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• Even if you're not actively trying to lose or maintain your weight, it's good to have a scale at home.
• The Digital Body Fat Weight Scale by Balance is our top pick because it accurately measures your weight and has an easy-to-read screen.

Bathroom scales have come a long way in the past few decades, and you don't necessarily have to pay top dollar to get top features. Whether you are looking for a scale to serve as your sidekick as you work toward your fitness goals or you just want to occasionally weigh yourself to make sure nothing wonky is going on with your body, there are highly accurate scales available that vary in complexity from simply displaying your weight to charting your progress on your smartphone.

You can still find analog scales with a single needle that points to your weight, but none of these are included in our guide because they are difficult to read and imprecise. The digital scale is an excellent basic alternative if you just want to find out how much you weigh. Most digital scales display your weight to the nearest 0.2 pounds. There are also some models that have several user profiles so everyone in your family can track their weight and body mass index (BMI).

Body fat scales have come down in price quite a bit in the past few years. Also referred to as "body composition monitors," these scales usually use bioelectrical impedance analysis, which sends a small electrical current through your body, to measure your body fat, muscle mass, bone density, water weight, and more.

Smart scales are growing in popularity. They connect to your tablet or smartphone using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Smart scales usually have their own app that syncs with the most popular fitness apps, such as Google Fit, Apple Health, and Fitbit. The app keeps a record of your various health metrics and can display graphs detailing your progress over time.

Before settling on the scales we chose to include in this guide, we first researched the buyer and expert reviews of dozens of other scales. Our top picks are all highly-rated for accuracy, ease of use, and long-term performance.

Here are the best scales you can buy:

• Best scale overall: Digital Body Fat Weight Scale by Balance
• Best budget scale under $20: EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale
• Best no-frills scale: Taylor Glass and Chrome Digital Bathroom Scale
• Best smart scale: Bluetooth Smart Body Fat Scale by Weight Gurus
• Best smart scale on a budget: Eufy BodySense Smart Scale

Updated on 6/5/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

The best scale overall

If you are looking for an affordable scale that accurately measures your weight and other biometrics, the Digital Body Fat Weight Scale by Balance is the best.

Most modern scales do so much more than tell you your weight, and luckily, they don't all cost a fortune. The Digital Body Fat Weight Scale by Balance (sold by Greater Goods) is our top pick because it is very affordable, reliable, and innovative. It's a simple scale that does so much more than show your weight.

To get started, you enter your height and age. Then, using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), the device tells you your body fat, muscle mass, bone density, and hydration. The scale then stores this information along with the weight and BMI of up to eight people, which is great if you live in a multi-person household.

The screen has extra-large numbers and is backlit for easy readability. The scale is rated to support up to 400 pounds, and the four weight sensors have a resolution of ±0.2 pounds, so you know you're getting an accurate reading. 

Balance's scale runs on four AAA batteries, which are included. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from each purchase goes to support Love146, which fights to stop child trafficking and to care for survivors.

Experts and buyers alike recommend this scale. The Spruce called the Digital Body Fat Weight Scale the best BMI scale and liked that it has several different features to keep track of more than your weight. In a write-up by Body Fat Analyzer, the writer pointed out that the scale comes with a five-year warranty and quality customer service.

The Balance Digital Body Fat Weight Scale has more than 1,500 5-star reviews on Amazon. One customer cautions buyers to be patient in getting the body fat readout. The scale displays your weight quickly, but it takes time to complete the BIA. 

There were several reviewers who received scales that measured their weight and nothing else, no matter how long they waited. Yet, they found Greater Goods' customer support was quite helpful and quickly replaced any malfunctioning devices.

Pros: Attractive design, measures six key metrics, excellent customer service

Cons: Lacks advanced features, such as Bluetooth connectivity

Buy the Digital Body Fat Weight Scale by Balance on Amazon for $22.85

The best budget scale

If you just want a scale that will accurately show you how much you weigh without any fuss, the EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale is an affordable option.

The EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale only does one thing, but it does it well: It tells you how much you weigh to the nearest 0.2 pounds. The scale has an 8mm-thick tempered glass platform that measures 12 by 13 inches and supports weights up to 400 pounds.

The scale automatically turns on once you step on it and shows your weight on the 3.5-inch backlit LCD screen. The scale runs on four AAA batteries that are included. You also get a body tape measure to more accurately track the progress of specific body areas. Lastly, EatSmart backs the scale with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Consumer Search liked that his scale is reasonably accurate, economical, easy to read, and simple to use. However, the reviewers noted that this is a fairly basic scale that lacks popular features such as body fat readouts and user profiles.

The Precision Digital Bathroom Scale has more than 21,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. Most reviewers used this scale to achieve their weight-loss goals and found it very helpful and accurate.

On the downside, one reviewer did experience spontaneously shattering, but he did note that the company was very responsive and quick in sending him a replacement scale. This experience is rare but it also isn't uncommon, so beware.

Pros: Attractive design, inexpensive, easy to use

Cons: Minimal features

Buy the EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale on Amazon for $22.33

The best no-frills scale

The Taylor Glass and Chrome Digital Bathroom Scale is for people who want a no-nonsense scale that gives you your weight quickly and accurately.

The Taylor Precision Products Digital Bathroom Scale doesn't have any fancy bells and whistles, but it is an incredibly accurate and easy-to-use scale that you can rely on.

It has a base with a high-quality chrome finish and a tempered clear glass platform that measures 13 by 11.75 inches. The LCD display is 1.2 inches in size and it's very easy to read. The scale measures up to 400 pounds.

Taylor's scale uses a lithium battery for power, plus it has an auto-off feature that's meant to preserve battery. The scale will alert you when you need to replace the battery. When you step on the scale, it automatically calibrates and turns on to take your weight. Taylor backs the quality of this scale with a five-year warranty.

Reviewers at Best Advisor and The Spruce recommend this scale because it is a great basic scale for accurate measurements.

The Taylor Precision Products scale has approximately 1,500 4- and 5-star ratings from Amazon buyers. One customer compared the accuracy of this scale to three balance beam scales at a local hospital and found that any difference between these scales and the Taylor device were not measurable.

Several people caution that the readings are off when you move the scale from one spot to another. If possible, you should store your scale in a spot where it is easy for you to use without moving it. Or, take out the battery and wait five minutes before replacing it and weighing yourself.

Pros: Large, ergonomic platform, accurate when it remains stationary

Cons: Returns inaccurate readings after moving it

Buy the Taylor Glass and Chrome Digital Bathroom Scale on Amazon for $25 

Buy the Taylor Glass and Chrome Digital Bathroom Scale at Walmart for $25

The best smart scale

If you are looking for a high-tech way to record your weight-loss and fitness goals, the Bluetooth Smart Body Fat Scale by Weight Gurus is for you.

Both our top pick and the Bluetooth Smart Body Fat Scale are made by Greater Goods. The company makes high-quality scales that are affordable and it also donates some of the proceeds to charity, which is a nice touch.

The scale uses BIA to measure bone mass, water weight, lean mass, and body fat. And, of course, it will tell you your weight and BMI. It has a large, tempered glass surface, operates on four AAA batteries, and comes with a five-year warranty.

The Weight Gurus scale is notable because it features Bluetooth to connect to an app on your iPhone or Android. The app syncs with a variety of other products and apps, including Amazon Echo, MyFitnessPal, Apple Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, and more. That way, you can track your progress and get encouragement to help you reach your goals.

Reviewers at The Wirecutter, Top Ten Reviews, and Gotta Have Fit gave this scale great reviews for its accuracy, helpful app, and decent price.

More than 4,500 Amazon buyers have left positive reviews of the Bluetooth Smart Body Fat Scale. Reviewers liked that it is incredibly easy to connect to various fitness tracking apps.

There were a few complaints, though. The scale does not work well on soft surfaces, and you can only use the scale without a smartphone in certain circumstances. Some have also experienced shattering, though they say seller Greater Goods provided excellent customer service and replaced the broken scale.

Pros: Incredibly accurate, excellent customer service, up to eight user profiles

Cons: Need the app to use the scale (for the most part)

Buy the Bluetooth Smart Body Fat Scale by Weight Gurus on Amazon for $49.85

The best smart scale on a budget

The Eufy BodySense Smart Scale is a super affordable smart scale that helps you keep tabs on your weight with your phone.

The Eufy BodySense Smart Scale is an incredibly affordable smart scale that keeps tabs on your weight, BMI, and body composition. It also syncs with an app on your phone so you can easily monitor your progress. Because it's made by Eufy, which is a part of Anker's family of tech products, it also comes with great customer service and has a very fair price.

Although the scale's display only shows your weight, the EufyLife app shows you the body fat, BMI, and body composition analysis readings. The app also syncs with Google Fit and Apple Health, so you can have all your metrics in one place. Eufy's scale can pair with up to 20 accounts, which is great for multi-person households.

The scale is made of tempered glass and is approximately 11.8-inches square. Its weight capacity is 397 pounds, which is pretty standard. For best results, place the scale on a hard, flat surface and measure yourself barefooted.

Reviewers at Lifehacker, The Wirecutter, and Android Central all recommend this smart scale, and around 70% of the buyers who bought the Eufy BodySense on Amazon gave it a 4- or 5-star rating.

People are happy with the physical appearance of the scale. They like that they don't have to adjust or tare the scale. Reviewers also like that the Bluetooth connection is fairly quick when you have the app open.

However, two of the most helpful reviewers complained about the accuracy of the body fat percentage measurements. Both believed that the body fat numbers were based on a weight-based algorithm rather than using BIA.

Pros: Easy to use, can operate as a normal scale, connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth

Cons: Questionable body fat accuracy

Buy the Eufy BodySense Smart Scale on Amazon for $44.99

Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network if you apply for a credit card, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• You can earn new member bonuses — tons of points or cash back — when you sign up for new rewards credit cards.
• In some cases, credit card issuers will offer higher-than-normal bonuses to attract new customers. By taking advantage of these offers, you can rack up points, miles, or cash rebates quickly.
• This June, there are a few incredible limited time offers, including on Delta Air Lines cards, and a bonus that can get you a free flight to Hawaii.

The fastest way to earn rewards points, cash back, and frequent-flyer miles is to open a new credit card and earn its sign-up or welcome bonus.

Credit card issuers offer huge bonuses to attract customers, while designing card features with long-term, continuing value in an effort to keep them. This offers consumers a chance to take advantage of these bonuses, perks, and features.

You can read more about earning new card-member bonuses and how that will affect your credit score here, or scroll down to find some of the best offers available this month.

Keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that make these credit cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which can far outweigh the value of any rewards.

When you're working to earn credit card rewards, it's important to practice financial discipline, like paying your balances off in full each month, making payments on time, and not spending more than you can afford to pay back. Basically, treat your credit card like a debit card.

1. Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Sign-up bonus: 60,000 Hawaiian Airlines miles (after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days). For a limited time.

Naturally, the Hawaiian Airlines credit card, issued by Barclays, might seem a bit niche for everyday spending unless you're from the islands.

However, there's a compelling reason right now for mainlanders to sign up for a frequent flyer account and open its credit card.

Right now, and for a limited time, the Hawaiian Airlines card is offering a sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles when you spend $2,000 in the first 90 days.

That's enough miles to book a round-trip flight from the US mainland to Hawaii. Award (mileage) prices can vary on peak days and times, but sample searches show plenty of availability from cities like New York and Los Angeles at lower saver-level prices. 

You'll still have to pay taxes and fees, but these top out at about $6 each way. This is an excellent way to cut down on expenses for a trip— especially if your travel companion also opens the card, earns the bonus, and uses the points to book their ticket.

This is an especially good value considering that the card's $99 annual fee is waived for the first year.

2. Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Welcome offer: 75,000 Delta SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) (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. Ends July 2.

The Delta Platinum SkyMiles card is one of my personal favorites, because even though it has a $195 annual fee, it pays for itself. The first year, you can earn a welcome bonus — right now it's a newly-increased 75,000 SkyMiles when you meet the spending and timeliness requirement, as opposed to the normal 35,000 miles — which more than makes up for the year.

Every year after that, on your card-member anniversary, you'll get a companion pass good for a domestic round-trip flight in economy (or "Main Cabin" as Delta calls it). The companion pass is essentially a "buy-one-get-one-free" certificate. When you book an economy-class flight for yourself anywhere within the continental US, you can get a second flight for free, other than minimal taxes and fees.

For me, the value of the pass at least cancels out the annual fee, and in some cases offers enough value to mean I'm making a profit. Although I've heard from a few readers before that they felt the companion pass' terms were too restrictive, I respectfully disagree (for what it's worth, I live near a Delta hub). For instance, last year I used my companion pass to book a flight for my wife and I to pick up our new puppy — the tickets were about $225 each, and when I redeemed the pass, we only had to pay $24 of taxes and fees for her ticket.

The card also offers plenty of perks for Delta flyers, including one free checked bag for each person on the cardholder's reservation; priority boarding so that you can settle in sooner and snag space in the overhead compartments; discounted access to Delta Sky Club lounges; a 20% discount in the form of a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases; and no foreign-transaction fees.

If you aren't interested in the companion pass, you can also consider the Gold version of the card (the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express). The card offers similar benefits, except for the companion pass, and only has a $95 annual fee that is waived the first year. Its limited-time welcome offer is 60,000 SkyMiles when you spend $2,000 in three months — also ending July 2.

You can read more about the limited-time offers and the differences between the two cards here. Even if you've had one of them before, you can still get the bonus on the other one.

The welcome offers on these two cards are tied for the highest-ever made publicly available, in terms of SkyMiles.

Click here to learn more about the Platinum Delta Amex card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the Gold Delta Amex card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

3. Any Southwest credit card

Sign-up bonus:60,000 Rapid Rewards points (after spending $2,000 in the first three months). Ends June 10.

Earlier this year, Southwest offered an unprecedented sign-up bonus for its consumer credit cards: 30,000 points and a Companion Pass if you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. A Companion Pass is essentially an unlimited buy-one-get-one pass for airfare.

While that deal ended in February — and we don't know if it will ever be offered again — Southwest is back with a newly increased credit card sign-up offer that can actually help you get the full companion pass.

When you open any of the three personal cards, you can earn 60,000 Rapid Reward points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. The usual bonus is only 40,000 points after meeting minimum spend requirements. This offer is only available for a limited time.

Those points can be used for flights anywhere in Southwest's network, including on its recently launched flights to Hawaii.

In addition to using the points for flights, they can also help contribute towards earning a Companion Pass for this yearand all of 2020.

To earn the Companion Pass, one has to earn 110,000 qualifying points with Southwest within a calendar year. The pass will then be valid for the remainder of that calendar year, as well as the entirety of the following one.

Points earned from a Southwest credit card count — including sign-up bonuses. If you open a card during the current deal, you'll already have 62,000 points (including points earned from spending), so you'll only need to earn 48,000 more through flights or other qualifying activities.

There are three Southwest consumer cards, but our choice for the best one is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. That's because, unlike the other cards, it comes with enough tangible benefits to cancel out the cost of its annual fee.

The other options are the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card.

Plus, if you have a small business or side gig, you can open a personal card and a small business card — the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card— and earn an additional 60,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Between the two bonuses, you'll earn more than enough points to automatically get the Companion Pass.

You can learn more about the Companion Pass and the three Southwest cards here.

Click here to learn more about the Southwest Priority card from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the Southwest Plus card from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the Southwest Premier card from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

4. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Welcome offer: $250 statement credit (after spending $1,000 in the first three months)

If you're less excited about earning Membership Rewards points — which can be valuable, but also tricky to redeem — and want to stick with cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred is the best option, despite its $95 annual fee.

