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

Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out our coupons page.

1. Save $225 on the Shark Ion F80 Cord-Free MultiFlex Stick Vacuum at Target

Target has been running different deals all week long as part of its Spring Deal Days promotion and they're seemingly getting better each day. Today only, you can save 50% on the Shark Ion F80 Cordless MultiFlex Stick Vacuum when you order it online and pick it up in the store. The vacuum is great for cleaning flat surfaces and hard-to-reach spots like corners, stairs, and higher locations that require handheld use. Originally priced at $449.99, the deal brings it down to $224.99. For more deals and savings at Target, check out Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shark Ion F80 Cord-Free MultiFlex Stick Vacuum, $224.99 (Originally $449.99) [You save $225]

2. Save an extra 25% on clearance styles at Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom Rack is already known for great savings in comparison to Nordstrom, but the store is currently having a sale of its own. Now through March 10, you can save an extra 25% on already reduced clearance styles, bringing total savings up to 75%. The sale includes clothes, shoes, accessories and more from all of your favorite brands. For more deals and promotions at Nordstrom Rack, check out Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Nordstrom Rack sale now. 

3. Save an extra 25% on clearance styles at REI

Spring is almost here and REI is trying to make room for new arrivals by clearing out older styles. Now through March 11, you can save an extra 25% on clearance styles. Whether you're looking for outerwear, apparel, shoes, or camping gear, you'll find plenty of great items on sale. 

Shop the REI sale now.

4. Save up to $50 on all suspension trainers at TRX

Making it to the gym everyday for a workout isn't always possible — even for the most dedicated fitness enthusiasts. Whether you're trying to save money on a gym membership or you're strapped for time during the day, TRX systems can be a great solution to getting in your training sessions at home or on the go. During the current TRX sale, you can save up to $50 on all suspension trainers, plus get free shipping on all orders of $99 or more. You'll also find deals on kettlebells, apparel, resistance bands, and medicine balls.

Shop the TRX sale now.

5. Save big on computers, TVs, and other tech at Best Buy

Best Buy is having a huge three-day sale on all the latest tech items. Included in the sale, you'll find 4K HDTVs, laptops, all-in-one desktops, headphones, kitchen appliances and more. While anybody can shop the sale, My Best Buy members will get the greatest deal as most purchases will earn double rewards points. For more deals and promotions at Best Buy, visit Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Best Buy three-day sale now.

6.Build out your smart home with Alexa-enabled light bulbs and plugs for $10

If you recently bought a new Echo device, one of the best ways to get maximum use out of it is by using it as a smart home hub to control other devices. To help you begin to build your network of smart devices, Amazon is offering deals on the LIFX Mini Smart Bulb and Wemo Mini Smart Plug. Originally priced at $26.99 and $34.99 respectively, you can get one or the other for $10 by using the promo code "SMART10" at checkout. The promotion ends on March 31, so don't forget to order yours before then.

Buy a mini smart bulb or mini smart plug for $10 on Amazon.

7. Save 20% on all orders at NBA Store

As the NBA Playoff season approaches, basketball fans are going to want new gear to support their teams — and the NBA Store is easily the best place to shop. Until March 8, you can save 20% on all orders by using the promo code "AND1" at checkout. With everything from hats and T-shirts to jerseys and shorts, you'll find all the team sportswear you can think of.

Shop the NBA Store sale now.

Join the conversation about this story »

• In the past year, several notable million-dollar properties have received massive price cuts.
• As luxury mansions and penthouses sit on the market for months — sometimes years — owners have opted to chop prices.
• These discounts on expensive properties, such as Michael Jackson's ranch, can be as high as 70% reductions over time.

Recent price cuts to multi-million-dollar properties include Michael Jackson's Neverland and an empty Beverly Hills plot, but they are not alone.

In the past year, Business Insider has reported almost a dozen massive price reductions on mega-mansions and penthouses. The latter sometimes results in the sale of separate apartment units, which are more marketable than the full complex.

Read more: Many NYC penthouses aren't selling, so real estate companies are chopping them up into multiple smaller apartments to get them off the market

One such home is Shaquille O'Neal's Florida mansion, which has an indoor basketball court and has seen a $6 million price chop since it was listed in 2018. Business Insider's Lina Batarags previously reported that the hidden dangers of customization in luxury homes is that over-customization makes some properties hard to sell.

While some homes listed below still remain on the market, others successfully sold after their price chops, such as a $159 million mansion in Hillsboro Beach. The mansion sold in January after three years on the market and a whopping $100 million reduction.

Keep reading for a look at some of the most expensive real-estate cuts over the past year, from lived-in celebrity homes to brand-new apartments.

SEE ALSO: Luxury real estate developers are building out elaborate basements for multimillion-dollar mansions, and they include spas, tennis courts, and even ballrooms

1. Michael Jackson's infamous Neverland Ranch is back on the market for $31 million.

Source: Business Insider

Originally listed for $100 million in 2015, the property was reduced to $65 million in 2017. Its most recent cut reflects a 70% drop from its initial asking price.

Source: Business Insider

2. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, a 4-level mega-mansion once listed for $250 million ...

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider

Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Delta's two mainstream credit cards offer discounted one-time access to Delta Sky Club lounges, while its premium card offers complimentary access whenever flying Delta.
• Until April 3, all three cards are offering their highest-ever public new member bonuses.
• The Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express offers 60,000 Delta SkyMiles when you spend $2,000 in the first three months.
• When you open the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and spend $3,000 in the first three months, you'll get 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles.
• The premium card, the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express, is also offering 75,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles, although you'll need to spend $5,000 in three months.
• Read more about the offers and the differences between the three cards here.

One of the benefits of Delta's two mainstream credit cards — the Gold Delta SkyMiles and the Platinum Delta SkyMiles cards from American Express — is the ability to purchase discounted access to Delta's Sky Club airport lounges.

Until recently, anyone could purchase one-time access to Sky Clubs for $59 at any lounge's front desk. However, these day passes were eliminated in mid-November 2018.

Fortunately, single-visit passes are still available for Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles cardholders. If you have one of those cards, you can buy access to the Sky Club for just $29 — about half the price of what used to be available to anyone flying Delta.

Those discounted lounge passes are great for travelers who occasionally fly Delta, or would only use the lounge access a few times each year — for instance, in case of delays, long connections, or a tendency to arrive for flights a bit early.

If you can see yourself using the Sky Club more often, you should instead consider Delta's premium card — the Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express— which gives the cardholder complimentary access to Sky Clubs whenever they're flying Delta. That helps offset the card's $450 annual fee.

The Delta Reserve card comes with a few other perks, including a domestic first class companion pass, and higher upgrade priority for Delta Medallion members.

An alternative, if you're looking for the widest lounge access you can get from a credit card, the best option is the (not Delta-branded) Platinum Card® from American Express. In addition to Sky Club access whenever flying Delta, that card offers access to Priority Pass lounges, AmEx's own Centurion and International Lounges, and more. That's a network of over 1,200 lounges around the world.

The AmEx Platinum has a high $550 annual fee, but it's easy to get more value than that — in my first year with the card, I got over $2,000 in value. Right now, the card offers 60,000 AmEx Membership Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first three months.

Click here to learn more about the Gold Delta SkyMiles card from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.

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

Click here to learn more about the AmEx Platinum card from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: 9 lucrative credit-card deals new cardholders can get this month — including up to 75,000 Delta SkyMiles

Join the conversation about this story »

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

• Every season, it seems there's a new skin-care trend that promises to brighten, glow, and smooth.
• While the trends are fun to follow, with the way they come and go, it can be hard to know if they're really worth the investment.
• When looking for skin-care products that really work, we turn to the tried-and-true classics.
• Here are seven great skin-care products that have stood the test of time, including staples like Carmex Lip Balm, Kiehl's Creme de Corps, and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair.

