There's no shortage of well-funded startups that cater to dogs and their owners.

BarkBox, a New York City-based startup, is a subscription-box service catering to dog lovers that's raised $21 million in VC funding. Los Angeles-based DogVacay, a sort of Airbnb for dogs, has raised $47 million.

Now there's a new startup called Bark'N'Borrow that wants to match up dogs in need of a sitter with people who love them.

Founded by Liam Berkeley in 2014, the startup is based in Los Angeles and connects people who want to hang out with a dog — maybe take one for a walk or keep it overnight.

It's free to use for dog owners and dog borrowers, though the service has a professional tier where money is exchanged between dog owners and professional dog walkers and sitters. The startup makes money by taking a cut of the money exchanged on the service's professional tier.

I live in New York City, and it's not easy to convince a landlord here to let you have a dog. I tried out Bark'N'Borrow's service to borrow a dog for a few hours this weekend.

SEE ALSO: I let anyone send me pictures on Snapchat for 6 weeks — here's what happened

Liam Berkeley started Bark'N'Borrow in 2014. He and his girlfriend wanted a dog but couldn't have one themselves at the time. So he created a network for people to borrow other people's dogs. You can use Bark'N'Borrow to find a cute dog nearby to take on a walk or hang out with for a few hours. It's free — you don't get paid to take a dog on a walk — though the company has expanded to paid jobs for professional sitters.

When you download the app, you're prompted to make a profile about yourself. I added a picture of me holding my parents' dog.

This is what dog owners see of you, so you want to make it clear you're a dog person. I think I spent longer crafting my Bark'N'Borrow profile than I ever have my Tinder bio.

Should you rent or buy a home?

If you're living in a major city, chances are the housing market is competitive — and with higher prices, fees, and closing costs, it may not make sense to buy unless you're staying put for several years.

To give you an idea of just how long you have to stay in a city for it to be worth your money to buy, personal finance site SmartAsset calculated the breakeven point — the point at which the total costs of renting become greater than the total costs of buying — for 29 major cities.

SmartAsset compared the total costs of buying and renting for a household earning $100,000 a year. For the buying scenario, the research team assumed a mortgage rate of 4.5%, closing costs of $2,000, and a down payment of 20%.

Read the full methodology.

A shorter time to break even means it's a better place to buy soon.

Read on to see how long it would take to break even in 15 major US cities cities. We've also included the average monthly mortgage payment, monthly rent, and home price, from SmartAsset's report:

SEE ALSO: Here's how much it costs for a family to live in 20 major US cities

15. Pittsburgh

Average monthly mortgage payment: $560

Average monthly rent: $1,069

Average home price: $138,235

Breakeven year: 4.3

14. Denver

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,114

Average monthly rent: $1,504

Average home price: $274,835

Breakeven year: 5.4

13. Phoenix

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,122

Average monthly rent: $1,410

Average home price: $276,744

Breakeven year: 5.7

Luxury shoppers are highly coveted customers for brands and retailers. The top 10% of US household earners (those taking home $120,000 or more annually) account for approximately half of all consumer expenditures.

This demographic’s growing preference for online shopping is changing the face of luxury retail, and it has significant implications for how brands target luxury consumers.

In a new report from BI Intelligence, we profile the luxury shopper and take a close look at the spending habits and preferences of high-income earners — including how and where they shop.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Discretionary spending among the wealthy is growing faster than for the average US consumer. Discretionary spending among those earning $120,000 a year or more is expected to increase 6.6% in 2016, reaching $406 billion, according to YouGov. Among the top 1%, it's expected to rise 10%. By contrast, discretionary spending for the average US consumer dropped 1% between 2014 and 2015.
• Wealthy consumers are expected to spend the most next year on fashion, travel, and dining. Among these categories, spending on fashion (specifically, apparel, accessories, and handbags) will grow the most, increasing 6.9% to $37.4 billion (roughly 9% of total discretionary spending). 
• Luxury brands are over-allocating ad spend to print media. The seven largest US luxury brands collectively spent $133 million last year on holiday ad spending, 57% of which was allocated to magazine ads, according to the Shullman Research Center. But among luxury shoppers, recall rates are higher for digital ads.
• There are signs that luxury shopping is less brand- and status-oriented than it once was. Luxury shoppers, like the average consumer, enjoy the convenience and low prices of online retailers like Amazon vs. shopping via official brand sites. Luxury shopping may become even more price-sensitive as millennials age. 