AmEx recently announced a refresh to the card on May 9. Starting then, new and existing cardholders earn 6% cash back on select US streaming services and 3% back on all transit. That's in addition to the existing categories of 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year (and 1% after that), 3% back at US gas stations, and 1% cash back on everything else.

The card previously offered 3% back at some US department stores. That won't be available for anyone who applies on or after May 9. For existing cardholders, it will stick around through the end of July.

Like the EveryDay cards, the Blue Cash Preferred offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months, before switching to a variable 15.24-26.24% APR.

The Blue Cash Preferred comes with a handful of travel and purchase protections as well. Cash back comes in the form of a statement credit, so effectively you can use it to "erase" purchases.

Click here to learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

5. Platinum Card® from American Express

Welcome Offer: 60,000 points (after spending $5,000 in the first three months). It's possible to be targeted for a 100,000-point bonus for the same spending and time requirements when you use the CardMatch Tool (this offer can change at any time without warning).

The American Express Platinum card has one of the highest annual fees of any consumer credit or charge card — $550 — but as AmEx's flagship product, this premium credit card offers a tremendous amount of value to offset that fee. For example, I got more than $2,000 worth of value in my first year with the card.

The card earns Membership Rewards points, the currency in AmEx's loyalty program, which can be exchanged for statement credits or cash back, used to book travel through AmEx's travel website, or, to get the most value, transferred to any of 17 airline and three hotel transfer partners (transferable points are among the best). Travel website The Points Guy lists a valuation of 2¢ per membership rewards point; based on that, the welcome offer is worth about $1,200.

The Platinum Card earns an incredible 5x points on airfare purchased directly from the airline, and offers an airline fee credit of up to $200 each calendar year, and up to $200 in Uber credits each card member year.

It also grants the cardholder access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world, including Delta Sky Clubs and AmEx's own Centurion Lounges.

Other benefits include automatic Gold elite status in the Marriott and Hilton loyalty programs, a statement credit up to $100 to cover enrollment in Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, concierge service, access to exclusive events, and much more.

If you're an active military servicemember, you can get the AmEx Platinum Card's fee waived.

You can read our complete review of the card here.

Click here to learn more about the American Express Platinum from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

6. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points (after spending $4,000 in the first three months)

The Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular all-around rewards credit cards, and it's easy to see why. This card earns 2x points per dollar spent on just about all travel and dining purchases, and 1x point on everything else. It also comes with a ton of travel and purchase protections, such as rental car insurance, trip delay coverage, and extended warranty.

The card's sign-up bonus was recently increased for the first time since 2015— it's now 60,000 Ultimate Rewards (UR) points. That's worth, at the very least, $600 as cash back or gift cards. However, if you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and use points to pay, you'll get a 25% bonus, making points worth 1.25 cents each. That means that the sign-up bonus would be worth $750.

Even more lucrative — the Chase Sapphire Preferred lets you transfer your UR points to a few different frequent-flyer and hotel-loyalty programs. This comes in handy because in many cases it costs fewer points to book a trip if you go through one of those programs, as opposed to using the points as cash. You can read more about why transferring points to frequent-flyer programs gets you more value here.

This all comes for a fairly standard annual fee of $95, which is not waived the first year.

Click here to learn more about the Sapphire Preferred from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

7. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One's travel rewards program isn't necessarily as lucrative as what other banks offer. However, Capital One recently expanded the card's benefits, adding airline transfer partners, and launching transfer bonuses— the latest is a 20% bonus to Air France/KLM. While the transfer value isn't quite as good as with Chase or AmEx, the flip side is that they're easy to earn and easy to use — and thanks to a new partnership, you can earn them quickly.

The Venture Rewards card earns 2x miles per dollar on all purchases. As a new benefit, added this year, the card earns a stunning 10x miles when you book prepaid hotel stays with Hotels.com (you just need to go through a special landing page: hotels.com/venture). Plus, you can earn through Hotels.com's own rewards program at the same time.

Miles can be redeemed as a statement credit to "erase" travel purchases. For example, if you buy a $500 plane ticket, you can apply 50,000 miles to cancel out that charge. The annual fee of $95 is waived the first year.

Capital One has added airline transfer partners in December 2018 — 12 are at a 2:1.5 ratio, and three are 2:1 — meaning it's now possible to get outsized value from the card. This is especially the case when you consider that you can earn 10x Capital One miles on hotels, which translates to 5-7.5 airline miles per dollar, based on the transfer ratios.

Between the ability to transfer miles to airlines, and the chance to earn up to 10x miles on hotels, this is one of the best cards available right now.

The card also offers a credit to enroll in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. It has a $95 annual fee, which is waived the first year.

Click here to learn more about the Capital One Venture from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

8. American Express® Gold Card

Welcome offer: 35,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months.

Right now, the AmEx Gold Card is arguably the best card available for dining.

The Gold Card earns 4x points at US restaurants and on up to $25,000 per year at US supermarkets (and 1x point after that), 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline, and 1x point on everything else. Based on the fact that you can easily redeem Membership Rewards points for more than 1¢ of value each, that makes this the highest-earning card for everything food-related.

The Gold Card offers up to a $100 airline fee credit each calendar year, and adds up to $120 of dining credits — split into $10 each month — at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Steak House, or participating Shake Shack locations.

While it's difficult to assign an exact value to Membership Rewards points, The Points Guy subjectively estimates each point as worth 2¢. That makes the welcome bonus worth $700. Even without factoring in the annual credit benefits, that's more than enough to make up for the card's $250 annual fee.

Check out our full review for more details.

Keep in mind that it's possible to be targeted for a higher welcome bonus.

Click here to learn more about the AmEx Gold Card from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

9. Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card

Welcome offer: 30,000 Go Far points (after spending $3,000 in the first three months).

This card from Wells Fargo has one of the more attractive rewards offerings you'll find from a no-annual-fee card. The current Propel card is a relaunch of an old product — Wells Fargo stopped accepting applications for the old card a year ago, before announcing the new product and reopening applications this summer.

The card earns 3x points on all travel, dining, and select streaming services (and 1x point on everything else). If that sounds familiar, it's because it's almost the same as the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve.

There are key differences between the cards. The Propel lets you redeem points for 1¢ each toward cash back, merchandise, travel, or more, while the Sapphire Reserve offers a range of more valuable redemption options — it's easy to get at least 50% more value for Chase points. Plus, the Sapphire Reserve offers a number of premium perks that the Propel doesn't, like airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit travel delay insurance, and more.

Of course, the Sapphire Reserve also comes with a $450 annual fee, while the Wells Fargo Propel doesn't have a fee. Between the new member offer, and the solid earning rate on popular spend categories, the Propel makes a decent option for those who don't travel often, or who aren't comfortable floating a large annual fee.

We named the Propel the best no-fee card of 2019.

Click here to learn more about the Wells Fargo Propel card from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

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

Join the conversation about this story »

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

• Margaret Atwood's classic book, "The Handmaid's Tale," has evolved into a hit series starring Elizabeth Moss.
• Season 3 of "The Handmaid's Tale" is available to stream as of June 5, so you can watch seasons 1 through 3 on the streaming platform now.
• Here's how to sign up for Hulu and watch the popular show.

Season 3 of "The Handmaid's Tale" is available to watch as of June 5, so whether you want to see the entire series for the first time, you want to catch up on earlier seasons, or you just want to see the latest episodes, you're in luck. Seasons 1 through 3 are now streaming on Hulu.

If you don't have Hulu yet, but you want to keep up with the latest trials and tribulations of Gilead, here's what you'll need to do.

1. Head over to Hulu

While you could buy one-off episodes from a number of other platforms (like Amazon Prime or YouTube), the easiest way to actually stream the series is on Hulu.

2. Sign up for your free trial

Once you're on the Hulu website, select "Start Your Free Trial." You'll receive one month free to try the service. If you select the most popular basic plan, you'll be charged a monthly subscription fee starting at $5.99 after the trial ends.

3. Select your plan

You'll select your plan during your trial period, but once that first month has lapsed, you could always choose to upgrade or downgrade. For $5.99 a month, you'll be able to stream Hulu shows and movies with ads; for $11.99 a month, you'll rid yourself of ads; for $44.99 a month, you'll get both Hulu and live TV.

4. Find "The Handmaid's Tale"

Seasons 1 through 3 are available to stream on Hulu, so once you've signed up for your trial or your subscription, you're ready to start watching! 

5. Alternatively, watch one-off episodes

If you don't want to pay a monthly fee, you could instead buy individual episodes of "The Handmaid's Tale" or the entire season from Amazon or iTunes. We wouldn't recommend this option, though — not only is it much more expensive, but it also won't grant you immediate access to season 3 now that it has started airing.

Sign up for Hulu to start watching "The Handmaid's Tale" and other great shows and movies.

SEE ALSO: Hulu's basic streaming subscription dropped to $5.99 a month

Join the conversation about this story »

• I've been working and traveling abroad for more than two years.
• I pack only a carry-on bag, and I bring 12 key items that make my travels easier.
• Items like instant coffee, duct tape, and giant Ziploc bags have made my travel experiences easier.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When you're preparing for a trip, every inch of luggage space is precious.

And if you're permanently traveling, as I am, it's even more important to pack smart.

For more than two years, I've been traveling and working as a remote journalist, living as a digital nomad. My travels have taken me everywhere from the Swiss Alps and the Balkans to Australia.

Along the way, I quickly learned that the more items I carried, the bigger the burden.

I eventually decided that traveling with just a carry-on was best. That means I have to think carefully about which items make the cut and which ones I need to leave behind.

So what's in my bag? Read on to see 12 items that I pack in my carry-on everywhere I travel.

SEE ALSO: 8 fascinating facts about the busiest airport in the world, which sees 107 million passengers a year and employs 63,000 people

DON'T MISS: I moved to the US from China — here are the biggest cultural differences I've noticed between the 2 countries

Travel alarm clock

When you're on the road, power outages happen more often than you think.

That could be a problem when you need to rely on your phone or laptop to wake you up but they're about to run out of battery.

Enter the battery-powered alarm clock. A friend got me Magellan's Mini-Time alarm clock, which is analog, small, and lightweight, has a backlight and a snooze button, and is loud enough to actually get you out of bed in the morning. It uses an AA battery, which is great because those seem to be easier to find than other clocks' batteries. Basically, it's perfect for travelers.

Shower shoes

An absolute must when traveling, especially if you'll be using many different showers — whether they're at hostels, gyms, or Airbnbs — is some good shower shoes. I've known too many people who pick up ailments such as athlete's foot because they didn't have shower shoes on. Your rental apartment's floors may not be the cleanest, so better safe than sorry.

The shoes don't have to necessarily be ones you'd wear out and about, but they should be durable enough to get wet on a daily basis. I've found that these Ipanema Wave Heart flip-flops get the job done well and are cute to wear both indoors and out.

Tide pen

If you're as clumsy as I am, a Tide pen will save you — and your clothes — every time. Formally, it's known as Tide To Go instant stain remover, and nothing works quite like it. Best yet, it fits in your pocket or purse.

Pocket-sized flashlight

You never know when you'll need a flashlight, whether it's to find your way back to your Airbnb or to use it while unlocking your door. This pocket credit card LED flashlight is ideal; it's small yet efficient and can fit in your wallet.

Travel adapter

Without a travel adapter, I wouldn't get very far. When I found this international adapter, designed by Travel Fashion Girl, I knew I had to try it — and I recommend you try it too.

It apparently works in more than 150 countries, and its bright-red color doesn't easily blend in with the white walls you'll often encounter during your journey. It has two USB ports, and I also love that I can charge three devices at once.

Big Ziploc bags

When you think of Ziploc bags, you may think of the items you put homemade sandwiches in. But a friend introduced me to Ziploc Big Bags, which hold 3 gallons and are my version of packing cubes.

Not only do they make you a more organized packer, since you can color-code what you're packing and see everything through the bags, but you can then squeeze out the excess air once you're about to seal them shut. Plus, you can save a couple of empty ones for dirty clothes.

Added bonus: Bed bugs, sometimes an inherent part of traveling, hate plastic, so sealing all your items in these Ziploc bags is yet another precaution you can take.

For smaller items, I also use Ziploc's gallon-sized freezer bags, quart-sized freezer bags, and sandwich bags. They also make great portable laundry machines — just put in a clothing item, some liquid soap or shampoo, and water, then close and shake it up, and voilà!

I bring extras of all four types, plus a couple of garbage bags (in case there's no bathtub or shower to store your bags in, a preventative bed-bug measure), as you never know when you'll need them.

Palladium baggy canvas boots

When I'm traveling, I live in my Palladium baggy canvas boots, which are perfect for dressing up or down, to wear with a skirt or on a hike. I bought them randomly at a mall in Warsaw, Poland, when another pair of shoes wasn't working out for the long haul, and haven't regretted it since.

They've made it through everything from hiking the Blue Mountains in Australia to walking endless miles of Croatian cobblestone streets.

I usually wear them laced up so they look more like boots than shoes, but I love how versatile they are if you don't want to go for the boot look.

Foldable backpack

This 10-liter ultra-compact backpack folds up so much that it fits into the palm of my hand. I keep it in my day pack or pants pocket and have used it all over the world. Plus, it weighs next to nothing, which is also a big perk.

Duct tape

If you've ever wished duct tape would come in a travel-friendly size, your wish has come true with RediTape's travel-size duct tape.

On the road, I use it way more than I'd ever anticipated, from patching up my purse to affixing it to my travel bag's zippers to prevent bed bugs from crawling inside (a personal theory). RediTape's slogan is "Don't get stuck without it" — and I couldn't agree more. You never know.

Sleeping-bag liner

One of the best inventions ever is the sleeping-bag liner — especially the silk variety, like this liner from Treksilk, which is less bulky than ones made from other materials.

Whether you're cold and could use another layer of bedding at night or the sheets and blankets are questionable where you're staying, it comes in handy time and time again.

Lavender essential oil

Lavender essential oil is calming as aromatherapy and can work as a sleep aid — try a few drops under your nose or on your eye mask — and it's good for dry skin.

Lavender oil is said to deter bed bugs too, so I tend to sprinkle and spray it on my luggage just in case.

I like this Plant Therapy lavender essential oil that I received as a gift and now keep gifting others.

Instant coffee

How many times have you wanted coffee but for whatever reason can't get it? Maybe the Starbucks line at the airport is too long, or the flight attendants haven't started serving beverages yet.

Problem solved if you bring along some instant coffee, like Cafe Bustelo's instant espresso sticks. Just put a packet in your water bottle, shake it up, and presto — you have coffee! You'll avoid a caffeine headache, as well as long coffee lines.

• Illinois became the first state to pass a bill legalizing marijuana sales through the legislature on Friday.
• The bill is now awaiting Governor JB Pritzker's signature, who made legalizing marijuana a core component of his campaign for governor's office. 
• Marijuana sales are set to go live in Illinois on January 1, 2020. 
• Recreational marijuana is now legal in 11 states; medical marijuana is legal in 33.

Illinois lawmakers on Friday passed a bill that legalizes the posession and commercial sale of marijuana in the state.

The bill is awaiting Governor JB Pritzker's signature, who is expected to sign the bill after making marijuana legalization a core component of his campaign for the governor's office. 

The bill contains a sweeping criminal justice component, expunging the records of potentially hundreds of thousands Illinois residents who have previously been convicted for possessing marijuana under previous laws. Up to 770,000 Illinois residents may qualify for expungement, according to ABC News. 

The bill will also proactively create opportunities for minority business owners to capitalize on the new industry.

Legal marijuana sales in the state are expected to start on January 1, 2020, as the states' 55 medical marijuana dispensaries will be permitted to flip to recreational sales, reports The Chicago Tribune. 

