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.

• A phone grip is one of the most useful tech accessories you can buy for less than $15. 
• They give you a more secure and comfortable grip on your device, saving it from fatal drops. Many also double as stands to prop your phone up. 
• We found 8 popular and affordable options from Amazon that you may want for your phone. 

Like a Spotify Premium membership or a pair of comfortable underwear, a phone grip is one of those small investments that has exponentially improved my life and led me to question how I ever went about my day without it. 

I've watched with horror as my phone has slipped out of my hand and fallen (always in slow motion, it seems) to the ground too many times to count. A strong phone case cushions the blow, but I'd still rather not drop it in the first place.

After finally sticking a grip on my device, I've felt much more secure holding my phone on bumpy commutes, in bed — pretty much anywhere, honestly.

For less than $15, you can get an additional layer of protection for that device you just spent hundreds of dollars on.

The best phone grips are also comfortable to hold and have multiple functions, capable of being turned into car mounts, stands, and card holders. Since there's only so much real estate available on our phone exteriors, we love this versatility.

On Amazon, you have a number of reliable options, and they're all really affordable. Do yourself and your phone a favor by shopping these 8 phone grips:

LoveHandle

LoveHandle Universal Grip, $9.95, available at Amazon

Shop all LoveHandle phone grips and accessories at Amazon here

The LoveHandle is a soft, elastic strap that sticks to your phone, allowing you to loop multiple fingers through to get a better grip. The only potential drawback is that it stretches out after prolonged use, so it might not be the best long-term option. 

PopSockets

PopSockets Grip, around $9, available at Amazon

Shop all PopSockets phone grips at Amazon here

More than 40 million PopSockets grips have been sold around the world, so it's hard to go a day without spotting one. They offer the best variety of patterns and colors by far, and since the adhesive is reusable, you can switch among your favorite styles depending on your mood. 

Read our review of the PopSockets phone grip here

Fitfort

FITFORT Phone Ring Holder, $10.99, available at Amazon

You touch your phone countless times throughout the day, which means the material of your phone grip better be durable. This one's made from stainless steel and looks sleeker than other phone grip options. The 360-degree rotation and 180-degree flip capabilities add more to its versatility. 

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.

• I recently purchased an infrared sauna blanket from Amazon, and it's the best wellness decision I've ever made.
• Studies suggest that infrared-light therapy has a bevy of medical benefits, including reducing inflammation, clearing skin issues, improving digestion, contributing to weight loss, and easing anxiety.
• Doctors agree that 20 minutes of infrared sweating two to three times a week strengthens the cardiovascular system.
• I personally use my infrared sauna blanket for 50 minutes a day — and I've never felt more energized and glowing (or less bloated) in my entire life.

I'm the first to admit I've tried some wacky things in the name of wellness. I once ate raw garlic cloves every morning for two weeks straight as a natural alternative to antibiotics. (Not advised, if only for the garlic breath.) I brush my hair with a comb carved from a clear quartz crystal to purify my crown chakra. (Totally advised, if only for the aesthetic.)

Most recently, I dropped $400 on an infrared sauna blanket from Amazon so I could "detox" daily from the comfort of my own home — but that one's not as "out there" as it sounds. In fact, experts agree that infrared sauna therapy can improve digestion, reduce pain and inflammation, benefit cardiovascular health, and even clear up acne. 

The benefits of infrared sauna therapy

I experienced the benefits of infrared sauna therapy firsthand almost a year ago. It was two months before my wedding, and I didn't fit into my dress. Desperate to lose a little weight before the big day, I added biweekly sauna appointments to my nutrition and fitness plan.

But what I noticed most after a couple months of regular sweat sessions wasn't the weight loss (although it helped in that department — my wedding dress fit like a glove). It was how energized I was afterward. How completely glow-y my skin looked. How cooking for an hour at 170 degrees Fahrenheit motivated me to make better choices for the rest of the day; I just felt healthier and happier, and wanted that feeling to last as long as possible.

According to Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., D.C. — the founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com, and author of the upcoming book "Keto Diet" — this all checks out.

"Infrared saunas (sometimes called far-infrared saunas or near-infrared saunas) are a type of sauna that uses heat and light, in the form of infrared light waves, to help 'detoxify' the body via sweat and to promote relaxation," he told Business Insider. "Proponents of infrared saunas often turn to this type of holistic treatment in hopes that sessions can provide joint and muscle support, speed up the metabolism, promote weight loss, help rejuvenate the skin, improve circulation, promote cardiovascular healing, and help with sleep quality."

Dr. Axe said scientific study in this area is limited but promising. But if you're a believer in anecdotal evidence, take my word for it: Infrared sauna sweating is better than a juice cleanse.

At first, I indulged in regular infrared treatments at Shape House, an "urban sweat lodge" with locations in Los Angeles and New York City. While typical sweat lodges feature steam saunas, Shape House uses far-infrared technology. You're essentially wrapped up like a burrito in a plastic covering, which is then heated up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes using infrared light to build heat in the body.

"Infrared saunas differ from regular heated saunas because they emit light that directly penetrates your skin," Axe said. There's no steam, no humidity, and no hot air; this makes it much easier to breathe and withstand high temperatures for a longer amount of time. But at about $50 per appointment, my Shape House habit wasn't one that I could keep up without that wedding budget.

I went without regular sweat sessions for a few months, which only confirmed how powerfully they affected me: My digestion felt sluggish, my stomach was bloated, my acne returned, and I was low energy and anxious more often than not.

Naturally, I looked into at-home infrared sauna blankets to get back on track on a budget.

My search for an affordable, at-home infrared sauna therapy brought me to Amazon

"Infrared sauna blankets are similar to heavy sleeping bags; you enclose yourself in one as it emits infrared rays and builds body heat," Axe said. "Some advantages to using an infrared blanket include affordability; the fact that it's compact, lightweight, and portable; the convenience of being able to use it at home; and versatility — it can be used in bed, on the floor, or in a chair."

These can run anywhere from $100 to $1,000, and after doing extensive research, I found "The One": the Gizmo Supply 3 Zone Digital Far-Infrared Heat Sauna Blanket, priced at $400 on Amazon — the cost of one month's worth of Shape House treatments — with more than 70 five-star reviews. Just two days later, it was at my door. (Thank you, Amazon Prime.)

Setting up and using the Gizmo Supply infrared sauna blanket

Thankfully, the Gizmo Supply blanket is super easy to put together. It comes with a control box and a sleeping-bag-esque blanket, which need to be connected via a series of three clearly labeled wires. Each wire feeds into a section of the blanket, and all three sections can be separately heated anywhere between 35 degrees Celsius and 85 degrees Celsius (about 95 degrees Fahrenheit to 185 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to an hour. You just select your desired temp and time, get in, sweat profusely and semi-uncomfortably, and wait for it to beep when the session is over … kind of like an oven.

"Frequent, short infrared sauna sessions seem to be effective for providing the health benefits mentioned above," Axe said.

A recent study linked "20 minute treatments three times weekly over a period of two to three months" with increased heart strength, so that's a good place to start. I personally follow the Shape House method and sweat for 50 minutes at 80 degrees Celsius every single day. I'm certifiably obsessed.

Once I started my daily at-home treatments, I noticed an almost immediate improvement in my bloating, skin, energy, and mood. It turns out, a good sweat will do that to you.

Sweating is the body's natural method of detox, and far-infrared heat is said to induce a whopping seven times more sweat than a standard steam sauna. This essentially flushes toxins out of the body via a process called "lymphatic drainage," boosts metabolism, and increases your energy levels.

Besides this internal flush, the act of sweating is a kind of "skin detox" in and of itself. As your pores open and sweat pours through, its antibacterial properties kill acne-causing bacteria and rinse away any dirt and debris sitting on the skin's surface.

"Aside from your liver, your skin is one of your greatest tools to detoxify your body," Katie Dunlop, the founder of Love Sweat Fitness, told me. "Being that it's our largest organ, it's kind of our first line of defense — and sweat allows us to get rid of toxins through the skin, leaving it fresh and rejuvenated."

"Sweating also means increased blood circulation throughout the body," she said. "As your heart rate increases, so does the blood flow to the skin, bringing along with it lots of vital nutrients and fresh oxygen. The benefit is it's happening from the inside out, so not only is your skin getting the amazing oxygen and nutrients it needs to promote collagen growth, but you're also able to detox and expel toxins simultaneously."

I swear, my skin never looks more rosy and glow-y than after a sauna session.

Infrared power is more than just physical, though. With regular use, I find my anxiety symptoms are lessened. I think this is partly because of the fact that lying in the blanket for nearly an hour gives me a chance to meditate and reflect — it's one of the few times of my day not consumed by my laptop or phone.

In addition, "It's believed that infrared saunas promote mental health through activating the parasympathetic nervous system," Axe said. "Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system helps to make you feel calm, allows the body to handle stress, and counteracts the effects of the sympathetic nervous system's 'fight or flight response.'"

Some potential downsides and health concerns to consider before using

As amazing as I feel inside and out after sweating, I have to be honest: The sauna itself isn't necessarily a pleasant experience. It gets hot — to state the obvious — and really, really sweaty, and it definitely takes some willpower to make it through 30 to 50 minutes in the blanket.  "The most common reported side effects are mild to moderate heat discomfort and intolerance, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and claustrophobia," according to Axe. He said it's safe for the majority of people, though, "even those who can't normally tolerate other treatments that involve heat."

"Anyone who has sensitive skin, a history of heart problems, or who takes daily medications should get their doctor's approval before beginning infrared sauna treatments," he added. It's also recommended to wear head-to-toe cotton while you're in the blanket to safely soak up excess sweat, and to hydrate like crazy before and after.

The verdict

I realize that spending nearly an hour of my day, every day, wrapped up like a sweaty burrito sounds strange — Gwyneth Paltrow Goop-level strange. But honestly, my infrared sauna blanket is the most practical wellness purchase I've ever made.

