• While some markets are seeing cooling prices, rent in some areas continues to rise.
• WalletHub ranked 182 cities across the US by how affordable rents are relative to median income.
• Bismarck, North Dakota, ranked first, with 15% of the median income going toward rent.

Not every city is built the same, and that's also true of rental markets.

While some cities are seeing cooling rents and more affordable housing efforts, rent prices in others continue to rise.

A recent WalletHub study ranked 182 US cities, including the 150 most populous cities in the country and at least two of the most populous in each state, by how much renters spend on rent, on average.

To calculate the share of income spent on rent, WalletHub used US Census Bureau data on median annual gross rent and median household income for each surveyed city.

"A general rule of thumb is that rent should not exceed 30% of the median income," Maggie Rong Hu, an assistant professor of real estate at Baruch College in New York, said in the study. "This ensures that renters can comfortably afford their housing without sacrificing other essential living expenses."

On average, people living in the 31 cities listed below spend about 18.5% of their income on rent, lower than the 23.46% across all measured cities.

In the most expensive cities in the study, including Miami, Detroit, and Newark, renters can spend up to 33.8% of their income on rent.

See the most affordable cities for renters across the US in 2026.

30. (Tie) Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

Income spent on rent: 20.10%

30. (Tie) South Burlington, Vermont

Income spent on rent: 20.10%

29. Chesapeake, Virginia

Income spent on rent: 19.96%

28. Amarillo, Texas

Income spent on rent: 19.88%

27. Des Moines, Iowa

Income spent on rent: 19.84%

26. Oklahoma City

Income spent on rent: 19.75%

25. Plano, Texas

Income spent on rent: 19.68%

24. Seattle

Income spent on rent: 19.67%

23. West Valley City, Utah

Income spent on rent: 19.57%

22. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Income spent on rent: 19.52%

21. Omaha, Nebraska

Income spent on rent: 19.46%

20. Fremont, California

Income spent on rent: 19.39%

19. Fort Smith, Arkansas

Income spent on rent: 19.35%

18. Laredo, Texas

Income spent on rent: 19.34%

17. Huntsville, Alabama

Income spent on rent: 18.81%

16. Rapid City, South Dakota

Income spent on rent: 18.78%

15. Columbia, Maryland

Income spent on rent: 18.64%

14. Billings, Montana

Income spent on rent: 18.53%

13. Warwick, Rhode Island

Income spent on rent: 18.44%

12. Lincoln, Nebraska

Income spent on rent: 18.13%

11. Wichita, Kansas

Income spent on rent: 18.11%

10. Overland Park, Kansas

Income spent on rent: 17.34%

9. Anchorage, Alaska

Income spent on rent: 17.30%

8. Casper, Wyoming

Income spent on rent: 17.24%

7. Juneau, Alaska

Income spent on rent: 17.04%

6. Cheyenne, Wyoming

Income spent on rent: 17.02%

5. Fargo, North Dakota

Income spent on rent: 16.94%

4. Charleston, West Virginia

Income spent on rent: 16.56%

3. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Income spent on rent: 16.48%

2. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Income spent on rent: 16.35%

1. Bismarck, North Dakota

Income spent on rent: 15.29%

• These are the best non-franchise movies we got a taste of at CinemaCon.
• We're excited for Alejandro G. Iñárritu's "Digger" and Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day."
• There was also impressive footage from "I Play Rocky," "Other Mommy," and "Verity."

Every year, Hollywood makes a pilgrimage to Las Vegas for CinemaCon, a theater convention where studios and major distributors show up with flashy star-filled presentations to get exhibition owners excited about upcoming movies.

This year, as always, franchises were a major highlight of the convention; footage was shown from Warner Bros.' Dune: Part Three," Sony's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," and Disney's "Avengers: Doomsday."

But a major highlight at CinemaCon for me is always checking out the non-franchise movies. And this year, there were plenty to choose from. From the latest work from auteurs like Christopher Nolan ("The Odyssey"), Alejandro G. Iñárritu ("Digger"), and Steven Spielberg ("Disclosure Day"), to trailers for original movies I didn't even know existed, this collection of films showed you don't need a cinematic universe to tell a compelling story.

Here are 12 non-franchise titles coming out this year to get excited about.

"Disclosure Day" (June 12)

The trailer for Steven Spielberg's latest sci-fi tale from Universal already debuted, but the director showed up to CinemaCon for the first time ever to show an extended version, and it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.

From the film's mysterious plotline that's seemingly about aliens, to the great performances from stars Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor, to the John Williams score, it's hard not to be excited for this one.

"The Odyssey" (July 17)

Going all the way back to his "Batman" trilogy, Christopher Nolan has made it a tradition to kick-start his movie campaigns at CinemaCon.