Read more: Top venture investors say these 11 tech startups in the red-hot cannabis sector are set to blow up this year

"The state of Illinois just made history, legalizing adult-use cannabis with the most equity-centric approach in the nation," Pritzker wrote on his official Facebook page. "This will have a transformational impact on our state, creating opportunity in the communities that need it most and giving so many a second chance."

For its part, Illinois will be the first state to legalize marijuana sales through the state legislature — rather than a ballot initiative — once Pritzker signs the bill into law. 

The past year has been a banner year for marijuana legalization.

In last year's midterm elections, Michigan became the 10th state to legalize recreational marijuana, and Utah and Missouri voted to legalize medical marijuana. Deep-red Oklahoma also voted to legalize medical marijuana last year, joining numerous other states that have such laws on the books.

Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana posessions — not sale — through its legislature last year as well, rather than a ballot initiative when the governor signed the bill into law.

And, President Donald Trump also signed the bipartisan Farm Bill into law last December, which legalized hemp — a plant that's roughly identical to marijuana but doesn't contain THC, a psychoactive compound in marijuana — nationwide. 

Hemp is also a source of CBD, or cannabidiol, a popular, if scientifically untested ingredient in many cannabis-infused products. 

Read more: Top investors say these 11 buzzy, under-the-radar consumer cannabis startups are set to raise fresh rounds and blow up this year

Eleven states and Washington, DC, have now legalized marijuana for recreational use for adults over 21. And 33 states have legalized medical marijuana.

And last October, Canada legalized marijuana federally, becoming the first G7 country to do.

Mexico's Supreme Court also ruled that marijuana prohibition is unconstitutional, paving the way for the country's new leader, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to follow Canada's lead.

Marijuana prohibition began 80 years ago when the federal government banned the sale, cultivation, and use of the cannabis plant. It remains illegal at the federal level.

Overturning prohibition is one of the few hot-button topics with widespread support.

A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that 62% of Americans, including 74% of millennials, said they supported legalizing marijuana.

Melia Robinson contributed to an earlier version of this post. 

SEE ALSO: Marijuana companies are using a 'backdoor' strategy to tap the public markets — and it's fueling an M&A boom

Alaska

Adults 21 and over can light up in Alaska. In early 2015, the northernmost US state made it legal for residents to use, possess, and transport up to an ounce of marijuana— roughly a sandwich bag full — for recreational use. The first pot shop opened for business in late 2016.

Alaska has pounced on the opportunity to make its recreational pot shops a destination for tourists. More than two million people visit Alaska annually and spend $2 billion.

California

California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana back in 1996. California became even more pot-friendly in 2016 when it made it legal to use and carry up to an ounce of marijuana.

The law also permits adults 21 and over to buy up to eight grams of marijuana concentrates, which are found in edibles, and grow no more than six marijuana plants per household.

Getting Californians to buy legal weed — rather than from the black market — has been challenging since the law took effect, The New York Times reports. 

Colorado

Maine

A ballot initiative in 2016 gave Mainers the right to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, more than double the limit in most other states.

Maine's legislature is still ironing out the details of how, and when, recreational pot shops will open in the state.

Massachusetts

In 2016, Massachusetts gave residents the green light to carry and use an ounce of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants in their homes. 

The first pot shops opened in the state last year, with more to come in 2019, reports The Boston Globe. 

Michigan

Voters in Michigan passed Proposition 1 last year, making it the first state in the Midwest to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The bill allows adults to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and allows residents to grow up to 12 plants at home.

The law is more permissive than other states with legal marijuana: Most allow residents to only possess up to an ounce at a time.

Nevada

Residents and tourists who are 21 and over can buy an ounce of marijuana or one-eighth of an ounce of edibles or concentrates in Nevada — while supplies last. Less than two weeks after sales of recreational weed began on July 1, 2017, many stores ran out of marijuana to sell.

The state has earned nearly $20 million in marijuana tax revenuesince the market launched.

There's bad news if you want to grow your own bud, though. Nevada residents must live 25 miles outside the nearest dispensary in order to be eligible for a grower's license.

Oregon

Oregonians have enjoyed the right to carry an ounce of weed and grow up to four plants at home since 2015. 

Sales in Oregon pot shops have exploded since legalization: they're expected to top $1 billion by 2020, reports The Portland Business Journal. 

Vermont

Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana through the legislature, rather than a ballot initiative, when Republic Governor Phil Scott signed a bill into law in January of last year.

Adults in the Green Mountain State will be able to carry up to an ounce of marijuana and grow no more than two plants for recreational use. The new law goes into effect in July. But the bill is limited in scope. It doesn't establish a legal market for production and sale of the drug.

Washington

Dispensaries in Washington have raked in over $1 billion in non-medical marijuana sales since the drug was legalized for recreational use in 2012.

The state allows people to carry up to an ounce of marijuana, but they must require the drug for medicinal purposes in order to be eligible for a grower's license.

Washington D.C.

Residents in the nation's capital voted overwhelmingly to legalize marijuana for adult use in November 2014.

The bill took effect in 2015, allowing people to possess two ounces or less of marijuana and "gift" up to an ounce, if neither money nor goods or services are exchanged.

Illinois

Illinois lawmakers on Friday passed a bill that legalizes the posession and commercial sale of marijuana in the state.

The bill is awaiting Governor JB Pritzker's signature, who is expected to sign the bill after making marijuana legalization a core component of his campaign for the governor's office. 

Legal marijuana sales in the state are expected to start on January 1, as the states 55 medical marijuana dispensaries will be permitted to flip to recreational sales, reports The Chicago Tribune. 

For its part, Illinois will be the first state to legalize marijuana sales through the state legislature — rather than a ballot initiative — once Pritzker signs the bill into law. 

New York and New Jersey may be next.

Since Massachusetts opened its first pot shops in November, states around the Northeast are hopping aboard the green train.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made legalizing marijuana a top priority for the first hundred days of his third term as governor, though that hasn't panned out. New York's legislative session ends on June 19, and it's unlikely a marijuana bill will be passed before then. 

And while New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy hasn't yet given up on legalization, it's not likely to happen this year after lawmakers couldn't reach an agreement on a marijuana legalization bill.   

While the federal government under President Trump is no friend to marijuana reform laws, it's likely that we'll see action from Congress — with a Democrat-controlled House — easing tax burdens and banking restrictions on marijuana businesses, and expanding access to medical marijuana. 

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.

• This Father's Day, don't forget about another dad in your life — your grandpa. 
• These 26 gifts will help him relax, make life's tasks more convenient, and encourage you to spend more time with each other. 
• Find more Father's Day gifts for all the dads in your life here. 

Grandfathers are the source of endless wisdom and experience. Mine personally and very patiently taught me, among other life skills, how to ride a bike and how to grow fruit trees in our backyard. 

This Father's Day, remember to celebrate the granddad who has been with you from the beginning to offer his unconditional love and support. 

He will of course insist that he doesn't need or want a gift, but hopefully a Father's Day gift for your grandpa isn't something you feel obligated to give — it's something you want to give. 

These 26 gifts, from delicious treats to fun games and memorabilia, will help him relax, make life's tasks more convenient, and encourage you to spend more time with each other. 

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of our Father's Day 2019 gift guides here. 

A simple machine that makes both espresso and brewed coffee

Gift the Illy Y3.2 iperEspresso and Coffee Machine, $99

While many machines have too many programs and levers to wrap your head around, this Illy one operates on an easy one-touch system. He just needs to use the brand's capsules to enjoy delicious espresso and coffee at home. 

A map of anywhere in the world

Gift a Grafomap Custom Map Poster, $49 

His favorite place in the world might be his hometown, college town, vacation spot, or wherever his family is. With its unique color themes, customizable labels, and variety of sizes and finishes, Grafomap can capture any location in a thoughtful, personal way.

Artisanal EVOO

Gift the Brightland Alive and Awake Olive Oil Set, $62.98

It takes an experienced palate such as his to appreciate the olive oil from this popular startup. The Alive variety is smooth and nutty, with notes of green tomato and green almond, while the Awake variety is herbaceous and grassy, with notes of artichokes and herbs. 

A gardening tool bag he can also sit on

Gift the UncommonGoods Gardener's Tool Seat, $36

The work station lets him rest comfortably as he gardens, so he can tend to his plants for a bit longer. The bag has a grand total of 21 pockets and a large main compartment, plus it detaches easily from the frame. 

A diver watch with a distinctive ‘Pepsi’-like bezel

Gift the Seiko Diver Automatic Watch, $139.99

The classic watch style features a blue and red bezel for a nice pop of color on his wrist. 

A side table that keeps his TV-watching essentials close by

Gift the UncommonGoods Couch Arm Table, $150

The handmade cherry wood table holds his snacks, drinks, and remote controls in one handy place. It'll fit up to a 15-inch-wide sofa arm. 

An assortment of bourbon-infused snacks

Gift the Mouth Eat Your Bourbon Box, $63.50

Bourbon really does make everything — marshmallows, mustard, beef jerky, and more — better. 

A vintage-style turntable with modern music playing capabilities

Gift the Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable, $49.99

He can toss a favorite record on this turntable, or stream music through Bluetooth. It packs up like a suitcase if he wants to bring it with him anywhere, but also looks great sitting in his living room. 

An outdoorsy copper mug

Gift the United by Blue Axe Crest Copper Mug, $32

The sleek, shiny cup looks as good by an indoor fireplace as it does by an outdoor camp fire. It's finished with tarnish-reducing lacquer and interior enamel lining. Get one for yourself, too, so you can sit back, relax, and take in all of Grandpa's stories. 

A lightweight, organized camera bag

Gift the Peak Design Camera Bag, $99.99

It seems like grandparents can never take enough pictures of their kids and grandkids. You can help him keep his DSLR and accessories safe, secure, and organized with this good-looking bag. 

Wool slippers he can wear in and out of the house

Gift a pair of Allbirds Wool Loungers, $95

Allbirds are the definition of casual comfort. Its Wool Loungers are arguably the best style to wear from inside to outside the house without a second thought.

A candle that fills the room with the smell of rich leather

Gift the Malin + Goetz Leather Candle, $55

Each of these luxurious candles is handmade in Brooklyn from a mix of beeswax, vegetable wax, and soy wax. If the distinctive scent of leather isn't his thing, there are also similarly interesting options like Mojito and Dark Rum. 

A fun children's book

Gift "How to Babysit a Grandpa," $8.89

The playful book switches the roles of grandparent and child, resulting in an adorable guide to how to make the most of a weekend of grandpa. Hint, it involves "ice cream topped by cookies" followed by "cookies topped by ice cream," and lots of fun outdoor adventures. 

A personalized pillow

Gift the Pluto Pillow, $70 (originally $85, take $15 off with code "DAD15")

It's hard to buy products like mattresses or pillows for another person because only he knows his body best. Gift a pillow personalization service like Pluto so he can get the exact pillow he needs. 

An entry-level smart home device

Gift the Echo Dot (3rd Gen), $49.99

If your grandpa isn't extremely techy, the Echo Dot is an especially good starter gift. It maximizes convenience, requires little interaction after setup, and takes up minimal space. He can easily ask Alexa for recipes, the weather, the news, and to control things like the lights.

You could also grab a few accompanying smart bulbsif he either hates getting up to turn them off, or if his knees tend to bother them. Stick around to set it up, and show him a few of the coolest features.

A charitable lottery game

Gift a LottoLove Variety Pack (2 cards), $20

There are few people as giving as your grandpa. He'll love the selfless gift of LottoLove, a "lottery game" where he plays to find out what charitable cause he's supporting today. 

Socks featuring a superhero almost as cool as he is

Gift the Stance Captain America Socks, $13.98

Who doesn't love this classic comic book character? 

A pair of movie tickets for a day out with Grandpa

Gift a Fandango gift card, from $15

Whether he's more of a thrill seeker or a romantic at heart when it comes to movies, he'll be most happy about sharing in the cinematic experience with his favorite person. 

A selection of butcher shop-quality meat that he can enjoy without ever leaving the house

Gift the Best of Porter Road Box, $100

Quality butcher shops aren't always easy to come by, so bring one right to his kitchen. Nashville-based butcher shop Porter Road also operates online and lets you browse a selection of high-quality meats, like the dry-aged steaks and pork chops in this curated kit. 

A well-made card that's only missing your personal message and signature

Gift the World's Greatest Pop-Pop Card, $4.25

"World's Greatest" can't even begin to describe what your grandpa means to you, but it's the closest available on a beautifully illustrated card. 

A basic step counter

3DFitBud Simple Step Counter Pedometer, $19.99

Forget all the fancy functions of a Fitbit or smartwatch — this zero-setup pedometer is the easiest accessory to track his steps and motivate him if he wants to get more active. Join him on a brisk walk during Father's Day weekend when he takes it for a spin for the first time. 

A spotlight on famous guitars and their owners, from Eric Clapton to Prince

Gift the Pop Chart Visual Compendium of Guitars Poster, $30

Count 'em: 64 famous guitars and 75 years of rock history, all condensed into a striking graphic. Make sure to take notes as he points out and explains the significance of each guitar, just in case he quizzes you later. 

A New York City-inspired chess set

Gift the NYC Skyline Chess Set, $120

Playing chess on this set might inspire some serious thoughts of taking a trip to the Big Apple. One World Trade, the Flatiron Building, and the Guggenheim are among the New York City icons immortalized in this chess set made for city lovers. 

A heart-shaped plant

Gift the Hoya Heart in Ezra Planter, $26

The humble Hoya only needs to be watered every few weeks. You have five different planter colors to choose from, and you can add a message ton the pot for $4 extra. 

A set of smooth sateen pajamas

Gift the Majestic International Marbella Stretch Sateen Pajamas, $90

Soft and stretchy PJs provide the perfect excuse to stay in on the weekends. He could also wear them for those monthly sleepovers with the grandkids. 

An online travel concierge that will help him plan his next trip

Gift a Journy gift card, from $50

Not all grandparents are fans of those senior tour packages and vacations. If that's the case for your grandpa, gift him the travel concierge services of Journy. He'll receive some expert guidance on where to go and what to book, but he'll still be able to do everything he wants, the way he wants to. 

• Recording audio on your Mac computer is a great way to make quick notes for yourself, or to share ideas with others when you share your recordings later.
• Your Mac comes with at least one and likely two simple audio recording tools — QuickTime and Voice Memos — that make use of its built-in microphone, and can work with external audio hardware.  
• For more advanced audio recordings, apps like GarageBand and WavePad offer many options for editing, mixing, and otherwise working with sound on a Mac.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

From dictating a note you want to share with a colleague about a project, to rattling off a grocery list, to recording a discussion that takes place in the conference room, your Mac can be used as a handy audio recording device.

Its built-in microphone might not capture ultra high fidelity sound, and the audio recording apps that come preloaded on the computer aren't complex, but at least it's simple to record sound on a Mac.

But remember: to make recordings, you'll need a microphone. MacBooks and most Apple-brand monitors come with them preinstalled, but if you're running your Mac with a third-party monitor, you'll need to use an external microphone.

To make basic audio recordings on a Mac, you should use either the Voice Memos app or the QuickTime Player, both of which you can find using the Finder or Launchpad or download for free on the App Store. 

These apps will record audio from your microphone, and allow simple editing. If you want more advanced audio recording, try using programs like GarageBand (which usually comes preinstalled), Audacity, or WavePad. 