Snail facials, ten-step routines, LED face masks — it seems like there's always a new beauty trend. Some of them stick, but plenty of skin-care trends turn into fads that ultimately get replaced by something new, promising an even brighter complexion or an even dewier glow.

Yet, there are some products that have never faded into the background. They may not be the trendiest out there, but they've claimed their spot as cult-favorite beauty products for one reason: They really work. You probably even know some of these already — the lip balm you've been buying since middle school or the lotion your mom's been using your whole life.

Keep reading for seven skin-care products that have stood the test of time:

Kiehl's Creme de Corps

Kiehl's Creme de Corps, available at Kiehl's, $30

Kiehl's has been serving New Yorkers from its East Village storefront since 1851. Plenty of its original products are still best-sellers today, like this fan-favorite body lotion. Cocoa butter, squalene, and beta-carotene give this lotion seriously moisturizing properties that saturate the skin for long-lasting hydration. It's a great counter to dry, flaky winter skin. 

Smith's Rosebud Salve

Smith's Rosebud Salve, available at Sephora, $7

The antique-y look of the Rosebud Salve tins isn't an attempt at novelty — Rosebud Perfume Company has been around since 1895. Dr. Smith was a pharmacist who ran a small, local drugstore. When his friends and customers challenged him to make a salve that could heal a variety of skin irritations, he formulated the product we know today as Rosebud Salve. It's light, floral scent smells delightful, and the consistency is perfect for soothing anything from chapped lips to small scrapes. 

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, available at Sephora, $98

This serum is a beauty industry icon — and it deserves the recognition. It seriously hydrates to diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and ultimately leave skin looking radiant. First launched in 1982, not only was this the first serum on American shelves, but it was one of the first products to capitalize on the link between DNA damage and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The product boasts a unique history and, to this day, a cult-like following of loyal users who swear by the stuff.

• Alex Trebek has been the host of the "Jeopardy!" game show for 35 years.
• Trebek began his career at CBC and NBC before working for the Game Show Network.
• Trebek holds the record for most episodes of a game show hosted, and currently reportedly earns a salary of $10 million a year.

Alex Trebek has been the host of "Jeopardy!" for 35 years and has been hosting game shows for over 50 years. That amounts to nearly 8,000 hosted episodes, according to the game show's official site.

After starting his television career at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Trebek went on to host dozens of shows along with securing his recurring role as the host of game show "Jeopardy!" in 1984. The show originally debuted in 1964.

Despite rumors of his retirement, Trebek's contract is effective until 2022, which was reaffirmed in a recent video message in which he announced his diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Trebek said he plans to beat the disease, as he is in contract to host "Jeopardy!" for another three years.

Read more: 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer

Amidst a long list of achievements, Trebek holds the record for the longest game show host, along with six total Emmy Awards.

He has also made countless cameos on popular television shows, from "Golden Girls" to "How I Met Your Mother."

Keep reading for a look at Trebek's career, from his college CBC days to his most recent accomplishments.

SEE ALSO: INSIDE 'JEOPARDY!' — We spent a day on the set with Alex Trebek

NOW READ: Here's how 5 of the richest 'Jeopardy' champions spend their winnings

Canadian television personality Alex Trebek has been a game show host for over 50 years.

Born George Alexander Trebek, Trebek grew up in Sudbury, Ontario in 1940. The city is the fifth-largest in Canada by land size, and is roughly 250 miles north of Toronto.

Source: CBC, TV Guide, World Atlas

Trebek attended the University of Ottawa ...

Source: CBC

• Alex Trebek, who has been the host of Jeopardy since 1984, announced Wednesday that he's been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
• The diagnosis means the cancer has spread to other parts of his body.
• Trebek said he'll "fight this" and "keep working." 
• Scientific studies suggest that kind of positive outlook can be a boon to cancer patients. 

Alex Trebek, who has been hosting Jeopardy for 35 years, was recently diagnosed with cancer.

On Wednesday, Trebek, who's infamously "curious about everything," announced his diagnosis with a video message on Twitter, adding in his usual dose of trivia flare.

"Just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer," Trebek said. 

This disease starts in the pancreas, an organ in the abdomen that helps us break down food so the body can use it. Stage 4 cancer is the most advanced, meaning Trebek's cancer has spread in his body. The five-year survival rate for this type of pancreatic cancer is 3%. 

"Normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this, and I’m going to keep working," Trebek, who is 78 years old, said in the video. He joked that his decision to keep hosting Jeopardy is not a choice, but an obligation.

"Under the terms of my contract, I have to host ‘Jeopardy!’ for three more years! So help me. Keep the faith and we’ll win," he said. 

Pancreatic cancers are not often diagnosed early because there aren't many detectable signs or symptoms, and because the organ is hidden by the stomach, small intestine, liver, and others. Unfortunately, that means the cancer often has ample time to metastasize before it gets caught and treated. 

"With the love and support of my family and friends and with the help of your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease," Trebek added. 

Trebek's treatment options

Pancreatic cancer can be treated in a variety of ways. Surgeons can remove a cancerous tumor from the pancreas, or doctors may perform a pancreotomy, removing the affected organ altogether. That strategy probably won't help much if a cancer has already spread to other areas of the body, though, as Trebek's has. 

Radiation can be used to both kill pancreatic cancer cells and stop them from growing further with x-rays, but patients with stage 4 pancreatic cancer more often opt for chemotherapy, which aims to perform many of the same cancer-nixing functions as radiation with powerful drugs like gemcitabine.

There are also clinical trials that patients can enroll in to try out newer cancer treatments.

Stage 4 pancreatic cancer is a disease doctors are still learning how to treat best, and some of the recommended care is simply palliative, meaning its goal is to relieve symptoms and reduce suffering. For example, doctors may perform bypass surgery on patients whose cancer has progressed beyond the pancreas to help them eat normally if a tumor is blocking blood flow to the stomach or gallbladder.

Optimism can be good, but not if it divorces cancer patients from reality

A cancer diagnosis can be a depressing prospect.

Researchers have found that a person's risk of developing anxiety and depression can rise when they become a cancer patient. Trebek's positive attitude may help with that: a 2017 analysis of 180 different studies found that patients who believe they can exercise some control over the way they cope with a diagnosis, thereby mitigating stress, can better manage their anxiety and maintain a good quality of life.  

"The battle of being mortal is the battle to maintain the integrity of one’s life — to avoid becoming so diminished or dissipated or subjugated that who you are becomes disconnected from who you were or who you want to be," author and surgeon Atul Gawande wrote in his 2014 book, "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End."

But believing that everything's going to be fine can also be problematic. An 18-year-long study of older Canadians (Trebek's home country) showed that a persons risk of death is 313% higher if they're unrealistically rosy about their own health expectations. Researchers think this may be because people might feel more defeated when their outcomes are worse than what they'd expected, or because a person who's too optimistic may go untreated and fail to properly prepare for the worst.

Oncologists also tend to be overly optimistic about a cancer patient's odds of survival in conversations with them, studies suggest. Patients, however, generally appreciate more honesty and empathy from their doctors than hollow optimism. 

The militaristic combat language surrounding "fighting" a cancer diagnosis doesn't always help, either. 

"Anyone facing this cancer must indeed summon valor to undergo life-prolonging treatment," gastrointestinal oncologist Mark Lewis wrote in The Oncologist last year. "But there is a larger issue here with the semantics of sickness. We have, perversely, allowed our medical vocabulary around cancer to mutate into the parlance of combat. No other disease evokes such talk of conflict." 

No matter how a patient approaches their cancer diagnosis, the outcome should not be associated with any special badge — or lack thereof.

"I have cared for thousands of patients with cancer, and I have never met a coward," Lewis said.