It's become my life's cure-all. Feeling bloated and gross? Time for a sweat sesh. Skin dull and dry? Sweat sesh. Hungover? Puffy eyes? Stressed? I just sweat, sweat, sweat it out.

Whoever said not to sweat the small stuff clearly just needed to get their hands on an infrared sauna blanket.

Buy the Gizmo Supply 3-Zone Digital Far-Infrared Heat Sauna Blanket at Amazon for $399.99

SEE ALSO: I put goat milk on my face to soothe irritation — and it actually works

DON'T MISS: This natural supplement stops my bloating in its tracks and promotes gut health — it's pretty tasty too

Join the conversation about this story »

• President Donald Trump and George Conway are in an escalating feud.
• It reached a fever pitch when Trump called the lawyer "a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!" and Conway questioned the president's mental state.
• Back when Kellyanne Conway was running Trump's presidential campaign, Conway supported his wife's boss.
• But that started to change as the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference heated up.
• Here's how their relationship devolved over time.

Prominent conservative lawyer George Conway has been highly critical of his wife's boss, President Donald Trump.

His latest comments, an op-ed in the Washington Post, come after Trump publicly attacked Conway on Twitter, calling him "a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!"

Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway and George have previously shared how their political disagreements— especially about Trump — are affecting their marriage. But it wasn't always this way.

Here's a brief history of George Conway's transformation from Trump supporter into one of his most visible and vocal critics on the right.

SEE ALSO: Inside the marriage of Kellyanne and George Conway, who Ann Coulter introduced, are now worth $39 million, and are increasingly at odds over Trump

DON'T MISS: Kellyanne Conway opens up about how the president is affecting her marriage

June 2, 2017: Conway turns down administration role

After speculation began in March 2017 that Conway would be picked for a position in the Trump administration, Conway eventually declined any administration role, saying:

"I am profoundly grateful to the President and to the attorney general for selecting me to serve in the Department of Justice. I have reluctantly concluded, however, that, for me and my family, this is not the right time for me to leave the private sector and take on a new role in the federal government."

Conway went on to clarify: "Kellyanne and I continue to support the President and his administration, and I look forward to doing so in whatever way I can from outside the government."

The Washington Post reported that Conway considered the role, but was scared off by Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey and the aftermath that ensued.

June 5, 2017: Conway posts his first critical tweet

Shortly after turning down an administration position, Conway started to tweet critically of Trump.

In his first post, he questioned the usefulness of Trump's tweets, mocking Trump's signature sign-off "Sad!"

In a later tweet, Conway clarified that he still supported the president.

March 28, 2018: Conway gets more vocal on Twitter

In late March 2018, after nearly a yearlong hiatus, Conway called Trump's reported interest in pardons for former staff as a way to protect himself from the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation "flabbergasting."

Also at this time, Conway reportedly switched his party registration to "unaffiliated."

• Blocking a Facebook friend stops their posts from showing in your feed and prevents them from sending you direct messages.
• Unlike unfriending, blocking can be undone without the other party knowing you ever changed the nature of the Facebook relationship in the first place.
• Also consider electing to unfollow a Facebook friend if you are tired of seeing their posts but don't have a reason to actually distance yourself.

Maybe you're tired of your uncle's constant political posts, or you've seen enough videos of your high school classmate's cat, or you're even mad at a friend in real life and want some space.

Is it time to unfriend them? While that's always an option, it's a harsh one, as it can't be undone without letting the friend know you removed them in the first place. Consider blocking them instead, as there's a chance you will later change your mind.

And for the record, there's actually a good chance you'll change your mind. According to Google search data, people search "How to unblock a friend on Facebook" a lot more than "How to block a friend on Facebook."

The good news is that unlike unfriending, unblocking is quick and easy, and that "Friend" of yours will never know it happened. So instead of unfriending, just block the person. Blocking on Facebook means a person's posts won't enter your feed, your content won't be served to them, and they won't be able to send you messages. And if you ever decide to unblock them, they'll be readded to your Friends list automatically.

How to block on Facebook

That's it! You just can't take any more posts from this person, and you certainly don't want any direct messages, either. Here's what you do:

1. Log into your Facebook account and locate the person to be blocked either by searching for their name or by scrolling through your list of friends.

2. Near the top right of your friend's page, locate the three little gray dots in a parallel line, and click them.

3. On the dropdown menu that appears, click "Block."

4. On the window that pops up, click "Confirm."

5. Click "Okay" on the next window.

You're done — they're blocked. They won't see what you post, you won't see what they post, they are no longer listed as a friend on your page, and they can't send you messages, either.

But what if blocking them was a mistake you made in the heat of the moment? If so, then it's time we talk about how to unblock someone.

How to unblock on Facebook

1. From anywhere on Facebook, find and click the dark blue arrow in the top right corner of the page.

2. Hit the word "Settings" in the dropdown menu.

3. In the column on the left side of the screen, click the word "Blocking" (it has a red circle with a white line beside it).

4. On the next page, see which users you have blocked and, if you want to bring one back into the fold, click "Unblock" beside their name.

5. Click "Confirm" on the popup window.

And just like that, your friend is unblocked and it's like nothing ever changed; you're back in touch, they are again listed as a friend, and they never even knew you had severed ties. Isn't that better than unfriending? (Also, if it's just about the volume or type of posts and the issue isn't personal, consider unfollowing, too.)

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to delete your Facebook account on a desktop browser or mobile app

• How to contact Facebook for problems with your account and other issues

• How to change your Facebook password to help keep your account secure

• How to unfriend and unfollow people on Facebook

SEE ALSO: How to block a phone number on iPhone

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What's going on with Jeff Bezos and Amazon

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.

• We're not shy about advocating for products we love (see: 21 game-changing products we swear by in our everyday lives or The 36 best products we discovered in 2018, to name a couple). 
• But just because we love them now doesn't mean we initially expected to. 
• We had our initial doubts about these 21 products — and you may, too — but in the end, taking the leap of faith proved to be rewarding. 

For better or for worse, preconceptions are built into human nature. As product reviewers, we also fall victim to our own preconceived notions about the items we test. 

Our previous experiences with the brand or with similar products can affect how we approach the latest thing we're testing. Combine that with high standards for quality and general skepticism about a market filled with shoddy products, and we sometimes end up with experiences that surprise us in the best way possible. 

If you're feeling hesitant about trying any of these 21 products, we were once right there with you. Testing them revealed that they were actually quite useful, comfortable, or stylish. They overcame our initial expectations to become some of our favorite products.  

We weren't sure we were going to love these 21 products, but now we know we do: 

A waffle maker that lets you skip a trip to the diner

Krups Belgian Waffle Maker, $52.98, available at Amazon

Read our review of the Krups Belgian Waffle Maker here

I assumed that waffles were one of the few foods I would always have to order at a restaurant, but Krups proved me wrong. Its waffle maker is easy to use, simple to clean, and delivers diner-like results in about 15 minutes. I’m generally skeptical of single-use kitchen gadgets, but this one has earned its place in my small, New York City apartment. —Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks associate editor

A popular facial cleansing brush

Foreo Luna 2 Cleansing Brush, $199, available at Amazon and Sephora

Read our review of the Foreo Luna 2 here

Having tried a few different facial cleansing brushes that never made a difference on my skin, I was expecting the Foreo Luna 2 to be another to toss in the pile. But this best-selling brush really does clean and gently exfoliate your skin effectively. I use it a few times a week to keep my skin soft and glowing, and I also love that it has a long battery life. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

A flask with attached tumblers

High Camp Firelight Flask 750, $99.98, available at Huckberry 

Trying to make a better flask in the 21st century sort of seemed like trying to reinvent the wheel to me. The tried and true hip flask is discrete and holds just enough to get you, and maybe a friend, through a tough social function. But the HighCamp Firelight Flask looked like it would also make a great tea thermos. It comes with two double-walled mugs and holds about 750 ml of liquid; I could take it on a hike, on a kayak paddle, or to the park for a lazy afternoon.

The two tumblers fit elegantly over both ends of the “flask” and stay snug thanks to a little magnetic pull. I used it for tea couple of times, and while some heat passed through the double-walled tumblers, it worked just fine.

Then I filled it with bourbon, took it camping and realized the true beauty of the thing: It’s a decanter on the go. Apart from an O-ring in the lid, it is nothing but brushed, heavy-duty stainless steel. No more shattered bottles or spilled spirits on my adventures.

Yes, at $100 it is an investment, but if you’ve dropped and smashed half as many handles in your travels as I have, you’ll also quickly find it to be the shatterproof bottle of your dreams. —Owen Burke, Insider Picks guides reporter

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 dishwasher and oven are among the appliance workhorses in a home that need to be cleaned regularly. What are the best cleaners for your appliances?
• LemiShine Multi-Purpose Appliance Cleaner can tackle the crud and odor in your washing machine, dishwasher, and garbage disposal.

How can you demand that your appliances perform at their best if they are dirty? Expecting fresh, clean clothes from a smelly washer or sparkling plates from a dishwasher crusted with hard water minerals is a fool's errand. All you'll get is frustration and chronic disappointment.

Luckily, there are easy-to-use products available that can restore appliances back to their prime. Many of them use natural ingredients and are not toxic to the environment or your lungs. Just a seasonal cleaning will usually remove the build-up and flush away odors, allowing the appliances to do their jobs well. Of course, if your household has some big messes, you may need to clean the appliances more often.

Along with my own housekeeping, I've been testing cleaning products for decades as a home economist for companies and publications. You can be assured that I'm always looking for the most effective, easiest to use, and best value in products. After cleaning for a living, the last thing I want to do is work harder when I get home.