How to record audio on Mac with Voice Memos

1. Open the Voice Memos app.

2. Click the large red circle to start recording sound.

3. Click the red pause button (two parallel vertical lines in an oval) to stop the recording.

4. If done, click Done, then click on the words "New Recording" to name the file.

You can access these files any time by opening the Voice Memos app, and you can edit or add to the recording by clicking on the file, then clicking the Edit button in the top-right corner. You can crop or re-record segments of the clip from within the Voice Memos app.

If you want to share your recording, click the Share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up out of it) in the top-right corner, and select how to want to send it.

How to record audio on Mac with QuickTime

QuickTime offers one noted benefit over Voice Memos: it's much easier to pick where you save the audio, and to share the files.

1. Open the QuickTime Player.

2. Click File, then click New Audio Recording.

3. Hit the red circle in the middle of the gray circle to start recording.

4. Click the dark gray square to stop recording.

5. Click File, then Save... to choose the name for the recording and where you'll save it.

You can then share this file through email or other programs that allow you to upload files.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to change your desktop background on a Mac computer to any image, in 4 different ways

• How to uninstall apps on a Mac computer in three different ways

• How to create folders on a Mac computer and organize your files

• How to set an alarm or event reminder on a Mac using the Calendar app

SEE ALSO: The best laptops you can buy

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. 

• The Bear Hybrid mattress has four different layers of foam, hundreds of individually wrapped spring coils, and a unique topper for a total of six layers to create a sleeping experience that's perfect for any body type.
• The soft fabric top features Celliant fibers that reflect your body heat as infrared energy, helping promote ideal circulation and muscle recovery while you sleep.
• A Bear Hybrid starts at $1,090 for a Twin and goes up to $1,690 for a King and California King, so it's not cheap, but it's covered by a stellar 20-year warranty, so you can count on durability that justifies the price.

A few weeks ago, I had this moment of realization — I haven't remarked on a hotel bed in years.

Whenever I used to travel for work, or for fun with my wife, I would without fail bemoan how amazing the hotel bed felt when compared to our decidedly middling traditional coil mattress. Now, no matter how comfortable a bed I encounter, I have yet to find one more sublime than the Bear Hybrid mattress we have at home.

Bear's mattress is a so-called Hybrid because it has both foam and coils to support and contour around your body. Well, make that four different layers of differing foam types and hundreds of individually wrapped coils, to be more precise. And we'll talk about the quilted Celliant fiber topper later.

You'll be amazed by the comfort of a Bear Hybrid mattress from the first second you lie down on it. Even better, you'll realize you stayed comfortable all night when you wake up in the morning — potentially even in the same position.

For reference, I tested a queen-sized Hybrid mattress — as in, I slept on it for the sake of research. It's a standard 80 inches x 60 inches, but it's thicker than others like the Casper Hybrid at 14 inches, so make sure your sheets will fit, or you might have to order some new ones.

Read more: The best mattresses you can buy

Delivery

The mattress arrived rolled up and tucked into a big box that I was able to carry upstairs by myself, but at 110 pounds, it was just about at the limit of me doing so without back injury or sending the thing bouncing down the stairs, so definitely consider enlisting a friend or your partner to help.

And careful when you cut the thing out of its vacuum-sealed plastic bag too, slicing through a $1,390 mattress wouldn't be much fun.

Once out of the bag (so to speak), the Hybrid mattress perks up to nearly its full size in a matter of seconds, and in a few minutes, it's ready for positioning, adding sheets, and then slumber. Because it's vacuum sealed and rolled up, you might want to let it air out for a few hours or even overnight if you can spare it.

Design

There are no secrets as to why this mattress is so comfortable — just science and good design. Let's start at the bottom-most layer of foam and work our way up.

The lowest level of the six-layer Hybrid mattress consists of high-density foam that supports the weight of the rest of the mattress, not to mention the people sleeping atop it.

Next, we have by far the thickest layer which encompasses the individually wrapped coils. There are hundreds of coils that expand and contract to absorb your movement, and contour around your body for a customized fit, creating excellent alignment for your hips, spine, and so on.

Third, there's a thin layer of low-density foam that provides excellent airflow and relieves pressure points.

The next is a super-soft foam for that immediate comfort when you lie down. Think of the whole "like sleeping on a cloud" cliché that we should really all move past because you'd just fall right through the cloud to a unique but horrific death.

The top layer of the mattress is a cooling gel foam hybrid that draws heat away from your body and helps regulate your body temperature to promote deep, steady sleep. And that's not even the layer worth noting.

The top-most layer is a quilted honeycomb mattress topper that's soft and smooth to the touch, and woven with Celliant fibers throughout. This inimitable material reflects some of the heat your body radiates outward back to you in the form of infrared energy that penetrates a few millimeters into your body, helping create ideal circulation and support healing and recovery in joints, muscles, and other tissue.

Meaning? You'll wake up feeling refreshed both mentally and physically.

What is it like sleeping on a Bear Hybrid mattress?

I've always had trouble falling asleep, so it's not like I was out within seconds the first time I slept on the Bear Hybrid. But I did find myself nodding off faster than with our old spring-only mattress, and even while still awake, I wasn't shifting around as much. My wife was out like a light, though she never has trouble sleeping.

Many mornings, I find that I haven't kicked the blankets off myself, so the upper layers must indeed be helping regulate my body temperature. And while I used to wake up with mild back pain most days what with being in my mid-30s, I experience much less of that now. I attribute that to the mattress since I haven't changed anything else about my activities.

I wake up less during the middle of the night too as I think I'm shifting around less to find a comfortable position. This, I wager, is thanks to the soft support of the foam and the way the coils reduce pressure on my hips, knees, and neck.

The Hybrid vs. the all-foam original

So what sets this new Hybrid mattress apart from the all-foam mattress for which Bear is known? (And of which I myself was already a fan, for the record.)

Well, for starters, the warranty is twice as long with the Hybrid, and so too is its potential lifespan because of the improved structure. Another thing that's bigger is the weight — the Hybrid is a good 30% heavier and can be a pain to get into the bedroom and onto your bed frame.

As for the actual experience, the Hybrid is slightly more supportive than the all-foam version, which is softer in feel but doesn't help reduce pressure on the hips, shoulders, and head and neck quite so well.

Also, if you run hot like I do, the Hybrid is a better bet because of all the open space around the coils that provide plenty of airflow.

Cons to consider

There's only one major drawback with the Bear Hybrid and that's price. A Queen-sized Bear Hybrid mattress costs $1,390. Move all the way up to a California king and you're looking at $1,690. Even the Twin is expensive at $1,090.

And just to be clear, the high price is mitigated by durability. Bear backs the Hybrid with a 100-day trial with free return shipping (which, for context, many other online mattress companies also offer), and an amazing 20-year limited warranty (Casper and Leesa only offer 10-year limited warranty each), so chances are that you're going to get your money's worth no matter what.

Another minor issue is that it does transfer motion more than a 100% foam mattress. Not an issue for my wife, who sleeps like a log once out, but I do wake up sometimes when she shifts. But, as you might've guessed by now, I'm a light sleeper.

Also there's that hefty weight, but once in place on your bed frame, that's hardly an issue any more. Just get a partner or buddy to help with the unboxing process.

So is the Bear Hybrid worth it?

A thousand times yes.

This mattress is going to help you get quality sleep, and that's close to priceless for me. The fact that it may last you two decades actually makes it quite reasonably priced if you think about it in the long run.

That whole thing about replacing your mattress every eight years? That's a holdover from the spring-only days. With all the additional foam, this mattress is in it for the long haul. Just don't hurt your back while you haul it to the bedroom.

Other alternatives to consider

If you're looking for a more affordable mattress that's still quite comfortable, try a Tulo.

The four-layer Queen mattress costs less than $650, and while it might not have the longevity of a Bear Hybrid, it will still provide you and your family years of quality sleep. I should know — my five-year-old son Ben has a Tulo twinand I fall asleep on it several nights a week during snuggles.

Pros: Several layers of foam and springs creates custom sleeping experience, built to last two decades, Celliant fibers promote faster healing and recovery after exercise, thermal foam layers helps regulate body temperature

Cons:Expensive, heavy to carry by just one person, some motion transfer

Buy the Bear Hybrid Mattress for $1,090 (Twin) to $1,690 (King and Cal. King)

Join the conversation about this story »

• Peloton announced Wednesday that it had filed for an IPO without specifying the number or price range of shares it expects to sell.
• It was previously reported that an IPO deal could value the company at more than $8 billion.
• Peloton has revolutionized home fitness with its high-tech indoor bike, which enables users to stream live classes from home. More recently, it launched its second product, a treadmill that costs nearly $4,000 plus a $250 delivery fee. 
• We got to try out the bike that launched it into popularity. Here's our step-by-step review.

Peloton has revolutionized home fitness. 

Since launching in 2012, the New York-based high-tech fitness company has gained a cult following of fans who are obsessed with its core product, the indoor cycling bike. It announced Wednesday that it had filed for an IPO without specifying the number or price range of shares it expects to sell.

It was previously reported that an IPO deal could value the company at more than $8 billion. Peloton has grown a fan base in a relatively short period of time and has been referred to as "the Apple of fitness." 

It's a buzz that even the company's CEO, John Foley, says he wasn't expecting.

"I was totally surprised by it," Foley told Business Insider's Avery Hartmans in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2018.

"When I started Peloton with my cofounders, I saw clear as day what it was going to look like and how it was going to work — the technology, the hardware, the software, the business model," he said. "I saw everything except the community. The community has blown me away."

In February 2018, it unveiled its newest product, a treadmill that costs over $4,000. 

But, we also wanted to try the $1,995 product (plus a $250 delivery fee) that made Peloton popular in the first place. Here's our step-by-step review of the Peloton bike:

SEE ALSO: We tried the new $4,000 treadmill from the billion-dollar startup that could be 'the Apple of fitness' — here's the verdict

We headed to the Westin Hotel near Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan to trial a Peloton bike, which is available for guests to use.

The machine is similar to a bike you might use in your local gym. However, there's one glaring difference: its screen, which enables you to stream live and on-demand classes from the saddle.

It costs $39 a month to stream these classes. This charge is made per bike rather than per user, so you can split the cost with roommates or family members.

The touchscreen is definitely the most impressive part of its appearance. It's HD and 22 inches in size.

We were first asked to create an account. Each account is linked to individual riders' workout history and performance.

This bike was styled specifically for hotel guests who most likely don't have special cycling shoes to hand. The standard Peloton bike, however, comes with clip-in pedals, unless you specify for it not to have them.

You can have the clip-in pedals swapped out for "toe cages" that allow you to work out in sneakers. This costs an extra $60.

Peloton doesn't throw its clip-in cycling shoes into the $1,995 price tag. They cost $125 on Peloton's online store, but you can use your own if you already have them. 

The screen was user-friendly and easy to follow on the bike.

There are a ton of classes to choose from, ranging from 45-minute, high-intensity classes with weights to 10-minute, low-impact rides. For our trial, we opted for a 30-minute intervals-and-arms class with instructor Robin Arzon.

It's an easy process from the get-go. The class began with a three-minute warm-up.

The screen shows how fast you're going, how much resistance you've got on the bike, and where you rank in the class in terms of output.

This was the best part of the experience – the instructor gives you exact instructions on what resistance level you should be on and what output you should be aiming for. This leaves you no chance to cheat.

When you stream the classes live, your username is added to a leaderboard on the right-hand side of the screen. This means that the instructor can shout out your name to motivate you.

The workout ramped up, the music was pumping, and it felt just like being in a boutique workout class.

It definitely felt less sturdy than a machine you might use in a boutique class. We noticed that it started to wobble when we picked up the pace.

The resistance wheel was easy to adjust.

As we were in a public space, we had to listen to the class via headphones. In the high-intensity bursts, the headphones occasionally fell out.

It would definitely be preferable to wear cordless headphones or play the sound from the speakers.

10 minutes in, the class switched to arm work.

The weights were handily located at the back of the bike.

These are not included in the price of the bike. A set of weights — in one, two, or three pounds — costs $25 each. 

We finished off with a one-minute cooldown.

The verdict: This is as close as you can get to being in a boutique workout class without having to leave home. And for those who want to work out in a pack, the ability to stream live classes is a big bonus. 

Overall, we were very impressed with the bike — the standard of the workout class was great, and we stayed motivated throughout.

However, it's not cheap. $1,995 is a big commitment, even if paid in installments, and the cost of extras does mount up. 

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.

• You can help make a new dad's firstFather's Dayone to remember with a thoughtful, useful gift.
• These 33 gifts are geared toward the needs and wants of a new father, from a comedic book about the realities of parenting to a thoughtful baby photo album. 
• Find all our Father's Day gift ideas for 2019 here. You can shop by budget, interest, and store. 

A new dad's first Father's Day is one he won't forget. You don't really know what it takes to be a parent until you actually become one, so it's a great time to celebrate all he's accomplished so far as a new father. 

He's probably loving this new role, but he's also probably looking for some much needed rest and relaxation, which is why, in addition to the gifts that will support him as a father, we included some picks that simply treat and reward him. 

Make a new dad's first Father's Day thoughtful and memorable with these 33 gifts. 

Looking for more Father's Day gift ideas for Dad? Find them all here. 

• Father's Day gifts under $25
• Father's Day gifts under $50
• Father's Day gifts under $100
• Tech gifts for Father's Day under $100
• Amazon Prime-eligible gifts for Father's Day at every price
• Amazon Prime-eligible gifts for Father's Day under $50
• Father's Day gifts for grandpas
• Father's Day gifts for husbands
• These $95 boxes of team gear make great Father's Day gifts for dedicated sports fans

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' Father's Day gift ideas for 2019, in one place

Light and comfortable sneakers

Gift the Allbirds Tree Runners, $95

Gift Smallbirds Wool Runners, $55

Allbirds are the comfortable shoes that will make him forget he's on his feet all day. The eucalyptus fiber Tree Runners are lightweight and cool, which is ideal for the summer ahead. While you're at it, get the Smallbirds version since their kid will be up and running in no time. 

An Instant Pot

Gift the Instant Pot DUO60 (6-Qt), $89.99

He can whip up dinner for the whole family with little effort and even less cleanup afterwards. The Instant Pot is an investment that will give back over and over again as it makes meats, stews, soup, rice, casseroles, and even dessert. 

A new set of sheets for him and baby

Gift the Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set, from $110

Gift the Brooklinen Crib Sheet Set, from $52

Sleeping restfully for both him and the baby will come easy when swaddled up in Brooklinen's soft, comfortable sheets. Both types of sheets come in cute colors and prints. 

A pizza delivery he'll never forget

Gift 4 Deep Dish Pizzas from Lou Malnati's, $94.99

Imagine opening the door to find pies from famous Chicago pizzeria Lou Malnati's. We're drooling already. Goldbelly ships food from many other favorite restaurants around the country, including Carnegie Deli in New York, Prantl's Bakery in Pittsburgh, and Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia, so if he's not into pizza, you can still find a delicious alternative. 

Super soft lounge pants

Gift the Tommy John Second Skin Lounge Pants, $64

He won't ever want to take these soft, stretchy, and light micromodal pants off once he tries them on. They're amazingly comfortable and will keep their shape and softness through many washes. 

A play kit of curated toys

Gift a Lovevery Play Kit Subscription, from $36/month

Created by early-childhood-development experts, Lovevery curates age-appropriate toy kits that are delivered every two months. The included guides show parents when and how each toy should be introduced, and how the toys help with specific developmental stages. 

A water bottle that glows to remind him to drink water

Gift the Hidrate Spark 2.0 Smart Water Bottle, $61.99

This smart water bottle integrates with Fitbit, Apple Watch, and other activity trackers and makes sure he's hydrated throughout the day. It's a cool and easy way to ensure he's getting enough water and staying healthy. 