Like Spielberg, Nolan's trailer had already been released, but he showed up with additional footage.

Nolan admitted at the Universal presentation that his new adaptation of Homer's Greek epic was an "absolute nightmare to film, but in all the right ways."

The challenges — including the creation of a brand new IMAX camera — look to have all been worth it, as everything from the stunning locations to performances led by Matt Damon tease another film where Nolan is at the top of his game.

"The Brink of War" (August 14)

Angel, the studio that brought you "Sound of Freedom," will release this political drama at the end of the summer, focusing on the 1986 Reykjavik Summit that pitted President Ronald Reagan against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Jeff Daniels plays Reagan and Jared Harris plays Gorbachev.

"Verity" (October 2)

If you're looking for the next steamy thriller in the vein of "The Housemaid," this release from Amazon MGM Studios might be it.

Based on the novel from "It Ends with Us" author Colleen Hoover, Dakota Johnson plays a writer who's hired by the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) to ghostwrite the rest of Verity's book series following a mysterious accident that has left her in a vegetative state. Josh Hartnett plays the husband.

As Johnson's character works to finish the series, she uncovers some strange clues that make her question what really happened to Verity.

"Digger" (October 2)

Let the Tom Cruise Oscar hype begin!

Cruise teamed with Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu ("The Revenant") for this outlandish satirical comedy from Warner Bros.

Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a wealthy elderly oil tycoon who the president (John Goodman) turns to when it's revealed that the world is on the brink of destruction. Cruise is almost unrecognizable in the role.

"Other Mommy" (October 9)

I'll never forget a few years back when CinemaCon blessed us with the first-ever footage of "M3GAN" and the crowd went wild. I got the same this-is-something-special feeling when I saw previews of "Other Mommy."

Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan for Universal, the movie follows a young girl who encounters an entity who seems to have entered the body of her mother, played by Jessica Chastain.

"The Social Reckoning" (October 9)

Yes, this is a sequel to the hit 2010 movie "The Social Network," but it's not what you think. David Fincher did not return to direct, and none of the cast from the first movie has returned, including Jesse Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg.

"The Social Network" writer Aaron Sorkin returned to write and direct this spiritual sequel from Sony, which chronicles a more recent time when young people are becoming seriously damaged from using social media.

Jeremy Strong plays an adult Zuckerberg, while Oscar winner Mikey Madison plays the whistleblower who told everything to a Wall Street Journal reporter, played by Jeremy Allen White.

"Klara and the Sun" (October 23)

For Sony, Oscar-winning screenwriter Taika Waititi adapts this beloved Kazuo Ishiguro novel for his next directing effort.

Jenna Ortega plays Klara, a robot whose purpose is to ease the loneliness of the human who purchases her. Klara soon discovers there are some challenges in doing this when she's brought home to a troubled family.

"The Great Beyond" (November 13)

This movie from Warner Bros. marks J.J. Abrams' first time directing an original story since 2011's "Super 8."

Also written by Abrams, "The Great Beyond" plot has been kept under wraps, but the footage shown definitely suggested the genre is science fiction, and I can tell you for sure that Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, and Samuel L. Jackson star in it.

I know I'm excited.

"I Play Rocky" (November 13)

I'll admit I was skeptical when I first heard about this Amazon MGM Studios biopic about a then-unknown Sylvester Stallone launching his career by not just writing the first "Rocky" movie, but demanding that he also play the lead.

What has convinced me this could be a special movie is Anthony Ippolito's performance. He doesn't just look like Stallone; he has the mannerisms down and talks exactly like him. Exactly!

That, mixed with "Rocky" nostalgia, could lead to a hit.

"Werwulf" (December 25)

Following the Christmas Day-release success Focus Features and Robert Eggers enjoyed with "Nosferatu" last year, Focus and Eggers are running it back again this holiday season with another horrific tale.

In "Werwulf," Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays a man in 13th-century England who can't resist the wolf-like craving inside him when the full moon is out.

Eggers regulars Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe also star.

"Heart of the Beast" (Fall 2026)

Brad Pitt re-teams with his "Fury" director David Ayer for this survival movie from Paramount. Pitt plays a retired Army Special Forces soldier who survives a plane crash with his combat dog. The two must endure some harrowing circumstances in the Alaskan wilderness to survive.

• A version of this story originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter.
• Sign up for the weekly BI Tech Memo newsletter here.

A new side project, Lunches.fyi, takes the AI tooling craze in a lighter direction, ranking tech companies not by market cap, but by cafeteria quality.

It was built by coding prankster Riley Walz in about an hour using voice-dictated commands into OpenAI's Codex (a task he says might previously have taken 20+ hours).

The site scrapes publicly available tech company menus and uses AI to categorize and score meals. Early results crowned Nvidia a surprise leader, serving everything from "truffle mushroom pizza" to leafy greens worthy of its stock performance.

But the experiment also highlights a familiar truth: AI is only as good as the data it's built on. Replit CEO Amjad Masad publicly questioned his company's low protein ranking, prompting Walz to uncover a bug: missing nutrition data that had defaulted to zero.

Fixing the error quickly changed the results. It's a small, fun project, but a sharp reminder: AI breaks without quality data.

You can check out how tech companies rank, over that the website: Lunches.fyi.

Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

Updated on April 18, 2026, to include additional information about team standings and last year's NBA Finals.

The NBA postseason is underway, and the final teams are duking it out in the play-in tournament. We've rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch the NBA Playoffs, including live streaming info for those without cable.

If you don't want to read any further, the NBA Playoffs will live stream through ESPN Unlimited, Peacock, and Prime Video in the US. In the UK, Sky Sports and Prime Video will carry postseason coverage. Playoffs coverage will be split between Sportsnet and TSN in Canada. Below, we've broken down everything you need to know about tuning around the world.

The Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder lead the charge as the No. 1 seeds in this year's NBA Playoffs. The Pistons lead the Eastern Conference, with the Boston Celtics trailing in second and the New York Knicks close behind in third. The Thunder lead the Western Conference, with the San Antonio Spurs in second place and the Denver Nuggets in third. The Thunder are looking to go back-to-back after winning the NBA Finals last year in a dramatic Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers.

Where to watch NBA Playoffs in the US

TNT is out of the NBA broadcast game in the US. Instead, the 2026 postseason will air across ESPN, ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. The Prime Video inclusion means that even those with the most comprehensive cable package will still need to sign up for a streaming service if they're planning to watch every game of the NBA Playoffs. The Playoffs won't be available to live stream on NBA League Pass in the US because all games will be nationally broadcast.

ESPN and ABC will broadcast several games in the first and second rounds, as well as the Eastern Conference Finals. ABC will also carry the NBA Finals. All ESPN and ABC games (along with tons of other coverage from the ESPN family of channels) are available through ESPN's direct streaming counterpart, ESPN Unlimited. ESPN Unlimited costs $30 a month and serves as a one-stop shop for all things ESPN. There's also a cheaper ESPN Select plan, but this won't help you out for the NBA Playoffs.

NBC and Peacock will also carry loads of games this year, including several games in the first and second rounds, and the Western Conference Finals. You can live stream it all on Peacock, where sports-friendly plans start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium. Peacock Select, the budget plan, doesn't carry sports. You can upgrade to ad-free on-demand content and a 24/7 live stream of NBC with the $17 a month Peacock Premium Plus plan.

Prime Video is also getting in on the NBA Playoffs action. The streaming service carries the play-in tournament, along with several first and second round games. Prime Video subscriptions start at just $9 a month, but Prime Video is also included with all standard Amazon Prime subscriptions. An Amazon Prime subscription costs $15 a month and comes with a 30-day free trial for new customers.

If you'd prefer to watch through a live TV streaming service, which functions like cable (without all of the long-term contracts and equipment), then our guide to the best live TV streaming services might be able to help you out.

DirecTV is our top recommendation for a month-to-month cable alternative. You can find all NBC, ABC, and ESPN games in DirecTV's MySports genre pack. MySports carries around 20 popular sports networks and unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited. Subscriptions start at $65 a month, but new customers can get their first two months for $45 a month after a five-day free trial. To watch every game of the postseason, you'll still need to sign up for Prime Video separately.

Where to watch NBA Playoffs in the UK

Sky Sports and Prime Video will split NBA Playoffs coverage in the UK. Sky prices vary by plan and contract, and you can learn more in our guide to the best Sky TV deals and plans. Amazon Prime costs £9 a month or £8 a month for Prime Video only. New customers can get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. The Playoffs should also be available through NBA League Pass in the UK.

How to watch NBA Playoffs from anywhere

If you're traveling abroad and hoping to keep up with your usual watch options, you can do so with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that let people change their device's virtual location. This way, their go-to websites and apps work from anywhere, just like they would back home. The services we've highlighted above require country-specific payment methods, so this option will work best for those who are just traveling away from home at the moment.

NordVPN is our top recommendation. It's fast, user-friendly (even for beginners), and has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not helping you out. You can learn more in our heavily tested guide to the best VPN services.

Upcoming games

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• I moved from the US to Spain with my children when they were 10 and 6 years old.
• I worried they would struggle to find friends and feel isolated due to their lack of Spanish skills.
• Although there have been challenging moments, my sons have adapted to life in Spain incredibly well.

Everyone said the same thing when my husband and I shared our plans to move from Connecticut to a suburb outside of Madrid: "But what about the kids?"

If I'm honest, I was asking myself the same question.

I worried that my two sons, now 10 and 7, would struggle to make friends, feel left out due to the language barrier, and shut down in a new environment.

It's now been about seven months since our move to Spain, and none of the worst-case scenarios I imagined have come to fruition. The boys did more than adjust; they grew.

Although I find that kids tend to be resilient, I believe much of their success came down to what my husband and I did before boarding our one-way flight.

Our family talked openly about the move for months before we did it

Long before we actually arrived in Spain, my husband and I wanted our children to feel like participants in the move rather than passengers.

We involved them in ways that felt appropriate for their ages, asking them what they hoped life would feel like in Spain and letting them choose what to pack and sell (they kept their earnings as pocket money).

Although they didn't speak Spanish and had never visited Spain, I wanted to make the unknown feel as familiar as possible. So, we watched Spanish videos, learned basic vocabulary, and read books about Spain.

The move went from being an abstract concept to something they could visualize.

A few weeks before we left the US, they each had a Zoom call with the principal of their new school. She listened as my eldest said he felt excited, nervous, and sad to leave his friends behind.

She gave him space to feel it all, never glossing over his emotions. After the calls, their relief was visible as their new school went from an unknown place to one that felt safe.

Perhaps most importantly, we fostered an environment where our kids could share their fears. My husband and I reminded them that they're part of a team that would figure things out together, one step at a time. I wanted to make sure they knew they weren't in it alone.

Of course, there would still be hard moments no matter what we did or said ahead of time. The most we could do was soften the landing.

Once they started school in Spain, they hit the ground running

When we arrived in Spain, my kids were understandably homesick.

My youngest, who was 6 at the time, really missed our old home. It symbolized safety to him, so losing it so suddenly felt disorienting. Our oldest, just shy of 10 when we landed, dreamed about his friends and grandparents at night.

These moments were hard to witness, but they also didn't last as long as I feared they would.

Starting school made all the difference. Their small international school has traditions that feel familiar to the boys, like trick-or-treating on Halloween and St. Patrick's Day festivities.

Half of the students are international, so they have plenty of classmates who know what it's like to start over. The other half are local Spanish children. The combination has been such a gift.

My boys have found peers who have empathized with them and others who have welcomed them, shared their culture, and made them feel like they belong. They love school so much that it's often hard to convince them to leave at the end of the day.

Outside of school, I rely on a combination of old and new routines to give their days structure. We have Taco Tuesday, a family movie night, a dinner-table game we call "sad, mad, glad," and special treats on Friday.

These small rituals give them comfort, familiarity, and stability amid so much change.

Seven months into the move, I'm constantly amazed by their bravery

My boys' boldness has surprised me over and over.

Shortly after we arrived in Spain, my youngest would lean out our apartment window and greet passersby below in Spanish. Seven months in, he joins pickup soccer games at the park with kids of all ages. Because he has the courage to show up, it doesn't matter that he isn't yet fluent in Spanish.

As for my eldest, he's already talking about moving to France one day to learn French, telling me that the best way to learn a language is through immersion.

This winter, he chose to go on a five-day ski trip with his school despite never having skied before. More recently, he stood up in front of a room full of peers, parents, and judges and delivered a 10-minute presentation on inequality as part of an end-of-year project.

He was nervous leading up to it, especially since he hadn't prepared for it the year before like many of his classmates. But when he stood up, he was composed and articulate. In a new country, he carried himself like he belonged.

My sons have adapted better than I ever hoped

Before we left the US, I worried my sons would struggle to find a community.

Now, my eldest has close friends in various grades, and my youngest views everyone in his class as a companion. Although they arrived in Spain without speaking Spanish fluently, the language barrier hasn't isolated them.

There have been plenty of bumps along the way — and there are surely more hard moments to come — but my kids are more open to change and adaptable than I ever imagined possible.

I spent so much time worrying about what moving from the US to Spain might do to them that I didn't let myself consider what it would do for them.

• Venture capitalist Ron Conway has revealed he has a "rare" form of cancer.
• He broke the "difficult news" on Friday to his followers on X.
• He said he is stepping back from work and is "optimistic" about his prognosis.

Legendary venture capitalist Ron Conway has revealed he has a "rare" form of cancer.

The tech investor known as "The Godfather of Silicon Valley" said he is stepping back from the company he co-founded, SV Angel, to begin treatment but will remain involved.

In a post on X, he told followers: "I want to share some difficult news. I was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and I want you to hear it directly from me.

"Treatment is starting immediately and will include multiple strategies over the course of about a year. While I will be stepping back from some of my usual activities, I will continue to support SV Angel founders, who I love with a passion."

Conway said he's chosen not to share the specific type of cancer "since I don't want speculation about my prognosis. I appreciate your understanding and respect for this. I am optimistic about my prognosis."

The 75-year-old has been an angel investor since the '90s and was an early investor in Google, Facebook, and other big companies. OpenAI's Sam Altman has said Conway was instrumental in keeping the company together after he was briefly ousted in 2023.

Whether packing for a picnic, tailgate, or weeks-long camping trip, the best coolers keep food and drink cool while prioritizing interior space and ease of use. Marine-style coolers like Yeti have seen a surge in popularity over the last decade — but do you really need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a great cooler? Based on our testing, yes…and no. If you're trekking out into situations where your life or livelihood depends on keeping your perishables cold, we absolutely think a powerful, durable cooler is worth it. But if you're just looking to keep a few cases of beverages cold for a barbecue or day at the beach, you probably don't need a bear-proof, 30-pound, $450 cooler.

Having been a commercial and recreational fisherman on and off throughout my life, I've purchased, wrecked, and replaced more coolers and cooler parts than I can recount. For this guide, I put coolers through a series of cold retention, durability, and portability tests to find the best for every need — whether you're sailing the seas like me or kicking back ashore.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.

Our top picks for coolers

Best overall: Yeti Tundra 75 - See at Amazon

Best budget: Coleman Chiller 48-Quart Cooler - See at Amazon

Best backpack: Yeti Hopper M20 - See at Amazon

Best soft: Yeti Hopper M30 - See at Amazon

Best budget soft: AO Coolers Carbon Soft Cooler - See at Amazon

Best overall

Let's be clear: This is an expensive cooler. To deal with the elephant in the room first, yes, this cooler costs almost $500. That's a lot of money to spend on a cooler, no two ways about it. But for that price, you will get one of the absolute best coolers on the market.

It's bear-resistant. The Yeti Tundra 75 Cooler's rugged rotomolded design makes it tough enough to be certified as bear-resistant. That's right, in a fight between a bear and this cooler, the cooler will probably win. Its three-inch-thick PermaFrost insulation and ColdLock gasket allow the cooler to keep ice frozen for days on end.

It's huge. It has a 50-can capacity and also comes with a dry goods basket that holds a selection of foodstuffs above the ice. Its non-slip feet and tie-down points help you to secure the cooler in the bed of a truck or aboard a boat. 

But it's not for everyone. Do most people need this level of cooler? Probably not. But if you're a serious fisherman, if you're on a road trip and you want to stay self-sufficient, or if you're stocking a cabin or campsite for an extended stay, you'll be glad you have the Yeti Tundra 75 at your disposal, no buyer's remorse involved. Just note that the cooler weighs 30 pounds even when empty, so if you have trouble lifting heavier loads, you might need to look elsewhere.

Best budget

This classic cooler is legit. This is the cooler your dad brought on family camping trips. It's the cooler of your childhood, and it's still an awesome buy. It costs less than thirty dollars, but it will last you 30 years or more — provided you take the time to wipe it clean now and then.

It's roomy and lightweight. The Coleman Chiller can hold 76 standard 12-ounce cans and is tall enough for two-liter soda bottles to stand upright with the lid closed. It's more than sturdy enough to double as a seat, yet still light enough for one rather fit person to heft alone or for two people to easily carry down the dock, into the park, or onto the beach. Empty, the cooler weighs about eight pounds, so you can easily lift it up onto the top shelf of the garage for storage, too.

It retains ice. This cooler has a drain built into the bottom so you can let out any spilled beverages or ice melt without dumping the entire contents, but for the record, there won't be much meltwater provided you keep the lid secure most of the time. This cooler offers three-day ice retention even when the mercury tops 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Oh, and this cooler is made in America, too.

Best backpack

Yeti is one of our favorite cooler brands. It should be no surprise that Yeti appears multiple times in this guide. The company has made its name manufacturing some of the best coolers on the market. With its Hopper M20, the brand delivers the same durable construction and quality design its fans have come to expect in a backpack cooler. 

It's roomy but not bulky. With space enough to carry roughly 20 cans of beer or soda (with ice included), or 25 pounds of ice, the Hopper M20 is at no lack of available cooler space. And don't worry about the loaded pack feeling especially heavy, either. Yeti designed it so weight distributes evenly, and its ergonomic shoulder straps make it comfortable to tote around, whether it's down a long trail to the beach, a short jaunt to a campsite, or a few steps to a backyard. It's the best cooler for camping, since it straps right on your back for easy transport.

Ice lasts multiple days. Yeti also includes its Magshield zippers, which help keep any contents from spilling out (e.g., water from melted ice), and its ColdCell Insulation, which can keep ice for several days (something we've tested and confirmed often). 

It's pricey. Similar to many of Yeti's products, the Hopper M20 isn't cheap, sporting a price tag of $325. However, Yeti consistently exceeds standards of quality, and this backpack cooler is no different — it'll be one of your favorite pieces of go-to gear for several, several years.

Best soft

Soft coolers are flexible and durable. It should be apparent at this point that Yeti's coolers are worth every bit of the recognition of nabbing three spots in this guide, as its coolers are just that good. And when it comes to picking the best soft cooler, the Hopper M30 is a clear choice. With the brand's patented bomb-proof construction, some impressive ice retention, and surprisingly large capacity, this is the one you want for day trips to the beach or local park.

It excels at retaining ice. Though the Hopper M30 gets a lot right, its best feature is how well it keeps ice throughout the day. During my tests, it reliably kept ice anywhere from roughly 15 hours up to 20 hours, depending on how hot it was outside, how often I opened it for a drink, and whether I'd remember to fully zip it up or not. But even on its lower 15-hour days, that's more than enough time to get your fill of hanging at the park or lounging on the beach (it was even a nice supplemental cooler on two-day car camping trips). 

You'll be surprised at how much this cooler is able to house. Despite often stocking it with more cans of beer than I'd know what to do with, there was still plenty of room for a couple of sandwiches, some cheese sticks, and whatever other snacks seemed fit for the outing. It also comes with a padded shoulder strap that makes lugging the thing either from the car to the beach or park a comfortable experience — I've even slung it over my shoulder while riding my bike, and it was completely fine. 

It's incredibly durable, too. The Hopper M30 can take an utter beating, whether it's getting tossed into the back of a car, dragged down a trail, or even falling completely off my bike (this only happened once and the cooler managed to avoid taking any damage at all). Its zipper closure system also seals the cooler airtight, and not even water drips out if it's tilted upside down or lying on its side.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a more high-quality soft cooler, which is why the Hopper M30 is our go-to whenever I want to leave my bulky, cumbersome cooler at home.

Best budget soft

I've been using this affordable cooler for years. You don't need to spend a fortune to buy an effective soft cooler for general use. In fact, this is one of the coolers I tend to use most. From lighter fishing excursions to an afternoon picnic, I haven't found a handier cooler, hands down. I've also been using the AO Carbon Soft Cooler for well over two years — that's two years of sea time, being left outside through every season, and countless fruitful trips home from the fishing grounds.

The lining is loose, but that helps keep it cool. While the brand touts its use of high-density insulation, it seems to be that the large air pockets between the insulation and the inner and outer linings are what give it its best retention qualities. High-density foam (or insulation) is actually a better conductor of heat than low-density foam (or insulation), while air is one of the worst conductors. So, while the insulation may seem curiously loose against the linings, all that space is actually helping to improve ice and temperature retention.

It has an exterior pocket and a padded shoulder strap. Regarding features, there are more than you'd find in your average soft cooler. First, there are briefcase-style handles that velcro together and a padded shoulder sling, buckles on either end for strapping it down and making it more compact, and there's also an outside zipper pouch in which I keep utensils, a cutting board, a folded rag, a wine key, and still have room for a couple of other odds and ends.

I wish it was easier to clean. The only room for improvement with this cooler is an airtight zipper but that would probably drive the cost up too much. It's also a bit tougher to clean than some other options in this guide, but it's nothing a sponge and some dish soap can't handle (I like to fill it with warm soapy water, zip it, and give it a shake first).

Our top picks compared

How we test coolers

Our testing methodology

Each cooler featured in this guide went through several field tests, be it fishing, camping, lounging in the backyard at home, or at the park, to see how well they fared across these four categories: ice retention, durability, portability, and value. Specifically, here's how each category factored into which coolers ultimately made this guide:

Ice retention: Perhaps a cooler's most impactful feature is how well it's able to keep ice. Though variables such as how often you open and close the cooler, how much ice you use, and what is in the cooler impact ice retention, the differences shouldn't be so dramatic that you're able to confuse a poorly designed cooler for a quality one. We judged ice retention in a number of ways, though mostly used each cooler as we normally would while keeping track of how much ice or ice water was left after one, two, and three days.

Durability: A cooler's durability comes down to more than just its exterior quality but also how well its hinges or zippers hold up to constant use. If the cooler you buy gets a lot of run each summer and by fall you're already thinking you'll need to upgrade next year, then durability is a major concern. This is where spending more money on a premium cooler can save you quite a lot in the long run.

Portability: Coolers are inherently portable (for the most part) but some are designed far better than others. Even the most cumbersome of coolers should still offer some method for it to be easily carried (via one or two people), and if it's a small cooler like a soft cooler or a backpack cooler, then these should have portability near the top of what list of what they do exceedingly well. 

Value: As mentioned above, coolers aren't always an inexpensive investment — especially the premium options like what Yeti offers. But if you're able to piece together how exactly you need to use the cooler and for what activities you'd use it most, then you're able to make a better decision on a cooler's true value. Consider the three categories above, as well, and keep in mind that it's better to invest a little more in a premium product that's designed to last than to spend less money, more often on something that's second-rate.

Meet the expert behind the guide

Owen Burke, former senior reporter: I'm a former commercial fisherman, so believe me — I know what makes a good cooler. I tested the coolers in this guide while fishing, camping, or enjoying a good road trip.

Best cooler FAQs

How do I know what cooler would work best for me? 

The most important thing to consider is where you'll most often use it. If a cooler is too big to bring along on a camping or fishing trip, it's useless for those outings.

The same goes for if it can't retain ice well enough to keep things fresh during a weeklong stay in a cabin or camper. If its only purpose is for convenient beverage chilling in your own backyard during cookouts, that's going to have a huge impact on how much you need to spend (which should be well south of $100 in that scenario).

Does it matter what I store in a cooler?

Yes, what you store, and how much of it, can impact how well a cooler works. To really keep contents cold, you'll need to keep a ratio of somewhere around 2/3 ice to reach optimal efficacy. Even a rotomolded cooler simply won't do its job without you meeting it halfway.

Do I have to spend a lot of money on a cooler?

For simple day trips and backyard barbecues, you'll be perfectly fine with a budget-friendly cooler.

When you start going on dayslong expeditions with no fridge or access to power, you'll need something with thick insulation to store your perishables safely. You'll also want to consider its durability, as you'll probably knock the cooler around a bit.

• Steph Mahon used an inheritance to start her real estate firm after getting laid off.
• The money allowed her to hire and scale more quickly.
• Like her uncle, she's child-free and plans to leave her estate to her nieces and nephews.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Steph Mahon, founder of Dwell New Jersey, a Compass Real Estate group. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I made it through the initial months of the pandemic working in luxury retail, I thought I was safe. I even spent some money on renovating my deck and outdoor space at home. I was stunned when, in September 2020, my position was eliminated.

My career goal had always been to climb the corporate ladder. I'd been doing that over the previous 20 years, and I was proud of the role I held. Having that taken away stung.

That weekend, my parents mentioned that they'd always thought I'd be good at real estate. I'd never been interested in starting my own business. I didn't want to be a real estate agent because I thought the market was saturated. Yet, I suspected my parents were right: I would be good at it.

My uncle died the same month I was laid off

The same month that I was laid off, my uncle Eddie died. We knew he was going to, but it still makes me cry nearly six years later. My uncle, my dad's little brother, was a man of few words.

His only indulgence was his Jaguar, which his lady friends loved. For the most part, he lived simply and saved. He didn't have kids of his own, but he cared deeply about leaving something for the next generations — my two siblings and me.

When he was in the hospital, we had an unspoken understanding that when he died, I would sell his home and use the money toward my business. A few months later, his house became my first sale. Between the proceeds and other inheritance, he left me about $80,000.

I used the inheritance to make my first hire

After about a year of selling real estate, I knew I wanted to create my own business. I'd learned enough about the industry to see how I could differentiate myself in a busy market by providing high-touch services that help clients buy back their time. In February 2022, I registered my business.

Using Eddie's inheritance, I was able to hire a director of client logistics right away. Having her allowed the brand to start on the right foot. Without Eddie's inheritance, I couldn't have grown so quickly.

My emotions about the inheritance didn't change how I utilized the money: I was still very factual about finances. But spiritually and emotionally, I thanked Eddie every day — and I still do.

My uncle would be proud of the company I've started

Today, Dwell New Jersey is approaching the seven-figure mark in profit. I have six employees and have structured the company so that they all have ownership in it. My first hire is still with me. I've created a culture that's both compassionate and connected, both within Dwell New Jersey and in our broader community.

My uncle Eddie was a veteran and very service-minded. He would be so proud that his funds helped establish a company that's having a positive impact.

I'll leave my estate to my nieces and nephews

Like Eddie, I'm child-free. Eventually — hopefully 50 years from now — I plan to leave my estate to my nieces and nephews, just like Eddie did. I'm excited to be able to give them something. Even the idea of my two nieces remembering me as they go through my extensive scarf collection makes me smile.

Because my employees own the company, their families will also see the impact of Eddie's inheritance. Some people impact the world by having children. I hope to make an impact through my work, and I'm grateful that my uncle's inheritance is allowing me to do that.

• The USS Torsk was the last US submarine to sink a ship in combat until Operation Epic Fury in March.
• Torsk, now a museum in Baltimore, offers a glimpse into historic and modern submarine warfare.
• Visitors can walk through the submarine's torpedo rooms, control room, and crew bunks.

