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3 more Brooklyn neighborhoods just joined NYC's million-dollar neighborhood club — and it shows just how rapidly the city is pricing residents out

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Brooklyn Heights

The cost of living in many Brooklyn neighborhoods just keeps going up. 

A new report by the real-estate listing website StreetEasy revealed that, since 2015, the median recorded sales price in three Brooklyn neighborhoods has surged passed the $1 million mark.

Since 2015, Brooklyn Heights, Prospect Heights, and Williamsburg have all entered New York City's million-dollar-neighborhood club.

Read more: Apartment prices in Manhattan just hit a 4-year low. Here's everything you need to know about NYC's mansion tax — and how it's affecting the luxury market.

Currently, Brooklyn Heights has a median recorded sales price of $1,010,000, Prospect Heights has a median recorded sales price of $1,160,000, and Williamsburg has a median recorded sales price of $1,038,863.

In 2010, per StreetEasy's report, there were only four million-dollar neighborhoods in New York. Now, there are 17. To gather the list, StreetEasy looked at neighborhoods where there were 100 or more annual recorded sales between 2015 and 2019. All neighborhoods where the average price per square foot is below $1,000 were eliminated from the study. 

Before these three newly-crowned neighborhoods made the list, there were only two Brooklyn enclaves on it: Greenpoint and Park Slope. (Currently, the median recorded sales price in Greenpoint is $1,578,287; in Park Slope, it's $1,191,000.)

And New York City's skyrocketing housing market shows no signs of slowing down. There are also other neighborhoods steadily creeping towards that million-dollar mark. Just consider Long Island City which, according to StreetEasy, currently has a median recorded sales price of $903,419.

Brooklyn's rental market is also getting pricier

As Business Insider previously reported, in June 2019, Brooklyn's median face rent hit a record high of $3,000 a month, according to Douglas Elliman's July report on Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens rentals.  

Even the more affordable neighborhoods in Brooklyn, such as Flatlands and Gerritsen Beach, have average rents over $1,500 a month.

SEE ALSO: In the 1940s, you could rent a Brooklyn apartment for $20 a month. Today, the median rent has skyrocketed to $3,000.

DON'T MISS: An $18 million townhouse with its own carriage house is the most expensive home for sale in Brooklyn — here's a look inside

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The most expensive racing pigeon sold for $1.4 million in China. Here's why people drop millions on these prized birds.


19 of the best ski resorts in North America that don't cost a fortune

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Afton Alps, Minnesota

  • Vacation rental website HomeToGo compiled a list of the most affordable ski resorts in North America.
  • Resorts were ranked by the cost to enjoy one day/night on the slopes, including equipment rental, lift pass, lunch, and accommodation in the 2018/2019 ski season.
  • British Columbia, Canada was a popular spot last year, with five resorts in the area appearing on this list. Noticeably missing are any famed Colorado mountains.
  • Keep reading for a look at where people made the most of their money on their ski trips. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With ski season quickly approaching, it's important to assess your options before booking your winter getaway.  

HomeToGo, a vacation rental search tool, compiled a list of the most affordable ski resorts in North America so you can tear up the slopes, even if you're on a budget.

The company gathered data for top-rated ski resorts in the US and Canada during the 2018-2019 season and then calculated the average total cost of a one day/night stay. The final cost includes:

  • Equipment rental: mid-level skis, boots, poles, and a helmet for one day.
  • A one-day lift pass.
  • Lunch: a burger with fries and a soda at a mid-range restaurant on the slopes.
  • Accommodation: the average price per person for a four-person vacation rental found on HomeToGo in the resort, between November 17, 2018 and April 20, 2019.

Keep reading to check out the 19 most affordable ski resorts in North America, where a day of skiing plus an overnight stay came out under $250 this past season. Entries are ranked in descending price order. There are several spots in British Columbia, and a couple scattered out west in the US, but no notoriously pricey slopes in Colorado made the list.

SEE ALSO: 10 affordable getaways to celebrate New Year's 2018

DON'T MISS: 12 dreamy photos of people who left it all behind for a nomadic existence traveling the world in a van

19. Big White Mountain, British Columbia

Total cost (1 day/night): $222.45

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $111.71

Lunch: $10.71

Vacation rental: $100.03



18. Whiteface Mountain, New York

Total cost (1 day/night): $219

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $120

Lunch: $15

Vacation rental: $84



17. Sun Peaks, British Columbia

Total cost (1 day/night): $212.84

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $115.93

Lunch: $14.54

Vacation rental: $82.37



16. Bolton Valley, Vermont

Total cost (1 day/night): $212.08

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $113

Lunch: $13

Vacation rental: $86.08



15. Mammoth Mountain, California

Total cost (1 day/night): $211.67

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $117.68

Lunch: $16.95

Vacation rental: $77.04



14. Alta Ski Area, Utah

Total cost (1 day/night): $210.60

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $79

Lunch: $19

Vacation rental: $112.60



13. Kirkwood Mountain, California

Total cost (1 day/night): $209.42

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $133.47

Lunch: $15.95

Vacation rental: $60



12. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana

Total cost (1 day/night): $204.09

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $117

Lunch: $15

Vacation rental: $72.09



11. Sunday River, Maine

Total cost (1 day/night): $203.16

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $124

Lunch: $12.95

Vacation rental: $66.21



10. Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho

Total cost (1 day/night): $215.74

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $134

Lunch: $10.49

Vacation rental: $71.25



9. Silver Star Mountain, British Columbia

Total cost (1 day/night): $201.83

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $116.27

Lunch: $8.42

Vacation rental: $77.14



8. Mount Baker, Washington

Total cost (1 day/night): $187.21

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $98.01

Lunch: $20

Vacation rental: $69.20



7. Mont Tremblant, Quebec

Total cost (1 day/night): $186.64

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $106.72

Lunch: $9.18

Vacation rental: $70.74



6. Mount Hood Skibowl, Oregon

Total cost (1 day/night): $183

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $95

Lunch: $21

Vacation rental: $67



5. Panorama Mountain, British Columbia

Total cost (1 day/night): $181.57

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $110.17

Lunch: $12.24

Vacation rental: $59.16



4. Mission Ridge Ski Area, Washington

Total cost (1 day/night): $178.98

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $119

Lunch: $16

Vacation rental: $43.98



3. Afton Alps, Minnesota

Total cost (1 day/night): $178.95

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $94

Lunch: $16

Vacation rental: $68.95



2. Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta

Total cost (1 day/night): $178.88

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $155.88

Lunch: $11.48

Vacation rental: $51.52



1. Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia

Total cost (1 day/night): $178.14

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $123.59

Lunch: $9.95

Vacation rental: $44.60

Tanza Loudenback contributed to an earlier version of this story.



Hustling for my career took over my personal life — this is how it hurt me, and how I fought my way back

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work stress

  • Working towards creating something, or doing something big, often necessitates putting other aspects of your life on the back burner.
  • These six women found success through continual hustling. But they also found some adverse side effects.
  • From health challenges like golf-ball sized cysts to heart palpitations, continual drive took a physical toll. While some say they don't regret that time, others don't think they benefited.
  • All stressed that you shouldn't let your health become low priority.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Achieving anything big — be it starting a business, hitting the ground running at a new job, or creating something from scratch — often means putting your personal life on the back burner. When there's always more work to be done, it's hard to take your foot off the gas pedal. 

But that hustle often comes with costs — and for these six women, those costs were huge. 

Yes, their dedication, drive, and work ethic was met with great success. But that success came with tradeoffs, including life-changing impacts on their health, social lives, and relationships. 

So was it all worth it? Would they change their decisions? Here are their stories, their lessons learned, and their best advice to you.

SEE ALSO: 'Everyone thought I had a dream job. Here’s what they didn’t know.'

The employee who was spread too thin

Bianca Harris

Founder and CEO, Skinary App Inc

To say Bianca Harris had a full plate during her two-year journey of working at a huge global corporation would be an understatement. Between the demanding travel schedule, a high number of people leaving the company, and an ever-changing job description, she was being pulled in all directions, and her personal life suffered as a result.

The balance of constantly giving 100% and learning new skills to fill in the gaps on her team did yield great results and huge accomplishments, but not without life-impacting consequences. "My relationship suffered, I gained 40 pounds, and I definitely aged five years in two from the huge amounts of stress and pressure I was under," she remembers.

Though truly proud of the work she did, she also wouldn't ever recommend for anyone to let their mental or physical health become a low priority. "In a moment of stress, always remind yourself, 'This is just a job,' and then do some self-care and dedicate yourself to a personal hobby," she advises.



The solopreneur who kept pushing through

Adrienne Nolan-Smith

Founder, WellBe

Adrienne Nolan-Smith was building her media company WellBe with a partner, but that relationship began to fizzle out. When she realized she'd be running the business on her own, her health took a turn. Between keeping up with her daily duties and also trying to grow the company, her cortisol increased rapidly, she suffered from hypothyroidism, and she developed adrenal fatigue which ultimately led to Hashimoto's.

"I hit a low where I could tell the burnout and fatigue was making me unproductive, and more than that, unhappy," she recalls. Despite the exhaustion, Adrienne knew she needed to continue working in order to keep her business afloat. 

In retrospect, Adrienne still believes she made the right choice in not giving up. However, she does acknowledge that her health should have been a higher priority. "If you feel that things are not right physically, mentally, or emotionally for you, yes, of course, you need to keep going, but delaying making your health or your personal life a priority or getting to the root cause of what might be going on makes both you and your business or your job suffer."



The dedicated researcher who quit out of necessity

Melody Wilding

Licensed Social Worker and Coach, Melody Wilding, LMSW

One summer night, Melody Wilding recalls canceling on a close friend's wedding weekend last minute. While she had been excited about the event, she was also consumed by guilt. "I couldn't shake the constant reminders from my inner critic that I had work to do and that I wasn't pushing hard enough."

At the time, Melody was working a high-pressure job as a researcher. Her days began at dawn, and commenced whenever sleep overcame her. The cycle continued for three years until she quit out of necessity. "I worked harder and longer to compensate for my insecurity until the stress broke me," she recalls. "I had heart palpitations and nightmares. I felt like a shell of a person."

Ultimately, Melody quit out of necessity. Once she stepped back, she realized the problem wasn't that she hadn't been pushing herself hard enough, but rather that she had been allowing other people's expectations to consume her — doing work she thought she should be doing without considering whether it was what she wanted. 

Now, Melody has opened her own career coaching practice, which, admittedly, still takes a tremendous amount of time, energy, and focus. However, she now has a new perspective: "Take stock of whether the ladder to success that you're climbing is leaned against the right wall and if your habits are sustainable."



The PR pro with too much dedication

Harper Spero

Business Coach and Consultant, Harper Spero Inc.

In 2011, Harper Spero was tasked with establishing and growing the digital department of a beauty PR firm. Around the same time, she began experiencing shortness of breath, brought on after only walking several blocks. Her doctor prescribed her drugs and inhalers, but nothing seemed to help.

Given that she had only just begun her new job, Harper continued giving 100%, despite her persistent health concerns. "I worked extremely long hours, was always available, and definitely didn't make myself and my health a priority," she recalls. "I was completely focused on keeping my clients and boss happy." 

After several months of her continued symptoms, Harper finally saw a specialist who discovered a cyst the size of a golf ball in her right lung. She ultimately needed surgery to have it removed.

Reflecting on the situation years later, Harper knows she should have prioritized her health over her work. "Listen to your body — you know what's best for you and your life. Work is certainly important but you can't be the best version of yourself if you're compromising your health and well-being."



The over-consumed hustler who set hard boundaries

Arielle Shnaidman

Intuitive Success and Brand Coach, Arielle Shnaidman LLC

During the three years Arielle Shnaidman was working in the startup world, her weekends were solely dedicated to playing catch-up. The reason behind the constant hustle was not a reflection of the companies she was at, but rather an all-consuming case of imposter syndrome. "I was working in marketing and always felt like I needed to be learning new skills, reading more, constantly upping my game to be a great marketer," she says. "I always felt behind."

Looking back on that season, Arielle doesn't believe her extreme habits were beneficial. "I was overloading myself with information and exhausting myself — I would lose my creative spark," she states knowingly. "The tradeoff wasn't worth it."

Arielle has since come to terms with the fact that success happens gradually and has combated her natural tendencies with hard boundaries. Things like Friday night dinners with her husband and no-work Saturdays are now non-negotiables in her life. "The way you spend your days is the way you spend your life," she advises. "Are you rushing? Are you panicked? Slow down. Enjoy."



The young and passionate entrepreneur

Adelaida Diaz-Roa

Founder, Movers // Shakers Colombia

At the start of her entrepreneurship journey, Adelaida Diaz-Roa was 17, hungry to learn, willing to implement, and ready to grow. Though fueled by pure passion, her habits were not sustainable. As her business grew, everything else in her life was overcome with work and her passion ultimately led to workaholic tendencies.

Now, years later and a seasoned serial entrepreneur, Adelaida's reflection on her past decisions is two-fold. "Was it worth it? Definitely," she states confidently. "I learned so much. It also afforded me the freedom to travel the world and learn a lot about myself and build my social network and my health back up after my burnout."

On the flipside, she's also come to recognize the lasting effects prioritizing work over everything else can have. Taking it all into account, Adelaida's advice to newer entrepreneurs is to absolutely commit to the business you are building, while also being aware of not letting other areas of your life sit on the back burner. "Now that I know how important health and relationships are," she says, "I wouldn't advise others to do what I did."



The best winter coats for kids

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  • Kids love playing outside in the winter, but they also lose body heat rapidly in cold temperatures. A great kids' winter jacket can preserve core warmth while enhancing your child's style.
  • The Columbia Sportswear Whirlibird II Interchange Jacket is our top pick because its removable liner can be worn separately as a mid-weight coat, making it three coats in one.

The human body begins to lose heat through radiation when the ambient temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This type of heat reduction accounts for about 65% of total warmth lost. When wind blows, the effects of convection can increase heat loss by as much as 15%. And as children are smaller than adults, with a higher surface area relative to overall mass, they are even more susceptible to over-cooling.

Long story short? Don't send your kids out to play, to wait for the bus, to ski or snowboard, or any other activity that will see extended exposure to cold weather unless the little guy or gal has a great winter coat. Like one of the fine options discussed in our guide, for example.