In full, the report:

• Sizes the market for personal luxury goods, by country.
• Measures the effectiveness of luxury marketing channels.
• Breaks down ad spend among luxury brands.
• Identifies where luxury consumers shop online and in-store.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now
2. Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >>Learn More Now

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Will Sutton, a free-runner from London, took the selfie to the next extreme.

The filming is pretty well done – considering he’s flipping off staircases.

“While recording I did fracture a few bones in my feet and took a few hits, but generally it wasn’t too bad.”

Story and video by Carl Mueller.

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Novare Res Bier Cafe in Portland, Maine, is a sprawling space with 33 rotating draught taps and upwards of 500 beers, spanning the globe from Maine to Japan.

The bar is located in the heart of Portland's Old Port, one of Maine's most popular tourist destinations. And yet, very few people know it exists, and the likelihood of stumbling across it is very low.

Why? Because it's tucked away down an alley, behind a parking garage, and in a basement.

Story and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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Austin, Texas, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, and soon a new condo building called The Independent will dominate its skyline.

Currently under construction, the skyscraper has a very unusual shape, and is often referred to as "Jenga Tower" by locals. The team behind it said they didn't just want to "put a USB stick into the sky," taking a jab at the plain glass skyscrapers so common today.

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Jeremy Dreyfuss

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Journalist Nicholas Kristof can't help but cringe when he hears hateful immigrant and refugee bashing in the United States. In many ways, the long-time New York Times columnist is living the "American Dream," as his father, Vladislav Krzysztofowicz, was a WWII refugee who fled across Eastern Europe, and even spent time in a concentration camp.

After failing to enter the US through a fake marriage, Krzysztofowicz was accepted in rural Oregon, settling there and changing his name to Ladis Kristof. He went on to become a university professor.

So it only seems fitting that Kristof is now one of the most active voices covering refugees around the world. According to him, refugees have "been a huge source of strength for the United States," and he wishes that people could see that refugees are "a tremendous boon for the country."

Story and video by Adam Banicki

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SEE ALSO: New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof says Oregon militia members are acting like 'a bunch of goons'

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Knowing which luxurious travel destinations offer the best prices can help you see some of the world's most incredible sites at a fraction of the price. 

KAYAK recently released its 2016 Travel Hacker Guide, which analyzed more than one billion searches in the website's database to provide travelers with practical advice for the year.

As part of the study, KAYAK found the top 10 cities that boast the lowest rates on 5-star hotels.

The study also took a look at flight searches from the US and Canada between November 1, 2014 and October 31, 2015 to determine typical flight rates.

Scroll down to see the cities that made the cut, as well as the average hotel and flight rates you can expect to pay if you make the trip.

SEE ALSO: This is the most affordable time to visit 24 of the world's most expensive destinations

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10. Athens, Greece

Athens has seen a surge in artists and young entrepreneurs and a revival that includes the addition of various pop-up shops, startups, eclectic boutiques, innovative accommodations, and stylish restaurants. Explore some of its most iconic monuments amidst top-notch museums and lively cafes. 

The city's 5-star hotel prices are 41% lower than the median rate for 5-star hotels around the world. 

Median hotel rates (for all hotels): Starting from $96 to $173

Median airfare from the US and Canada (round trip): Starting from $780 to $1,332

9. Panama City, Panama

Panama has one of the quickest-growing economies in Latin America, and Panama City now stands as one of the region's most cosmopolitan capitals. Glistening towers fill its skyline, while those looking for a more historical trip can explore the colonial neighborhood of Casa Viejo and its boutique hotels and underground bars. Take a day trip to one of the many sandy beaches nearby, or catch breathtaking views of the canal.

The city's 5-star hotel prices are 43% lower than the median rate for 5-star hotels around the world. 

Median hotel rates (for all hotels): From $90 to $182

Median airfare from the US and Canada (round trip): From $470 to $822

8. Beijing, China

Beijing is home to various UNESCO World Heritage Sites, royal palaces, incredible temples, and ancient alleyways that have stood for hundreds of years. Travelers can also explore portions of the Great Wall.

Besides its fascinating historic sites, the city is home to innovative modern buildings that include the NCPA concert hall and the Olympic Stadium.

The city's 5-star hotel prices are 44% lower than the median rate for 5-star hotels around the world. 

Median hotel rates (for all hotels): From $89 to $155

Median airfare from the US and Canada (round trip): From $824 to $1,436

On Tuesday, the password-management company SplashData released its annual list of the most popular passwords of the past year.

