• If people can't hear you on your iPhone or Siri can't process your requests, one of your iPhone's microphones may be malfunctioning. 
• This can also cause issues for you if you try to play back recorded audio or change audio sources while on a call.
• Begin troubleshooting by determining which of your iPhone's three microphones isn't working.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Occasionally your iPhone's microphone malfunctions, making it tough or impossible for people to hear you during phone or FaceTime calls, or even when trying to use Siri. 

The first step to fixing the problem is identifying which of your iPhone's three microphones is defective. 

Then, you can take steps to troubleshoot.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

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

How to check if your iPhone's microphones are working

The iPhone has three microphones. On the screen side, the one at the top allows your to hear a caller, the one at the bottom allows the caller to hear you, and the one below the camera on the back of the iPhone is used for recording video. 

Before testing, check that none of the three microphones are covered or dirty, and make sure that your phone is not connected to a wired or wireless headset. 

• To test the microphone at the bottom of your phone, which is also the primary microphone, open Voice Memos and tap the record icon. Record yourself speaking into the microphone, and then play it back. If the microphone isn't working properly, you won't be able to hear your voice clearly.
• To test the microphone at the top of your phone, open the Camera app and record a selfie video. 
• To test the microphone on the back of the phone, record a video using the back camera. As with the voice memo, you should be able to hear your voice clearly when you play back both videos. 

How to troubleshoot your iPhone's microphones if they aren't working

Once you've identified which of the microphones isn't working, begin troubleshooting.

Make sure nothing is blocking the microphone

Ensure that the microphone isn't covered. Take any protective cases off of the phone. Make sure that your fingers don't block the microphone when you're on a call. Unplug accessories and disconnect any devices that are connected via Bluetooth, especially headsets.

Remove any debris from the microphone

Use a compressed air can to blow air carefully into the microphone. This will remove any small debris that may be blocking the sound.

Install the latest iOS software

Make sure that you have the latest version of iOS installed on your phone. If you're having trouble updating your phone to the latest iOS, you may have to follow a few other troubleshooting steps.

Reset your network settings and restart your phone

Lastly, try resetting your network settings. Note that by doing so, you're also resetting Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings, so you'll have to re-enter any previously stored Wi-Fi passwords. 

If this doesn't work you can try simply restarting your device. And if all else fails, contact Apple Support to figure out the problem.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to use WhatsApp on your iPhone to send private or group messages, make calls, and video chat internationally

• How to find out your iPhone's cellular carrier without a SIM card

• 'Why does my iPhone say invalid SIM?': 6 ways to troubleshoot your iPhone and SIM card if they aren't connecting

• 'Why won't my iPhone update to iOS 13?': How to troubleshoot iPhone updating issues in 4 ways

• 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. 

Read more: Check out all our holiday gift guides

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, Digital Insights Manager at Adobe. "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. 

For more information about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, check out our guides to Everything You Need to Know About Cyber Monday, Everything You Need To Know About Black Friday, and What to Buy on Black Friday.   

Join the conversation about this story »

• This beachfront Laguna Beach, California mansion last sold for $11.7 million and is now going up for auction with Concierge Auctions.
• It features luxurious amenities such as an 11-car garage and a 900-bottle wine room.
• The auction house called it a "collector's dream."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

An oceanfront mansion in Laguna Beach, California with an underground 11-car garage is going up for auction in November.

The house — named "Maison De Cap," or "Cape House" in French — sits on the Smithcliffs bluff in North Laguna Beach overlooking Emerald Beach.

The home previously sold for $11.7 million. It first went on the market at $10.7 million in June 2018 before the price was raised by an additional $1 million within the year, Mansion Global reported.

"The price increase was strategic to attract buyers looking at a wider price range," VP of client services at Concierge Auctions Katie McMains told Mansion Global.

Online and phone bidding opens on November 12 and ends November 15 in Hong Kong.

Keep scrolling to see the luxurious oceanfront mansion:

SEE ALSO: See inside one of the largest 'log homes' in the US: a $9.5 million mansion that comes with a temperature controlled 22-car garage

The house is huge with 7,212 square feet of living space.

There is a master suite and three bedrooms…

...as well as nine bathrooms, five full-baths and four half-baths.

The home has multiple fireplaces, high ceilings, glass doors, and tray ceilings. The walls of glass reveal views of Laguna Beach.

The kitchen has oak cabinets, a center island with counters, top-of-the-line appliances, butler’s pantry, six-burner stove, and a griddle, according to the auction house.

There is also 3,238 square feet of outdoor space.

This space includes a top-level deck with a wet bar, powder room…

...dining area, barbecue area, fireplace, and hot tub.

The master bathroom has a den and library with a wet bar, sitting room, stone spa bathroom, walk-in shower, soaking tub, and a private outdoor garden.

The dining room is equally spacious.

The main level sundeck has several private patios.

There’s also a glass-surrounded terrace that peers out into the Emerald Bay.

Other additional spaces includes a media room…

...900-bottle wine room…

...lower-level studio with a kitchenette and bathroom, and a game and recreation room.

There’s an interior elevator that accompanies the exterior stairs.

There’s also an 11-car garage fit for a car collector, according to the auction house.

"The home provides ample privacy without sacrificing ocean views," stated seller's representative Patrick Jordan of Patrick Stewart Properties.

The home sits around more than 20,000 acres of protected wilderness.

• You can turn off autocorrect on your iPad in just a few steps. 
• Autocorrect is often helpful when typing on an iPad, but you may want to turn it off, as it's known to make mistakes. 
• You'll find the autocorrect toggle in the Settings app, in the Keyboard section of General.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Autocorrect is one of those iOS features that's loved and hated in almost equal measure. 

Yes, it helps improve your typing, especially since entering text with an on-screen keyboard is not so natural and lacks tactile feedback. But at the same time, autocorrect makes often embarrassing or hilarious errors when trying to guess what you intended to write. 

And it's arguably more useful on the iPhone than on the iPad, where you might be using a real keyboard. If you want to turn autocorrect off entirely and type without a safety net, you can do that with just a few taps. 

Here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad (From $329.99 at Best Buy)

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to turn off autocorrect on your iPad

1. Start the Settings app.

2. In the pane on the left, tap "General."

3. Tap "Keyboard."

4. Turn off "Auto-Correction" by swiping the button to the left.

Though rarely as much of an annoyance as autocorrect, you can also turn off Auto-Capitalization by swiping that button to the left as well, if desired.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to fully silence your iPad in 2 different ways

• 'Why won't my iPad screen rotate?': How to turn off the Orientation Lock on an iPad or troubleshoot its screen

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

• How to change the AutoFill settings on your iPad to make filling out forms easier, or to keep your passwords secure

SEE ALSO: The best iPads you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Google reveal the new Nest Mini, which is an updated Home Mini

• A New York City penthouse that once belonged to actress Demi Moore has hit the market for $50 million, Katherine Clarke reported for The Wall Street Journal.
• Moore bought the home with her ex-husband, Bruce Willis, in 1990 from Robert Stigwood, a film producer and manager for the Bee Gees.
• The five-bedroom penthouse spans three floors in one of the twin towers of the iconic San Remo building, a 28-story luxury condominium on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The building was built in 1930.
• The penthouse in the other tower is occupied by U2 lead singer Bono.
• Moore's onetime condo comes with 1,500 square feet of wraparound terraces that overlook Central Park.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A New York City penthouse that once belonged to actress Demi Moore just hit the market for $50 million, Katherine Clarke reported for The Wall Street Journal.

Moore bought the condo with her ex-husband, Bruce Willis, in 1990 from Robert Stigwood, a film producer and manager for the Bee Gees.

The five-bedroom penthouse spans three floors in one of the twin towers of the iconic San Remo building, a 28-story luxury condominium on Manhattan's Upper West Side, which was built in 1930. The penthouse in the other tower is occupied by U2 lead singer Bono.

The listing agent is Roger Erickson of Douglas Elliman.

Take a look inside the triplex penthouse that comes with 1,500 square feet of wraparound terraces overlooking Central Park.

SEE ALSO: The Woolworth Building and its iconic green roof have been a defining part of the NYC skyline for 106 years. Take a look inside its most expensive listing, a $30 million condo.

DON'T MISS: The Beverly Hills estate that Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt spent 3 years renovating before their divorce just got a $4.5 million price cut. Here's a look inside the $44.5 million home.

A New York City penthouse that once belonged to actress Demi Moore has hit the market for $50 million.

It sits in the south tower of the iconic San Remo building, a 28-story luxury condominium on Manhattan's Upper West Side that was built in 1930.

The San Remo is a favorite celebrity building. In addition to Moore and Willis, Hollywood A-listers including Diane Keaton, Steven Spielberg, and Steve Martin have lived there, as well as Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

Current listings in the building range from a two-bedroom for $2.95 million to a three-bedroom on the 21st floor for $12.5 million.

Moore bought the home with her ex-husband, Bruce Willis in 1990 from Robert Stigwood, a film producer and manager for the Bee Gees.

She owned the home for 27 years before selling it to its current owner for $45 million in 2017, after originally listing it for $75 million.

The south tower penthouse spans 8,000 square feet of interior living space, Douglas Elliman told Business Insider.

Source: Douglas Elliman

Double-height ceilings and large windows make for a light-filled great room.

Source: Douglas Elliman

An office space is tucked away in a nook just off the great room.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The kitchen features wooden cabinetry and a large center island.

Source: Douglas Elliman

A curving staircase connects the three levels of the home.

Source: Douglas Elliman

Another living area comes with a tiled fireplace.

Source: Douglas Elliman

A formal dining room can fit at least 16 people.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The penthouse has five bedrooms.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The buyer of Moore's former penthouse will have some high-profile neighbors.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

The penthouse in the other tower is occupied by U2 lead singer Bono, who bought it from Steve Jobs.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

In addition to its lavish interior, the penthouse comes with almost 1,500 square feet of wraparound terraces that overlook Central Park.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The views of Manhattan include the slender, super-tall skyscrapers rising along Billionaires' Row on the southern edge of the park.

Source: Douglas Elliman

• The trench coat is a true classic fashion staple that looks good on everyone. It's the perfect coat for rainy or slightly chilly days.
• With the look of Burberry at an under-$200 price point, the London Fog Trench Coat is our top pick of 2019. This is the Holy Grail: a classic silhouette from a legacy brand, at an affordable cost.

Trench coats. They are as classic as vanilla ice cream and "The Catcher in the Rye." Just as you should always have those two things in your refrigerator and on your bookshelf, respectively, you should always have a trench hanging in your closet. Preferably of the khaki variety, because then it will go with every outfit, from evening dresses to work slacks.

You don't have to spend a fortune on a trench coat, either. Most of the picks in our guide run below $200 and look as good as the high-end versions. A beautiful trench can be an affordable luxury that makes you feel put together (and about 25% more British) when you slip it on.

This is the beauty of a great jacket: Even if you've got a sweatshirt and jeans on underneath, the right topper can elevate you to model-off-duty status. The trench coats featured here for your shopping pleasure are outfit-makers.

Here are the best trench coats you can buy:

• Best overall: London Fog Trench Coat 
• Best oversized: Everlane Drape Trench Coat
• Best for rain: The North Face City Breeze Raincoat
• Best plus-size: Eloquii Puff Sleeve Trench Coat
• Best fitted: M.M.LaFleur Osborn Trench

SEE ALSO: The best shorts for women

The best trench coat overall

London Fog's Trench Coat is just as iconic and effective as other more expensive styles from luxury brands, but it's much more affordable.

Fancy designer trench coats get all the buzz, but they aren't always better. Take the London Fog Trench Coat, for example. It's beautifully made and looks strikingly similar to some of the most popular Burberry trenches, but it only costs $198.

This is your typical belted, double-breasted silhouette with zero frills. It lacks any bells and whistles, besides the buckle details at the sleeves and the detachable hood that it comes with. A button-up storm flap at the bust allows for additional protection from the elements.

The Trench Coat is available in two classic colors, "Black" and "Stone." Nothing about this jacket screams "high fashion," but it's a great pick if you want a durable jacket that won't look dated by next season. And it works for a variety of weather conditions, thanks to its detachable lining.

Did I mention that this really looks like a Burberry jacket? The Mom Edit even did a detailed side-by-side comparison of a London Fog Trench alongside a Burberry coat and the results are striking. She called it "an almost exact replica" and noted that they even have similar features, like the removable lining and a water-resistant finish.

Shoppers have also noted the resemblance. "It seriously looks like a Burberry jacket but for wayyyyy cheaper," writes one Nordstrom shopper, "Excellent quality as well. Would love to get another color in the future."

Pros: Timeless design, water-resistant, removable lining and hood, looks designer, machine washable

Cons: Reviewers noted the fabric has a tendency to wrinkle

The best oversized trench coat

Leave it to Everlane to make a trench coat that feels fresh and modern — The Drape Trench is slouchier and more relaxed than most, giving it an updated feel.

Everlane is known for its array of perfectly executed basics, so of course the brand has an amazing trench coat. It's called The Drape Trench, and it's a great pick for anyone who wants a roomy fit.

If you find a lot of coats too fitted to layer to your liking, you'll be a fan of The Drape Trench's oversized fit. Don't let the 100% cotton twill fabric scare you off — This jacket is water-resistant and features a protective storm flap. The style boasts what Everlane describes as a "cooler" and "more relaxed fit" and is a bit longer than the London Fog version we mentioned above.

The Drape Trench comes in khaki, black, and navy. It's a hit with fashion experts — The Cut recommended it twice and Who What Wear devoted an entire article to showing readers how to style it. Everlane customers give it an overall 4.6 rating based on 420 reviews.

"This is an instant classic coat in my wardrobe," says one shopper. "Tremendously flattering, I get compliments on it when I wear it out. Very chic and durable, especially during heavy downpours."

Pros: Relaxed fit, longer length, water-resistant, under-$150

Cons: Brand recommends sizing down if you don't want it to be as oversized

The best trench coat for rain

The North Face City Breeze Raincoat gives you the look of a fabulous trench coat with the waterproofing of a rain jacket.

Trench coats are often considered raincoats by default. Not all of them are waterproof or water-resistant, but many styles are. Sometimes, you need more. That's where The North Face City Breeze Raincoat comes in.

Simply put, it's the cross-pollination of a trench coat and a rain jacket, built for the outdoorsy folks who don't want to sacrifice style. Details like waterproof DryVent fabric, a hood, and an interior "media pocket" make this an exceptional option for heavy downpours, while adjustable buckles allow you to tailor the fit to your body type.

The jacket has 4.4-stars at Nordstrom. Reviewers comment on things like the practical pockets, just-right fit, and waterproof shell. The coat looks sportier than most trench coats, though some colors, particularly the beige option, have a more classic trench look. 

Pros: Waterproof with additional features like a "media pocket" to keep electronics dry, lined, hood and adjustable buckles

Cons: Looks sportier than a traditional trench

The best plus-size trench coat

Eloquii's Puff Sleeve Trench Coat offers a classic trench silhouette with a fun twist.

The general point of trench coats is that they are classic and go with everything. For the most part, a trench coat produced 20 years ago is of the same breed as a trench coat designed today. But it's possible to add some fun details while still keeping the look timeless.

Take Eloquii's Puff Sleeve Trench, for example. It features the usual facets of a trench — neutral color (khaki), double-breasted neckline, belted waist. But it also has fun puffed sleeves that give the coat a modern, trendy edge. The sleeves aren't over the top big, but they make the coat feel unique.

The Puff Sleeve Trench comes in sizes 14-28. The lightweight fabric is great for layering over thick winter sweaters.

"The quality and fit of this product was great. I would highly recommend if you are in the market for a new lightweight jacket... this is the way to go," writes one 5-star reviewer. Another customer calls the jacket, "a keepsake that can be enjoyed for years to come".

Pros: Comes in sizes 14-28, classic trench with chic sleeves, versatile

Cons: A few reviewers said the jacket ran big

The best fitted trench coat

The M.M.LaFleur Osborn Trench is an elevated take on the classic shape, with thoughtful tailoring and a wide range of sizes.

M.M.La Fleur is a women's workwear brand that's taking the guesswork out of getting dressed for work. Its clothes are luxurious, comfortable, stylish, and designed thoughtfully with the daily needs of working women in mind. 

The Osborn Trench is a sleek version of a classic trench. The fit is tailored, but not tight. A belt lets you cinch the jacket around your waist if you'd like a more fitted look. The knee-length coat is pleated at the back, a stylish addition that adds volume to the look while keeping the overall silhouette close in. The storm flap on the back also adds to the shape but more importantly helps keep you dry. There's even a hook closure at the neck for when you need to cover up from the rain. 

Like the rest of M.M.La Fleur's pieces, this is a great coat for travel. It's easily packable and works for all sorts of occasions, regardless of the weather. The jacket isn't too heavy, but the Italian wool-blend fabric is naturally insulated to keep you warm. The water-resistant finish is great for rainy days.