We're focusing primarily on safety and performance. Every kids' winter coat covered will help your child maintain core warmth so he or she can enjoy the outdoors regardless of the winter's chill. But of course we also sought out kids' jackets that look great, because in many parts of the country (and world), the cold season is a long season indeed, so you and your child need to find a coat you'll be happy to see lots of.

As kids come in all sorts of sizes, we're including winter coats for babies, for toddlers, for pre-school aged children, and for kids in their elementary years. Shop carefully, because speaking of size, chances are good that your child will outgrow his or her winter coat after a single season. Finding a jacket you'll be happy to hand down to a younger sibling (or niece or nephew or whatnot) will help soften the blow of the annual process of buying a children's winter jacket.

And all of these fine kids' winter coats will help take the sting out of the winter chill. One last note: I'm leaving the gender choices up to you. You won't find a "best winter coat for baby girl" or "best winter jacket for toddler boys" here, you'll just find great winter coats for kids, period.

Here are the best kids' winter coats you can buy:

Updated on 10/14/2019 by Les Shu: Updated pricing, links, and formatting. Added a pick for baby boys and related guides.

The best kids' winter coat overall

The shell and liner of the Columbia Whirlibird II Interchange Jacket make it a three-in-one combination, so your kid will be ready for the coldest and the mildest of winter days.

I've entrusted my safety to Columbia apparel and gear on frigid mountains, in tropical jungles, and on multiple multiday outings and been thoroughly impressed every time. So naturally, when it comes time to select gear that will keep my kids safe and warm in winter, I turn to them first. And with the Whirlibird II Interchange Jacket, that has proven to be a good choice.

When fully assembled, this coat consists of a waterproof and wind-breaking shell and an insulated inner jacket that, zipped together, provide enough warmth for use playing in the snow, on long walks through the city or countryside, or for making that trip to and from school on gray wintry days.

Zipped apart, the shell is great worn on milder days when precipitation threatens, while the inner jacket looks and functions just like a warm puffer coat. And in fact, it's warm enough on its own for days when the temperatures are cool but not frigid.

The inner jackets insulation comes thanks to a synthetic fill and also through Columbia's patented Omni-Heat Reflective system, wherein a pattern of metallic dots reflect radiated heat back toward the body. And while the outer jacket is waterproof, it's still breathable, releasing excess heat and moisture built up from sweat.

When Columbia makes kids' stuff, they make sure it's of the same quality as gear designed for adults. Which is only proper, of course.

Pros: 3-in-1 design allows use in varied temperatures, breathable waterproof exterior,  multiple pockets and adjustment points

Cons: On the pricey side

Buy the Whirlibird II Interchange Jacket for girls from Columbia

Buy the Whirlibird II Interchange Jacket for boys from Columbia

Shop all kids' jackets from Columbia



The best budget kids' winter coat

At the rate kids outgrow clothes, any garment that performs as needed without breaking the bank is a no-brainer for parents, and the Amazon Essentials Lightweight Packable Puffer hits both of those marks.

For the first decade and a half or so of life, most kids are growing so fast that they will only get a single season out of a piece of clothing. But when it comes to winter coats, a kid's safety and comfort are in question, so you need to get a jacket that will keep your child warm regardless of price. With the Amazon Essentials Lightweight Packable Puffer, the price is a mere $35. And the warmth and comfort come thanks to polyester down-alternative fill insulation and a smooth nylon lining.

This puffer jacket will keep a kid warm on milder days when worn with nothing more than a T-shirt, but it excels as a layering garment, worn over a T and a sweatshirt or sweater. And for bitterly cold days with rain or snow, adding a waterproof shell over the top will ensure your kid is ready for even the roughest elements. Its elasticized cuffs and hood add to the jacket's warmth preservation chops, and when not in use, it packs down into an included stuff sack.

The Amazon Essentials Lightweight Packable Puffer comes in multiple colors, including high visibility shades of yellow and orange.

A few customers did leave complaints about the fit, however, so buy with enough lead time for a potential exchange in case the initial sizing is wrong for your kid.

Pros: Great low price, packs down small, comes in multiple colors

Cons: Occasional sizing issues

Buy the boys' Amazon Essentials Lightweight Packable Puffer on Amazon

Buy the girls' Amazon Essentials Lightweight Packable Puffer on Amazon



The best girls' winter coat

The North Face Mossbud Swirl Reversible Jacket has a lining that's so soft and cozy, your little one will ask to put the jacket on instead of fighting with you about getting dressed.

I've noticed over the past few years the kids can be rather... opinionated about things, and their opinions are not always informed by logic. Take for example the debate about whether or not a child should put on a jacket before going outside on a frigid winter day. The obvious answer, to an adult, is yes. The child's sentiments, however, often don't square with the obvious. That's why parents will love the super-soft lining of The North Face Mossbud Swirl Reversible Jacket as much as their kids do because this soft, cuddly coat is one that kids will love to wear.

As it happens, even the exterior of the coat is soft and comfortable, so when worn in reversed fashion with the fleece on the outside, your kid will like it just fine. That reversible design gives more flexibility fashion-wise, while both materials — the fleece and the water-resistant taffeta — play a role performance-wise. The high pile fleece and insulated fill provide plenty of warmth, while the exterior repels light rain and snow and reduces wind chill.

And like any good kids garment should be, the Mossbud Swirl Reversible Jacket is machine washable. Just be sure to note the sizing with care, as some customers reported the jacket not fitting their children as well as they would have liked based on the size they chose.

Pros: Reversible design, soft and warm fleece lining, exterior repels water

Cons: Sizing sometimes runs small

Shop all The North Face kids' winter coats at Nordstrom



The best boys' winter coat

While Patagonia Snowshot Jacket was designed for use on the slopes, it will keep a little one warm and toasty just fine in the city, suburbs, and countryside.

The ski pass pocket built into the sleeve of the Patagonia Snowshot Jacket is a tipoff as to the design of this winter coat: It was made for use by kids carving their way down snowy slopes. And a jacket designed for use in the snow at high altitude? Yeah, it can handle the cold that comes with everyday winter wear just fine, thank you. And it does so without that huge puffy parka look so many ski coats have.

The Snowshot has a durable water repellent shell that features taped seams for excellent wind-resistance, while the inner layer is soft thanks to a polyester plain-weave lining and quite warm 150 gram down alternative fill. A drop tail hem gives extra protection against wind and precipitation, while the hood can be cinched down tight around a kid's face when the weather is frigid and foul or removed entirely for milder days.

And while the Patagonia Snowshot is a pricey jacket, it might just last more than one season. The sleeves have a "grow-fit" feature that allows them to be extended (or retracted) by as much as two inches, helping the coat weather a growth spurt or two.

Pros: Excellent insulation, water-resistant shell, removable hood, media and ski pass pockets

Cons: Expensive

Shop all kids' snow gear at Patagonia



The best winter coat for babies

This Tea Collection Sherpa Fleece Zip Hoodie is the perfect outer layer for a baby girl who needs to be warm but also comfortable all through her first or second winter.

The Tea Collection Sherpa Fleece Zip Hoodie is not the warmest baby coat ever made, nor is it a waterproof, wind-breaking, high-tech baby ski coat or anything of the kind. So why is it my go-to winter coat for my baby girl? Because it's warm, soft, not too bulky, and because I'm not taking my infant out in a winter storm anyway.

When out of the house, babies spend most of their time in a car seat, a stroller, or in an adult's arms. All of those methods of conveyance block the breeze and add a layer of insulation, so unless you live in Arctic climes, an oversized, super warm coat is probably overkill for kids too young to play outside independently anyway. The Sherpa Fleece Zip Hoodie fits well even over several base layers (onesie and sweatshirt, e.g.) and is more than soft and cozy enough for wearing over only a onesie. Frankly, a baby could wear it right over his or her skin.

The Sherpa Fleece Zip Hoodie comes in sizes ranging from three to six months up to 18 to 24 months, so your kid can enjoy one for a couple of cold weather seasons before it becomes one of the best hand-me-downs.

Now, I will say that while I love the look and feel of this hoodie and while my daughter Scarlett loves how soft and warm it is (or I think that's what she's "saying"), if you live in an area prone to extra cold winters and/or lots of precipitation, you may need to consider a heartier coat. (Then again, there's also the autumn and early spring to consider!)

The Tea Collection Sherpa is designed for girls, although we can't see why boys can't wear it. If you're looking for something specifically designed for a baby boy, consider the Infant Zing III Fleece Jacket from Columbia, which has a comfortable lining that will keep him warm.

Pros: Warm and soft materials, perfect for layering, jersey-lined hood

Cons: No water resistance

Buy the Sherpa Fleece Zip Hoodie from Tea Collection

Buy the Infant Zing III Fleece Jacket from Columbia



Check out our guide to the best kids' gear for wintertime fun

The best sleds you can buy for winter fun

Grownups and kids alike love to jet down snow-covered slopes on sleds, so we've put together the best sleds you can buy.

Whether you love the classic sleigh-style runner sled, the Griswold go-to saucer, or a big and comfy inflatable tube, you're sure to find a perfect downhill vehicle on our list.


The best places to shop for kids' winter gear

If you're looking to buy winter gear for kids, head straight to the following retailers. Whether it's clothing or fun accessories, these are the best places to shop for kids' winter gear. 

 



My husband and I saved $36,000 in 2 years to quit our jobs and travel the world. These are the offbeat ways we cut costs.

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Mary Kearl sunset

  • In early 2019, Mary Kearl and her husband left their full-time jobs to travel the world with their one-year-old.
  • To prepare for this trip, the couple saved $36,000 over two years.
  • Kearl broke down exactly how they did it, from keeping food and shopping spending low to freelancing on the side to cutting costs in other places, such as their car and apartment.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Work. Retire. Then travel. That's the natural order of things — or at least that was what I was raised to believe. 

That all changed for me in 2016, when I took my first break from working full time to bike across the US for a month. My parents worried. They said I should wait, get a job first, then ask for time in between. But I wanted to move to LA, and I wasn't getting bites with a New York City address on my resume. 

As someone who entered the workforce at the start of the recession, walking away from the job I had at the time and the security it gave me was one of the biggest risks of my life. It also turned out to be one of the most rewarding. As terrified as I'd been at the thought of starting over and having to explain my resume gap to employers, I not only ended up securing a new job at a tech startup, but one that came with a jump in title and pay — all while also getting a boost in quality of life, being able to trade New York City winters for year-round sunshine in LA (one of the top 10 places in the world for weather, according to US News & World Report).

Still, the open road and the chance to spend more time with family and friends called to me. So when my husband and I made plans to have a baby at the beginning of 2017, we also began exploring the idea of taking time off to travel the world as a family of three. We wanted to see more of each other and less of the inside of an office, and neither one of us wanted to miss our future little one's milestones. 

Inspired by "The Happiness Project,""Nomadland,""The Year of Less," and "Flat Broke with Two Goats"— all books that explore the theme of spending less and getting more out of life — and armed with data from the Budget Your Trip website and individual traveler blogs, we began saving in 2017. 

At the end of the year as a pre-New Year's resolution, we kicked things into high gear by starting our own "year of no shopping" that's still in effect to this day. By the time we both stopped working full time in January 2019, we managed to achieve our ultimate savings goal: $36,000. 

Here are some of the strategies that helped us reach our target.

Setting a monthly savings goal

As someone who has always freelanced in addition to working full time, I hoped to work while traveling to offset our costs. In the end, I was able to. (And, as a result, we only spent $288.30 of our $36,000 savings on our seven-month-long world travels.) 

But in the planning stages, we saved as if I wouldn't be able to. 

Since I was little, my parents always encouraged me and my sister to save half of our money from babysitting, doing chores, or gifts from family. Throughout the years, that saving mentality has helped me cover the cost of my food, books, and other daily expenses during college and pay for my MBA without taking any loans. But even still, I'd never set or stuck to a budget or set a monthly savings goal before.

Based on our research, I calculated that we needed to set aside $36,000 to pay for our adventures. To make that happen in two years, we planned — and managed — to save as follows:

  • Total travel fund goal: $36,000
  • Annual savings goal: $18,000 a year
  • Monthly savings goal as a couple: $1,500 a month
  • Monthly savings goal per person: $750 a month

Over these two years, we were making a combined annual income of over $150,000, so we were setting aside roughly 10% of our pre-tax pay to our travel fund at the same time. 

Creating our own 'year of no shopping'

After I read about Ann Patchett's "no shopping" challenge in the New York Times in December 2017, I instituted one of our own — right before giving birth and welcoming a new baby into our household. Not the most ideal timing. 

That said, there are no hard and fast rules defining what "no shopping" means. We decided it would mean nothing new unless what we had was broken or worn out beyond repair — or we had a new need. 

For baby and me, there were a lot of new needs. And later, when it came time to pack our suitcases to travel the world, a few more arose. 

Here were some of our big purchases, by category:

  • Maternity and nursing clothing: $105, compared to the almost $500 the average expecting parent spends on new clothes per pregnancy, Fortune reported in 2015. Since I had already been biking to work, I had a mostly athletic wardrobe consisting of stretchy leggings and loose-fitting tops that didn't need many additions. Most of my spend went toward nursing bras, which I later passed on to other family members so they wouldn't have to incur the same expense.
  • Travel clothes for two people: $240, compared to the $1,866 the average individual spends on clothing annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This included $150 worth of UV/sports clothing, two pairs of water shoes for $60, and two pairs of walking shoes for $30.
  • Sports gear for our traveling: $290.50, compared to the $487 the average American spends on sporting gear, according to a 2017 survey conducted by CreditCards.com. Specifically, we purchased binoculars at $27.50, a refurbished ports watch (OK, this was a want) at $178, and a SteriPEN at $85.

In the end, we didn't exactly forego shopping. But I did consider each purchase over time, adding them to wish lists on Amazon and boards on Pinterest —and reviewing, deliberating, and narrowing down before completing my online checkouts to get the best price. Still, compared to the annual averages, we saved $395 on nursing and maternity clothing, $3,492 on clothing for two adults, and $683.50 on sporting gear for two adults — or a total of $4,570.50.

Only having one car

While living in LA for two years, I biked nine miles per day between work and home and sometimes extra to run errands or hang out with friends after work. Even when I was pregnant, I kept biking until I was seven months along, when I then switched to taking the bus to keep costs low. 

Mary Kearl bikingWe spent $264.20 per month on transportation as a one-car household, including:

  • Gas: $81 a month
  • Insurance: $153.20 a month
  • Monthly payment: $0 (paid off)
  • Parking spot: $0 (one free spot included with our rent)
  • Ride-sharing app rides and buses: $30 a month

By not having a second car, we saved up to $839.20 a month or $10,070.40 per year by not incurring the cost of insurance, car payments, and an extra parking spot.