Here are the best cleaning products you can buy for kitchen and laundry appliances:

• Best appliance cleaner overall: LemiShine Multi-Purpose Appliance Cleaner
• Best dishwasher cleaner: Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner
• Best garbage disposal cleaner: CLR Garbage Disposal Foaming Cleaner + Freshener
• Best washer cleaner: LemiShine Washing Machine Cleaner
• Best oven cleaner: Easy Off Professional Max Fume Free Oven Cleaner
• Best glass stovetop cleaner: Weiman Cooktop Cleaner Max

Read on in the slides below to discover our top picks to clean dishwashers, garbage disposals, ovens and cooktops, and washing machines.

The best appliance cleaner overall

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for one product that can take care of odors and soil build-up in your dishwasher, garbage disposal, and washing machine, LemiShine Multi-Purpose Appliance Cleaner is your best bet.

Even with all of the water and detergents that pass through the dishwasher, garbage disposal, and washing machine, they can still accumulate a layer of residue that traps soil, odor-causing bacteria, and minerals from hard water. When all this gunk clings to the inside of the appliance, it cannot perform optimally and causes problems.

LemiShine has developed a formula, based on crystallized citric extracts, that works to cut through that residue. By adding an envelope of the powder to an appliance and running a cycle with hot water, you will quickly have cleaner dishes and laundry, and an odor-free garbage disposal.

Of the nearly 250 reviews on Target, LemiShine Multi-Purpose Appliance Cleanerhas a 5-star rating. One Indiana user says, "I was looking for a product to remove the ... crud in my dishwasher left by our terrible water here in Indianapolis. I chose LemiShine because of its safety factor. It worked wonders! So I used it in my disposal and washing machine, too!"

While LemiShine offers individual appliance cleaners, the Multi-Purpose is a best value because of the versatility and price. I keep some on hand for quick and thorough cleanings anytime I see or sniff a problem.

Pros:  Non-toxic, uses natural ingredients, fresh scent, pre-measured individual packets, simple to use, suitable for multiple appliances

Cons: Does not clean the outside of the appliances

Buy LemiShine Multi-Purpose Appliance Cleaner in a 3-count box at Target for $3.49

Buy a 3-pack of LemiShine Multi-Purpose Appliance Cleaner on Amazon for $17.99

The best dishwasher cleaner

Why you'll love it:  Easy to use and a top performer, Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner can be used while you wash a load of dishes. No extra cycle needed.

Stop and think of what lurks on your dishes when you stick them into the dishwasher — grease, bacteria, and crusty food. A good detergent and the volume of hot water swirling in the dishwasher cut through all of that gunk, leaving the dishes clean. But where does the messy stuff go?

Most of it gets flushed away, but some clings to the sides, seals, and components of the dishwasher. Eventually, the build-up becomes too much and redeposits on your dishes. No one needs that.

That's where Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleanercomes in to cut through the limescale, grease, and fatty deposits that you can see but also those in the hidden parts of the dishwasher. All that crud can clog pumps, drains, and pipes, which reduce the performance of your machine.

Every three months or so, I simply place one of the tablets in the bottom of the dishwasher tub when I'm ready to run a full wash cycle. There are no wrappers to remove or a need to empty the dishwasher of dirty dishes. Since Finish Quantum Max Powerball Tablets is rated as one of the best dishwasher detergents, using the Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner was the next natural step.

Other buyers on Amazon agree with 75%, giving Finish a 4 or 5-star rating. According to one user, "This worked really well for me. Dishwasher kept leaving food deposits in glasses on the upper rack until I tried these. You don’t have to empty dishwasher to use it either, unlike other cleaners I’ve tried."

Pros: Can be used in a dishwasher loaded with dirty dishes, no wrapper to remove, effectively removes grease deposits, limescale, and odors

Cons: Excellent choice for regular cleaning, but may not remove years of heavy build-up

Buy Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner in a 3-count package on Amazon for $4.97

The best garbage disposal cleaner

Why you'll love it: The fun-to-watch foaming action of CLR Garbage Disposal Foaming Cleaner + Freshener leaves the disposal free of greasy residue and odors.

Maybe it's because I always loved the vinegar and baking soda volcanoes at the science fair, but watching the foaming action of CLR Garbage Disposal Foaming Cleaner + Freshener makes me happy. Happy because I know that the foam is helping to dislodge bits of food and grease that is causing my garbage disposal to smell quite funky.
 
The individual, premeasured packet contains citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, along with some other ingredients to help cut through the gunk and leave a fresh clean scent. It is so easy to use but you should follow the directions to allow the ingredients time to be effective. The cleaning time is around seven minutes, and there's no need to scrub — just watch the science experiment happen.
 
More than 50% of the buyers on Amazon give the product a 5-star rating. One user wrote, ” I love these for cleaning the yucky disposal lines. I use them weekly and keep things fresh smelling and cleaner. They are easy to use, and bubble up to clean clear to the top. CLR is a trusted name in heavy duty cleaning supplies in my book!"
 
I use CLR Garbage Disposal Foaming Cleaner + Freshener when I get a whiff of something foul. It should be noted that these packets will not remove a severe clog or jam in the disposal.
 
Pros: Non-toxic ingredients, simple to use, effectively removes odors and residue from disposal

Cons: Does not remove clogs or jams in the disposal

Buy CLR Garbage Disposal Foaming Cleaner + Freshener in a 5-count bag on Amazon for $9.99

• On a recent five-day safari in Tanzania, I visited the Serengeti, 12,000 miles of grasslands teeming with wildlife, and witnessed the Great Wildebeest Migration.
• Animals on a safari are much further away than you might expect. I nearly ruined my trip by forgetting to bring binoculars and a telephoto lens for my camera.
• Some animals, like rhinos and leopards, are nearly impossible to spot without such visual aids. Thankfully, my safari guide brought extra binoculars. 

On a recent trip to Tanzania, I had planned a five-day safari to the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire — the three parks that dominate Tanzania's popular Northern Circuit.

My main goal was to see the Great Migration, where 1.5 million wildebeest migrate annually along a nearly 2,000-mile cycle in search of new grass and fresh water, but I hoped to see cheetahs, leopards, and lions too.

On the night before my safari started, an administrator at Tanzania Experience, the safari company I'd hired, came to my bed & breakfast to go over the logistics for the week. About halfway through, he stopped. "You brought binoculars right?" he asked.

I hadn't. So ensued a mad scramble on his part to ensure my guide, Charles Nnko, had an extra pair available for the trip.

Read more: I took 2,000 photos during a 5-day safari in Tanzania, and 1 of those photos is an important reality check for anyone thinking about going on a safari

One thing no one tells you about going on safari: Some of the most interesting animals are often as far as half a mile away — or more. The only way you will see them is through binoculars or a telephoto lens, a camera lens designed to photograph from very far distances.

When you go on safari, you aren't entering a zoo. You are entering the wild. And animals know you don't belong. If you rumble too close in your jeep, they scamper away. 

One of the great sights of the Great Migration in mid-February is calving season, when wildebeests and zebra migrate in order to give birth to new calves. If you want to see a calf up close, binoculars are your only option. And if you are wondering, I did also forget that I might need a telephoto lens. I had to jury-rig the binoculars to the front of my camera to catch this sight:

This pool of hippos was visible to the naked eye, but when you look through the binoculars, you can see a whole new set of details — like the two hippos jawing at each other in the back.

Occasionally, a pair of binoculars isn't even enough to get a very close look. 

On the final day of my safari, we visited Ngorongoro, a 100-square-mile crater filled with 25,000 large animals. It is one of the only places to spot the critically endangered black rhino in the world. Because the rhino is frequently targeted by poachers, the number of rhinos in the crater is kept a secret.

In the afternoon, my guide spotted a pair of rhinos a mile or so in the distance. 

Truthfully, I have no idea how my guide spotted them. Even through the binoculars, the rhinos looked like ants munching grass. Without binoculars, I never would have seen the sight.

I was just frustrated that I didn't have the camera lens to properly photograph them.

• More travel tips from Business Insider's international correspondent:
• I didn't think the $1 billion hotel considered 'the most luxurious in the world' could possibly live up to the hype. I was very wrong.
• Couchsurfing has a hidden feature that helped me have the wildest night in Tokyo partying until sunrise
• I found out the hard way that one of the best strategies to save money on flights can end up costing you big time
• The single best piece of advice I can give you for any trip you take
• I've traveled to more than 30 countries, and here are the dumbest mistakes I made on the road that I'll never make again

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Yale's most popular class ever, "The Science of Well-Being," was designed by professor Laurie Santos.
• She collected all the psychological science related to happiness and came up with a step-by-step process for boosting your own.
• After five weeks in the class, the writer Justin Maiman says that the principles — such as taking time to savor experiences and focusing on your strengths — are already working. 

Happiness can be learned.

That’s the central idea behind Yale’s most popular class ever. Professor Laurie Santos has collected all the psychological science out there and come up with a step-by-step process for boosting your own happiness.

I took the 10-week course online through Coursera for free. It’s officially called “The Science of Well-Being” and has already been taken by more than 225,000 students online. About one in four students at Yale have taken it since it was first offered.

Santos told me she designed the course for three reasons: to synthesize what psychologists have learned about making our lives better, to help undergrads overcome stress and unhappiness on campus, and “to live a better life myself.”

Five weeks in, I’m a convert. Here’s why: The seminars are great, but you also get a lot of homework centered around daily exercises geared toward changing your habits — recognizing and then dropping bad ones while developing new good habits.

Here are just four exercises I picked out from a slew of new tips and tricks I’ve learned so far. Again, the point here is that these positive habits have been tested and proven to work, based on psychological science.

Focus on your strengths

This first homework was all about identifying your signature strengths and refocusing on them each day. I took the VIA Survey online — anyone can take this test for free, check it out here — which revealed my 24 greatest strengths. My top four: love of learning, appreciation of beauty and excellence, leadership, and fairness.