The jacket comes in a wide range of sizes, from XS to 3XL. If you need tips on how to style the jacket, check out M.M.LaFleur's capsule wardrobes.

Pros: Stylish, wide range of sizes, good for travel

Cons: Dry-clean only, pricey

Check out our other women's style buying guides

The best tote bags you can buy

Finding a tote bag that is not only stylish but also big enough to carry all your belongings can be tough. Here are our top picks of the best totes for everything from work to weekend adventures.

The best ankle boots you can buy

Once you find the perfect trench, a good pair of ankle boots is next. Our guide includes leather, suede, heeled, and flat pairs.

The best women's sunglasses you can buy

Sunglasses are important for eye protection, sure, but they can also elevate any outfit. From trendy, oversized pairs to laid-back classics, we've got you covered on your search for the perfect pair.

The best jean jackets for women

Everyone needs a classic jean jacket. It's a year-round staple that can be layered with hoodies or worn over flowy dresses. 

The best travel clothes for women

You can travel in style and comfort with excellent travel clothes that look as great as they feel. We tested lots of travel-friendly clothes to find the best items for women to wear en route to vacation or a work trip.

• A long-sleeved, hooded rash guard is the best for most people because it offers the most protection and compresses to your body without trapping too much water and slowing you down.
• Our top pick is the Hurley Quick Dry rash guard because it's lightweight, looks decent, comes with UPF 50 sun protection, and dries quickly.

A little protection never hurt anyone, and if you're going swimming, surfing, or skin-diving in the sweet summer sun, it's worth giving yourself a buffer from its loving-but-merciless rays. And while a rash guard may not entirely prevent a jellyfish's wrath or a plague of sea lice, it will almost certainly diminish the intensity of their offensive.

Rash guards are essential for surfers, especially those with body hair. Wax and hair, as we all know, don't go too well together unless we're intentionally removing hair, and the case is no different with surf wax. Even if you don't have body hair, surf wax can really tear up your skin leaving you with something like a rug burn, or, uh, a rash. Don't get a rash. Wear a rash guard.

While a constrictive lycra top is probably optimal for performance's sake, that might not be your goal at all (it's hardly mine). Loose-fitting rash guards are more comfortable, and while they're also liable to welcome unwelcome critters into your torso region, they still keep the sun away. Likewise, if you're swimming in a pool, I couldn't think of a reason why you'd need a tight-fitting rash guard.

Rash guards also come in short- and long-sleeved designs, with and without hoods, pockets, and loops for more secure surf bathing. We've got an assortment of functional styles below, and while I don't like to recommend short-sleeve rash guards, all of our choices are available in that cut, too.

Here are the best rash guards you can buy:

• Best overall: Hurley Quick Dry
• Best for surfing: Patagonia RØ Hoody
• Best thermal: O'Neill Thermo-X
• Best hybrid: O'Neill 24/7 Hybrid Zippered Hoody
• Best for casual use: Land's End Swim Tee

Updated 10/30/2019 by Owen Burke: Our top pick, Patagonia's RØ Long-Sleeved Hoody, is no longer available, and Hurley's Quick Dry rash guard has taken its place for now. We'll be on the lookout for another loose-fitting hooded rash guard to recommend come springtime.

The best rash guard overall

Hurley's Quick Dry series is quick-drying, lightweight, comfortable in extreme heat, and unbelievably easy to pack for trips.

While Hurley's Quick Dry Icon Shirt maybe isn't the most stylish, its lightweight, airy feel makes it the most comfortable UPF shirt both in and out of the water.

Hurley doesn't offer the same Quick Dry model for women, and while this one is comparable, you'll have to put up with the large logo on the forearm of the sleeve. Instead, you might look into Patagonia Women's Micro Swell Rash Guard, which comes in more styled patterns and cuts.

I've spent a lot of time in Hurley's Quick Dry shirt and even though it isn't necessarily the best-made or most technical shirt on our list, it is probably the best for most people just looking to spend a day at the beach while keeping the sun at bay and staying cool. It's also the quickest drying shirt I've tested even when it's wet. That alone makes it my absolute favorite rash guard for surfing.

The most important note to make about this shirt may be that it's comfortable and lightweight enough to leave on after you've gotten out of the water. In contrast, heavier shirts can be a drag to wear wet and even leave you with a chill. This, my friends, is when you're most prone to make the dangerous, egregious mistake of removing your rash guard in order to sun-dry, only to realize hours later that you've forgotten to put it back on, and you're now beet-red.

There aren't a ton of reviews on the web, and none I'll link to, but I can say that Surf writer Chris Dixon and I fell in love with this shirt two years ago while testing for a surf guide at Wirecutter, and both of us still keep it in heavy rotation.

The only point I'll deduct is for staining — not that this shirt is built for fishing in the first place, but taking it out on the fishing boat was a mistake, albeit mine (especially since it was white).

My favorite rash guard of all time was the Hurley Dri Fit, and while you can still get it on Amazon, it appears that Hurley has discontinued it.

Pros: Ultra-lightweight, thin, packable, amazingly quick-drying, as the name suggests, odor-resistant

Cons: Stains easily (at least in white), stitching isn't excellent, but that's not to say it's unraveling on me after two years of heavy use around the world

The best rash guard for surfing

Patagonia's RØ Hoody is soft, lightweight, and comes with an all-plastic zipper that won't corrode, no matter how many times you take it swimming and forget to wash it afterward.

Patagonia's Men's Sun Shade Technical Hoody has been a personal favorite among the hooded rash guards for a while (the women's version is also very popular). I find them to be among the softest, best-fitting, best-styled of the UV shirts designed for outdoors enthusiasts. In a sea of abysmally large, flashy logos and prints, Patagonia stays true to tone, which earns points in my book.

For surfing, though, I've found no better hooded rash guard than Patagonia's RØ Hoody. It fits snuggly for optimal performance, and even in cracking, Fijian surf, the hood seemed to hold firmly. I use mine on especially long outings in the summer, and as much as possible when I'm in the tropics. The zippered pocket in the back is an excellent touch for keeping sunscreen, wax, or perhaps even a small pouch or flask (of water).

I've been fishing, surfing, and occasionally swimming in these shirts for years, and as a small disclaimer, I may be somewhat partial, but they're too comfortable and low-profile to ignore for this guide.

Patagonia's site has mostly positive reviews, but Patagonia's fans are generally a loyal legion whose reviews are probably best taken with a grain of salt. One reviewer did mention that the stitching on his shirt came apart right away, but I'm inclined to think that might stack up to an odd defect, because I can't say how many Patagonia rash guards and sun shirts I've owned, and through fishing, hiking, camping, and all the rest, I still haven't so much as loosened a stitch on any of them.

Backpacker magazine also had nothing but good things to say, and the same goes for the folks at Blister Gear Review. While we acknowledge that Patagonia tends to sit on its own high pedestal within the eco-conscious realm of the outdoors industry, the dependable quality of the company's clothes makes it pretty hard to come up with a reason why they shouldn't.

The only thing I'd recommend is that you not order it in black if you're in particularly warm water or weather, or especially prone to getting overheated. And, if you like a more relaxed fit, check out the Long-Sleeved Sun Hoody, which is a little more casual and a lot more comfortable out of the water, and the new Tropic Comfort II, which is a little bulkier, but more of a hybrid-style that's great for fishing and maybe a casual dinner out, too, depending on where you are.

Pros: Soft, comfortable, effective, and technical for anglers, button to cover face with hood, a handy and corrosion-free chest zipper

Cons: A little bulky, and not as cooling as Columbia's Solar Shade, no drawstring at bottom to keep shirt from riding up (but there is a loop to tie to the drawstring on your board shorts)

The best thermal rash guard

O'Neill Thermo-X is a versatile piece that many swimmers and warm-water surfers love, and cold-water surfers can use it to insulate wetsuits that are too thin or leaking.

There's a fine threshold between board-short weather and 2mm wetsuit weather, and for those of us who want to stay out of a wetsuit for as much of the year as possible, a thermal rash guard like O'Neill's Thermo-X for men and women is the best compromise. It's still thin, easy to pull on, and doesn't slow you down or restrict your movements the way a wetsuit can.

Apart from extending swimsuit season, what's also great is that, as satisfied Amazon reviewers note, O'Neill's Thermo-X is excellent for unheated swimming pools. Several buyers reported swimming in their chilly pools at night much more comfortably since picking one of these thermal rash guards up, and they really do make a difference.

For fall and year-round bathers and surfers who already have wetsuits, this shirt can both extend the temperature range and the life of your suit. That is to say, if your suit isn't quite thick enough, slide this puppy on first, and you've bought yourself a little more blubber.

Likewise, if you're wetsuit is in shambles (at least the upper reaches of it), a piece like this can shore up holes and slow leaks. All in all, it's a pretty good item to have if you're ever going to be around even moderately cool water, or swimming at night.

O'Neill's shirt is also fervently praised by Surfer Magazine's esteemed online forum for its many attributes.

Pros: Thin, but warm, very good at preventing sea lice infestations

Cons: Can get hot very easily in the sun, and you don't want to wear it out of water, so make sure to bring an extra rash guard or sun shirt along with you, or plenty of sunscreen, for your out-of-water activities

The best hybrid rash guard

The best casual rash guard for women

If you spend your summers outside, the stylish UPF 50 Women's Swim Tee Rashguard from Land's End will keep you safe from the sun.

While Lands' End has a huge offering of clothing with UPF 50, its swim and cover-up collection for women is the largest we've ever seen. The swim line includes one-pieces, bikinis, swim skirts, rashguards, and even dresskini styles.

We like the Swim Tee Rashguard because it's a simple, no-fuss rash guard that's comfortable for casual beach wear. It has UPF 50 protection, and it bears The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation. While our other picks are obviously best for surfing and other aquatic sports, this rash guard is ideal for casual beach use.

The Good Housekeeping Institute tested out the brand's Swim Tee Rashguard and found it "not only provides effective sun protection with a rating of UPF 50, but it also was impressively comfortable by being lightweight, smooth and stretchy."

Land's End also offers plenty of cover-ups with built-in sun protection, including dresses, tees, shorts, and skirts in a variety of colors, prints, and sizes. 

While most of the line is at a moderate price point, some of the pieces with technical features like tummy control and Slendertex fabric can be pricier. — Rebecca Carhart from our guide to stylish UPF clothing for women

Pros: High-quality swimwear and cover-ups with UPF 50, The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation, large variety of options

Cons: Pieces with technical functions can get expensive

Shop Lands' End UPF 50+ collection here

Check out our other sun protection buying guides

The best mineral sunscreens you can buy

Mineral sunscreens are highly effective, and far less toxic to small aquatic creatures that can metabolize chemical-based sunscreens, but they usually leave a streaky white mess. We'll never stop searching for the perfect solution, but Thinksport's SPF 50+ Sunscreen is the best trusty, eco-friendly, and almost-sheer option. For the face, Raw Elements' Tinted Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 is on the greasier side, but it blends in better than any others we've tried. Here are all of our picks:

• Best mineral sunscreen overall: Thinksport's SPF 50+ Sunscreen
• Best daily option: Goddess Garden Organics Everyday SPF 30
• Best spray-on sunscreen: Bare Republic Mineral Spray Vanilla-Coco SPF 50
• Best for the face: Raw Elements' Tinted Facial Moisturizer
• Best for the water: Manda's SPF 50 Organic Sun Paste with Thanaka

The best sun shirts you can buy

While sunscreen helps keep sunburn and cancerous skin cells from forming, the best prevention is to wear clothes. But even lightweight cotton and linen shirts still allow a good deal of the sun's harmful rays to pass through to your precious epidermis. Do yourself a favor and reach for sun protection clothing, even if you're already wearing sunscreen. Our favorite sun shirt is the Hurley Icon QuickDry Shirt because it's lightweight, protective, and fast to dry.

• Best sun shirt overall: Hurley QuickDry
• Best hooded sun shirt: Patagonia's Men's Sun Shade Technical Hoody
• Best cooling sun shirt: Columbia's Solar Shade UPF
• Best sun shirt for cooler weather: O'Neill 24/7 Hybrid UPF
• Best button-up sun shirt: Columbia's PFG long sleeve
• Best stylish sun protection clothing for women

The best stylish women's sun protection clothing with UPF

Let's face it: sometimes sunscreen isn't enough, especially since dangerous UV rays can penetrate your clothing. Instead of risking it, avoid future sun damage by wearing stylish garments with UPF 50 protection.

To help you find the most stylish sun-smart offerings on the market, we've rounded up five fashionable brands that sell clothing with a minimum of UPF 50.

Here are the best sun protection clothing brands:

• Best overall: L.L.Bean
• Best sporty brand: Athleta
• Best stylish brand: Lilly Pulitzer
• Best brand for swimsuits: Lands' End
• Best brand for accessories: Coolibar

The best board shorts you can buy

We've tested nearly a dozen board shorts, and researched many more. After wearing them both in and out of the water, Patagonia's Stretch Planing Board Shorts win our praise for being lightweight, unrestrictive yet sleek, affordable, and the quickest drying pair we tested.

• Best overall: Patagonia Stretch Planing Board Shorts
• Best for surfing: Patagonia's Stretch Wavefarer
• Best hybrid shorts: Patagonia's Stretch Wavefarer Walk Shorts
• Best short length board shorts: Birdwell's Beach Britches
• Best budget board shorts: Howler Brothers Buchannons

The best sunscreen you can buy

Daily use of a good sunscreen like the Coppertone Ultraguard SPF 70 or theGoddess Garden Organics' Everyday SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen will fend off sunburns today, and help prevent the skin damage that leads to aged, wrinkled, blotchy skin later on in life. Here are the Insider Picks:

• Best sunscreen overall: Coppertone Ultraguard SPF 70
• Best mineral-based sunscreen overall: Goddess Garden Organics Everyday SPF 30 Natural
• Best spray-on sunscreen: Bare Republic Mineral Spray Vanilla-Coco SPF 50
• Best facial sunscreen: Neutrogena Pure & Free Sunscreen SPF 50
• Best cheap facial sunscreen: Simple Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15
• Best sunscreen for kids: Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50

• Look no further than Amazon for all your gifting needs.
• Regardless of your budget, you can find a thoughtful and useful gift for the men in your life on Amazon. Many of the gifts are Prime-eligible so they'll arrive quickly. 
• Check out all of our gift guides.

There's no shame in buying all your gifts from Amazon. After all, it offers gift ideas in categories as diverse as home, kitchen, tech, clothing, grooming, and more. 

From cool new books to premium espresso machines, we've rounded up 65 gifts for the men in your life — all from Amazon. They cover a range of prices and brands, including newer startups you didn't even know you could find on Amazon. 

Shop the 65 best gifts for him at Amazon below. 

A camp mug he’ll carry with him everywhere

Gift the YETI Rambler 14 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug with Lid, $24.99

YETI's double-walled vacuum insulation keeps his cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot.

An addictively fun set of miniature magnets

Gift Speks Magnetic Balls, $27.95

Smooth and soft luxury sheets

Gift the Brooklinen Luxe 7-Piece Sheet Set, $243

It's no secret that we love Brooklinen sheets. Treat him to the luxury of silky and satin-like sateen sheets this holiday season.

The "Goldilocks" pillow he'll love sleeping on

Gift the Casper Pillow, $65

The support and fluffiness level of this pillow is just right for many sleepers. It owes this perfect balance to a two-layer construction and cotton percale weave casing. 

A deluxe hardcover version of a bestselling sci-fi novel

Gift "Dune: Deluxe Edition" by Frank Herbert, $29.99

"Dune" is a true epic. If he's already borrowed it from the library countless times, he'll love having a special-edition version to keep for himself.

A sleek pair of wireless headphones

Gift the SOUL Ultra Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, $69

The stylish, comfortable, and foldable headphones feature 40mm drivers that capture the satisfying sound of deep and low bass.

A classic French press

Gift the Bodum French Press Coffee and Tea Maker, $29.99

If he's partial to the French press way of making beverages, then get this sturdy and substantial press. 

A sampler of four gourmet coffees from Seattle

Gift the Bean Box Gourmet Coffee Sampler, $28

Visit Seattle and you have to grab a cup of coffee from one of the city's many small-batch roasters. The freshly roasted beans travel directly to him with this gift box, which also comes with tasting notes and brewing tips. 

Amazon's smart speaker

Gift the Amazon Echo (3rd Gen), $99.99

The newest Echo speaker in the Amazon device family boasts Dolby 360° audio, dynamic bass response, and adjustable equalizer settings. Beyond taking song requests, the Echo can tell him the weather and news of the day, help him turn on smart home devices, and more. 