SplashData took a look at the more than 2 million passwords that got leaked last year, analyzing the most commonly leaked passwords and those that were least secure.

Most of the passwords on SplashData's list come from Western European and North American users.

Unsurprisingly, "123456" and "password" topped the list, but phrases like "monkey," "dragon," and "princess" also placed in the top 25. The password "starwars" also entered the top 25 in 2015.

To keep your passwords secure, you definitely shouldn't use any of the phrases on SplashData's list.

SplashData recommends using passwords that are eight digits or longer with different types of characters (letters, numbers, and symbols); using different username and password combinations for different websites; and using a password manager to protect your passwords and help you generate passwords that are random and thus more difficult for others to guess correctly.

Here's SplashData's full list. If your password is on here, think about changing it.

1. 123456

2. password

3. 12345678

4. qwerty

5. 12345

6. 123456789

7. football

8. 1234

9. 1234567

10. baseball

11. welcome

12. 1234567890

13. abc123

14. 111111

15. 1qaz2wsx

16. dragon

17. master

18. monkey

19. letmein

20. login

21. princess

22. qwertyuiop

23. solo

24. passw0rd

25. starwars

SEE ALSO: Univision just bought a controlling stake in satire news site The Onion

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NOW WATCH: How To Make Sure You Never Forget Your Passwords Again

When a man finally reaches adulthood, at some point he looks at his wardrobe and finds it lacking.

At that point, he must make a choice: what should he buy to fill those holes in his closet first?

According to Italian menswear designer Brunello Cucinelli, who recently spoke with GQ, the answer to that is simple: a beautiful, versatile blazer.

We at Business Insider have extolled the virtues of the blazer before, but Cucinelli's point is even more specific.

"A beautiful blazer is the starting point," he told GQ. "You can wear it to work, to get a newspaper, to dinner, a T-shirt underneath, or a proper shirt with a tie, or anything."

The versatility is what makes it so beautiful — and useful. It's an investment that will pay dividends in the coming years, and if your closet is missing it, you have so many fewer options for wearing the other items in your closet, too.

Here's what to keep in mind when you buy one:

• Color: Our advice has always been to get one in navy, as such a go-anywhere-do-anything color just increases the versatility of the garment.
• Model: Structured versus unstructured is the question all guys ask when buying their first blazer. Structured is more formal, like a suit jacket, while unstructured is less formal and more like a regular coat. In fact, this question is not one that can be answered universally — it's different for every guy. You must consider where you'll primarily be wearing your blazer, and then decide which kind will better fit into your lifestyle.
• Brand: Some of our favorites include models by J. Crew and Suitsupply, but we're sure your favorite brand makes a great one as well.

Don't be put off by the high price tags you might come across for the piece — we can assure you, it's more than worth it.

SEE ALSO: Guys are going crazy for this new kind of tuxedo

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NOW WATCH: 7 inventors who were killed by their own inventions

A lamentable shift has happened in the last few decades: Watches have all but disappeared from men's wrists.

Once upon a time, a watch was a necessity, something men and women put on their wrists every morning and took off only at night before bed. It was a necessity, or else you wouldn't know the time of day and you'd be late for all of your meetings.

As cellphones and later smartphones started becoming more common, the watch suddenly seemed old-fashioned.

Who needs a watch when you can just pull your phone out to check the time on a sleek digital display? Millennials probably never even got into the habit of wearing a watch, and for men, that's a shame.

A watch is the only accessory that a man can truly wear every day.  You can build a collection, swap them out for different outfits, change straps to suit the occasion, and find one that's perfectly suited to you and your lifestyle.

It's your own signature piece — something that you wear so often that people end up identifying it with you. Even a smartwatch is better than no watch — though, depending on the model, it will send its own unique message.

When you don't wear a watch, you're missing out on that opportunity.

On days I forget my watch, my outfit feels incomplete, like it's missing something. A watch can really tie it all together.

Now, I'm no technological skeptic — I love my iPhone 6, I'm addicted to Spotify, and for me, Snapchat is less a social network than a hobby.

Still, a watch on the wrist holds tangible benefits for the wearer that go beyond telling the time. In fact, I rarely find myself looking down at my watch to actually find out what time it is.

A watch symbolizes time much more than a smartphone does. More to the point, it reminds you that time is constantly moving and slipping away — so you better get living and doing all those things you're planning. A smartphone just doesn't call this to mind in such an immediate or tangible way.