If you’re pretty self-aware, the results won’t be a big surprise. The key though is to identify them and find situations to use your strengths every day. That’ll lead you down the path to flourishing. Studies show happiness increases and depression decreases when a person uses his or her signature strengths regularly. In my case, I looked for simple ways to use fairness, humor, and love of learning throughout my day. Pro tip: Additional research shows that if you’re able to “bundle” four of your top strengths while at work, you’ll likely flourish and have more positive experiences, and you are more likely to think of your work as a “calling.”

Invest in experiences

I spend money on experiences such as live music, trips, and meals over new toys. It’s always made me happier. Now I know that research backs this up, regardless of income levels: Going for a walk or traveling to a new place are much better investments in terms of happiness than buying material things.

Turns out your stuff loses “happiness value” almost as soon as you’ve purchased it. Paying for experiences, however, has multiple benefits for happiness. One, the anticipation of the experience leads to more happiness and joy. Two, talking about the experience afterward with friends reignites your own happy memories and, incredibly enough, sharing these tales with friends tends to boost their happiness, too. Finally, we don’t tend to get used to experiences the way we do with new stuff. There’s no time to get used to a trip to Mexico City, but science shows the joy you get from buying some awesome new thing, such as a phone, begins to diminish immediately. It’s just how your brain works.

Read more:An NFL player who saves almost all his salary teaches a Wharton class called 'Life 101', and his first assignment shocks students

Learn to savor more

Savoring is the act of stepping outside of an experience to review and really appreciate it — a way of helping you to stay present in the moment. And savoring often forces you to enjoy an experience for longer.

My homework was to pinpoint a moment to savor each day. One of mine stuck out: I was running around the park when a strong gust of wind at my back almost lifted me off the ground. It was a strange and wonderful moment, and I made sure to tell my wife when I got home. Looking for these moments has boosted my sense of awe at the world around me. Research shows reliving these happy memories can make your positive emotions last up to a month.

Express gratitude and spread kindness

This one is fun. If you’re generally thankful and show appreciation for what you have, your happiness levels soar. Sounds too easy, but it works. One exercise we did was make a list of five things we were grateful for each day. Staring at your list simply makes you thankful and reflective. Even doing this once a week has been shown to boost happiness and reduce ill health symptoms.

Meanwhile, doing random acts of kindness is another way to find happiness. One study showed that spending money on others makes you happier than spending it on yourself, even across different cultures and income levels. For example, small changes, such as spending $5 to buy a friend, colleague, or stranger a coffee, boosted happiness levels. So I’ve been buying a lot of coffees.

Santos adds, “It kind of seems like our brains are wired to see other people's rewards as our own rewards. And so it's kind of like getting a little click of cocaine every single time you do a nice thing for another person. It's kind of an accident of the way our social brain is wired up.”

Read more: 10 proven ways to increase your happiness

The road to happiness

Remember to also do the things you probably already know are proven to boost your well-being, such as exercising daily and getting as much sleep as possible.

But the key here is to pick up a new habit that will lead you to feeling happier. So find one above that works for you and try it. It’s been well worth it already for me.

Justin Maiman writes a weekly newsletter called Ginger that’s devoted to moments of inspiration. You can read Ginger and subscribe for free here. He’s a journalist with more than 20 years of experience in digital media and television, including working at media titans like Business Insider, Yahoo, Bloomberg, Fox News and PBS affiliates in St. Paul and Boston. He’s currently the president and managing director of Cochrane Media, a boutique media shop in New York.

SEE ALSO: Bill Gates says he's happier at 63 than he was at 25 because he does 4 simple things

Join the conversation about this story »

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• More millennials are buying homes outside the affluent suburbs and reviving the exurbs, Laura Kusisto of The Wall Street Journal reported.
• Houses in the exurbs are more affordable, and some millennials find that the savings are worth the commute time, which can be up to two hours.
• In a time when housing and rent have become expensive across the US, moving from the city center to a commuter town is an easier way for millennials to become homeowners.

Housing in America has become so expensive that millennials are going the distance when it comes to buying an affordable home — literally.

More millennials are purchasing homes in regions peripheral to the affluent suburbs — a move that's reviving the exurbs for the first time in a decade, Laura Kusisto of The Wall Street Journal reported. On average, these homes are more than 16 miles from central business districts — the greatest distance since 2004, Kusisto reported, citing Fannie Mae loan data.

While the housing market has slowed in America, more home sales and constructions are popping up in the exurbs, Kusisto wrote: "Rising mortgage rates and home prices, especially in urban centers, are once again motivating buyers to drive until they can afford a home, including in Dallas, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Low gas prices help as well."

Living in what's known as a commuter town is worth the savings in a housing market that hit an all-time high in prices in 2018, according to the National Association of Realtors' data — even if it comes at the cost of time.

"If you move into town, you're going to spend your entire salary paying for a house," Josh Bush, a 29-year-old exurb resident whose 50-minute commute can turn into two hours if he hits traffic, told Kusisto.

Read more: Millennials are waiting longer than ever to buy homes — here's how many years it takes to save for a down payment in 25 major US cities

The median price of homes listed in the US is $279,900, according to Zillow. Millennials buying their first homes today are likely to pay 39% more than baby boomers who bought their first homes in the 1980s, according to Student Loan Hero.

As a result, millennials are waiting to buy homes because it's taking longer to save for down payments — in some cities, the average home outweighs the average income by so much that it can take nearly a decade to save for a 20% down payment, according to a report by SmartAsset.

Housing is also less affordable for millennials compared with the overall population, whose incomes are likely higher because of more work experience, Business Insider's Akin Oyedele reported.

Saving up for a home can be even harder to do when millennials are shelling out money for climbing rents in the meantime. Rents increased by 46% from the 1960s to 2000 when adjusted for inflation, Student Loan Hero reported. The current median US rent, according to Zillow, is $1,650.

Choosing to live in a more affordable exurb is a way for millennials to fast-track their path to homeownership. And as it turns out, they may not be so different from baby boomers after all.

"In recent years, millennials have driven demand for rental apartments in downtown areas," Kusisto wrote. "Some in the industry thought this could be a permanent phenomenon. And yet, as they begin to marry and have children, millennials are proving like generations before them that they are willing to move to more affordable outlying areas."

SEE ALSO: 5 millennials who became homeowners in their 20s share their best advice for buying your first house

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

Join the conversation about this story »

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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 $50 on the Fire HD 10 Tablet

Featuring a 10.1-inch 1080p screen, the Fire HD 10 is the largest and highest resolution tablet made by Amazon. The screen's big size makes it perfect for streaming movies, playing games, or reading books. With Alexa built in, you can use your voice to pause and play music and videos, open apps, check the weather, set timers, and much more. Right now, Prime members can save $50 on the device.

Fire HD 10 Tablet, $99.99 (Originally $149.99) [You save $50]

2. Save up to 80% on photo canvases at Snapfish

Creating photo albums is a nice way to preserve memories, but if you want to bring your prints to another level, photo canvases are the way to go.  Now through March 29, Snapfish is running a promotion where you can save up to 80% on photo canvases. You can also save 50% on all orders by using the promo code "5019MAR" at checkout. 

Shop the Snapfish sale now. 

3.Save $300 on an ASUS 2-in-1 15.6-inch Touch Screen Laptop at Best Buy

With a vibrant Full HD touchscreen, a 360-degree flip-and-fold design, 16GB of RAM, and a large 2TB hard drive, the ASUS two-in-one can handle all of your work and entertainment needs. It features the functionality of a traditional laptop and a tablet, so it's perfect for taking on the go. Right now, you can save $300 on one at Best Buy. For more deals and promotions at Best Buy, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

ASUS 2-in-1 15-inch Touch Screen Laptop, $699.99 (Originally $999.99)[You save $300]

4. Save $19 when you buy two pairs custom chinos at Indochino

A made-to-measure garment will always fit better than off-the-shelf clothing, so every man should own at least a few custom pieces — and Indochino is leading the industry in custom clothes online. Right now, you can get two pairs of chinos designed and fit to your specific preferences for $139 by using the promo code "BUNDLES" at checkout. I went through the design process and found them to be a better fit than any other chinos I've worn. 

Shop chinos at Indochino now, $79 or two for $139.

5. Save 20% on select Brooklinen sheets

Since its inception in 2014, Brooklinen has become a popular bedding brand and an Insider Picks favorite because of its excellent quality and fairly priced sheets. The company rarely has sales, but the Smoke and Reverse Smoke Stripe colors are going away soon, so they're being discounted. Right now, you can save 20% on Luxe Sateen sheets and Classic Percale sheets in both colors. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a long-time fan of Brooklinen, this a great deal.

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6.Save $49 on these cult-favorite wireless headphones

With great durability, excellent sound quality, and a secure in-ear fit, the Jaybird X3 Sport Bluetooth Headphones have become a fan favorite for sporty headphones. Even at the $130 original price, they're a solid value, but right now you can save $49 on a pair. If you're in need of a dependable pair of headphones for your workouts, this is a great deal.

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7. Save 20% when you spend $99 or more at Foot Locker

Whether you're in need of performance activewear for working out or laid back sportswear for wearing casually, Foot Locker is a great place to find it — and right now, many great items are on sale. For a limited time, you can save 20% on orders of $99 or more by using the promo code "SPRING20" at checkout. With sneakers and apparel from all your favorite sportswear brands, reaching the $99 minimum is super easy. For more deals and savings at Foot Locker, visit Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Foot Locker sale now. 

8. Save 10% on Leesa and Sapira Mattresses, plus get a free pillow

Named the best overall mattress you can buy in our guide, Leesa provides comfort at a great value. Mattress prices start at just $595, but right now, you can save up to $120 on the original Leesa foam mattress and up to $180 on the hybrid Sapira mattress. You'll also receive a free pillow. If you're in need of other sleep-related basics, you can also save up to 30% on bedding accessories like pillows, sheets, blankets, and mattress protectors.