A cool Monopoly board for Mario fans

Gift the Monopoly: Super Mario Bros Collector's Edition Board Game, $32

Pick a character (Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and more) and compete for the glory of placing a flagpole on each world. There are tons of Monopoly editions out there, but this one might be the most nostalgic for video game lovers.

A cult-favorite, acne-banishing solution

Gift the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, $17

Just dab a bit of this lotion on the blemish to dry it out and reduce its appearance overnight.

A high-tech electric toothbrush

Gift the Oral-B Pro 7500 Power Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush, $134.94

Oral-B is known for making some of the best electric toothbrushes you can buy. This particular model has a smart pressure sensor that lights up when he brushes too hard. It can also connect to an app to give him other feedback on his brushing habits.

A professional-quality teeth whitening kit

Gift the SmileDirectClub Bright On Teeth Whitening Kit, $79

He might look a little silly with this appliance in his mouth, but the ultimate result is a brighter, whiter smile. The portable, mess-free process involves a fast-absorbing, minty brightening formula and LED light. 

A stretchy, lightweight shirt

Mizzen + Main Henley Long Sleeve Shirt, $70

Basics are anything but when they're as comfortable as the shirts from Mizzen + Main. The henley is durable yet breathable so it'll keep up with his busy, active day.

Comfy joggers

Gift the Amazon Essentials Men's Standard Fleece Jogger Pant, $14.40

It's vacation every day in these relaxed lounge pants.

Fuzzy house slippers

Gift the Ugg Scuff Slipper, $79.95

Combine these furry slippers with loungers and a soft tee, and he has all the parts available for a cozy winter day in.  

A small and super effective soap bar

Gift The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar, $5.38

We swear by this fresh and non-toxic soap bar to take out all the stubborn stains on our clothing.

A tech-friendly backpack

Gift the Incase Icon Pack, $128.99

With separate compartments dedicated to his MacBook, iPad, and iPhone, this backpack is ready to keep him organized when he's on the go. It's also comfortable to wear and made from an ultra-durable nylon material.

A minimalist watch

Gift the MVMT Chrono Watch, $135

In addition to timeless automatic watches, MVMT makes minimalist chronograph watches that match seamlessly with his style. It's not made for intense outdoor use, but it is weather-proof up to 50 meters. 

A well-designed leather wallet

Gift the Bellroy Slim Sleeve, $79

We love Bellroy's thoughtful approach to wallet design, which is why the Slim Sleeve has remained our favorite men's wallet for years. It manages to fit up to 12 cards, with two quick-access slots for his most-used cards and a pull-out section for the rest, while remaining surprisingly compact. 

A suspension trainer kit

Gift the TRX PRO3 Suspension Trainer System, $199.95

The system includes everything he needs to train and challenge his body from the comfort of his home, including a free 30-day trial with the TRX app to discover smart and efficient workouts. 

A foam roller used by physical therapists and trainers

Gift the TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller, $34

Foam rolling can change the way his body reacts to workouts. It keeps his muscles loose and speeds up recovery times. 

A device that delivers deep muscle treatments

Gift the Theragun liv Percussive Massager Muscle Stimulator, $249

After a tough workout, he'll want to reach for this massage device that relieves tension and soreness and speeds up muscle repair. Compared to Theragun's other massagers, this one's lighter and quieter.

A soft, cloud-like comforter

Gift the Buffy Cloud Comforter (Full/Queen), $160

The fluffy comforter is covered by a soft, cooling eucalyptus fiber that always feels silky smooth against his skin. 

A caddy to keep his bedtime essentials close at hand

Gift the Kikkerland Bedside Caddy, $14.99

Whether he chooses to wind down at night with a book or TV show, this felt organizer can store those nighttime ritual accessories. 

A quiet robot vacuum cleaner

eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $239.99

Weekend chore days just got a lot easier thanks to eufy's popular robot vacuum cleaner. At less than three inches tall, it can squeeze into those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies to clean up dust and debris.

A smart bulb starter kit to add some ambiance to his space

Gift the Philips Hue Smart Bulb Starter Kit + Amazon Echo, $219.98

The Alexa-enabled lights feature 16 million color options, so he can set the mood for any occasion. They install just like a regular lightbulb, too.

His very own espresso machine

Gift the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, $599.95

Breville's machine is our top pick for the best espresso machine. It makes delicious espresso and bundles in important accessories so he doesn't need to spend additional money on his coffee habit. 

The multi-cooker everyone knows and loves

Gift the Instant Pot Duo60 6-Quart 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker, $79

The Instant Pot is efficient, versatile, and convenient, featuring seven different cooking functions that can help him make anything from a hearty stew to a sweet dessert.

A cookbook that gives him recipe inspiration

Gift The Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook: Easy Recipes for Fast & Healthy Meals, $7.79

The recipes are specifically designed for use with the Instant Pot, which means he can avoid any guesswork and uncertainty.

A slim yet durable phone case

Gift the Speck Presidio Grip iPhone 11 Case, $39.95

The cushioned phone case is also scratch-resistant, while the ridge design provides a no-slip grip. Visit Speck's store page to find cases for other phone models. 

A kit to clean his dirty phone and glasses screens

Gift the WHOOSH! Screen Cleaner Kit, $9.99

The kit isn't the most brag-worthy gift in the list, but it might be the most practical. The alcohol- and ammonia-free formula cleans and polishes his screens with startling effectiveness. 

Apple AirPods

Gift the Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, $169

The divisive earbuds are admittedly useful for iPhone users because they connect automatically to his phone and he can say Siri commands. The latest model charges wirelessly or with a lightning cable. 

A compact battery pack

Gift the Anker PowerCore 10000 Battery Pack, $27.99

Don't let him leave the house without a portable charger like this 10,000 mAH pack. It's especially useful for traveling, giving him the peace of mind that he won't lose his phone capabilities when he needs them most. 

A long and durable charging cable

Gift the Anker Powerline+ II Lightning Cable (6ft), $18.99

Anker says this cable lasts more than 30 times longer than other cables. And since it's extra-long, he can charge his device far away from the outlet. 

A gift card to use at your next movie night together

Gift the Fandango Gift Card, $25-$50

Despite the prevalence of streaming services, seeing a movie in theaters is still an unbeatable experience.

A memoir from the bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Gift "Acid for the Children: A Memoir" by Flea, $21

In this brand-new book, Flea recounts the tumultuous, hilarious, and inspiring experiences that ultimately brought him to start the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

A personal water filter

Gift the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, $17.47

No outdoors trip or travel adventure should take place without a LifeStraw on hand. The light and compact device removes more than 99.9% of waterborne bacteria and parasites.

A soft flannel

Gift the Columbia Boulder Ridge Flannel, $45.59

You can't go wrong with a classic cotton flannel in the winter. Columbia's Boulder Ridge style comes in 20 attractive colors.

A snug beanie

Gift the Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat, $14.99

Gift the attention-grabbing neon-green beanie, or take the more subtle route with a neutral navy or white style. 

A pack of comfortable boxer briefs

Gift the Tommy John Second Skin Trunks (3 Pack), $96

Though they don't come cheap, Tommy John's underwear consistently ranks among the best we've ever tried. The Second Skin fabric in particular — a blend of smooth micro modal and spandex — is a standout that's always breathable and never pills. 

A pair of stylish boots

Gift the Thursday Boot Company Captain Lace-up Boot, $199

It's boot season and this handsome leather boot will be the star of his shoe lineup. The cork footbed and EVA comfort strip offer unparalleled, all-day comfort. 

A versatile game console

Gift the Nintendo Switch, $299

The Nintendo Switch is very versatile — he can play alone or with friends, at home or on the go. There are now plenty of Switch game options to choose from and start playing. 

A 12-month membership to Nintendo Switch Online

Gift the Nintendo Switch Online 12-Month Individual Membership, $19.99

The affordable membership works with compatible games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to let him compete against his friends, share his screen, or pass on a virtual controller. 

Pink and green Joy-Con controllers

Gift the Nintendo Joy-Con (L/R) Neon Controllers, $69

Maybe he already has a Switch. In that case, let him switch up his style with a set of cool neon Joy-Cons. 

An everyday water bottle to carry any beverage

Gift the Hydro Flask 20 oz. Wide Mouth Coffee Flask, $27.95

He'll always stay hydrated with a Hydro Flask in his bag. There are a variety of bright colors to choose from, as well as smaller sizes if you know he doesn't like carrying heavy bottles. 

A SodaStream for seltzer on demand

Gift the SodaStream Fizzi Sparkling Water Maker Bundle, $149.95

If he drinks seltzer regularly, it might be more cost-efficient and less wasteful to get a gadget that lets him make it himself at home. The kit includes "Fruit Drops" in lime and orange flavors. 

A heavy-duty skillet

Gift the Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet, $99.95

The workhorse of the kitchen is the humble cast iron skillet, which lends its strong heat retention to baking, searing, stir-frying, and other cooking tasks.

A mouth-watering hot sauce

Gift the Fat Cat Surprisingly Mild Guajillo Ghost Hot Sauce, $7.89

The savory hot sauce is the recipient of multiple awards. While created from one of the world's hottest peppers, the mild sauce is more smoky than spicy.  

Fancy, infused salts

Gift the Jacobsen Salt Co. 6 Vial Infused Salt Set, $32.94

Easily elevate his meals with flavor-infused salts such as Black Pepper salt, Pinot Noir salt, and Habanero salt. 

A cream that gives him a comfortable shave

Gift The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Cream, $25

He can lather up with a rich and foamy cream that won't irritate his skin or give him razor burn. For a fun seasonally appropriate option, gift him the peppermint-scented version.

A shaving set that takes care of his beard

Gift the Jack Black Shave Essentials Set, $25

Cleanse, protect, moisturize, protect, and repeat with this three-piece set. The products contain natural, effective ingredients such as kaolin clay, macadamia nut oil, and blue algae extract. 

A wireless charging pad

Gift the Belkin Wireless Charger, $39.99

It's made for any Qi-enabled device (including AirPods!) and delivers speedy wireless charging speeds. It also looks more composed and stylish than a regular charger. 

A waterproof ebook reader

Gift the Kindle Paperwhite, $129.99

The thin and light Kindle Paperwhite ebook reader has a crisp and glare-free display, and it's now waterproof so he can read by the beach or in the tub worry-free. While he can buy ebooks, there are also a few ways to expand his reading collection for free. 

A travel pillow with a unique design

Gift the Trtl Pillow, $29.99

Once he's gotten used to the curious stares from his fellow passengers, he can settle into a long and restful nap. The soft and cushioned Trtl Pillow keeps his neck propped up and supported through the flight. 

Compression socks that don't look like compression socks

Gift the Comrad Compression Socks, $29.95

The socks look like ordinary socks, but they actually contain medical-grade compression technology to keep his legs comfortable on flights and after workouts. 

A small and portable cocktail making kit

Gift the W&P Carry-On Cocktail Kit, $15.60

Alcohol's not included, but everything else is: recipe card, spoon/muddler, jigger, syrup, and coasters. Even if he's squished into Basic Economy, he'll feel like he's flying Business Class. 

A seat cushion made by a mattress startup

Gift the Purple Royal Seat Cushion, $79

He'll want to bring this seat cushion to work, his car, and sports events. It features a gel grid design that soothes pressure points and adapts to the way his body moves. 

A Lego Y-Wing Starfighter kit

Gift the Lego Y-Wing Starfighter, $55.99

A Star Wars gift he'll spend an afternoon playing around with is this newly updated Lego collectible. The details, like the opening cockpit and the accurate mini figures, are what really stand out. 

An authentic console that brings the arcade to his home

Gift the Arcade1Up Galaga Classic 2-in-1 Game Home Arcade, $299

Delight in the authentic sounds, controls, and look of a classic arcade game. Just make sure his room or home has enough space to fit this hefty 46-inch console. 

A miniature version of an arcade game

Gift the Arcade Classics Pac-Man Retro Mini Arcade Game, $15.54

Can't fit an entire arcade console in his space? You can still get this adorable mini game with all the graphics and music to take him back to the '80s. 

A fun word game

Gift Codenames, $9.99

Rather than playing the same old games during game night, bring out Codenames, a challenge to figure out the secret identities of 25 agents. 

A box of luxury Belgian chocolates

Gift the Neuhaus Chocolate Dark Gift Box (25 pieces), $53

One of the best chocolates you can gift is Neuhaus, which has been making chocolates in Belgium since 1857. Ingredient snobs will be impressed — the dark chocolates contain only all-natural ingredients, including sustainable cocoa.

A streaming stick that gives him access to more than 500,000 movies and TV episodes

Gift the Roku Streaming Stick+, $49

Roku's Streaming Stick+ is exceptional for its 4K, HDR, and HD streaming, and long-range wireless receiver. Installing it is an easy process and starts by plugging the stick into his TV. 

A back and shoulder massager he can bring anywhere

Gift the InvoSpa Shiatsu Back, Neck, and Shoulder Massager with Heat, $49.97

Here's the massager by the numbers: eight roller balls, three speed and strength levels, and two massage directions. There's also a soothing infrared heat function he should take advantage of. It comes with a car charger and a portable carry bag. 

• On his path to financial freedom, Jeff Neal tried out multiple side businesses until he found the sweet spot of high demand, low competition, and just enough intrigue to keep him hooked.
• His simple dropshipping site model means he has the benefit of low time investment and the possibility of high sales volume — if he can spread the word and boost his SEO ranking.
• Now that it's up and running, Neal estimates he only spends one to two hours every evening working on The Critter Depot, which sells crickets, roaches, and superworms to reptile pet owners.
• In 2019, The Critter Depot is on track to earn an estimated $270,000. With a profit margin of about 13%, he'll earn an extra $35,000 in income this year on top of his full-time job.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories

The Critter Depot founder Jeff Neal started selling crickets, roaches, and superworms with the same financial goal as Stephanie Meyer when she sold her first "Twilight" book: to earn enough to pay off a minivan.

When the Pennsylvania entrepreneur and father of two dreamed up his small business, he owed $8,000 on a personal loan taken out to purchase a vehicle from Craigslist — with a whopping 27% interest rate. 

"I knew I had to pay it off fast," said Neal, who had tried out other business ideas over the years. With the revenue from The Critter Depot, a website that sells crickets, roaches, superworms, and black soldier fly larvae to reptile pet owners, he managed to pay off the loan in five months.

Why creepy crawly critters, you ask? Read on to learn about Neal's brilliantly simple business model that brings in $270,000 in annual revenue from about 20 hours per week of work. 

The big idea (and all the small ones that came before)

All of Neal's business ideas hatched from his expertise in ecommerce marketing, his day job for the past 10 years. His approach was to do some Google keyword research to see what people searched for online. His first attempt came from a search for "women's shoes." It had high volume, meaning the demand was promising. 

For a year and a half, Neal teamed up with his wife on a site they dubbed Cheerful Feet before realizing the major flaws in this idea: competitors such as Macy's, Amazon, Shoe Dazzle, Zappos, DSW, Nordstrom, and then some.

Cheerful Feet taught Neal a valuable lesson. Yes, he wanted a business with high search volume, but he also had to look for low competition. Over the next four years, he tried out a multitude of other ideas, including binoculars, thermal imaging scopes for hunters, and thermometers. He launched a Mud Run series when events like Tough Mudder and Spartan Race were all the rage, but after 1,500 hours of work and three events, he hadn't earned a penny in profit. A couponing site performed the best, but he got bored with the idea and posted it on Empire Flippers, a site for buying and selling online businesses. 

"I think it's important to become an expert in whatever you're trying to do," said Neal. "I was never going to become an expert in women's shoes or couponing, so I was going to be a horrible salesperson."

But his persistence eventually paid off: In 2016, he struck gold with the keyword "crickets" — as in, food for pet reptiles. Neal found that despite the high search volume, the space had few competitors. He found a similar situation for "composting worms," and the two seemed like a logical combination.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, between 1.5 and 2.5 million households in the US owned at least one reptile in 1996, the last time this data was collected. At that time, reptile owners spent on average $67 to $451 per year on food for their pets. 

"I'm not passionate about roaches and crickets," said Neal, but he knew the business had legs. 

Finding a supplier

Neal had no intention of turning his family's home into a breeding facility. He'd create what's called a dropshipping website, basically, a portal where customers could place orders that would be fulfilled by breeders of crickets, roaches, superworms, and black soldier fly larvae. 

So the first step was to find a supplier — that was a mistake he'd made with his binocular business. After spending five months designing a logo and website to list the products, he searched in vain for a good supplier. Finding his first cricket, roaches, and superworms supplier was a snap (thanks, Google). The breeder already had similar clients, so the business relationship took off in no time. 

But it turns out the easiest option isn't always the best. Over the next year, Neal realized he could be getting a better deal elsewhere, and his supplier's customer service wasn't up to his standards. To find an alternative, he dug around on forums and Facebook groups. The breeder he eventually chose provided better service and more competitive prices, but they were also a smaller outfit. After a year, the growth of The Critter Depot overwhelmed their capacity, and they asked Neal to send them fewer orders. 