A sports jersey for the baby

Gift an NBA Baby Jersey, $39.99

Get the baby into the fandom early. They'll look adorable as they cheer on Dad's favorite team. 

A planner to keep his thoughts and to-do lists organized

Gift the Lemome 2019 Planner, $13.09

Don't let him rely on his brain alone to keep track of everything he needs to do during a busy week as a parent. The faux leather planner contains monthly, weekly, and daily sections, plus pages for notes and to-do lists. 

A security system to keep his home safe

Gift the Arlo Pro 2 Home Security System, $315.99

Not that home security wasn't important before, but it's even more crucial now with a little one in the house. This easy-to-use system features 1080p and night-vision cameras and works with Alexa to keep tabs on everything going on in and outside his house. He can highlight specific zones of the house; listen and talk through the cameras from his smartphone; and back up all the recordings to refer back to later. 

A diaper backpack

Gift the Quiksilver Diaper Backpack, $65

You can't even tell this is a diaper bag from the outside. The main compartment is spacious while the exterior zip and bottle pockets hold the essentials he needs to grab quickly. 

Tile trackers

Gift the Tile Mate and Slim Combo 4-Pack, 37.90

He'll be so busy getting used to new dad life that he might lose track of things like his keys and wallet. The slim tracker will barely make a dent in his bag or pocket, and he just needs to use the corresponding app to keep tabs on his belongings. 

A shaving set

Give a Dollar Shave Club Complete Shave Gift Set, $50

The box comes with a gentle prep scrub, smooth shave butter, hydrating post shave cream, a razor handle, and four stainless steel, four-blade cartridges. There's also a $15 gift card he can use as credit towards a membership. 

A long-distance touch lamp

Gift a set of two Filimin Long-Distance Touch Lamps, $170

A new dad's life is busy and tiring, so he might not always be available to talk and catch up. When you want to let him know you're thinking of him and vice versa without actually saying anything, just tap the lamp to make the other one light up. 

A pair of blue-light glasses

Gift a pair of MVMT Everscroll Glasses

All those late nights spent Googling new-parenting questions will eventually take a toll on his eyes. He can reduce eye fatigue and pain by wearing blue-light glasses as he scrolls through new-dad forums. 

An interactive photo journal

Gift the Artifact Uprising Baby Book | The Story of You, from $120

This thoughtful photo book helps him capture visual moments alongside written memories and thoughts, providing a fuller picture of the baby's first year and beyond. It features a premium fabric cover with foil stamped title. 

A funny book about fatherhood

Gift Man vs. Baby: The Chaos and Comedy of Real-Life Parenting, $9.48

New parenthood is a stressful and confusing time, but author Matt Coyne takes it all into stride and infuses his experience with self-deprecating humor. 

A custom print of his baby's footprints

Gift the Gold Baby Footprint 5"x 7" Print, from $15

This gold foil print is a beautiful and thoughtful piece of decor that will only become more precious as his baby grows up. 

Matching Papa Bear and Baby Bear shirts

Gift the Papa Bear and Baby Bear Matching Set, from $52

Help him step out in adorable style with a soft baby bodysuit and matching t-shirt. 

Personalized vitamin packs

Gift Care/of Personalized Vitamins, from $5/month

Give the gift of the most personalized vitamin experience he's tried yet. Care/of helps him figure out what vitamins he needs to take, packages them up conveniently into individual packs, and even writes his name on each pack. 

A cold brew maker

Gift the Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, $18.99

A strong, refreshing cold brew is easy to prepare with this affordable maker, which makes one quart of coffee concentrate. Whether he needs an extra boost of energy or just loves drinking cold brew, he'll appreciate the delicious beverages and money saved using the coffee maker. 

Candy and games he probably loved as a kid

Gift the Man Crates Great Indoors Crate, $79.99

Bring him a delight of the outdoors — drinking hot chocolate by a campfire — without leaving the baby behind. You can choose from six national parks for the coaster design. 

Adorable leather baby moccasins

Gift Freshly Picked baby moccasins, from $45

These 100% genuine cowhide leather moccasins have a soft sole to help children who are starting to walk. They're easy to put on, will actually stay on his kid's feet, and come in many stylish prints and colors. 

A new game to introduce at game night with his friends

Gift Beeropoly, $35

From a rhyming competition to asking him to show his best dance moves, this fun and active game is for all the competitive dads out there. 

A trusted service to find a good babysitter

Gift a UrbanSitter gift card, $25-$200

At some point, Dad will desperately need a night to himself but might have trouble finding a sitter. Nationwide service UrbanSitter is home to over 150,000 trusted babysitters and gathers mutual connections and recommendations from their community of fellow parents. A $34.95 one-month access pass (or $99.95 annual membership) allows parents to browse, interview, and book a sitter that meets their needs.

A blanket that makes his baby look like a burrito

Gift the Tortilla Baby Blanket, $48

Once his baby's all bundled up in this soft tortilla blanket, he won't ever want to unwrap her. 

Skincare products made from all-natural ingredients

Gift an Oars + Alps Oarsman Kit, $122

Packed with Oars + Alps bestsellers like the Face + Eye Cream, Wake Up Eye Stick, and Blue Charcoal Exfoliating Bar Soap, the kit keeps his skin nourished and glowing. The brand's most prized ingredient is Alpine Caribou Moss, which reduces the effects of aging and outdoor stressors.

A cozy cashmere sweater

Gift the Naadam Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater, $75

For only $75, you can buy him a soft, 100% cashmere sweater that doesn't pill — seriously. We were more than impressed with the value of Naadam's sweater, and he will be, too. 

A custom pair of headphones

Gift a custom pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II, $399.95

To escape from the noise and distractions of the outside world, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones are a must. The ear caps, ear cups, outer headband, inner headband, and spacers of this set are all customizable, totaling up to more than 5 million unique combinations. 

A convenient and reliable grocery delivery service

Gift a FreshDirect gift card, $20-$250

FreshDirect delivers fresh groceries, from pantry staples to gourmet treats, to their door, letting them bypass all the struggles of shopping in real life. We know from experience that its produce quality is excellent, and its delivery slots are frequent and affordable.

A large, low-maintenance succulent

Gift the Bouqs Co. Hayworth Succulent, $58

Will he really want yet another thing to take care of? Don't worry — succulents mainly need light, not water, so he won't have to pay too much attention to it. This one comes in a large, sturdy concrete planter. 

A personal egg pan

Gift the Field Company #4 Cast Iron Skillet, $75

The smallest version of this Internet-famous cast iron skillet is perfect for whipping up personal dishes like eggs or snacks and apps to tide him over before dinner. 

A moisture-wicking, performance dress shirt

Gift the Rhone Commuter Dress Shirt, $118

The last thing he wants to do while juggling a busy schedule is deal with sweat stains and wrinkly shirts. Rhone's new dress shirts are super stretchy and lightweight, plus they're wrinkle-resistant and moisture-wicking. After wearing, he can just throw it in the washing machine instead of making a trip to the dry cleaners. 

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 rounded up the eight best sales and deals happening online today, with savings on Brooks Brothers summer shirts, Bang & Olufsen headphones, and Nectar mattresses. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons.

1. Save 30% on dressy styles for men, women, and kids at J.Crew

Summer means beautiful weather and a lot of outdoor activities. If you have any weddings or dinner parties on the horizon  — or just want to get all dressed up on a Tuesday night — head over to J.Crew. You'll find attire for all of your summer soirees, whether it's a black-tie wedding or a casual date night. Right now, you can save 30% on all kinds of dressed-up summer styles for men, women, and kids. From linen suits to flowy dresses, they have it all. Just use the code "DRESSUP" at checkout to snag these savings. 

Shop dressed-up styles for 30% off at J.Crew. 

2. Get up to 50% off outdoor dining essentials at Williams Sonoma

Williams Sonoma has everything you need to get your outdoor space suited up for entertaining. There are bright table linens to add a pop of color to your patio and all kinds of cookware and grill tools to help you make some delicious meals. The good news is, right now you can save up to 50% on all of these great products, and more, at Williams Sonoma's outdoor event. 

Shop grill tools, outdoor dinnerware, cookware, and more at Williams Sonoma outdoor event.

3. Save 25% on storage at The Container Store summer event

While it's always a good time to get a little more organized, right now you can save 25% on bath, craft and hobby, garage, and travel storage at The Container Store, making it a great time to stock up on some organizational basics. From small countertop organizers to large shelving solutions, you can find lots of great storage products at great prices. 

Shop The Container Store summer event and save on storage. 

4. Save 30% on an Instant Pot Duo at Amazon

The Instant Pot is the ultimate kitchen hack, helping you cook typically labor-intensive dishes with less effort, and faster, than ever before. With the power of seven kitchen appliances, the Instant Pot Duo is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and warmer all in one. There are plenty of Instant Pot models out there, but this one is our top pick for it's multifunctionality and ability to cook all kinds of food, from falling-off-the-bone ribs to hearty soups and stews. While the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo usually costs $99.95, you can save 30% and get it for just $69.99 on Amazon right now. 

Get the 6 Quart Instant Pot Duo for $69.99 (originally $99.95) [You save $29.96].

5. Get four shirts for $199 at Brooks Brothers spring shirt sale

Spruce up Dad's wardrobe — or your own— with some new shirts from Brooks Brothers. Right now, you can get four men's shirts for $199. That includes formal dress shirts and casual sports shirts. Considering that these shirts regularly start at $69.50 each (and go up to $120), this is a great deal. If you just want one shirt, use the extra three as Father's Day gifts for Dad, an uncle, or anyone on your list. This deal ends tomorrow, on June 6, so check it out now while the savings are still going. 

Shop the spring shirt sale at Brooks Brothers for savings on dress and sports shirts. 

6. Save $100 on the Bang & Olufsen Headphones at Best Buy

When it comes to electronics, Bang & Olufsen is top-notch. The company delivers serious tech in sleek, minimalist designs — and these headphones are no exception. The Beoplay Wireless headphones offer hi-fi sound for up to 30 hours at a time, as well as active noise cancellation and a built-in microphone, in case you ever need to make a hands-free call during a listening session. These headphones usually cost $399.99 but right now you can save $100 and get them for $299.99 at Best Buy. 

Get the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Wireless Headphones for $299.99 (originally $399.99) [You save $100].

7. Save up to 35% on gourmet food gifts from Goldbelly

Goldbelly lets you send friends and family (or even yourself) gourmet food gifts from iconic eateries around the US. With offerings from some of the country's most famous establishments, Goldbelly has something for every foodie. Right now, you can save up to 35% on orders from a range of restaurants and bakeries, including New York's Ess-a-Bagel and Philly's iconic cheesesteak shop Pat's, as a part of Goldbelly's Father's Day pre-sale. It's the perfect way to give Dad something special and delicious this Father's Day. 

Shop the Father's Day pre-sale for great deals on delicious eats at Goldbelly. 

8. Get $125 off plus two free pillows when you purchase a Nectar mattress

There are so many bed-in-a-box mattresses it can be hard to know where to begin your search. If you're a side sleeper, Nectar is a great choice. The mattress is made up of five unique layers that come together for a super-soft, yet supportive feel that contours to your body. A Tencel cooling cover helps to circulate air and wick away heat while you sleep, which is especially useful in summertime heat. Nectar is already one of the more affordable bed-in-a-box mattresses out there — starting at $399 for a twin— but you can save even more right now. For a limited time, you can save up to $125 on your purchase of a Nectar mattress and get two free pillows (a $150 value) with your order. 

Order a Nectar mattress and save $125, plus get two free pillows.

Join the conversation about this story »

• • According to people on Quora and Reddit threads, the way you spend your 20s deeply affects your later years.
  • Their advice on making the most of your youth includes "learn to say no with confidence" and "don't burn your bridges."
  • If you follow their tips, you'll have a better chance of living without regret once you hit your 40s and beyond.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

They say youth is wasted on the young.

It doesn't have to be. If you take a look at Quora and Reddit, hundreds of people older and wiser than you have shared their best tips for living life to the fullest before you hit middle age. All you have to do is heed their advice.

We checked out those Quora and Redditthreads and highlighted some of our favorite insights about maximizing your youth. 

Here are the best tips on how to spend your 20s so you don't live in regret later.

SEE ALSO: 13 things you'll probably regret doing in your 20s

Learn to accept and love yourself first.

So says Quora user Ruchi Rashinkar.

In other words, show some self-compassion. Scientists say it can make you more successful because you're learning from your missteps, instead of just berating yourself for them.

One self-compassion exercise involves treating yourself as you would treat a friend or a colleague who has failed. You might say to yourself: "This is really hard right now," or, "I'm sorry you are struggling."

Learn to say no with confidence.

That's another tip from Rashinkar.

It's best to learn this skill now, while it's still relatively early in your career. That way, you can prioritize the people and experiences that are truly meaningful to you.

If you're looking for tips on turning down an invitation— without seeming antisocial — etiquette and civility expert Rosalinda Oropeza Randall recommends keeping it simple: "It sounds great, but I think I'll pass this time."

You can even push back on your boss when they give you an assignment you feel like you can't take on. For example, if you're already overloaded with other projects, national workplace expert Lynn Taylor suggests responding:

"I would be happy to do that project, but what that could mean is that [whatever other project you're working on] will have to be put off until tomorrow, because I was actually going to spend the next three hours finishing that proposal. Would you like me to put that off?" 

Take more risks.

Redditor Bhruic says:

"Don't talk yourself out of doing things you want to do. Don't let fear win. If you want to vacation in Europe, do it. If you want to talk to that hot girl/guy at the bar, do it. If you want to start your own business, do it (and do the research first). Getting to your 30s and having a string of regrets is going to haunt you."

Bhruic is right about taking chances and doing what you want to do before it's too late. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, for example, is notorious for this quality. Bezos has said: "Given a 10% chance of a 100 times payoff, you should take that bet every time."

Pull the trigger.

This one goes back to the fear of failure. Quora user Jordan Allen says:

"Some people get the chance to see if their band could make it big or their business could skyrocket or their love of their life was moving to the other side of the world and wanted them to join. It's scary to think about the life we know versus the one we don't, and so often people drop these chances for no better reason than that they're scared."

If you think of your life as an engineering problem, you always want to be prototyping — building a model and testing it. As Bernard Roth, Stanford professor and author of "The Achievement Habit," says, you don't want to be tinkering forever, until you've got the seemingly perfect model.

So try out life in another country, or launch your business on a small scale and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out, you can always try again.

Turn your weaknesses into strengths.

That's a tip from Quora user Piyush Jbd, who writes about thinking of your weaknesses as a "competitive advantage."

It's something both Michael Phelps and Winston Churchill learned to do, as Eric Barker writes in "Barking Up the Wrong Tree."

For Phelps, having a somewhat awkward body type made him a pretty bad runner and dancer — but it also made him an incredible swimmer. For Churchill, being paranoid meant that he was once "deemed unsuitable for the highest offices" — but it also meant he recognized Hitler as a threat to the world.

Figure out what makes you weird, and turn it into the thing that makes you a winner.

Learn to negotiate with politeness.

Quora user Nupur Jain includes this tip in her response.

Learning to negotiate early in your career is a pretty big deal. As Business Insider's Tanza Loudenback and Skye Gould reported, "Negotiating your starting salary — and continuing to negotiate every few years or when you start a new job — could make a $1 million difference in your lifetime earnings."

$1 million!

If you're worried about botching your first salary negotiation, make sure to do your research so you get a sense of the standard salary for your position. And remember that salary isn't the only thing you can negotiate — you can also ask about things like performance bonuses, equity options, health insurance premiums, 401(k) matches, and help relocating for the job. 

Forgive yourself.

