you, I'm sure everybody will still drink your Dom Pérignon."

Source: CNBC

Former Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein once called Arnault "a complete visionary," adding that he "saw the increase of wealth in the world."

Source: CNBC

Arnault is reportedly longtime friends with former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Arnault was a witness at the former president's wedding to Carla Bruni.

Source: The New York Times

Here, Arnault can be seen shaking hands with Vladimir Putin during the Russian president's 2003 visit to the Chateau Cheval Blanc vineyard — owned by LVMH — in France.

Source: LVMH

Arnault considered legendary late designer and Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld a good friend. "The death of this dear friend deeply saddens me, my wife and my children," Arnault said in a statement. "We loved and admired him deeply. Fashion and culture has lost a great inspiration."

Source: LVMH

Arnault has a longstanding public rivalry with Francois Pinault, the second-richest man in France, who's worth about $34.3 billion.

Source: Bloomberg, Forbes

Pinault is the founder and CEO of French luxury brand Kering, which owns brands including Gucci and Yves St. Laurent. The billionaire also owns Christie's auction house.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault's LVMH originally tried to acquire a majority stake in Gucci in 1999, but Pinault ultimately snatched up the brand.

Source: Forbes

Over the years, Arnault has built LVMH into the largest luxury conglomerate in the world and earned himself an imposing nickname: "the wolf in the cashmere coat."

Source: The New York Times

He's behind the creation of Foundation Louis Vuitton, a Frank Gehry-designed contemporary art museum and performance space in Paris that opened in 2014.

Source: The New York Times

In October 2019, LVMH offered to buy Tiffany & Co, which would be the luxury goods company's largest acquisition to date.

Analysts say the jewelry company might turn down the offer and seek a higher number, according to Reuters.

As the world's third-richest person, Arnault is getting richer at an astonishing rate. In January 2019, he made $4.3 billion in a single day after LVMH shares surged 6.9%. And just 16 months later, on June 19, Arnault again made news when he became the third person in the world to reach a $100 billion net worth.

Source: Bloomberg

And between the end of January and February 27, 2019, he added another $3.9 billion to his fortune, which brought his total net worth to only $2.3 billion less than Warren Buffett's. He then surpassed Buffett in March.

Source: Bloomberg, Bloomberg Billionaires Index

In April, LVMH released a statement on behalf on the Arnault family, pledging €200 million, or about $218.8 million, to help rebuild the recently damaged Notre-Dame Cathedral. While a church official said in June that Arnault and other high profile donors had yet to pay "a cent," Arnault signed a contract confirming his donation at the end of September.

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider,Le Figaro

Arnault's jump into second place on Bloomberg's wealth ranking in July 2019 is the first time Bill Gates was ranked lower than second, but Arnault has now fallen back to third place — for now.

Source: Bloomberg

• The cutting board is perhaps the most essential tool in your kitchen for meal prep.
• Plastic and wooden cutting boards both have their pros and cons, so we've found the best of both worlds in the plastic OXO Good Grips Cutting and Carving Board and the wooden John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board.

Let's face it: a cutting board is not the sexiest utensil in your kitchen. It's not shiny, it doesn't turn, flash, or beep. In fact, it doesn't perform any high-tech hijinks at all. It just sits there. Still, a high-quality cutting board is an essential culinary tool. The preparation of many foods and meals requires that you use one. In addition, a high-quality cutting board can help keep you and your family healthy by preventing foodborne illness. Some of them are even beautiful to display on your kitchen counter.

Most experts agree that you should have a minimum of two cutting boards: one for cutting raw meats and one for chopping raw vegetables and everything else. There are cutting boards made from a variety of materials, but according to experts, including those at Good Housekeeping and The Sweethome, plastic and wood are best for most kitchens. You can also get glass ones, but they are prone to shattering and they dull your knives quickly.

Pros and cons: Plastic cutting boards

One of the main benefits of using a plastic cutting board is that it is easier to clean. In most cases, it can be run through the dishwasher. That said, all plastic boards scar over time and deep knife gouges can eventually become home to dangerous bacteria that is difficult to remove.

A study from the University of Wisconsin, found that plastic cutting boards actually had more bacteria than their wooden counterparts. In addition, wooden cutting boards fared better than plastic ones when exposed to toxic bacteria strains like Salmonella, E.coli, and Listeria.

Plastic also tends to be rougher on your knives than wood. Still, plastic is very durable, affordable, requires almost no maintenance, and if you throw out your plastic boards after two years of use, plastic can be an excellent option.