The third time was a charm — his current breeder offers even better prices due to his volume of sales, and provides an order tracking system which improves customer service. 

Connecting with customers

Next up: the sell. Neal started off targeting forums like Fauna Classifieds and The Bearded Dragon Forum where he marketed his service and chatted with reptile pet owners under the screen name CheapFeederCrickets. He learned the biggest pain point for his customers was price. The local pet stores were selling 50 to 100 crickets for the same price that he, as a small operation, could sell a thousand. 

"One of my advantages is that I don't need this," said Neal. "I have my full-time job to pay for my day-to-day living expenses. So I don't have to pull a salary from this website, whereas my competitors have to pull probably multiple salaries from the markup on their crickets." 

As long as he provided great customer service, Neal knew he'd have guaranteed repeat customers. After all, a bearded dragon, the most voracious pet reptile, eats about a 1,000 half-inch crickets, or 500 roaches, per month as a juvenile. Fully grown, they consume 500 adult-size crickets or 200 roaches.

Neal's plan was to undercut the competition on price and scoop up market share. "I mean, it's what Jeff Bezos and Sam Walton did," he explained.

Staking out a top spot on Google

Another advantage of a business idea with high search volume and low competition is the opportunity to earn  a top Google search result. Even still, doing so requires a multi-pronged approach, including links to The Critter Depot from other reputable sites and a library of relevant content to keep visitors on the site longer.

For the first, Neal regularly browses Help a Reporter Out, a website journalists use to find sources for stories (and how he made the connection for this one). He looks for any story for which he can serve as a source. Even if the story isn't directly related to his business, the link to his website is helpful. He's earned links from sites like Reader's Digest, Forbes, MarketWatch, and American Express. These are valuable sites because they are thought to have higher domain authority in the mysterious Google algorithm. 

The second half of Neal's Google search strategy involves content. He researches and writes articles for an extensive database on how to care for 21 different species of frogs, snakes, lizards, and more. He includes scientific facts, history, and tips for feeding and setting up habitats. For example, ball pythons are "notorious escape artists" and can live up to 40 years, and the unfriendly pixie frog requires daily cage cleaning to avoid excrement build up.

He also creates videos, which help hold visitors' attention. The most-watched video is "How To Breed Crickets" — 17 minutes of detail on the necessary supplies and layout as well as an unboxing of 1,000 young crickets in their new habitat where they're treated to a meal of mandarin orange slices. 

In another video, Neal demonstrates how to compost using black soldier larvae, which consume all kinds of decaying material, including meat and citrus, to the tune of double their body weight in one day. Shot from above a bowl of what looks like small maggots, Neal's hand reaches in and pulls out a handful for an up-close glamour shot. He then places an entire Chick-fil-A sandwich on the wriggling mass and proceeds to show a three-minute time-lapse of 24 hours of consumption. It's an insect mukbang complete with a rock music soundtrack.

The choices to feature the keywords "black soldier fly larva" and "Chick-fil-A sandwich" were driven by Neal's goal to improve his search results. "Chick-fil-A is pretty popular, so I just thought combining the two would make it really interesting for people and help with certain terms on YouTube," he said. 

The path to financial freedom

So what's the real motivation behind this business, now that Neal has paid off his minivan?

"I want to retire as soon as possible," Neal said. He quickly adds that he suspects people misinterpret his goal. "They think I just want to sit around on the couch all day, but that's not it at all. The goal is accruing more income so I can have the financial independence to pursue other projects."

And it seems to be working pretty well. Neal still works between 40 and 50 hours per week at his day job. The Critter Depot, by contrast, only takes between 10 and 20 hours of his week. In 2018, the business pulled in $180,000 in revenue. In 2019, he's seen a 50% monthly increase, bringing the annual estimate to $270,000. 

Some of this revenue goes back to his suppliers and to pay freelance technical writers and email marketers as well as a site hosting fee. All told, his profit margin is about 13%, which means he'll earn an extra $35,000 in income this year. Not bad for a side hustle. 

So what's Neal's advice for other upstarts looking for financial independence through a side project? 

"Number one, bootstrap everything," he said. The Critter Depot website is pretty bare bones because Neal believes his business is not dependent on an expensive website. He also doesn't buy Facebook ads, and he didn't choose a business that required shipping products overseas. He doesn't have a separate office, or really any expenses he doesn't absolutely need. 

"Keeping your expenses low forces you to think creatively, and find more efficient ways of operating," he said. "And those new creative discoveries will give you an edge over the competition." 

Advice number two: Always be learning. Neal uses skills like graphic design, programming, Google Suite, and sales that require him to invest his time, but not his money, in the business. 

After all, side hustle king and Nike founder Phil Knight is his entrepreneurship icon. 

"Knight was working a full-time job as an accountant while being married with a young child, and grinding away after-hours to make Nike one of the most iconic brands in the world," he said.

The Critter Depot may not be the next Nike, but Neal estimates he'll pay off his home mortgage within three years, and hopes to reach financial freedom in six years, by the time he's 40. 

"But if I do it by 50," Neal said. "I'll count that as a win."

SEE ALSO: A 32-year-old small business owner who works full time and manages her company by night explains how to run a company while working a 9-to-5 job

READ MORE: A small business owner and therapist paid off $87,000 in debt in 2 years and quintupled her revenue in 8 months. She explains how she learned to 'date her money' to save better and spend smarter.

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• The value of a dollar changes from year to year as markets and economies fluctuate.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks inflation, calculating how much the American dollar was valued in any given year and month.
• Business Insider looked at the value of $10 between the years 1965 and 2010 to find out what it could buy in 2019.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The rate of inflation fluctuates year to year, month to month, as markets and economies change. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics can calculate how much the American dollar was valued in any given year and month. Business Insider used the CPI inflation calculator to find the value of a $10 bill every year in January, from 1965 to 2010, in 2019 dollars.

We then figured out how much different products — from Sharpies to New Balance shoes — cost in 2019 to put into perspective the buying power of $10 in past years.

Below, find out what the value of a $10 bill the year you were born could buy you in 2019.

SEE ALSO: The richest person at every age

DON'T MISS: What $100 was worth in the decade you were born

1965

Value of a $10 bill in 1965: $82.29

What you can buy in 2019: A pair of New Balance shoes

A pair of 574 New Balance women's shoes retail for $79.99. In 1965 dollars, $10 could afford you one fresh pair of New Balances.

1966

Value of a $10 bill in 1966: $80.74

What you can buy in 2019: A Rihanna Fenty makeup palette

Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty in 2017. A bundled mattifying complexion essentials kit — including "mattifying" primer, longwear foundation, and a brush — goes for $79. In 1966 dollars, $10 would buy a Fenty fan one mattifying kit.

1967

Value of a $10 bill in 1967: $78.04

What you can buy in 2019: A leather-bound copy of The Bible

The Holy Bible is the most stolen book worldwide, according to CNN. In 2019, a copy of the Bible with a full grain cowhide leather binding costs about $78 on Etsy. In 1967 dollars, $10 would have covered a new, leather-bound Holy Bible.

1968

Value of a $10 bill in 1968: $75.30

What you can buy in 2019: A one-way train ticket

Planning at least two weeks in advance, a train ticket from New York City to Boston could cost as little as $68 via Wanderu. In 1968 dollars, $10 would afford a one-way train ticket between the two cities.

1969

Value of a $10 bill in 1969: $72.12

What you can buy in 2019: Printer ink

$10 in 1969 dollars would afford you a high yield variety pack of printing ink for $68.99 at Staples. 

1970

Value of a $10 bill in 1970: $67.93

What you can buy in 2019: A Kylie Cosmetics palette

For $65, you can get Kylie Jenner's 2018 Birthday Palette with 21 pressed powders at Kylie Cosmetics. In 1970 dollars, $10 would cover it.

1971

Value of a $10 bill in 1971: $64.51

What you can buy in 2019: A one-way plane ticket

A plane ticket from New York City to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, three months in advance costs $56 on Spirit airlines, not including the added fees. In 1971 dollars, a passenger could more than afford a one-way seat to Fort Lauderdale for $10.

1972

Value of a $10 bill in 1972: $62.47

What you can buy in 2019: One Xbox game

Gaming is a large industry with Call of Duty among the leaders in the pack. Call of Duty: WWII on Xbox One retails for $49.99 at Target. In 1972 dollars, $10 would more than cover the game.

1973

Value of a $10 bill in 1973: $60.27

What you can buy in 2019: A pistol

In 2019, the Second Amendment is striking national controversy, yet megastores like Walmart sells a Daisy Powerline 5501 CO2 Blowback Air Pistol for $58.84. In 1973 dollars, a person could have their own air pistol for $10.

1974

Value of a $10 bill in 1974: $55.10

What you can buy in 2019: An Amazon Echo

Consumer: Alexa, what can I buy today that cost $10 in 1974?

Alexa: Me, on Amazon. 

A third generation Amazon Echo Dot with smart speaker Alexa retails for $49.99. A customer could afford an Echo Dot for $10 in 1974 dollars.

1975

Value of a $10 bill in 1975: $49.28

What you can buy in 2019: 204 diapers

Baby care in the United States is costly. A pack of 204 Pampers baby-dry diapers retails for $39.94 at Walmart. In 1975 dollars, $10 would cover a pack of diapers today and allow for some pocket change to go back and grab another smaller package on top of that.

1976

Value of a $10 bill in 1976: $46.18

What you can buy in 2019: A skateboard deck

Skateboards have been around since the early 1940s but gained popularity in the 1970s. The Remillard Lit AF skateboard deck from Santa Cruz costs $41.95. In 1976 dollars, $10 would buy this matte-finish deck.

1977

Value of a $10 bill in 1977: $43.89

What you can buy in 2019: A children's Yankees jersey

The official online shop for the MLB sells a grey baseball button-up jersey for toddlers for $39.99. In 1977 dollars, $10 would buy one grey jersey.

1978

Value of a $10 bill in 1978: $41.08

What you can buy in 2019: A 40-pound bag of dog food

A 40 pound bag of Rachel Ray Nutrish dog food retails for $38.78 at Walmart in 2019. In 1978 dollars, $10 affords a pet parent a bag of dog food and some change for a treat. 

1979

Value of a $10 bill in 1979: $37.59

What you can buy in 2019: 8 shaving razor blade refills

Razors don't come cheap. A pack of eight refill Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power razor blades cost $33.99 at Walgreens. In 1979 dollars, $10 would cover the cost of a refill pack with some change left over. 

1980

Value of a $10 bill in 1980: $33.00

What you can buy in 2019: Apple headphones

Tech giant Apple was in its infancy by 1980. Today, a pair of Apple earphones retails for $29 on Apple. In 1980 dollars, $10 would buy a pair of Apple headphones with some change left over. 

1981

Value of a $10 bill in 1981: $29.51

What you can buy in 2019: 36 batteries

Today, a pack of 36 AA batteries cost $26.99 at Staples. In 1981 dollars, $10 would cover one pack and you'd have some pocket change left over. 

1982

Value of a $10 bill in 1982: $27.23

What you can buy in 2019: 8 toothbrushes

A pack of Oral-B ProAdvantage adult toothbrushes cost $23.70 at Walmart. In 1982 dollars, $10 more than covers the cost of a single pack of toothbrushes after inflation. 

1983

Value of a $10 bill in 1983: $26.25

What you can buy in 2019: A "Make America Great Again" hat

If you want a Donald Trump "Make America Great Again" hat that was made in America, you're going to pay more than from Chinese manufacturers. An American made hat goes for $25.00 on the official Trump campaign merchandise website. In 1983 dollars, $10 would buy you the red hat with some change left over. 

1984

Value of a $10 bill in 1984: $25.20

What you can buy in 2019: 2 bottles of wine

A bottle of Kendall Jackson Reserve Chardonnay runs $11.99 on Wine.com. In 1984 dollars, $10 would buy you two bottles of "America's #1 selling Chardonnay."

1985

Value of a $10 bill in 1985: $24.34

What you can buy in 2019: 60 cans of Coke

Coca-Cola was around for nearly 100 years in 1985. In 2019, five 12-packs of Coke currently retail for $21.40 on Amazon. In 1985 dollars, you could have a Coke everyday for two months for $10.

1986

Value of a $10 bill in 1986: $23.43

What you can buy in 2019: 6 Hershey bars

If you've got a hankering for chocolate, $10 dollars in 1986 would get you the equivalent of six, 7-ounce Hershey bars, sold for $20.70 on Jet.com.

1987

Value of a $10 bill in 1987: $23.09

What you can buy in 2019: A projection alarm clock

Most people require some sort of alarm to wake up in the morning. A projection alarm clock retails for $21.99 on Amazon. In 1987 dollars, you could be woken up with a projection for $10, with some pocket change left over. 

1988

Value of a $10 bill in 1988: $22.19

What you can buy in 2019: Two movie tickets

The average cost of one movie ticket in the US is $8.93, according to Deadline. In 1988 dollars, $10 would cover the cost of two tickets.

1989

Value of a $10 bill in 1989: $21.20

What you can buy in 2019: 36 rolls of toilet paper

The cost of 36 double rolls of Angel Soft toilet paper is $19.97 at your local Walmart. In 1989 dollars, $10 would give you some wiggle room for taxes, but doesn't upgrade you to additional ply toilet paper. 

1990

Value of a $10 bill in 1990: $20.15

What you can buy in 2019: 12 cans of Red Bull

In 2019, three four-packs of the Yellow Edition Red Bull Energy Drink sells for $16.74 on Amazon. In 1990 dollars, $10 would buy a 12-pack. 

1991

Value of a $10 bill in 1991: $19.08

What you can buy in 2019: Tide Pods

Doing laundry is a costly life chore. In 2019, 72-count pack of Tide detergent pods retails for $17.95 on Amazon. In 1991 dollars, a consumer could purchase Tide Pods for $10 and have some change left over. 

1992

Value of a $10 bill in 1992: $18.59

What you can buy in 2019: Two bottles of nail polish

The first Essie nail polish formula was released in 1981, and it has remained one of the most popular polish brands since. A fresh bottle of a newly released Essie color retails for $9. In 1992 dollars, $10 would buy you two bottles with a little change left over. 

1993

Value of a $10 bill in 1993: $18.01

What you can buy in 2019: A 24-pack of water

Clean drinking water is a human necessity — when it's bottled and labeled, the price increases. In 2019, a case of 24 Nestle water bottles costs $15.00 on Amazon. In 1993 dollars, $10 would cover 24 bottles.

1994

Value of a $10 bill in 1994: $17.56

What you can buy in 2019: A pregnancy test

A First Response brand pregnancy test retails at $16.49 at Walgreens. In 1994 dollars, $10 could afford one pregnancy test.

1995

Value of a $10 bill in 1995: $17.08

What you can buy in 2019: 225 Tylenol caplets

A 225-count bottle of Tylenol costs $14.97 on Amazon. In 1995 dollars, $10 could afford one bottle of the painkiller, with a bit of change left. 

1996

Value of a $10 bill in 1996: $16.63

What you can buy in 2019: Three bottles of Kombucha

Health Ade Kombucha is big in 2019, and one bottle retails for $4.99 on Target. In 1996 dollars, $10 would afford you three of the fermented tea drinks.

1997

Value of a $10 bill in 1997: $16.14

What you can buy in 2019: A 12-pack of condoms

In 2019, a pack of 12 latex ONE condoms costs $15.99 at Walgreens. In 1997 dollars, $10 would buy one pack.

1998

Value of a $10 bill in 1998: $15.89

What you can buy in 2019: Two bottles of hand sanitizer

A single, 33.8-ounce bottle of Purell hand sanitizer costs $6.99 at Office Depot. In 1998 dollars, $10 buys a consumer two hand sanitizers of this size.

1999

Value of a $10 bill in 1999: $15.63

What you can buy in 2019: 13 pairs of men's socks

Socks will never go out of fashion. Hanes Men's socks retail for $14 at Walmart. In 1999 dollars, $10 would cover a 13-pack of socks.

2000

Value of a $10 bill in 2000: $15.21

What you can buy in 2019: Three cartons of ice cream

A pint of Breyers chocolate ice cream costs $4.09 on Jet.com. In 2000 dollars, $10 would buy three tubs of ice cream. 

2001

Value of a $10 bill in 2001: $14.66

What you can buy in 2019: 12 Post-it pads

A colorful collection of Post-it notes costs $12.29 at Staples. In 2001 dollars, $10 would buy a pack of 12 pads of various colors.

2002

Value of a $10 bill in 2002: $14.50

What you can buy in 2019: A Netflix subscription

The cost of a standard Netflix subscription cost $12.99 a month in 2019. In 2002 dollars, $10 would cover the cost of a monthly premium subscription with some change left over. 