• Read more:
• 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer
• This is what 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek is really like

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: INSIDE 'JEOPARDY!' — We spent a day on the set with Alex Trebek

• Luxury retreat Modern Elder Academy caters to tech workers who feel they are lagging behind technology because of their age, reported Nellie Bowles of The New York Times.
• The tech industry, particularly in Silicon Valley, is known for hiring younger workers — even some millennials who work in tech feel "old."
• Modern Elder, which helps guests navigate the midlife, is just one example of a rise in health and wellness as a luxury trend.

Does 30 signal old age? In tech, the answer might be yes.

Just ask the 30- and 40-somethings who have attended Modern Elder Academy, a luxury retreat in El Pescadero, Mexico, that costs $5,000 for a weeklong program.

Founded by Airbnb veteran Chip Conley, Modern Elder caters to workers in tech who feel their age can't keep up with the growing pace of technology, according to a profile of the retreat by Nellie Bowles of The New York Times.

"In and around San Francisco, the conventional wisdom is that tech jobs require a limber, associative mind and an appetite for risk — both of which lessen with age," Bowles wrote. "As Silicon Valley work culture becomes American work culture, these attitudes are spreading to all industries.

"More workers are finding themselves in the curious position of presenting as old while still being — technically, actuarially — quite young," Bowles continued. "And Modern Elder sees a business opportunity in selling them coping workshops, salt-air yoga, and access to a shaman."

In the tech industry, workers often feel older than their actual age

"People feel irrelevant younger, especially in places like Silicon Valley," Conley, age 52, told Bowles. He came up with the idea for the resort after his younger Airbnb coworkers started calling him "the elder."

According to market research firm Statista, the median age at four of the top tech companies in the US, including Facebook and LinkedIn, falls in the late-20s range. At another ten, including Google and Amazon, the median age of workers ranges from 30-35, Business Insider previously reported.

Read more: The average age of employees at all the top tech companies, in one chart

Tech workers in their 20s are worshipped, while those in their 30s are tolerated, Business Insider's Julie Bort wrote. Many tech workers she talked to said they have directly experienced ageism at their jobs after turning 50.

According to Bort, older workers fall into a trap where their skills get outdated over time. The same can even be said of millennials.

"Those in their mid-30s today came of age on the cusp of the digital revolution," Bowles wrote. "Many older millennials didn’t have internet at home until high school, didn’t join social networking sites until college, and didn’t get an iPhone until they had already begun their careers. The arrival of Generation Z into the workplace is showing millennials what a true digital native looks like."

Wellness-inspired escapes are part of a growing luxury trend 

Guests have to apply and be accepted to partake in Modern Elder's program. Activities — some of which come at additional costs — include wisdom circles, beach meditation, mindfulness classes, horseback riding, and surfing lessons, according to the Modern Elder website. 

While Bowles said that Modern Elder isn't a health/detox retreat, its website said the retreat aims to reframe the mind and help guests navigate the midlife: It's well-being for the mind.

It's also part of a rising trend in health and wellness as a status symbol. More of the cultural elite are investing in the trend as a discreet way of showing off their wealth.

Read more: Forget shiny Rolexes and Louis Vuitton handbags — rich people are investing more in education and health, and it shows that discreet wealth is the new status symbol

"Wellness is increasingly regarded as a modern embodiment of luxury, and accordingly, an array of spas and studios offering treatments like cryofacials, weeklong retreats, and vitamin IV dripsare delivering those experiences," Business Insider's Lina Batarags wrote. 

Wellness inspired escapes like Modern Elder are just one example. As its website slogan reads, "Grow whole, not old."

Read the full New York Times article here »

SEE ALSO: Step inside the $10,000-per-week California spa that's been named the No. 1 spa in the world and that's beloved by celebs and CEOs

DON'T MISS: Millionaires are showing off their money differently than they used to, and it's led to the creation of 2 distinct luxury worlds

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Take a look inside a $28.5 million NYC apartment on Billionaires' Row

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

• Moving can be stressful, but a sweet gift from a friend can make the process of settling in a little more bearable.
• Though a basket of baked goods, a bottle of wine, or a vase of flowers will do the trick, the gifts that truly stand out are unique and practical — and hundreds of them can be found on Amazon's Handmade page. 
• We rounded up 29 picks from Amazon Handmade that make for original, thoughtful housewarming gifts. 

If you've just been invited to a housewarming party for a friend who recently moved, you're probably trying to figure out something original and thoughtful to bring that not every other guest will have in-hand. Wine and flowers are a typical go-to when it comes to housewarming presents, but there are more creative options, like those on Amazon's Handmade page, that are both unique and useful. 

Amazon features tons of one-of-a-kind gifts, decor, clothing, and accessories on their handmade page — all of which add a personal touch to any gifting occasion. Typically, shipping can be more of a lengthy process when purchasing from independent crafters, but hundreds of Amazon Handmade products are Prime-eligible for a seamless shopping experience. 

To make the process of gifting even more seamless, Amazon has a specific handmade section for housewarming gifts. I discovered 29 unique and practical items from coasters to candles that definitely won't end up being gifted twice.

A comfy pillow that will remind them of home

PCB Home Zip Code Throw Pillow, $25, Available at Amazon

An address sign that's perfectly minimalist

Urban Concrete Design Address Sign, $69, Available on Amazon

An elegant cutting board for the newlyweds who just bought their first home

Straga Cutting Boards Engraved Cutting Board, $35, Available at Amazon

• Uber Rewards is now available to all US customers — the ride-hailing app's first reward program. 
• For every dollar spent on Uber or Uber Eats, users can earn points to ascend to different tiers of the incentive program. 
• Uber Rewards automatically includes all purchases from the last six months. And everyone who enrolls in Uber Rewards automatically receives $5 in Uber Cash for every 500 points they earn.

Uber just rolled out its first-ever rewards program to all US customers. But even if you've never seen Uber Rewards on your app before, you might already be enrolled as a Gold, Diamond, or Platinum member.

That's because the program includes all of your purchases from the last six months — allowing you to instantly access features like flexible cancellations, complementary upgrades to Uber Black, or priority airport pickups.

Founded in 2009, Uber said in a statement that the program was launched from user feedback. "Our customers have told us they want to see a return on their everyday spend, and care about price consistency, being on time, and the quality of their experience," the statement read. "So we kept this feedback top of mind as we designed the benefits."

Users earn one point for every dollar spent on Uber Eats or Pool; two points for every dollar spent on UberX, UberXL, or Select; and three for every dollar spent on Black or Black SUV.

Read more:Uber Freight is helping combat a $1.3 billion problem that the trucking industry has ignored for years

For every 500 points you earn, you receive $5 in Uber Cash.

In addition to the Uber Cash benefits, there are four levels in Uber Rewards: Blue; Gold; Diamond; and Platinum. Here's what they each entail.

Blue — 0 points

You've enrolled into the program, but you don't have any perks yet.

Gold — 500 points

You get flexible cancellations, meaning you can cancel and rebook an Uber trip within 15 minutes and have the cancellation fee refunded. There's also priority service for quicker responses from support agents.

Platinum — 2,500 points

In addition to Gold level benefits, you'll receive "price protection" when taking rides between two locations you commonly travel between. That means surge pricing won't hit you quite as hard as it might otherwise. (More information on that here.)

You also have access to priority airport pickup. 

Diamond — 7,500 points

In addition to Platinum benefits, Diamond members can get three Uber Eats deliveries with no fee every six months. They also get complimentary upgrades to Uber Black and other premium rides, highly-rated "UberX Diamond" drivers, and 24/7 phone support.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's company truck drivers are among the best-treated in the industry — and they're getting a pay raise next month

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Meet the guy who wraps celebrities' supercars, including Harry Styles and KSI

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

• The North Face is having a major clearance on past-season styles for men, women, and kids. 
• You'll find some of its best-selling products for up to 30% off with free shipping and free returns.
• Now is the perfect time to stock up on coats, vests, boots, and winter gear for next season. 

For many, the thought of purchasing a jacket or coat doesn’t even come to mind until the winter months start to approach. But the best time to buy new winter weather gear and accessories is actually just as winter is coming to an end.