Most plastic cutting boards are made of polyethylene or polypropylene. Cutting mats are also a popular option. They are made of flexible silicone or other softer plastics and they typically come in sets of three or four in a variety of bright colors. The idea is that you use one color for meat, one for veggies, and so on.

Pros and cons: Wooden cutting boards

Wooden cutting boards look gorgeous and you can get them in tons of different styles, shapes, and wood grains. Cutting boards are made from pecan, walnut, teak, and cherry, but by far the most popular type of wood is maple. Why? Maple is a beautiful light wood, it is strong, sustainable, and abundant in North America.

Wood boards are also heavier and feel good to use. They also won't dull your knives much, either. Still, wooden cutting boards require much more maintenance than plastic ones. They must be washed and dried carefully after each use and oiled regularly.

Wooden cutting boards come in two versions: end grain boards and edge grain boards. End grain boards are the more expensive option of the two. They're made of several board ends glued together. They tend to be more gentle on knives, but more susceptible to drying out, staining, and cracking. Meanwhile, edge grain boards are easier to clean, but they tend to be harder on knife edges than end grain boards. However, they withstand moisture-based cracking and splitting better.

Pros and cons: Bamboo and composite cutting boards

Bamboo cutting boards are another popular option. Many people think bamboo is a wood, but it's actually a grass. Like wood, it has a porous surface, but it's even harder than wood. Bamboo cutting boards are attractive, lightweight, and affordable. This good-looking material is also an excellent choice for eco-conscious consumers because bamboo is a highly renewable resource — a typical bamboo shoot can become fully mature within three to six years — and is often raised organically due to the ease of farming it. Bamboo cutting boards also need to be oiled on a regular basis, according to Cuttingboard.com

You can also opt for a composite cutting board, which is made from a combination of wood fibers and phenolic resins. Epicurean is the most popular brand name in composite cutting boards. Food-safe, long-lasting, and incredibly durable, composite cutting boards, unfortunately, do a number on your knives.

Other things to look for in a cutting board

According to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, you should also consider the size of cutting board you need, how you're going to use it, and whether you need more than one to do the job.

Some cutting boards have features that make it easier to cut and serve meat. For instance, some models have raised pyramid points that puncture that meat to hold it securely, while others have an indentation in the center of the board where the meat can sit securely. A board with handles can also make it easier to transport the meat to the table.

If you'll be using the board for cutting meat, you may opt for a model with a generous juice trench around the board's perimeter. The trench should be deep and wide enough to catch the juice without having it drain onto the countertop. Some juice trenches feature a notch on the rim that serves as a pouring spout.

Many cutting boards are reversible, allowing you to use both sides and to prevent cross contamination. Some experts claim this is the best reason to select a board without feet, although others like the extra stability that feet provide. But there's an easy way to ensure that your board doesn't slip around the counter: simply wet a paper towel and insert it under the board.

With all that in mind, here are our picks for the best cutting boards. We've included a plastic option, a high-end solid wood one, a pack of cutting mats, a bamboo board set, and a stunning teak wood cutting board.

Here are the best cutting boards you can buy: 

• Best cutting board overall: OXO Good Grips Cutting and Carving Board
• Best high-end wood cutting board: John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board
• Best bamboo cutting board: Totally Bamboo Cutting Boards
• Best teak wood cutting board: Teak Haus Edge Grain Cutting Board
• Best cutting mat: Imperial Kitchen Cutting Mat Set

Updated on 10/28/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides. 

SEE ALSO: The best knife sharpeners you can buy

The best cutting board overall

The OXO Good Grips Cutting And Carving Board is affordable, light, and easy to maintain.

The OXO Good Grips Cutting And Carving Board plastic board is the darling of kitchen appliance and utensil reviewers everywhere. The 14.5 x 21-inch double-sided cutting board helps prevent cross contamination. Use the side with a juice groove for carving meat, and then simply flip it over to chop vegetables on the other side. Soft, tapered handles make the board easy to maneuver, and non-slip edges keep the board from shifting during use.

Made of durable polypropylene, the non-porous surface is odor-resistant and doesn't scratch as easily as other plastic materials. It won't dull sharp knives quickly, either. To top it all off, this cutting board is dishwasher safe.

The OXO cutting board gets consistent praise on Amazon for being durable and not absorbing odors or colors from pungent foods like onions and garlic.

"I love this cutting board. It doesn't slide around or bounce during use. It's very durable, gentle on my knives, and easy to clean. It's nicely weighted — heavy enough to stay in place, but light enough to lift and maneuver easily (when tipping ingredients into a bowl or hand washing in small sinks)" wrote one verified Amazon buyer on February 12, 2017.

Some Amazon users complain that the board warps in the dishwasher. Other users say they want to avoid this fate so they happily hand-wash the board with warm, soapy water. Other negative reviewers remark that the surface gets gouged too easily by any kind of knife, but that is a common occurrence for plastic cutting boards.

Across the web, professional reviewers, including those at America's Test Kitchen, The Spruce, The Sweethome, The Chicago Tribune, and many more name the OXO Good Grips Cutting and Carving Board as one of the best cutting boards on the market.

Pros: Great value, double-sided board prevents cross-contamination, juice groove, easy to clean, durable plastic, lightweight and easy to maneuver, doesn't dull knives

Cons: Users note that it sometimes warps in the dishwasher

The best high-end wood cutting board

The John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board is a work of art made out of solid wood.

The name John Boos is synonymous with high-quality wood cutting boards and butcher blocks. In fact, by the 1940s, John Boos butcher blocks were found in almost every restaurant and butcher shop in the country. Rumor has it that John Boos cutting boards are the standard in the White House.

This reversible cutting board is part of the esteemed Boos RA collection, which is known for its beautiful edge grain construction. The John Boos board is much thicker than many other cutting boards on the market, coming in at 2.25-inches thick. This heavy board weighs in at 27.5 pounds, so it won't slip or slide around the kitchen counter as you chop away. It's so gorgeous that you can even leave it on your kitchen counter permanently.

The RA03 features a hard maple edge grain construction with a cream finish, two flat sides, and slightly rounded edges. In addition, inset handles make it easy to move and rotate the board or to flip it to the reverse side. The cutting board comes with a one year warranty.

After using, this cutting board should be washed by hand in warm soapy water and dried immediately. It requires oil treatment as frequently as once a week.

There are more than 380 user reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. "One of the best purchases I have ever made," wrote Tonya N. Phillips on July 23, 2016. "Love my cutting board. I use it pretty much every day."

"I have waited months to buy my first John Boos board and I am not disappointed … This is very well constructed and it came to me smooth as silk. No rough spots, very clean edges, and the hand slots are perfect for flipping the board over for a clean, sanitized spot … I love that it is made right here in the U.S.A.," wrote Donna S in February 2015.

Some Amazon users complain that the board started to crack very shortly after receiving it. Other reviewers jump in and remind everyone that you really do have to oil it on a weekly basis.

Across the web, professional reviewers, including those from The Spruce and The Chicago Tribune, recommend John Boos maple wood cutting boards.

Pros: FDA-approved, constructed with beautiful and strong maple wood, reversible, heavy and thick

Cons: Expensive, heavy

The best bamboo cutting board

Versatile and affordable, the Totally Bamboo Cutting Board Set is perfect for eco-minded consumers.  

Totally Bamboo introduced the world's first bamboo cutting board in 2000, and the company remains the leader in producing innovative bamboo houseware products. 

The Totally Bamboo Cutting Board Set includes three different sized boards to accommodate a wide range of chopping and carving needs. The boards measure 6 x 8 inches, 8 ½ x 11 inches, and 9 ½ x 13 inches, respectively. All three boards are just 3/8-inch thick, which makes them easy to maneuver and also to store.

These simple but attractive boards are made from organically-grown Moso bamboo in a tri-ply, cross laminate construction with a specially formulated high temperature adhesive. The boards are strong, and sustainably made. Giant Panda lovers can take comfort in the fact that the beloved bears do not eat Moso bamboo. Just like other wooden cutting boards, the Totally Bamboo boards need to be hand-washed with warm water and oiled on an occasional basis. The company offers a 100% satisfaction replacement warranty.

These boards are Amazon's best-selling cutting boards, and there are more than 3,000 user reviews on the site, with an average 3.8 out of 5 stars. Negative comments mainly focus on users who claim the boards break easily. You can always contact the seller or Amazon if you believe you have a defective product.

Across the web professional reviewers, including those from The Spruce and The Kitchn recommended these and similar styles of cutting boards from Totally Bamboo.

Pros: Affordable, sustainably-made, hard bamboo surface varying sizes, easy to maneuver and to store, attractive set for cutting and serving

Cons: Some users report that the boards break very easily

The best teak wood cutting board

The sturdy Teak Haus Edge Grain Cutting Board is beautiful, long-lasting, and won't dull your knives.

Teak is the hottest new wood for high-quality cutting boards like the Teak Haus Edge Grain Cutting Board. The main reason why it's so popular is that teak is a tropical wood that is very resistant to moisture. Teak's natural oils help it repel water and resist warping. Teak is also absolutely gorgeous.

This board measures 24 x 12 x 1.5 inches, and it has built-in hand grips for portability. Proteak's wood comes from Latin America and is cultivated without the use of irrigation or fertilizer, thereby producing top-quality teak with minimal impact on the environment. This board needs to be hand-washed, dried, and oiled regularly.

There are nearly 300 user reviews on reviews on Amazon, with an average of 3.8 out of 5 stars. "Excellent quality, perfect size for my use as a home cook. Nice thickness and heft, definitely a solid piece. Only drawback? My sink is too small to fit it in to wash! A minor issue," wrote one verified customer on March 11, 2017. 

Around the web, professional reviewers, including those at The Sweethome and America's Test Kitchen praised the Teak Haus Edge Grain Cutting Board for its gorgeous and durable design.

Pros: Composed of beautiful, durable teak wood from Latin America

Cons: Very heavy, some users noted that the wood split or warped quickly

The best cutting mat

The Imperial Kitchen Cutting Mat Set will cover all your cutting needs and eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination.

Each of the four flexible, non-stick, anti-microbial Imperial Kitchen Cutting Mats measure 15 x 12 inches, giving you plenty of room to handle a variety of chopping jobs. Smooth on the top and gripped on the bottom, each mat is reserved for a different use. With one for chicken, one for meat, one for fish, and one for vegetables, the chance of cross-contamination drops to almost zero.

Made of a BPA-free, high-grade plastic, the lightweight mats are dishwasher safe. There are almost 400 user reviews on Amazon, with an average score of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Fans tout the low price, the ease and flexibility of use, and the fun colors.

"The material is super strong. The flexibility makes it really easy to put whatever you've chopped or sliced or diced into the pot, the blender — or for that matter a cup or glass … The color coded designs are great for germaphobes," wrote one reviewer on June 26, 2015.

Of course, there are some reports of issues with the thin, flexible mats. Some Amazon users said the mats slid around the counter, while others noted that the dishwasher quickly warped the plastic. However, most reviews are positive.

Professional reviewers like these cutting mats, including Kitchen Little Helpers which named them one of the top 20 mats on the market. 

Pros: Affordable, colorful and fun, easy to maintain and store, cut down on the possibility of cross-contamination

Cons: Some users complain that the mats slip around the counter

Check out our other great guides for home cooks

The best bread machines 

We combed through hundreds of reviews and ratings from home bakers and experts alike as we searched for the best bread machines. The five units we chose to include in this guide can make a variety of different bread types, require minimal user oversight, and have a track record of dependability and performance. Check out our top picks, below: 

• Best overall: Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Breadmaker
• Best budget bread machine #1: Oster 2-Pound Expressbake Bread Maker
• Best budget bread machine #2: Sunbeam 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker
• Best convection machine: Convection Bread Maker by Cuisinart
• Best machine for unique breads: Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker

The best KitchenAid attachments

The best attachments for your KitchenAid mixer can do all kinds of things, from making pasta to churning ice cream. They can even replace other appliances in your kitchen. Check out our favorites, below: 

• Best KitchenAid attachment for pasta: 3-Piece Pasta Roller & Cutter Attachment Set
• Best strainer attachment: Fruit & Vegetable Strainer Set with Food Grinder Attachment
• Best peeler, corer, slicer attachment: Spiralizer Attachment with Peel, Core & Slice
• Best pasta extruder attachment: Pasta Extruder Attachment
• Best ice cream maker: Ice Cream Maker Attachment
• Best grain mill attachment: All Metal Grain Mill Attachment
• Best food processor attachment: Food Processor Attachment
• Best meat grinder attachment: KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment

The best cookie cutters 

A great set of cookie cutters makes those delicious holiday treats even more of a pleasure to make and share. These are the best cookie cutters you can buy:

• Best overall: Ann Clark Cookie Cutter Set
• Best on a budget: Winblo 40-Piece Cookie Cutter Set
• Best for Chanukah: Rite Lite LTD Metal Chanukah Cookie Cutters
• Best 3D cutters: 3D Christmas Cookie Cutters Set
• Best indestructible set: Ateco Cookie Cutter Set in Various Shapes
• Best for kids: Wilton 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set

• More than half of millennials have credit-card debt, but some just aren't worried about it, according to a new survey from Insider and Morning Consult.
• Around 30% of respondents with credit-card debt have little to no stress at all about it.
• Credit-card debt can damage your credit score, affecting your ability to build wealth.
• Read more personal finance coverage.

Some millennials are feeling pretty carefree about their credit-card debt.

That's according to a new survey from Insider and Morning Consult. The survey polled 2,096 Americans about their financial health, debt, and earnings for a new series, "The State of Our Money." More than 670 respondents were millennials, defined as ages 23 to 38 in 2019.

More than half (51.5%) of millennial respondents have credit-card debt. And while nearly 68% have some or a lot of stress about it, around 30% have little to no stress at all (some respondents selected "don't know/not applicable").

That might be because most millennials with credit-card debt don't owe a lot. About 70% of those who have little stress about their credit-card debt owe less than $5,000. But 20% owe $5,000 to $10,000, almost 5% owe between $10,000 and $20,000, and 3% owe $30,000 to $40,000.

It's a somewhat similar picture for those who aren't stressed at all about their credit-card debt — 83% owe less than $5,000. However, nearly 5% of this group of respondents each owe $5,000 to $10,000 and $10,000 to $20,000.

Perhaps these unworried millennials are just confident they'll pay their debt off — 64% of millennials who have credit-card debt have paid it all off at one point or another before.

How to pay off credit-card debt faster

Credit-cards often have high interest rates, which can prolong your repayment schedule if you don't stay on top of it, Business Insider's Tanza Loudenback reported. Credit-card debt can damage your credit score, affecting long-term wealth creation.

To pay off your debt quickly, you can ask for a lower interest rate, double your minimum payment, or consolidate your balances into one so you can make a single monthly payment.

You can also take out a personal loan, which will give you quick access to cash to pay off your outstanding balance. It may seem counterintuitive, but personal-loan interest rates can be as low as 6% to 7%, compared to 17% to 24% on a credit card, Loudenback wrote.

If none of the above options appeal to you, consider the debt avalanche method: Paying off the most expensive debt first (the one with the highest interest rate) so you can save money on interest.

• More personal finance coverage
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• The best cash back credit cards
• Are CDs a good investment?
• When to save money in high-yield savings
• Best rewards credit cards

SEE ALSO: Millennials are buckling under all kinds of debt, and they're freaking out

DON'T MISS: More than half of millennials have credit-card debt, and it reflects a financial reality other generations didn't face

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• Ex-WeWork CEO Adam Neumann inspired Halloween costumes this year.
• WeWork has been in the news for its failed IPO attempt and ousting founder Adam Neumann.
• The company has since been bailed out by SoftBank, and Neumann reportedly received $1.7 billion in an exit package that required him to step down from the board.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

After WeWork spent the summer and fall in the news, some party-goers were inspired to dress as the company's cofounder and former CEO Adam Neumann the weekend before Halloween.

Neumann has a fairly easy look to copy: he typically wears a t-shirt, blazer, and no shoes. People dressing as the former CEO got creative, incorporating his SoftBank bailout and making homemade "We" shirts. Instagram meme account Mrs. Dow Jones even brought in a glam squad to perfect Neumann's hair.

Here are some of the best Adam Neumann costumes we've seen so far this Halloween season.

SEE ALSO: Adam Neumann was reportedly too busy surfing in the Maldives to return to New York to go over WeWork's disastrous IPO paperwork, so he flew an employee out to brief him

Some Halloween Neumanns joked about his reported $1.7 billion "golden parachute."

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Halloween costume winner goes to @paulmarvucic as Adam Neumann pic.twitter.com/ARY94AgwW8

At least one party had 4 Adam Neumanns, according to Bloomberg reporter Gillian Tan.

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Spotted in the wild: WeCostume.

Two of four Adam Neumanns at the same Halloween party. Barefoot 🦶$WEpic.twitter.com/O1pxoRhyIz

Adam Neumann and Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes have been compared as charismatic founders who convinced investors to give them billions, so they make sense as a couple's costume.

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I scam, therefore I am pic.twitter.com/ScZA3UdKxf

Wall Street memer Mrs. Dow Jones even made an Adam Neumann costume tutorial, and brought in a beauty squad to get Neumann's hair just right.

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