2003

Value of a $10 bill in 2003: $13.88

What you can buy in 2019: A 3-ring binder

Back-to-school shopping is costly. A heavy-duty three ring binder at Staples costs $12.99. In 2003 dollars, $10 would buy a student one binder with some change leftover for paper. 

2004

Value of a $10 bill in 2004: $13.86

What you can buy in 2019: 5 gallons of gas

The cost of gas fluctuates often. The national average cost per-gallon currently is $2.60, according to AAA. Using 2004 dollars, $10 would cover five gallons of gas. 

2005

Value of a $10 bill in 2005: $13.46

What you can buy in 2018: 200 hair ties

Most folks with long hair would say hair ties are a necessity. In 2019, a package of 100-count Scünci elastic hair ties costs $6.47 at Walmart. In 2005 dollars, $10 would afford a consumer two packs. 

2006

Value of a $10 bill in 2006: $12.95

What you can buy in 2019: One share of GE stock

As of October 30, you can own one share of General Electric stock for $10.11. In 2006 dollars, you could have bought that share with a $10 bill.

2007

Value of a $10 bill in 2007: $12.68

What you can buy in 2019: Nine boxes of spaghetti

In 2019, a 16-ounce box of Barilla thin spaghetti costs $1.28 on Amazon. A customer could purchase nine boxes of thin spaghetti for $10 in 2007 dollars. 

2008

Value of a $10 bill in 2008: $12.16

What you can buy in 2019: 48 ounces of ground coffee

In 2019, a 38.5-ounce jar of Folgers Breakfast Blend ground coffee retails for $10.42 at Walmart. In 2008 dollars, a coffee consumer could buy one jar and have some change left for sales tax.

2009

Value of a $10 bill in 2009: $12.16

What you can buy in 2019: A 4-pack of Sharpies

Today, a box of 4 Sharpies retail for $11.59 according to Staples. In 2009 dollars, $10 would cushion a buyer for sales tax. 

2010

Value of a $10 bill in 2010: $11.85

What you can buy in 2019: Two PSLs

In 2019, the cost of a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks starts at $4.95. In 2010 dollars, $10 would afford you two PSL treats and then some.

• Spice racks are available in all shapes and sizes, so finding one that fits your available space can be challenging.
• The adjustable and affordable Spicy Shelf Patented Spice Rack rules the market with its space-saving design.
• See more: The best spice grinder

Want to frustrate a cook in the shortest amount of time possible? Try rearranging his or her kitchen without permission. You'll be fortunate if all you receive is the threat of a frying pan upside the head. Cooks tend to be particular about how they organize their kitchens — and, yes, we know that's an understatement. The need to accommodate a personalized organizational system can make selecting the best spice racks a challenging process.

Fortunately, manufacturers of the top spice racks for your kitchen understand the needs of cooks. With their products, they create a nice balance between doing the job of organizing your spices, while also allowing for cooks to adjust the designs to fit cabinet space and personal tastes.

The best spice racks can make better use of your precious kitchen cabinet or countertop space. They're also one of the best tools you can add to your kitchen. And once you've picked the perfect spice rack for your needs, you can check out our list of the most useful kitchen ingredients to fill it up.

A good spice rack should go beyond organizing all your spice jars

If you think the only feature to consider with a spice rack is its ability to hold your jars of spices, think again. Spice racks have a variety of important features you'll want to consider, according to the Foodal website.

• Size and adjustability: A spice rack must be able to fit the space you have available, while also maximizing that space. If you have a really narrow, tall cabinet, you don't want your spice rack to waste the upper half of the space, for example. Adjustability in a spice rack's design can fix this problem.
• Design and look: Design considerations are key for spice racks, too. HGTV has collected a variety of spice rack ideas, some of which you can buy and some of which you can make yourself, depending on the look you want. If you'll store the spice rack inside a cabinet, you may not be as worried about its look. But if the spices will be displayed as part of your kitchen décor, you'll want a spice rack with a pleasing look.
• Capacity: Certainly, you want a spice rack that will accommodate all of the spices you own, but you also don't want to go crazy and buy a spice rack that will hold 50 spices if you only really use 15 spices regularly. So think about which spices you actually use a lot that you'll want quick and easy access to, and find a unit with that amount of space.

There are different types of spice racks for every need

You also need to consider exactly where the spice rack will fit in your kitchen. Home Stratosphere outlines the different types of spice racks, which we've summarized below:

• In-cabinet: An in-cabinet spice rack usually is adjustable in size – both horizontally and vertically – allowing it to fit many different sizes of cabinets. These spice racks also usually will accommodate the spice jars you buy at a store. In other words, you won't have to transfer the spices into other containers to fit an in-cabinet spice rack.
• In-drawer: A spice rack designed to fit inside a drawer will hold the spice bottles in a horizontal configuration. It often can use the spice bottles as they are without having to transfer the spices. But it doesn't work well for using different size spice jars.
• Wall-mounted or magnetic: Wall-mounted spice racks often are decorative units, as they will be visible at all times. Often, they'll use specific types of jars that ship with the spice rack, meaning you'll have to transfer the spices to the new containers.
• Free-standing: A free-standing spice rack may look a bit like a tiny bookshelf or wine rack. You'll slide spice jars into the shelves either horizontally or vertically. These designs sometimes can work with your current spice jars, or they sometimes ship with separate containers.

You can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $50 for a spice rack. However, some spice racks that are decorative pieces can cost more than $100. Larger units that can hold dozens of jars will cost more than $100, too.

Here are the best spice racks to buy in 2019:

• The best spice rack overall: Spicy Shelf Patented Spice Rack
• The best small spice rack: Seville Classics 3-Tier Expandable Bamboo Spice Rack
• The best large spice rack: AllSpice Wooden Spice Rack
• The best stylish spice rack: Gneiss Spice DIY Magnetic Spice Rack
• The best free-standing spice rack: DecoBros Spice Rack Stand
• See more: The best spice grinder

SEE ALSO: This simple kitchen hack saves me a lot of time when I’m cooking

DON'T MISS: The best electric kettles you can buy for boiling water or brewing tea

The best spice rack overall

The Spicy Shelf Patented Spice Rack has an expandable design to fit many pantry and cabinet sizes, and it can hold dozens of spice jars easily.

The flexible design of the Spicy Shelf Patented Spice Rack is our favorite feature of this spice rack. It looks simple, but it can collapse to 7 3/8 inches in width or expand to 16 3/8 inches to fit your cabinets perfectly. Because it ships with two units, you can stack them or place them side by side for more flexibility. The design is a clever way to minimize the amount of wasted space in any kitchen cupboard.

With the U-shaped design of the Spicy Shelf, you'll be able to see all of the bottles clearly. The free space in the center of the shelf makes it easy to grab the bottle you want without disturbing the others. Customers appreciate being able to read the labels on each bottle clearly, thanks to the U-shaped design. Although the plastic construction looks a little flimsy, customers like its toughness. Each unit can hold up to 40 pounds, which is quite a lot for a spice rack.

One aspect of the Spicy Shelf design that some customers won't like is the fact that its depth is not adjustable. You'll need a cabinet that can accommodate at least 10 1/2 inches of depth. Some customers report struggling with assembling Spicy Shelf, too, because it doesn't ship with directions. However, most reviewers on Amazon say it's a great spice rack once it's all assembled. It's also the number one best-seller on Amazon for spice racks.

We appreciate the fact that the Spicy Shelf isn't just for spices, either. It will work with small bottles and containers of other products that are tough to organize. Craft supplies, cosmetics, and average-sized medicine bottles all work great with this design too.

Overall, it's a great affordable, adjustable spice rack for putting inside your cabinet.

Pros: Extremely flexible design, plastic construction looks a little flimsy but is tough, fits a variety of cabinet sizes, surface is tacky to avoid slipping, price is great

Cons: Directions for putting it together are lacking, no lip to hold larger bottles in place

Buy the Spicy Shelf Patented Spice Rack from Amazon for $25.78 (originally $21.40)

The best small spice rack

The Seville Bamboo Spice Rack is available in three sizes to meet your needs, it's affordable, and it's beautiful.

Bamboo is a type of wood that's commonly found in kitchens, thanks to its clean look, toughness, affordability, and environmentally friendly makeup. So if you already have some bamboo tools in your kitchen, the Seville Classics 3-Tier Expandable Bamboo Spice Rack can fit right in while keeping your spices organized.

It's especially nice that you can pick up this smart looking spice rack for as less than $20 depending on the design you select. For an all-wood spice rack, that's a highly desirable price point.

In its review, Kitchen Gadget Review highlights the stair-step design of the Seville Bamboo Spice Rack, which helps you see all of your spices at once. You may want to place labels on the lids of the spices to make sure they're easier to find, as the labels on the spice bottles in the back may be hidden by other bottles.

My favorite aspect of this Seville unit is its flexibility. Seville offers two designs for use inside a cabinet or drawer. You can expand horizontally several inches to allow for storing more bottles. This is a great feature for ensuring it'll fit tightly in a drawer or cabinet without wasting space. 

Most user reviews on Amazon are favorable, and the low price tag is a big draw. Customers appreciate the clever design of the Seville spice rack. However, we'd strongly recommend that you precisely measure the space in which you're planning to store the Seville Bamboo Spice Rack before ordering it, just to ensure that it'll fit. Some customers reported they liked the spice rack, but that it didn't fit quite where they wanted to use it.

For reference, the cabinet spice rack unit measures 8.25 inches long by x 3.3 in. high and ranges from 8.75 to 15.5 in. wide. The flatter drawer version measures 15 in long by x 8 in. wide and 2 in. high. 

Pros: Extremely low priced spice rack, sharp looking design using bamboo, adjustable size to fit different cabinets, can see all spices because of stair-step design

Cons: Only accommodates a limited number of jars, may not fit some drawers or cabinets

Buy the Seville Classics 3-Tier Bamboo Spice Rack (in-cabinet large version) on Amazon from $13.89 (originally $21.57)

The best large spice rack

If you cook a lot and have a ton of spice jars, the AllSpice Wooden Spice Rack will keep all of them sorted perfectly.

Sometimes making choices is difficult. So if you have a cabinet with 50 or more spices, and you don't want to have to pare down your collection, the AllSpice Wooden Spice Rack is built with you in mind. The AllSpice unit offers a rack with 60 jars, each of which can hold about one-half cup of spice

It's one of the biggest spice racks on the market, and the company makes a smaller design with 12 jars, too. The 60-jar unit is huge, weighing 28 pounds and measuring 24 x 16 x 4.75 inches, so be certain you have space for it on your countertop.

There's nothing fancy about the AllSpice Wooden Spice rack, but it's made of beautiful, solid wood. It looks like a wooden wine crate, and the jars slide into their own individual slots. You will have to transfer your spices from their current containers into the jars that ship with the AllSpice unit, as those jars are the only ones that will fit in the spice rack.

The lids of each of the jars will hang away from the spice rack just enough to make them easy to see. The AllSpice kit ships with more than 200 sticker labels to mark each jar clearly. One of my favorite aspects of this unit is the fact that AllSpice offers shaker lids with different size holes to accommodate spices consisting of powders, flakes, and seeds.

Even though the AllSpice Wooden Spice Rack's design is simple, it is available in a variety of wood styles, including bamboo, cherry, natural, oak, and walnut, as well as white paint. In its review, Foodal highlights the quality of the finishes of this spice rack.

The people who can fit its high price tag into their budgets tend to be big fans of the AllSpice Wooden Spice Rack. One customer highlighted the strong organizational design of the AllSpice unit for speeding up the process of cooking. Another customer appreciated that this spice rack occupies less depth on the countertop than expected. 

The AllSpice Wooden Spice Rack isn't for everyone, but for those who love spices — and have a bunch of them — its design is nearly perfect.

Pros: Accommodates up to 60 jars of spices, extremely strong build quality, variety of wood finishes and styles available, easy to see each jar in the spice rack

Cons: Very high price tag, heavy and large spice rack

Buy the AllSpice Wooden Spice Rack on Amazon from $79.99

The best stylish spice rack

The Gneiss Spice Rack just looks cool, and its magnetic design means you can mount it anywhere there's metal in your kitchen.

We really love the interesting look of the Gneiss Spice DIY Magnetic Spice Rack. It comes with either 10 or 24 hexagonal glass jars with magnetic lids, so you can mount the jars to any metal surface in your kitchen, such as the refrigerator or a metal backsplash.

The hexagonal shape of the jars allows them to fit together tightly, and you can create cool honeycomb patterns with them.  

Each jar measures about 1.75 inches by 2 inches and can hold just shy of one-quarter cup of spice. These jars are a little smaller than some other spice rack options, so you may be refilling the jars frequently for spices you use most often.

Unlike most spice racks, which put the jar lids front and center, this spice rack shows you the back of each jar so you can see all of the different colors and textures of the spices inside. 

One downside to this design is that the label for the jar is on the lid, meaning you can't see the labels when the lid is stuck to a magnetic surface, but you can also label the glass end of the jars in case you don't recognize your spices by sight.

Customers report that the magnets in the Gneiss Spice jars are strong enough to adhere to the refrigerator without sliding around, which is an important feature. Additionally, having the spices within easy reach and visible at all times can speed up cooking.

User reviews on Amazon recommend this spice rack for small kitchens that have limited cupboard and counter space. It's very convenient to pop spice jars on your fridge and free up your cabinets. Reviewers also love the way Gneiss' spice jars look in their kitchens.

Pros: Create an artistic look with the spices visible in the jars, magnets adhere tightly to metal surfaces, spices are easily accessible, three jar lid colors available, saves counter and cabinet space by moving your spices out of the way.

Cons: Jars are small, price is above average for limited number of jars

Buy the Gneiss DIY Magnetic Spice Rack on Amazon from $45 (originally $50)

The best free-standing spice rack

If you want the easiest and quickest access to a limited number of spices, the DecoBros Spice Rack Stand delivers.

The free-standing DecoBros Spice Rack Stand will look nice on your countertop, but it's also functional. Through its three-tiered design, you can see all 18 spice jars clearly, allowing you to grab the right one easily and quickly.

You'll have to transfer your spices from their current containers into the jars that ship with the DecoBros Spice Rack. The spice rack also comes with 48 preprinted sticker labels that you can use to mark the jars.

Customers like the sturdy design and build quality of the DecoBros Spice Rack Stand, which sports a chrome finish. The jars have plastic lids, but they also feature a chrome finish, contributing to the pleasing look of this spice rack.

One complaint some customers have is that the holes in the lids for the jars are so small that they really only work with powder spices. You can use a hole punch to increase the size of the holes to work with spices consisting of flakes or seeds. Alternatively, you may be able to transfer the plastic lining from a store-bought spice container to the DecoBros jars.

For those who have dozens of spices they'd like to display, the 18 jars with this DecoBros option won't work. If you like the look of this unit, though, you can buy two or three spice racks and spread them throughout the kitchen. As Kitchen Gadget Review points out, it's not a big spice rack — it only measures 12 by 5 by 8 inches — so it won't occupy a lot of space on your countertop, even if you need multiple units.

Overall, user reviews on Amazon are positive, and the DecoBros is an attractive, affordable spice rack that will look just as good on your kitchen counter as it does in your cabinet.

Pros: Stylish looking spice rack, doesn't require a lot of counter space, sturdy build quality, inexpensive price, ships with preprinted label stickers

Cons: Holes in lids are small for non-powder spices, can only accommodate 18 spice jars

Buy the DecoBros Spice Rack Stand on Amazon for $21.97 (originally $24.97)

• We can't guarantee that buying a good ironing board will make you feel happy about ironing, but it will help you finish the chore faster and more effectively. 
• The Brabantia Ironing Board with Solid Steam Iron Rest is our top pick because it's a great ironing board that is versatile and stable with a wide iron rest that can hold steam irons. 

Nobody likes ironing, which is probably why so many clothes boast wrinkle-free or wrinkle-resistant fabrics these days. You may feel as if purchasing an ironing board is a waste of money, what with all the innovation in textiles, and using that as an excuse to avoid the chore of ironing sounds like a pretty good deal. I admittedly may be projecting my own feelings and laziness regarding ironing here.

The bad news for those of us who are lazy when it comes to household chores like ironing is that plenty of clothing still requires ironing. Even for those of us who don't like ironing, there is a sense of satisfaction at how freshly pressed clothes make us feel like we're looking our best.

The best way to have success with most household tasks — even ones that we may not like — is to have the right tools to do the job. You can make your ironing jobs go more successfully with the best ironing boards, as they offer features to deliver better results faster. We've found the five best ironing boards you can buy, but before we get into our picks, here are some things to think about before you buy.

Design

Although it's tempting to look at ironing boards and assume that they're all basically alike, that's not the case. The differences are subtle, but they do exist, as The Wirecutter and Irons Expert discuss.