Redditor techniforus writes:

"Forgive yourself. Kicking yourself over past failures won't change what happened, it will just leave you sore from being kicked so much. Give up all hope for a better past. Own who you have been so it doesn't own you.

"This really applies to all ages, but it's a skill that takes a while to develop so you might as well start young and really figure it out. I haven't met many people under twenty who have taken it to heart but I have found a number of people in their twenties who are really starting to get it. I've also met people in their 80's and 90's who still don't get it and are filled with regrets."

Journalist Kathryn Schulz says something similar: She suggests that we can expect to have some regrets, and shouldn't feel bad about having them.

"The point isn't to live without any regrets, the point is to not hate ourselves for having them," she says in her TED Talk. "We need to learn to love the flawed, imperfect things that we create, and to forgive ourselves for creating them. Regret doesn't remind us that we did badly — it reminds us that we know we can do better."

Don't compare yourself to others.

"Don't compare yourself to others," writes Redditor hstrygeek1. "In the social media age, it is tempting to beat yourself up if your friends are getting married, having kids, and living a life of luxury. We each live our own lives. The only thing you're going to do is hurt yourself.

Indeed, research suggests that comparing yourself to others is pretty pointless. That's because, from the outside, people can seem a lot happier and less troubled than they really are.

Don't be afraid to change directions.

Redditor turkoosi_aurinko has some advice for anyone who's already feeling stuck:

"Yeah, you went to high school, then maybe did some college, tech school, training or whatever and thought that was your direction. But if you finally get a job, and you're not happy, work to change that s--- immediately. Spending your entire workweek being unhappy just because it pays the bills will not make you happy.

"The longer you wait to change, the harder it will feel to change. So get used to change, because you'll probably need to do it a number of times throughout your life and career."

Career coach and former Googler Jenny Blake, author of the book "Pivot," says making a career change doesn't have to be terrifying. You just need to go about the transition carefully — first drawing on your current experience, then networking, and then testing, until you're ready to launch.

Don't rack up debt.

Redditor zoidbert writes about an all-too-common mistake:

"I regret not saving more money and, more importantly, I regret racking up debt. That nearly killed me in my 30s. Some of it was necessary, of course, but a lot was credit card overkill.

"I also regret not traveling more. Once we married and started having kids, travel got curtailed. We still went on trips but they were family trips. I wish I would have taken her on a couple of big out-of-country excursions before family came into play."

If you find yourself in a similar situation, consider taking a tip from one former Business Insider reporter and going on a cash-only diet, during which you stop using credit and debit cards completely.

Don't burn your bridges.

Redditor Rohri_Calhoun says: "Don't burn your bridges. Personal, work, whatever. There will be times when you will need to be amiable with people from the past for various reasons and the last thing you need is someone saying 'F--- that guy' because of something petty or stupid that could have easily been avoided."

This advice applies especially when you're quitting your job.

According to national workplace expert Lynn Taylor, if your new position is in the same industry or city, there's a good chance you'll run into your former boss and coworkers again. Or, your former boss may talk to your new boss about you if they know each other. Keep it classy.

Try to avoid thinking of your 30s as some kind of stopping point for fun things.

Redditor Romination says:

"This is perhaps not the advice you're looking for, but maybe you should also try to avoid thinking of your 30s as some kind of stopping point for fun things, where all you can do is look back and sigh about what could have been.

"I know of several people whose 30s have been more fun than their 20s, and it's in part because they can look back with experience and realize they're better at balancing and enjoying the things they want to do. You still have so much in life, don't just let it be over because you survived another 365 days!"

Do not spend one more minute of your life with someone who makes you feel like you are less than you are.

Redditor rubyfisch focuses on relationships: "Do not spend one more minute of your life with someone who makes you feel like you are less than you are ... he or she will never change for the better and you might just change for the worse."

Take care of your body.

Redditor DrewsephVladimir has some regrets of his own:

"I wish I had taken better care of myself. Instead, I let my weight catch back up with me, I ignored a few dental problems, and I didn't take care of my finances as well as I should have.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm 31 now, and none of these problems are dire for me, but God they're a much bigger pain in the ass to deal with now, compared to how much effort it would have taken to not let them become an issue at all."

It generally is easier to manage your weight when you're younger because we tend to be less active as we age, Business Insider's Erin Brodwin reports. Moreover, we may become less attuned to our bodies' nutritional needs as we get older.

Don't get caught up in the cycle of buying expensive things to keep up with the Joneses.

Redditor Keetlady says: "Don't get caught up in the cycle of buying expensive things to keep up with the Joneses and impress people. People in their twenties seem to want it all NOW. Don't fall into that trap."

Author Thomas C. Corley, who spent five years interviewing rich people including self-made millionaires, found that lifestyle creep— the act of spending more as you get it, to save face among or to impress your peers — erodes wealth quickly. Delaying gratification, instead, and saving that money for later has the potential to make you extremely wealthy down the line.

Build upon friendships.

Hstrygeek1 has another solid piece of advice:

"Build upon friendships. There is more to life than going out every night. Stay at home with close friends. Go on adventures together.

"That being said, don't be afraid to end some friendships. Fair-weather friends are not worth your time. Stay loyal to those that truly matter and invest your time with them."

Vanessa Van Edwards, a human-behavior researcher, recommends ditching your "ambivalent friends" — such as jealous, undermining, and unsure frenemies — to minimize stress in your life.

Don't rush to cram stuff into your 20s because you think you should.

Redditor michaelnoir writes:

"I am 36 and I have never understood this 'do things before you're 30' thing. I don't see why you can't do things after you're 30, or after you're 40. I don't see why the number 30 is so symbolic.

"My advice is don't rush to cram stuff into your 20s because you think you should. Just do what you want, do what feels natural, and take your time with it if need be."

This article was co-written with Chris Weller.

• Rihanna has an estimated net worth of $600 million, according to Forbes.
• This makes her the world's richest female musician.
• While Rihannais known to spend lavishly on her beauty, fashion, and accessories, her favorite way to spend her fortune is on others.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With an estimated net worth of $600 million, Rihanna, 31, is the world's richest female musician, reported Natalie Robehmed of Forbes.

That level of wealth puts her a long ways from her childhood. "When I was younger, I couldn't afford everything, but a pair of Timberlands: That was my Dior," Rihanna told T: The New York Times Style Magazine. "And I had to save my money for a whole school year to get those Timberlands that I wanted, and I did it."

It's a determined attitude that helped the singer get to where she is today. Her fortune isn't just from her music — she's been able to grow it through brand partnerships and her own product lines. 

While she's known to splurge on beauty, fashion, and vacations, Rihanna prioritizes spending money on others, whether it's her family or those in need. She's heavily involved in charity work and was named Harvard's humanitarian of the year in 2017, reported Kelly Lawler for USA Today.

Below, see how Rihanna earns and spends her fortune.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift just dropped a new single — from bicoastal mansions to lavish vacations, see how she spends her $320 million-plus fortune

SEE ALSO: Beyoncé is worth $355 million — see how she spends it on lavish mansions, yachting vacations, and a private jet for Jay-Z

Rihanna is currently worth an estimated $600 million, which she's earned from undertakings that span a variety of industries. According to Forbes, she is now the world's wealthiest female musician.

Source: Forbes

The singer has earned millions from her tours. Her most prolific, the Diamonds World Tour in 2013, grossed more than $140 million worldwide.

Source: Billboard via Insider

She also profits from tour sponsorships. Rihanna reportedly signed a $25 million contract to promote Samsung on her 2016 Anti World Tour.

Source: New York Post via Insider

She's sold more than 60 million albums and 215 million digital tracks. In 2016, she reportedly earned $7.6 million from streaming and $2.5 million from sales.

Source: Roc Nation, Billboard

Rihanna is also part-owner in the streaming service Tidal, which has sold stakes for millions of dollars.

Source: Insider

But music is only part of Rihanna's fortune. She's appeared in films such as "Home," "Annie," and "Ocean's 8," which earned $41.5 million from its box office opening in 2018.

Source: Variety, Insider

Rihanna has also designed collections for brands such as Armani and River Island, and she has a creative partnership with MAC. She's made deals with several companies, ranging from Dior to Cover Girl.

Source: Rihanna Now via Insider

That's not to mention her role as creative director for Puma, creating clothing and shoe lines that have done exceptionally well. Rihanna took on the role in 2014.

Source: Insider, Time

Rihanna has released 11 fragrances throughout the years. Her debut scent, Reb'l Fleur, brought in an estimated $80 million in sales.

Source: Rolling Stone via Insider

But Rihanna's net worth largely comes from her partnership with French luxury-goods giant LVMH. LVMH reportedly owns half of Rihanna's makeup brand, Fenty Beauty, while Rihanna herself reportedly owns 15% — and it's worth a reported $3 billion.

Source: Forbes

Just 15 months after its September 2017 launch, Fenty Beauty raked in $570 million in revenue.

Source: Forbes

In May, LVMH and Rihanna launched Fenty, a clothing house with clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry.

Source: Forbes

Rihanna also co-owns the Savage X Fenty lingerie line with online fashion firm TechStyle Fashion, which includes "Xccessories" — a sex toy line.

Source: Vogue

"I never thought I'd make this much money, so a number is not going to stop me from working," she told T: The New York Times Style Magazine.

Source: T: The New York Times Style Magazine

Rihanna has dabbled in real estate. She reportedly owns a three-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment at The Century condos in Los Angeles, which she paid $5.45 million for in 2014.

Source: Observer

In 2016, she reportedly spent $925,000 on a condo on The Wilshire Corridor, known as "the Millionaire Mile," In Los Angeles.

Source: Yolanda's Little Black Book

In 2017, Rihanna reportedly paid $6.8 million for a 7,130-square-foot Hollywood Hills estate, which includes a movie theater and spa. After a burglary in 2018, she put it on the market for $7.4 million.

Source: Observer, Bravo

The same year, she also purchased a West Hollywood property for $2.75 million, but put it on the market for $2.85 million three months later and ended up renting it out for $16,500 a month. She eventually sold it in early 2018.

Source: Observer, Variety

Rihanna also rented a lower-Manhattan penthouse, which increased from $39,000 to $50,000 a month from 2013 to 2014. In 2018, it was put on the market for $16.9 million.

Source: Observer

In 2019, Rihanna revealed she's been living in London for a year. She reportedly lives in a seven-bedroom mansion that costs $20,363 a week to rent.

Source: CNN, The Daily Mail

Lately, she's reportedly been recording new music in an estate on Osea Island, which costs an estimated $25,454 to rent a day. It has a gym, cinema, pool, and cottages.

Source: Mirror

When she's not working hard, Rihanna is playing hard. She's been spotted vacationing in Portofino, St. Tropez, Los Cabos, Honolulu, and Barbados, where she's originally from.

Source: Vanity Fair, BET, OK! Magazine, Essence,Refinery29

She's also been known to take yacht vacations. In 2011, she cruised down the French Riviera in a yacht that charters for $300,000 a week. And in 2014, she chartered a yacht around the Cote d'Azur for two weeks.

Source: Boat International, Business Insider

Rihanna drops big money on her nights out. In 2013, she reportedly spent $8,000 in a single night at a Miami strip club, and $17,000 at a strip club in Houston with rapper Drake.

Source: New York Daily News, The Cut

Rihanna also splurges on her appearance, reportedly spending $38,000 a week on beauty alone.

Source: Look

That reportedly includes $2,500 on a personal make-up artist, $7,600 on a personal dermatologist, and $4,000 for contour tanning.

Source: Look

But that weekly number could be even higher — one report says Rihanna shells out nearly $17,834 a week on celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen.

Source: The Daily Mail

She also spends on her wardrobe: She's been seen sporting $10,000 Saint Laurent boots and $1,340 Gucci socks.

Source: Whim

Rihanna also takes care of her body. She's had a number of personal trainers over the years, including Harley Pasternak, Dede Lagree, and Jamie Granger.

Source: Business Insider, Livestrong, Footwear News

She also pays for a personal chef, Debbie Solomon, who whips up breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

Source: Bon Appetit

While Rihanna treats herself, she likes to spend her money on opportunities above anything else. She has previously said money helps her take care of her family, facilitate businesses, and create jobs for other people. Rihanna has also given her friends cash for Christmas.

Source: T: The New York Times Style Magazine, YouTube

And she focuses a lot on charity work. In September 2018, she donated 100% of proceeds from Fenty Beauty's Diamond Ball-Out Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter to women and children in need.

Source: Rolling Out

In 2012, she founded the Clara Lionel Foundation to improve education and healthcare for children in impoverished communities. The foundation creates scholarships and hosts fundraising events.

Source: Clara Lionel Foundation

Rihanna's also an ambassador of Barbados, the Global Partnership For Education, and the Global Citizen Project. She spends time traveling and raising money for these roles. In 2017, she spent a week in Malawi as part of an educational trip.

Source: PopSugar

"My money is not for me; it's always the thought that I can help someone else," she said.

Source: T: The New York Times Style Magazine

• Los Angeles has a surplus of mega-mansions and not enough buyers, Katherine Clarke reported for The Wall Street Journal. 
• To get them off the market, real-estate agents and developers are throwing lavish, themed parties to attract buyers and offering $100 million price cuts, or putting homes up for rent instead, as Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower reported.
• LA-based broker Rayni Williams told Business Insider about her strategies for selling luxury homes in a city full of them, from "energy cleansings" to unveiling a home like a "movie premiere."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As more and more mega-mansions hit the market in Los Angeles, real-estate agents and developers are forced to get increasingly creative to generate sales in a buyer's market. 

Brokers are turning to lavish, themed parties and $100 million price cuts in order to get the extravagant mansions off the market, as Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower recently reported. Or they're putting them up for rent instead. 

"The problem in this market that we're currently facing is that because there is oversaturation, what happens is, if you're a buyer and you tell your agent you want to see everything from $20 to $40 million, there's a lot of options," Rayni Williams, a broker at Hilton & Hyland with more than $5 billion in career sales, recently told Business Insider.

With so much choice, buyers don't feel an "urgency" to make an offer, she added. 

In an interview with Business Insider, Williams, who works with her husband, Branden Williams, explained how they "create urgency" and sell multimillion-dollar luxury homes, even amid a surplus of ultra-luxe mega-mansions in Los Angeles.

Step one: Think of the home as a movie premiere

The first thing they do is a strategic unveiling of the home.

"It's a lot like a movie premiere," Williams said. "There's buzz and then there's one fell swoop of an unveiling."

Sometimes, this means throwing an outrageous, super-exclusive party, often with the help of publicist Alexander Ali, founder of The Society Group.

In February 2019, about 500 guests were invited to a mysterious bash at the $55 million mansion of developer Nile Niami, where they found aquatic performers, virtual reality experiences, an edibles bar and, apparently, a camel. 

The event did attract a potential buyer, Williams told The Hollywood Reporter.

Other events are more family-friendly, such as having children's movie nights in the movie theater of a $150 million home or inviting influencers to a mansion to attend a yoga class taught by a celebrity instructor. 

"If you do the proper unveiling, you'll always get the action in the beginning," Williams said.

But if that doesn't work, or if a home requires rebranding after sitting on the market for too long, Williams turns to other strategies.

Step two: Change the energy in the home

For a home on Oriole Way that the Williamses took on as a listing after it sat on the market for a year, they started by changing the energy. 

"First of all, we did an energy cleansing of the house where we took out all the bad energy," she said. "We crystallized it with geodes that brought in great energy. We pumped through beautiful music in the sound system to get it happy and make this beautiful warm setting."

They also shot a mini-movie on the property with a slumber party theme to try to turn the "masculine vibe" into a more "feminine energy," according to Williams.