Those hour, minute, and second hands are not going to stop moving. Neither should you.

SEE ALSO: 16 things the modern gentleman should buy for winter

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NOW WATCH: These are the watches worn by the smartest and most powerful men in the world

Each day, in the summer of 2015, 10-15 boats packed with men, women and children fleeing Syria floated ashore on the Greek island of Lesbos. For the locals, this became so routine that a rescue system was created to help facilitate the mass influx of refugees. Mary Snell, an American who has been spending time in Greece since 1973, used her iPhone to shoot video of one of these rescues. She calls it "an example of ordinary Greeks doing extraordinary things in this time of crisis."

Produced by Jenner Deal. Narration by Sara Silverstein. Special thanks to Mary Snell.

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As long as monogamy has existed, so has cheating. What makes people stray from the ones they love? We wanted to find out specifically what drives men to be unfaithful.

We talked to a leading expert on the topic, M. Gary Neuman, a psychotherapist and the author of "The Neuman Method" and "The Truth About Cheating." Through his research, Neuman found that the main reason men cheat has little to do with sex or physical attraction.

Produced by Graham Flanagan. Camera by Devan Joseph.

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Everyone needs a pick-me-up sometimes.

And as it turns out, there are a bunch of healthy things you can do to lift your spirits.

We've scoured the research to find some of the best ways to improve your mood — no pill or special elixir required.

Here are a few:

NEXT UP: A Harvard psychiatrist says 3 things are the secret to real happiness

SEE ALSO: 19 tiny life changes you can make right now for a healthier year

Get out in nature.

If you're feeling down, it might be because you're not spending enough time in nature. Living in cities has been linked to stress and mental illness, but a dose of greenery could go a long way. 

In one 2012 study published in the Journal Psychological Science, researchers gave more than 10,000 people questionnaires about their mental health over nearly two decades, and found that people who lived in urban areas with the most green space (such as parks) reported feeling the least mental distress and the highest well-being. But you don't need to live near a park to get all its benefits — preliminary research suggests that even a 90-minute walk in nature can chase away negative thoughts.

Listen to happy music.

Often all it takes is some upbeat tunes to shrug away those sad feelings. A 2013 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who listened to positive music while attempting to improve their mood reported feeling happier than people who listened to music that wasn't positive, or didn't actively try to boost their mood. So crank up the Pharrell Williams!

Do something awe-inspiring!

If you want to stop feeling awful and start feeling awesome, consider this: Several recent studies have found that experiencing a sense of awe— the feeling you get looking up into the night sky, for example — can leave you feeling less stressed and more satisfied.

As part of a two-part study published in 2015, students filled out a questionnaire and submitted samples of their spit for analysis. The students who said they had recently had awe-inspiring experiences had lower levels of a stress-related substance called interleukin-6 in their spit, compared with those who didn't feel awe. So next time you're feeling blue, why not take a scenic hike or watch the sunrise?

Thailand is known for its street food. One of the tastiest things we found on a recent trip was the "potato chip," a whole potato cut into a spiral, deep fried, and served on a stick.

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One of the reasons that celebrity trainer Jason Walsh — who runs the L.A.-based Rise Movement and helped John Krasinski become ripped for "13 Hours" — is so successful is because he avoids workout fads, claiming that they don't actually do anything.

According to him, there's only one thing that actually works...

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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Are these guys brave or insane?

This DIY thrill ride in Bulgaria is the brainchild of Vasil Tuchkov and Ilko Iliev, who set up a rope swing between two 18-story, Soviet-era apartment towers. 

Story and editing by Carl Mueller

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A bride was stood up by her fiancée just before their wedding, and when she realized that she couldn't get her money back for the reception hall, food, and entertainment, she decided to invite over a local homeless shelter to enjoy it all in her place.

Story by Alana Yzola and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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Italian daredevils Gianpaolo Vicini, 23, and Elle Cortez, 18, wanted to get the best views in town.

So they climbed to the top of a crane, tiptoed along its arm, hung off it by their fingertips, and took a selfie — all without any safety equipment.

Story and editing by Carl Mueller

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While commonplace in Europe, gap years are slowly growing in popularity with high school students in the United States.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof took a year off before college and swears by it, and since 'gappers' are consistently found to have higher GPAs in college than those who didn't take any time off, there are stats to back him up. 

Story and editing by Adam Banicki

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