To make room for spring arrivals, retailers clear out their old inventory every year just as the weather gets ready to transition — which is great news for anyone looking to stock up for next winter at a fraction of the price. The North Face is jumping on board the sale train and offering up to 30% off past season styles— not to mention free shipping and free returns on all purchases.

You’ll find some top sellers like the Revolve 2 Jacket and the Nuptse Vest, along with some more unique finds like the Thermoball Bootie II. No matter what style suits your needs, the prices will be hard to beat (and maybe even harder to resist).

The North Face sale section is always stocked with great items, but the added discount means that some of its best-selling products are likely to run out pretty quickly. If you're looking for something specific, you might want to head over to the site now to see if it's still in stock.

Shop all clearance items at The North Face now.

Check out some of the best past-season styles for men and women:

Men’s Gotham Jacket III

$209.30 (Originally $299) [You save $89.70]

Women’s Clementine Triclimate Jacket

$196 (Originally $280) [You save $84]

Men’s Campshire Pullover

$84 (Originally $120) [You save $36]

• Mark Zuckerberg has laid out a vision of how Facebook services will become the backbone for the way people live online, Business Insider's Shona Ghosh writes.
• Zuckerberg's vision for Facebook is uncannily similar to how the WeChat app dominates modern life in China, serving a variety of functions from messaging, social networking, and e-commerce to taxi-hailing, bike-sharing and travel booking.
• Over six weeks in China, I saw WeChat's ubiquity firsthand, where to get anything done — from paying for a coffee to making plans with business acquaintances to buying a train ticket — life is infinitely easier with the app.
• If Zuckerberg follows through with the WeChat model, it's about getting more user data, not less. Because of how many services Chinese tech companies offer to their customers, they have wildly detailed profiles of each user, which they monetize, often directly in the app.

Imagine this: you are walking down Fifth Avenue in New York City and you spot a hip coffee shop. It's cold so you decide to pop in for a hot chocolate.

As you wait in line, you notice that no one is pulling out their wallet to pay. Instead they tap their phone and voila, there's their macchiato. You realize the app everyone is using to pay is Facebook.

But you deactivated your Facebook account months ago. They don't accept cash. No hot chocolate for you.

A week later, you're at lunch with a friend and she tells you all of your friends went to a club last weekend. You ask her why she didn't invite you. She says she forgot. You don't use WhatsApp, which Facebook owns, and that's where they made the plans.

The bill comes and you two decide to split it. She pays with Facebook on her phone. When it comes time to give her your share, you fumble. You don't use Facebook anymore and can't use its built-in "Bill Splitter." Now you have to go to the ATM to get cash.

You head to the train station to catch the commuter rail to your parents' house. Everyone is walking directly onto the train, swiping the ticket they bought on Facebook. You get into the long line to buy one from the only agent still working the station and nearly miss the train.

If it sounds far-fetched that an app could be this ubiquitous and essential to daily life, think again. It already exists in China.

WeChat, or Weixin as its known in Chinese, has been described by The New York Times, in a video about Western firms copying Chinese apps, as a "Swiss Army knife."

Over the course of six weeks in China last spring, I saw firsthand how essential WeChat is to modern Chinese life.

Each of those scenarios I just described actually happened to me in China.

China's 'Swiss Army Knife' app is everywhere

As one Chinese person described it to me, everyone uses WeChat. It's more than an app or service, it is modern life. More than 1 billion people use the app, and it has been China's most popular for some time.

While WeChat is first and foremost parent company Tencent's messaging service, the app serves a variety of functions from messaging, social networking, and e-commerce to taxi-hailing, bike-sharing and travel booking.

If you want to talk to someone in China — for work or personal — you don't use e-mail, you don't call their phone, you send them a message on WeChat.

When I first started reporting in China, I found it impossible to find e-mail addresses and, even when I did, I often didn't get responses. Then I downloaded WeChat and suddenly found myself in direct contact with every source I could want.

It was like being able to see after spending a week blind.

Read more: One photo shows that China is already in a cashless future

What's amazing is how many people use WeChat's various services — not just young tech-savvy millennials.

My partner's grandmother, who is Chinese, doesn't know how to use the internet, but she has WeChat on her phone and she's an expert at it. When you meet someone at a business meeting in China, no one asks for your phone number or hands out a business card; you scan each other's QR codes so you can trade WeChat IDs.

When you wander through a city, busking musicians and panhandlers don't ask for coins or cash; they have signs with their WeChat Pay QR code on it.

I remember the first time I saw this phenomenon play out. I was standing in front of the ancient city walls of Xi'an, a city of 13 million in northwestern China, when I happened upon a group of Chinese students gathered to listen to a few musicians sing on a Saturday night.

The musicians had no open guitar case to take tips. But every couple of songs, one of their friends held up two cards printed with QR codes — one for Alipay, WeChat Pay's competitor, and the other for WeChat Pay. Dozens of the attendees lifted up their phones and, in seconds, had scanned the QR code and sent a few yuan to the performers.

Mark Zuckerberg's dream also means getting more user data

This is the kind of ubiquity Mark Zuckerberg seemed to be alluding to in his most recent blog post on Facebook's future. As BI's Shona Ghosh wrote, Zuckerberg "appears to be envisaging a future where people touch a Facebook-owned service for every aspect of their daily lives, just like WeChat in China."

Make no mistake, despite Zuckerberg's recent overtures to protect user privacy, this kind of business plan is about getting more invasive user data, not less.

The Chinese tech industry's greatest innovation is the mass adoption of ecosystem-based technology platforms, including WeChat and Alibaba.

Most often likened to the Amazon of China, Alibaba began as an e-commerce platform but has expanded into travel booking, movie tickets, social networking, live-streaming, food delivery, and entertainment. Alipay's data and services deeply are integrated into its main app, linking accounts to a money market fund, loan products, and a credit-scoring business.

The consumer data from these services is used to build detailed profiles of each user, which companies can then monetize for marketing purposes directly within their apps in ways that even Facebook and Google would salivate over.

One Chinese tech exec told me how consumer data they'd gathered was so targeted and specific that they were helping brands determine what products they should be building or selling in the future and what consumers to target, not just how to advertise right now.

That kind of data is the long play that it sounds like Facebook has in mind.

In China, many Chinese are okay with the ubiquity of apps like WeChat because it comes down to a trade-off between convenience and privacy. Chinese internet services have developed rapidly through widespread access to the user data generated by mobile payments, food deliveries, ride-hailing, messaging, and other services.

It's made people's lives easier. With little history of privacy in Chinese culture, many Chinese have shrugged at WeChat's ubiquity.

Whether America's tech industry follows the same path will likely come down to whether Americans make the same choice.

SEE ALSO: Many Chinese people don't care about privacy on the internet — here's why, according to a top professor in China

DON'T MISS: The 2 biggest things Silicon Valley misunderstands about China, according to a top Alibaba exec

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why Amazon canceled HQ2 in New York City and what it means for everyone involved

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• The Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker is Amazon's #1 best-selling cold brew coffee maker and among the best cold brew coffee maker you can buy overall, according to our buying guide.
• It comes in two sizes: 1 quart (4 servings, $25) and 2 quarts (8 servings, $35), and has over 1,800 5-star Amazon customer reviews.
• In person, it's easy to use and makes reliable, affordable cold brew. 

Like many people who prefer cold brew or iced coffee, I quickly found myself at a personal (and financial) crossroads. 

The Starbucks app made it easy to re-order from the shop on my way to work, but I was spending an irresponsible amount on something I could make relatively easily at home. And, beyond money, it didn't seem justifiable using that many plastic cups and straws on a personal luxury. You can bring in a reusable travel mug, but it's not uncommon to see a plastic cup used for easy measuring and then thrown out after the finished drink is transferred to its now decidedly less  "green" substitute.