The film went viral, prompting a flurry of media attention, and the home sold for $27 million, 45 days after Williams put it on the market for $27.95 million, she said.

Los Angeles is not the only luxury market that's struggling

While some real-estate brokers and developers may be seeing some success with their increasingly experimental tactics for selling mansions, luxury real-estate markets in other affluent communities across the country are facing similar troubles.

In the Hamptons, Donald Trump's 2016 federal tax reform is taking a serious toll on the high-end real-estate market. Home prices are plummeting and properties are sitting on the market for months, The New York Times recently reported.

Hamptons home sales are at their lowest levels in seven years, Business Insider's Gina Heeb reported.

And in Greenwich, Connecticut, one of America' wealthiest cities that's been dubbed the "hedge fund capital," people aren't buying sprawling mansions like they used to.

SEE ALSO: Hollywood-style trailers, exclusive dinner parties, and 'Instagram museums': The CEO of a real estate PR firm dishes on how he sells multimillion-dollar mansions to the super-rich

DON'T MISS: An LA mega-mansion listed at $250 million in 2017 has had its price slashed by $100 million, and it's still not selling — here's a look inside

Join the conversation about this story »

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• I didn't think I needed a digital photo frame until I set up the Aura Digital Photo Frame. Now my husband and I can't imagine living without it.
• The sleek digital frame has a ton of modern features and connects easily to your smartphone. You can also connect your frame to your friends' and families' phones, so they can add photos for a curated gallery. 
• Currently $249 on Amazon, it's not cheap but it is a high-quality, premium digital frame with modern features — and it's perfect for Father's Day. 

Despite the fact that my iCloud account is filled with endless photos of my two young children and Hungarian Vizsla (and occasionally my husband), I recently noticed that there were no current photos displayed around my home. 

After all, I have about zero extra minutes at the end of the day to print and frame photos.

I decided to give the Aura Digital Photo Frame a shot, as I remembered seeing the brand on Oprah's Favorite Things list two separate years. And as usual, the queen of media recommended a winner.

Specs

I will first offer the disclaimer that I am not super tech-savvy, so when my Aura arrived in the mail, I procrastinated setting it up for a few days out of intimidation. But when I finally decided to unbox it, I was pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of it and the bare-bones tech skills needed to get it working. 

The Aura frame comes beautifully housed in a sturdy blue box, giving it an instant "this gadget is fancy" look. Inside the box, you'll find the frame, stand, AC adapter, and instruction booklet.

The frame is available in two styles. The sleek Modern version costs $249 and comes in three color choices — Slate, Stardust, and Stone. There's also a limited edition Wood style for $399, handcrafted out of rich walnut and trimmed with brass. There's a Quartz version too, but it seems to only be available on Amazon through a third-party seller.

My husband and I have the Wood version and we were surprised by how gorgeous it was right out of the box. Most digital frames I've seen are very sterile looking, but the Aura has a warmth and design quality that is aesthetically pleasing and would impress the most discerning customer — such as your dad.

The Modern and Wood are quite similar in size and each weighs a little more than three pounds. Here are the major specs:

• Modern: 9.7" HD Display, 2048 x 1536 resolution, 12.5 x 10.7 x 3.7 inches
• Wood: 9.7" HD Display, 2048 x 1536 resolution, 14.1 x 11.5 x 3.7 inches 
• Both: Wi-Fi-enabled, can add photos from iOS and Android app, unlimited storage, includes motion and light sensor, includes facial recognition software 

Getting started with the Aura frame

The Aura is incredibly easy to use and comes with simple instructions.

Start by downloading the app on iOS or Android, and then figure out where you'd want to put the frame around your house. There's a small frame stand if you want to prop it upright on a table or shelf, which is what I opted to do, otherwise you can hang it on the wall.

Keep in mind though that the frame will have to be plugged into an outlet via micro USB port, so if you do hang it, there'll be a visible cord — unless you have a cord management system in place.

After plugging in the frame, just turn it on and open the app on your phone or tablet. Once your frame is powered up and connected to Wi-Fi, and the app is installed, create an account and start uploading photos.

The process of adding photos is seriously as simple — and similar — as sending it to your family group chat. The photos will start popping up in your frame instantly and you'll probably be stunned by how vibrant and gorgeous they look — I know we were. Some photos might require a little bit of cropping, but if you have basic Instagram photo editing skills, you'll be fine.

What makes it stand out

One thing I love is that the Aura holds an unlimited amount of photos. You can leave the frame to display just one image almost like a computer screensaver, or have it rotate through your photos at the speed of your choice — which is great for showing your in-laws or grandparents cute family photos. 

You can also create collections of photos (for instance, galleries of specific people or events) or take advantage of the facial recognition ability and use filters to eliminate photos that aren't great quality, contain nudity, or duplicates already in the mix.

But you don't have to curate that whole photo album yourself either. The frame is interactive so you can invite family members to shared albums, giving them access to display your photos on their frames, and vice versa. If you have parents that aren't tech-savvy, this is a brilliant concept. Imagine being able to just transport all those photos of your kids onto their screen with the touch of a button.

If you have more than one frame, you can also name each one in the app and choose which photos get splashed onto which screens throughout your home, office, or even your parents' house.

There's also a very useful energy saving "sleep" and "wake up" modes. Basically, when the room where the frame is hung or placed goes dark, the frame shuts off to save energy. Additionally, there is an auto-dimming feature, which enables the screen to self-adjust according to the lighting in the room.

Cons to consider

So far, I've had zero issues with my Aura itself, but the biggest issue is the price.

The Modern model starts at $249, so it's not a cheap gadget by any means. But keep in mind that most high-quality tech items are investments, and that with the Aura, at least in my experience, you're getting what you pay for. You might be able to find a cheaper digital frame, but it might not look as streamlined, function as flawlessly, or even have such cool features like the Aura.

The bottom line

The Aura is a great digital frame, and you — or your dad — won't be disappointed. 

Dads love cool gadgets, especially ones that show off his beautiful fur children. He also probably has a bunch of ties, socks, and cufflinks, but he might not have a cool digital frame like this. It'll help eliminate the clutter of multiple frames around the house or office, and help keep his collection of family photos updated and fresh. There's also the added bonus that you can send photos to his collection whenever you want — even if you live thousands of miles away.  

But, if you have any concerns or the Aura doesn't meet Dad's expectations, take ease knowing it comes with a one-year manufacturing warranty and if you buy the frame through one of the Amazon Prime options, you're backed by its generous return policy too.

As for the price, it's not cheap, so if it's out of your price range, you should check out the Nixplay Seed for $149.99, another highly-rated digital frame on Amazon.

Pros: Looks sleek, great resolution, easy to set up and use, ability to photos across connected units

Cons: Expensive 

Buy the Aura Digital Photo Frame in Modern on Amazon for $249

Buy the Aura Digital Photo Frame in Walnut Wood on Bloomingdale's for $399

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Goodreads is essentially a catalog and social networking site for book worms, and their public lists — where all users can submit titles and vote on their ranking — are a treasure trove for finding great new reads.
• Below are the top 20 books of the 21st century — according to Goodreads readers.

Every time I step foot inside a bookstore, I find myself turning to the internet from my phone to winnow down the sheer expanse of books.

And there's pretty much no better place for book recommendations than Goodreads, which is essentially a social network and catalog for bibliophiles. You can track and rate the books you've read, curate the books you want to read, and participate in discussions, trivia, creative writing exercises, and "Ask the Author" threads if you're looking for community. It's also a great place to find the books most worth reading.

Below, you'll find the community's top 20 books of the 21st century — starting with the final "Harry Potter" book.

The 20 best books of the 21st century — according to Goodreads:

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Buy it here

As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid's motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves, and to stop him, Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin — Harry must stand and face his enemy.

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

Buy it here

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, The Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Buy it here

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant caught in the tragic sweep of history, "The Kite Runner" transports readers to Afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction. A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons — their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak

Buy it here

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” by J.K. Rowling

Buy it here

When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shriveled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort's darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny.

“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” by J.K. Rowling

Buy it here

In his fifth year at Hogwart's, Harry faces challenges at every turn, from the dark threat of He Who Must Not Be Named and the unreliability of the government of the magical world to the rise of Ron Weasley as the keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Along the way, he learns about the strength of his friends, the fierceness of his enemies, and the meaning of sacrifice.

“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett https://amzn.to/2Ms4lO7

Buy it here

Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately, she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure.

Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town.

“A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini

Buy it here

Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss, and by fate. As they endure the ever-escalating dangers around them — in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul — they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman's love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end, it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival.

“Life of Pi” by Yann Martel

Buy it here

The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes.

The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional — but is it more true?

“Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins

Buy it here

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson

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Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families, disappeared over 40 years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

“The Time Traveler's Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger

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A dazzling novel in the most untraditional fashion, this is the remarkable story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate love affair endures across a sea of time and captures the two lovers in an impossibly romantic trap, and it is Audrey Niffenegger's cinematic storytelling that makes the novel's unconventional chronology so vibrantly triumphant. 

“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green

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Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

“The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown

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While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci — clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion — a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci — and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle— while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move — the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.

“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy

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A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food — and each other.

“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen

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Jacob Janowski's luck had run out ― orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was the Great Depression and for Jacob the circus was both his salvation and a living hell. There he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but brutal animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this group of misfits was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon

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Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.

“Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins

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Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived. But her home has been destroyed. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

“Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides

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"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of l974...My birth certificate lists my name as Calliope Helen Stephanides. My most recent driver's license...records my first name simply as Cal."

So begins the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanides and three generations of the Greek-American Stephanides family who travel from a tiny village overlooking Mount Olympus in Asia Minor to Prohibition-era Detroit, witnessing its glory days as the Motor City, and the race riots of l967, before they move out to the tree-lined streets of suburban Grosse Pointe, Michigan. To understand why Calliope is not like other girls, she has to uncover a guilty family secret and the astonishing genetic history that turns Callie into Cal, one of the most audacious and wondrous narrators in contemporary fiction. Lyrical and thrilling, "Middlesex" is an exhilarating reinvention of the American epic.

“The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold

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"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her — her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, "The Lovely Bones" succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.

• All yoga mats are inherently portable, but yoga mats built for travel are extra pliable and lightweight so they don't take up too much space in your suitcase.
• The highly rated Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat is made of durable materials and weighs only 2.2 pounds.

Yoga is the ideal form of exercise for travel. You can do it anywhere, even in hotel rooms (or airport waiting rooms, if you can get over the awkwardness) and with almost no equipment. The one thing you do need for yoga, however, is a mat.

While yoga mats are inherently somewhat portable, designed to be rolled or folded so you can toss them in your car or carry in your backpack on the way to class, some mats are certainly better for travel than others.

Travel yoga mats are usually thinner and more compact. Often the materials are more pliable, and they sometimes come with additional straps or pouches for added portability. The best ones are foldable, so you can pack them in a suitcase without taking up too much space.

Sometimes travel yoga mats have less padding than regular mats, which can be an issue for people who have sensitive knees or wrists. That said, there are plenty of them that rival the quality of typical mats while remaining travel-friendly.

For standard yoga mats, check out our guide on the best yoga mats you can buy.

The best travel yoga mats you can buy in 2019:

• Best overall: Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat
• Best budget travel yoga mat: Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat
• Best multi-size travel yoga mat: Jade Travel Yoga Mat
• Best reversible travel yoga mat: The Reversible (Un)Mat
• Best machine-washable travel yoga mat: Clever Yoga Travel Mat

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best yoga mats you can buy

The best overall

The Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat weighs only 2.2 pounds and is highly flexible for travel, without sacrificing the quality of the materials.

In my research, one mat popped up repeatedly as the best choice — the Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat. At 2.2 pounds and 1.5-mm thick, it's extremely lightweight and flexible, making it easy to fold up tightly and toss in a suitcase.

Despite being so thin, the mat's material is built to last. It's made of sustainable, natural tree rubber that is resistant to tearing and will retain its shape even with frequent use. The surface texture creates a strong grip for sweaty hands. All Manduka mats are made without PVC or potentially toxic plasticizers.

This is one of the most popular travel yoga mats on the market, with high customer reviews and mentions in many publications. Sol Salute likes the "grippy and smooth" surface.

The mat has also been featured as a top pick by The Yoga Nomads, Bustle, Well + Good, My Five Acres blog, and Shape.

Pros: Folds down very small, lightweight, tear resistant, natural rubber, sticky surface

Cons: Expensive, not a lot of padding

Buy the Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat on Manduka for $44

The best budget mat

The Gaiam Foldable Travel Yoga Mat is a compact and grippy option with an under-$20 price tag.

I get it: No one likes the idea of spending $40 or more on a mat you only use a couple of times a year. Infrequent travelers, then, will love the Gaiam Foldable Travel Yoga Mat.

This one-pound mat is even more lightweight than the Manduka eKO Superlite, but it's slightly thicker 2-mm thick. The whole thing folds down to a 10-inch-wide and 12-inch-long rectangle for easy transportation in a carry-on or overnight duffel bag. And, it's one of the most affordable options available.

I have a full-sized Gaiam yoga mat that has lasted me for years with regular use, so I can attest to the quality of the brand's goods. As far as the travel mat itself goes, it's a popular choice among shoppers and reviewers. Bustle praises the "unique sticky texture" that "provides stable footing for optimal performance anywhere." Among Amazon customers, the mat has a 4-star rating based on 316 reviews.

"While most travel mats are folded for travel but best stored rolled, this mat is made to be stored folded," Sol Salute writes, which also points out that the mat is perforated.

Pros: Affordable, very lightweight, meant to be folded

Cons: PVC material

Buy the Gaiam Foldable Travel Mat on Amazon starting at $19.99

The best multi-size mat

The Jade Yoga Travel Mat comes in two sizes to accommodate people of different heights.

People come in all different shapes and sizes, so why shouldn't their yoga mats? The Jade Yoga Travel Matis available in 68-inch and 74-inch lengths so you can choose the right one based on your height.

Jade Yoga puts special attention on sustainability, in the construction of the mats and through a partnership with the organization Trees for the Future. The mats are made of natural rubber sourced from trees with no PVC or other synthetic materials added. For each one purchased, the brand ensures a new tree will be planted.

A no-slip, open-cell (more absorbent) surface gives you a solid grip. Reviewers praise the plush cushioning compared to other travel mats, though at approximately 3 pounds, it's a bit heavier than other mats. If you find yourself frequently winching during kneeling poses, you'll appreciate the additional support.

One downside is that, unlike most travel yoga mats, Jade's rolls instead of folds, so it may be harder to fit in your luggage, as The Yoga Nomads points out. On the other hand, the quality makes it a great multi-use pick for home practice as well as travel. Bustle, Well + Good, Shape, and Sol Solute all highly recommend the Jade Yoga Travel Mat.

Pros: Natural materials, purchase benefits Trees for the Future, more cushioning

Cons: Heavier than many other travel mats

Buy the Jade Yoga Travel Mat on Amazon for $64.95 to $69.95

The best reversible mat

The cleverly named Reversible (Un)Mat from Lululemon is like having two lightweight yoga mats for the price of one.

One of the downsides of taking your yoga practice on the road is decreased access to the props and extras you might rely on to make a class or an at-home vinyasa session more enjoyable. The Reversible (Un)Mat from Lululemon helps solve that problem with a moisture-absorbing polyurethane-coated layer on one side.

If you get super sweaty during a vigorous practice, use this grippier side to keep yourself from slip-sliding off the mat. For more chill sessions, you can use the rubberized side. This mat is on the thinner side at 1.5 mm. Antimicrobial rubber means you can toss it in a suitcase without stressing about mold buildup.