Keeping food costs low

As with many tech companies, the startup where I was working at the time provided free lunch — five days a week my first year and four days a week the second year. There were often leftovers, which I was happy to bring home to avoid food waste and help keep our family's overall food bill low. 

As a result, here's what we spent on food in a typical month:

  • Groceries: $280
  • Restaurants: $350
  • Total: $630

Our monthly spend was nearly $100 below what the average household spends on food in LA per month: $727. And these potential savings added up to $1,164 on a yearly basis.

Still, we spent more when we ordered in or went out to eat than if we'd cooked for ourselves. For the one to two nights a week that we made these splurges, the costs added up — highlighting a big room for improvement in our cost-cutting.

Sticking with a one-bedroom apartment after our baby was born

We were living in the fifth most expensive city for renters in the country, according to Los Angeles Daily News, where the median one-bedroom apartment monthly rent costs $2,250 and the median two-bedroom costs $3,030. Due to our apartment's proximity to our jobs, both located in LA's more expensive west side, and the major tourist draw — the beaches — our apartment was pricier than the city's median at $2,700, but still lower than the median for a one-bedroom in our neighborhood ($3,320.26) and lower than the lowest price available for a two-bedroom in our building (starting at $3,373 a month). 

So, as a result, not switching to a two-bedroom helped us save $673 per month and $8,076 per year in rent.

Freelancing on the side

Throughout my career, I've always freelanced on the side. Between 2017 and 2018, I was fortunate to have a few steady clients and earned about $30,000 in addition to my annual salary during this two-year time span. 

Mary Kearl freelancingFor one of my regular gigs, every Thursday night after working an eight-hour day I would log on to my computer again for another several hours to tackle the team's weekly social media calendar. This involved planning, writing, and scheduling tweets and Facebook posts for the week ahead. It was a routine I was able to maintain throughout my pregnancy — including after an emergency surgery I had at 22 weeks — and throughout my maternity leave. I scheduled the client's content right before going into labor and, by the time I came home from the hospital and was settled, it was time to get back at it again. (I wouldn't recommend everyone does this, but it worked for me.)

Not paying for daycare or a babysitter for a year

Planning a year's worth of babycare without daycare or a babysitter required a lot of creative scheduling. 

To make things work, my husband and I staggered our parental leave and paid time off to care for our baby across eight months. Throughout the rest of the year, my husband worked evenings, early mornings, weekends, and holidays while I worked roughly nine to five, Monday through Friday. Between my parents' and my sister-in-law's generous support, we were able to cover almost the remainder of our baby's first year. During the last month before we ultimately left for our world travels, my husband switched from full time to part time.

All in all, these scheduling logistics helped us save $16,542, the average (and staggering) cost of infant care in California, CNBC reports on data collected by Child Care Aware of America. 

How did all the small efforts add up?

Overall, these saving strategies may have helped us save as much as $40,332.90, while freelancing on the side brought in an extra income that allowed for more flexibility in saving.

  • $16,542, by avoiding a year of childcare
  • $10,070.40, by being a one-car household
  • $8,076, by staying in a one-bedroom apartment
  • $4,570.50, thanks to our year of "no shopping" (or spending less)
  • $1,164, by keeping our food expenses low

What saving $36,000 meant for our family

Having spent half a year traveling and experiencing the wonders of this world, we've now had nine months (and counting) together as a family without commutes and full-time work schedules competing for our time. That's a real privilege in this country, where paid vacation and holidays are in short supply and where employees who have vacation time feel pressured not to take it off. Where others — as my husband has experienced for most of his career — are unable to have the same two days off in a row from week to week. And yet others, as has been the case for both my husband and me, feel the pressure to be on call and complete work outside of typical office hours. 

Mary Kearl sealsThis travel life may not last forever, but I hope we carry these lessons — of how to spend less, save more, live together in the moment, and appreciate each other and the world around us even more — with us wherever life takes us next.

SEE ALSO: Our family of 3 traveled the world for 7 months and only spent $288.30 from our savings — here's how

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7 famous companies that were started by teenagers

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  • Some of today's most famous and successful companies were created by teenagers. 
  • Both Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Inc., started their businesses in their college dorm rooms at 19 years old. 
  • Retail companies like Subway restaurants and Yankee Candle were also started by young people. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

While most teenagers are earning money at summer jobs or accepting allowances, some are creating multi-million dollar businesses.

Companies that started in dorm rooms or garages have grown to become some of the most recognizable names in their industries. 

From Facebook to Subway restaurants, these are the most popular companies that were started by teenagers. 

Mark Zuckerberg was 19 when he created Facebook in his Harvard dorm room.

While a freshman at Harvard University in 2003, Mark Zuckerberg created a website called Facemash, which pitted his fellow students against each other based on their attractiveness. Although the site was taken down, it led Zuckerberg and some of his friends — Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum, and Chris Hughes — to create The Facebook in their dorm room. The social networking site allowed Harvard students to connect online. He was only 19 years old, but Zuckerberg had just created something that would change the way people communicate forever. 

Today, Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms with 1.59 billion daily active users, and Zuckerberg is worth $69 billion, according to Forbes.



Like Zuckerberg, Michael Dell started Dell Inc. in his dorm room at 19.

When Michael Dell was a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. That same year, he dropped out of college after making $80,000 in computer sales. Dell starting working full-time on his business, which was then called PCs Limited. He was only 19 years old at the time.

Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. It became one of the leaders for personal computers and is worth $45.2 billion.

Michael Dell, whose personal worth is more than $31 billion, is still CEO of the parent company, Dell Technologies.



Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant at 17 years old.

In 1965, 17-year-old Fred DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. He turned to Peter Buck, a nuclear physicist and family friend, for a $1,000 loan. Together, they opened Pete's Super Submarines in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. The franchise quickly spread throughout the US, becoming the largest fast-food chain in the world

Today, Subway has 24,008 locations in the US. DeLuca worked with Subway as an executive until his death at the age of 67 in 2015, according to the New York Times. 



Matt Mullenweg started WordPress when he was 19 years old.

In 2001, Michel Valdrighi created a simple content management system called b2/cafelog. Matt Mullenweg was hosting his own personal blog on the system when he expressed his frustrations with technical issues. In response, Mullenweg developed a new version of b2/cafelog, which eventually became known as WordPress. Mullenweg was just 19 at the time

Today, WordPress has over 20 billion webpages — and more than 409 million people visit them each month.



Mike Kittredge started a candle-making business at 16 years old, and it became Yankee Candle.

When he was just 16 years old in 1969, Mike Kittredge started selling candles he made for $2 to his neighbors. As the demand increased, Kittredge turned candle-making into a side hustle that he operated out of his parent's garage and basement. By 1973, Yankee Candle was operating out of an old paper mill in Massachusetts. Eventually, Kittredge sold the company for $500 million

The company that Kittredge built as a teenager now has 500 stores with over 19,000 retailers selling Yankee Candle products.

Kittredge passed away in July 2019, aged 67.



At 14, Catherine Cook created MyYearbook with her brothers — and later sold it for $100 million.

In high school, Catherine Cook and her brother moved to a new town in New Jersey. In 2005, while thinking about how to meet people at their new school, they decided to create an online yearbook. When their older brother invested in the company, MyYearbook really took off. In the first week, 400 people signed up for the social platform, and within a few months, they had 1 million users. In six years, the site had 32 million users and had $23.7 million in revenue. 

In 2011, Quepasa acquired MyYearbook for $100 million. Today, the company has been rebranded as MeetMe.



Palmer Luckey created the first prototype for his lucrative business, Oculus, when he was a teenager.

Palmer Luckey first became interested in the world of virtual reality gaming at 15 years old. He built his own VR headset, calling it PR1, when he was 17. It was the first headset that could successfully trick the brain into thinking it was in a different world. This became the prototype for Oculus VR, his highly lucrative business. At 21, he sold Oculus to Facebook for more than $2 billion. 

In 2017, Luckey mysteriously left the company and Facebook to start a defense tech startup on his own. 



31 US cities where it's cheaper to buy a house than to rent a place

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In this Sept. 25, 2019, photo a realty company's signs rest on several lawns in front of newly constructed houses in Brandon, Miss. On Thursday, Oct. 10, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

  • A recent study by GoBankingRates found that in 31 cities, residents can save hundreds of dollars a month by paying a mortgage instead of paying rent.
  • The study calculated the average cost of a mortgage in each city and compared it to the average rent in each city.
  • According to Zumper, in September 2019, the median national rent for a 1-bedroom was $1,250.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In some US cities, it's cheaper to own a home than to rent a place.

Rents across the country keep going up. According to Zumper, in September 2019, the median national rent for a 1-bedroom was $1,250.

A recent study by GoBankingRates, a personal finance platform, found that in 31 cities, residents can save hundreds of dollars a month by paying a mortgage instead of paying rent.

Read more: The 25 US cities where renters are becoming homeowners the quickest

The study calculated the average cost of a mortgage in each city and compared it to the average rent in the same city. To gather the average mortgage in each city, GoBankingRates factored in each city's median listing price, local property taxes, a 20% down payment, home insurance, and a 30-year fixed-rate loan, using data accurate as of July 10, 2019.

The study looked at the 85 largest US cities and found that, in 31 of them, the average monthly mortgage is cheaper than the average monthly rent — sometimes by hundreds of dollars.

Keep reading to see the full list, ranked from the city where buying saves you the least each month when compared with renting to where it saves you the most.

SEE ALSO: The 10 US cities most vulnerable to a housing downturn when the next recession happens

DON'T MISS: The 25 best places to live in America

31. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Average monthly rent: $1,551

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,545

Median home value: $296,100



30. Phoenix, Arizona

Average monthly rent: $1,392

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,383

Median home value: $244,600



29. Arlington, Texas

Average monthly rent: $1,555

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,545

Median home value: $211,200



28. Stockton, California

Average monthly rent: $1,569

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,547

Median home value: $303,400



27. Greensboro, North Carolina

Average monthly rent: $1,116

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,080

Median home value: $147,400



26. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Average monthly rent: $1,582

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,538

Median home value: $269,600



25. Columbus, Ohio

Average monthly rent: $1,204

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,158

Median home value: $157,900



24. Anaheim, California

Average monthly rent: $2,817

Average monthly mortgage payment: $2,761

Median home value: $600,400



23. Mesa, Arizona

Average monthly rent: $1,417

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,360

Median home value: $254,200



22. St. Louis, Missouri

Average monthly rent: $932

Average monthly mortgage payment: $866

Median home value: $287,100



21. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Average monthly rent: $1,260

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,192

Median home value: $157,500



20. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Average monthly rent: $1,240

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,171

Median home value: $204,600



19. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Average monthly rent: $1,084

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,006

Median home value: $132,500



18. Sacramento, California

Average monthly rent: $1,706

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,622

Median home value: $327,200



17. Chula Vista, California

Average monthly rent: $2,566

Average monthly mortgage payment: $2,475

Median home value: $541,600



16. Corpus Christi, Texas

Average monthly rent: $1,372

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,277

Median home value: $147,500



15. Anchorage, Alaska

Average monthly rent: $1,817

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,708

Median home value: $339,000



14. Jacksonville, Florida

Average monthly rent: $1,259

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,137

Median home value: $179,300



13. Norfolk, Virginia

Average monthly rent: $1,292

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,142

Median home value: $190,500



12. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Average monthly rent: $1,051

Average monthly mortgage payment: $890

Median home value: $123,500



11. Columbia, South Carolina

Average monthly rent: $1,125

Average monthly mortgage payment: $963

Median home value: $136,900



10. Buffalo, New York

Average monthly rent: $942

Average monthly mortgage payment: $776

Median home value: $86,800



9. Silver Spring, Maryland

Average monthly rent: $2,236

Average monthly mortgage payment: $2,047

Median home value: $407,600



8. Indianapolis, Indiana

Average monthly rent: $1,139

Average monthly mortgage payment: $943

Median home value: $145,800



7. Memphis, Tennessee

Average monthly rent: $855

Average monthly mortgage payment: $652

Median home value: $86,900



6. Aurora, Colorado

Average monthly rent: $1,910

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,706

Median home value: $327,800



5. Toledo, Ohio

Average monthly rent: $795

Average monthly mortgage payment: $583

Median home value: $71,800



4. St. Paul, Minnesota

Average monthly rent: $1,494

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,268

Median home value: $220,600



3. Santa Ana, California

Average monthly rent: $2,731

Average monthly mortgage payment: $2,484

Median home value: $552,100



2. Cleveland, Ohio

Average monthly rent: $857

Average monthly mortgage payment: $579

Median home value: $58,000



1. Baltimore, Maryland

Average monthly rent: $1,286

Average monthly mortgage payment: $978

Median home value: $116,700



Flipping a house is nothing like HGTV shows — here's what it's really like, according to people who have done it

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  • House flipping isn't all reality TV makes it out to be.
  • Flipping houses can be rewarding and a good investment, but you should be prepared for unexpected problems, budget increases, time-inducing mistakes, a longer renovation timeline, and issues selling on the market.
  • Here's what house flipping is really like, according to those who've done it.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Flip or Flop"— it's not just the name of one of HGTV's most popular home-improvement shows but the reality of house flipping.

Buying a home, renovating it, and reselling it can be a hit or a miss. If it's the latter, be prepared for a financial hit.

But that's not preventing people from flipping houses. American homeowners flipped 217,000 single-family homes or condos in 2017, the most in 11 years, reported Ronda Kaysen of The New York Times, citing real estate data company ATTOM Data Solutions.

But flipping houses isn't as easy as reality TV makes it out to be — or as quick. We talked to several people who have been through the process of flipping a house more than once, and many said the real-life timeline of house flipping is longer than depicted. The consensus? You need to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances, especially going over budget. 

You're also bound to learn the hard way from mistakes. One house flipper spent a grueling amount of time scraping wallpaper off her kitchen, while another didn't check how laminate flooring fit together before purchasing it, resulting in complications when it came to laying it down. 

And then there's the housing market. Sometimes, a flipped house will take longer to sell or won't sell for as much as you anticipated, decreasing your profit.

But that's not to say house flipping can't be rewarding — or a good investment — especially if you love doing it.

Here's what house flipping is really like, according to house flippers themselves.

SEE ALSO: Here's what living in a tiny house is really like, according to people who traded their homes for minimalism

DON'T MISS: What a $250,000 home looks like in the biggest city in every state

House flipping involves buying an investment home, renovating it, and reselling it quickly to make a profit.

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You can make serious money if all goes well, but it's not a surefire way to get rich. There are a lot of details to house flipping that can get overlooked. In fact, house flipping isn't what HGTV makes it out to be. Here's what it's really like, according to those who've done it.

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From lenders and investors to lawyers and contractors, it's a high-cost business, house flipper Justin Pierce said in an article in The Washington Post. This leaves things out of your control. "You feel pretty helpless when a contractor messes up your project and walks away," Pierce, who's based in Virginia, said.

Source:The Washington Post



Pierce called it "knowledge-intensive," saying it's best if you have knowledge in real estate market specifics, real estate and business law, insurance, contracting, negotiations, and project management.



It's also high-risk with low margins. "The biggest risks are in valuing the property, determining the renovations, and managing the construction," Pierce wrote.

Source:The Washington Post



Pierce also said it's time-consuming and hard to delegate and scale. "At least half of the work of flipping a house is finding the house in the first place," he said. "Once you find the deal, you have to line up funding, develop a scope of work and get contractors' bids."

Source:The Washington Post



When Cassandra Monroe and her mother and brother inherited a home in Iowa, she didn't know what to do with it at first.

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Source:Domino



"It definitely needed cosmetic work and some serious tender, love, and care," she told home magazine Domino.

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Source:Domino



The kitchen was small and was "dated brown," according to Monroe. She wanted to open up the space with an all white, grey, and stainless steel palette.

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The first step was scraping off the dated wallpaper.



"Scraping off that stubborn wallpaper (to expose the patterned off-white walls) and tearing off that paneling was so satisfying," Monroe told Business Insider.



The walls were finally replastered and painted. At this point, Monroe started washing and sanding the cabinetry to prepare for painting them.



She spent many days and nights painting and refinishing the kitchen cabinets.

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"The hardest part of the process was being patient with the work and how long and laborious it was," she said.

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Source: The Everygirl



"There were some days when we were honestly burned out and didn’t even want to look at the home — so we took our days off when we needed to get a fresh mind before working again," she said.

 

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Source: The Everygirl



But the hard work was worth it — the kitchen transformation ended up being one of her favorite parts.

Source:Domino



She's also really proud of the bathroom transformation, pictured here at the beginning of demolition.



"We knew from the beginning that we wanted to completely gut the bathroom and start over fresh, so we wanted to get it torn apart as quickly as possible so we could start working on it," Monroe said.



But it was a process. "What a difference tearing down the shower area and cabinets made already!" she said. "Still, more needed to be done to get this bathroom where we wanted it."

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"With the bathroom renovation, I wanted to demonstrate that a small bathroom can transform (in this case, the only bathroom in the house) into looking and feeling larger with lighter paint colors and strategic storage," Monroe said.



"Occasionally I would get this feeling of 'Is this ever going to be done?'" she wrote. There were days where we were wondering if we would see the light at the end of the tunnel for this project since there was still so much to do." She began to see progress at the halfway point.

Source:The Everygirl



"The easiest part of the process was realizing exactly how I wanted to update the home cosmetically," she wrote.

Source:The Everygirl



But sometimes it was difficult to figure out what to do with certain spaces, she said. Monroe wanted to turn this closet into a bookshelf, but didn't know what to do with the wood on the bottom.

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The most challenging part of the renovation for Monroe was sticking to a timeline and budget. Instead of finishing the project in their desired six months, it took 10. They also went over their budget by $3,000.

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They tried to do as much as the could by themselves to save costs, including taking apart parts of the home and painting everything.

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Source: The Everygirl



"There are always unforeseen circumstances that come up though, which is why I didn't get too hard on myself when we went past our timeline," she said.

 

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"I will say that in my personal experience, the timeline goals are definitely different in real life compared to what you see on the home design or flipping shows," she wrote. "Our crew consisted of four people, including the contractor."

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Tania Griffis also realized that projects often take longer than anticipated. She and her husband have flipped five houses in Dallas, Texas, in the past nine years — while living in them.



Instead of the proposed two months, this kitchen took more than six months to finish. "It was mainly small details that you would never think of that took so long — grout, sealing, trim work, etc.," Griffis told Business Insider. "The unsexy things they don't show on TV ... real life is not like HGTV!"



"We always tell people to triple the time they think it will cost and double the amount you think you will spend," Griffis added. "Be prepared!"



Another kitchen remodel she worked on had several issues — narrowness, poor lighting, lack of counter space, and a non-functional pantry.

Source:Run to Radiance



"Demoing a kitchen is a lot harder than it looks on TV," Griffis wrote in her blog, Run to Radiance. "Tile and drywall and cabinets are all pretty tough materials."

Source:Run to Radiance



They had no energy to jackhammer out the tile floor, so they hired a crew, who removed the flooring in less than a day. When Griffis and her husband removed it themselves in their last house, it took weeks.

Source:Run to Radiance



They also hired workers to install the tile to make things easier.

Source: Run to Radiance



But after all the work, it ended up being her favorite kitchen remodel to date.

Source: Run to Radiance



Another kitchen had a few low points. "It was extremely small — there were only a few feet for prep work (literally)," Griffis said. "The cabinets were also old and falling apart."



They replaced the cabinets with pre-painted Home Depot base models, extended the kitchen by several feet, brought in stainless steel appliances ("steel sells," Griffis said), and added affordable granite countertops.



And then there was the kitchen in her fifth flip, which had dark cabinets, cracked windows, popcorn ceilings, and outdated appliances.

Source:Run to Radiance



It also had a funky layout; after coming up with several floor plans, they opened up the kitchen to the living room.

Source:Run to Radiance



This was after they asked the contractor to do work for layout options they later discarded — like taking down the upper cabinets for open shelving. The cabinets later came back up after Griffis felt it looked lopsided.

Source:Run to Radiance



They also didn't have the budget for in-ground piping and electric, so they had to keep two columns on either side of the island to run electric and gas pipes.

Source:Run to Radiance



And they couldn't afford to replace the greasy and dirty cabinets, so Griffis went with Plan B: Painting them white.

Source:Run to Radiance



Sometimes, you have to learn how to do things yourself and get creative. Griffis' husband taught himself plumbing when remodeling this bathroom. They moved a single small sink to replace a "super long, weird counter area," she said.



They then made the sink a double and turned the area where the old sink was into a closet, which Griffis said was ideal since it's a master suite.



She also had to get creative in a different bathroom, where she wanted a bigger tub. "It was tiny and gross. Stained all over and the fixtures were kind of ridiculous," she wrote on her blog.

Source: Run to Radiance



She also wanted more space and different flooring because the tiles were damaged, cracked, and uneven, she wrote.

Source: Run to Radiance



"Thankfully, enlarging an existing shower is not as hard as you would think — just take space from an adjoining room," Griffis wrote. They ended up taking space from a hall closet.

Source:Run to Radiance



They had the shower door removed and the tub replaced and re-tiled. "We had basic shower fixtures, but I teamed up with a company to replace them and add higher-end gold ones," Griffis said.



Some rooms need more work than others. In one master bedroom, it took Griffis about 12 hours to remove the border strip along the top of the walls.



"We learned from our mistake and with the rest of the home just re-textured right over the wallpaper," she said. "I would only recommend that if the wallpaper is as impossible to get off as this one was!"



They also had a particular challenge with one living room when they purchased laminate flooring without trying to put a few pieces together in the store.



By the time they realized how difficult it was going to be, they were under a tight timeframe and couldn't return the laminate. It took them five times as long to put together as another floor would have.



The underlayment also didn't go as planned. Griffis got a package deal with free underlayment, but it wasn't high quality.

Source:Run to Radiance



"It tore and ripped constantly if you stood on it the wrong way or if you had to crawl on your hands and knees (which you are doing 90% of the time!)," she wrote. "We were able to patch the holes with duct tape but it was a pain in the rear for sure."



One thing that did go well was whitewashing the fireplace bricks. "I think this has been the cheapest, easiest high impact project we have done yet!" she wrote.

Source:Run to Radiance



They made the whitewash mix out of equal parts paint and water.

Source:Run to Radiance



Griffis said they've learned a lot from their mistakes and years of experience. "My best advice — if someone wants to be successful with a flip, find someone with experience and pay them for their expertise. It's absolutely the best investment you can make!" she said.



"You always have to find a balance when flipping between budget, comps, style, and practicality, particularly when you are living in a home while doing the work," she said. "Keep in mind the goal (and plan for extra money and time!)."



Griffis also learned the hard way that homes can sit on the market longer than expected — this home was the only flip Griffis did that didn't get multiple offers on day one.



"We weren't prepared for that, and the three weeks we waited felt like an eternity," she said.



Carl, who has flipped five homes in Colorado, bringing in over $400,000 in profit (the foundation for what later became a $1.2 million nest egg), also dealt with market problems.

Source: Coach Carson



He hoped to sell a flip he bought for $535,000 in 2006 for $1 million, but it only sold for $725,000 because of the Great Recession, he told Business Insider. He spent at least 2,000 hours working on the home with no financial gain.



"Luxury homes were hit hardest and ours was no exception," he said. "From this flip, we learned that changing economic conditions can derail the best-laid plans."



It's especially troubling considering the serious problem he dealt with while renovating — he removed the roof to build a second level, but a severe windstorm blew the tarps off the structure.



"In an effort to save the hardwood floors, the Mrs. and I ran around with buckets, plastic totes, and pots to catch the water," he said. "We ended up saving the floors, but we had to replace much of the sheetrock and electrical fixtures."



He flipped another home in 2013. "When we bought this home, it was a sad foreclosure that had seen better days," he said. "The home was infested with ants and the siding was falling off. It was a home only a flipper could love."



They hit a roadblock when applying for a permit — they learned an addition was put on the home without approval and violated setback ordinances. "Luckily, the city inspector didn't make us tear it down, but we had to rebuild parts of it because it had not been constructed to code," he said.



He balanced remodeling the home with a full-time job, so it took him five years to complete. However, the time paid off: The house, purchased for $175,000, is now worth $550,000 (he's currently living in it and has yet to sell).



"If I could do it over again, I would have waited until I retired to work on this house," he said.



Liz and Jason Haynsworth have flipped more than 10 homes. They run Haynsworth Custom Homes in Dallas, Texas, and have renovated roughly 20 properties and built half a dozen homes from the ground up, Liz told Business Insider.

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Source:It's Great to be Home, Haynsworth Custom Homes



According to Liz, their two biggest challenges with flipping houses are streamlining the schedule and getting the floor plan just right.



"We've found that it pays to reimagine the floor plan for today's buyers because homes that were built decades ago simply lack the features that a modern buyer expects," she said. "Even with the most beautiful finish-out, a home with a terrible floor plan will just sit on the market."



Their second flip, she said, contained a kitchen, breakfast nook, living room, and covered patio that were "choppy, outdated, and not very livable." They needed help in the floor plan department.



"Combining them required a lot of imagination and engineering — and a vaulted ceiling," she said.



Their tenth flip, a typical 50s ranch, also needed floor plan help — it was outdated with small rooms.



"Many long nights were spent at this house, puzzling out how best to use its existing square footage," she said.



They ended up keeping the original footprint of the home, but added a laundry room and powder bath.



They also rejiggered existing rooms, transforming the hall bathroom into a master bath and the formal dining room into a fourth bedroom. The remaining rooms were opened up ...



... like the living room.



But the creativity and hard work involved is just an example of how rewarding a successful house flip can be in the end — a young family bought the house before it even hit the market.




How to watch private YouTube videos, using a viewing link sent to your email

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ipad youtube

Most people upload videos to YouTube with the purpose of making them viewable to everyone. 

However, there are occasions in which a user might want a video to be shared with certain people, but not the general public. When that happens, the uploader may set the video's status to private. 

Private YouTube videos can be viewed by the uploader, as well as anyone they decide to share it with via the recipient's email address. That person will then receive an email letting them know a private video has been shared with them. 

If you get one of these emails, here's how you can watch the private YouTube video in question. 

How to watch private YouTube videos

1. In your inbox, click the email from the video's uploader letting you know the video has been shared with you. 

2. In the email, a rectangular box will appear with a smaller red box with three white horizontal dots in it. Click this to be taken to the video on YouTube. 

How to watch private YouTube videos

3. The video will now begin to play on the YouTube site. However, it should be noted that you have to be signed into your YouTube account using the same email that the private link was sent to. 

If you find that the video doesn't play or you get to a YouTube error page, sign into your account and then try clicking the link from your email again. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best computer monitors for watching all of your favorite YouTube videos

Join the conversation about this story »

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The glamorous life of Tiffany Trump, the president's lesser-known youngest daughter

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Tiffany Trump

President Donald Trump's family make up some of the top members of his administration and frequently voice their opinions to an eager media.

It's not uncommon to see Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr. flash across your TV screen or splashed across the pages of international newspapers.

But Tiffany Trump, 26, who has been called Trump's "wild-card" daughter, has kept a lower profile than her older siblings.

Here's a look at the life of the president's most elusive adult child.

SEE ALSO: From rich kid to first daughter: The life of Ivanka Trump

DON'T MISS: Meet Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News star, prosecutor, and model who's dating Donald Trump Jr.

Tiffany Ariana Trump was born on October 13, 1993, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Source: US News



She was the first and only child of Donald Trump and his second wife, Marla Maples.



She was named after the Tiffany & Co. jewelry store in Manhattan at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, adjacent to Trump Tower.

Source: Town & Country



Tiffany spent much of her early childhood in New York, where the majority of her father's real estate empire was based.



She was a regular fixture in high society circles as she accompanied her famous parents to glamorous events, like New York Fashion Week.



Tiffany was often pictured alongside Trump's three children from his previous marriage, Eric, Donald Jr., and Ivanka, at family celebrations.



Tiffany had a decadent childhood in her time spent between her family's New York and Florida properties, even taking over part of the Trump Mar-a-Lago resort for a "Titanic"-themed fifth birthday party.



After Trump and Maples divorced in 1999, Maples moved with her daughter to Los Angeles where she said she raised Tiffany as a "single mother" across the country from her father.

Source: Business Insider



While living with her mother in California, Tiffany attended the Viewpoint School in Calabasas, California, a kindergarten through 12th-grade school that today charges $31,205 for yearly tuition.

Sources: Business Insider, The Viewpoint School



Though she was based in Los Angeles, Tiffany regularly visited New York to see her father and was even photographed at a Mets game with him and his then-girlfriend Melania Knauss.



As Tiffany became a teenager, she made more public appearances, usually alongside her father.



In 2011, Tiffany released a pop-electronic single called "Like a Bird." She told Oprah Winfrey at the time that though she was focused on college, "we’ll see in a couple of years if I actually do want to take it to the next level, to a professional level."

Source: Vanity Fair



After graduating high school in 2012, she made the move back to the East Coast to attend her father's alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, where she double majored in sociology and urban studies.

Source: Business Insider, Philly Voice



Her older half-sister Ivanka, who had years of success with her own fashion label, helped Tiffany score an internship at Vogue in the summer of 2011, where she reportedly had lunch with legendary Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour.

Source: Vanity Fair, Business Insider



Tiffany gradually became a socialite in her own right after appearing at fashion and art events around New York City.



Considered to be part of a group of wealthy young socialites called the "Rich Kids of Instagram," Tiffany was often pictured alongside Andrew Warren (son of a New York real-estate investor), Gaia Matisse (great-great-granddaughter of Henri Matisse), and EJ Johnson (son of Magic Johnson).

Source: Business Insider



Though she was still a college student, Tiffany was noticeably on-hand for some early appearances ahead of Trump's presidential bid, like a 2015 interview with Barbara Walters.

Source: ABC News



The future first daughter's profile was also rising on social media, where she posted images from glamorous vacations and scenes from her life on campus for more than 150,000 of her fans on Instagram at the time. She now has more than 1 million followers.

Sources: @TiffanyTrump/Instagram, The Washington Post



Tiffany made a splash with an unexpected speech at the July 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland Ohio, where she painted a glowing picture of her father, saying "he's always helped me be the best version of myself."

Source: Business Insider



As the campaign waged on, Tiffany was often present for big family appearances after her May 2016 graduation, while Donald Jr. and Ivanka emerged as the siblings with the biggest formal roles on Team Trump.

Source: The Associated Press



An October 2016 "Saturday Night Live" sketch poked fun at Tiffany's less formalized role in the campaign, as cast member Vanessa Bayer, playing Tiffany, sang that she "killed that convention speech, no lie, but I'll never be Ivanka in your eyes."

Source: Saturday Night Live



Tiffany began a new venture after the election, starting law school at Georgetown University in the fall of 2017 after she was spotted visiting Columbia, Harvard, and New York University.

Source: The Associated Press, The New York Times



Tiffany has kept up occasional social appearances during her studies, including at New York Fashion Week in her first few weeks of classes.



Though she's largely kept a distance from Trump's first two years in office, Tiffany has joined her siblings at official appearances, including the White House Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.



Her close proximity to her father's administration in the public eye has sometimes put some of her suspected political beliefs under a microscope.



After Trump's administration didn't acknowledge LGBT Pride Month for the second year in a row, some were surprised when Tiffany was pictured with her friend, fashion designer Andrew Warren, celebrating Pride in New York City in June 2018.

Source: W Magazine, Instagram



Tiffany turned heads in and outside of Washington when she wore white to the February State of the Union, a statement color that's connected to women's suffrage.

Source: Business Insider



Tiffany's reported romantic relationship with Michael Boulos, the son of the owners of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate based in Nigeria, has also attracted interest, following Donald Trump's reported statements that parts of Africa were "sh-thole countries."

Source: Town & Country Magazine



Tiffany's social life came under scrutiny when a March 2019 trip she took to Belgrade, Serbia for 10 days cost taxpayers $23,000. It piled on to the controversy around her father's many pricey trips to Florida.

Source: INSIDER



Some noticed that though the president publicly wished the US Navy a happy birthday, he didn't acknowledge Tiffany on October 13, but sister Ivanka and sister-in-law Lara posted Instagram tributes.

Sources: People, Ivanka Trump Instagram, Lara Trump Instagram



While some may joke that Tiffany is the forgotten Trump, she has built her own star power over the years. And at 26, she has years to make a name for herself.



There are only 2 people who have consistently ranked among the richest 400 Americans every year for the past 37 years

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Philip Anschutz

The Forbes 400 list has been ranking the richest 400 Americans since 1982.

While people like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett have topped the list in recent years, Forbes confirmed to Business Insider that there are only two people who have been on the list every single year since its inception: Philip Anschutz and William Herbert Hunt.

On the first Forbes 400 list in 1982, Anschutz, then 42 years old, was ranked the seventh-richest person in the US with an estimated net worth of "over $1 billion," while Hunt, then 53, was ranked the 10th-richest with a net worth "in excess of $1 billion."

You'll find no such vague wording on today's Forbes 400 lists, but the numbers are still approximations.

"The methodology has evolved and improved over the years but net worth numbers are all still estimates," Christina Vega, Forbes' director of communications, told Business Insider.

America's seventh-richest person in 1982 is still an influential billionaire today, as the owner of the Coachella music festival and 2 major sports teams

Today, Anschutz is worth an estimated $11.4 billion, according to Forbes. The 79-year-old's fortune stems from such diverse sources as oil, railroads, telecom, real estate, and entertainment. He's the chairman of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the wildly popular Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Philip Anschutz

Anschutz also owns the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team and one-third of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team, as well as their home arena, Staples Center.

Known for donating to Republican political causes, the Colorado-based billionaire started conservative magazine The Washington Examiner in 2005 and later bought another conservative publication, The Weekly Standard, which shut down at the end of 2018.

The 10th-richest American in 1982 today lives in Texas and owns a major oil company

Hunt, now 90 and worth an estimated $2.6 billion, is one of 15 children of legendary industrialist H.L. Hunt.

While Hunt was ranked 10th on Forbes' richest Americans list in 1982, he almost could have been ranked higher.

By January 1980, Hunt and his brothers, Nelson Bunker Hunt and Lamar Hunt, controlled one-third to half of the world's silver market. Their stakes were worth about $7 billion at the time, according to The New York Times. But just two months later, the brothers lost more than $1 billion and ended up going bankrupt when the silver market collapsed.

William Herbert Hunt

Hunt and his brother, Nelson, at one point owned a Greek and Roman coin collection that they reportedly sold for $20 million in 1990.

Today, Hunt lives in Texas and owns Dallas-based oil and gas company Petro-Hunt, where three of his sons have leadership roles. He also owns a refinery in Louisiana, according to Forbes.

The richest American in 1982 wouldn't even make the Forbes 400 list today

The level of wealth measured on the Forbes 400 list in 1982 is nothing compared to the vast wealth seen on the list today. 

"When Forbes published our first list of the 400 richest Americans back in 1982, the poorest person to make the rarefied club was worth $91 million, while the richest, Daniel Keith Ludwig, topped out at $2 billion," Catherine Perloff wrote for Forbes. "That wouldn't even get Ludwig a spot at the bottom of the list today."

In 2019, no mere millionaires are found on the list at all. Individuals had to have a minimum net worth of $2.1 billion to make the list. The 13 people tied for last place on this year's Forbes 400 list are worth an estimated $2.1 billion each.

Even considering inflation, Ludwig's 1982 net worth of $2 billion would only be worth about $3.03 billion today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator.

By contrast, the richest American today, Jeff Bezos, is worth a staggering $114 billion.

SEE ALSO: The 5 richest men in the US have a staggering combined wealth of $435.4 billion. That's more than 2% of America's GDP.

DON'T MISS: The richest American 37 years ago wouldn't even make it onto the Forbes billionaires list today

Join the conversation about this story »

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Black Friday is coming — here are the 5 best things to buy and 6 things you should skip

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black friday

  • Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year.
  • We interviewed experts to find out what to buy on Black Friday and what you should avoid.
  • You should buy TVs, gaming consoles, video games, kitchen appliances, and smart home tech. 
  • Deals on clothing, toys, Apple devices, and furniture are usually not worth it.
  • You can also check out all our deal coverage for Black Friday 2019 on Insider Picks, as well as our Coupons page.

Black Friday is coming.

Okay, so it's still technically over a month away. But hey, it's never too early to start planning.

Some stores have already released their deals, while others are maintaining the mystery. But you can be sure that your favorite outlets, from Amazon to Walmart to Target to Best Buy, will be offering some form of discount on just about any product you can think of. You might be tempted to grab the first deals you see or to buy anything you can get your hands on.

But be careful: Not all deals are created equal. You'll get great value for your money on certain products — but some tend to see better discounts at other times of the year. If you go in knowing what you're looking for, you're less likely to be ripped off by a fancy-looking coupon or to spend money on products you don't need.  

To help you get started, we asked shopping experts for the best (and worst) products to buy on Black Friday 2019. 

Here's what to buy on Black Friday 2019:

  • TVs
  • Smart home devices
  • Gaming consoles
  • Video games
  • Kitchen appliances

Buy it: TVs

Historically, Black Friday has been a great time to purchase big-ticket electronics — especially larger TVs. 

"We expect things like 75-inch TVs to be at a lower price point," said Vivek Pandya, manager of Adobe Digital Insights. "A larger trend we're seeing of people creating large home-entertainment systems has driven up the demand. With technology like 4K and HDR, it's reaching a point where we're seeing customers pleasantly happy with that, and not being so brand-loyal." 

That said, research TV brands and models before Black Friday arrives. Major retailers will often sell low-quality electronics just for Black Friday; you want to make sure you're buying products you'll like, and products that will last. 

If you're looking for the best value for your money, LG is a good place to start. 

"In 2018, we saw a ton of LG TV deals," said Michael Bonebright, consumer analyst for DealNews.com. "So if you're shopping for a big-screen set, look to LG for the best deals on Black Friday. For instance, we saw a 75-inch LG TV at Dell Home bundled with a $100 gift card for just $1,000 in 2018."

We also saw excellent deals from Samsung, TCL, and Vizio last year. 



Buy it: Smart home devices

Black Friday is the best day of the year to get Amazon Alexa devices for free, according to Bonebright.

"Retailers love to bundle these gadgets into other offers," he said. "Amazon Echo Dots are probably the easiest devices to get. They're typically bundled with electronics like TVs or smart home devices like Ring doorbells." And since Amazon released eight new Echo devices in October, we expect last year's Alexa products (such as the 2nd-Gen Echo Plus and the 2nd-Gen Echo Show) to see discounts as well. 

In a BlackFriday.com survey, 30% of consumers said they hoped to buy smart home gadgets this Black Friday.  



Buy it: Consoles

Black Friday is usually a great time to buy older consoles, especially if you're looking for bundles. In 2018, we saw a number of Xbox One and Playstation 4 packages featuring some of the year's best games at their lowest prices of the year. 

"We expect that the Playstation 4 will be heavily discounted in the form of bundles," Pandya said. "A lot of strong price value there as retailers look to move their inventory of those types of system. A new generation of consoles are on the horizon."

However, there's one exception: Nintendo. The company didn't offer many major deals on the Switch last year, and Black Friday sales on latest-generation consoles (namely, the new Switch Lite) are usually fairly limited. 



Buy it: Video games

From "Apex Legends" to "Kingdom Hearts III," a number of excellent video games came out early this year. Black Friday is an opportunity for retailers to clear out their stock and make room for next year's crop. 

"Gamers should expect to pay $20 to $40 for big-name video games that came out in early 2019," says Bonebright. 



Buy it: Kitchen appliances

Black Friday is usually a good time to buy smaller kitchen appliances, including blenders, rice cookers, toasters, and the like. Retailers will be looking to get rid of basic, budget-oriented devices in particular. 

"Department stores like Kohl's will have a bunch of small kitchen appliances for $5 to $10 as door busters," Bonebright said. "These toasters, blenders, etc. are cheap for a reason — don't expect them to last forever. Still, it's worth picking them up, especially if you're shopping for a college student." 



Here's what to avoid on Black Friday:

Don't buy the following on Black Friday:

  • Lingerie
  • Apple devices
  • Clothing
  • Smartphones
  • Toys
  • Furniture


Skip it: Lingerie

Stores that sell undergarments usually don't pull out their shoelaces for Black Friday; they've already got their eye on the post-holiday period. 

"While stores like Victoria's Secret and Soma will definitely host Black Friday sales, you should hold off shopping for fancy underwear until after the holidays," Bonebright said. "After Christmas, both of these stores will launch huge semi-annual sales that will likely have better deals — and a wider selection — than Black Friday." 



Skip it: Apple products

While many tech companies offer deals on gadgets, we don't expect Apple to be among them this year. The company doesn't usually discount its own products for Black Friday; the best you're likely to find is gift-card bundles or extra trade-in credit from third-party retailers. 

In particular, beware the MacBook. "Apple products are rarely discounted to begin with, but the latest 2019 MacBook models are unlikely to see more than a few dollars off during Black Friday," Bonebright said. "In previous years, some of the best deals for current-gen MacBooks saw the devices at list price, but bundled with free AppleCare." Yawn. 



Skip it: Clothing

You'll see a lot of apparel on sale for Black Friday, especially if you're shopping in stores. But be careful: Even at a discount, there's no need to buy things that won't last, or that you won't wear. It takes time to find garments that are the right size, style, and material for you, and that can be hard to find in the frenzy of Black Friday. 

Instead, experts recommend buying clothing later on in December. Not only will you have more time to shop carefully, but deals are also likely to be similar — if not better. Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that while women's clothing saw steep discounts during Black Friday, the discounts offered in the two weeks that followed were nearly the same. 

"Many clothing retailers now extend and introduce deals all the way into the new year, giving shoppers more time to reach a purchasing decision," said Scott Ruzal, Senior Director of Marketing and Account Strategy at marketing firm DXagency. 

Additionally, when it comes to clothing deals, there's nothing special about the holiday period. Clearance racks are stocked with last season's discounted clothing throughout the year. (For example, don't buy a winter coat in December, no matter the promotion — it'll be half off in a few months). 

"Apparel and clothing, those types of areas are very much informed by seasonality, and their pricing is very much dictated by when things are coming in and out of season," said Pandya. When it comes to Black Friday prices, "we're not expecting to see a lot of change there." 



Skip it: Smartphones

Black Friday usually isn't the best time to buy a new phone — unless you want one of last year's models. 

When it comes to newest smartphones, including the iPhone 11 and Galaxy Note 10 lineups, "they'll be doing promotions, but we don't expect to see a lot of price reduction because they're still very much high in demand," Pandya said. 

We do, however, expect to see decent discounts on older phones, such as the Galaxy S9, as stores make room for next year's devices. 



Skip it: Toys

You probably know many parents who are deadset on getting their kid the hottest new toy this Black Friday. Our advice: Wait it out. Not only are these products very likely to sell out, but they also see their best discounts later in the year. 

"Usually we see certain items that people are really in a manic frenzy to get for their kids," said Pandya. "Things like the Hatchimals and the LOL dolls. Discounting heavily on these items comes in much stronger during the Cyber Monday period." 

Toys also tend to see great sales about two weeks before Christmas



Skip it: Furniture

Furniture tends to see its best discounts after the holidays. 

"Historically, things like furniture are cheaper in December," said Janet Alvarez, executive editor of personal-finance publication Wise Bread. "The week between Christmas and New Years is a wonderful week to load up on furnishings, especially things like outdoor grills, and large appliances like ovens and refrigerators. Retailers are desperate to let go of anything in their inventory before the next year starts."

Also, if you already have Christmas decorations, under no circumstances should you buy new ones on Black Friday. These will hit the clearance rack the minute Christmas is over. Your future-Christmas self will thank you.  



We asked the experts to find out if Black Friday or Cyber Monday is the better day to shop — here's what they said

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cyber monday amazon

  • Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means two of the biggest shopping days of the year are just around the corner. 
  • But is Black Friday or Cyber Monday better? When it comes to Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday, there's a lot to consider. 
  • Many people think of Black Friday as an in-store shopping holiday, and Cyber Monday as the day to shop online. In reality, online retailers will be offering discounts on both days.
  • A good rule of thumb is that Black Friday is a better time to buy newer, big-ticket items. It's also the best day to shop in stores. 
  • Cyber Monday is a better day to shop for tech deals and smaller gifts. You'll also see slightly better discounts online. 
  • You can also check out all our deal coverage for Black Friday 2019 on Insider Picks, as well as our Coupons page.

For decades, Black Friday was the zenith of bargain shopping. But in the past few years, Cyber Monday has come to replace it as the biggest shopping event in the US. 

Is Black Friday or Cyber Monday better for discount buyers? The short answer is that Cyber Monday has better deals overall — but it's close. 

"When comparing the two days last year, we noticed more savings on Cyber Monday, as consumers shifted their purchasing channels online," said Ted Donath, vice president of communications for the coupon- and discount-shopping browser extension Honey. Honey's research showed that last year's Cyber Monday average savings (per user, per purchase) peaked at 21%, while Black Friday savings peaked at 18.5%.

DealNews also reported last year that it posted more "Editor's Choice" deals on Cyber Monday than it did on Black Friday. 

That said, overall savings aren't the only thing to consider. Different products receive better discounts on each day, and the deals that each retailer offers will vary. Once stores have released their Black Friday and Cyber Monday ads, look through them to figure out when (and where) each product you're looking for will see the lowest price. 

Until then, here are a few rules of thumb:

Shop Black Friday for expensive products; shop Cyber Monday for gadgets.

For items you're likely to buy once a year or less, you'll probably find better discounts on Black Friday. Anything you'd buy as a gift will likely see better discounts on Cyber Monday.  

"Black Friday equals big-ticket items," said Steve Koenig, Vice President of Research at the Consumer Technology Association. "With big deals on TVs, laptops, game consoles, and more during Black Friday week, many [people's] purchases end up being for themselves or their own households."

"TVs and appliances, you tend to get really great deals on Black Friday," said Vivek Pandya, manager of Adobe Analytics. "Cyber Monday, you see more of a focus on ... other types of electronics that are newer niche, experimental technologies." 

On Black Friday last year, the most discounted items were televisions (down by an average of 18%) and computers (17.8%), according to Adobe Analytics. The best discounts on toys, by contrast, came on the Sunday just before Cyber Monday. 

The most popular deals of Black Friday 2018 included Nintendo Switch bundles, TVs, iPhones, iPads, Instant Pots, and Roomba robot vacuums, according to sales data from BlackFriday.com. Cyber Monday top sellers also included the Switch, TVs, and laptops, but also included Echo devices, drones, and techy toys.

And Cyber Monday shoppers are a bit more excited about smart home in particular: 17% of respondents to a BlackFriday.com survey said they plan to look for smart home deals this upcoming Cyber Monday, compared to 16% who will look for such deals on Black Friday. 

Shop Black Friday for major stores; shop Cyber Monday for secondhand buys.

"For Black Friday, look to the biggest retailers, the ones who can afford to have smaller margins," said Janet Alveraz, executive editor of the personal-finance publication Wise Bread. "Places like Walmart and Best Buy tend to offer the best deals on Black Friday." The exception here is Amazon, which tends to have better deals on Cyber Monday — as long as you're a Prime member. 

But if you're willing to buy products from resellers, Cyber Monday is a great time to shop on eBay. "You'll find a lot of people reselling items they just purchased on Black Friday," Alveraz said. 

Shop Black Friday for this year's products; shop Cyber Monday for older generations. 

"Latest-generation products tend to be cheaper on Black Friday than on Cyber Monday," Alveraz said. "Cyber Monday is a terrific time for smart home [devices], TVs, and consoles that are older." 

Shop Black Friday if you plan to visit a store.

Despite Black Friday's reputation as a brick-and-mortar shopping day, 68% of BlackFriday.com respondents said they'd spend the day shopping online.

Online retailers, including Amazon and eBay, aren't limited to Cyber Monday; they'll be offering discounts on Black Friday too (as well as the preceding days). The reverse is not true, however; you can't walk into a Target on Cyber Monday and expect to find Cyber Monday-specific discounts. 

Join the conversation about this story »

24 signs you have a terrible boss, and how to stop them from crushing your happiness

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angry boss 1

  • Know the signs of a terrible boss so you can get out before it's too late.
  • Those signs include gossiping, throwing tantrums, and ignoring your viewpoint.
  • Luckily, there are some ways to mend your relationship: find common ground, and pick up extra work.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you contemplate handing in your two weeks' notice every time you talk to your boss, you're not alone.

A 2018 poll from job-search site Monster found as many as 76% of people say they currently have or recently had a toxic boss. Meanwhile, just 19% of respondents describe their boss as a mentor.

"A bad boss won't just jeopardize your career growth — they'll also negatively impact your personal life," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert, author, and leadership coach. "A good manager will bring out the best in you and have a more uplifting affect on all aspects of your life."

Read more:The ultimate guide to becoming a better boss in 30 days

It's important to know whether you've got a bad boss on your hands so you can "take measures to mitigate the stress and own greater power in the relationship" as soon as possible, she adds. Some ways you can try mending your relationship include looking for commonalities to bond over, and proactively offering to help lighten their workload, CNN reported.

Based on an interview with Taylor and using the book "Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots" by Vicky Oliver, we've compiled 24 signs your boss will eventually crush all happiness you're clinging to — and steps you can take along the way.

Jacquelyn Smith and Vivian Giang contributed to earlier versions of this article.

SEE ALSO: 11 tips to help you move on from a job rejection

Your boss lies.

A boss who lies is untrustworthy — not a good foundation for a productive relationship. "Some can become so immune to their own stories that they can convince themselves that the lies are true," says Taylor. "They may legitimize their fibbing by rationalizing that others do it, deflect this character flaw by pointing the finger to others, or use mistruths to generally hide blunders."

Other bad bosses just can't face the fallout that will result from telling the truth.

"Examine what motivates your boss to lie," she suggests. "Make sure you have all your facts before you start any questioning. And remember that it's best to encourage honesty than to go on the offense or use sarcasm."



Your boss is never, ever wrong.

Learning to admit that you're wrong is one of the best things you can do for your colleagues.

Ask Lexi Reese, the COO of Gusto and a former Googler, and she'll tell you the best thing a boss can do is communicate to their reports the type of leader they aspire to be and then say, "But I also am human and I'll probably f—k it up." Most importantly, the boss should encourage their reports to let them know when they're falling short.

If your boss refuses to admit that they're wrong, this means they're not willing to go out of their comfort zone for you.

A national independent study by Lynn Taylor Consulting found that 91% of employees said that owning up to one's mistakes as a manager was an important factor in employee job satisfaction.

"Admitting to mistakes sends a message to your employees that it's a safe environment to take smart risks — and without that, you're sapping innovation," Taylor says.



Your boss overpromises.

An overpromising boss is an untrustworthy boss. "You might have been promised a series of promotions, increased responsibility, or a raise, but all you get is silence," says Taylor. "It's often helpful to get to the truth through emails, if one-on-one discussions are getting you nowhere. If the responses aren't coming via email, or at all, be wary." 



They're quick to blame you for mistakes, but rarely express gratitude when you succeed.

Does your boss put you down in front of others? If you let it go once, it'll happen over and over again. Good bosses know they should have this conversation with their employees in private.

Oliver suggests apologizing to your boss behind closed doors.

"While it may sound counterintuitive to apologize to someone for something that clearly wasn't your fault, amazing things happen when you can bring yourself to do so," she writes. "An intimate bond is forged. All you have to say is something akin to, 'I blame myself for your outburst earlier today. Clearly, I've been relying on you too much. If you have any issues with me, I'd appreciate hearing about them in the privacy of my office.'"



Your boss expects you to be just like them.

Most people like others who are similar to them.

But good bosses know that different types of personalities can improve their team. According to Goldman Sachs HR head Sally Boyle, the best thing a manager can do to help their employees succeed is get to know them as individuals.

If your boss is constantly trying to cast their image onto everything you do, try following one or two of their suggestions and thank them for the rest. Stay true to your colors, but also show that you value your boss' suggestions.



Your boss is a micromanager.

Is your boss so pushy and overbearing that you find yourself unable to accomplish anything efficiently? This may be a perpetual problem, so get ready for it early.

If they want a play-by-play of every meeting, email, and call, then take detailed notes of every business interaction and send them to your boss, suggests Oliver. Your boss will think that they're on top of things and will leave you alone.

"By over-communicating with a micromanager or needy boss, you'll diffuse their desire to constantly check in, while you build all-important trust at the same time," says Taylor.



They have a pesky habit of calling you on your day off.

You put in your hours and get permission for a long weekend off, but your boss doesn't hesitate to call you during your off hours. To deal with this kind of boss, Oliver says you need to set your boundaries early.

"'Separation anxiety' can kick in if you have a power-hungry boss, and you inadvertently chip away at that power," adds Taylor. "You're best served to instill a sense of comfort with a terrible boss who's demanding, much as you would with a 'terrible two' toddler — whether you plan to take a day off, leave early, arrive late, or take vacation." If you're going to be gone, give ample warning and let them know that things are under control, with appropriate detail.



Your boss has favorites.

This will cloud their ability to recognize your skills and the value you add to the company. They also fail to see that they're treating you unfairly.

"No matter how hard you work, or the results you achieve, they somehow become dwarfed by those of the teacher's pet," Taylor explains. "It's worth modeling good behavior in this scenario, praising others on your staff or those in other departments, for their team effort. You're giving recognition to those who deserve it and demonstrating the powerful impact that has for people like you."



They don't want to hear your viewpoint.

Stubborn bosses are as common as company water coolers. "But there's a fine line between appearing insubordinate and arguing your case," says Taylor. If there's something in it for your boss, you have the best chance of changing behavior. 

"Avoid the temptation to fight the same battles repeatedly. Change your argument to find compromise, and document your case if you're passionate about your perspective. Just don't win the battle and lose the war."



Your boss hogs the limelight.

Does your boss constantly use the word "I" when associating with success? Do they fail to invite you to meetings to present your own work?

They may be intentionally keeping you out of the limelight so that they can stay in it, warns Oliver.

"Territorialism is in the DNA of a bad boss," Taylor adds. "They can become glory hogs and take credit for your hard work. Your best option is to manage up and understand the real root of the problem."



Their feedback isn't relevant.

Do you feel like you've gained nothing after receiving feedback from your boss? Is it so vague that it's not helpful? Your boss may either be unsure of what to tell you, meaning they're not equipped for the job, or they don't want to tell you anything useful, says Oliver.

Your boss could be withholding information in order to have some kind of advantage. This person is not a team player.

"You'll have to decide if your career will remain stagnant reporting to this boss; if a lateral move is possible; or if you can still grow due to interactions with other senior members of the team," says Taylor.



Your boss gossips.

When your manager spreads rumors or gossips about the staff, it's disheartening and awkward — and entirely unprofessional. "Your terrible boss may try to drag you in, but you're better off diplomatically staying out of the fray," says Taylor. "Otherwise, you may find yourself inadvertently alienating others if word spreads further."

Try segues that bring current projects back into focus: "Hmm, I hadn't heard that. But while I have your attention, I'd like to mention some good news about the XYZ account."



They tease or flirt.

Jokes that are at your expense can be upsetting. Bad bosses have trouble seeing that by relentlessly teasing people who aren't their equals, it can be hurtful, Taylor explains. "They lack the emotional intelligence to see the difference between humor and insults."

Equally as inappropriate, or worse, are bosses who cross the line and flirt. "It may not qualify as sexual harassment (if it does, don't allow it and speak up early)," she says, "but it might be unwanted comments that are borderline, and seem flirtatious or awkward."

If the comments are merely friendly and build rapport, great. If anything more than that, you have reason to push back and address it privately.

 



Your boss constantly changes their mind.

Does this sound familiar? In the morning, they tell you one thing. After lunch, it's a different story. 

"Pick the [suggestion] that benefits you most and pursue that direction," Oliver advises. "Kick the habit of being dependent on him in the first place. Never ask for permission. Instead, simply inform him of your intentions. If he has a problem with any of your decisions, he'll let you know."

Taylor says fickle bosses are challenging, because they can trigger never-ending false starts. "And that can affect the initiatives you give to your team, causing a colossal productivity and morale drain."

It's often better to wait before going full bore on a whim from this kind of boss, she says. "Also, you can be the voice of reason by asking non-threatening, thoughtful questions about the newest idea or flavor of the day. That can give a terrible boss pause, and foster a more strategic approach next time you're given an 'urgent' project."



You're not given a chance to grow.

There are few things more aggravating at work than being kept stagnant with the same routine responsibilities over a long period of time, especially after you've voiced interest in expanding your level of contribution.

"If you feel your sentiments are going unheard, you may still proactively demonstrate your more strategic skills on a current project and propose them to your boss; contribute new ideas to your boss' pet project; get more specific with how your background and credentials could specifically be better tapped for XYZ initiatives; or, with your manager's permission, offer to volunteer on a related department's project where your skill set applies, building on your existing credentials," says Taylor.