• Built-in: Some people prefer an ironing board that's built into a cabinet or drawer in the laundry room. This provides a smart use of a limited storage area.
• Iron rest: Newer ironing boards often have an area at the end of the board designed to hold the iron safely when it's hot. The iron rest needs to be well-designed so the iron has no possibility of tipping over while it sits in place.
• Stability: The legs of the ironing board need to be able to sturdily support the weight of the iron, the weight of the item you're ironing, and the weight of you leaning on it (which we all do on occasion). You don't want an ironing board collapsing unexpectedly on you.
• Height design: It's more comfortable to iron clothing or other linens on an ironing board when the folded-out board sits at waist height. You won't have to stoop over to perform the task, which can be hard on your back. Some ironing boards offer an adjustable height design to provide comfort to people of varying heights.
• Weight: Some people don't want a really heavy ironing board, as it could be difficult to carry and store. 

Features 

Sure, we acknowledge that you don't technically need an ironing board to iron. Just place a towel on a countertop and you're ready to go. But the ironing board certainly simplifies the process, allowing you to do it more comfortably and successfully than your makeshift, DIY "ironing towel."

• Cover: Although you can purchase an ironing board cover separately, having a good cover included as part of your board is a nice option. Some covers are thicker with padding than others, which keeps any screws or bolts on the board from poking through your clothes. Additionally, covers should have some sort of non-stick coating for good results, according to The Spruce.
• Free-standing: Most ironing boards are free-standing, which means they are able to be moved anywhere in your home. Because the free-standing board folds up flat, it becomes easier to carry.
• Mini boards: If you live in a small home or have limited space in your laundry room, a small ironing board can be a good idea for avoiding clutter. You'd set this type of ironing board on a table or countertop, as explained by Iron Expert Labs.
• Surface space: As discussed by Mimi's Quilt Shop, some ironing boards are wider or longer than normal, which can be beneficial when ironing certain items, such as quilts.
• Storage options: With free-standing ironing boards, the board folds up flat, allowing it to fit in a thin space for storage. Some smaller boards may be mounted on the wall, folding out whenever you need them. Others hang over a door, making them instantly accessible.

We've done the research to find the best ironing boards in all of the most popular categories. Read on to see which of our top picks is best for your needs. You should also check out our guide to the best clothes steamers.

Here are our picks for the best ironing boards you can buy: 

• Best ironing board overall: Brabantia Ironing Board With Solid Steam Iron Rest
• Best wide ironing board: Bartnelli Multi-Layered T-Leg Extra Wide Ironing Board
• Best tabletop ironing board: Honey-Can-Do Collapsible Tabletop Ironing Board
• Best ergonomic ironing board: Minky Ergo Ironing Board
• Best hanging ironing board: Hafele America Wall-Mounted Ironing Board

Updated on 10/31/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides. 

SEE ALSO: The best clothes hangers you can buy

The best ironing board overall

The Brabantia Ironing Board with Solid Steam Iron Rest has a sturdy build, multiple board covers and widths, and a strong iron rest area.

If you're looking for a great all-around ironing board, the Brabantia Ironing Board with Solid Steam Iron Rest delivers. This board is so good, it'll always be in perfect working order, which eliminates some of your excuses for skipping the ironing.

The Brabantia ironing board is available in a wide design in case the standard board width isn't enough for your needs. You can choose from about half a dozen ironing board pads with different colorful designs to make ironing a little bit more enjoyable.

The Wirecutter says this is the sturdiest standard sized ironing board on the market right now. The board includes a child safety lock that ensures it will not fold down accidentally.

The Ironing Room review also highlights the sturdiness of the Brabantia board, as it features a frame with four legs made from 25mm diameter steel tubing. You can adjust the height of the ironing board between 30 and 38 inches.

The Brabantia board contains an iron rest area for a steam iron, which is a great feature because it's a little wider than most iron rests.

We came across one buyer review that said the Brabantia offers just the right size and sturdiness for ironing both light and heavy quilts. Although this is a lightweight ironing board, another buyer review noted that it's difficult to fold down this board when you're done using it, because the legs stick.

Pros: Excellent stability in a four-leg design, various widths of ironing board models available, adjustable ironing board heights, strong and wide iron rest to fit steam irons, includes child safety lock to avoid accidental collapses

Cons: Price is a little high for people who infrequently iron, unit can be difficult to fold down

The best wide ironing board

For those who regularly iron large fabrics, such as curtains or quilts, the Bartnelli Multi-Layered T-Leg Extra Wide Ironing Board can handle the work effectively.

If you often have wide fabrics to iron, such as curtains and quilts, you'll love the 51-by-19-inch ironing space on the Bartnelli Multi-Layered T-Leg Extra Wide Ironing Board. Finding storage space for this behemoth may be a little difficult — even when it's folded down — but you'll be amazed at how much faster you can complete your ironing tasks.

The height of the ironing board is adjustable to between 30 and 38 inches. No matter what height you're using with the Bartnelli board, it remains sturdy. The Irons Expert review likes the child safety lock on this ironing board that prevents the unit from collapsing.

If you often iron in a location where you're worried about the board scratching your floor, the feet of the Bartnelli ironing board contain materials designed to prevent scratching. However, we saw one online customer review that said the board did not remain sturdy on hardwood floors, as it tended to slide.

The Jen Reviews review likes that the board is designed to dissipate moisture from steam ironing, preventing the possibility of rusting over time.

Pros: Wide ironing space works great for large items, rust-resistant design, feet on the ironing board don't scratch the floor, adjustable height of the surface of the board, includes a child safety lock

Cons: Price is higher than average, board's feet may slide around on hard flooring

The best tabletop ironing board

If compact is what you need in an ironing board, the Honey-Can-Do Collapsible Tabletop Ironing Board was built with you in mind.

For a small space, even a freestanding ironing board that can fold down flat may be too large. If so, we like the Honey-Can-Do Collapsible Tabletop Ironing Board… and it's not only because of the company's funny name.

This tiny board measures only 32 by 12 inches, but the board makes the most of the available space. It includes a retractable iron rest and small legs to lift the board about 6 inches above your tabletop, which makes the whole unit more efficient to use versus having it lie flat on the table.

It folds completely down for easy storage, and you can choose to hang the board when storing it, which the Ironing Zone mentions as a helpful feature. All Kitchen calls this Honey-Can-Do ironing board a great value that's portable enough to allow you to work almost anywhere, including at a laundromat.

We did, however, find one review by a buyer who liked the size of the unit but felt the materials used were of poor quality.

Pros: Small ironing board is great for apartments, lightweight unit that you can carry anywhere, very low price point, folds flat for easy storage, includes a retractable iron rest, relatively sturdy unit

Cons: Quality of board materials are poor, longevity is a question mark, not wide enough for larger items needing ironing

The best ergonomic ironing board

If you think every ironing board is basically the same, the interesting design elements in the Minky Ergo Ironing Board will make you rethink that idea.

If you like to purchase products with the latest designs and features, you might be surprised that you can do the same with an ironing board. The Minky Ergo Ironing Board contains a number of features that are different from other boards, all designed to make your ironing experience more enjoyable — Yes, we said enjoyable.

The shape of the Minky ironing board allows you to stand in a comfortable position when ironing, which will make the process go faster. You can place the ironing board on a tabletop and use it completely folded down, or you can extend it as high as 36 inches. The board also includes an iron rest that is designed for use by left- or right-handed people.

The cover on the board contains heat reflective properties, which should speed up the process of finishing the ironing. Additionally, the board has a mesh design so moisture goes through effectively, which the UK Steam Irons review called a very useful feature.

We found one buyer review where the writer was frustrated with the way the iron rest was attached to the board, leaving no 90-degree corner free on the board for ironing certain clothing.

Pros: Ergonomic shape makes ironing more comfortable, heat reflective cover speeds the process, ironing board will work at heights from zero to 36 inches, folds down flat, interesting design for an ironing board

Cons: Design won't appeal to everyone, there are no 90-degree corners to use on the board when ironing clothing

The best hanging ironing board

The Hafele America Wall-Mounted Ironing Board is a sturdy hanging board that takes up very little space.

Although most ironing boards fold down to a small size, the most effective storage option for some people is a hanging board that either mounts to the wall or hangs over the top of a door. Even though it has a bit of a high price point, we like the Hafele America Wall-Mounted Ironing Board.

The Hafele America board can rotate 90 degrees right or left, depending on your needs when ironing. It's a smaller board than a standard ironing board, measuring roughly 12 by 37.5 inches, so it won't appeal to everyone. But if you can work with a smaller ironing board successfully, the Hafele America unit is a great space saver. 

You will need to find the wall studs to mount this ironing board properly, but once you do, this board is extremely sturdy. However, a few online reviewers said the board was difficult to mount properly because of its weight. It doesn't mount well to cement blocks in basement walls, either, so keep that in mind if your laundry room is in an unfinished basement.

Iron With Style says the construction materials in the board are impressive, as it consists of stainless steel with a white epoxy coating. This board won't fall down or warp over time, thanks to the high-quality materials it's built with.

One Amazon buyer appreciated the fact that the mounted board could be adjusted to match her height by mounting it at a lower spot on the wall.

Pros: Small ironing board that folds up against the wall to save space, board is sturdy with proper installation, board will rotate 90 degrees after mounting for easier use, good construction materials

Cons: Some challenges in mounting this heavy unit to the wall, very small board, price is higher than average

Check out our clothing organization guides

How to organize a bedroom closet and the tools you need to do it

When your closet is messy, it's nearly impossible to find what you're looking for. That's why we've put together this easy four-step method to help you organize your bedroom closet. We also recommend a few products that will help you store everything in its rightful place. Here's what you need to organize your closet:

• Nonslip hangers: Zober Nonslip Velvet Hangers
• An organizing system: Rubbermaid Configurations Deluxe Custom Closet Organizer
• A shelving unit: AmazonBasics 4-Shelf Shelving Unit
• A hanging organizer: Simple Houseware 5-Shelf Hanging Organizer
• A shoe organizer: Seville Classics 3-Tier Shoe Rack
• Closet shelf dividers: Evelots Closet Shelf Dividers

The best clothes steamers

Sometimes you just don't have time to iron, which is why it's helpful to have a steamer on-hand. The de-wrinkling devices are safe for most fabrics, reduce wear and tear on your garments, and can even sanitize your clothes. These are the best steamers you can buy: 

• Best clothes steamer overall: PurSteam PS-910 Heavy Duty Fabric Steamer
• Best handheld steamer: Rowenta X-Cel Steam Handheld Steamer
• Best budget steamer: URPOWER Garment Steamer
• Best heavy-duty steamer: J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer

• From temporary uses like hanging lights during the holidays or powering tools for a home repair project, to more permanent applications like connecting a floor lamp to that outlet hidden behind the couch, extension cords are a must-have for modern life
• The Coleman 16 Gauge Extension Cord is our top choice because it's durable, flexible, and suitable for just about every application in and around the home.

Extension cords aren't glamorous. They aren't interesting or exciting, and you probably don't spend much time thinking about them in the course of any given day. But when you need an extension cord — whether to power a leaf blower or saw, to light up the trees and roofline of your property with thousands of festive lights, or to connect the television to an outlet across the room — having the right extension cord is the difference between a quick and easy solution and serious bout of frustration.

The good news is that most well-made extension cords will last for years and years. When considering which is the best extension cord for your needs, think about where you will use it (inside at home, inside at work, outside in a static placement, or outside moving around during use), when you will use it (for winter holiday lights, fall leaf blowing, or summer weed trimming, e.g.) and what devices will be connected to the cord (how many amps does that skill saw need for ideal performance, again?). Read on to read more about the best extension cords.

Here are the best extension cords you can buy:

• Best extension cord overall:Coleman 16 Gauge Extension Cord
• Best budget extension cord: AmazonBasics Vinyl Outdoor Extension Cord
• Best extension cord for offices: HOLSEM Power Strip Extension Cord
• Best professional extension cord: Watt's Wire 14 Gauge Extension Cord
• Best indoor extension cord: Aurum Cables Extension Cord

Updated on 10/31/2019 by Monica Chin: Updated pricing, links, and formatting.

SEE ALSO: The best tape measures you can buy

The best extension cord overall

The Coleman 16 Gauge Extension Cord is affordable, reliable, and quite long, too. It delivers 1,250 watts of power 100 feet away from the outlet.

If you're only going to buy one extension cord to help out with everything from running a vacuum inside to running a saw outside to connecting outdoor decorations or speaker equipment to serving as a semi-permanent lighting solution in a garage or workshop, you won't go wrong with this 100-foot cord from Coleman Cable.

This extension cord features water-resistant blades, a moisture, sunlight, and abrasion resistant exterior, and it comes in the classic high-visibility orange, so it's a great choice for outdoor use even in inclement weather conditions. Thanks to the cord's flexibility, it can also be used inside, run along or underneath furniture with the excess length coiled out of the way. Its PVC jacket is non-marking, so it won't leave scuffs on walls, flooring, or furniture.

For the record, you'll be hard-pressed to find a decent 100-foot extension cord for a better price.

Pros: Great price for long cord, water and weather resistant, flexible at most temperatures

Cons: Not suitable for larger power tools, heats up with heavy use

The best budget extension cord

It's bright orange, it's 50 feet long, and it's rated for 13 amps. But most importantly it's just 17 bucks. It's the AmazonBasics Vinyl Outdoor Extension Cord.

The AmazonBasics Vinyl Outdoor Extension Cord is a best seller primarily for one obvious reason: It's cheap. But I say that not in a pejorative sense, for this cord is cheap in price only. It's actually reasonably well made. Its low cost is due to the juggernaut power that is Jeff Bezos's Amazon.

This 50-foot AmazonBasics extension cord features 16-gauge all-copper three-wire components and it can handle an impressive 13-amp, 1625-watt power load. (Quick primer: amps are like the volume of electricity, volts are like the pressure under which the energy is transmitted, and watts are essentially the actual power output; greatly simplified, you can think of it like AMPS x VOLTS = WATTS. But some professional electricians and engineers will probably choke on their coffee when they read that.)

The cord is durable enough for long-term outdoor use in all weather conditions and coils up small enough for easy storage when you don't need it.

Pros: Great low price, good power load capacity, high visibility orange

Cons: Thin insulation, tends to tangle easily

The best extension cord for offices

The HOLSEM 12 Outlet 3 USB Power Strip Extension Cord can accommodate more plugs than you'll need.

The HOLSEM 12 Outlet 3 USB Power Strip Extension Cord is a purpose-built piece of hardware. Whereas most extension cords are designed to be used in the yard, in the home, in the shop, and so forth, this unit was designed for use in the office or the computer lab where computers, printers, and other such technology is critical for daily operations. 

The heavy-duty UL listed extension cord is six feet long, an ideal length to stretch from a wall outlet to beneath a table or at the intersection of a bank of desks, cubicles, or other workstations. And from there, you can connect devices aplenty.

The true genius of this extension cord/power strip isn't its plethora of outlets, but their placement. It features a row of six outlets perfect for standard two- or three-pronged plugs. But it also has six outlets that are spaced well apart from one another. The outlets can accommodate large, bulky plugs with built-in surge protectors or irregular plugs, such as those with a right angle orientation to the prongs and cord. Thanks to the three USB slots at the base of the unit, the total number of devices that be connected to this plucky power strip is fifteen.

For the record, if you try to operate 12 table saws using this extension cord/power strip, you're going to have a bad time. But 12 computers? No problems there.

Pros: Impressive number of outlets, excellent surge protection, also features USB ports

Cons: Extension cord too short for some applications

The best professional-grade extension cord

If you need to deliver power to some serious hardware in trying conditions, then you can count on the rugged reliability of the Watt's Wire 14 Gauge Heavy Duty SJTW Lighted Triple Extension Cord.

The Watt's Wire extension cord is fabricated using 14-gauge wire wrapped in SJTW thermoplastic coating. Its rated for use in temperature conditions ranging from -40° to 130° Fahrenheit — If you need a cord that can handle temperatures colder or hotter than that amazing 170-degree range, then you should probably rethink your career choices.

This professional-grade extension cord meets or exceeds all OSHA standard for indoor or outdoor use, and can safely power as many as three large tools, lights, or other devices at the same time. Its triple "pigtails" multi-tap design allows you connect even big, bulky plugs with surge protectors one right next to the other.

In case you are working outside at night or in low lighting conditions inside, the tap even glows thanks to a built-in bulb. 

Just note that many power tools designed for landscaping use a guarded male end plug and can't be attached to the multi-tap without a connector cord.

Pros: Heavy duty choice, multiple taps, lighted connection

Cons: Rather expensive, won't work with some landscaping tools

The best indoor extension cord

Unlike so many flimsy, short-lived indoor extension cords, the Aurum Cables 16/3 AWG Outdoor/Indoor Extension Cord actually works well and lasts for years. 