Shop the Leesa Mattress sale now. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• At a special event on Monday, Apple revealed its upcoming subscription TV service, Apple TV+.
• Here are all of the original TV shows Apple is developing for the service. 

Apple provided further details about its big push into original TV programming at a special event on Monday, but many questions still linger.

The company didn't reveal pricing for its upcoming subscription TV service, Apple TV+, or a release date for any of the shows that will debut on the service, only that it's coming this fall.

READ MORE: Apple's new TV service sounds like a clone of Amazon Prime Video — here's how the 2 compare

What Apple did offer all-star talent to introduce the most noteworthy original shows. That included Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams and Sara Bareilles, Kumail Nanjiani, and even "Sesame Street's" Big Bird.

But the company didn't show off everything it has in development. Viewers can expect more, including a biographical drama on NBA all-star Kevin Durant's youth and an animated show from the creator of "Bob's Burgers."

Here are the original shows that Apple is producing in its push into TV (including two that have already been released): 

SEE ALSO: Hulu's 'Runaways' has lower viewership than all of Netflix's canceled Marvel shows, but there are 2 big reasons it's been renewed

REVEALED AT SPECIAL EVENT:

"Amazing Stories"

Apple is reviving Steven Spielberg's sci-fi and horror anthology series "Amazing Stories," which aired on NBC in the late 1980s. 

"Dear..."

Little is known about "Dear..." other than it is a docuseries, according to Deadline. 

• Cars are getting more and more expensive in the US. 
• Sales data compiled by the Kelley Blue Book show that the average car cost more than $36,500 in February or nearly $1,000 more than in February 2018.
• We turned to the experts at Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book for some handy tips on how to make your car last longer and save you money. 

Cars are big tickets buys for most American families. In fact, it's usually the second biggest purchase right after the family home. 

Unfortunately, cars are getting more and more expensive in the US. Sales data compiled by the Kelley Blue Book show that the average car cost more than $36,500 in February or nearly $1,000 more than in February 2018. Some of the more popular segments of the market were even more expensive. For example, full-size pickup trucks such as the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, and the Ram 1500 had an average transaction cost of $49,958. That's an increase of more than $3,000 over the same period in 2018. Compact crossover SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV cost an average of $29,259, up nearly $800 over the same time last year. 

Read more: What your check engine light really means.

According to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average cars on the road in 2017 was 10.1 years old. That's up from 9.5 years of age in 2009 and 9.0 years in 2001. 

Regardless of whether this trend is caused by better build quality or increasingly high prices, the result is the same; cars are lasting a long time. 

Recently, Business Insider spoke with Kelley Blue Book executive editor Michael Harley and Edmunds.com senior consumer advice editor Ron Montoya for some tips on how to make your last longer and save you money.

Fortunately, most of the advice is simple, common sense practices that don't require much effort or expertise to implement. 

SEE ALSO: 25 hot cars at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show

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1. Follow the manufacturers' recommended service schedule.

Both Montoya and Harley emphasized the importance of following your car's service schedule. 

"The best way to prolong the life of your vehicle is to stay on top of the scheduled maintenance," Montoya said. 

Your owners manual should have a detailed outline of when the maintenance should occur and what will need to be addressed at each time. 

This includes oil and filter changes along with inspections of your car's tires, brakes, and fluid levels. 

Montoy and Harley both say the old 3,000-mile per oil change rule no longer applies to modern cars. 

"There could be oil changes anywhere between 3,750 miles for a severe service if you do a lot of stop-and-go driving or upwards of 15,000 miles between oil changes if you do a lot highway commuting," Harley said.

Each car maker will spell out the oil change intervals in the owners manual.  

2. Check your tire pressure.

Make sure the tires on your car are set at the optimum air pressure. Most cars will have the proper air pressure listed in the owners manual as well as in the driver's door frame. 

Both Harley and Montoya suggested drivers check their tire pressure at least once a month.

"A lot of people just wait until the (tire pressure monitor) light to come on," Montoya said. "That's not when you should be replacing the air in your tires. At that point, it's actually a little too late and it's an emergency situation."

Not only will maintaining proper air pressure will help optimize the car's handling and braking, but it will also save you money. 

"If you let your tires run too low or too high, you're going to get abnormal wear and tires are expensive," Harley said. 

3. Make sure you take care of the little things.

One way to extend to life your car is to take care of the little things before they escalate into the big problems, Harley told us.

For example, if a faulty oxygen sensor triggers the check engine light, replace the sensor before it caused excess wear to your car's catalytic converter.

And installing new catalytic converters is a much more expensive job. 

• The Mars family has a net worth of nearly $90 billion and helms Mars Inc., the candy empire that brought you Snickers, Twix, and M&M's.
• The six family members that rank on the Forbes 400 list have a reported fortune of $72 billion, making them America's third-richest family "dynasty," according to a recent report.
• The Mars family is known for keeping to themselves, but in recent years, they've started to speak out.

The Mars family sits on top of a delicious empire.

They're the heirs to the candy throne that is Mars Inc., maker of Snickers, Mars Bars, Milky Way Bars, Twix, M&M's, and more — not to mention a portfolio of PetCare products, drinks, and gum, among others.

The 106-year-old company has helped the Mars family build a reported fortune of $89.7 billion, according to Bloomberg. The six family members who rank on the Forbes 400 list share $72 billion of that fortune, making them America's third-richest family wealth "dynasty," according to the Institute for Policy Studies' "Billionaire Bonanza" report.

Press-shy and limelight-avoidant, the Mars family remains a bit of a mystery. They've been known to keep the company "notoriously private," in the words of Business Insider's Cadie Thompson. The headquarters have been called "anonymous" by Guardian reporter Andrew Clark.

However, Mars Inc. has more recently started trying to shed its secretive history. During the last few years, the Mars family and company executives have started to speak out.

Here's what we know about the Mars family and Mars Inc.

SEE ALSO: Meet the 15 richest American family 'dynasties,' who have a combined net worth of $618 billion

DON'T MISS: Meet the Cathys, heirs to the Chick-fil-A empire, who have a fortune of more than $11 billion and are one of America's wealthiest family 'dynasties'

The Mars family's $89.7 billion fortune is rooted in its family-owned candy empire, Mars Inc. Founder Frank Mars learned to hand-dip chocolates at a young age; in 1911, he began selling candy from his kitchen in Tacoma, Washington.

During the Depression, founder Frank and wife Ethel became "social luminaries."

They owned a $20,000 Deusenberg town car and had two getaway homes in Wisconsin and Tennessee.

They also opened their Tennessee getaway home, the Milky Way Farms Racing Stables, to the public for fundraisers and public events. Ethel's horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1940, securing her "station in mint-julep society."

Source: Bloomberg, Forbes, Campden FB, Business Insider, Washingtonian

Mars' son, Forrest Sr., joined the company in 1929.

They made the first chocolate nougat, setting the foundation for Milky Way Bars and Snickers. Forrest Sr. fell out with his father; in 1932, he was given the recipe for the Milky Way Bar to start his own business.

Since then, the company has become known for the eponymous Mars Bar, 3 Musketeers, Twix, and M&Ms. More than 400 million M&Ms are produced in the US every day.

The company's secrecy dates back to when Forrest Sr. patented the method for Uncle Ben's rice and American military chiefs tried to overturn the patent to supply troops.

Forrest Sr. reportedly avoided photographers and interviews alike.

Source: Bloomberg, Forbes, Campden FB, The Guardian, Washingtonian, Independent

Unlike his parents, Forrest Sr. was relatively frugal. He raised his children the same way — while they attended exclusive boarding schools, they did chores at home to earn an allowance.

However, he did buy a 740-acre farm in Virginia in the 1940s. He and his wife, Audrey, lived apart for a lot of their marriage — she kept a penthouse apartment at The Watergate.

Forrest Sr. has been described as having an "extreme temper," but was separately praised as "one of this century's most brilliant and successful entrepreneurs" by Fortune magazine in 1984.

"He was an iconic leader – dedicated and highly respected," a Mars spokesperson told Business Insider.

Source: Campden FB, The Guardian, Washingtonian, Independent, The New York Times

• Millennials and baby boomers tend to make very different lifestyle choices, from marriage and family to how they spend their money.
• The two generations also have different tastes in homes. 
• Millennials aren't buying the large, elaborate houses built by baby boomers in "Sunbelt" states like Arizona, Florida, and the Carolinas, The Wall Street Journal reported.
• These houses end up sitting on the market and selling at massive price cuts.

It's well-documented that millennials tend to make different lifestyle choices than baby boomers do, from waiting longer to get married and have children to spending their money on health, wellness, and experiences rather than material goods.

But baby boomers and millennials also want very different types of houses, and it's creating a major problem in the real-estate market.

Fifteen years ago, boomers were building large, elaborate houses in states like Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, The Wall Street Journal reported. Now, faced with the effort of maintaining such houses, they're looking to downsize.

Read more: Millennials are choosing to face 2-hour commutes instead of paying exorbitant rates to live in cities, and it's resurrecting a near-dead part of the suburbs

The only problem? Young people aren't interested in buying their houses, according to the Journal.

"Homes built before 2012 are selling at steep discounts — sometimes almost 50%, and many owners end up selling for less than they paid to build their homes ..." Candace Taylor wrote in The Wall Street Journal.

Boomers are looking to downsize — but millennials aren't interested in their homes

"These days, buyers of all ages eschew the large, ornate houses built in those years in favor of smaller, more-modern looking alternatives, and prefer walkable areas to living miles from retail," Taylor wrote.

Younger buyers are also disinterested in outdated interior design.

"Design trends have shifted radically in the past decade," Taylor wrote in the Journal. "That means a home with crown moldings, ornate details and Mediterranean or Tuscan-style architecture can be a hard sell, while properties with clean lines and open floor plans get snapped up."