A better option for saving money and plastic is getting a reusable at-home cold brew maker. For the savings, though, you’re going to have to put up with some forethought and patience not otherwise required for a $7 cup from the local shop. What makes cold brew so delicious is the long (~12 hour+) process of letting the coarse-ground coffee steep in water. Rather than using heat to extract the coffee’s oils and sugars and caffeine, cold brew relies on time. In reward, cold brew is less acidic and bitter than cold coffee over ice. It would be more convenient if it took only the push of a Keurig button, but then it wouldn't be cold brew. 

In other words, you can't cut corners. But if you're willing to prep even a night in advance (or make enough to last you through the week), then you should pick up a home brewer. If you want good quality cold brew and plenty of it for less than $40, I recommend checking out the Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker, which is a small sensation in its own corner of the universe. 

The Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker is Amazon's #1 best seller in the category, and it has almost 1,8000 5-star reviews. As an owner of one, I'm not surprised: It does what it's supposed to, and it does it for a great price. 

The Takeya goes for $15-$35 (price dependent upon size), and is durable, dishwasher-safe, and makes up to 8 servings of coffee concentrate at once. It also fits comfortably in most refrigerator doors. Some purists prefer glass, but the Takeya's BPA-free material won't bother the average user. Glass brewers are more eco-friendly and skirt some concerns about being able to repurpose the container for drinks like tea without a lingering coffee taste, but plastic appeals to those looking for a cheap cold brew maker that they can handle without much care. 

For me, it was a pretty simple decision in terms of cost, easy steps, positive reviews, and quantity of coffee. I try to spend as little of my free time on routine as possible, so a one-time, 30-second chore for days worth of cold brew was very appealing. Recently, the company released an even bigger two-quart size thanks to requests from customers. 

The process is extremely simple. You dump 14-16 tablespoons of your favorite coarsely ground coffee into the infuser, attach it to the lid, and fill the pitcher with 32 ounces of cold water. Then, you lower the infuser into the water by twisting the Takeya cap on. Shake it well, and store it in the refrigerator overnight or up to 36 hours for extra-strong coffee concentrate which can be diluted if you choose. The Takeya top has an airtight seal, so I've never had an issue with leaking, even when the pitcher was laid on its side. Once the brewing process is finished, just remove the infuser and replace the lid. 

If your schedule is hectic and you miss a couple mornings, the brewed coffee will stay fresh in your Takeya for up to two weeks. 

The only thing to note is that the Takeya uses half the grounds to produce the same amount of cold brew as some of the other cult-favorite coffee makers out there, meaning you're more likely to get a weaker brew. If you don't plan to dilute your cold brew concentrate with milk or water, though, this may not ultimately matter to you. If you're sensitive to caffeine, it could also be an advantage. 

Insider Picks named the Takeya one of the best cold brew makers you can buy. On my most caffeine-dependent weeks, I save $20-plus just by using this. Over the course of a year, that's hundreds of dollars. I definitely still occasionally forget to make cold brew ahead of time and wind up at the local Starbucks, but the trips have ceased to bother me now that they've become so minimal. 

The Takeya may not be the perfect option for everyone, but it's a great one for anyone looking for delicious, affordable cold brew at home for as few steps, storage space, and hassle as possible. 

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1-Quart, $25

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 2-Quart, $35

Join the conversation about this story »

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

• Buying a car is something most people prefer to do in person, but shopping online does have many benefits — and eBay Motors is a good place to start looking.
• With over 5 million cars sold on the platform to date, eBay Motors is great for finding specific vehicles, whether regular commuter cars or exotic supercars, and safely purchasing them.
• The site offers user feedback for accountability, secure payment methods, free vehicle history reports, and up to $100,000 in Vehicle Purchase Protection.
• Read on to learn about the benefits of shopping on eBay Motors and how to safely navigate the market.

In just a few clicks, you can buy clothes, shoes, mattresses, groceries and pretty much anything else you can think of from the comfort of your home.

But cars are still one of the few things that most people prefer to buy in person. The idea of buying something as substantial (in size and price) as a vehicle online probably gives most people anxiety, but the reality is that the car-buying process has come a long way. Either stumbling upon a nice used car with a for sale sign on it or shopping at used car lots with overzealous salesmen were once the only options, but the internet has opened up more avenues.

By purchasing a car online, you can cast your net far and wide to ensure that you end up in driver's seat of the ride you really want, not just what's available locally. As with any industry, the online car market does have some questionable products and shady sellers, but with the right know-how, you can avoid almost all the risks — and eBay is one the most useful and trusted sites for doing so.

If you're not an avid eBay user, you've probably thought of the site only as a marketplace to buy and sell collectible baseball cards, vintage clothes, and other random knickknacks, but its automotive section, eBay Motors, is a major destination for buying cars with more than five million vehicles sold to date. 

Why eBay Motors is a safe destination for buying a vehicle:

Buying a car of any kind, regardless of where it's listed, comes with some level of risk. Even if a car is accurately advertised, it could very well break shortly after you purchase it. After all, it is a machine and there are plenty of variables that neither you nor the seller have complete control over. With that said, you'll want to eliminate all the other risks associated with buying a car that you do have control over.

Alternatives like Craigslist and Facebook buying and selling groups can be convenient to use as they require less work to make a sale or purchase on, but with no real regulations on business practices, they're essentially free-for-alls between buyers and sellers. I've done my fair share of car and auto parts shopping on platforms like these, and from firsthand experience, you will undoubtedly come across scammers, time-wasters, falsely advertised cars in regards to condition and vehicle history, and generally crappy items merely listed for those naïve enough to bite. And since most sellers on those platforms require will require you to pay in cash — some might even try to convince you into shady payment methods or reloadable debit cards —  your hard-earned money could be put in jeopardy.

On the other hand, eBay Motors has plenty of attributes that make it safer, with user feedback, secure payment methods, and Vehicle Purchase Protection being some of the most important.

In 2018, the 10 most expensive cars sold on eBay Motors alone amounted to nearly $4.1 million with the single most expensive being a 2017 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce for $499,900. If sales that big can be handled through eBay Motors, you can rest assured that your purchase (more than likely for a much lesser amount) will go smoothly, too.

How to find the perfect car on eBay:

With more than 118,000 active listings right now, there's a lot to choose from on eBay Motors. And with its huge inventory comes a fine-tuned search engine. You can search by make, model, year, color, transmission type, distance from you, price range, and more. Even if you're not sure what you're looking for specifically, eBay Motors has categories like Classics, Exotics, SUVs, Electrics and Hybrids, Minivans, and Sedans to help you make a decision. It's set up so that you can either find the right car or let the right car find you.

How to use feedback to gauge a seller's legitimacy:

So, you've found your dream car on eBay, but before you hit that "Buy it now" button, you want to make sure that the seller is trustworthy — and their feedback is the best indication of that. Every user on eBay has an overall feedback percentage that's calculated from positive, neutral, and negative feedback as a seller and as a buyer. When carefully analyzed, this is one way you can make a better decision about going forward with a transaction. Obviously, a 100% feedback rating (or a number very close to it) should be the first thing you should look for, but there are many other factors.

Most importantly, you'll want to look at the user's feedback as a seller. Since most eBay breaks feedback down into "as a seller" and "as a buyer" categories, you want to make sure that they've done transactions as a seller. It's a lot easier to accumulate feedback as a buyer (all you have to do is pay for the items you buy), so feedback as a seller definitely holds more weight in regards to trustworthiness.

You'll also want to look at what the user has sold in the past. For each instance of feedback they've received, it'll show what the transaction was for and in some cases, the listing can still be viewed. This is the best way to see that other people who've bought the same or similar products had a positive buying experience. For example, you might find a seller with 250 feedback ratings all from selling cars to be more reliable than a seller who accumulated thousands of feedback ratings from selling $2 fidget spinners before recently moving on to cars. That's not to say one is more trustworthy than the other, but it helps to take their score with a grain of salt.