The Aurum cord is technically an indoor/outdoor extension cord, yet I'm recommending it primarily for indoor use. In that capacity, it should last you for years and years, even if subjected to the occasional snag, spill, vacuum encounter, or even the nippy pet. As it was designed to withstand the elements outside, it's more than durable enough for the jungle that is the interior of the modern home.

The Aurum Cables extension cord's flat plug design allows it to connect to any standard wall socket without protruding way into the room, allowing furniture to rest all but flush with the wall. The plug extends off the outlet only as far as a piece of molding, having no appreciable effect on the placement of that couch, desk, or dresser.

With a tap capable of accepting three grounded plugs, this extension cord doesn't give you an extra 12 feet of reach away from a wall socket, but it triples the number of devices that can be connected to one outlet. Thin and flexible though the cord may be, it's still a 16-gauge wire that carries plenty of power, rated at 1,625 watts. Oh, and it costs less than twelve bucks.

Pros: Flexible cord, flat plug shape hugs wall, great low price

Cons: Some units have sockets too loose to hold plug prongs

• Even in a world filled hydration belts, collapsible water bottles, and backpack water bladders, you can't go wrong with a great canteen.
• A canteen offers durability, ease of use, and convenience other hydration products just can't match. Our top pick for the best canteen you can buy is the Pinty G.I. Army Stainless Steel canteen.

When it comes to hydration, it doesn't get much simpler than the time-tested canteen, and newfangled though they are not, reliable they certainly are. Backpack hydration bladders are great for use on hikes or bike rides, but they require a laborious effort to refill. Hydration belts certainly distribute water weight well, but they tend to come with multiple diminutive flasks, none of which can slake the thirst adequately. Collapsible bottles are great for out of the way storage and use during travel, but often lack the capacity for sufficient water. And vacuum-sealed double-walled water bottles are often heavy even before being filled.

Thus it is that the canteen still has its place on your belt, in your pack, or on the seat of the car beside you despite being millennia-old hardware. In fact, there is evidence that human beings have been using purpose-built canteens for at least 60,000 years. The earliest known examples consist of ostrich eggshells that have been cleaned out and punctured to create a hole for filling and drinking.

When I go for a long-distance hike, I like to have gear redundancy in the major areas, with at least two sources of light, two sources of flame, two knives, and so forth. I usually bring a water bladder that tucks into my pack and puts a spout at ready access for sips and at least one large canteen. And while I take sips from the hydration pack when on the go, whenever I stop moving, especially if resting near a water source, I use the canteen. Canteens are easy to fill, give good, big sips of water, and they can be cleaned out quickly and efficiently. Remember, just because there is a newer way to solve a problem that doesn't mean it's a better solution.

Here are the best canteens you can buy:

• Best overall: Pinty G.I. Army Stainless Steel Canteen
• Best stylish: Laken Camping and Hiking Canteen
• Best for work: Stanley Adventure Steel Canteen
• Best affordable: Rothco 3 Piece Canteen Kit
• Best for wine: Stansport Bota Wine Bag

Updated 10/31/2019 by Owen Burke: Updated copy, formatting, and links, and added the Stansport Bota Wine Bag as an alternative option (for water and wine drinkers alike).

SEE ALSO: The best hiking socks you can buy

The best canteen overall

The Pinty G.I. Army Stainless Steel Canteen is lightweight but rugged, and it comes with a form-fitting steel cup that doubles as cookware.

You can carry a full quart of water in the Pinty G.I. Army Stainless Steel Canteen, a lightweight but almost indestructible piece of hardware in the classic military canteen design favored by generations of soldiers.

With the included stainless steel cup — which slips snugly around the base of the canteen when not in use, adding negligible weight and size to the package — your water carrying capacity is increased by a further 50%.

The Pinty canteen comes with the cup, which can also be used to boil water or cook foods, as well as with a cloth case that secures the canteen to your belt or pack strap and adds some insulation. A heavy-duty, stitch-reinforced belt is also included, but most people choose to set it aside and instead use the carrying pouch on their preferred belt or backpack straps.

The canteen's mouth is wide enough for quick and easy filling, but small enough to get your lips around so you won't spill a drop as you gulp down refreshment.

And indeed many satisfied customers have gulped down plenty of water from a Pinty G.I. Army Stainless Steel Canteen, which has a solid 4.4-star rating on Amazon. A satisfied sipper named Daniel says: "I have put this thing [through] the ringer and have cooked all sorts of things it. The canteen holds a lot of water and the cap is strong and sturdy."

Another owner reported that when in the cloth cover, the canteen kept water cool "for a good 5 hours in 90-degree heat."

A write-up on Camping Buyer's Guide called the canteen "an essential piece of equipment in everyone's journey," while in a video a gear tester with Survival Gear Reviews lauds the durability and versatility of the stainless steel canteen cup.

Pros: Built to last for years of use, comes with versatile steel cup, can be used for boiling/cooking

Cons: Chain connecting cap and canteen weak, comes with low-quality belt

The best canteen for the stylish camper

The Laken Camping and Hiking Canteen holds a generous 1.5 liters of water, plus, this Spanish-made canteen also looks great at the campsite or slung next to your daily commuter bag.

Laken has been making canteens that look almost identical to this one since the year 1912. When something has remained popular for more than 100 years, it's generally a good idea not to mess with its design too much, although there are a few improvements the modern Laken Camping and Hiking Canteen has over its decades-old forebears.

For starters, while the disc-shaped body is still crafted from sturdy aluminum, the modern variation is lined with a polyamide inner coating that imparts no flavors and protects the quality of the water, sports drink, or other beverage you pour inside.

The Laken canteen is a fine example of form meeting function. Its circular shape is handsome but also practical, as the canteen can store 1.5 liters in a relatively narrow package that slips right into a backpack. The cool fabric that's applied to the exterior of the canteen adds style, but it's also there for a reason. When you soak the fabric panels, they help to keep the contents of the canteen chilled, thanks to the natural process of evaporative cooling.

And for the record, I used one of these canteens for many years and loved it. They only reason I don't use it anymore is that it disappeared on me. I'm confident it would still be in perfectly serviceable condition had it not walked off.

It's no surprise that a product with a 105+ year history has plenty of fans. Amazon customers have given this canteen an overall four out of five-star rating, with an owner named Jacob calling it "well built" and noting that the "evaporative cooling actually works."

As a brand, Laken is generally trusted and recommended by professional gear testers and writers, with their praises sung everywhere from The Wirecutter to Best Reviews Guide and beyond, though you'll have to speak Spanish to read many of the write-ups.

Pros: Large capacity, evaporative cooling, handsome and stylish

Cons: Fabric on exterior frays with heavy use, weak cap chain

The best canteen for the worksite

Go ahead and drop a brick on the Stanley Adventure Steel Canteen, you're not going to break this thing. 

The Stanley Adventure Steel Canteen isn't going to win any awards for its design aesthetic, and it doesn't have any special features that set it apart from the pack for its innovation or uniqueness. What makes this canteen notable is an understated quality and resilience. You will own this canteen for years to come, even if you use it daily under trying conditions.

The Stanley Adventure canteen is made from 18/8 stainless steel, a food-grade and durable blend that resists rust and corrosion and resists damage from drops or bumps. It features a two-stage lid, with a narrow spout for sipping that is capped with a steel lid when not in use and that unscrews to reveal a wider opening for adding ice or for cleaning out the canteen.

The unit's 1.1-quart capacity will keep your thirst at bay and its narrow, ovular design allow it to tuck into a toolbox or backpack with ease. The canteen also has loops that can be used with an included shoulder strap, allowing you to carry your water along hands-free.

One Amazon customer touts it as "another winner by Stanley," saying the canteen is "easy to clean" thanks to the wider opening. An owner named Soren sums it up nicely: "Great quality. Thoughtful design. Good brand and good product. I have 2 and am going to buy 2 more."

The consensus from a forum of outdoor experts hosted on Bushcraft USA is well summed up by a trained guide who says "Stanley knocked it out of the park" with the Adventure canteen. In a video review from High Carbon Steel Love, the tester called the canteen leak-proof and demonstrated the ease of using both the narrow spout and wider mouth.

Pros: Durable design, dual spout width options, easy to clean

Cons: Not compatible with most canteen cups or carrying pouches

The best low cost canteen

The Rothco 3 Piece Canteen Kit comes with a sturdy plastic army-style canteen, an aluminum cup, and an insulating cover all for about $12.

The Rothco 3 Piece Canteen Kit comes with the same iconic olive green hard plastic canteen that tens of thousands of soldiers have carried into battle and untold numbers of hikers, campers, field guides, loggers, and others have carried into the wilderness.

There's nothing stylish, modern, or all that interesting about this canteen, but you won't much care about that when you're tired, hot, and thirsty and it's ready to deliver 32 ounces of water right into your stomach.

The kit comes with the aforementioned one-quart canteen and an insulating cover in a matching shade of green. The cover can be attached to a belt or pack strap, but it's not durable enough for long-term use and is better treated as an insulating sleeve than a holster for the canteen, frankly.

The included aluminum canteen cup, on the other hand, is well made and versatile. It can be used to cook and for boiling water, as a reservoir for brushing or shaving, or for scooping water up from a stream or lake. Or you can just use it like a cup, too.

The Rothco Canteen Kit has a respectable 4.2-star rating on Amazon, with most owners making similar claims along the lines of this: It's certainly worth the price. One nostalgic owner named Jimmie said the "canteen is a spot on match to the ones I was issued in the Marine Corps."

A writer with Hunting and Tactical Knives called the Rothco canteen noted the quality construction of the canteen and other hardware in the kit, while in a video review from Texas Gear Reviews, a product tester called the canteen and the canteen cup "quality" products that were, not surprisingly, worth the price.

Pros: Very low price tag, comes with cup and case, lightweight plastic canteen

Cons: Imparts flavor to water, weak belt straps on case

The best wine bag

The Stansport Bota Winebag is a throwback if ever there was one, made in the same style as wineskins and waterskins used by shepherds, travelers, and soldiers for many hundreds of years. 

In some ways, using the Stansport Bota Wine Bag as your water-carrying solution might be impractical. Its 25-ounce capacity is smaller than that of most hydration vessels, and its unusual design precludes tucking the leather canteen into a belt pouch. On the other hand, when empty, this bota bag can be packed down flat and stashed in a backpack or piece of luggage, and when filled it hangs comfortably over a shoulder or around your neck thanks to a wide, handmade leather strap.

Although this bota might look like a relic from days gone by, it's actually fabricated using modern materials. The exterior of the canteen is genuine leather featuring decorative stitching and dyed designs, but the interior is lined with a leak-proof polyethylene coating that won't impart off flavors into your water ... or your wine, juice, or other beverage. The canteen features a sport-style pop-up spout for easy, spill-free sips and the entire top unscrews for easy filling or rinsing.

The Stansport Bota Wine Bag also serves on purpose that few other canteens could ever hope to manage: It's a conversation starter.

Pros: Charming and stylish, imparts no flavors to liquids, packs down small

Cons: Relatively small liquid capacity, hard to clean out

• People of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations are spending upwards of $5,000 for Amy Nobile of New York City-based dating service Love, Amy to fixing their dating apps.
• And that's not all she does: Nobile helps them with everything from wardrobe consultations to photoshoots for their profiles.
• She also gives all clients three basic rules to follow before they start swiping: First dates should be 30 minutes long over juice or coffee; sex should wait until the third date; and always Google someone before going on a date with them.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Juice, sex, and Google.

Amy Nobile, the cupid of dating apps, has three rules for her clients, and that's what they boil down to.

Nobile founded dating service Love, Amy in April 2019. What began as a side hustle after finding "the love of her life" on Bumble post-divorce and helping her friends navigate their way through dating apps is now a full-fledged business.

In January 2020, her rates will start at $1,750 a month for a three-month minimum. Nobile told Business Insider she's had 45 clients across the country so far, juggling six to seven at a time. From wardrobe consultations to photoshoots for dating app profiles, people of all genders, sexual orientations, and generations come to her for dating app help. 

But she gives them three steadfast rules they have to abide by before swiping. 

1. The first date should be 30 minutes long.

"Never give away a whole night on your first date; time is too precious," Nobile said. 

Every first date should be a 30-minute coffee or juice date — a transactional meeting just to see if there's enough chemistry for a real first date, which can then be longer, she said. She suggests coming with three genuine questions to take the pressure off and really listening to what your date has to say.

When it comes to what to wear, Nobile recommends keeping it casual but not to the point where you look unkempt. There's no need to put on makeup or get a blowout, she said. For the first real date, you can have fun with it and get cleaned up, she added.

Think of the first date similarly to a job interview (without the formalities, of course). Many job interviews begin with a brief screener call to see if the basics line up between employer and employee — both get a better sense of who the other is, just like the 30-minute juice date. If it seems like a potential match, they move on to the first real interview, or, in this case, date.

2. No sex until at least the third date.

On the first date, you're meeting for juice or coffee. At this stage, the most you should be doing physically is maybe a peck on the cheek, Nobile said.

The next date is your real date. Here, "You can make out a little bit, but don't go to the apartment, no way," Nobile said. But when it comes to the third date, anything goes, she said: "All bets are off — go for it."

Nobile said she stays in the loop with her clients the whole time.

"If you violate this rule, it's going to end badly," she said. "It's too much, too soon. You don't know enough about this person."

Researchers vary on how long you should wait to have sex with a partner, spanning anywhere from a few dates to a few months. But several psychotherapists previously told Business Insider's Lydia Ramsey that being on the same page emotionally is helpful for finding the best time to start having sex.

3. Google the person before your date.

Nobile's last rule is to Google the person's full name before going on a date with them. If their full name isn't on their dating app profile, ask for it.

"Sometimes people disappear when you ask for their full name," Nobile said. That's a red flag — it could be a sign they're hiding something, she added.

Turns out, most people are abiding by this rule already. A 2019 study by JDP, which offers employment screening and background checks, surveyed 2,000 adults and found that 38% admitted to always researching prospective dates before agreeing to their first date, while 23% said they usually do. 

Most said they spent 15 to 30 minutes researching the person, and 63% of respondents said they go most or all the way back when looking at that person's social media.

Women, according to the survey, were twice as likely to check everything they could and most interested in criminal background and work history. Men, on the other hand, were most interested in others' interests and pictures/videos. And Googling before a date proves fruitful — 40% backed out of a date because of what they found.

But if they pass the Google test and you make it to the first date, just remember: When it comes to conversation, it's "okay to dig in," Nobile said.

SEE ALSO: Millennials, boomers, and Gen X are all paying one woman in NYC for dating app advice — here's where each generation struggles most to find a partner

DON'T MISS: The NYC woman who's getting paid $5,000 to fix clients' dating apps says millennials are the worst at flirting — and that's where 'ghost bantering' kicks in

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Traditional Japanese swords can take over 18 months to create — here's what makes them so special

• The Van der Vorms, a secretive family of Dutch billionaires, made as much as $4 billion off the sale of Ray-Ban owner GrandVision in July — but no one knows what they will do with the cash, Bloomberg's Ruben Munsterman and Benjamin Stupples reported on October 30.
• The family built its $11.2 billion fortune from Holland America Line, a cruise line, which they sold to Carnival for $625 million in 1988, according to The New York Times.
• The family is extremely secretive: Both the public documents filed by their trust and the website of their charitable foundation refer to family members only by their initials.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A secretive family of Dutch billionaires will end 2019 with as much as an extra $4 billion in their family trust after having sold Ray-Ban owner GrandVision to another eyewear company this summer.

The Van der Vorms built the majority of their $11.2 billion fortune off a cruise line that Willem Van der Vorms sold to Carnival for $625 million in 1988, according to The New York Times.

In July, The Van der Vorms sold GrandVision to Franco-Italian eyewear empire EssilorLuxottica for 7.3 billion euros ($8.1 billion), Bloomberg reported at the time. At the time, the family owned 77% of GrandVision and profited as much as $4 billion from the sale.

The profits from the sale will be put into HAL, the publicly traded trust controlled by the Van der Vorms, according to Bloomberg. As for where the money will go, there's currently little clarity: The family could use it to pay dividends to shareholders, reinvest in something else, or use it to retire and become full-time philanthropists, ABN Amro Bank NV analyst Thijs Berkelder told Bloomberg.

The last time the family had major windfall — $625 million from the sale of the Holland America Line in 1988 — they used it to start HAL, according to Dutch News.

Representatives of HAL did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on how the funds will be used.

The family is 'unusually secretive' for its level of wealth

Analysts told Bloomberg that both HAL and the Van der Vorm family are unusually secretive for their level of wealth and do not respond to requests for information. Both HAL's public documents and the website of their charitable foundation refer to family members only by their initials.