In addition to their love of open floor plans, millennials are known for being partial to minimalist, low-maintenance designs and sleek, discreet appliances — elements not always found in older homes.

Another hurdle for boomers looking to sell is that most younger buyers want to buy modern, newly constructed homes to avoid paying for renovations or plumbing and electric issues, according to a 2018 report from Nationwide Mortgage.

It's also much harder for millennials to buy homes at all

Millennials are often seen as a generation of renters, but many of them actually want to buy homes — it's just much harder for them to do so.

Millennials buying their first home today are likely to pay 39% more than baby boomers who bought their first home in the 1980s, Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower previously reported.

Read more: Millennials are buying a lot more homes than you think

The generation is also facing record levels of student-loan debt, making it hard to take on a mortgage loan, as Business Insider's Akin Oyedele reported.

When millennials can finally afford to buy a home, it makes sense that they'd hold out for something that's exactly to their taste.

SEE ALSO: 11 things millennials do completely differently from their parents

DON'T MISS: 5 millennials who became homeowners in their 20s share their best advice for buying your first house

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how North Korea's Kim Jong Un became one of the world's scariest dictators

• Luxury may not be the first word associated with apocalypse preparation, but amenities like a pool, gym, rock climbing wall, and movie theater make this $3 million doomsday condo more than a survival bunker.
• Survival Condo Project converted the missile silo into doomsday-proof condos that can accommodate 75 people for five years.
• Doomsday preppers purchase survival shelters and supplies in case of emergencies like natural disasters, nuclear threats, or global economic collapse.
• Watch the video above to learn how these condos are just one example of success within the emergency preparation market.

Following is a transcript of the video.

Narrator: During the Cold War, the US government built numerous missile silos in secret locations across the country. Many sit empty and useless today. But there's one in an undisclosed location north of Wichita, Kansas, that has taken on a new purpose. Welcome to the $3 million doomsday-proof condo.

Larry Hall: It's not the luxury that drives the cost, it's the caliber of the infrastructure and the threats you're protecting against, and, most importantly, the duration that you can be off-grid for.

Narrator: It's 15 stories deep with walls up to 9 feet thick that can withstand a direct nuclear impact. In 2008, Larry Hall bought the property for $300,000.

Hall: We said, "Hey, if we're gonna build a high-end bunker, I'd hate to, like, need protection for two years and only have designed it for one and a half years." So we said, "What would we have to do to make this place capable of sustaining people indefinitely?" And that turned out to be quite a cost-driver.

Narrator: Hall's team spent nearly $20 million to turn the missile silo into a secure shelter for 12 families. They installed three redundant power supplies, three separate water sources and a water filtration system, aquaponic farming, and hydroponic food. Then, with the help of a consultant, the team developed a plan to deal with the human factors of off-grid living.

Hall: You need to make life as normal as it can be because subconsciously, your brain keeps track of abnormal activities.

Narrator: The team added a swimming pool, gym, rock climbing wall, movie theater, dog park, and more.

Hall: What you really wanna do is make sure that people feel productive, so you're gonna need everyone to be working four-hour workdays, and every 30 days, people will rotate jobs so you don't have any single points of failure and everybody knows how to do all of the jobs there.

Narrator: The infrastructure is designed to sustain 75 people for five years. The idea was so popular that every unit sold before construction ended. The project is just one example of success in the growing survival market.

Announcer: The basement box-type shelter is stronger, larger, and more comfortable. Outdoors, you can build an earth-covered shelter, which affords the best protection against blasts, fire, radiation, and radioactive fallout.

Narrator: Doomsday prepping isn't a new idea. In the '50s and '60s, houses were built with bunkers, and shelters started popping up during the Cold War. Today's preppers have plenty of survival shelter options. They can choose from converted shipping containers to houses designed to stand up to natural disasters to survival communities with country club amenities. Doomsday preppers can also prepare for emergencies with a multitude of survival products ranging from water filters and freeze-dried food to gas masks and emergency power sources.

Hall: They worry about world events and natural events and the things that they see in the news more frequently. People that call and worry about things like a global economic collapse, there's people that worry about the flu. Every flu season that comes around, people worry about some type of a global pandemic. It just seems like anything that could translate into a larger dilemma could present itself as a problem.

Narrator: And market activity backs that up. Sales spikes occur after natural disasters. For example, Mountain House, a freeze-dried food distributor, reported that sales of food made to last for 25 years increased fourteenfold after Hurricane Katrina. Fears about the economy and foreign relations are heightened during major elections and commonly cause sales to jump. In the week after Barack Obama's re-election, one website sold $400,000 of prepackaged meals, which depleted the company's inventory. Doomsday Prep, a store in Georgia, reported a 15% growth in year-over-year sales since Donald Trump's election in 2016.

Hall: It's kinda funny how it seesaws with who's in the White House. When the rhetoric was hot and heavy between Trump and Kim Jong-un in North Korea, there was a real big spike in phone calls.

Narrator: Prep and Save, a survival equipment store in California, reported similar spikes. The store saw a 200-400% increase in business in the days following the threats. The size of the market is difficult to calculate. But in 2012, public spending on emergency prep was estimated at $500 million and an additional $1 billion from the government and NGOs. The fears driving these purchases aren't as rare as you might think. An estimated 35% of Americans believe an event will happen that will lead to the end of the world.

Hall: All of our owners have been self-made millionaires by definition, and they're from all walks of life. They like the concept of having this safe harbor, and then they also comment about what peace of mind they get from owning it. It's like they had this worry that they weren't consciously aware of, but after they bought it, they realized that they feel like a burden has been lifted.

Narrator: To meet demand, Hall and his team are building a second silo that's three times the size of the original.

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• Delta is currently offering the highest-ever public welcome bonuses on its three main credit cards. 
• There's only one week left to get this limited-time deal — the offer ends April 3.
• Even if you've had one of the cards before, you can still get the bonus on the others.
• When you open the $95 Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and spend $2,000 in the first three months, you can get 60,000 SkyMiles. The card normally offers 30,000 SkyMiles.
• The $195 Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is offering 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months.
• Delta's premium credit card, the $450 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 the first three months.

Right now, Delta and American Express are offering the highest-ever publicly available welcome offers on their co-branded credit cards. These offers have been available a few times in the past, but we've never seen them go higher (other than for a few lucky, targeted people).

You'll have to act quickly, though, since these offers are only around for one more week.

There are three offers available, and you're eligible only if you haven't had the card before. But because the three cards count as different products, you can earn a bonus on each of them. For example, if you've had the Gold Delta card before, you can still get the bonus on a new Platinum Delta card.

The three cards and offers are:

• Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: Earn 60,000 SkyMiles after spending $2,000 in the first three months. Plus, get a $50 statement credit when you make any Delta purchase in the first three months. $95 annual fee, waived the first year. The normal offer is 30,000 Skymiles.
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: Earn 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months. Plus, get a $100 statement credit when you make any Delta purchase in the first three months. $195 annual fee. The usual offer is 35,000 SkyMiles
• Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express: Earn 75,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months. $450 annual fee. The usual offers is 35,000–40,000 SkyMiles.

While Delta SkyMiles aren't necessarily the most valuable frequent-flyer mile currency out there, they definitely still offer value, and they remain worth collecting.

Read more: 7 travel-rewards credit cards that'll reimburse your Global Entry fee every 4 years

The cards have a lot of similarities

They all offer perks for Delta flyers, including one free checked bag for each person on the cardholder's reservation, priority boarding so you can settle in sooner and snag space in the overhead compartments, a 20% discount in the form of a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases, and no foreign-transaction fees.

The cards all earn 2x SkyMiles for every dollar you spend with Delta and one SkyMile per dollar on everything else.

However, there are also a few differences between the three cards. The Gold Delta card has a $95 annual fee, waived the first year, which brings it in line with the less expensive, mainstream airline credit cards.

The Platinum SkyMiles card's annual fee is $195 and isn't waived the first year, but it has an exceptionally valuable benefit that makes up for it. 

Every year on your card-member anniversary, you'll get a free domestic companion pass. A companion pass is essentially a buy-one-get-one-free coupon. When you book an economy-class flight for yourself anywhere within the continental US, you can get a second ticket for free, other than minimal taxes and fees.

For me, the value of the pass at least cancels out the annual fee, and the card offers enough value to mean I'm making a profit in some cases. I used my first companion pass this past fall to book a flight for my wife and myself — the tickets were about $225 each, but when I redeemed the pass, we only had to pay $24 in taxes and fees for her ticket.

The Delta Reserve card has a higher $450 annual fee, but it has a few additional perks that can make it worthwhile for some frequent flyers. 

Like the Platinum SkyMiles card, it offers a domestic companion pass. However, that pass can be used for first-class tickets, not just economy. Additionally, the Delta Reserve offers full access to Delta Sky Club lounges whenever the cardholder is flying with Delta (the Gold and Platinum SkyMiles cards offer discounts on single-access Sky Club passes).

The Reserve has one other major perk, which can be crucial for travelers who hold Delta Medallion (elite) status.

Delta Medallion members are eligible for complimentary, space-available upgrades to first class and Delta One on flights within the US and the region, including Mexico and Central America, and extra-legroom seats on international flights.

Upgrades clear in hierarchical order based on a number of factors, including each passenger's Medallion status level, the original fare class they booked, and a few other factors. The first tiebreaker for people with the same Medallion level and fare class: whether they hold the Delta Reserve card. Reserve cardholders will be prioritized over those without it. If there's only one seat left and two members are still tied and both have the Reserve, it continues down the list of tiebreakers.

For travelers who fly a lot and frequently find themselves one or two upgrade-list spots away from getting that first-class seat, holding the Reserve can be extremely valuable.

The bottom line

Ultimately, all three of these cards offer a great value with useful perks. With the limited-time welcome offers, now is an ideal time to open one of them.