The mat is also recommended by The Strategist. Lululemon's original Reversible Yoga Mat is one of Prevention's top picks.

Pros: Reversible with a grippier side for when you sweat, very thin and light, antimicrobial

Cons: Not very cushioned

Buy the Reversible (Un)Mat at Lululemon for $48

The best machine-washable mat

The Clever Yoga Travel Mat is odor-resistant and simple to clean, which is great news for practitioners of hot yoga.

Is it just me or is cleaning your yoga mat the worst chore? Most of the time they need to be wiped-down, which is time-consuming and not necessarily foolproof if you've got a sticky, grippy mat.

The Clever Yoga Travel Mat is actually machine-washable, which is great for travelers who may have to pack quickly after practice. This pick is highly recommended for hot-yoga fans because of the "microfiber moisture activated grip top layer" and nonslip rubber base. These same attributes make this a great pick for travelers.

The mat is 1-mm thick and weighs about 2.5 pounds. It's odor-resistant, thanks to a waterproof film that prevents moisture and sweat from absorbing into the materials. Like most travel mats, it folds easily to fit in a carry-on, backpack, or suitcase.

"I have already washed it three times and it's still as great as it was on day one," writes one Amazon customer. Overall, shoppers give the mat a 4.1 rating based on approximately 65 reviews.

The Clever Yoga Travel Mat is also recommended by Bustle and Shape.

Pros: Machine washable, odor-resistant, non-slip, affordable

Cons: Very little cushioning

Buy the Clever Yoga Travel Mat on Amazon for $34.98

• PDFs feature text that is locked, and cannot be changed, unless you convert them into a file type that allows editing.
• Using Google Docs, you can import a PDF and then convert it into a file you can edit using Word on a Mac computer.
• You can also use several paid applications that make converting PDFs into documents you can edit easy, and that offer advanced conversion and formatting options.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Ah, the mighty PDF! The letters stand for Portable Document Format, which refers to a file type easily shared by various operating systems and types of hardware. This ease is due to the fact that PDFs are locked files; they are essentially an image of a file, rather than being text, graphics, or any other media that are readily manipulated.

This means the same PDF can be opened and viewed just as easily on a Mac as on a PC. But it also means that should you want to edit, say, your resume, you're stuck if the file in question is a PDF. That is, you're stuck until you convert the PDF into a Word document that will let you edit it freely.

Converting PDFs to Word files on a Mac is easy if you use a free Google Docs application. And it's even easier if you buy one of several types of software with conversion capabilities.

How to convert PDFs to Word on Mac with Google Docs

Note: This method will work best with PDF documents that are primarily text-based.

1. While logged into your Google account, navigate to Google Docs and create a new document.

2. Click "File," then select "Open" from the drop down menu.

3. Find the PDF in question on your computer and open it in Google Docs.

4. Click "File," then select "Download As" and choose "Microsoft Word (.docx)."

The file will now appear in your Downloads folder as a Word document. You should be able to open it and edit the text and graphics as normal.

How to convert PDFs to Word by copying and pasting text

This is a decidedly low-tech technique, but if the PDF in question is all text, it usually works. Simply highlight the text to be copied from the PDF, then hit "Command + C" to copy it. Open a blank Word doc and hit "Command + V" to paste and... there's your text, now in the Word document. Note, however, that there's a good chance the line breaks will appear in weird spots, so you'll have to take the time to fix the formatting.

Using Adobe to convert PDF to Word

If you foresee yourself working with lots of PDFs this year, or if you need to be able to export PDFs with lots of graphics and different types of text blocks, making sure the layout stays intact, then consider spending about $25 on a year-long subscription to Adobe Acrobat Exporter.

Best of all, not only does Acrobat Exporter preserve quality and formatting during PDF export, but it lets you convert a PDF into all sorts of file types, from a Word doc to RTF files, Excel files, and beyond.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to alphabetize paragraphs or lists in Google Docs, using a free and simple add-on

• How to clear and manage cookies on your Mac computer's Safari browser

• How to clear the cache on your Mac computer to make it run more efficiently

• How to easily record your screen on a Mac computer

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Macs can be connected to a printer via both wireless and hard-lined connections, so printing is always an option even when you don't have a Wi-Fi connection.
• A Mac can remember multiple printers at the same time, so you can configure your computer to print seamlessly at work, at home, at a friend's house, and so on.
• You can customize a number of settings so that your computer and chosen printers will always use the print preferences you prefer.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Wireless printing has been around for years, and I couldn't possibly count how many articles, emails, pictures, and spreadsheets I've printed using it, but I'm still impressed by the technology.

It's comforting to know, though, that even in the days of rapid wireless printing, you can still physically connect a computer to a printer for offline printing as well.

To print from a Mac, there are just a few simple steps and a few quick keyboard commands or mouse clicks to master before you'll be ready to start.

How to print wirelessly from a Mac

Assuming your computer and printer are already connected, then printing from a Mac is pleasantly simple. Once you have the document, webpage, picture, or other type of file you wish to print selected, just:

1. Hit "Command + P," or click the word File from the top taskbar and then select "Print..."

2. In the popup window, check your settings and, if they're what you want, click print.

And that's it. Unless that nearby printer isn't yet setup with your computer.

If you don't see a printer available (or at least not the printer you want to use), on the Print popup window, click the taskbar next to the word Printer, then select "Add Printer..."

The computer should then be able to locate any printers nearby that are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your printer doesn't appear, then go to the printer itself and check its settings (this might require the use of an app) and make sure it's turned on, online, and on the right network.

If all that fails, or if you don't have a Wi-Fi connection, you can always connect to the printer through a wired connection.

How to print from a Mac with a USB cable

Before you print via a wired connection, make sure your Mac is up-to-date software-wise; this will save time, letting your computer quickly identify the printer you're about to connect. For info on how to do this, check out our article, "How to manually update your Mac computer."

1. Connect the USB cable to the printer, then plug it into your Mac.

2. Hit "Command + P" or click File, and then Print…, and the wired printer should be set as your default choice. Go ahead and print.

If you are prompted to download more software, go ahead and do it. And if your computer can't handle the same connection as the Mac, you can buy a multiport adapter to allow a USB output to connect to your Mac's USB-C (or other) input.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to clear the cache on your Mac computer to make it run more efficiently

• How to take a screenshot on your Mac computer

• How to AirDrop files from a Mac computer to other Apple devices

• How to easily record your screen on a Mac computer

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Not all stars are destined to be lifelong celebrities.
• Some give up on show business entirely and go on to pursue fulfilling careers in other lines of work.
• See if you recognize any of these stars who've moved on to become lawyers, hairdressers, and business magnates.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fame can be quite fleeting, and show business comes with a lot of pressure.

So it's no surprise that celebrity can have an adverse effect on people, especially child stars, USA Today reported. The plight of Hollywood icons who achieved success, only to fall from grace due to drug use or erratic behavior, is well-documented.

But not all stars fall. Some just fade into a less visible line of work after their brush with fame.

Here's a look at some former stars who ended up in completely different careers:

SEE ALSO: 'It's not worth losing your job over': Bachelor, Amazing Race, and Survivor alums explain how reality stardom affected their careers

Jeff Cohen — Lawrence 'Chunk' Cohen from 'The Goonies'

Claim to fame: Cohen shot to fame for his turn as clumsy, bad-luck-prone Chunk in the classic 1985 adventure film "The Goonies."

What he does now: Growing up, he was able to use his stint as a child actor to land roles at movie studios, according to the ABA Journal. He decided to go into law, earning his J.D. from UCLA after attending Berkeley.

Cohen went on to cofound the entertainment-oriented law firm Gardner Cohen LLP.

Crystal McKellar — Becky Slater from 'The Wonder Years'

Claim to fame: McKellar acted alongside her sister Danica in the television series "The Wonder Years."

Both sisters had been considered for the main role of Winnie, but Danica won out, and Crystal was brought on to play Becky Slater instead.

What she does now: During their time in show business, education was always a priority for the McKellars, according to Biography.com. McKellar went on to study at Yale and Oxford, and she earned her J.D. at Harvard.

Today, she's the managing director and legal counsel for Mithril Capital Management.

Jeffrey Allen "Skunk" Baxter — Guitarist for Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and Spirit

Claim to fame: Baxter was a founding member of Steely Dan and later joined the Doobie Brothers.

The guitarist has led quite a lengthy career in rock and roll, working with acts and artists like Dolly Parton, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, and others as a session guitarist.

What he does now: The storied guitar-for-hire now has top security clearances. In the 1980s, his interest in recording technology prompted him to research and become fascinated with military software and hardware.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a paper Baxter wrote on missile defense attracted the attention of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. He became a defense consultant for the US Department of Defense and other defense entities, Guitar Player reported.

Peter Ostrum — Charlie Bucket from 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'

Claim to fame: Ostrum appeared in the 1971 classic"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" as protagonist Charlie Bucket. After the film, he declined to sign on for any more movies and left show business, according to IMDb.

What he does now: After leaving acting, Ostrum found a new calling when he purchased a horse with some of the money he'd made from the film, according to Express.

He decided he wanted to work with animals and went on to earn his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Cornell. Today, Ostrum practices at the Countryside Veterinary Clinic in upstate New York.

Charles Korsmo — Jack Banning from 'Hook'

Claim to fame: The North Dakota native achieved success as a child actor, landing roles such as "the kid" in "Dick Tracy," Siggy in "What About Bob?" and Peter Pan's son in "Hook."

What he does now: After leaving Hollywood, he ended up attending MIT, graduating with a B.S. in physics, and then earned his J.D. from Yale, according to Cleveland.com.

In 2011, US President Barack Obama nominated him to the board of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. He now teaches law at Case Western Reserve University.

Danny Lloyd — Danny Torrance from 'The Shining'

Claim to fame: At the age of six, Lloyd portrayed "Danny Torrance" in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining."

The young actor was "closely guarded by Kubrick," according to IMDb, and did not realize the film was a horror movie.

What he does now: Lloyd quit acting in high school and told the New York Daily News he leads "a pretty normal life now." The former child star is a biology professor at a Kentucky community college.

Josh Saviano — Paul Pfeiffer from 'The Wonder Years'

Claim to fame: Saviano's biggest role was that of the geeky Paul Pfeiffer in "The Wonder Years."

What he does now:Like his co-star McKellar, Saviano chose not to pursue acting shortly after "The Wonder Years" ended. And while his best-known character may have attended Harvard, Saviano chose to study political science at Yale, according to IMDb.

He earned his J.D. at Yeshiva's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and worked as a partner at international law firm Morrison Cohen for 11 years before founding the entertainment startup Act 3 Advisors.

Michael Schoeffling — Jake Ryan from 'Sixteen Candles'

Claim to fame:Schoeffling is best known for playing popular jock Jake Ryan in eighties comedy "Sixteen Candles."

What he does now: Shortly after his turn as Molly Ringwald's love interest, Schoeffling quit acting altogether, citing his need to support his two kids.

He largely disappeared from the public eye, but opened up his own woodworking shop in rural Pennsylvania in the nineties, according to IMDb.

Carrie Henn — Rebecca 'Newt Jorden from 'Aliens'

Claim to fame: Henn was discovered by "Aliens" casting agents in the school cafeteria of a US Air Force Base, according to People.

She ultimately landed the role of Newt, the sole survivor of an alien attack who forms a close bond with Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley.

What she does now: Despite receiving accolades for her performance, Henn chose to forego an acting career. Wired reported she instead went into teaching in Northern California.

Omri Katz — Max Dennison from 'Hocus Pocus'

Claim to fame: Katz is most famous for his portrayal of candle-lighting virgin Max in Disney's spooky cult classic "Hocus Pocus."

What he does now: According to IMDb, Katz has left the world of acting to work as a hairdresser.

Peter Billingsley — Ralphie Parker from 'A Christmas Story'

Claim to fame: Billingsley has appeared in numerous films and television shows over the years.

His most famous role is that of Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get his hands on an "official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time" in the 1983 Yuletide classic "A Christmas Story."

What he does now: Billingsley never left the entertainment world. Now he just works behind the scenes, with a few cameos here and there (like his brief appearance in "Elf"). He's been able to transition from child actor to what Buzzfeed calls "a steady and successful Hollywood player."

According to IMDb, he's worked as a producer on "Iron Man," "Dinner for Five," "Zathura," and "Made." He also directed the romantic comedy "Couples Retreat."

Buzzfeed reported that Billingsley has also cofounded Wild West Picture Show Productions with friend and frequent collaborator Vince Vaughn.

Barret Oliver — Bastian Balthazar Bux from 'The NeverEnding Story'

Claim to fame: Oliver is most known for his role as the alliteratively-named Bastian Balthazar Bux in "The NeverEnding Story."

What he does now: IMDb reports Oliver is now working on the other side of the camera. He teaches photography and even authored a book on the nineteenth century photo process, "A History of the Woodburytype."

Steven Anthony Lawrence — Bernard 'Beans' Aranguren from 'Even Stevens'

Claim to fame: Lawrence played the irritating, bacon-loving Beans in Disney's "Even Stevens," which ran from 2001 to 2003.

What he does now:The Daily Mail reported Lawrence now teaches seminars at USC, Berkeley, and in California high schools while acting in the odd commercial.

According to the Mercury News, he also surprised fans when he appeared as one of Santa's helpers at a California mall in 2015.

Isaac Lidsky — Barton 'Weasel' Wyzell from 'Saved by the Bell: The New Class'

Claim to fame: Lidsky portrayed the nerdy Weasel during the first season of "Saved By the Bell: The New Class." Shortly after, he received news he had retinitis pigmentosa and would ultimately lose his vision, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

What he does now: There's a reason TED invited the former child actor to discuss his "eclectic résumé" in 2016. Lidsky left Hollywood in order to pursue his education, enrolling at Harvard at the age of 15 and graduating with degrees in computer science and applied mathematics, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

He went on to pursue a legal career, clerking for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as the first legally blind law clerk in the history of the US Supreme Court, according to CNN.

In 1999, he also co-founded a business that would become x+1, which Ad Age reported Rocket Fuel bought for $230 million in 2014. Inc. reported that Lidsky's also established a construction firm in Florida.

Dylan Sprouse — Zack from 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'

Claim to fame: Acting alongside his twin brother Cole, Dylan Sprouse starred in the Disney Channel series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" as Zack Martin. Sprouse was cast at age 13 and continued the lead role on the sequel series "The Suite Life on Deck," which concluded in 2011. Previously, Sprouse and his brother shared the role of Julian 'Frankenstein' McGrath opposite Adam Sandler in the movie "Big Daddy" when they were six years old, along with small television appearances such as an episode of "That '70s Show."

What he does now: While his brother returned to acting on the hit show Riverdale, Dylan Sprouse stopped pursuing lead roles following his Disney Channel run. After graduating from New York University in 2015, he opened a brewery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn called All-Wise Meadery where he works today.

Travis Tedford — Spanky from 'The Little Rascals'

Claim to fame: Travis Tedford became a child star after playing the role of Spanky in the 1994 film "The Little Rascals." Additionally, he appeared on a Welch's commercial when he was five years old as a "spokes-tyke" for the juice brand.

What he does now:According to IMDb, Tedford stopped acting in 2010 after appearing in the horror film "The Final." Reports say he now works as an inbound marketing specialist in his home state of Texas.

Nikki Blonsky — Tracy Turnblad from "Hairspray"

Claim to fame: Best known for her lead role as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 remake of Hairspray, Nikki Blonsky landed a few small roles following the film's success.

What she does now:According to reports in 2011, Blonsky worked at a shoe store in New York City and later as a hairdresser in her hometown on Long Island.

• Read more: