• Vacuuming is a real pain, but robot vacuum cleaners can suck up the dust for you.
• Programming one to vacuum daily can help maintain the cleanliness of your home.
• Of all the robot vacuum cleaners we tried, the iRobot Roomba 690 proved to be the best for most people with its easy-to-use app, smart features, great suction, and affordable price.
• Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching, and many products in this guide will likely be on sale. You can check out our Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal coverage on Insider Picks here.

Nobody likes household chores, but they have to be done. Unfortunately, we don't live like the Jetsons yet, but you can get capable robot vacuum cleaners to take care of the dust and dirt for you. Robot vacuums can't completely replace manual cleaning, but they can help cut down on the amount of time you spend waging war on dust bunnies.

Robot vacuums work best in smaller homes and normal-sized apartments between 800 and 1,200 square feet. They handle hard floors and short carpets best, though they can get stuck now and then. Robot vacuums need a good motor for powerful suction, decent battery life, a brush roll, and enough smarts to be self-sufficient. Many robot vacuums work with apps on your phone and some will even run when you tell them to with voice commands if you have Amazon's Alexa at home. The most advanced models can even map your home's floor plan for more precise cleaning.

We tested out a number of highly reviewed robot vacuums in a range of prices. We also included a robot mop and duster in our guide because it's a great vacuum alternative for basic cleaning. 

Here are the best robot vacuums you can buy:

• Best robot vacuum overall: iRobot Roomba 690  
• Best affordable robot vacuum: Eufy RoboVac 11S 
• Best mid-price robot vacuum: Ecovacs Deebot 711
• Best high-end robot vacuum: iRobot Roomba 960 
• Best self-cleaning robot vacuum: iRobot Roomba i7+
• Best self-navigating vacuum: Neato Botvac D7 Connected

Updated on 11/27/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides. 

SEE ALSO: The best vacuums you can buy for less than $300

The best robot vacuum overall

The iRobot Roomba 690 sucks up dirt and debris, responds to voice commands, and is considerably more affordable than similar models.

You don't have to spend a fortune to own a robot vacuum cleaner, but you don't have to go with a low-powered one, either. The iRobot Roomba 690 sits right in the middle of the road, making it the best robot vacuum for most people. It has strong suction and smart features like voice control that put it above most budget vacuums. 

iRobot's three-stage cleaning system loosens dirt and debris so it's easy to suck up. The vacuum has a spinning side brush, which is very effective. Setup is easy and the companion app is excellent. You even get introductory videos with tips to help you get started. It's so easy to use that we had our bot up and running in about 10 minutes. 

The Roomba 690 can clean carpet, rugs, tile, hardwood, and laminate floors without any problems. It navigates around obstacles like furniture, clutter, and other objects. You can also set up barriers, so your bot doesn't clean the wrong room or stumble onto your thick shag carpet and stop running. We created a barrier between our hardwood and tile floors so we could separate the rooms better.

We tested out the iRobot Roomba 690 and came away very impressed. It picked up dirt, dust, cat and human hair, cat litter, crumbs, and just about everything else we threw at it. It wasn't quite as powerful as the $700+ robot vacuums we tested, and it did get stuck on a stray shoelace, but overall, it impressed us, and we think it offers the best bang for your buck.

Since it's a smart vacuum that's Wi-Fi-enabled, you can set a schedule for it to clean during specific times and more in the companion app. You can even control it with your voice using Amazon's Alexa or the Google Assistant. We tried it a few times, and it really felt like living in the future. 

The Roomba 690 runs for 60 minutes and returns to its base for charging as soon as it runs out of juice. It's funny to see your robot amble its way home without any assistance. The robot vacuum played nice with our cat, too, so have no fear that your Roomba will run over your pets. If anything, be worried that your cat may pounce on your Roomba. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Affordable for a smart robot vacuum, voice control, app-controlled, can be programmed

Cons: Not as powerful as high-end models, doesn't clean the whole house in one go like the 960

The best affordable robot vacuum

The Eufy RoboVac 11S is significantly cheaper than every other robot vacuum we tested, but it's just as good at cleaning.

Who says you have to pay an arm and a leg to robotically clean your home? Certainly not the startup Eufy, which launched its budget-friendly RoboVac line last year. We tried the 11 and we loved it, but the startup's latest robot vacuum, the Eufy 11S, is our new budget pick because it has a slimmer profile that fits in tighter spaces, a slightly longer runtime, and improved features.

Most importantly, the 11S will help you do your chores, so you can save time and money. Because of its low price, we called it the smartest investment you'll make all year in our full review.

While the 11S is smaller than previous RoboVac models, the 11S boasts a larger dustbin to collect more dirt, and 30% stronger suction to clean floors even more efficiently. Although the 11S is only 2.85-inches tall, its diminutive size allows it to sneak under bed frames, cabinets, and other tight spaces without getting stuck. It navigated across hardwood, tile, and carpet effortlessly.

The 11S gets 100 minutes of battery life while cleaning, and its suction has also been upgraded, so it is better equipped to pick up dirt and debris from your carpets or cracks in your floor.

One of the RoboVac 11S' most notable strengths is that it has several modes. Spot mode, for instance, will focus on cleaning a small, specific area for two minutes, while Single Room mode will start a 30-minute cleaning session in a certain space.

The RoboVac's remote also lets you set up a schedule, so you can start your vacuum before you go to work, and return home to spotless floors.

Overall, the vacuum maneuvers pretty gracefully around furniture and molding, and picks up all the dust, hair, and everything else that amasses in a home with ease. Sure, you may be horrified when you empty the dustbin every couple of days to see just how much stuff is collecting on your floor, but hey, it beats dealing with it on your own. And with a price tag this low, it won't feel like a robotic vacuum is a luxury, but rather a necessity.

It may not have all the smart features like app or voice control, but it cleans just as well as our top pick and costs less. The only reason it wasn't our top pick is that it is lacking smart features like voice and app control, and we're nerdy enough to wish for those features. However, if those things don't matter to you, it's an excellent deal. — Lulu Chang and Malarie Gokey

Pros: Extremely affordable without sacrificing key functionality, low profile allows the vacuum to get into small spaces

Cons: No voice control or connectivity

The best mid-price robot vacuum

The Deebot 711 is the latest robotic vacuum from Ecovacs, and with its Smart Navi Mapping Technology and 110-minute battery life, this may just be one of the most effective robots on the market.

The Ecovacs family of vacuums has long been a shopper and Business Insider favorite. They're some of the best-selling robovacs on Amazon, and we just couldn't get enough of the Ecovacs Deebot 900. But our pick is actually the Deebot 711— cheaper than the 900 and just as effective. Plus, it has nearly two hours of battery life, which makes it an excellent candidate for even the dirtiest floors.

What I've been most impressed by during my testing is the Deebot 711's ability to map my home and quickly learn which areas are most in need of cleaning. That's due to the robot's Smart Navi Mapping Technology, which not only helps it adapt to any environment but also helps it to avoid bumping into furniture or avoid falling down stairs.

The Smart Navi Mapping Technology is capable of creating an optimized and systematic cleaning path that covers up to 1,300 square feet, which makes it more than enough for at least one floor of your home — if not your whole home.

The Deebot is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can simply tell the robot to start cleaning by either using a voice command or use the companion smartphone app.

Of course, if you'd like to exercise a bit more control over the cleaning process, you can use the app to direct the robot, or schedule a cleaning. You can also ask for status updates while you're away so that you know exactly what the Deebot has and hasn't done.

The Deebot 711 features a maximum power suction mode, which doubles the suction power of the machine and helps it take care of tough stains like dirt and grime on either hardwood or carpeted floors. Plus, the Deebot features two specialized cleaning modes — edge and spot mode — which allow you (by proxy, that is) to tackle hard to reach and often-missed areas of the room. — Lulu Chang

Pros: Smart mapping, voice commands, easy to use, cleans well, decent price

Cons: Not as precise as a Roomba

The best high-end robot vacuum

The iRobot Roomba 960 is a great high-end robot vacuum cleaner that cleans your entire first floor without stopping as it moves from room to room.

If you want great suction, smart features, and seamless performance, you'll have to pay for it. The iRobot Roomba 960 may be expensive, but it is a great high-end robot vacuum cleaner. 

It has more smarts and more suction power than our top pick and it can clean your entire first floor without stopping as it moves from room to room. It's sure to satisfy those of you who have a bigger home or just need a more intense clean from your bot.

Just like the other vacuums in our guide, the 960 can clean any type of flooring and suck up dirt, dust, and debris without a hitch. The app lets you schedule and initiate cleanings, but it also shows you maps of the area your bot has cleaned. The 960 learns your floor plan to clean more efficiently every time and it can move from room to room all on its own.

Setup is very easy and the app is excellent. You even get introductory videos with tips to help you get started. It's so easy to use that we had our bot up and running in about 10 minutes. The Roomba also works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, so you can tell it to clean with a simple voice command. We tried that a handful of times, and it was pretty amazing.

The 960 uses iRobot's iAdapt 2.0 Navigation with Visual Localization to clean more effectively, and it has five times more suction power than our top pick and other Roomba 600 series cleaners. You can tell the difference, too.

In our tests, the 960 left less debris behind and managed to get more pet hair in a single pass than others. It navigated around obstacles fairly well and only got stuck when it ran into a stray power cord we'd left in its path. The vacuum goes back to its charging station as soon as it's done cleaning. You don't need to stop and restart it because it moves from room to room on its own. It'll also go right back to its home base when it needs to recharge.

If you have pets, don't worry — the Roomba won't hit them, and it's much more likely to scare them out of its way than anything. My cat got very curious about the strange moving creature with no scent, but she tended to avoid its path as it vacuumed.

You can run it for up to 75 minutes before it goes to charge itself back up. It'll even pick up where it left off before it had to go charge, so you don't need to worry that it missed a spot. It's truly a great robot vacuum cleaner if you have the money for it. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Powerful suction, great with pet hair, smart controls in-app, voice control, app shows map of areas cleaned, cleans all rooms on the first floor without stopping

Cons: On the pricey side

The best robot vacuum that self-cleans

If you just want to schedule your robotic vacuum and forget it, there is no better option for bigger homes than the iRobot Roomba i7+— it even self cleans.

iRobot continues to revolutionize robotic vacuums with the release of the Roomba i7+. What sets this robovac apart from every other option is the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal.

After a cleaning job, the i7+ docks at the Clean Base and empties its dustbin into a disposable bag. The bag is designed to hold 30 bins of dirt. The i7+ also has the ability to map the rooms of your house, and when paired with Alexa or Google Assistant, you can simply say, "Hey Roomba, clean the kitchen." And, it follows your command.

I currently have the Roomba 980 and Roomba i7+, among other robotic vacuums. The 980 was my favorite vacuum until the i7+ came along. And, in a few ways, the 980 is still superior: It has a bigger battery, more suction, and can be found for a lower price. However, iRobot has discontinued the 980.

The i7+ is my new favorite because I was able to use it for 45 cleanings before I filled the disposable bag. This is especially impressive since I have two cats and a dog that sheds heavily. I have not thoroughly tested it yet, but from my casual observations, it doesn't appear to leave debris behind: It picks it all up.

The only hiccup I had was a warning that the Clean Base was clogged. I followed the directions in the app, including unscrewing the debris evacuation tubing to check for clogs. There was no visible debris. So, I replaced the disposable bag, and the problem went away.

PCMag recommends the i7+ because it's the first robot vacuum that does all of the cleaning work for you. In its tests, the vacuum handled dust, dirt, hair, and other debris on vinyl, tile, and hardwood floors. Yet, the reviewer didn't like the bulkiness of the Clean Base and how loudly it operates.

One of the most popular features among buyers is the i7+'s ability to map multiple floors in a home. A recent firmware update, in April 2019, improved the vacuum's mapping capability as well as its startup time. The firmware brings the i7+ in-line with the newest Roomba, the S9+, which shares similar technology except it has a filtration system for removing allergens and an updated design. — James Brains

Pros: Bin empties itself, maps multiple floors in your house, compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant

Cons: Expensive, noisy, Clean Base takes up more space than other docking stations

The best self-navigating robot vacuum for larger spaces

The Neato Botvac D7 Connected cleans efficiently, thanks to its ability to follow invisible no-go lines for precise navigation.

While going from an apartment renter to a homeowner has been an exciting experience, I quickly realized that having more space also equates to more time spent cleaning that space. Being able to automate any part of the cleaning process was welcome and made the idea of having a robot vacuum zipping around all the more appealing. This is where the Neato Botvac D7 Connected comes in.

While testing this self-navigating smart vacuum, I was immediately impressed with how much time it saved me. Thanks to laser smart technology, and the ability to place invisible "no-go" lines right in the app on my phone, the Botvac D7 effortlessly navigated around our 2,100 square-foot home. It can also save up to three different floor plans, making it ideal for multi-level homes like ours.

Since this is the first robot vacuum I've ever used, I took some time to run through the directions, but the overall set-up went smoothly, and there were no issues with internet connectivity. I placed its charging base in our living room, where our internet signal is strongest, and so far, it has had no issues with finding its way back to "home base" when it's finished cleaning.

It should be noted that we have a mix of hardwood and linoleum floors, along with some throw rugs. We also have a kitten who enjoys shedding and tracking her litter everywhere. The Botvac D7 had no issues cleaning the different types of surfaces thanks to its ability to sense the floor-type it's cleaning, and it picked up both cat hair and litter with ease with the dual spinning brushes.

The "D" shaped design allows this vacuum to navigate into corners, and closely along the walls and around furniture to pick up as much dirt and dust as possible. Thanks to being able to place "no-go" lines and the high-end laser technology, I luckily never had any issues with the Botvac D7 getting tangled in cords or stuck under furniture.

I do wish the bin were bigger to collect more dirt without having to be emptied as often, but on the upside, it is easy to remove and the filters are also easy to clean, making this far less of a chore than it could be.

Having a larger home, I especially appreciated the battery life of 120 minutes, and how quickly this vacuum charges. It even has "quick boost" charging if it runs out of power in the middle of a cleaning job, where it calculates the amount of power needed to get the job done, and then resumes cleaning once it's been charged enough.

I also liked being able to choose which type of cleaning would be most effective. The different features include spot cleaning for a quick pick up and zone cleaning for the areas like around the kitchen table that tend to get dirtier more often. Different cleaning settings are available as well. The Eco-setting is slightly quieter and saves more energy, and the turbo clean setting is great for a deeper clean.

You can also schedule specific times for cleaning that can be controlled right from your smartphone so you can be busy working at the office while your vacuum is busy cleaning up your home. 

While my cat is not yet sold on the Botvac D7, running for cover every time it starts up, I feel that it's a worthwhile investment for anyone who's looking for a way to add some ease to their cleaning schedule.

Its compatibility with both Alexa and Google Home devices for added ease of use is yet another feature that makes this robot vacuum worth the higher price point.  — Kylie Joyner

Pros: Laser technology for precise navigation, invisible no-go lines can be placed for ultimate cleaning control, 120 minutes of battery power ideal for larger spaces, cleans quickly and efficiently, compatible with smart home devices including Alexa and Google Home

Cons: Small bin size, on the expensive side

Check out our other vacuum guides

The best vacuum cleaners 

Whether your home has carpeting or hardwood, you need a good vacuum cleaner to keep the floors tidy. Here are the best vacuum cleaners you can buy: 

• Best vacuum overall Miele C2 Electro+
• Best cordless vacuum: Dyson Cyclone V10
• Best cheap vacuum: Shark Navigator Lift-Away
• Best for pet hair: Black & Decker SMARTECH PET Cordless 10.8V Hand Vacuum
• Best robotic vacuum: iRobot Roomba 960

The best cordless vacuums

Perhaps the only thing worse for your floors than crumb-dropping kids is hair-shedding pets. But not to worry, the Dyson V series cordless vacuums will restore your floors to furball-free status in minutes. Here are our top picks for the best cordless vacuum cleaners:

• Best cordless vacuums overall: Dyson V series cordless vacuums
• Best cordless vacuum for less than $300: Shark DuoClean Cordless IONFlex Vacuum
• Best cordless vacuum for pet owners: Shark Navigator Freestyle
• Best cordless vacuum for less than $75: Bissell Lift-Off
• Best cordless vacuum that's a full-size crossover: Hoover Air Lift

• Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro are on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart ahead of the official Cyber Monday. 
• The best deal overall is $34 off AirPods with the wireless charging case, available at all three retailers.
• While the discount might not sound impressive, it's the biggest savings we've seen on the earbuds recently and the best deal across all three retailers.
• Check out our comprehensive guide to the best Cyber Monday deals, and to potentially save more this Cyber Monday, visit Business Insider Coupons. 

As two of the most popular iPhone accessories, Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro are well-worth their full retail prices. But as a result of stellar sales at full price, they're almost never marked down. Thankfully, major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart are all dropping prices during Cyber Monday.

In fact, AirPods and AirPods Pro are already on sale at each retailer, so you don't even have to wait for the official day to pick up a pair ahead of the holiday season. If you'd like to pair your new AirPods with another Apple device, here are the best Cyber Monday deals on MacBooks, Apple Watches, and more.

The best deals on Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro on Cyber Monday:

1. AirPods with wireless charging case, $164.99 (Originally $199.99) [You save $34.01]: available on Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart

2. AirPods with standard charging case, available on Amazon, $134 (Originally $159) [You save $25]: Also available on Best Buy and Walmart for $139.99

3. AirPods Pro, $234.98 (Originally $249) [You save $14.02]: available on Amazon

Why these are the best deals:

If you're looking for massively discounted headphones, you will never find that with AirPods. While these discounts are minimal if you do the math, they're still the best discounts you'll find on AirPods and AirPods Pro, and they definitely beat paying full price.

The AirPods with wireless charging case for $165 is the best deal we've seen because it's the largest discount between the three deals available, and you can easily find them online at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart in case you have a preference for a certain store. You'll also be able to use any store credit cards for further savings.

Since Apple released AirPods in 2016, they've become one of the best-selling headphones in the world. With updated versions of the popular Bluetooth headphones including pair with a wireless charging case and the all-new active noise cancelling Pro, AirPods are guaranteed to be on plenty of holiday wishlists this year. 

Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro deals by store:

Amazon

• Save $25 on AirPods with standard charging case, $34 on AirPods with wireless charging case, and $14 on the AirPods Pro

Best Buy

• Save $20 on AirPods with standard charging case and $34 on AirPods with wireless charging case

Walmart

• Save $20 on AirPods with standard charging case and $34 on AirPods with wireless charging case

See more Cyber Monday sales and deals

• What is Cyber Monday? Everything you need to know
• The absolute best Cyber Monday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Cyber Monday 2019
• Amazon Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Target Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Walmart Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Macy's Cyber Monday deals 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

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• I traveled for four days on the longest train journey in North America, which takes passengers between Toronto and Vancouver.
• The ride took a little more than 96 hours to complete, which included about 10 stops and the time we spent waiting for freight trains to pass us.
• I was nervous about being alone on a train for so long (without WiFi!) but I discovered that my worrying was for nothing. 
• There were plenty of sights to see, people to meet, activities to participate in, and cabins to explore.
• While it certainly wasn't as quick or convenient as flying, the train was definitely more exciting.
• If you've got the time and you're looking for the trip of a lifetime that's more about the journey than the destination, this sleeper train is perfect.
• The trip changed my mind about train travel— I think it's a really great option for anyone looking for a family trip, couples retreat, or solo trip.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With my carry-on sized luggage and backpack full of cameras, I headed to Union Station in Toronto to begin my 96-hour journey — a little more than four days — across Canada on The Canadian train.

I was about to traverse the iconic Great Western Way route from Toronto to Vancouver. At nearly 2,800 miles, it's the longest train route in North America and a bucket-list trip for almost every traveler I spoke with along the way.

I did a ton of research going into the trip, but I still had no idea what to expect when it came to the actual experience. With no WiFi and little cell service, I thought I'd spend most of my time bored in my cabin.

But after meeting loads of interesting people, seeing the Canadian countryside out my window, and dining on board, I understood why this is such an iconic trip for travelers of all ages.

• Read more: I took a 4-day trip on the longest train ride in North America, and these mesmerizing sights made the 96 hours worth it

The train makes seven scheduled stops along the way: Sudbury Junction in Ontario, Sioux Lookout in Ontario, Winnipeg in Manitoba, Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Edmonton in Alberta, Jasper in Alberta, and Kamloops in British Columbia.

But first, I'd have to board in Toronto. Union Station is monstrous, and it looks more like a courthouse than a train station from the outside.

I made my way to the VIA Rail lounge for all business class travelers — my Sleeper Plus class ticket fell under the business classification. This class of ticket can run travelers up to $6,000 depending on time of year, and includes all onboard meals and one of three seating arrangements that turn into beds.

I checked in at the lounge entrance and while still at the station made my reservation for dinner with a crew member. Everyone was friendly and helpful from the get-go.

As crew members announced that it was time to board, we were all led through the station to the VIA Rail platform where the train was waiting for us. I looked around and everyone was smiling — they all looked excited for the almost 100 hours ahead.

I was directed to my cabin for two, where I put down my suitcase and took off some of my many cold-weather layers. When I first opened the door, I was surprised at how much the cabin actually looked like the brochure. The seats were bright and the leather didn't look too worn...

… and there was a shelf above the sink with what I'd call "spa soap."

The toilet was in its own "annex" — a more sophisticated name for "little toilet room" as I called it.

The bed is folded up during the day, and when it comes down from the wall at night, the tan chairs fold down underneath it. If there were a second person staying in the cabin with me, their bed would be pulled down from the ceiling to resemble a top bunk.

The bed was nearly six-feet long and less than three-feet wide. Even with it down, there was enough room to keep my suitcase out, stand at the sink, and open the annex door. Having a second person in the room would have felt cramped.

Train staff provided beautiful turn-down service nightly which included a piece of goodnight chocolate placed on the comforter. Every morning, usually while I was at breakfast, they came around to change the sheets and put all the beds away.

But, if you want to hold off on pulling down or putting away the bed, you can leave the "Do Not Disturb" sign outside your door.

Getting ready for bed was pleasant with the little sink and toilet annex conveniently in my room. I even had a miniature night table above my head for my water and glasses.

I was able to plug my phone in to charge as I watched the "Gossip Girl" episodes I downloaded before I boarded in Toronto. Thankfully, the charger reached my bed from the outlet.

The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and I got four fairly decent nights of sleep throughout the entire trip.

Above the set of mirrors, I found a shower kit with a towel, soap, and shampoo.

There was no shower in my cabin, but there was a municipal one for everyone in my car to share. It was just seven steps down the hall from my cabin. I never noticed a line for the shower.

The actual shower area was surprisingly spacious. The room had a single shower, a ledge for clothing and a bag ...

... and a "towel disposal" for my used towel. That was nice because it meant I didn't need to take it back to my room and figure out where to hang it.

Overall I was impressed with my cabin, and it made me wonder what other sleeping arrangements looked like.

When I explored the rest of the train, I got to see how my mates were traveling. Starting from my business class Sleeper Plus car near the back, I walked toward the front of the train.

Walking through a few more Sleeper Plus cars, I passed cabins for one, which consisted of a single bench, a murphy bed that folded down over the bench, and a toilet that doubles as a table.

There were also berth alcoves around the corner — a lower-cost ticket option from a cabin — made up of a pair of couches facing each other during the day ...

... that turns into a bunk bed style sleeping arrangement for the night. These beds are slightly shorter but wider than the cabin mattresses.

Finally, I made my way to Economy class — the low-cost ticket option. There was a sign on the door between cars that read "Economy Class Passengers Only Beyond This Point," but I just walked through.

Walking through the economy Skyline car — a lounge car for passengers — I could tell from the torn seats and fading teal color of the leather that it was not as nice as the business class Skyline car.

But economy was still a pretty sweet set-up. Seats reclined decently and they had pop-up footrests. I noticed that some passengers claimed sets of seats facing each other and made a full bed for themselves.

Most of the people I talked to in economy, though, said they were traveling for only part of this iconic route. Josh Barrett, seen here, was traveling for just three hours, so he didn't need to reserve a Sleeper ticket.

Some travelers, like Bobbi-Marie Sandberg, seen here, did sleep in their seats. She was traveling home with her three-year-old son and spent a total of 32 hours on board.

Economy passengers have access to a lofted dome seating area in their Skyline car. But the partially-cloth seats and faded colors made it look a bit more tired than the one I used in business class.

The Skyline car in business class had new-looking leather seats and a more modern color scheme. Eager passengers started to file in before we even pulled away from the platform in Toronto.

A major draw of this trip for passengers is the promise of stunning views. The best way to enjoy those views is through the elevated, windowed dome of the Skyline car.

Even more immersive than the observation deck in the Skyline car was the Panorama car, but it wasn't added to the train until we approached Rocky Mountain territory more than halfway through the trip.

VIA Rail staff said this car only ever travels between Edmonton and Vancouver, as it's the most scenic leg of the trip.

As the train started to move, Colin — the staff member assigned to look after the folks in my Skyline car— came around with welcome mimosas and introduced himself.

The glass-covered section of the Skyline car filled up quickly in Ontario. I found myself sitting at one of two small, rectangular tables with three strangers who, after a minute, were no longer strangers at all. The friendly introductions and echos of, "You can sit with us!" filled the car the entire trip.

The first moments of my trip were filled with conversations about cameras, which turned out to be great ice breakers.

Because of the visual nature of this journey, I wasn't surprised to find that many of my train mates were camera buffs. Randy Barba and Russell Kanhai, in particular, each had their collections of lenses and cameras with them.

They even gave me tips on how I could get the best pictures on mine, like putting the lens right up against the window to minimize reflections.

While I was able to get some beautiful shots of the orange, yellow, and red leaves ...

• Read more: I took a 4-day trip on the longest train ride in North America, and these mesmerizing sights made the 96 hours worth it

... most of my photos ended up looking like this blurry mess.

My trip was smack dab in the middle of October, so the environment was bright and at its peak autumn-ness.

The crew said if we wanted to get any red trees in our pictures, day one was the only day to do it. So everyone spent the first day snapping photos out the window, myself included.

Thinking the sunrise would be stunning, I woke up at 6 a.m. each day of my journey and headed to the Skyline car. Alas, it was too cloudy on most mornings, but we did get one glowing sunrise by the end of the trip.

The comfortable leather seats of the observation area were great for socializing. I learned more and more about my train buddies the longer I sat there.

There was Carina Clarsson, who is a rather spontaneous solo-traveler from Sweden ...

... Stuart and Kathy Halson, a couple who came from Washington to cross this trip off their bucket list ...

... and Randy and Jeanette Barba of Toronto. Randy told me that, as someone who works a lot with railways, "how could [he] not want to do something like this?"

Another opportunity to meet people was during mealtime in the dining car, which looked exactly like it did in the brochure.

Leather-bound menus, beautiful dishware, and lovely tablescapes greeted passengers as we sat down.

For each meal, the maître d' seated me at a table with three totally new people. It was cool to hear everyone's stories: Benoit, seen here, was in the middle moving from Montreal to Vancouver.

My first impression of the food onboard was at brunch — I ordered banana bread French toast and was not disappointed. Of course, my waiter insisted on topping off my welcome mimosa.

From 6:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. passengers can order from the continental breakfast menu. I ordered the yogurt and berries each morning and carried it to the Skyline car where I ate under the early morning clouds.

Daily specials and accommodating kitchen staff made up each of my 11 dining experiences on the train. Other brunches included brie-stuffed omelets, vegetarian hash topped with eggs, and fried chicken BLT sandwiches with a side of pancakes!

The kitchen staff humored me and my strange ordering ways. What can I say? I wanted to try everything, so I always asked for a small bit of another meal listed on the menu. Everything came out exactly the way I asked for it.

I was really impressed with the food as well as the wine pairings at dinner! Each dish on the menu had an icon suggesting a wine for an ideal taste. Meals were included in the price of our tickets, but alcohol and snacks were not.

When we stopped at Winnipeg, we still had two full days left on the train. I was constantly getting hungry in between meals, so we used the stop to visit the wine store and snack stand at The Forks Market, just a few-minutes walk from the train station.

Candy seemed like the logical choice of snack here.

But, every other day there was either a complimentary wine or beer tasting. During the tastings, we all pretended like we were professionals and gave our harshest opinions, but we still finished every last drop.

We had a sampling of some local Canadian wine after dinner one day ...

... which concluded with a musical performance by Andy Du Rego of Black Suit Devil, the selected musician for this trip as part of VIA Rail's artists on board initiative.

Andy told me the initiative allows musicians who want to travel across the country to hop on board for free and provide musical entertainment for passengers along the way.

As Andy played on that first night, I watched everyone get more and more lively as the hours grew later. I quickly learned this was shaping up to be a late-night crowd.

We stayed up in the dome of the Skyline car looking at the sky hoping to see stars, but it was too cloudy.

Even crew members stayed up late with us, telling us stories about how the train has changed in the past year — there have been schedule updates, which fixed the issue of frequent, 24-plus-hour delays.

Aside from my section's Skyline car, passengers were able to hang out in the Park car — a first-class lounge that's off-limits to business class travelers until 4 p.m. daily. The area features high tables and a bar ...

... and couches with a view out the back of the train. Passengers can sit and watch the track disappear out the rear window.

The dome part of the Park car was always off-limits to anyone who wasn't a first-class traveler. It looked exactly the same as the one in my Skyline car, though, so I didn't understand why it was so exclusive.

I was happy to go back to my dedicated Skyline car and listen to everyone discuss and debate countless topics as we passed through beautiful yet scenically repetitive prairies.

As we got more familiar with one another, people from all different backgrounds told tales of their past travels. And, of course, everyone came together to talk politics.

Political talk was mostly about with the upcoming Canadian election, but the train was filled with global travelers so conversation shifted from one world leader to the next quite frequently.

I love learning about people and different points of view, so hearing everyone explain their perspectives was my favorite part of the entire trip experience.

Another part of the trip I liked was whenever we were able to get out and stretch our legs. It was cold and rainy at most stops, but the small dose of fresh air was always so needed.

VIA staff told us that if a traveler doesn't make it back to the train on time, it will leave the station without them. So most of the time, we had just enough of a window to hop out and snap some photos.

Some stations were more popular than others for travelers who were starting or ending their trips. Passengers can also request to be dropped off at smaller, non-scheduled stations, and can even request to be let out on the side of the tracks if they want, but that's usually just people going camping.

The time you get at any stop is never guaranteed. When the train is trying to make up time, the staff will cut stops short whenever possible. Instead of the four hours we thought we'd have in Jasper, we only got 45 minutes.

Delays in the schedule came mostly from waiting for freight trains to pass by, which share the tracks and have priority over VIA Rail.

Even with delays, we ended up pulling into Vancouver on-time. Everyone had to be off the train by 8:30 a.m., so I had about two hours to pack up and get breakfast, but part of me wanted just a few more hours on board.

While the journey was long, filled with very dry recirculated air that made my nose bleed, and just generally exhausting, I really understood why so many people dream of crossing Canada on The Canadian.

From the sights to the friendships and the experience of riding an endangered mode of travel, I saw it as an amazing trip, and one I wouldn't hesitate to do again.

• Read more about my journey on the longest train route in North America

I took a 4-day trip on the longest train ride in North America, and these mesmerizing sights made the 96 hours worth it

I spent 96 hours on a train from Toronto to Vancouver, and crossing 4 time zones was more disorienting than I ever expected

• You can adjust the ringer volume on an iPhone in the Settings app, or through the Volume buttons on the side of your device. 
• Apple changed the ringer volume controls with iOS 11 and later, so if you want to use the volume buttons on the side of the phone for ringer volume, you'll first need to turn on this function in Settings.
• If you enable the volume buttons, they will control ringer volume — except when you are listening to media, in which case they become media volume controls.    
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

No one wants to miss a call because the ringer was too quiet or set on mute. 

Starting in iOS 11, though, Apple changed the way you control the ringer volume, and if you didn't notice, it's easy to get frustrated with an inability to control the ringer. 

Specifically, the volume buttons on the side of your iPhone only change the volume of media (like music and video) by default, not the volume of the ringer and alerts. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to adjust the ringer volume on an iPhone in Settings

By default, you'll need to use Settings to adjust the ringer volume.

1. Start the Settings app. 

2. Tap "Sounds & Haptics."

3. In the Ringer and Alerts section, drag the slider to the desired volume level.

How to adjust the ringer volume on your iPhone with the Volume buttons

If you want to use the Volume buttons on the side of the phone for the ringer volume, you'll need to turn this feature on in Settings. 

1. Start the Settings app. 

2. Tap "Sounds & Haptics."

3. In the Ringer and Alerts section, turn on "Change with Buttons" by swiping the button to the right.

If you enable this feature, remember that the Volume buttons now perform two functions, depending upon when you use them:

• When you are not listening to media (like music or video), the volume buttons only control ringer and alerts — to change the volume for media, you need to pull down the Control Center (swipe down from the top right of the screen) and use the volume slider there. 
• When you are listening to music or video, the volume buttons will only control the media volume.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• 'Why won't my iPhone ring?': 7 ways to fix an iPhone when its sound isn't working properly

• How to make custom ringtones for your iPhone

• How to mute the sound on your iPhone by turning on silent mode and lowering the volume

• How to turn off vibration on your iPhone in 3 steps, or choose when you want your iPhone to vibrate

• How to change notification sounds for the built-in apps on your iPhone, or enable notification sounds for third-party apps

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

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Millennials are experiencing a "health shock" largely fueled by a decline in mental health, according to a recent Blue Cross Blue Shield report. 
• According to the World Health Organization, health shocks are "unpredictable illnesses that diminish health status."
• The situation is comparable to the effects the Vietnam War and recreational drug use had on the Silent Generation, and the effect the AIDS epidemic had on boomers, the report said.
• Studies from 2019 have found that depression and "deaths of despair" are on the rise among millennials.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Mental health is on the decline among American millennials.

It's such a problem that Blue Cross Blue Shield defined mental health as millennials' "health shock" in a recent report — and compared its effects to those the Vietnam War, recreational drug use, and the AIDS epidemic had on previous generations of the same age.

Health shocks, as defined by the World Health Organization, are "unpredictable illnesses that diminish health status." The government has been documenting health shocks in terms of mortality since 1960, according to the recent Blue Cross Blue Shield report. The graph below documents these health shocks when the oldest members of each generation start turning 35, according to the Pew Research Center's definition of generations. Millennials are ages 23 to 38 in 2019.

Each peak — the late 1960s to early 1970s, the 1990s, and 2015 — represents a health shock.

At the age of 35, the silent generation experienced health shocks that were traced back to the Vietnam War and a rise in recreational drug use, according to the report. A health shock happened again for boomers of the same age, related to the AIDS epidemic. Gen X, it appears, is one generation that did not experience a health shock, at least at the age of 35.

However, it's worth noting that more than one generation was probably affected by these health shocks: Some older boomers in their 20s, for example, were probably affected by the Vietnam War. Similarly, some older Gen-Xers in their 20s were likely affected by AIDS.

The oldest millennials are now seeing an uptick in mortality. While the report says it's difficult to determine a single cause behind this latest health shock, the rapid increase in conditions such as depression, substance abuse, and hyperactivity may be a key factor.

The declining state of millennials' mental health

The report found that rates of depression and hyperactivity among American millennials increased by about 30% from 2014 to 2017. Major-depression diagnoses are rising at a faster rate for millennials and teens than they were for any other age group, according to an earlier Blue Cross Blue Shield report released in 2019.

The most prominent symptom of major depression is "a severe and persistent low mood, profound sadness, or a sense of despair," according to Harvard Medical School.  

A new report by the Journal of the American Medical Association that looked at life expectancy and mortality in the US from 1959 through 2017 found that life expectancy began to decline after 2014 for the first time since 1969. It's largely because of drug overdoses, alcohol abuse, suicides, and organ system diseases among those ages 25 to 64.

But a rise in accidental deaths overall makes up a larger share of mortality among millennials than they did for Gen Xers at the same age, the latest Blue Cross report found. (Accidental deaths from heroin and other opioid overdoses specifically have increased by 1,400% among all generations from 2010 to 2017.)

More millennials are dying "deaths of despair," or deaths related to drugs, alcohol, and suicide, Jamie Ducharme reported for Time in June, citing a report by the public-health groups Trust for America's Health and Well Being Trust. While these deaths have increased across all age groups in the past 10 years, they've increased the most among younger Americans, the report said. Drug overdoses were the most common cause of death.

According to the Blue Cross's baseline projection on the historical outcomes of these "health shocks," it's possible this decline could be rectified with proper management and treatment. But the report's adverse projection indicates that millennials could see a 40% increase in mortality compared to Gen Xers of the same age.

SEE ALSO: American millennials' mental and physical health is on the decline — and they're on track to die faster than Gen X, a new report says

DON'T MISS: Lonely, burned out, and depressed: The state of millennials' mental health in 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

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Here are the best credit cards for maximizing holiday shopping:

• Chase Freedom: Up to 5% back in certain categories, including PayPal
• Discover it® Cash Back: 5% cash back up to $1,500 in select categories, plus double your cash back at the end of your first cardmember year
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: 6% back on the first $6,000 spent at US supermarkets each year (then 1% back)
• Citi® Double Cash Card: 2% back on all purchases — 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off
• Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card: 3% back in a category of your choosing (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement or furnishings) and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on a combined $2,500 in spending each quarter; 1% back on other purchases
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Only 1 point per dollar, but if offers purchase protection so it's a good option for expensive items.

With the holidays well on their way and your time left to shop slowly dwindling, you're probably looking for ways to save money and maximize your spending. It always makes sense to shop around for the best holiday sales and deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday but how you pay for your purchases can also make a huge difference.

With the right rewards credit card, you'll earn cash back or free travel for each dollar you spend. And many credit cards offer valuable consumer protections that can help you save money and protect you against loss or damage. So before you hit the stores or start browsing the web, it pays to figure out if you have the right card for your needs

Keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that make these credit cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which will far outweigh the value of any points or miles. It's important to practice financial discipline when using credit cards by paying your balances in full each month, making payments on time, and only spending what you can afford to pay back. 

What to look for in a credit card for holiday purchases

All the credit cards for holiday shopping below are good ones, but the best one for you offers the right type of rewards and a selection of perks you can use. Here's everything you should look for if you're searching for a new credit card:

Consumer protections

Make sure to check whether your credit card comes with consumer protections like purchase protection and extended warranties. Where purchase protection can replace or repair an item that is damaged or stolen within a specific length of time (usually up to 90 days), extended warranties can add an additional year of warranty protection or more on big ticket items that come with a manufacturer's warranty.

Cards at every price point offer purchase protection and extended warranty — from the Platinum Card from American Express with a $550 annual fee to the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom— though the more premium cards usually have higher caps for reimbursement.

A high rewards rate

Make sure to look at cards that offer the most rewards in categories you can use this year. Cards that offer bonus points for department store purchases and grocery store purchases often work best for the holiday season.

Not all purchases will be eligible for bonus rewards, and in those cases you'll want a card that earns more than 1% back on non-bonus spending. The Citi Double Cash Card (up to 2% back — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay) and the Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5% back on everything) are good options in this situation.

Welcome bonus: Cards that offer a sign-up bonus will leave you with a more generous rewards haul after the holiday season is over — making this period before the holidays an ideal time to apply and maximize your spending. Just make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spending requirement in time. Check out our roundup of the best credit card welcome offers available now to see if anything catches your eye.

0% APR offers: Also check which cards give 0% APR on purchases for a limited time if you think you may need to carry a balance for a period — though we never recommend carrying a balance if you can at all avoid it, and you'll want to pay off your balance before the introductory period ends to avoid steep interest charges. The Chase Freedom, for example, boasts 0% APR on purchases for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 16.49% to 25.24%.

Best credit cards for holiday spending in 2019

Chase Freedom

Welcome bonus: $150 when you spend $500 on your card within the first three months
Earning rate: 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in categories that rotate each quarter when you activate; 1% back on other purchases
Annual fee: $0

You can knock out the minimum spending requirement for the sign-up bonus of $150 back if you're planning to spend at least $500 on holiday purchases. Make sure to activate (you'll receive an email asking you to do so) the final 5% bonus category of this year (October through December), which includes department stores and purchases made with Chase Pay and PayPal. 

Not only is the Freedom a good cash-back card for holiday spending considering the bonus categories including department stores like Nordstrom, but it's also a great card if you want to earn travel points.

While you're more limited in how you can use your rewards if you only have the Freedom, if you also have a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you can combine your Chase rewards across accounts and use rewards from the Freedom to book travel with Chase partners or through the issuer's travel portal. This option gets you more value than the standard 1 cents per point with cash-back cards, since Ultimate Rewards points are worth about 2 cents apiece on average.

Discover it® Cash Back

Welcome bonus: None, but Discover will double all the rewards you earn after the first year
Earning rate: 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in combined purchases in categories that rotate each quarter that you activate; 1% back on other purchases
Annual fee: $0

Through the end of December, this card lets you earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases at Target, Walmart.com, and Amazon.com. You'll also earn 1% back on all other purchases — and remember that Discover will match all the rewards you've earned after 12 months. That means you'll effectively earn 10% back on purchases that are eligible for the 5% bonus.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Welcome bonus: $250 when you spend $1,000 within the first three months
Earning rate: 6% back on up to $6,000 in spending at US supermarkets each year (then 1%) plus select US streaming services; 3% back at US gas stations and on transit; 1% back on other purchases
Annual fee: $95

If you buy some of your holiday purchases at US supermarkets, this card could be a huge boon for your finances. You'll earn 6% back on up to $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, whether that involves buying food for holiday meals, buying store gift cards, or picking up gourmet gifts for all the foodies on your list.

Citi Double Cash card

Welcome bonus: None
Earning rate: 2% back on all purchases — 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off
Annual fee: $0

Since this card gives you 2% back for all your purchases, it's a great way to maximize your return on spending without having to keep track of bonus categories. You can get a higher earning rate with another card like the Chase Freedom, but there are caps to the 5% quarterly bonus categories, and not everyone wants to keep track of category bonuses.

Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card

Welcome bonus: $200 cash bonus when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days
Earning rate: 3% back in a category of your choosing (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement or furnishings) and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on a combined $2,500 in spending each quarter; 1% back on other purchases
Annual fee: $0

You'll earn 3% back in a category of your choosing, which can include online shopping and drug stores — both good options for holiday shopping. Also make sure you spend at least $1,000 within the first 90 days so you'll earn the $200 cash bonus.

How to maximize your holiday purchases this year

Picking up a new credit card can help you earn a big bonus and more rewards on all your holiday shopping this year, but there are more ways to maximize your spending. Consider these tips:

Maximize shopping portals: If you plan to do most of your holiday shopping online, take the time to figure out which online shopping portals you can use. If you have a Chase credit card, for example, you can click through the Chase portal to earn 1 to 10 additional points per dollar spent at stores like Macys.com, Walmart.com, and BestBuy.com. Most airlines also offer their own shopping portals as well, and all that's required to double up on rewards is logging in to your account and clicking through a portal before you shop.

Check for bonus offers: Also see if you can utilize additional offers like Chase Offers or Amex Offers. Both work similarly, letting you get cash back for some purchases or, with Amex, earn more rewards at select retailers when you take advantage. With Amex Offers, for example, you can frequently get $10 to $50 back when you spend money at specific online stores or stay in a participating brand of hotels within a limited timeframe.

Take advantage of bonus categories: Make sure you're maximizing any bonus categories your card offers, including ones that offer 5% back in rotating categories. These bonus points can add up in a hurry and leave you with a lot more rewards after the holidays have passed.

Pick up a card that offers more than 1% on non-bonus purchases: Finally, make sure you have at least one card that gives you more than 1% for holiday purchases you can't earn bonus points on. The Citi Double Cash is always a good option since you earn 2% back for each dollar you spend — 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off. Best of all, this card comes with no annual fee.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Freedom.

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• Amazon's Echo smart speakers are deeply discounted for Black Friday 2019. 
• On November 28, you can get an Echo Dot for just $22, a new Echo for $60, an Echo Show 5 for just $50, and more great deals.
• The discounts aren't live yet, so come back to this page on November 28 to get them.
• Check out our list of the best Black Friday 2019 deals across all categories.

Black Friday is finally here, and among the best deals are Amazon's own devices. You'll find Kindles, Fire TV Sticks, and plenty of Echo speakers on sale.  

Besides controlling your smart home, an Echo speaker lets you play music, make voice calls (and video calls on Echo Show devices with displays), ask Alexa for info, and more.

If a smart speaker is what you want, check out these Black Friday Echo deals below. We will be updating this list as more deals go live.

Best Echo Black Friday deals in 2019:

1. Echo Dot, $22 (originally $50) [You save $28] — available November 28
2. Echo (3rd gen), $60 (originally $100) [You save $40] — available November 28
3. Echo Show 5, $50 (originally $90) [You save $40] — available November 28
4. Echo Show (2nd gen), $150 (originally $230) [You save $80] — available November 28
5. Amazon Smart Plug, $5 (originally $25) [You save $20] — available November 28

Echo Dot

Echo Dot, $22 (originally $50) [You save $28] — available November 28

The most affordable Echo smart speaker gets even cheaper. At this price, you can stock up on a couple or more and spread them throughout the house. The Echo Dot is our pick for the best affordable smart speaker.

Echo

Echo (3rd gen), $60 (originally $100) [You save $40] — available November 28

The third-generation of the original Echo speaker has improved sound quality, thanks to Dolby technology. It also comes in more colors and has a softer design that makes it look good in any home. Check out our review.

Echo Show 5

Echo Show 5, $50 (originally $90) [You save $40] — available November 28

Part alarm clock, part smart speaker, the Echo Show 5 is the perfect bedside companion. You can do all the same things with the Show 5 that you can do with an Echo speaker, but it's also a smart display, so you can make video calls using the 5.5-inch screen, check on the baby monitor, or watch a show on Prime Video. It's our pick for the best budget smart display with Alexa.

Echo Show (2nd gen)

Echo Show (2nd gen), $150 (originally $230) [You save $80] — available November 28

The largest version of the Echo Show has a 10.1-inch display in a redesigned frame that looks sleeker. It's ideal for bigger rooms like the kitchen or living room. You can watch shows, listen to music, make video calls, see info like the weather report, and control your smart home devices. It's our overall pick for the best Alexa smart display.

Amazon Smart Plug

Amazon Smart Plug, $5 (originally $25) [You save $20] — available November 28

With Echo devices, you can use Alexa to control a smart home. With an Amazon Smart Plug, you can turn any standard outlet into a smart one. Just plug in a lamp, for example, and you can tell Alexa to turn it on and off. At $5, you can outfit your entire home with smart plugs quickly and easily.

See more Black Friday deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• Kohl's Black Friday deals 2019
• Amazon Black Friday deals 2019
• Walmart Black Friday deals 2019
• Target Black Friday deals 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019

See more Cyber Monday deals

• The absolute best Cyber Monday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Cyber Monday 2019
• Amazon Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Target Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Walmart Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Macy's Cyber Monday deals 2019
• What is Cyber Monday? Everything you need to know

• You can find your Instagram URL by opening Instagram in a web browser or by figuring it out manually.
• Every Instagram account has a unique URL associated with it, and it contains your username. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Instagram is perhaps one of the most mobile-friendly social networking platforms. 

It was, more or less, designed for use on phones and mobile devices, evident by its mobile app's greater capabilities and easier-to-navigate interface compared to the desktop version. 

But because Instagram is so attuned to mobile devices, it doesn't operate like a traditional website, making it sometimes difficult to track down the URL for your Instagram account.

Fortunately, the process isn't as difficult as you might think.

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iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $899.99 at Best Buy)

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

Lenovo IdeaPad 130 (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

How to find your Instagram URL on your computer

Finding your Instagram URL is quite easy if you are using a traditional web browser to view Instagram. 

1. Simply open your personal Instagram profile by clicking your username in the upper-right corner of the page.

2. At the top of the page, in your browser's address bar, is your profile URL. Hold down "command" + "C" on your Mac or "Ctrl" + "C" on your PC keyboard to copy it to your computer. Hold down "command" + "V" on your Mac or "Ctrl" + "V" on your PC keyboard to paste it somewhere.

How to find your Instagram URL on your mobile device

If you aren't able to open Instagram on a web browser and can only access it via the app, you can still find your URL by piecing it together manually.

1. Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android and login if you need to. 

2. Open your profile by tapping your photo in the lower-right corner of the bottom menu bar. 

3. Once you've opened your profile, take note of your Instagram username located at the top of the page. 

4. Your Instagram URL is made up of two components: Instagram's website address and your Instagram username, separated by slashes. For example, my Instagram's username is @chrissysface, so the URL https://www.instagram.com/chrissysface/ would link to my profile.

It really is that simple. But do note that some Instagram accounts are private and may not be visible even if you have their URL. Deactivated Instagram accounts are also not visible.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to get verified on Instagram, if your account meets these 4 standards for verification

• How to save your Instagram stories in 3 different ways

• How to save Instagram videos to your iPhone or Android phone

• How to turn on Dark Mode on your Mac, to reduce eye strain and give your computer a sleek new look

• How to block websites on a Mac computer using Parental Controls in your Safari browser

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• You can change your Netflix profile on Roku simply by closing the app and starting it again to choose a different profile.
• You can also change the profile at any time within the app, by pressing the left arrow on the Roku remote to reveal the menu, then selecting the right account icon at the top of the screen.     
• You can create up to five Netflix profiles with their own settings within one Netflix account.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Netflix allows you to have up to five profiles associated with your account, so every member of your family (in a family of five or fewer, that is) can have their own Netflix history, preferences, and recently watched shows list. 

When you start the Netflix app on Roku, you're given the opportunity to choose the profile you want to use, but it's also possible to change profiles during your Netflix session. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Roku Ultra (From $99.99 at Best Buy)

How to change your Netflix profile on Roku

1. While on the Netflix home screen, press the left arrow button on your remote until the side menu appears. 

2. Navigate to your profile picture at the top of the screen and select it.

3. All of your profiles will appear. Select the profile you want to change to.

Again, you could also switch your profile by closing out of the Netflix app and re-opening it to bring up the above screen. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• 'What is The Roku Channel?': A guide to Roku's home for free and premium TV, movies, and more

• How to set up any model of Roku player and remote

• How to watch local channels on your Roku device

• How to connect your Roku device to a TV and set it up for streaming

• 7 ways you can use a Roku remote to enhance your Roku user experience

SEE ALSO: The best 4K TVs you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Walmart has released several early Black Friday deals and has published its ad. The online sale starts at 10 p.m. ET on November 27. Offline, it opens store doors at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. 
• The best upcoming Black Friday deals include $70 off the Apple Watch Series 3 GPS, $51 off the Roku Ultra, and $251 off the iRobot Roomba 960 Vacuum. 
• Expect more deals on brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, KitchenAid, Instant Pot, Cuisinart, Ninja, Breville, Xbox One, and Playstation 4 during Walmart's Black Friday 2019 sale. 
• To potentially save more on Black Friday deals this year, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date Walmart coupons and promo codes.

Black Friday at Walmart begins tonight, November 27, at 10 p.m. ET. This year, you can once again expect great deals on all the products you need for gifting and personal use. 

You can now shop the best early Black Friday deals from Walmart's Deal Drops, or check out its Black Friday ad to see more of what will be on sale for Black Friday 2019.

The best Walmart Black Friday deals of 2019: 

Below is a list of the top deals we know Walmart will offer tonight, as well as the best deals that are already live and will be available through Black Friday. See Walmart's Black Friday 2019 ad here. 

1. Best wearable deal:The Apple Watch Series 3 GPS will be $129 (originally $199, you save $70). It's currently on sale for $169.
2. Best earbud deal:The second generation of AirPods will be $129 (originally $159, you save $30). They're currently on sale for $139.
3. Best TV streaming deal:The Roku Ultra with JBL headphones will be $48 (originally $99, you save $51). This deal is only valid for November 28 and 29.
4. Best TV deal:The Vizio 65-inch Class V-Series 4K Smart TV will be $398 (originally $528, you save $130). This deal is only valid for November 28 and 29. 
5. Best soundbar deal:The LG 2.1 Soundbar will be $99 (originally $199, you save $100). This deal is only valid for November 28 and 29.
6. Best tablet deal: The Apple iPad (6th Gen) 128GB Wi-Fi is now $349 (originally $430, you save $81). This deal is live. 
7. Best smart home deal: The Google Smart Light Starter Kit is now $29 (originally $55, you save $26). This deal is live. 
8. Best kitchen appliance deal: The KitchenAid Classic Plus Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is now $199 (originally $279, you save $80). This deal is live.  
9. Best air fryer deal: The Farberware 3.2 Quart Digital Air Fryer is now $39 (originally $69, you save $30). This deal is live. 
10. Best vacuum deal: The iRobot Roomba 960 Vacuum is now $449 (originally $700, you save $251). This deal is live. 
11. Best game console deal: The Xbox One S 1TB All-Digital Edition 3-Game Bundle is now $149 (originally $250, you save $101). This deal is live. 

What makes these deals great: 

1. The Apple Watch Series 3 GPS will be $129 (originally $199, you save $70) Walmart's Black Friday price will be the lowest price ever for this Apple Watch, so if you've been holding out to buy this powerful smartwatch, now's your chance. It's currently on sale for $169, but we recommend waiting to buy. Our newsroom recently wrote an opinion piece explaining why the Apple Watch Series 3 is actually a better buy than the more expensive Series 5 since the features are nearly identical. 
2. The second generation of AirPods will be $129 (originally $159, you save $30) AirPods don't go on sale often, so when they do, you should take advantage of the opportunity. On Amazon, the new AirPods Pro are $15 off (now $235), but if you're not looking to spend more than $200, the original AirPods are still a powerful and convenient alternative. They're currently on sale for $139.
3. The Roku Ultra with JBL headphones will be $48 (originally $99, you save $51) Enjoy the best price on Roku's streaming media player, which offers HD, 4K, or HDR picture quality, and comes with headphones that allow you to watch your favorite shows and movies on the big screen without disturbing anyone else. This deal is only valid for November 28 and 29. Read more about the differences between Roku devices if you're not sure which one to buy.
4. The Vizio 65-inch Class V-Series 4K Smart TV will be $398 (originally $528, you save $130) The affordable TV features free and unlimited TV with WatchFree, built-in Chromecast, compatibility with Google Assistant and Siri, and more. 
5. The LG 2.1 Soundbar will be $99 (originally $200, you save $101) This soundbar instantly enhances your entertainment viewing experience, for just under $100. With a compatible LG HDTV, it links up easily and wirelessly via Bluetooth. This deal is only valid for November 28 and 29.
6. The Apple iPad (6th Gen) 128GB Wi-Fi is now $349 (originally $430, you save $81) Best Buy and Target are also selling this 2018 model, 6th generation iPad, but you'll get the best Black Friday price at Walmart. It may not be the newest iPad, but it's still the best one you can buy because it has nearly all the same features as the more expensive iPad Air — just an older processor. The 6th-gen iPad features a sharp screen, high-end metal design, Apple Pencil support, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and a generous 128 GB storage. 
7. The Google Smart Light Starter Kit is now $29 (originally $55, you save $26) The GE bulb screws on like a regular light bulb, but is much cooler than your average light bulb. You can dim the lights, turn them on and off, and create routines so you never have to get up to hit the light switch again. The same deal is at Best Buy and Target, but Walmart offers a few add-on options you might want to consider. 
8. The KitchenAid Classic Plus Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is now $199 (originally $279, you save $80) If you're a beginner baker on a budget, we recommend this mixer because it's versatile, dependable, and quiet. Compared to other stand mixer models (many of which are also on sale), it has the least powerful motor. 
9. The iRobot Roomba 960 Vacuum is now $449 (originally $700, you save $251) The iRobot 960 is one of the brand's bestsellers for good reason: It works on all types of surfaces, cleans thoroughly and efficiently, and can be tracked through the corresponding app. Compared to other robot vacuums, it's on the higher end of the price spectrum, but it's certainly not the priciest. We named it the best high-end robot vacuum you can buy in our buying guide. You can save $251 on it during Black Friday. 
10. The Farberware 3.2 Quart Digital Air Fryer is now $39 (originally $69, you save $30) Most models cost at least $50, but you can get this Farberware digital air fryer for an affordable price this Black Friday, lowering the barriers of entry to healthier and faster cooking. 
11. The Xbox One S 1TB All-Digital Edition 3-Game Bundle is now $149 (originally $250, you save $101) This is the lowest price you'll see anywhere, and the deal is all the better because the bundle includes three must-own games: Minecraft, Fortnite, and Sea of Thieves. 

How we selected the best deals at Walmart:

• We only chose products that meet our high standard of coverage, and that we've either used ourselves or researched carefully.
• We compared the prices against other retailers like Target and Amazon and only included the deals that are the same or better (not including promotional discounts that come from using certain credit cards).
• All deals are at least 20% off, with the occasional exception for products that are rarely discounted or provide an outsized value.

Shop more of the best of Walmart Black Friday deals below. 

TVs: Up to 60% off

Shop TV deals

• The Roku Ultra with JBL headphones will be $48 (originally $99, you save $51)
• The Vizio 65-inch Class V-Series 4K Smart TV will be $398 (originally $528, you save $130)

Wearables: Up to 30% off

Shop wearable deals

• The Apple Watch Series 3 GPS will be $129 (originally $199, you save $70)

Smart home: Up to 50% off

Shop smart home deals

• The Google Smart Light Starter Kit is now $29 (originally $55, you save $26)

Video games: Up to 35% off

Shop video game deals

Laptops and tablets: Up to 40% off

Shop laptop deals

Shop tablet deals

• The Apple iPad (6th Gen) 128GB Wi-Fi is now $349 (originally $430, you save $81)

Speakers: Up to 50% off

Shop speaker deals

• The LG 2.1 Soundbar will be $99 (originally $200, you save $101)

Headphones: Up to 30% off

Shop headphone deals

• The second generation of AirPods will be $129 (originally $159, you save $30)

Video games and consoles: Up to 40% off

Shop video game deals

• The Xbox One S 1TB All-Digital Edition 3-Game Bundle is now $149 (originally $250, you save $101)

Kitchen: Up to 40% off

Shop kitchen deals

• The KitchenAid Classic Plus Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is now $199 (originally $279, you save $80)
• The Farberware 3.2 Quart Digital Air Fryer is now $39 (originally $69, you save $30)

Home: Up to 45% off

Shop home deals

• The iRobot Roomba 960 Vacuum is now $449 (originally $700, you save $251)

Walmart Black Friday 2019 FAQs:

Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving?

Walmart will be open on Thanksgiving, with stores operating at regular hours. Check your local Walmart store's hours to see what time it opens on Thanksgiving. 

When does Walmart's Black Friday sale start? 

Walmart has already launched its "Early Deals Drops," which you can shop below. We'll be showing you more of all the best deals here as we learn about them.

Last year, Walmart opened its doors at 6 p.m. local time on Thanksgiving (November 22), but online deals on products like LED TVs and laptops began showing up as early as November 8. The bulk of official Black Friday deals went live one day before Thanksgiving. 

What should you buy?

According to shopping experts, the best deals will be on the following products: TVs, smart home devices, gaming consoles, video games, and kitchen appliances. 

Here's where you can find the top brands in each of those categories on Walmart's website: 

• TV deals:Samsung, Sony, LG
• Smart home device deals:Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, Apple HomeKit
• Gaming console and video game deals:Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4
• Kitchen appliance deals:KitchenAid, Instant Pot, Cuisinart, Ninja, Breville

Walmart Black Friday deal predictions

Many of the same products go on sale every year, so you can use the following as a cheat sheet to Walmart's deals this year. Note: The information reflects last year's prices. 

• Samsung 65" 4K Smart LED TV, $748 (originally $1,300) [You saved $552]
• Google Home Mini, $25 (originally $49) [You saved $24] 
• Nest Thermostat, $179 (originally $249) [You saved $80]
• Xbox One X 1TB Console, $399 (originally $499) [You saved $100]
• Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones, $199 (originally $299) [You saved $100]
• Apple 10.5-inch iPad Pro Wi-Fi (64GB), $524 (originally $649) [You saved $125]
• Instant Pot 8-Qt. Pressure Cooker, $59 (originally $99) [You saved $40] 

Learn more about Black Friday deals and shopping tips: 

• The 5 best things to buy and 6 things you should skip on Black Friday
• When Black Friday deals start and end in 2019
• The best tech deals and sales to expect on Black Friday 2019
• Everything you need to know leading up to the biggest sales holiday of the year

See more Black Friday sales and deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• The best TV deals of Black Friday 2019
• Amazon Black Friday deals 2019
• Best Buy Black Friday 2019
• Kohl's Black Friday deals 2019
• Macy's Black Friday deals 2019
• Target Black Friday deals 2019
• The Home Depot Black Friday deals 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019

• Cyber Monday falls on December 2, but some of the deals are already live.
• A few Cyber Monday deals we know about so far include individual product deals like the Fire HD 8 Tablet ($30 off) as well as sitewide sales like 20% off everything at Parachute Home and up to $350 off mattresses at Leesa. 
• Bookmark this page to stay updated on all the latest news about 2019's Cyber Monday deals. Since Black Friday happens first, check our article on the best Black Friday 2019 deals.
• To potentially save more on Cyber Monday deals this year, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date coupons and promo codes.

Cyber Monday is coming up soon on December 2, but if you've been keeping up with our coverage, you probably know that many early deals and Cyber Monday ads are already live. 

Below, learn everything you need to know about Cyber Monday, including where to shop, what to buy, and what deals you can already start taking advantage of. 

Remember that Black Friday happens first. Shop the best Black Friday 2019 deals while you can, then check back here to find the best Cyber Monday deals.

The best early Cyber Monday deals of 2019: 

These deals are live and available through Cyber Monday, so you can save time and avoid sold-out deals by shopping them now. 

1. Best large appliance deal:40% off Appliance Special Buys, available at The Home Depot through December 5 
2. Best mattress deal: Up to $350 off mattresses + 2 free pillows, available at Leesa through December 6 
3. Best TV deal: Vizio 75-inch P-Series Quantum TV, $1,499.99 (originally $1,999.99) [You save $550], available at Best Buy 
4. Best TV deal:Samsung 65-inch Smart 4K UHD TV, $480 (originally $830) [You save $350], available at Target
5. Best tablet deal:Fire HD 8 Tablet, $50 (originally $80) [You save $30], available at Amazon
6. Best tablet deal: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 + free security software, $450 (originally $650) [You save $200], available at Best Buy
7. Best earbud deal: AirPods with wireless charging case, $164.99 (Originally $199.99) [You save $34.01], available at Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart
8. Best smart home deal: Google Smart TV Kit, $45 (originally $74) [You save $29], available at Walmart 
9. Best kitchen appliance deal: SodaStream Fizzi Sparkling Water Maker Bundle, $100 (originally $150)[You save $50], available at Amazon *on December 2*

How we selected the best Cyber Monday deals:

• We only chose products that meet our high standard of coverage, and that we've either used ourselves or researched carefully.
• We compared the prices among top retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart and only included the deals that are better than all others offered (not including promotional discounts that come from using certain credit cards).
• All deals are at least 20% off, with the occasional exception for products that are rarely discounted or provide an outsized value.

Laptop and tablet deals

• Fire HD 8 Tablet, $50 (originally $80) [You save $30], available at Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 + free security software, $450 (originally $650) [You save $200], available at Best Buy

Find more Cyber Monday tech deals here

TV deals

• Vizio 75-inch P-Series Quantum TV, $1,499.99 (originally $1,999.99) [You save $550], available at Best Buy 
• Samsung 65-inch Smart 4K UHD TV, $480 (originally $830) [You save $350], available at Target

Headphone and earbud deals

• AirPods with wireless charging case, $164.99 (Originally $199.99) [You save $34.01], available at Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart

Find more AirPod Cyber Monday deals here

Smart home deals

• Google Smart TV Kit, $45 (originally $74) [You save $29], available at Walmart 

Home and kitchen deals

• SodaStream Fizzi Sparkling Water Maker Bundle, $100 (originally $150)[You save $50], available at Amazon *on December 2*
• Up to $350 off mattresses + 2 free pillows, available at Leesa through December 6 
• 40% off Appliance Special Buys, available at The Home Depot through December 5 

Cyber Monday 2019 FAQs:

What is Cyber Monday?

As a continuation of sorts of Black Friday, Cyber Monday gives you another opportunity to save on tech, home goods, clothing, and other deals that you might've missed while recovering from Thanksgiving dinner. 

The sales are actually in your favor if you missed Black Friday because Cyber Monday usually has slightly better deals overall, with shoppers enjoying an average of 2.5% greater savings. 

Cyber Monday also offers a great opportunity to save on all your holiday gifts before the last-minute rush. Whether you want cheap stocking stuffers or big tech gifts, you should be able to find what you need during the sales event. 

The upcoming Cyber Monday is expected to be the biggest online shopping day in US history— sales could surpass $10 billion and contribute to the first-ever trillion-dollar holiday season. 

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is on December 2 this year and falls into the general "Cyber Week" of online sales and deals that takes place around Thanksgiving.

Read more about when you can expect Cyber Monday deals to begin and end here.

What are the best Cyber Monday deals of 2019? Our predictions:

Some of the online retailers we already know will have great Cyber Monday deals include Amazon, Target, and Best Buy. Retail startups such as Leesa and Brooklinen also offer really competitive deals. For some, Cyber Monday (or Cyber Week) will be one of the only times of the year when their products are discounted, so we recommend shopping at these smaller brands as well. 

This year, we'll be rounding up the best Cyber Monday deals just like we did in these articles from last year:

Where to shop the best Cyber Monday deals

We'll be rounding up the best deals from the top Cyber Monday retailers. Some already have live and early deals, while others have released their Cyber Monday preview ads. 

1. Amazon Cyber Monday deals
2. Best Buy Cyber Monday deals
3. Walmart Cyber Monday deals
4. Target Cyber Monday deals
5. Macy's Cyber Monday deals
6. Wayfair Cyber Monday deals

The best Cyber Monday sales from startups

Startups such as Leesa and Brooklinen also offer really competitive deals. For some startups, Cyber Monday will be the only time of the year when their products are discounted, so we recommend shopping at these smaller brands as well. 

1. Mott & Bow: Up to 35% off everything now through December 2
2. Brooklinen: 20% off sitewide now through December 3
3. Bombas: 20% sitewide with code "HOLIDAY20" now through December 5 
4. Purple: Up to $400 off mattress and sleep bundles now through December 5
5. Leesa: Up to $350 off mattresses + 2 free pillows now through December 6
6. Dagne Dover: 20% off sitewide from November 26 through December 4
7. Mejuri: 10% off one item, 15% off two items, and 20% off three or more items from November 27 through December 2
8. Parachute: 20% off everything from November 29 through December 2 

See more Cyber Monday 2019 sales and deals

• The best tech deals of Cyber Monday 2019
• Amazon Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Target Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Walmart Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Macy's Cyber Monday deals 2019
• What is Cyber Monday? Everything you need to know

• You can't change your PayPal.Me link after it has been created. 
• PayPal.Me is connected to your PayPal account in order to make it easier for others to send money — and you also can't delete your unique link. 
• You can, however, turn off your PayPal.Me link, so that no one can send you money. But if you want a new link, you'll have to create a new PayPal account. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you buy or sell things online, chances are you've used PayPal to do so. The online payment system makes it easy to exchange funds online.

PayPal.Me aims to make that process even simpler, providing users with a customized link through which you can receive payments instantly. 

That means the sender doesn't need to know your name, email address, or phone number — as long as they have your PayPal.Me link, they can send money your way. 

You can't change your PayPal.Me link once it's created 

Unfortunately, once created, PayPal.Me links cannot be changed. Given that users choose their own display name when setting up PayPal.Me, that link becomes the singular way of identifying your account — and PayPal doesn't allow that to be altered. 

You also cannot delete PayPal.Me links, so if you no longer want to use the system, your one option is to hide the link by turning it off, meaning people won't be able to send you money by using it. 

Here's how to do it. 

How to turn off your PayPal.Me link

1. Log into your PayPal account by entering your email address and password.

2. In the upper right-hand corner of your home screen, click the small gear icon to go to your Account Settings page. 

3. Under the "Profile" header, click "Manage" beneath your PayPal.Me link URL.

4. On the "Your PayPal.Me" screen, toggle the "Turn it on or off anytime" box so that it is off, which will turn the bar gray.

5. When asked "Are you sure?" click "Turn Off" to confirm. Your PayPal.Me link will then be turned off.

If you want to create a new PayPal.Me link, you'll have to create a new PayPal account and then create a new PayPal.Me. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• PayPal.Me is a personal link that lets anyone send money to your PayPal account — here's how to create one

• How to send money on PayPal using the mobile app or website

• How to send an invoice on PayPal to remind your clients to pay you

• 'What is PayPal Credit?': How to use PayPal's line of credit to pay off online purchases over time

• How to add money to your PayPal account, so you can transfer money or pay bills immediately

SEE ALSO: The best laptops you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Adrian Granzella Larssen is the founder of Sweet Spot Content, which helps inspiring brands, publications, and thought leaders create authentic, engaging content. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Muse, a content-first career destination that reaches more than 75 million people annually.
• In 2017, she took a four-week sabbatical from her role at The Muse. This adventure inspired her to take a whole year off to travel from 2018 to 2019. She and her husband traveled to 30 countries around the world. 
• Some of the most common questions she gets asked about her trip include how much it cost, whether she worked, and whether taking time off affected her career.
• She explains that the cost depends on how much you're willing to spend on certain things, and that working while you travel is a lot harder than it looks. She adds that while quitting her full-time job did affect her career to an extent, sometimes it's worth the risk.
• "Conventional wisdom told me I should be leaning in, but leaning out for a year helped me remember who I was, what I was excited about, and how to think in a dramatically different way than I had been over the course of my professional life," she says.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

At the beginning of 2017, I got to take a four-week paid sabbatical as a reward for being employed at my company for five years.

Four whole weeks? I was giddy. My husband convinced his employer to give him the time off, too, and we took a trip we'd been talking about for years: traveling around Southeast Asia.

It was an amazing experience, but we quickly realized that four weeks wasn't enough time to go everywhere we wanted in the region — not by a long shot. And as we quickly jetted between Taipei, Chiang Mai, and Luang Prabang, we met people who were doing similar trips, but over the course of many months. Or even years! 

Some of these people were benefiting from their company or country's paid-time-off policies. (In Australia, for example, some employees receive a sabbatical year after 10 years of service.) But most of them were simply taking time to travel on their own dime. Some of them had taken leaves of absence from their jobs, and some were choosing to work along the way. No one (that we knew of) was a multimillion-dollar trust fund baby or living off the proceeds of a unicorn startup IPO; they were all regular people on regular budgets, just like us. 

Over those four weeks, we got to thinking: If they could do it, why couldn't we? And we returned back to our apartment in New York with one thing on our minds: doing it all over again.

About a year later, we did. From March 2018 to March 2019, we put our belongings in storage, sent our cat to live with my parents (apologies to all involved), and traveled to 30 countries around the world. 

We didn't go full-on digital nomad, we didn't live by the principles of "The Four-Hour Work Week," and we didn't attempt to become Instagram influencers — we simply took a year off in a way that worked for us. 

Some of the most common questions we get after people hear our story include: Was it the best year ever? (Yes.) Were there downsides and tradeoffs? (Of course there were.) Did you get sick of living out of one suitcase? (I truly never want to see the items of clothing I wore last year ever again.) 

As well as these following big questions about how we thought about finances, our jobs, and our careers in general.

How much did it cost?

When I get this question, my answer is often: as much as you want it to. For everyone we met who was YOLO-ing their way around the world, there were countless others who were sticking to a budget of a couple thousand dollars a month (which is entirely doable, especially if you're focusing on cheaper destinations like Southeast Asia or South America and staying in hostels or other shared accommodations). 

We were somewhere in the middle. After having worked for 15 years, we had saved a decent amount of money, so we weren't on a super-strict budget, but we definitely didn't splurge like we were on vacation. For the most part, we opted for relatively inexpensive destinations like Indonesia, the Philippines, the Balkans, and South America, where decent lodging options could be found for $50 to $60 per night. We also cooked many of our own meals, and we didn't do a lot of pricey "must-do" tourist activities unless they were really important to us. (In New Zealand, for example, we opted out of bungee jumping and glacier hiking in favor of drinking a lot of Pinot Noir.)

Depending on where we were, our monthly budget varied, but over the course of the year our total expenses were about 60% of what they were while living in New York. As it turns out, giving up that sky-high Manhattan rent helped us easily afford Airbnbs and travel experiences. And miles and credit card points helped us save quite a bit on flights. We didn't add to our savings accounts that year, but we also didn't dig into them as much as we thought we would need to. It did help that I worked a bit along the way, which brings me to ...

What did you do about work?

A year before we left, I negotiated with my job to go down to a part-time schedule so that I could take on freelance projects on the side. My idea was to build up a roster of regular consulting clients that I could work with no matter where I was in the world as an extra cushion for our finances while we were away as well as to make sure I had a career waiting for me once I came back to the States. 

That was a great idea — in theory. In reality, digital nomad life looks a lot less like typing away on your laptop while lounging on the beach and a lot more like frantically running around town trying to find a SIM card or cursing at the very lovely cafe staff because their WiFi is nowhere near strong enough to handle a video call. At the pace we were moving, working while traveling was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I thought I would work about 20 hours every week, making roughly half of my previous salary, but that ended up being more like a few hours here and there, bringing in between $1,000 and $5,000 per month. And during the last three months of the trip, I ended up scaling back entirely. 

My husband, a corporate lawyer, had planned to quit his job, but his firm ended up offering him a year-long leave of absence instead. It's not a super-common practice, but in today's job market, some employers will go to great lengths to keep good talent. As he learned, it's worth an ask.

Did it hurt your career?

If you look at things through the lens of traditional climb-the-ladder career rules, yes. If I had wanted a promotion at my company or was aiming for a highly competitive new job, taking a year off certainly wasn't a great strategy. 

But what I wanted more — for myself and for my career — was a break. I had been working at a startup for nearly seven years, and I was burnt out and tired. Before I had decided to travel for a year, I had interviewed for other roles but realized that my heart wasn't in any of them. What my brain needed wasn't a new professional challenge; it was rest. Conventional wisdom told me I should be leaning in, but leaning out for a year helped me remember who I was, what I was excited about, and how to think in a dramatically different way than I had been over the course of my professional life. (Yes, my job had challenges — but I'd never tried to book train tickets in India before.)  

Financially, too, it wasn't the strongest move I could have made (you'll notice this article isn't titled, "I traveled for a year, made $400,000, and never looked back!") Since I've returned, I've ramped up my consulting business again, but it took a few months to have a full plate of work. 

Honestly, though? That's OK. While my take-home pay that year wasn't anything to be proud of, the experience as a whole absolutely was.

Have more questions? Want to plan your own year off? Join the waiting list for my upcoming digital guide, "Your Year Off."

SEE ALSO: The ultimate guide to going freelance — and making more than you did at a full-time gig

READ MORE: One email I wrote brought in 100% of my clients after I started my business — here's the template

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

• Thanksgiving dinner can be a hotbed for family quarrels.
• Hal Runkel is a marriage and family therapist and the author of multiple books on parenting and relationships.
• Runkel said it can be helpful to display vulnerability during a fight with a family member.
• The word "ouch," as in, your comments hurt me, can help defuse conflict.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

At Thanksgiving dinner, you may be sitting with family or a partner who knows you really well — which can be a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, you can be yourself around them— your unfiltered, sometimes un-showered, lame-joke-telling self. On the other hand, they eventually learn better than anyone else exactly which buttons to push that set you off.

Hal Runkel puts it eloquently: "No one can touch you like the one you expose yourself most to, but no one can hurt you like the one you expose yourself the most to."

Runkel is a marriage and family therapist, and the author of multiple books on parenting and relationships, including "Choose Your Own Adulthood."

When he visited the Business Insider office in 2017, Runkel shared his best advice for de-escalating a conflict that's spiraled out of control because one person said something that cut deep.

SEE ALSO: 8 signs you're in a strong relationship — even if it doesn't feel like it

Actually, that advice is just one word: 'ouch'

It's a word that doesn't get used nearly enough in marriage, Runkel said.

"When [you're] in conflict, inevitably [you] will say something that hurts the other person using the 'inside information' that you have on them or that they have on you," he said.

For example: Your partner knows you're struggling to lose weight and they blurt out, "Of course you didn't take five minutes to walk the dog — you were too busy stuffing your face!"

At that moment, Runkel said, "Everything in you wants to scream something right back at them: 'Oh yeah? Well, you're starting to look like your mother!'"

'Ouch' can stop a conflict from spiraling out of control

Here's where the word "ouch" comes in handy. Runkel explained that the best response in this situation is simply, "Ouch. That one hurt. I don't know if you were meaning to hurt me; I don't know if that's what you were going for; but that's what you did."

Your partner may get defensive and say something back like, "You've said some pretty hurtful things to me!"

Now here's your line: "You're right. I have, and I hate that I have."

"That conversation, which was a very familiar path, that fight is now a totally different path because one of you chose to actually get vulnerable," Runkel said.

"It wasn't a step of pushing [your partner] away. It was a step of inviting [your partner] in by saying: You know what? I am open enough to you that you can actually hurt me. So now how about we talk to each other as if we actually love each other?"

That display of vulnerability is key, and a lot harder than it sounds.

Too many of us have this tendency to pretend that we're made of emotional steel — that when our partner insults us, or doesn't pay us enough attention, we're totally fine.

Ideally, when you implement Runkel's strategy, your partner will respond in kind, and you two can have a calm conversation about what's bothering you. Yet Runkel also mentioned that your partner's next sentence after you admit that you've been hurt will tell you a lot about your relationship.

All you can really do is start the dialogue: "That hurt. Tell me what you'd like me to do with that."

In the end, a strategic "ouch" could save your Thanksgiving dinner from becoming a meltdown of arguments.

• Black Friday is this week on November 29. 
• There will be deals on tech and electronics, home goods, clothing, and more, like $25 off the rarely discounted Apple AirPods, 20% off Brooklinen sheets, and $45 off the Kindle Paperwhite. 
• Below you'll find a list of which stores are having the best sales, the early Black Friday 2019 deals you can already shop, and a preview of the ones we already know about.
• To potentially save more on Black Friday deals this year, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date coupons and promo codes for tons of stores.

Black Friday is this Friday, and if you've been keeping up with all of our Black Friday coverage, you probably know that many early deals and Black Friday ads are already live. 

Below, learn everything you need to know about Black Friday, including where to shop, what to buy, and what deals you can already start taking advantage of. 

The best Black Friday deals of 2019 

Most of these deals are live now and available through Black Friday, so you can save time and avoid sold-out deals by shopping them now. For the deals that are not yet live, we've specified their launch dates below.  

1. Best laptop deal: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air, $899 (originally $1,099) [You save $200 if you choose no-rush shipping, which includes an extra $100 off], available at Amazon
2. Best fitness tracker deal: Fitbit Versa 2, $149 (originally $200) [You save $51], available at Amazon
3. Best earbuds deal:Apple AirPods with Charging Case, $134 (originally $159) [You save $25], available at Amazon
4. Best ebook reader deal:Kindle Paperwhite + $5 ebook credit, $84.99 (originally $129.99) [You save $45], available at Amazon
5. Best DNA kit deal:23andMe DNA Test - Health + Ancestry, $99 (originally $199) [You save $100], available at Amazon
6. Best headphones deal:Sony WH1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones, $278 (originally $350) [You save $72], available at Amazon
7. Best appliance deal: 40% off Appliance Special Buys, available at The Home Depot
8. Best tablet deal:Microsoft Surface Pro 7, $599 (originally $959) [You save $360], available at Best Buy *starting November 28*
9. Best TV deal:TCL 55-inch Roku 4K UHD Smart TV, $320 (originally $450) [You save $130], available at Target *starting November 28*
10. Best smart home deal:Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant, $40 (originally $80) [You save $40], available at Best Buy
11. Best music streaming deal: Amazon Music Unlimited: New members get four months for $1 (originally $32) [You save $31], available at Amazon
12. Best kitchen appliance deal:Instant Pot Duo Nova 1-in-1 6-Quart, $85 (originally $130) [You save $45], plus $15 in Kohl's Cash, available at Kohl's.
13. Best coffee maker deal: Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine, $129.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $70 plus get a $30 gift card], available at Target
14. Best air purifier deal: Coway Mighty Air Purifier, $116 (originally $230) [You save $114], available at Amazon
15. Best vacuum deal: Dyson Ball Total Clean Vacuum, $289 (originally $624) [You save $335], available at The Home Depot
16. Best store rewards deal: $15 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent+ take an extra 15% off with code "GIVETHANKS", available at Kohl's *from November 25 through November 29*
17. Best startup sheets deal: 20% off sitewide at Brooklinen
18. Best startup apparel deal: 25% off orders of $100+ at Tommy John
19. Best startup bags deal: 20% off sitewide at Dagne Dover
20. Best startup mattress deal: 10% off any order with a mattress at Casper
21. Best startup mattress deal: Up to $350 off mattresses plus free pillows at Leesa 
22. Best startup jewelry deal:Up to 20% off sitewide at Mejuri

What makes these deals great: 

1. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air, $899 (originally $1,099) [You save $200 if you choose no-rush shipping, which includes an extra $100 off], available at Amazon. This is the best price ever on the new MacBook Air. At first glance, the discount is $199 off, which Best Buy is also offering, but choose free no-rush shipping at checkout and you'll get another $100 off. If you can stand to wait a few extra days, you'll get this fast and light laptop for a great price. 
2. Fitbit Versa 2, $149 (originally $200) [You save $51], available at Amazon. Don't miss out on the best price for the 24/7 heart-rate monitoring fitness tracker. You can choose from a few different colors — just make sure it's not one of the special edition versions, which cost $30 more. 
3. Apple AirPods with Charging Case, $134 (originally $159) [You save $25], available at Amazon. AirPods don't go on sale often, so when they do, you should take advantage of the opportunity. On Amazon, the new AirPods Pro are $15 off (now $235), but if you're not looking to spend more than $200, the original AirPods are still a powerful and convenient alternative.
4. Kindle Paperwhite + $5 ebook credit, $84.99 (originally $129.99) [You save $45], available at Amazon. Prices won't get any better on the most popular model of Amazon's Kindle ebook reader, which has a backlight for nighttime reading and a higher resolution than the basic Kindle. It's the go-to of most members of our team, but you can read our full review of the Paperwhite here if you need more information. To get your portable library started, you'll also get $5 in ebook credit, and you can get three free months of Kindle Unlimited (if you've never signed up before). 
5. 23andMe DNA Test - Health + Ancestry, $99 (originally $199) [You save $100], available at Amazon. 23andMe reliably offers this 50% off deal every year, but that doesn't make it any less valuable. You can learn about your unique genes and ancestry from the comfort of your own home. 
6. Sony WH1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones, $278 (originally $350) [You save $72], available at Amazon. One of our favorite pairs of noise-cancelling headphones is at its best price ever. For under $300, you'll get a powerful set of headphones that won't only cancel out surrounding noise — they also feature "smart listening" that actively adjusts ambient sound based on where you wear them. 
7. 40% off Appliance Special Buys, available at The Home Depot. The well-known Home Depot event saves you hundreds on refrigerators, washers, dryers, ovens, and other large appliances, plus you get free delivery on purchases of $396 or more. To make it easy on you, there are also multiple pre-bundled packages for your favorite brands, like Samsung and GE. 
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 7, $599 (originally $959) [You save $360], available at Best Buy *starting November 28* If you've been eyeing Microsoft's brand-new Surface Pro 7, the base model will see its lowest price yet this Black Friday. It sports a sharp display and a long-awaited USB-C port. If you buy it with Microsoft's Type Cover (or a third-party Bluetooth keyboard), it functions as a great laptop as well. 
9. TCL 55-inch Roku 4K UHD Smart TV, $320 (originally $450) [You save $130], available at Target *starting November 28* This smart TV is relatively affordable but includes capabilities that the average user may be looking for, like wireless or direct connection streaming. You'll see the same $319.99 price listed at Best Buy, but Target RedCard holders will see a price of $279.99 (you save $170) plus an additional 5% off. 
10. Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant, $40 (originally $80) [You save $40], available at Best Buy. This smart clock is at an all-time low at 50% off. You can also find the deal at The Home Depot, but the Best Buy deal includes free three-month subscriptions to both SiriusXM Premier and Pandora Premium so you can start your new morning routine on the right foot. 
11. Amazon Music Unlimited: New members get four months for $1 (originally $32) [You save $31], available at Amazon. Amazon's music streaming service normally costs $8 per month for Prime members, making this $1 deal (just $0.25 per month) a can't-miss opportunity for anyone who loves listening to music. We recently reviewed Amazon Music Unlimited and found it to be pretty similar to Spotify in terms of its song catalogue. 
12. Instant Pot Duo Nova 1-in-1 6-Quart, $85 (originally $130) [You save $45], plus $15 in Kohl's Cash, available at Kohl's. The Instant Pot Duo is our favorite multicooker on the market. It's a super-easy way to prepare quick meals and can accommodate ribs, soups, beans, rice, poultry, yogurt, desserts, and pretty much anything else you might be craving. The $45 matches the best Black Friday deals we saw last year, but you get the bonus of $15 that you can use the next time you shop at Kohl's.   
13. Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine, $129.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $70 plus get a $30 gift card], available at Target. The Nespresso VertuoPlus makes freshly brewed coffee with cream as well as espressos at the touch of a button. Your savings overall are $100 — $70 off the price tag, and a $30 gift card with the purchase.
14. Coway Mighty Air Purifier, $116 (originally $230) [You save $114], available at Amazon. The affordable yet powerful air purifier is at its best price ever and was once our top pick for the best air purifier you can buy (before being topped by one of Coway's newer, slightly more expensive models). 
15. Dyson Ball Total Clean Vacuum, $289 (originally $624) [You save $335], available at The Home Depot. Dyson's cordless stick vacuum designs (and prices) aren't for everyone, but if you know you're interested in them, now is the time to buy. The ball part of this vacuum increases stability and control, though the trade-off is that the vacuum is slightly heavier than other models. It's the best price you'll see around. 
16. $15 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent + take an extra 15% off with code "GIVETHANKS", available at Kohl's *from November 25 through November 29* Kohl's Cash can be used on future purchases until December 9. It's a good incentive to buy some big-ticket items from Kohl's rather than head to Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, or Nordstrom, which may try to match prices, but won't include the same rewards. 
17. 20% off sitewide at Brooklinen. Though you can also find home deals from larger retailers such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart, Brooklinen is one of the best places online to find luxury-quality sheets for less, and it rarely discounts its products. We love its linen sheets (you can read our review here) because they're breathable and keep us from sweating through the night.
18. 25% off orders of $100+ at Tommy John.These are by far the steepest discounts we've seen our favorite underwear brand offer; last year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers were for 20% off. We've named Tommy John's underwear for women as our top overall pick in our highly researched underwear guide because it comes in a variety of materials and shapes, never digs in, and always stays breathable. The men on our team are bigs fans, too.
19. 20% off sitewide at Dagne Dover.The rare sale gives you the opportunity to find trendy work bags and backpacks for less. We named Dagne Dover's Signature Classic tote the best overall work bag for women and best tote bag for keeping organized.
20. 10% off any order with a mattress at Casper. On top of this deal, which applies to all three of Casper's award-winning mattresses, all Supima and Cotton sheets are 50% off. It's the perfect excuse to upgrade your entire bedroom setup in one go. Read our review of the Casper mattress here, or check out our buying guide where we named the Casper mattress the best all-foam option out there. 
21. Up to $350 off mattresses plus free pillows at Leesa. Another big startup deal to consider comes from Leesa, whose Hybrid mattress is our favorite mattress we've tried. Plus, your Black Friday purchase will help someone in need — the certified B Corp donates one mattress to someone in need for every mattress sold. 
22. Up to 20% off sitewide at Mejuri.Mejuri makes some of the most beautiful dainty gold jewelry you can buy, and you can take it from us that its stuff makes for great holiday gifts. Its one and only sale of 2019 is its Black Friday sale, when shoppers get 10% off one item, 15% off two items, and 20% off when they purchase three or more items. 

How we selected the best Black Friday deals:

• We only chose products that meet our high standard of coverage, and that we've either used ourselves or researched carefully.
• We compared the prices among top retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart and only included the deals that are better than all others offered (not including promotional discounts that come from using certain credit cards).
• All deals are at least 20% off, with the occasional exception for products that are rarely discounted or provide an outsized value.

Shop all of the best Black Friday deals across the internet below. 

Laptop and tablet deals

• Apple 13-inch MacBook Air, $899 (originally $1,099) [You save $299 if you choose no-rush shipping, which includes an extra $100 off], available at Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 + free security software, $450 (originally $650) [You save $200], available at Best Buy 
• Fire HD 8 Tablet, $50 (originally $80) [You save $30], available at Amazon

Find more Black Friday MacBook deals here

TV deals

• Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, $20 (originally $40) [You save $20] 
• TLC 40-inch Roku TV, $170 (originally $260) [You save $90], available at Target *starting November 28*
• Samsung 65-inch Q70R QLED 4K TV, $1,197.99 (originally $2,199.99) [You save $1,002], available at Amazon

Find more Black Friday TV deals here

Wearables and fitness tracker deals

• Fitbit Versa 2, $149 (originally $200) [You save $51], available at Amazon

Headphone and earbud deals

• Apple AirPods with Charging Case, $134 (originally $159) [You save $25], available at Amazon
• Sony WH1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones, $278 (originally $350) [You save $72], available at Amazon
• Jabra Elite 65T Earbuds, $100 (originally $170) [You save $70], available at Amazon

Smart home deals

• Ecobee Smart Thermostat, $199 (originally $249) [You save $50], available at Amazon
• Google Smart TV Kit, $45 (originally $74) [You save $29], available at Walmart 
• Echo Dot, $22 (originally $50) [You save $28], available at Amazon *starting November 28* 
• Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant, $40 (originally $80) [You save $40], available at Best Buy

Kitchen deals

• Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 4-qt. Air Fryer, $160 (originally $230) [You save $70], available at Amazon
• KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, $199 (originally $260) [You save $61] 

Find more KitchenAid deals here

Home deals

• Coway Mighty Air Purifier, $116 (originally $230) [You save $114], available at Amazon
• Dyson Ball Total Clean Vacuum, $289 (originally $624) [You save $335], available at The Home Depot

Find Rooba vacuum deals here

Health and personal care deals

• 23andMe DNA Test - Health + Ancestry, $99 (originally $199) [You save $100], available at Amazon

Find more DNA kit deals here

Startup deals

• 20% off sitewide at Brooklinen
• 25% off orders of $100+ at Tommy John
• 20% off sitewide at Dagne Dover
• 10% off any order with a mattress at Casper
• Up to $350 off mattresses plus free pillows at Leesa 
• 20% off sitewide at Mejuri *starting November 27*

Find more startup deals here

Black Friday 2019 FAQs

What is Black Friday? 

Black Friday is an annual sales event that traditionally happens at the end of November and marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. It's one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year — sales are so high that the day can push a retailer into "the black," or solvency. 

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, it falls on November 29. 

Stay updated on the start and end times of all the best Black Friday sales here.

What should you buy on Black Friday? 

Since it falls a few weeks before December holidays, Black Friday provides excellent opportunities to buy — and save on all your holiday gifts— before the last-minute rush. 

We recommend focusing on the following categories if you want the best deals: 

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

Is Black Friday or Cyber Monday better?

It depends. We learned some rules of thumb in the classic Black Friday versus Cyber Monday debate and learned that it's better to shop on Black Friday in these situations:

• For expensive products
• For major stores
• For this year's products
• If you plan to shop in stores 

We'll be searching through all the sales across the internet to find you only the best of the best Black Friday 2019 deals.

Our favorite online retailers on Black Friday will include Amazon, Target, and Best Buy. Retail startups such as Leesa and Brooklinen also offer really competitive deals. For some startups, Black Friday will be the only time of the year when their products are discounted, so we recommend shopping at these smaller brands as well. 

See more Black Friday sales and deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• The best TV deals of Black Friday 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019
• The best Nintendo Switch deals of Black Friday 2019
• The top 20 Black Friday bestsellers among Business Insider readers last year
• Kohl's Black Friday deals 2019
• Amazon Black Friday deals 2019
• Best Buy Black Friday deals 2019
• Walmart Black Friday deals 2019
• Target Black Friday deals 2019
• Nordstrom Black Friday deals 2019
• The Home Depot Black Friday deals 2019
• Gamestop Black Friday deals
• Sephora Black Friday deals
• eBay Black Friday deals

• Nordstrom tends to have great Black Friday deals— and we expect this year to be no different. 
• The best deals you'll find include $50 off Hunter Original Gloss Rain Boots and $145 off a Marc New York Down Coat.  
• To potentially save even more on Black Friday deals, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date Nordstrom coupons and promo codes. 
• We're also keeping tabs on Black Friday store sales available online at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. 

Black Friday is one of the best days of the year to shop, with deep discounts on all kinds of products, particularly big-ticket items. If you're hoping to find great prices on clothing, beauty, and home goods, you'll want to check out Nordstrom's Black Friday sale. 

While prices won't start dropping until Wednesday, November 27, Nordstrom has already released a handful of deals so you can get a head start on making your Black Friday shopping list. These are ten of the best deals we've seen so far, but we'll be updating this list as more are released. 

The 10 best Nordstrom Black Friday 2019 deals we know of (so far):

1. Hunter Original Gloss Rain Boot, $99.90 (originally $150) [You save $50.10]
2. Dagne Dover XL Landon Carryall Duffle Bag, $172 (originally $215) [You save $43]
3. Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC, $99 (originally $198) [You save $99]
4. Marc New York Holden Coat, $129.90 (originally $275) [You save $145.10]
5. Topshop Carly Coat, $75 (originally $125) [You save $50]
6. Ray-Ban Icons 50mm Round Metal Sunglasses, $107.10 (originally $153) [You save $45.90]
7. Halogen V-Neck Cashmere Sweater, $65.90 (originally $98) [You save $32.10]
8. Blondo Nada Waterproof Boot, $129.90 (originally $219.95) [You save $90.05]
9. Nike Men's Epic React Flyknit 2 Running Shoe, $99.90 (originally $150) [You save $50.10]
10. AG Everett Jeans, $132.66 (originally $198) [You save $65.34]
11. Hydro Flask 40-Ounce Wide Mouth Cap Bottle, $32.21 (originally $42.95) [You save $10.74]
12. Ugg Grove Shearling Trim Slipper, $69.90 (originally $99.95) [You save $30.05]
13. Sam Edelman Hooded Puffer Jacket, $99.90 (originally $230) [You save $130.01]
14. Rag & Bone Cate Ankle Skinny Jeans, $134.98 (originally $225) [You save $90.02]
15. Nuna Pipa Lite LX Infant Car Seat & Base, $299.95 (originally $399.95) [You save $100]

Shop Nordstrom Black Friday deals by category:

• Women's fashion
• Men's fashion
• Kids' fashion
• Home
• Beauty and fragrance

Nordstrom Black Friday 2019 FAQs:

Is Nordstrom open on Thanksgiving?

No, Nordstrom will not be open on Thanksgiving, but it will be open on Black Friday. You can go to any Nordstrom store on November 29, but if you'd rather snag deals from the comfort of your couch, you can always shop online. 

When does Nordstrom's Black Friday sale start?

Black Friday 2019 falls on November 29, but you'll be able to access the sale even earlier than that. This year, prices will drop on November 27, the day before Thanksgiving. 

Nordstrom also frequently open sales up earlier to its Nordy Club members. It's free to join, so it may be a good idea to do so now so you can get the best chance of early savings. Plus, being a Nordy Club member gives you exclusive perks all year round, so if you shop at Nordstrom often you'll probably benefit from the membership. You can also apply for a Nordstrom Credit Card which instantly makes you a Nordy Club member, and offers even more perks. If you apply for a Nordstrom Credit Card now through December 2, you'll get a $60 Bonus Note to spend on a later Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack purchase. Learn more about the perks of a Nordstrom Credit Card and being a Nordy Club member. 

What should you buy? 

Whether it's everyday wear or designer goods, Nordstrom has it all. Last year, shoppers saved up to 60% off on a huge selection of clothing, beauty products, and home goods with Nordstrom's Black Friday deals. Additionally, certain designer items could be found on sale for up to 40% off. 

Nordstrom has released a handful of deals already so you can plan ahead. We'll be hand-picking the best deals from Nordstrom's Black Friday sale and updating this guide.

What's Nordstrom's return policy?

Nordstrom doesn't have a traditional return policy. Instead, returns are handled on a case-by-case basis. The retailer says it has "the ultimate objective of making our customers happy," so the company tends to be very accommodating. 

How can I save even more at Nordstrom on Black Friday?

While we can't be sure, we wouldn't be surprised if Nordy Club members get early access to deep savings again. Last year, Nordy Club members also got extra points on their Black Friday purchases. These points add up to Nordstrom Notes, which eventually can be redeemed to shop at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and Hautelook. While Nordstrom Notes may not be direct savings in the short term, in the long-run they'll add up to help you save on future purchases. 

As Black Friday gets closer, we'll update this page with more information on Nordstrom deals, so bookmark this page to stay up to date. 

• Shop clothing, home goods, beauty, and more at Nordstrom
• Sign up to become a Nordy Club member
• Apply for a Nordstrom credit card

See more Black Friday sales and deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• Amazon Black Friday deals 2019
• Best Buy Black Friday deals 2019
• Kohl's Black Friday deals 2019
• Target Black Friday deals 2019
• Walmart Black Friday deals 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019

• Black Friday offers some of the year's best discounts on tech, home essentials, and more.
• We're tracking Target's best Black Friday deals in this article, so bookmark it for regular updates. We're also keeping tabs on the best deals available online at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Nordstrom, The Home Depot, and more stores.
• If you're already planning ahead for Cyber Monday, check out Target's best Cyber Monday deals here. 
• To potentially save more on Black Friday deals this year, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date Target coupons and promo codes.

Alongside Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon, Target will be offering some of its best discounts of the year. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about Target's upcoming Black Friday deals, and you can find everything we know about its Cyber Monday deals here. 

Target will again give RedCard holders early access to shop more than 100 deals all day on Wednesday, November 27. Members of Target Circle (the company's free loyalty program) will get early access at 6 p.m. CT on November 27. For everyone else, Target Black Friday deals became available on Thanksgiving morning. 

To keep up with retailers with great shipping policies (cough, Amazon), you may see cheaper expedited shipping. Target already offers free two-day shipping when you spend at least $35 or use your RedCard. 

Target Black Friday ad — the deals we know about for Black Friday

Target released its Black Friday ad earlier this November, so we at least know some of what will be on sale. Here are the standout deals from the ad, some of which are live now.

The best Target Black Friday deals of 2019:

1. Best game console deal: Xbox One S 1TB Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order bundle, $200 [You save $100]
2. Best TV deal:TCL 55-inch Roku 4K UHD Smart TV, $319.99 (originally $449.99) [You save $130]
3. Best streaming stick deal:Amazon Fire TV Stick, $20 (originally $40) [You save $20]
4. Best headphones deal:Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones, $179.99 (originally $300) [You save $120]
5. Best coffee maker deal: Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine, $129.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $70 plus get a $30 gift card]
6. Best kitchen appliance deal: As Seen on TV Power 7-Quart Air Fryer, $69.99 (originally $129.99) [You save $60]
7. Best toy deal:Take 50% off select toys and buy-one-get-one 50% off on other toys 
8. Best camera deal: Fujifilm Instax Mini 9, $50 + free $15 Target gift card with RedCard (originally $70) [You save $20] 
9. Spend $50 in-store or online on Black Friday, November 29 and get a 20%-off coupon to redeem online or in stores December 3-14

What makes these deals great:

1. Xbox One S 1TB Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Bundle, $200 (originally $300) [You save $100] This Xbox bundle includes the console and one controller, along with a full-game download of State Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition ($69.99 value) and one-month trials of Xbox Game Pass ($9.99 value) and Xbox Live Gold ($9.99 value). You'll find the same $100 discount at Best Buy and Walmart, but RedCard owners will get an extra 5% off at Target.
2. TCL 55-inch Roku 4K UHD Smart TV, $319.99 (originally $449.99) [You save $130] This smart TV is relatively affordable but includes capabilities that the average user may be looking for, like wireless or direct connection streaming. You'll see the same $319.99 price listed at Best Buy, but Target RedCard holders will see a price of $279.99 (saving $170) plus an additional 5% off. 
3. Amazon Fire TV Stick, $20 (originally $40) [You save $20] Amazon's Fire TV Stick lets you stream Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and more straight to your TV. You'll also find this sale price at Amazon and Best Buy. The 4K Ultra version is an additional $5 for $24.99 right now. 
4. Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones, $179.99 (originally $300) [You save $120] The Beats Solo 3 Wireless headphones have a Fast-Fuel five-minute charge that translates to three hours of playback and an overall 40-hour battery life that ensures you can use it throughout the week without too much maintenance. You'll find them for $150 at Best Buy right now, but RedCard holders will soon see a price of $129.99 (you save $170) and also get an additional 5% off.
5. Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine, $129.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $70 plus get a $30 gift card] The Nespresso VertuoPlus makes freshly brewed coffee with cream as well as espressos at the touch of a button. Your savings overall are $100 — $70 off the price tag, and a $30 gift card with the purchase.
6. As Seen on TV Power 7-Quart Air Fryer, $58.99 (originally $129.99) [You save $71] This $71 discount is the lowest deal we've seen so far, and the device functions not just as an air fryer, but also as a dehydrator, pizza oven, baking oven, roaster, or a good way to reheat foods. 
7. Take 50% off select toys and buy-one-get-one 50% off on other toys Take up to 50% off the season's best and newest toys, and Target is offering additional bonuses like a buy-two-get-one-free for Disney Frozen toys.
8. Fujifilm Instax Mini 9, $50 + free $15 Target gift card with RedCard (originally $70) [You save $20] The Fujifilm Instax Mini is a perennially popular holiday gift, and so it rarely sees as good of a discount. You'll also find this price on Amazon and in a bundle at Kohl's, which is also offering $15 in Kohl's Cash and a 15%-off discount today any way you pay — though you'll have fewer color options there. 

How we selected the best deals at Target:

• We only chose products that meet our high standard of coverage, and that we've either used ourselves or researched carefully.
• We compared the prices against other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy and only included the deals that are the same or better (not including promotional discounts that come from using certain credit cards).
• All deals are at least 20% off, with the occasional exception for products that are rarely discounted or provide an outsized value.

What are Target's Black Friday store hours on Thanksgiving?

Target will be open for an eight-hour shift from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day like it was last year. Doors close at 1 a.m. and re-open again at 7 a.m. on Friday, November 29. For all online shoppers, Target Black Friday deals became available on Thanksgiving morning. 

Shop Target

Create a Target wish list

Apply for a Target RedCard

Early Target Black Friday 2019 deals you can shop now:

Vacuums: Up to 30% off

Shop vacuum deals

• Hoover WindTunnel Air Steerable Upright Vacuum, $119.99 (originally $189.99) [You save $70]
• Hoover Impulse Cordless Vacuum, $89.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $110] 

Kitchen: Up to 50% off

Shop kitchen deals

• Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine, $129.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $70 plus get a $30 gift card]
• Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition Single-Serve Coffee/Latte/Cappuccino Maker, $219.99 plus a $40 gift card with your purchase
• KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5qt Stand Mixer, $199.99 (originally $ 259.99) [You save $60]
• Instant Pot Duo Nova 8-Quart, $99.95 (originally $119.99) [You save $20.04] 
• As Seen on TV Power 7-Quart Air Fryer, $69.99 (originally $129.99) [You save $60]
• Ninja Professional 1200W Kitchen System, $149.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $50]

TVs: Up to 45% off

Shop TV deals

• VIZIO P-Series Quantum X 65-inch Class, $1,399.99 (originally $2,199.99) [You save $800]
• TCL 55-inch Roku 4K UHD Smart TV, $319.99 (originally $449.99) [You save $130]
• Samsung 50-inch Smart 4K UHD TV, $279.99 (originally $449.99) [You save $170]

Laptops: Up to 25% off

Shop laptop deals

• Dell Chromebook 3000 2-in-1 Chromebook, $446.99 (originally $599.79) [You save $152.80]
• HP Omen 15.6-inch Laptop, $899.99 (originally $1,149.99) [You save $250]
• Samsung Galaxy Tablet 10.5-inch, $755.99 (originally $912.49) [You save $156.50]

Speakers and headphones: Up to 50% off

Shop speaker and headphone deals

• Apple AirPods with Wired Charging Case, $144.99 (originally $159.99) [You save $15]
• Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, $169.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $30]
• Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, $179.99 (originally $299.99) [You save $120]
• urBeats3 Earphones with Lightning Connector, $39.99 (originally $59.99) [You save $20]
• Google Home Mini, $25 (originally $49) [You save $24]
• Bose Home Wireless Speaker 300, $199.99 (originally $259.99) [You save $60] 

Furniture: Up to 40% off

Shop furniture deals

• Berwyn Large Round end table $65.99 (originally $109.99) [You save $44]
• Small Marble Top Coffee Table, $104.99 (originally $149.99) [You save $45]
• Franklin Console Table, $199.99 (originally $249.99) [You save $50]

Health and grooming: Up to 40% off

Shop health and grooming deals

• Oral-B Genius X Luxe, Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush, $219.99 (originally $299.99) [You save $80]
• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Water Gel Face Moisturizer, $14.49 (originally $22.99) [You save $8.50]
• Oral-B Genius X 10000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush, $179.99 (originally $279.99)[You save $100]
• Panasonic ARC 5-Blade Advanced Men's Electric Shaver, $99.99 (originally $149.99) [You save $50]

Genetic and wellness tests: Up to 50% off

Shop genetic and wellness test deals

• 23andMe Personal Ancestry + Health Personal Genetic Service - Lab Fee Included, $99.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $100]
• 23andMe Personal Ancestry + Traits Personal Genetic Service - Lab Fee Included, $79.99 (originally $99.99) [You save $20]

Toys: Up to 50% off

Shop toy deals

• Buy Two Get One: Disney Frozen toys
• LEGO Star Wars Droid Gunship 75233, $29.99 (originally $39.99) [You save $10]
• Our Generation Movie Theater with Electronics, $119.99 (originally $149.99) [You save $30]

Target Black Friday FAQs:

When do Target's Black Friday deals start?

Target will again give RedCard holders early access to shop more than 100 deals all day on Wednesday, November 27. Members of Target Circle (the company's free loyalty program) will reportedly get early access at 6 p.m. CT on November 27. For everyone else, Target Black Friday deals became available on Thanksgiving morning. 

Target released its Black Friday ad on November 6, so we at least know some of what will be on sale.

What are Target's Black Friday store hours on Thanksgiving?

Target will be open for an eight-hour shift from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day like it was last year. Doors close at 1 a.m. and re-open again at 7 a.m. on Friday, November 29. 

Does Target allow in-store pick-up?

Sometimes, but you may not want to count on it. There are certain items that will be eligible for in-store pickup, but not likely everything you'll want to buy.

What is Target's return policy?

For items purchased from November 1 through December 25, the 30-day return period will start on December 26. As usual, RedCard holders have a longer returns window. 

Is Target price-matching during Black Friday?

No. Target will price-match between its online and in-store prices, but not with competitors. 

However, Target will likely keep prices as close to competitors as possible, and most major retailers tend to adjust prices throughout the day to remain competitive. You just won't have 14 days to ask for a differential refund if you come across something lower. 

Will RedCard holders still get 5% off purchases at Target on Black Friday?

Yes. They'll also get early access to over 100 Black Friday deals on November 27.

Are there any ways to save even more at Target on Black Friday?

As mentioned, it certainly doesn't hurt to be a RedCard holder. They typically get early access to the deals, and they get an extra 5% off their purchases. You'll also get free shipping with no minimum. If you make purchases with a Target Debit Card, Credit Card, or Target Mastercard (all RedCards) you also get an additional 30 days to return a purchase. 

You can also get early access for free by joining Target Circle, the retailer's free loyalty program. 

The benefits may be slim in comparison, but it also doesn't hurt to download the Target app. Retailers with apps are known to push specific coupons or exclusive discounts to those with it downloaded already or to incentivize downloads. 

And while it pays to get early access to avoid sellouts, Target is offering incentives for shopping on Black Friday, too. Shoppers who spend $50 (in-store or online) on November 29 get a 20% off coupon to redeem online or in stores December 3 through December 14. 

In terms of strategy, the best plan is to have a plan. Make a wish-list of what you'd like to buy day-of by clicking the heart on a Target product. When Black Friday deals open to the public, shop your wish-list and don't get lost browsing. And prioritize whatever is most likely to sell out first.

See more Black Friday sales and deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• Kohl's Black Friday deals 2019
• Amazon Black Friday deals 2019
• Walmart Black Friday deals 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019

• Kohl's released its Black Friday ad, announcing that it will offer $15 in Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend.
• The best Black Friday deals include $100 off the Xbox One S 1TB Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Gaming Console Bundle plus $60 in Kohl's Cash, $70 off the Beats Studio Wireless Headphones plus $75 in Kohl's Cash; and $150 off the Dyson V8 Animal Cord-Free Vacuum plus $75 in Kohl's Cash.
• Kohl's Cash can be used on future purchases until December 9. It's a good incentive to buy some big-ticket items from Kohl's rather than head to Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, or Nordstrom, which may try to match prices, but won't include the same rewards. 
• To potentially save more on Black Friday sales this year, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date Kohl's coupons and promo codes.

Kohl's Black Friday ad

Kohl's Black Friday ad includes a sneak peek of this year's deals, as well as rewards like its Kohl's Cash deals. You can see more of the standout deals below, but one of the best benefits of shopping at Kohl's on Black Friday is that for every $50 you spend there from November 25 to November 29, you'll also receive $15 in Kohl's Cash that can be redeemed November 30 through December 9. That's basically free money to use on future purchases.

Plus, now until November 29, you'll get 15% off your purchase with the code "GIVETHANKS" at checkout, though some items are excluded. You'll also receive free shipping at Kohls.com when you spend $25 between November 25 to December 4. 

The best Kohl's Black Friday deals of 2019:

Below are the best deals mentioned in Kohl's Black Friday ad, which will be available starting at 12:01 a.m. Central Time on November 28. A few of the items below are already on sale, but none of the discounts are better than what is being offered on Black Friday. 

1. Best smart speaker deal: Echo Dot, $22.99 (originally $49.99) [You save $27]
2. Best kitchen appliance deal:Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 6-Quart, $67.99 (originally $129.99)[You save $62] plus $15 in Kohl's Cash
3. Best wireless headphone deal:PowerBeats Pro Totally Wireless Headphones, $199.99 (originally $249.99)[You save $50] plus $60 in Kohl's Cash
4. Best over-the-ear headphone deal: Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, $89.99 (originally $199.99)[You save $110] plus $15 in Kohl's Cash
5. Best fitness tracker deal:Fitbit Charge 3, $99.99 (originally $149.99)[You save $50] plus $30 in Kohl's Cash
6. Best security deal: Ring Video Doorbell 2, $139.99 (originally $199.99)[You save $60] plus $30 in Kohl's Cash.
7. Best smart home deal: Google Nest Learning Thermostat, $179.99 (originally $249.99)[You save $70] plus $45 Kohl's Cash
8. Best smart home deal:Google Home Smart Light starter kit, $25 (originally $55) [You save $30]
9. Best printer deal: HP DeskJet 3639 All-in-One Printer, $29.99 (originally $79.99) [You save $50]
10. Best TV streaming deal: Amazon Fire TV Stick Streaming Media Player, $19.99 (originally $39.99) [You save $20]
11. Best speaker deal: JBL Charge 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $99.99 (originally $179.99)[You save $80] plus $15 in Kohl's Cash
12. Best vacuum deal: Dyson V8 Animal Cord-Free Vacuum, $249.99 (originally $399.99)[You save $150] plus $100 in Kohl's Cash
13. Best video game deal: PS4 Pro 1TB Gaming Console, $299.99 (originally $399.99)[You save $100] plus $30 in Kohl's Cash
14. Best video game deal:Take 25% off retro handheld games and gaming systems

What makes these deals great: 

1. Echo Dot, $22.99 (originally $49.99) [You save $27] Our reviewer calls this the best entry-level smart-home hub on the market. It may be small and budget-friendly, but it still packs just as much brilliance as its siblings. Basically, it does almost everything you need and nothing you don't at a very reasonable price, especially with this deal. Find the Insider Picks buying guide to the best Amazon Echo devices here.
2. Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 6-Quart, $67.99 (originally $129.99) [You save $62] plus $15 in Kohl's Cash. The Instant Pot Duo is our favorite multicooker on the market. It's a super-easy way to prepare quick meals and can accommodate ribs, soups, beans, rice, poultry, yogurt, desserts, and pretty much anything else you might be craving. The $35 matches the best Black Friday deals we saw last year.    
3. $50 off the PowerBeats Pro Totally Wireless Headphones, plus $60 in Kohl's Cash. The Beats Powerbeats Pro headphones are largely considered to be some of the best wireless earbuds you can buy. They not only sound great (especially for the price), but have Apple's H1 chip built into them for flawless connectivity.
4. Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, $89.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $110] plus $15 in Kohl's Cash. Sony makes some of our favorite noise-canceling headphones, and for $110 off along with $15 in Kohl's Cash, this is a steal.
5. Fitbit Charge 3, $99.99 (originally $149.99) [You save $50] plus $30 in Kohl's Cash. The Fitbit Charge 3 offers all the activity tracking, a heart rate monitor, and just the right screen size for most people. Our reviewer called the Charge 3 Fitbit's best product to date.
6. Ring Video Doorbell 2, $139.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $60] plus $30 in Kohl's Cash. The Ring Video Doorbell 2 connects homeowner to live video feed from anywhere (even thousands of miles away), offers a remote two-way talk feature, and is outfitted for 1080 HD video with infrared night vision. Read our full review.
7. Google Nest Learning Thermostat, $179.99 (originally $249.99) [You save $70] plus $45 Kohl's Cash. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat isn't the cheapest thing in the world, but it's one of those devices that will help you save money (and pay for itself) over time. When choosing between thermostats, our reviewer writes, "Really, what it comes down to is which smart home ecosystem you have set up. If you're a Google Assistant user, then the Nest Learning Thermostat is the way to go."
8. Google Home Smart Light starter kit, $25 (originally $55) [You save $30] All the tech you need and nothing you don't to voice-activate your home lighting. At this price, you're barely spending more than you would on some eco-friendly lightbulbs, but entering a whole and brave new world.
9. HP DeskJet 3639 All-in-One Printer, $29.99 (originally $79.99) [You save $50] What's to say? The HP Deskjet has been serving us all well through its many iterations, and while there have been no huge technological advances in home printers of its sort, you'll have a hard time beating this sale price.
10. Amazon Fire TV Stick Streaming Media Player, $19.99 (originally $39.99) [You save $20] The streaming stick that instantly turns your TV into a viewing platform for hundreds of thousands of shows and movies has never been more affordable. Even at full price, we think it's worth it.
11. JBL Charge 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $99.99 (originally $179.99) [You save $80] plus $15 in Kohl's Cash. Waterproof, loud, and durable, JBL makes some of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, and at half price, now's as good of a time as any to pick one up.
12. Dyson V8 Animal Cord-Free Vacuum, $249.99 (originally $399.99) [You save $150] plus $60 in Kohl's Cash. Dyson's been at the top of the vacuum game for a very long time, probably because the brand makes some of the longest-lasting, most powerful vacuums on the market. "The Dyson V8 Animal Cord-Free Vacuum is quieter and more powerful than just about any other vacuum I've ever used, corded or not," writes our reviewer. Find our review of the vacuum here.
13. PS4 Pro 1TB Gaming Console, $299.99 (originally $399.99) [You save $100] plus $30 in Kohl's Cash. The PS4 Pro 1TB is the latest in Playstation technology, and while it's three years old, it's still tough to get a deal on it, at least one this good. The best thing about it compared with other Playstation consoles is that it's geared up to take full advantage of your 4K tv.
14. Take 25% off retro handheld games and gaming systems: If you're lamenting the days of old, when VR was just a pipedream and a simple number of pixels occupied video game screens, you're in luck. They're back on the scene, and they're 25% off for Black Friday. Have a ball.

How we selected the best deals at Kohl's:

1. We only chose products that meet our high standard of coverage, and that we've either used ourselves or researched carefully.
2. We compared the prices against other retailers like Target and Amazon and only included the deals that are the same or better (not including promotional discounts that come from using certain credit cards).
3. All deals are at least 20% off, with the occasional exception for products that are rarely discounted or provide an outsized value.

There are also early Black Friday deals you can shop now at Kohl's. Here are the top 8:

Below are the best Black Friday Kohl's deals that you can shop right now, plus the Kohl's Cash you'll earn. Most early deals are eligible for 15% off with the promo code "GIVETHANKS" at checkout.

If you take advantage of an early deal, you can earn Kohl's Cash (redeemable before December 9) to apply to your future Black Friday or Cyber Monday purchase.

1. Best headphones deal: $70 off the Beats Studio Wireless Headphones, plus $75 in Kohl's Cash
2. Best fitness tracker deal: $50 off the Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch, plus $45 in Kohl's Cash. 
3. Best toothbrush deal: $63 off the Philips Sonicare Series 2 Rechargeable Toothbrush with the promo code "GIVETHANKS" at checkout
4. Best robot vacuum deal: $200 off iRobot Roomba 677 Wi-Fi Connected Vacuum with the promo code "GIVETHANKS" at checkout, plus $45 in Kohl's Cash.
5. Best vacuum deal: $172 off the Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Vacuum with the promo code "GIVETHANKS" at checkout, plus $30 in Kohl's Cash
6. Best coffee maker deal: $82 off the Keurig K-Select Single-Serve Pod Coffee Maker with the promo code "GIVETHANKS" at checkout, plus $15 in Kohl's Cash
7. Best stand mixer deal: $60 off the KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer, plus $60 in Kohl's Cash
8. Best air fryer deal:$43 off the Power XL Vortex Air Fryer with the promo code "GIVETHANKS" at checkout, plus $15 in Kohl's Cash

Electronics: Up to 50% off

Shop electronics deals

• $27 off the Echo Dot
• $50 off the PowerBeats Pro Totally Wireless Headphones, plus $60 in Kohl's Cash
• $110 off the Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, plus $15 in Kohl's Cash
• $50 off the Fitbit Charge 3, plus $30 in Kohl's Cash
• $70 off the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera, plus $15 in Kohl's Cash
• $50 off the HP DeskJet 3639 All-in-One Printer
• $80 off the JBL Charge 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, plus $30 in Kohl's Cash
• $100 off the PlayStation VR Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Moss Bundle, plus $60 in Kohl's Cash
• Take 25% off retro handheld games and gaming systems

Home and kitchen: Up to 60% off

Shop home and kitchen deals

• $60 off the Ring Video Doorbell 2, plus $30 in Kohl's Cash
• $70 off the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, plus $45 Kohl's Cash
• $30 off the Google Home Smart Light starter kit
• $20 off the Amazon Fire TV Stick Streaming Media Player
• $150 off the Dyson V8 Animal Cord-Free Vacuum, plus $75 in Kohl's Cash.

Women's clothing: Up to 70% off

Shop women's clothing

• $30 off the Columbia Benton Springs Zip-Front Fleece Jacket*available now*
• $11 off the Croft & Barrow Classic Crewneck Tee*available now*

Women's shoes:

Shop women's shoes

• $40 off the Nine West Taye Women's Ankle Boots*available now*

Men's clothing: Up to 70% off

Shop men's clothing deals

•  $26 off the Croft & Barrow Extra-Soft Flannel Button-Down Shirt*available now*

Men's shoes: Up to 60% off

Shop men's shoes

• $35 off the New Balance 519 Cross-Training Shoes *available now*

Kohl's Black Friday FAQs:

Will Kohl's be open on Thanksgiving?

Yes, Kohl's will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving. They'll be offering doorbuster deals until 1 p.m. on Black Friday. Black Friday deals will be available online at Kohl's from 12:01 a.m. CT on November 28.

You can shop early Kohl's Black Friday deals online starting November 25.

Does Kohl's offer in-store pick-up?

Yes, Kohl's typically offers in-store pick-up for most items. However, since Kohl's is lowering its free shipping minimum to $25, you'll likely get free shipping without trying.

What's Kohl's return policy during retail holidays?

Kohl's lets you return items within 180 days of purchase, except premium electronics which must be returned within 30 days. 

For the holidays, premium electronics purchased from November 1 through December 25 can be returned by January 31 with original packaging and a receipt or account to track the order. Learn more here. 

What's Kohl's shipping policy during Black Friday?

Kohl's is offering free standard shipping when you spend $25 or more from November 25 through December 4. 

See more Black Friday sales and deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• Amazon Black Friday deals 2019
• Best Buy Black Friday deals 2019
• The Home Depot Black Friday deals 2019
• Target Black Friday deals 2019
• Walmart Black Friday deals 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019

• A teen on TikTok is going viral for a series of videos showing her give a makeup tutorial while criticizing the Chinese government's treatment of its Muslim population.
• Her account was suspended shortly after her videos went viral, leading many to suspect TikTok took action against her due to her anti-China and politically critical rhetoric.
• TikTok told Business Insider that the account was actually suspended because of another video of hers that featured Osama bin Laden.
• The teen, Feroza Aziz, has provided Business Insider with the video TikTok says it suspended her for, which includes an image of bin Laden. Watch the video below.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: The summer of the 'VSCO girl' may be over, but retailers and the VSCO app itself are still reaping the benefits of the craze that swept Gen Z

Join the conversation about this story »

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• A teen on TikTok has been going viral for a series of videos showing her give a makeup tutorial while criticizing the Chinese government's treatment of its Muslim population.
• The account of Ferrora Aziz was suspended shortly after her videos went viral, leading to further speculation on whether TikTok censors political content that may offend the Chinese government.
• TikTok has issued a public apology to Aziz and reinstated one of her accounts, although they acknowledge that its moderation process "will not be perfect."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

TikTok issued a public apology after suspending an account belonging to a teen who went viral for using her videos, disguised as makeup tutorials, to issue a statement about China's treatment of Muslims.

Teenager Ferora Aziz says she has since regained access to her TikTok account, which was suspended shortly after she used it to post a series of videos earlier this week that have been watched more than 1.5 million times.

In a statement published Wednesday on TikTok's website, the company also stood behind its initial decision to suspend Aziz's account, but also acknowledged that its moderation process "will not be perfect."

Aziz has made the rounds across social media with her videos posted to her TikTok account, @getmefamouspartthree, that appeared to be a series of makeup tutorials. However, each video switches after a just a few seconds to Aziz calling on viewers to learn about China's treatment of the Muslim Uighurs.

Aziz says in her videos that they are designed in such a way in an attempt to fool TikTok's moderators from cracking down and removing her content. TikTok — an app not available in China but owned by the Chinese company ByteDance — has faced increasing scrutiny over fears it censors content considered "culturally problematic" and offensive to the Chinese government. 

Further, others have alleged TikTok takes notably restricts content dealing with "social and political topics." When pro-democracy protests broke out in Hong Kong earlier this year, TikTok was curiously devoid of any hints of unrest, and videos instead documented a prettier picture. Meanwhile, TikTok has continued to insist that it's independent from China.

Therefore, Aziz grew suspicious when she received a message from TikTok not long after her videos went up that her account had been "temporarily suspended due to multiple violations of our Community Guidelines," she tweeted.

Aziz argued on Twitter that her account was suspended "for trying to spread awareness." However, TikTok has said her account was suspended because it was connected to another one of her accounts, @getmefamousplzsir, which was banned for violating rules.

TikTok said the ban on Aziz's second account was part of "scheduled platform-wide enforcement" of certain violations, including videos containing "terrorirm or terrorist imagery." TikTok pointed the finger at a video in which a picture of Osama Bin Laden flashes on the screen. 

TikTok said in its statement that while it "recognize(s) that this video may have been intended as satire," it maintains strict policies. 

In Wednesday's statement, TikTok said that Aziz's account suspension and her China callout videos are two separate incidents with no correlation to each other. Even further, TikTok blamed "a human moderation error" for causing Aziz's video about China's treatment of Muslims for disappearing off the platform for 50 minutes Wednesday morning.

Aziz responded on Twitter, where she made it clear she didn't believe that the situation with her TikTok account was merely a coincidence as the company says.

"Do I believe they took it away because of a unrelated satirical video that was deleted on a previous deleted account of mine? Right after I finished posting a 3 part video about the Uyghurs?" Aziz wrote. "No."

China has been accused of running detention centers in the autonomous western region of Xinjiang. Interviews with people who were held in the camps reveal allegations of beatings and food deprivation, as well as medical experimentation on prisoners. 

China has acknowledged the existence of some "re-education camps" but repeatedly denied any reports of abuse at its facilities. 

The region has a population of about 10 million citizens, many of whom are Uighur or other ethnic minorities, and in May, Assistant Secretary of US Defense Randall Schriver said "at least a million but likely closer to 3 million citizens" were detained in these facilities. 

Satellite images reviewed by the Washington-based East Turkistan National Awakening Movement earlier this month identified at least 465 detention centers, labor camps, and suspected prisons in Xinjiang. 

And a recent leak of classified Chinese government documents known as the "China Cables" laid out a manual for exactly how the detention centers operate, from preventing escape by double locking all the doors to utilizing a "points system" based on behavior which is linked "directly to rewards, punishments, and family visits." 

SEE ALSO: Leaked Chinese documents give unprecedented insight into how Muslim detention centers in Xinjiang control detainees' every move

Join the conversation about this story »

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