If you fly Delta with a partner, friend, or family members at least once or twice a year domestically, the Platinum SkyMiles card is probably more worthwhile for you because the companion pass can essentially pay for the annual fee. However, if you want a lower upfront fee, the Gold SkyMiles card still comes with useful benefits — and a fantastic bonus.

Finally, if you're looking for access to Delta Sky Clubs (and don't already have thePlatinum Card from American Express), or want an extra edge in your Medallion upgrade priority, the Delta Reserve might be the card for you.

$95 annual fee (waived the first year): Learn more about the Gold Delta AmEx card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

$195 annual fee: Learn more about the Platinum Delta AmEx card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

$450 annual fee: Learn more about the Delta Reserve AmEx card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

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

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• Vinyl cutters are incredibly versatile, invaluable machines for creating custom stickers, decals, labels, magnets, signs, stencils, and more.
• Vinyl cutters can not only cut but also etch, emboss, scan, draw, and more.
• The Cricut Explore Air 2 vinyl cutter is the best all-around model because it’s dependable, precise, and versatile — in materials as well as in functions.

Although I enjoy crafting, I’ve never used a vinyl cutter and had no idea what one was until my hardcore crafting friends enlightened me. This tool is essential for designing and producing stickers, decals, labels, magnets, cards, signs, wall decor, banners, stencils, T-Shirt heat-transfer prints, bulletin board decorations, and more.

You can personalize anything or, as one friend said, “make something ordinary something special” with customized designs. Another friend commented that a vinyl cutter helps with upcycling because you can “breathe new life into anything old” by sprucing it up with new embellishments.

A vinyl cutter does more than just cut vinyl. It can also carve through different materials (e.g., card stock, foam, foil, fabric, balsa wood, etc.); some models can draw, emboss, etch, and/or scan. You can use a vinyl cutter to create small items (as gifts or for sale) and logos for business. My vinyl-cutter friends confess to rarely using scissors anymore. When slicing shapes precisely — sometimes repetitively for multiple copies — they use their vinyl cutters.

Think of a vinyl cutter as a digitally controlled scissor, shaped like a printer with a computer’s brain. Instead of printing images, a vinyl cutter carves letters and shapes from sheets of vinyl or other materials. You first upload an image — either premade or your own design — and adjust font, sizing, etc. Then, load the machine with a sheet of vinyl from which your design will be cut. Adjust the cutter’s settings (e.g., speed, knife depth, cutting pressure) if your cutter model doesn’t do this automatically. Push start: The machine carves the image before ejecting the sheet with your design cut out.

Sound too simple to be true? It isn’t, especially if you choose the right model for your needs. Consider size (to accommodate your projects); speed (especially when producing multiple copies); output quality (precision in cutting), versatility (in materials it can handle and in its functions), and software (user friendliness and library of designs); and connectivity (wired vs. wireless, online vs. offline functionality).

It may seem like a lot to think about, but don’t worry — plenty of crafters recommend watching YouTube tutorials on vinyl cutter use and searching project ideas online. Just be sure not to use copyright images on items you plan to sell. After reading crafter reviews and interviewing users, we compiled this list of top vinyl cutters for different needs.

Here are the best vinyl cutters you can buy:

• Best vinyl cutter overall: Cricut Explore Air 2
• Best budget vinyl cutter: Silhouette Camio 3
• Best vinyl cutter with scanner: Brother CM350 ScanNCut2 Electronic Cutting Machine
• Best portable vinyl cutter: Silhouette Portrait 2
• Best vinyl cutter for big projects: USCutter Vinyl Cutter MH 34in

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best vinyl cutter overall

Why you’ll love it: The Cricut Explore Air 2 is fun to use, precise, versatile, and fast for quick jobs.

Owners gush over the Cricut Explore Air 2. The spouse of an avid user joked that he’d be divorced if this “homewrecker” vibrated. Why all the fuss? For starters, it’s able to cut many different materials (e.g., vellum, card stock, leather, fabric, balsa wood, etc.), opening up endless possibilities for projects. Also, it’s multifunctional — it cuts with a German carbide premium blade (included), writes with a black pen (included), and even scores and embosses with a stylus (sold separately). 

The Cricut Explore Air 2 also comes with a cutting mat and materials for conducting a test-run project as well as practicing using the pen with the blade. It features two compartments for holding accessories, a magnetic strip for grasping extra blades, and a cup-holder-like area for stashing pens or tools. Best of all, this model comes with Bluetooth for cord-free connections to computers, phones, or tablets.

The Explore Air 2 uses Cricut's Design Space software, which contains more than 100 free images and fonts (available for Mac and Windows computers, and iOS and Android mobile devices). Because Design Space is only accessible through the manufacturer’s website, you will need access to the internet. However, the iOS version of Design Space lets you download content for offline use.

Nonetheless, when all systems are go, this model cuts intricate designs with accuracy and surgical precision. And if you are in a hurry, simply switch it to Fast Mode for cutting and drawing at twice the speed.

The Cricut Explore Air 2is one of the top-rated models onBestReviews, the second-highest on Hambly Screen Prints and The Best Vinyl Cutters, and the third-highest on 10Techy. More than 900 of 1,250 Amazon reviewers rate this model 5 out of 5 stars.

Pros: Versatility, precision cutting, Bluetooth connectivity

Cons: Needs to be connected to internet for downloadable content, software has learning curve for some

Buy the Cricut Explore Air 2 on Amazon for $229

Buy the Cricut Explore Air at Walmart for $229

The best budget vinyl cutter

Why you’ll love it: The Silhouette Cameo 3 delivers more than expected for its price — it holds two tools at once, can scan and print, and is able to work offline.

The Silhouette Cameo 3 is a super-handy cutter that offers nearly limitless possibilities in creating projects and supports a variety of materials. In fact, with the Silhouette Deep Cut Blade (sold separately), it can slice through materials up to 2 millimeters thick.

This model has a dual-carriage system that holds two tools at once (e.g., two blades or one blade and one pen) for efficient multi-functionality. For example, you can cut card stock with the blade and then embellish it with the pen, in one pass — no need to change tools manually. Simply tell the machine which tool to use.

And there’s more: The Silhouette Cameo 3 has a Print and Cut feature that lets you create a design using the included Silhouette Studio software and print it out. Then, feed the printed design into the cutter for scanning; the cutter then carves out your design.

What users really find convenient is that the Silhouette Cameo 3 doesn’t have to be connected to the internet in order to operate. As a stand-alone machine with Bluetooth, it offers lots of freedom during use.

Hambly Screen Prints, Vinyl Cutting Machines, and The Best Vinyl Cuttershighlight the Silhouette Cameo 3 as one of the best budget models, given all it has to offer. 10Techyranks it second, WireVibes fifth, andMilan Clothing within the top 10 models. Out of more than 430 Amazon reviewers, it earned an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Pros: Dual-carriage holds two tools, has Print and Scan feature, able to work as a stand-alone machine

Cons: Software takes a bit of studying for some

Buy the Silhouette Cameo 3 on Amazon for $201.95

Buy the Silhouette Cameo 3 from Walmart for $203.95

The best vinyl cutter with scanner

Why you’ll love it: The Brother CM350 ScanNCut2 Electronic Cutting Machine is perfect if you want to hand draw and scan in your own original designs; it’s also great for quilters.

Fast and portable, theBrother CM350 ScanNCut2 Electronic Cutting Machinecomes loaded with 631 built-in designs, including 100 quilt patterns. This model not only cuts these images, but also scans and carves out any original designs you create. With its 300 dots-per-inch scanner, you can scan in practically anything (a magazine clipping, photos, your own drawings, etc.), save it to the machine’s memory, and then cut out its image.

This lightweight model operates as both a stand-alone machine and a Wi-Fi-ready device. The cutter’s design software is CanvasWorkspace, a free cloud-based web application that comes with a library of images, shapes, and fonts. Using this collection as well as the machine itself presents a learning curve that crafters say is well worth climbing in the end.

The versatile Brother CM350 ScanNCut2 Electronic Cutting Machine easily slices through diverse materials with precision and speed to produce intricate designs. Its hardworking German carbide blade can cut materials up to two millimeters in thickness and one user reported cutting through more than 88 sheets of paper in one sitting. Although it cuts through fabric — and even adds a seam allowance in quarter-inch increments for sewing — a few people noted its performance on felt is only so-so.

The Brother CM350 ScanNCut2 Electronic Cutting Machinehas a 4.85-inch touch-enabled display for convenient on-device editing. You can see the scanned images on the screen and then make any adjustments. Just use the stylus to resize, reshape, reposition, rotate, and/or combine images before cutting.

Earning an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars from more than 270 Amazon reviewers, this vinyl cutter is ranked within the top five models on Best Reviews and within the top 10 models on The Best Vinyl Cutters and 10Techy.

Pros: Worth the investment, scans as well as cuts, great for quilter and sewers  

Cons: Library of images fine for some but only basic for others

Buy the Brother CM350 ScanNCut2 Electronic Cutting Machine on Amazon for $234.95

Buy the Brother CM350 ScanNCut2 Electronic Cutting Machine  at Walmart for $234.99

• To turn off the various models of Roku released over the years, there are a few different methods you'll need, depending on the device. 
• You can turn off Roku 4 by putting it into "auto power mode" or rebooting it from the "Settings" menu.
• USB-powered Roku players are automatically turned off when you turn your TV off but also come with an AC adapter that will keep them on indefinitely.
• Roku 3 and older devices cannot be turned off without unplugging them from the wall. Instead, use a power strip with a switch on it to easily turn the device off when not in use.

Roku has quickly risen above all other streaming devices in popularity on the market despite facing some tough competition (from Apple TV, Google's Chromecast, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick). Today there are more than 27 million active user accounts.

While it's easy to see how Roku has won over consumers with its simple interface and fast performance, not all of its features are immediately easy to use. Basic tasks like turning the device off and on can puzzle even the savviest of users.