They're passive aggressive or ignore you.

One of the most unnerving, telltale signs of a terrible boss is one who rarely lets you know where you (or they) stand. "Most employees would rather get direct criticism from their manager than face a seemingly pleasant, but backstabbing boss," Taylor explains.

If they're simply not attentive, that's also a problem. "When your boss has the attention span of a fly, it not only saps your motivation; you feel like you're spinning your wheels," she says. "Try observing how others get the manager's attention."



Your boss has mood swings.

"Not everyone is even-keeled all the time. But a bad boss can be a charmer in the morning and a Raging Bull an hour later, depending on events of the day," Taylor says. "You can easily overreact and follow suit with the wide swings. Or, you can be the even-tempered professional who suppresses the 'sky is falling' dynamic."

By offering rational thinking — "That's true, but we have until tomorrow to finish the project, and that's more than enough time," for example — you can demonstrate a more constructive approach. "Realize, too, that this yo-yo behavior is rarely directed solely at you."



Your boss never discusses your future with you.

Are the discussions with your manager mostly transactional, with rare discussions about your future growth path? A good boss will discuss your prospects for long-term growth within the company — and not just during your performance evaluation, Taylor explains. "Savvy bosses check in with their team on a regular basis, rather than being reactive or waiting for an emergency, such as your brand-new job offer."



It's getting harder for you to wake up in the morning.

If you have a knot in your gut every time you have to face your boss, or if it's taking you twice as long to drag yourself out of bed every morning, take notice. You may just have a terrible boss.

"The worst thing you can do is nothing," says Taylor. "Better to first examine if this is a relationship worth salvaging with some diplomatic, high-road tactics."



Your boss throws tantrums easily.

No one should be subjected to an out-of-control boss. In fact, leadership experts say the most effective managers are pretty boring, i.e. emotionally stable.

If you've noticed your boss getting out of control, "your next step might be to check out your favorite job board," says Taylor.

But if your manager only has occasional outbursts, you may be able to work through the situation.

"Consider the acronym CALM:

  • Communicate — more frequently and in a venue that works for your boss
  • Anticipate problems before they worsen, and have solutions
  • Laugh — use levity to help your boss keep a rational perspective
  • Manage up — set limits with your bosses diplomatically, and let them see the benefits of your suggestions.

Timing is important with emotionally prone bosses. Don't go into the lion's den in your zeal for approvals, and certainly avoid early mornings, just before lunch, or after some bad company news."



Your boss is self-centered.

Does you boss truly believe that the world revolves around them? "Some bosses immediately take the conversation to themselves; what happened to them, their latest golf score, a conversation they had ... you get the picture," Taylor says. "You can become more adept at getting to your agenda by saying something like, 'That's interesting. It reminds me of the project you gave me yesterday.' And then don't stop talking until you've safely equalized the conversation."



Your work is never enough.

"It's 8:30 am and your inbox is crashing the corporate server due to your boss' excessive requests and inquiries," says Taylor. "You could work 24/7 and still find your boss dissatisfied."

Your manager must realize that you have limited time in a day, and can't do all things (well) at once. If you don't speak up, your boss will keep pushing. 



Projects are suddenly whisked away.

"You're given the plum project of the year on Friday, but on Monday, John is now somehow in charge," Taylor says. "It feels like the rug was just pulled from under your cubicle."

You have the right to get clarity, albeit tactfully, she explains. You want to avoid: "Why is John handling my project?!" Use a cool-down period to collect your thoughts, diffusing any signs of emotion.

Try something like this in a face-to-face meeting: "I want to do the best job I can here and was really looking forward to managing that project. What happened that changed that plan?"

"You may not be the only one on the receiving side of this form of mismanagement, so don't assume you're being singled out," she says. "If you're seeing a pattern of losing work assignments, ask to handle specific new projects and gauge the responses before making your next move."



Your boss operates by irrational fear.

If your boss acts as if the world is coming to an end, that spawns fear throughout the office and hurts your concentration. "Try to be a beacon of rationality by posing the 'what ifs' to your boss, and point out the positives of the situation with real facts," Taylor says.



These leather baby shoes have the right amount of support and grip for early walkers — they’re also super cute and fold up easily

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Soft Sole Leather Baby Shoes

  • It's a struggle to find affordable baby shoes that are good for walking development but that won't break the bank when your kids are growing out of them every couple months. 
  • I tried Juicy Bumbles soft sole leather and suede baby shoes, which are designed to protect feet without hindering growth and movement, and my daughter and I both love them. 
  • They look so adorable on my daughter's feet — everywhere we go, someone stops us to compliment her shoes. 

When my daughter Ellie started walking and it came time to pick out her shoes for the first time, I was completely lost. I had no idea what type of shoe she should wear or even what size she was. What I did know was that I didn't want to spend a ton of money on shoes that she would outgrow in a few months. 

After doing some research, I found that occupational therapists, physical therapists, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend shoes with soft soles that mimic bare feet for babies who are just learning to walk. After scouring stores and not finding anything I liked that was also reasonably priced, I happened upon Juicy Bumbles soft sole leather baby shoes on Amazon. 

These soft-soled shoes are designed for little ones who are just getting the whole walking thing down

The shoes are very soft and pliable — perfect for babies and toddlers who are just figuring out how to walk. 

They're created to protect little feet from the ground just enough while still giving them room to grow and move. They're also lightweight, so kids who are learning how to walk don't have heavy shoes attached to their tiny little feet. They protect their feet without getting in their way. Even though the soles are soft and thin, they give Ellie enough grip that she doesn't slip when walking on smooth surfaces. 

They come in 40 different colors and patterns, with sizes that will fit newborns through kids three years old. Ellie started wearing these when she started walking at nine months, and she still wears them today (in a bigger size, of course) at 15 months. The shoes have an elastic band at the ankle so they're extremely easy for me to slip on and off, but they're difficult for Ellie to rip off herself. She can do it, but it takes her a little bit.  

We seriously can't go anywhere without someone complimenting her shoes. People without kids just gush over them, and other moms want to know where I got them. 

Another perk of these shoes that they fold up easily, so they hardly take up any room in my purse or in the pocket of the stroller when Ellie decides that she doesn't want to wear them. 

Juicy Bumbles soft sole leather and suede baby shoes,

Keep in mind that they're made of soft leather and suede, which is ideal for supporting early walking development, but that also means that they're not extremely durable nor are they extremely warm. They won't be the best shoe to wear in a snowstorm, for example. They might also get scuffed up a bit as your toddler breaks them in, but Ellie wears hers all the time and they still look pretty good — good enough for her to get compliments on them constantly. 

Ellie has other shoes, but the Juicy Bumbles are my go-to, and Ellie's as well. Any other shoe I put her in gets kicked off almost instantly, but she'll happily keep these shoes on.

At only $14.99, buying a pair of these every few months is doable, and we even have a few different colors to match different outfits. When babies and toddlers are learning to walk, they need something minimal and these shoes definitely fit the bill. 

Buy Juicy Bumbles Soft Sole Leather Baby Shoes from Amazon for $14.99

Join the conversation about this story »

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How to forget a Wi-Fi network on your iPhone, so that your phone stops automatically connecting to it

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wifi

  • It's possible to forget a network on an iPhone if you no longer want to automatically log onto it, or you want to use a different password. 
  • If you decide to rejoin that wireless network in future, you will need to re-enter the password in order to sign on. 
  • iPhone automatically remembers all the Wi-Fi networks you sign into for future use. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

One of the iPhone's more convenient features is its ability to remember the Wi-Fi networks you log onto and automatically use them by default whenever you find yourself in their vicinity. 

This makes it incredibly easy to stay connected at all times, though it's not without its downsides. 

Whether your preferred Wi-Fi network recently changed its password or you simply no longer want your iPhone to automatically log on to a particular network anymore, it's possible to forget the network in question on your device. 

It takes just a few seconds and couldn't be simpler. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to forget a Wi-Fi network on an iPhone

1. On your iPhone, tap the "Settings" icon to open the app. 

2. Tap Wi-Fi, then locate the wireless network you wish to forget and tap it. 

3. Tap "Forget This Network" at the top of the screen. 

How to forget network on iPhone

4. After the pop-up appears asking you to confirm your decision to forget the network, tap "Forget" again. This will remove the network's login info from your iPhone. 

It should be noted that should you wish to use that Wi-Fi network again, you will need to tap it in the Wi-Fi settings screen, then re-enter the network password. Your iPhone will then remember the network again and use it automatically whenever available.

 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best lightning cables you can buy for your iPhone

Join the conversation about this story »

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The best checked luggage you can buy

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  • Traveling doesn't have to be a hassle. Having a great suitcase can be the difference between an amazing trip and a bad one.
  • After much research and testing, we found that the Travelpro Maxlite 4 Expandable Rollaboard is the best piece of checked luggage you can buy for long trips.

I love almost everything about traveling — that includes hanging out in the airport. Yep, you read that correctly. Long lines, hectic check-ins, overstuffed airplanes — they don't really bother me because I'm usually giddy about getting away. But I do dislike packing.

Mostly that's because I can't decide what to bring. But sometimes it's because of my suitcase. I admit that I've been embarrassed once or twice at the baggage carousel by stepping up and pulling off that suitcase. I've also cursed out a suitcase several times — once when I was zig-zagging through crowds at Heathrow desperately trying to catch my flight home and one wheel snapped right off.

There are, of course, many other things that can go awry with your luggage. Sometimes the airline misplaces it, or the zipper breaks as you are headed out the door, or you arrive home to find that your carefully-wrapped souvenirs have been smashed to smithereens. And who among us hasn't, at some point, wondered if your non-locking suitcase was rifled through — did I leave that new scarf in the hotel room or did someone take it?

Buying the right piece of luggage can help eliminate, or at least lessen, the chance that you will encounter many of these problems. There are thousands of different brands and styles of luggage to choose from. No one suitcase is right for everybody. It depends on many factors including how frequently you travel, what you are packing, and your budget. 

We've done all the research to find the best pieces of checked luggage you can buy for long-haul trips where even the best carry-on bag just doesn't cut it.

Here are our picks for the best checked luggage you can buy:

Updated on 10/14/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated links, formatting, and prices. 

SEE ALSO: The best carry-on bags you can buy

The best luggage overall

The Travelpro Maxlite 4 Expandable Rollaboard 26-inch Luggage is lightweight, affordable, and the top choice for the airline pros.

Travelpro invented rolling luggage when founder and pilot Bob Plath got tired of carrying his bags through busy airports. The company has been well-known for innovation ever since. The Travelpro Maxlite 4 Expandable Rollaboard 26-inch Luggage may not be the snazziest piece of luggage on the baggage carousel, but this durable, easy-to-use polyester piece is lightweight at 5.6 pounds and very affordable compaerd to similar options.

The Maxlite 4 comes in black or blue, and if you buy the 29-inch option, you can also opt for purple (a smaller 22-inch version is available, too). The two high performance, ball-bearing in-line wheels, with protective crash guards last a long time and help you navigate many surfaces. The expandable handle has two stops: 38-inches and an extra-tall 42.5-inches, so you can roll it along at any height. Unzipping hidden compartments expands the storage space to suit your needs.

The Maxlite 4 has a limited lifetime warranty, so you should be covered if anything happens to your bag. User reviews on Amazon are mostly positive, with many verified purchasers touting the lightweight and simple, yet sturdy suitcase.

"This is a great suitcase," wrote one reviewer in May 2016. "I am pretty sure this suitcase is at least 5-7lbs lighter than our broken one and when traveling with two kids, those 5-7lbs can make a huge difference." Adds another consumer in March 2017: "What a great suitcase —travel pro quality for a low cost. I travel internationally at least 6 times per year. This suitcase stands up to the abuse, with excellent zippers, wheels, and hardware. Rolls real smoothly too!"

Around the web, professional reviewers, including those from Outdoor Gear Lab, Apartment Therapy, and Luggage on Tour give the Travelpro Maxlite 4 high marks.

Pros: Very affordable, lightweight, durable, easy to maneuver

Cons: No interior pockets, only one exterior pocket



The best hard case checked luggage

The Delsey Helium Aero 25-inch Luggage is an affordably-priced, hard-shell standout that's constructed with high-end materials.

The Delsey Helium Aero 25-inch Luggage is a highly rated suitcase, made by the respected French company Delsey. It is constructed out of 100 percent lightweight polycarbonate with a glossy finish. To be clear: most luggage in this price range is made of a flimsier ABS-polycarbonate blend.

Available in four colors, including black, brushed charcoal, emerald green, purple, and titanium; this luggage relies on four twin spinner wheels that roll in all directions and put no weight on your hands. The sturdy, ergonomic comfort grip handle is composed of industrial-grade aluminum and snaps up and down with the push of a button.

The simple interior has two basic compartments: one with straps to secure your clothes, and another with a mesh bag ideal for laundry. A zipper-based expansion system can provide an extra two inches of packing space. Finally, the three-dial combination lock, approved by the TSA, keeps your belongings safe.

Around the web, professional reviewers, including those from Wirecutter, Best Reviews, and Luggage On Tour recommend this durable piece as an exceptionally good buy.

Pros: Lightweight, durable, affordable, dent-resistant

Cons: Easily shows dirt/dust, hard-to-read numbers on the wheel locks



The best high-end luggage

The Briggs & Riley Baseline Large Expandable Spinner Luggage (28 inch) is well crafted, expands to suit your needs, and boasts a lifetime guarantee.

The Briggs & Riley Baseline Large Expandable Spinner Luggage is one of the best checked bags you can have with you on your many trips around the globe. The shell on this sturdy bag has a unique composition of 95 percent nylon, three percent aluminum, and two percent rubber. But it is the ballistic nylon that keeps it moisture and dirt-free.

Four durable double swivel wheels make it easy to navigate the bag anywhere, no matter how much you have packed into it, and you can pack a lot. The huge interior is perfect for long trips. The company's patented CX expansion-compression technology increases the space inside the luggage up to 26 percent by simply pulling on a lever. One push will compress the suitcase back down to its original size.

Briggs & Riley, a Long Island, New York-based company founded in 1993, is well-known for its "Simple as That" Lifetime Guarantee. Not only will the company repair your bag free of charge if it is ever broken or damaged, but it will do so even if the problem was caused by an airline. You don't have to show proof of purchase or even that you are the bag's original owner.

User reviews on Amazon are mostly positive with verified purchasers raving about the lifetime guarantee and the ease of use. "These spinner bags roll around so easily you'd think NASA made the wheels. It honestly saves a tremendous amount of physical stress on one's legs, back and arms compared to the older 2-wheel roller bags," wrote one reviewer in August 2016. 

Around the web professional reviewers, including those from Wirecutter and Outdoor Gear Lab, give the bag high marks. In fact, Wirecutter calls the Baseline Large Expandable Spinner, "The most satisfying packing experience money can buy."

Pros: Very sturdy, user-friendly and unique features, lifetime warranty

Cons: Expensive, heavy



The best duffel bag luggage

The Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 110L/34" is a sturdy, lightweight duffel on wheels with lots of storage to ensure that all your gear gets to your next adventure spot in great shape.

The Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 32 was our previous pick, but it's being phased out. Fortunately, we didn't have to look far for a replacement, since Eagle Creek has the 34-inch version of the Gear Warrior, which offers the same features but with a slightly larger capacity.

The Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 110L/34" is an oversized, wheeled duffel bag that uses high-strength, ripstop nylon material that is both water and abrasion resistant, as well as 1000D Cordura and 210D nylon for added robustness. It easily withstands rough weather and rough handling.

The treaded wheels mean you can roll the bag over any type of surface. Multiple handles give you plenty of options for carrying this lightweight bag, while lockable zippers make sure your gear stays safe. The telescoping handle is designed for strength and to resist wobbling. 

There are multiple compartments for packing, both inside and out. A tethered zip-away strap on the outside holds gear like helmets.

The Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 110L/34" is covered by Eagle Creek's legendary "No Matter What Warranty," which promises lifetime repair or replacement due to product failure, regardless of the cause.

Buyer reviews on Eagle Creek are overwhelmingly positive. Across the web, professional reviewers, including The Gear Institute, consider the check-in duffel bags in the Gear Warrior series some of the best on the market. In fact, The Gear Institute calls the Eagle Creek Gear Warrior "the best bag we tested," adding that "it excels in every way a roller bag should."

Another bag we considered is the TLS Mother Lode 29" Wheeled Duffel from eBags. Having tried other Mother Lode bags, we like the quality and the customer service eBags offers. The two-compartment design lets you sort your gear accordingly, and separate openings allow you to access only what you need. We also like the movable dividers for sorting clothes. The compression-molded bottom keeps the bag rugged, and it can stand upright on its own, but we ultimately stuck with the Eagle Creek for its more durable nylon construction that's weather-resistant. 

For a budget option, there's the 35-inch AmazonBasics Ripstop Wheeled Duffel from Amazon. We're impressed that it's made with sturdy 1680D ballistic nylon on the sides and bottom, but the top is less-durable polyester. We like the quality of AmazonBasics luggage in relation to the price, but we question the longevity and whether the products can stand up to wear and tear (a wheel easily came off on one of our bags during normal use). But if you are looking for something utilitarian and don't plan to put it through heavy-duty use, the duffel is worth considering (the guys at Gear Hungry named it one of its favorites). For something tougher, we still recommend the Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 110L/34".

Pros: Lightweight, highly durable, spacious, many packing features

Cons: Plastic buckles are somewhat flimsy



The best versatile checked bag

The Timbuk2 Quest Rolling Duffel can be a backpack, a rolling suitcase, or a duffel bag to suit your needs.

If you're the kind of traveler who looks for versatility in a checked bag, look no further than the Timbuk2 Quest Rolling Duffel. It looks like a normal roller bag at first glance, but with its many handles, you can carry it as a duffel bag or wear it as a backpack, too.

The bag's versatility is perfect for those moments when you have to carry your bag upstairs instead of wheeling it around or you feel like it's a pain to navigate through a crowded airport with it rolling along behind you.

Conversely, if the Quest starts getting too heavy to carry as a backpack or duffel, it's super easy to unzip the special pocket that hides the telescoping handle. At first, it may be a bit hard to get the handle to extend all the way. I had some trouble with it initially, but it loosened up after a while. The two wheels are great — they spin like rollerblade wheels and they won't break easily.

Since it has a duffel bag shape, the Quest is very spacious inside. You can fit enough clothes and gear for a long trip and still have space for an extra pair of shoes. The bag is very well made and the material on the outside is super strong. You won't rip this bag easily.

Timbuk2 also has a lifetime warranty on its products, so if something should go awry, you're covered. However, given how sturdy this bag is, I doubt it will.

Pros: Good size, versatile design, sturdy wheels, lots of compartments

Cons: Telescoping pole sticks sometimes



What to look for in a good piece of luggage

According to a recent study by Consumer Reports, most people think these two factors are, by far, the most important when buying a suitcase: wheel-ability and durability. With that in mind, here are some of the most important things to consider before purchasing a new piece of luggage:

  • Two wheels or four wheels? Many travelers assume that luggage with four wheels that can turn 360-degrees is clearly the best option. After all, you can push and pull your suitcase in virtually any direction. So, what's the downside? There are a few. First, the luggage can more easily roll away if you find yourself on even a minor incline. In addition, the wheels on four-wheelers are usually externally attached, meaning that they are more liable to break off than their two-wheel counterparts.
  • Hard or Soft? Hard luggage has many benefits. First, it clearly protects fragile items better. Hard luggage is also sturdier and more theft-proof because it can't easily rip or be slashed open with a knife or other tool. It's often rain-proof, too. ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) is the lightest and cheapest kind of plastic used for the outside of hard suitcases, while polycarbonate is a little more expensive, but much more durable. Aluminum is the most durable shell material, but it is also the heaviest. One downside of hard-shelled suitcases is the fact that they get scuffed up fairly quickly. They're also unforgiving if you need to squeeze them into a compartment on a plane (or store them in a small apartment, for that matter).
  • Materials and durability: If you want to opt for a soft-sided piece of luggage, there are still many materials to choose from. Polyester is the cheapest choice. Ballistic nylon is durable and easy to clean. Cordura nylon is both softer and lighter than ballistic nylon. It also takes dye better, so if you're looking for a brightly-colored bag this is the ideal choice. If durability is your main concern, make sure to check the denier rating which indicates the fiber thickness of the fabric. The higher the number, the thicker the fabric. Most experts suggest that you buy something in the 500-2,000 denier range for checked luggage that will be used fairly frequently. 
  • Weight and size: Weight is also a concern when buying a new suitcase. Not only are many travelers concerned about having to wheel a heavy suitcase around the airport, as well as city streets, but most domestic and international airlines have imposed a weight limit of 50 pounds for checked bags. 


Check out our other great travel gear buying guides

The best carry-on luggage you can buy

Sometimes you just don't want to check your luggage, so you need a reliable carry-on bag that you can bring onboard the plane. Of all the carry-on bags we've researched and tested, theBriggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright is the best with its sturdy wheels, smart compression technology, and lifetime warranty. Here are our top picks for the best carry-on luggage bags:


The best packing cubes you can buy

Packing cubes are a great solution for messy packers. Not only do they help you store your things in an orderly manner, but they also help you fit more things, which is always of interest. Most packing cubes are also made of durable materials meant to withstand wear and tear from rough travel and some even compress down to save space.

We've rounded up the top expert-approved packing cubes that will make your life so much easier on your next out of town journey. Here are the best packing cubes you can buy: 


The best travel backpacks you can buy

Backpacks are perfect for when you don't need a full suitcase, but you want more than a regular daypack or messenger bag. Based on our research and real-world testing, the best overall travel backpack is the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible. Here are our top picks:


The best travel pillow you can buy

Trying to fall asleep on a plane is incredibly difficult, but having the right travel pillow can help you get some shut-eye during your epic flight across oceans and continents. Here are our top picks for travel pillows:



How to remove the Apple ID from your iPhone in 2 different ways, to wipe your data and information from the device

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Using iPhone

Linking your Apple ID to your iPhone is vital to keeping you connected to all your favorite apps and data — including photos and documents, emails and text messages, and even your iTunes library. 

However, having all this information so readily available when you're upgrading your phone or selling it to someone else isn't particularly ideal. 

In this case, you'll want to wipe all of your data from your iPhone by removing the Apple ID from the device. 

Thankfully, doing so is quick and easy and can even be done remotely if you don't have your phone handy. Here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to remove the Apple ID from your iPhone via Settings

1. On your iPhone's home screen, tap the Settings app icon to open it. 

2. At the top of the screen, tap the tab with your name and the "Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store" header, then tap the "iTunes & App Store" banner.

3. Tap your Apple ID, then "View Apple ID," and enter your password if prompted. 

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4. Scroll down to the bottom and tap "Remove This Device" just under iTunes in the Cloud section. 

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5. A pop-up will take you to the external Apple ID website, where you should enter your username and password, then tap "Devices." 

6. Choose the device you wish to remove from your Apple ID and tap it, tapping "Remove" once more to confirm your choice. 

How to remove the Apple ID from your iPhone on the iCloud website 

1. Log into your iCloud account using your Apple ID and password. 

2. Under "Find My Phone," select "All Devices." 

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3. Find the iPhone you wish to remove from your Apple ID and and tap "Remove from Account" to confirm.

 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

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A real-estate billionaire who was the first in his family to attend college just pledged $100 million to fund scholarships for first-generation students at his alma mater, UVA

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David Walentas

  • Billionaire real-estate developer David Walentas just pledged to donate $100 million to his alma mater, the University of Virginia, to fund scholarships for first-generation students.
  • The gift will cover UVA's $44,724 tuition for 60 first-generation students from Rochester, New York; New York City; or the Commonwealth of Virginia beginning in 2022, the school said in a statement.
  • Walentas, who made a fortune developing real estate in Brooklyn, New York, has a net worth of $2.5 billion, according to Forbes estimates.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Real-estate billionaire David Walentas was the first in his family to earn a college degree. Now, he has pledged $100 million to fund the educations of first-generation students at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, the school announced in a press release on October 12.

"Thanks to a scholarship, I was the first in my family to attend college, and my time at UVA completely changed my life," Walentas said in a statement. "There are so many talented young people in this country – in places like New York City and Rochester, where I grew up — who can help make our society a better place if given the opportunity. I can't wait to see how these first-generation college students change the world."

High schools in Rochester, New York; New York City; and the Commonwealth of Virginia will be able to nominate students for the scholarships. In order to qualify to become a Walentas Scholar beginning in 2022, nominees must be the first in their families to go to college, the University said in a press release. Each year, 60 students will be awarded full scholarships that will cover the cost of college for each year they attend UVA. The estimated total cost of attendance for an out-of-state student was between $64,156 and $65,256 for the 2018-2019 school year, including $44,724 in tuition, according to UVA's website.

Read more: The billionaire who promised to pay off student loans for an entire graduating class just pledged to pay off their parents' educational loans, too

The new scholarship is one part of UVA's ongoing efforts to attract first-generation students, University President Jim Ryan said in a statement.

Representatives for Walentas and UVA did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the duration of the Walentas Scholars program.

Walentas, 81, attended the University of Virginia on an ROTC grant, according to Forbes. Walentas told Forbes' Carter Coudriet that he chose UVA from a list of 50 schools provided by the Armed Forces because he thought it would be easier to get into because it was near the end of the list. After graduating from UVA's Darden School of Business in 1964, Walentas founded real-estate developer Two Trees Management, which is credited for revitalizing the Brooklyn neighborhoods of DUMBO and Williamsburg beginning in the 1970s.

Billionaires around the world are helping college students pay their way through school

Walentas' donation follows a string of high-profile gifts aimed at subsidizing the cost of education around the world.

Private equity billionaire Robert F. Smith pledged to pay off the student loans of Morehouse College's graduating class in May. In September, he expanded the $34 million gift to cover any loans owed by the recent graduates' parents, too.

And in June, Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing pledged to spend $14.4 million each year for the next five years to pay for Shantou University's full tuition. Li Ka-Shing, often referred to as Superman, made his way up from an impoverished childhood in southern China to becoming the richest person in Hong Kong.

Education attracts more donations from the ultra-wealthy than any other cause, with 79.5% of billionaires making donations to education-focused organizations in 2018, according to research firm Wealth-X.

SEE ALSO: WeWork cofounder Rebekah Paltrow Neumann's in-house school is closing. Meet the former actress, who is former CEO Adam Neumann's 'strategic thought partner.'

DON'T MISS: A billionaire agreed to pay off my student loans in full. Here’s what it was like — and how I plan to pay it forward.

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

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How to leave a group text on iPhone

  • It's easy to leave a Family Sharing plan on your iPhone or iPad
  • Family Sharing is used to share calendars, photos, and even subscriptions across family members' devices — but you may want to leave the group, especially if you have to change countries.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Family Sharing is used to share apps via iCloud across family members' devices. 

It's easy to join a Family Sharing group— and just as easy to remove your account when it comes time to leave.

While this feature is helpful for sharing purchases and subscriptions (such as Apple Music), you may eventually want to leave or set up a new group. It's also necessary to leave a group if you are moving and need to change your device's country settings to match your new residence.

Before leaving, keep in mind that you will immediately lose access to everything shared by your family — including photos, calendars, and more. You can regain access to these shared apps by rejoining the group (if the Organizer adds you back).

The steps to leave Family Sharing are the same whether you access the Settings app on your iPhone or your iPad. If your Apple ID's payment information is linked to your group's shared purchases, you can also remove your account online.

Here's how to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

iPad (From $329 at Best Buy)

How to leave Family Sharing on an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Tap on your name at the top of the page.

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3. If you're using iOS 10.3 or later, you can then tap on Family Sharing. If you're using iOS 10.2 or earlier, tap iCloud, followed by Family. Either way will bring you to your Family Sharing details. This will list all of the current family members in the group, along with the Shared Features you have enabled.

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4. Tap your name.

5. Tap "Leave Family."

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6. You will be asked if you are sure you'd like to leave the group and are warned that you will immediately lose access to everything currently shared by family members. Tap "Leave Family" again to confirm.

How to leave Family Sharing on the Apple ID website

1. If your Apple ID is currently used for family group shared purchases, you can also manually remove your account online.

2. Visit appleid.apple.com.

3. Sign in with your Apple ID and password for the account you want to remove.

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4. You may be sent a verification code for security reasons. Enter this code if prompted.

5. Tap the "Family Sharing" tab to open your details.

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6. Tap "Remove Account," followed by "Remove" again. This will remove your Apple ID if it is used for shared purchases.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

SEE ALSO: The best iPads you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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