The little that is known about the family's finances was revealed by the Panama Papers, a trove of documents leaked from a Central American law firm in 2016 that revealed the intimate financial dealings of 12 country leaders, 128 public officials, and 29 Forbes-listed billionaires, Bloomberg reported. The leak revealed that HAL also maintained a headquarters in Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island known for using low tax rates to attract wealthy foreigners, according to Deloitte.

The new owners of GrandVision, EssilorLuxottica, will add Ray-Ban to an already expansive portfolio of eyewear brands that includes Coach New York, Armani Exchange, Burberry, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, Versace, and Brooks Brothers, Oakley and Foster Grant, according to its website. The company also owns the Lenscrafters and Pearle Vision chains of eyeglass stores.

The Van der Vorms are not the only billionaires to see their investments in the fashion and beauty space pay off in 2019. Growing Chinese demand for luxury goods has raised the share prices of Bernard Arnault's LVMH, Francois Pinault's Kering, and Francoise Bettencourt Meyers' L'Oréal, adding $53 billion to the French billionaires' combined fortunes in 2019.

Read the full story on Bloomberg >> 

SEE ALSO: A 24-year-old who has shared photos of himself partying with Rihanna and Bella Hadid just became Hong Kong's newest billionaire overnight

DON'T MISS: Juul is cutting 500 jobs by the end of the year, and its cofounders have both lost their billionaire status after less than 10 months in the 3-comma club

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Traditional Japanese swords can take over 18 months to create — here's what makes them so special

• The key to building wealth is living in a home you can easily afford, according to Sarah Stanley Fallaw, a researcher who studied more than 600 millionaires.
• She found that most of the millionaires she studied lived in houses that cost below their means, allowing them to save and accumulate more wealth.
• Several well-known millionaires and billionaires, like Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg, live in affordable homes that cost little compared with their overall wealth.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The key to building wealth? Living in a home you can easily afford.

That's according to Sarah Stanley Fallaw, the director of research for the Affluent Market Institute. She's an author of "The Next Millionaire Next Door: Enduring Strategies for Building Wealth," in which she surveyed more than 600 millionaires in America.

She found that no factor plays as big a role in accumulating money as where you choose to live. Most of the millionaires she studied had never purchased a home that cost more than triple their annual income. Even some high-profile, ultra-rich people — from Mark Zuckerberg to Serena Williams— have purchased homes well below their means.

To compile the list below, we compared each person's net worth with the cost of their homes. We didn't have the data to determine their net worth at the time of purchase, so we adjusted the house purchase price for inflation using an inflation calculator to compare that with their net worth today.

For example, the billionaire investor Warren Buffett bought his home in 1958 for $31,500. Adjusted for inflation, that's equivalent to $274,357 in today's dollars, or just 0.0003% of his $82.1 billion net worth.

Everyone on this list owns a home that cost less than 5% of their net worth.

SEE ALSO: A woman who studied 600 millionaires discovered where you choose to live has 2 effects on your ability to build wealth

DON'T MISS: Inside the lives of surprisingly frugal millionaires and billionaires, from businessmen like Warren Buffett and Richard Branson to A-list celebs like Jay Leno and Jennifer Lawrence

Sarah Stanley Fallaw, the director of research for the Affluent Market Institute, studied more than 600 millionaires for her book, "The Next Millionaire Next Door: Enduring Strategies for Building Wealth."

Source: "The Next Millionaire Next Door"

She found that your neighborhood plays a huge role in how much you save and spend.

Source: "The Next Millionaire Next Door"

If you live in a pricey home in an affluent neighborhood, you're more likely to mirror your neighbor's consumption habits and less likely to accumulate wealth over time.

Source: "The Next Millionaire Next Door"

She found that most millionaires live in a home they can easily afford, allowing them to save more money.

Source: "The Next Millionaire Next Door"

Consider Warren Buffett, who lives in a modest home in Omaha, Nebraska, that he bought in 1958 for $31,500, or $274,357 in today's dollars.

Source: Business Insider

That's 0.0003% of his $82.1 billion net worth.

Source: Forbes

As of 2017, the home was worth an estimated $652,619. He called it the "third-best investment" he's ever made.

Source: Business Insider

It's 6,570 square feet, with five bedrooms and 2-1/2 bathrooms.

Source: Business Insider

It's also guarded by fences and security cameras.

Source: Business Insider

Meanwhile, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh lives in a Las Vegas trailer park called "Llamapolis" that he created in 2014 as part of his efforts to revitalize the city.

Source: Business Insider

Llamapolis, which was inspired by the Burning Man festival, is home to 30 Airstream trailers and tiny houses.

Source: Business Insider

The cost of Airstream trailers ranges from $25,900 to $139,900. The most expensive option — $148,750, adjusted for inflation — is just 0.02% of Hsieh's $840 million net worth.

Source: Wired, Washington Post

Aptly named, Llamapolis is also home to Hsieh's pet alpacas, which (usually) live in a pen.

Source: Business Insider

Hsieh previously told Business Insider his favorite aspect of living in the park was impromptu interactions with his neighbors.

Source: Business Insider

Hseih said he founded Llamapolis "because I wanted to maximize serendipity and randomness in my life."

Source: Business Insider

Mark Zuckerberg lives in a home equal to 0.01% of his wealth. He paid $7 million for a house in Palo Alto in 2011, equivalent to $7.8 million today. While that's not an outright modest number, it is modest for a man worth $71.1 billion.

Source: Forbes, Business Insider

It comes with a big backyard and a pool ...

Source: Business Insider

... and lush, detailed landscaping.

Source: Business Insider

Inside, the house has tons of windows for sunlight ...

Source: Business Insider

... a bathroom with a tub and separate sinks ...

Source: Business Insider

... and a spacious kitchen.

Source: Business Insider

Evan Spiegel also lives in California. He purchased the Los Angeles house he shares with Miranda Kerr, his wife, in 2016 for $12 million, or $12.6 million adjusted for inflation. That's 0.57% of his $2.2 billion net worth.

Source: Business Insider, Forbes

The house used to belong to Harrison Ford.

Source: Business Insider

At 7,164 square feet, the house has an open floor plan with plenty of sunshine ...

Source: Business Insider

... a dining room, a library with dark-gray wood ...

Source: Business Insider

... and a kitchen with marble accents.

Source: Business Insider

The backyard overlooks the city.

Source: Business Insider

Meanwhile, over in Beverly Hills is Serena Williams' home that she bought in 2017 for $6.7 million, or $6.9 million in today's dollars, only 3.8% of her reported $180 million net worth.

Source: Business Insider, Celebrity Net Worth

The 6,000-square-foot, three-story Spanish-style residence sits on a quarter-acre lot in a gated community.

Source: Business Insider

It has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a light and airy feel.

Source: Business Insider

The floors are brushed oak, and the kitchen — which opens out onto a veranda — has marble countertops.

Source: Business Insider

There's also a lower-level bonus room, complete with a glass-front wine cellar.

Source: Business Insider

Outside, the grassy backyard has a built-in grilling station and a swimming pool.

Source: Business Insider

Williams isn't the only sports star living in a relatively affordable home. Shaquille O'Neal's $21.9 million Florida home, which sits on 700 feet of lakefront property in a gated Orlando community, was on the market in January.

Source: Business Insider

He bought the house in 1993 for a little less than $4 million, or $6.9 million in today's dollars. That's 1.7% of his $400 million net worth.

Source: Business Insider, NBC Sports

The home has 12 bedrooms spread across 35,000 square feet.

Source: Business Insider

The entryway features a curved double grand staircase and polished marble floors, leading into the 1,170-square-foot great room.

Source: Business Insider

The master suite has a spacious walk-in closet, a mirrored wall, a gilded ceiling, and expansive views of the lake.

Source: Business Insider

O'Neal's home also has many additional rooms, like a recording studio, a 17-car garage, a cigar bar and lounge, a home theater, and, of course, an indoor basketball court.

Source: Business Insider

The outside is just as impressive, with a 95-foot-long, 15-foot-deep swimming pool and waterfall, space for barbecuing, and a cabana.

Source: Business Insider

• You can get Apple TV+— a new video streaming service with original content from Apple— as of November 1. 
• It's possible to get Apple TV+ free for one year if you've purchased a new Apple device after September 10. 
• If you didn't make a qualifying purchase, you can still get Apple TV+ for a one-week free trial by tapping the offer in the app.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you've been looking forward to the launch of Apple's video streaming service since it was announced about six weeks ago, the wait is over. 

Apple TV+ is live beginning today, November 1, along with 10 original shows and movies (which will increase as the service's lineup expands). 

The service costs $4.99 per month, though if you have purchased any new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac computer after September 10, 2019, you automatically get one year of the service free. 

Now that Apple TV+ is available, here's how to get it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

iPad (From $329.99 at Best Buy)

Apple TV (From $149.99 at Best Buy)

MacBook Pro (From $1,299.99 at Best Buy)

iPod Touch (From $199.99 at Best Buy)

How to get Apple TV+

1. Open the Apple TV app on your device (see below for a list of all compatible devices). 

2. If you're not already on the Watch Now tab, tap "Watch Now" at the bottom of the screen. 

3. Depending upon whether you made a purchase that qualifies you for a free year, do one of the following:

• If you have purchased a device that makes you eligible for a free year of service, you should immediately see the offer. If you don't immediately see the offer, scroll down until you see it, and then tap "Enjoy 1 Year Free." Confirm your billing information.

• If you haven't made a qualifying purchase, you can still get a one-week trial period. Scroll down until you see "Try it free." Tap that, and then follow the instructions to confirm your billing information. You'll get one week free, and then you'll be charged $4.99 for your first month of service. 

You can watch Apple TV+ on many devices 

Apple TV+ works with a wide range of devices from Apple and other companies:

• An iPhone or iPod Touch with the latest version of iOS
• An iPad with the latest version of iPadOS
• An Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD with the latest version of tvOS
• A third generation Apple TV with the latest Apple TV Software Update
• Any smart TV or streaming media player running the Apple TV app
• A Mac computer running the latest version of macOS
• Any computer running Safari, Firefox, or Chrome web browser (navigate to tv.apple.com)

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• 'How much is Apple TV+?': A guide to Apple's new video-streaming service with ad-free, original content

• 'How much is the iPhone 11?': Everything you need to know about Apple's latest phone, including its standard price, trade-in prices, and new features

• 'How much is the iPhone 11 Pro?': Everything you need to know about Apple's first 'Pro' phone, including its standard price, trade-in prices, and new features

• 'How much is the Apple Watch Series 5?': Everything you need to know about Apple's latest smartwatch, including its various prices and new features

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Apple just released iOS 13.2 with 60 new emoji and emoji variations. Here's how everyday people submit their own emoji.

• The Costco Auto Program allows Costco members to buy discounted cars through participating dealerships.
• The program makes a lot of the hardest parts of buying a car — like research and negotiation — easier.
• But it also limits the customer's options in some areas.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Shopping for a car can be overwhelming.

Even if you know what kind of vehicle you're looking for, you have to decide on the brand, model, and model year you'd like, as well as the dealership you want to use, whether you'd like to buy new or used, and whether you want to buy or lease.

Where do you start your research? Which sources can you trust? What's a reasonable price?

The Costco Auto Program attempts to eliminate some of that uncertainty.

In the past five years, over 1 million Costco members have purchased a vehicle through the program, which allows members to research and compare vehicles, calculate monthly payments, and get a discount at participating dealerships through the program's website or call center.

While the size of the discount varies based on the vehicle's class, brand, and model, a Costco Auto Program representative told Business Insider in 2018 that the average discount was over $1,000 off a vehicle's average transaction price.

And since the program is available only to its members, Costco has plenty of reasons to vet dealers and salespeople so their customers don't end up feeling tricked and blame Costco.

"We're not just providing leads to dealers — we're creating a referral," Rick Borg, a Costco Auto Program senior executive, told Business Insider in 2018.

Here's how using the Costco Auto Program is different from the average car shopping process.

SEE ALSO: The 10 cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs that have the best resale value after 5 years

1. You have to be a Costco member to use the program.

This may sound obvious, but while nonmembers can use some of the program's research tools, only Costco members are eligible to get the discounted price.

2. Multiple strands of research are condensed into one place.

One of the most difficult parts of shopping for a car is figuring out where to start and end your research, especially if you don't read car reviews for fun.

The Costco Auto Program brings reviews, safety ratings, a financial calculator, and a vehicle-comparison tool under one roof.

While it never hurts to compare research from multiple sources, the program's website provides a good place to start.

3. Your choice of dealerships and salespeople is limited.

Borg said Costco works with one dealership per brand in a defined geographic area around a Costco warehouse — and at each participating dealership, only a handful of salespeople are authorized to work with customers shopping through the program.

He said Costco picks dealerships based on prices, customer satisfaction index scores, and reputations on social media. Authorized salespeople are also evaluated based on their customer satisfaction scores and must work at their dealership for at least six months before they are eligible to work with the program.

But the limited number of dealerships and salespeople makes things a little more difficult for customers who don't end up satisfied with the first dealership Costco recommends. While Borg said Costco can point customers to other participating dealerships, they may not be geographically convenient.

4. Costco has already negotiated the price.

Negotiating the price of a car can be intimidating. While the dealership has much of the information — inventory, the dealership or salesperson's proximity to their sales goals, the average discount customers receive — you want to get the lowest possible price.

Borg said Costco takes a holistic approach when negotiating prices with participating dealerships, looking at national and local prices for a model as well as what customers can find through other discount programs.

And since it has a large membership base it can funnel to selected dealers, it has more leverage than any individual shopper.

5. You have a multibillion-dollar company behind you that can help resolve disputes.

If Costco's incredibly generous return policy is any indication, it will bend over backward to retain its members.

Buying a car is a much bigger investment than a grocery trip, and the company doesn't want its members to associate it with a $40,000 purchase they regret.

Borg said that while the company is "fairly selective" about which dealers it works with, it also provides customer support before and after a purchase.

If, for example, a customer finds a scratch on a car immediately after buying it and it falls outside the warranty, Costco can at least serve as a mediator between the customer and dealership.

"Are we going to advocate for members? Absolutely," Borg said.

He added that if a dealership were concerned about who would be responsible for cosmetic damage like that, Costco is "certainly going to step in and have a conversation with the dealer and ask them to do the right thing."

• You can send DMs on Instagram from a desktop computer or laptop by using developer tools, which let you configure how your internet browser functions.
• Using these tools also lets you start new conversations and attach pictures to a direct message. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Instagram is built to be used on your smartphone, and on your phone, it's great. You can post pictures and videos, find new artists and photographers to follow, and even send direct messages to your friends.

However, the desktop version of Instagram— in other words, the version of Instagram that you access through the internet browser on your desktop computer or laptop — doesn't have nearly as much going for it. You can still view posts from people you follow, as well as find new people to follow, but you can't post anything of your own, nor send direct messages.

At least, you can't do these things by default. There actually is a way to send direct messages on Instagram from your computer. If you're using Safari or Google Chrome, it will involve using something called a developer menu.

Here's how to do it.

How to send DMs on Instagram from a computer

Change your internet browser to work like a phone

To send Instagram DMs from our computer, we'll be configuring our internet browser to look like a smartphone screen.

If you're on a Mac and using Safari...

1. Go on Instagram.com and log into your account.

2. Click on "Safari" in the menu bar at the top of your screen.

3. Select "Preferences," and then go to the "Advanced" tab at the end.

4. At the bottom of the Advanced menu, check "Show Develop menu in menu bar." Once checked, you can close the Preferences menu.

5. Click on "Develop" in the menu bar.

6. Roll over "User Agent," and in the menu that appears, select the option that has "iPhone" at the end. There should only be one, near the top of the menu.

This will change the appearance of Safari to replicate the browser of an iPhone.  

If you're on a PC and using Google Chrome...

1. Again, log into Instagram.com.

2. Right-click anywhere on the screen, and select "Inspect."

3. A large window will appear on the right side of the screen, filled with code. At the top of this menu, click the tiny icon that looks like a phone in front of a tablet, so it turns blue. This is the "Toggle Device Toolbar" button. In the small toolbar that then appears on top of the Instagram page, make sure that the leftmost word says "Responsive."

4. Refresh the page.

5. Once refreshed, you can close the Inspect window — just click the X at its top-right corner.

Like with Safari, this will change your Chrome browser so it looks like an iPhone screen.

Access the Instagram DM menu

Once your browser is configured, the direct messages shortcut will appear in the upper-right corner of the Instagram homescreen — it looks like a paper airplane.

Like the mobile version, you can read and reply to your previous messages, attach pictures, or start a new conversation by clicking the compose button at the top-right of the DM screen. 

Check out the video version of this article on YouTube:

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech: 

• How to get your account verified on Instagram using the mobile app

• How to contact Instagram for help with your account, or to report other accounts

• How to edit an Instagram post to change the caption, tag people, add a location, or edit the 'alt text'

• How to use the Shop feature on Instagram, so you can buy featured products directly in the mobile app

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

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