Roku players are low-power devices that are designed to stay powered on and connected to the internet at all times to steadily download software updates, keep apps up-to-date, and be ready for you to stream your favorite shows at a moment's notice.

However, if you have a Roku player and want to turn your device off when it's not in use, read on. To put your mind at ease, here are the ways to shut down your device, no matter which model you own.

How to turn off a Roku 4

If you have a Roku 4 (pictured above), then you're in luck — the Roku 4 has a brand-new feature that allows you to fully turn off your device with just a few clicks.

1. To turn off your device, go to the "Power" menu by selecting "Settings," then "System," and then "Power." This will present you with a number of options.

2. You can set the device into "Auto power off" mode — meaning it will shut down after 30 minutes inactivity.

3. You can reboot the system by selecting "System Restart."

How to turn off USB-powered Roku players

Some Roku players are designed to be powered through the USB port in your TV. These include the Roku Streaming Stick series, the Roku Express series, and the Roku Premiere series.

If you have one of these devices, you'll probably never have to worry about turning it off. They're powered by your TV's USB port, so they'll automatically power down when you turn your TV off.

While this functionality is great for saving energy, it also means the player has to reboot every time you turn your TV back on, cutting into your binge time.

The exception to this is if your TV doesn't have a USB port, or if the USB port doesn't provide enough power to keep the device running.

In this case, you'll have to power your Roku device through the included AC adapter, which will keep your device powered on as long as it's plugged in. To turn off an AC adapter-powered Roku device, you will have to unplug the adapter.

How to turn off a Roku 3 and older

Unfortunately, if you're an owner of a Roku 3 or an older device, then there isn't a power button or easy way to power down your device. However, they will go into "Power Save" mode after 30 minutes of being idle.

The only way to completely turn off your device is to unplug it from the wall. If you're energy conscious, try plugging your Roku into a power strip with a built-in switch. Then you can simply turn off the power strip when you are not using your player.

If you choose to take the power-strip approach, remember that you'll still have to wait for your device to turn back on when you power it back up. If there are updates available to download, this may take several minutes.

How to turn off a Roku TV

If you have a Roku TV, the only way to turn the device off is to turn the TV off.

However, there are additional power saving features, which you can find by going to "Settings," then "System," and then "Power." Then select "Auto power savings." This will give you a few options.

1. "Reduce power after 15 minutes" will allow the TV to automatically save power after 15 minutes spent idle.

2. "Turn off after 4 hours" will turn your TV off after four hours. This is ideal if you tend to doze off during shows and movies.

3. "Standby LED" allows you to turn off the LED on the front of your TV when the TV is off.

4. "Fast TV start" keeps your TV in a standby state so it can start faster and be woken by voice commands coming through the remote or the Roku mobile app. Disabling this feature will save energy.

5. "System restart" will also reboot the system.

Overall, Roku Players are designed to use very little power, and most are now built with systems in place to use even less electricity when idle. You'll just have to decide whether it's more important to quickly access your streaming content or to save some energy and a few bucks.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech: 

• How to add channels to your Roku device in three ways

• How to factory reset a Roku device

• How to cast videos to Roku from your phone onto your TV

SEE ALSO: The best streaming sticks and boxes you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A mathematician gave us the easiest explanation of pi and why it's so important

• The former TPG executive Bill McGlashan, who was charged as part of the wide-ranging college-admissions scandal earlier this month, said in a court filing on Wednesday that he should be allowed to keep his passport and travel internationally. 
• The court filing was the first time McGlashan's lawyers have publicly hinted at their defense strategy. He was charged with mail fraud and accused of paying $50,000 to a charity so that his son's standardized test would be doctored. 
• In Wednesday's court filing, McGlashan's lawyers said his son has long been allowed extra time for tests because of diagnosed learning disabilities and that he did not pay for college acceptances via a "side door," as other parents have been accused of doing.

William "Bill" McGlashan, the former TPG executive charged in the college-admissions scandal earlier this month, wants to go on spring break. 

On Wednesday, his lawyers filed a memo to change his release conditions, which included $1 million bail, so that he could keep his passport and travel internationally. If the judge accepts the changes, McGlashan, who is out on bond, could attend "a long-planned family trip over his children’s scheduled school break in April 2019" and future business trips. The filing was the first time his legal team has publicly hinted at defense strategies.

His spokesman declined further comment. 

Read more: Private-equity giant TPG is launching a new company that measures the social impact of a $228 billion investing market

McGlashan was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. He has been accused of donating $50,000 to a nonprofit "with the understanding" that the college consultant William "Rick" Singer would arrange for someone to administer and then correct his son's ACT at a West Hollywood, California, testing center that Singer "controlled," according to the indictment. His 18-year old son, who, according to the indictment, did not know about the scheme, submitted his ACT score of 34 to Northeastern University in October. His son has withdrawn his college applications, according to the filing. 

In Wednesday's request to modify McGlashan's release conditions, his lawyers cited his close professional and personal ties to California, indicating that he is not a flight risk. 

They also said that the charge against McGlashan is "different than those in many of the related cases" because his son was diagnosed with learning disabilities by a pediatric neuropsychologist in eighth grade and long had extra accommodations, including extra test time. The Wednesday memo said that the original criminal complaint did not include allegations that the extra time was unwarranted. 

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"Mr. McGlashan is alleged to have made a single payment of $50,000, and there is no allegation that Mr. McGlashan’s son ever attended a university based on any of the alleged conduct," his lawyers wrote in the memo. "And that is because Mr. McGlashan did not pay for the use of a so-called 'side door' to obtain admission for his son at USC or any other college. In fact, Mr. McGlashan’s son has not even graduated high school, and he withdrew his college applications." 

The Wednesday memo did not address other parts of the original complaint, including accusations that McGlashan created a fake athletic profile for his son to gain admission to the University of Southern California. Singer referred to this scheme as a "side door" on a wiretapped call with McGlashan. Singer said that McGlashan would be notified through an unofficial letter of his son's acceptance, at which time he would need to write a $50,000 check to "Women's Athletics," later adding, "and then the other 200 comes in March, after you get your official, official letter." 

There is no indication in the criminal complaint that McGlashan paid more than $50,000 to the nonprofit. 

Two weeks ago, McGlashan left his post at TPG. The firm said he was fired, while McGlashan said he quit. McGlashan is the founder and former managing partner of TPG Growth, which makes investments in growth equity and middle-market buyouts. He's also a cofounder and CEO of the Rise Fund, an investment fund focused on companies trying to tackle social and environmental issues.

Read more:A $27 billion private-equity investor is betting a handful of data geeks will determine who wins the biggest deals

At a Wednesday conference at Bloomberg, TPG co-CEO Jon Winkelried said the original news was "pretty shocking."  

"Any time something like this happens, it sort of takes your breath away for a minute," he said. Investors "naturally have a lot of questions. We’ve undertaken an investigation internally to make sure that none of the things Bill was engaged in were bleeding into the business.”

Winkelried said the firm, which allowed investors to pull money from the second impact fund, would communicate the results of that investigation to investors.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how North Korea's Kim Jong Un became one of the world's scariest dictators

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 Calphalon Even Sear Indoor Electric Multi-Grill ($110 on Amazon) can make a ton of delicious bites from pancakes to steak with ease.
• It can be set to temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and the removable plates are easy to wash while a drip tray catches any grease or fluids that run off during cooking.
• The ceramic cooking surfaces quickly and evenly distributes heat, ensuring fast and reliable cooking with each use.

About a decade ago, I bought a cheap panini press from a discount shop. For the next few months, I enjoyed plenty of hot sandwiches from basic grilled cheese and tuna melts to hot ham and chicken paninis. Then one day, a dim light went off in my mind as I realized what so many had figured out before me: I could use the thing to make so much more than just sandwiches.

The panini press is technically just two hot surfaces that could be pressed close to one another, so I started using it to grill burgers, cook hash browns, sear fish, and so much more. It was less hassle than firing up the grill outside and quicker than baking or even pan frying in many cases. But as to be expected with cheap appliances, eventually the press passed its prime. The nonstick surface suffered multiple scratches, the locking lever failed, and the heating became uneven.

Calphalon's Even Sear Indoor Electric Multi-Grill, however, is not a cheap appliance. When this electric griddle first launched, it was $200 but now it's $110, which equates to three of the aforementioned cheap panini presses. It's worth the small investment though — this Multi-Grill is easily three times better than any cheap appliance in terms of quality and performance.

Read more: 30 appliances and tools that we swear by in the kitchen, from a $6 fish spatula to a $350 Dutch oven

It features a dial that can be set to temperatures between 200 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit so you can use the grill to prepare anything from delicate fish to a thick steak, or use the low warming setting to keep pancakes warm as you make a big batch. Of course, you can close it over and press down on that panini sandwich or have it lie totally flat as a griddle with enough space for up to eight hamburger patties or plenty of bacon and eggs.

The Multi-Grill has two sets of removable plates, one of which has raised stripes for those perfect grill marks and the other which is flat and ideal for omelets or pancakes. The plates are removable, easy to clean, and have nonstick surfaces too.

The "Even Sear" part of the name is due to a heat distribution system threaded through each plate and the thick ceramic coating on the grill surfaces. The entire cooking area warms up quickly and evenly, so you don't have to worry about any awkward hot or cold spots. And thanks to a digital timer displayed on the LCD screen, you can keep track of your cooking time without having to constantly check your phone.

So is $110 expensive for a glorified panini press? Sure. But this isn't a another cheap one-trick-pony panini press, it's a genuine electric grill. And even if it was just a regular panini press, now you've learned how to hack it — and hopefully a lot faster than it took me too. 

Buy the Calphalon Even Sear Indoor Electric Multi-Grill for $109.99 from Amazon, Crate and Barrel, and Macy's

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