The site also breaks down feedback received within the last month, six months, and 12 months, so if a seller had one bad transaction months ago, but has since received many positive feedback ratings, you can better assume that your transaction will be smooth as well.

Regardless of what I'm buying on eBay, I always look at a seller's feedback and take these things into consideration. As for sellers without any feedback, my general rule of thumb is to avoid them. I understand that everyone has to start somewhere as a seller, but to stay on the safe side, I won't let them start with me as their first customer.

Secure payment methods and eBay Motors' Vehicle Purchase Protection:

Every car purchase on eBay Motors comes with Vehicle Purchase Protection, which covers certain losses associated with fraud. Buyers can receive up to $100,000 or the value of the car (whichever is lower) if deemed a victim of fraud. The only way to ensure that you're protected as a buyer is to make the purchase through eBay. Even if you're in close proximity to the vehicle or you're willing to travel to it, the transaction must ultimately go through the site if you want the assurance and protection of eBay's plan. Some fraudulent sellers from other sites claim eBay protection on their vehicles as part of their scam.

The protection plan covers instances like never receiving the vehicle after purchase, purchasing a stolen vehicle, or purchasing a vehicle with undisclosed issues with the motor or transmission. General maintenance issues like belts, hoses, and lightbulbs are not backed. You can read more about Vehicle Purchase Protection here.

To successfully pay for your vehicle on eBay Motors, you'll have to use PayPal and eBay's financing center. Most sellers require a deposit upon winning an auction and the remaining balance to be paid within a set amount of time. This gives you time as the buyer to see the car in person (if you're not arranging for it to be shipped) before finalizing the purchase. If a seller accepts financing, eBay can help you get a loan and will manage your car payments thereafter. 

The bottom line

If you're buying a car with your tax refund or yearly bonus, you want to make sure you're getting the most in terms of value and buyer protection for your money. Whether you're looking for a basic car for commuting, a classic car to tinker with in your garage, or a big-ticket exotic supercar, eBay Motors is a dependable place to find it. 

Start shopping for your new ride on eBay Motors now.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sales skyrocket in March

• San Francisco is expecting to see an increase in millionaire residents by the end of 2019 if some of its many tech start-ups go public as anticipated, according to Nellie Bowles of The New York Times.
• The Bay Area already has a high cost of living and a dire housing market that could get even more expensive over the next five years: Single-family homes could cost as much as $5 million.
• Changes are already in effect — buyers and sellers are already making real estate moves before any IPOs occur in a time of "spending wars," Bowles said.

America's richest urban area is about to get even richer.

By the end of 2019, San Francisco may be seeing an influx of newly minted millionaires, reported Nellie Bowles for The New York Times. Fueling this heavy cash flow, she wrote, are several tech start-ups hoping to go public, amongst them Uber, Lyft, Slack, Postmates, Pinterest, and Airbnb.

While the prices of these companies upon going public are yet to be determined, "even conservative estimates predict hundreds of billions of dollars will flood into town in the next year, creating thousands of new millionaires," Bowles wrote. "It's hard to imagine more money in San Francisco, but the city's residents now need to start trying."

That's something for a location already well-acquainted with wealth. The Bay Area is the wealthiest location of the 25 most populous metropolitan areas in the US, according to 2018 data by the US Census— the median household income brings in $98,710. It's also home to the third highest number of billionaires in the world, according to a Wealth-X census. 

But there's one likely change in particular that San Francisco residents, perhaps not surprisingly, will need to acclimate to: A "housing madness," as Bowles called it.

Read more: California real estate is so expensive that families, retirees, and even tech workers are living in cars and vans

An already expensive real-estate market could get even more chaotic

At a recent real-estate investor gathering, Deniz Kahramaner, who specializes in data analytics at real-estate brokerage firm Compass, told the crowd that, in five years, San Francisco would no longer see one-bedroom condos worth less than $1 million or single-family homes selling for $1 to $3 million, Bowles reported. Instead, San Francisco single-family homes could cost as much as $5 million, Kahramaner said.

And this is happening in what is already one of America's most expensive metro areas, where the housing market is known to be outlandish.

The median price of a home in the San Francisco metro area is around $900,000, Business Insider previously reported. In the city of San Francisco itself, a median-priced home sells for $1.6 million, Melia Robinson wrote. 

It's so expensive that only 12% of households can afford homes there, according to Robinson. And nearly 60% of tech workers can't afford homes in the area — and that's on a six-figure salary; the average tech worker in the Bay Area earns $142,000 a year, according to a report by tech talent marketplace Hired.

This extreme housing market has left some people sleeping in cars or living in boats and vans. One tech worker even lived in his startup's office for a year because he couldn't afford rent.

And that's among those who stay — San Francisco's housing market is so dire that nearly half of its residents said in a 2018 Bay Area Council advocacy group survey that they plan to soon move away, Business Insider reported.

San Francisco's high cost of living is even causing 58% of tech workers to delay having kids, according to a survey by the tech worker app Blind.

What will happen when many of the Bay Area's residents add a few extra zeroes to their net worths?

Read more: The Bay Area is so expensive that employees at Apple, Uber, Google, and other tech giants are putting off having kids — and it's a sign of a much larger trend

The Bay Area's housing market is already undergoing changes in anticipation of the IPOs

The changes are already beginning to ripple: Renters are buying before the IPOs and sellers are taking their houses off the market and waiting to sell after the IPOs, Bowles reported.

"Even if just half the IPOs happen, there's going to be ten thousand millionaires overnight," Herman Chan, a Sotheby's real estate agent, told Bowles. "People are like, 'I'm not going to sell till next year, because there are going to be bajillionaries everywhere left and right.'"

With many of the big start-ups headquartered in San Francisco, it's likely workers will want to live in the city, Bowles wrote.

"The millennial tech workers are really looking for convenience," Christine Kim, president of Climb Real Estate, told Bowles. "They seem to not want to own cars, and food deliveries are really easy now, and they want to be close to entertainment, so they’ll stay in the city."

And ultimately, it's shaping up to be a time of what Bowles called "spending wars."

Read the full New York Times article here »

SEE ALSO: Millennial tech workers are paying $5,000 for a 1-week luxury retreat to feel younger, and it shows just how bad ageism in Silicon Valley really is

DON'T MISS: Take a tour of San Francisco's 'Billionaires' Row,' where old money and tech execs collide

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Take a look inside a $28.5 million NYC apartment on Billionaires' Row

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

• Some of the most innovative, memorable, and successful startups in the retail world today are founded and led by women. 
• Despite the less-than-friendly attitudes and systemic roadblocks that women pursuing entrepreneurship must face, they're proving they're more than up to the challenge. 
• Learn more about the backgrounds and businesses of these 46 noteworthy female-founded companies, which are disrupting industries like fashion, beauty, pet care, and home. 

The startup ecosystem is not known to be particularly friendly toward women. In 2017, TechCrunch reported that only 17% of the 43,008 venture-funded companies in its directory CrunchBase have at least one female founder. It's a disappointing figure, but it reminds us that the only way to go from here is up.

A growing number of women are successfully breaking through barriers to bring innovative ideas and quality products to the market. As I learned about their stories, I was struck by how different and perhaps, even more compelling, how similar they were.

Many of these founders left their jobs at large and established corporations to pursue the rigorous, but rewarding journey of entrepreneurship. They faced countless struggles and experienced satisfying triumphs in the process of bringing innovation to their respective industries. They are mothers, wives, friends, colleagues, and classmates who are driven by the problems experienced by themselves, their peers, and their loved ones to create better solutions. 

We've highlighted 46 female-founded companies below that inspire us to solve problems, create solutions, and support other women. 

Jen Rubio and Steph Korey: Away Travel

Shop carry-ons and other suitcases and travel accessories at Away

Luggage is the last thing you'd expect people to get excited about, but cofounders Jen Rubio and Steph Korey made it happen with their luggage company Away. As former Warby Parker heads (Korey was also a consultant for mattress startup Casper), they sought to bring the same direct-to-consumer excitement and success to the luggage space. 

Their passion for travel and e-commerce is evident: In the beginning, they dug deep and interviewed hundreds of travelers to learn everything about how and why they travel, and ultimately translated their insights into lightweight, yet durable pieces of luggage that are much more affordable than high-end brands. 

Melissa Mash, Deepa Gandhi, and Jessy Dover: Dagne Dover

Shop totes, pouches, wallets, and other bags at Dagne Dover

Dagne Dover is the women's handbag company we can't stop talking about — they just get work bags, weekend bags, and backpacks so right. Cofounders Melissa Mash, Deepa Gandhi, and Jessy Dover are now the CEO, COO, and creative director, respectively, of the company that is holding its own against Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Tory Burch for the attentions of working women.  

The founders come from UPenn's Wharton School and the Parsons School of Design and have retail experience from Coach and Club Monaco, backgrounds that certainly translated into their stylish and functional bag business. 

Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss: Rent the Runway

Shop designer looks and/or sign up for an unlimited clothing subscription at Rent the Runway

Harvard Business School classmates Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss started Rent the Runway after noticing Hyman's sister didn't want to spend a lot of money for a dress she would wear only once to a wedding. The company rents out designer clothing for a fraction of the retail price and aims to change the meaning of the ownership of luxury experiences. 

Founded in 2009, the company now has 9 million members, 600 designer partners, and brick-and-mortar locations in five major cities. It's also expanding past apparel into home textile rentals with a West Elm partnership, which launches in summer 2019. 

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

• End-of-season colds are at a yearly high right now thanks to fluctuating temperatures that provide a breeding ground for viruses. 
• Since quite a few people around the office seemed to be succumbing to sore throats, coughs, and stuffy noses, I asked everyone for their go-to products and remedies used to treat and prevent common colds. 
• I rounded up everyone's responses, which include a variety of natural products and cult-favorite solutions— most of which you can get on Amazon.  

Here in New York, we’re approaching that time of year when the sun is coming out a little more and the weather seems to be all over the place.

And with unpredictable weather comes unpredictable work attendance due to pesky coughs, sore throats, or never-ending runny noses.

According to The Weather Channel, two agents that typically cause the common cold, rhinoviruses and cornoaviruses, tend to thrive in weather that is cool but not too frigid — making you susceptible to running into one of these nasty ailments right about now.

Nearly every day this week, one of my team members has been out of the office due to the end-of-season cold, which posed the perfect opportunity to ask them just how they combat their sicknesses. The Insider Picks team shared some products that they regularly use and I compiled them below, so hopefully you won't end up in their shoes.

Take a look at 10 of the most helpful products we use to treat and prevent end-of-season colds. 

A vitamin C drink mix for boosted immune function

Emergen-C Super Orange Drink Mix, $16.97, Available at Amazon

Emergen-C is something I use to build up my immune system with antioxidants like vitamin C. I find this is best used before you feel a cold coming on, but I've also used it throughout the cycle of a cold to lessen its effects. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

Vitamins with raw zinc for health and recovery

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Zinc, $9.30 (Originally $9.79), Available on Amazon

My strategy is multi-pronged, but I very rarely get sick. The moment I feel like I am getting sick, I make sure to take my daily multivitamin more consistently and I take this zinc supplement. It provides immune system support and includes enzymes that work to promote eye heath and skin health. — Grace High, Insider Picks analyst

Sea salt for an irritated throat

Redmond Ancient Fine Sea Salt, $8.99, Available on Amazon

Whenever I feel a little weak in the throat, the first thing I do is gargle with some saltwater. You can get sea water online— I'm not sure why — but I find that some of this sea salt works just fine. — Owen Burke, Insider Picks senior reporter

• Oprah Winfrey spoke at the Qualtrics user conference in Salt Lake City. 
• She says that a simple concept helped her reframe her own TV talk show into something both more positive and more impactful.
• In short: By considering what, exactly, you hope to accomplish by doing something before you do it, you can better guide events to the outcome you want.

In 1989, Oprah Winfrey's breakout talk show had only been on the air for a few years, and it was following what was then the daytime TV trend towards shocking content.

One particular episode gave Winfrey qualms: She had interviewed a group of skinheads rooting for the Klu Klux Clan, ultimately causing her to wonder if all she did was give them a forum "for their hate," she said.

And then came a show that changed her life, in the form of an episode about why men cheat on their wives.

"Our producers were so excited, but they had convinced a man to come on with his wife and his girlfriend. Why that fool would want to do that, I don't know," Winfrey said during a talk to attendees of a tech conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday put on by software company Qualtrics.

The man shocked everybody by telling his wife that his girlfriend was pregnant — on live television. Winfrey felt sick about it for the wife's sake, and felt that no one should be humiliated so publicly in that way. She vowed that she wasn't going to do this kind of confrontational format anymore, she said at the conference. 

At the same time, Winfrey says, she read a book called the "Seat of the Soul" by Gary Zukav.

In it, Zukav talked about a law of physics: that every action equal has an equal and opposite reaction. And, he posited, before there is an action, there is an intention. It is this intention that determines why things turn out the way they do.

She realized: if a person doesn't pick a deliberate, conscious intention before they act, they will be acting out unconscious intentions. Either way, people will reap what they sow.

"Whatever you end up with, is what you started with as an intention," she said. "Getting that principal changed the trajectory of my entire life."

She told herself that her intention with her talk show would be to serve audiences "in terms of enlightenment as well as entertainment," she said.

She set an intention for every show. 

Back in 1989, she told her producers of the new directive. They were less than thrilled, but she held meetings before each show and asked these producers what they wanted to achieve with each concept or interview they suggested.

One day, she did the same with her guest, she said. It was a mother whose daughter was killed by the daughter's boyfriend.

Winfrey asked the mother why she agreed to come on the show. The mother answered "because your producers asked me." Winfrey didn't let her off the hook with that, she said. She pressed: why did you say yes? What are you hoping would come of it? 

The mother explained: all anyone wanted to talk about was her daughter's murder and how she died. "But before she died she had a life," and that's what the mother wanted to share: how her daughter had family, friends, and interests all her own.

Winfrey agreed, saying "I can do that for you." She told the mom that her intention was to show every teenage girl what an abusive relationship looks like, where it can lead to, and what it looks like to hide that abuse from your mom because you don't want to lose the boyfriend.

"That's the first show I won an Emmy for," Winfrey said. She's since gone on to win 16 Emmys and hosts of other awards and accolades.

And today, she says, she sets an intention for everything she does — whether it is decorating a room or choosing which projects to produce. 

Over the years she's learned that there's a key to setting intentions, too.

By serving other people with your actions, you become the best version of yourself, she suggests To set an intention that will bring you a satisfying result ask yourself:  "How do I use this in the service of something greater than myself?"

When you do that, "it comes back to you 10-fold, 100-fold, in ways you cannot even imagine," she said.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, was sentenced to 47 months in prison following a sentencing hearing in the first of two criminal cases against him.
• Federal sentencing guidelines call for 19 to 24 years for the crimes Manafort was convicted of, but the judge said those guidelines were "excessive" in this case.
• Thursday's hearing came after Manafort was convicted of eight counts of tax and bank fraud in Virginia.
• Next week, he will be sentenced in the second case in Washington, DC, where he could get as much as an additional decade in prison after a federal judge voided his plea deal with the special counsel Robert Mueller.

Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, was sentenced to 47 months in prison following a sentencing hearing before US District Judge T.S. Ellis in Virginia on Thursday.

Manafort was convicted of eight counts of tax and bank fraud last year after the special counsel Robert Mueller indicted him as part of the ongoing Russia investigation. Federal sentencing guidelines call for 19 to 24 years of prison time for the crimes Manafort was found guilty of, but Ellis called those guidelines "excessive" on Thursday.

Manafort's lawyers pointed out at the hearing that he claimed responsibility for some of his actions. Ellis also noted that Manafort had spent 50 hours talking to prosecutors after striking a plea deal with  Mueller's office.

But Greg Andres, a prosecutor on Mueller's team pushed back on Ellis' assessment.

"It wasn't information we didn't know," Andres said. "The reason he met for 50 hours was because he lied."

Prosecutors also charged Manafort with additional counts of money laundering, conspiracy, failure to register as a foreign agent, and false statements in a second indictment brought in Washington, DC.

Instead of going to trial in the second case, Manafort struck a plea deal with Mueller's office and pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and obstruction. But US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is overseeing the Washington, DC, case against Manafort, nullified the deal after the court determined that Manafort had lied to prosecutors and violated his plea deal after agreeing to cooperate.

On Thursday, Manafort addressed the court before Ellis ruled on his sentence.

"Humiliated and shunned would be a gross understatement," Manafort said. "My life, personally and professionally, is in shambles."

Manafort also said faith and prayer helped him weather the public firestorm surrounding his case, and he told Ellis, "I ask you to be compassionate." He did not explicitly express remorse for the crimes he was convicted of, but he said he was "ashamed."

Jackson is set to sentence Manafort in the second case next week, in which he could get as much as an additional decade in prison.

Jackson will also decide whether Manafort's sentences will run concurrently or consecutively. Manafort, who will turn 70 this year, could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Read more: In new sentencing memo, Paul Manafort's lawyers accused Mueller of 'spreading misinformation' to 'vilify' Manafort 'in a manner that this country has not experienced in decades'

Prosecutors have urged the court to impose a harsh sentence on the former Trump campaign chairman, calling him a "bold" and "hardened" criminal whose actions warrant a tougher punishment.

Manafort's conduct, even after he pleaded guilty to two federal crimes, "reflects a hardened adherence to committing crimes and lack of remorse," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo, adding that he "repeatedly and brazenly violated the law."

They added that Manafort not only engaged in criminal conduct leading up to his first indictment, but his actions also "remarkably went unabated even after indictment."

"The sentence in this case must take into account the gravity of this conduct, and serve both to specifically deter Manafort and generally deter those who would commit a similar series of crimes," the memo said.

Manafort's lawyers, meanwhile, have downplayed the severity of his conduct and accused Mueller of "spreading misinformation" to "vilify" Manafort.

Noting that he was a first-time, nonviolent offender, defense attorneys wrote that Manafort accepted responsibility for two counts of conspiracy and obstruction, and he "admitted his guilt with respect to the conduct involved in the remaining charges in this case."

Manafort and his longtime associate Rick Gates were first indicted in October 2017 on several counts of money laundering, failure to register as a foreign agent, failure to report foreign bank accounts, and false statements.

A superseding indictment in February 2018 charged Manafort with tax and bank fraud related to his political consulting and lobbying work for the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian interests in the region.

In June 2018, Manafort and the former Russian intelligence operative Konstantin Kilimnik were charged with additional counts of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice after prosecutors accused them of attempted witness tampering.

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• A Thai soccer team that gripped the world when it got trapped in a cave for 17 days last summer is set to sign a deal with Netflix.
• Netflix confirmed to Business Insider that it is working on a "original scripted mini-series" about the rescue.
• The 12 boys and their coach were trapped in a flooded, complex cave system as oxygen levels dwindled last June and July.
• A Navy SEAL was killed during the daring rescue that ultimately saw all of the boys safely recovered.

The Thai soccer team that spent 17 days trapped in a flooded cave before a daring and successful rescue mission look set to sign a deal with Netflix about their ordeal.

Netflix confirmed to Business Insider that it is working on an "original scripted mini-series" about the Thai cave rescue.

Netflix is working with 13 Tham Luang Company Limited, the company that manages the rescued football team, and SK Global Entertainment, the production company behind "Crazy Rich Asians."

CNN reported that parties had agreed to the terms, but a contract has not yet been signed.

Read more:This timeline shows exactly how the Thai cave rescue unfolded

The rescue of the 12 boys and their coach captured global attention after they were left trapped in the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand without food and water last summer.

They faced a ticking clock as flood waters rose and oxygen in the cave dwindled, before they were saved by a dramatic international rescue effort.

Read more:These photos show the scale and complexity of the efforts to rescue the Thai soccer team stuck in a flooded cave

The boys have spoken publicly about their ordeal since, including during an appearance on "Ellen."

However, The Hollywood Reporter reported that the Netflix deal would restrict them from giving future interviews about their experience.

The dramatic cave rescue

The Wild Boars soccer team went to Tham Luang on June 23 apparently to perform some sort of initiation ceremony when the cave flooded because of the monsoon, blocking their way out.

Their families had to wait nine days, until July 2, for signs of life, when divers found the team huddled at the edge of floodwaters two-and-a-half miles from the cave entrance.

Divers reassured the team that help was coming, but the cave's passages were so narrow and flooded that rescuers had to withdraw repeatedly for safety reasons.

The boys did not now how to swim, and the monsoon season was due to last for months. A former Thai Navy SEAL working to rescue the team died from a lack of oxygen on July 5.

Countries including Australia, Britain, China, Israel, and the US provided resources and helped out with rescue efforts and oxygen levels in the cave fell, and experts worried that the boys were not well enough to be moved from the cave.

But the boys were successfully rescued from the cave between July 8 and July 10, accompanied by divers through dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents. They were brought to hospital, where they recovered.

• Read more about the Thai cave rescue:

The Thai Wild Boars soccer team went on 'Ellen' and described how they survived for days on end in a cave — and revealed when they first realized they were trapped

Thai boys soccer team and their coach speak out 2 months after they got stuck in flooded cave

Thailand is considering giving citizenship to four stateless members of the Thai soccer team who were trapped in a cave

Drinking cave water and not thinking about fried rice: Here's how the Thai soccer team survived 9 days in a flooded cave with no food or drink

Why the Thai cave rescue captivated the world

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• Female partnerships have sparked some of history's most important milestones.
• From literature to politics, some of the most legendary female friendships were partnerships that were formed across disability, class, and race.
• These 18 women's partnerships went down in history.

Though some of the most celebrated dynamic duos through history are romantic couples or fictional friends, female partnerships have sparked legendary progress in literature, politics, and modern-day feminist movements.

Pairs of royals, authors, and even socially inclined sisters have left lasting marks on history, two at a time.

In honor of International Women's Day, check out these iconic female duos:

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Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Dudley

Mary Dudley was a member of Elizabeth's court and the sister of Robert Dudley, the queen's widely rumored long-term lover.

The two became close in the first few years of the Queen's reign when Mary nursed Elizabeth through a deadly battle with smallpox in 1562, which left Mary permanently disfigured.

Elizabeth fully recovered and though Mary eventually left the court in 1579, their friendship lasted the rest of their lives.

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Two of the founding members of the women's rights movement, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton spent their friendship campaigning for women's suffrage, with Anthony as the vocal head of the cause and Stanton as her speechwriter.

After being introduced in 1851 by Amelia Bloomer, who popularized pants for women, Stanton and Anthony quickly became the start of a powerful wave that would bring on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

"No power in heaven, hell or earth can separate us, for our hearts are eternally wedded together," Stanton once wrote to Anthony.

They were firm friends until Stanton died, some 50 years after they'd first met.

Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckley

Elizabeth Keckley's incredible life story includes her buying her way out of slavery before establishing a high-profile dressmaking business in Washington, D.C., where first lady Mary Todd Lincoln hired her in 1861.

The two bonded beyond a client-designer relationship to become each other's close confidantes during Lincoln's time in the White House, which was plagued by negative reports on her suspected mental illness and extravagant spending.

But their friendship hit the rocks in 1868 when Keckley published her tell-all autobiography, "Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House."