For 81 years, the USS Torsk held its claim to fame as the last US Navy submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat.

Then, a US Navy submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship on March 4 as part of Operation Epic Fury, sinking an enemy ship for the first time since Torsk's World War II battle in 1945.

Brian Auer, the operations director of Historic Ships in Baltimore, had to update his tour of the submarine, which became a floating museum after it was decommissioned.

"Now we say we sank the last two ships during World War II," he told Business Insider.

While modern submarine capabilities have advanced far beyond what historic ships like Torsk could sustain thanks to innovations like nuclear power, the vessels themselves don't look all that different than they did during World War II. Visiting Torsk's torpedo rooms, control room, and crew berthing areas still provides an unparalleled look into modern submarine warfare.

I visited Torsk in April, where Auer showed me around the submarine and even let me climb up into a restricted area that's usually closed to the public. Take a look inside.

Commissioned in 1944, the USS Torsk is best known for firing the last torpedoes of World War II, sinking two Japanese frigates in 1945.

On August 14, 1945, Torsk sank the last two enemy ships of World War II in the Sea of Japan.

After the war, Torsk was updated and converted to a fleet-snorkel submarine and remained in service for several decades, participating in Operation Springboard training exercises in the 1950s and the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

Torsk was decommissioned in 1968, Auer said. It served in training reserves until 1971, and became a museum in 1972.

Torsk was the last US Navy submarine to sink an enemy ship until this year, when a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship.

Nearly 81 years after Torsk sank two Japanese frigates, video footage released by the Department of Defense on March 4 showed a US Navy fast-attack submarine firing a Mark 48 heavyweight torpedo at an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, sinking the vessel.

Torsk is now a museum ship docked in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

General admission tickets, which cost $21.95 per adult, grant visitors access to Torsk as well as the USS Constellation and US Coast Guard Cutter WHEC-37. All of the vessels are managed by Historic Ships in Baltimore.

Our tour began on Torsk's wooden deck.

When Torsk was in service, the wood was painted black to help camouflage the submarine at sea.

"One of the biggest dangers in World War II, and today, for submarines is aerial reconnaissance aircraft," Auer said.

An emergency buoy displayed on deck would have been used to help locate the submarine if it sank.

The buoy, attached to the submarine with a steel cable, would have floated to the surface and led rescue divers to Torsk's escape hatch. While Torsk never needed to use it, 33 crew members on the USS Squalus were rescued with the help of the emergency buoy when the submarine sank in 1939.

The first stop inside the submarine was its after torpedo room, where crew members fired the torpedo that sank the last ship of World War II.

Torsk features a total of 10 torpedo tubes, four in the after torpedo room and six in the forward torpedo room.

Each torpedo room also included 12 to 18 bunks.

Tube No. 7 fired that final Mark 27 acoustic homing torpedo in 1945.

Acoustic torpedoes home in on the sound of enemy ships' engines and propellers to locate their targets.

Having torpedo rooms in both the front and back of the submarine was key to making a quick escape during combat.

Torsk's top speed was about 9 knots, or about 10 miles per hour. The ability to fire torpedoes from both directions saved precious time by allowing the submarine to target enemy ships while already facing the direction it needed to flee before its location could be traced.

"These torpedoes — with one shot, I can knock out an entire ship, but we have no armor at all," Auer said. "We're completely vulnerable to enemy fire, and our speed is terrible. All we have is firepower. So we make up for that with the ability to hide."

The submarine's electricity was distributed across the ship through the maneuvering room.

Torsk's diesel engines generated the ship's electricity, which crew members directed to various parts of the submarine via levers known as bus switches or "sticks." Electricity was crucial to Torsk's operation, powering its motors and charging its batteries.

Auer pointed out a unique addition to the maneuvering room: an aircraft altimeter added as part of Torsk's snorkel upgrade in the 1950s.

The altimeter monitored the barometric pressure inside the submarine as its engines sucked air out of the compartment while snorkeling.

Torsk featured two engine rooms, each with two Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines.

Temperatures in the engine rooms could reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

The forward engine room was largely identical to the after engine room aside from the Kleinschmidt evaporator, which distilled seawater into freshwater.

The Kleinschmidt evaporator produced 1,000 gallons of freshwater per day, most of which went to maintaining the submarine's batteries. Crew members could shower once a week if there was any water left over.

In the crew's washroom, all of the enlisted crew members shared two toilets, two showers, and two sinks.

Officers had their own separate washroom.

There were 36 bunks in crew berthing, where sailors slept in tight spaces between shifts.

The room was lit with red light to make it easier for sailors' eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Coffin bunks featured storage beneath the mattress, while those who slept in pipe bunks kept their personal items in storage lockers.

If a sailor's personal item didn't fit in the coffin bunk or in the locker, it couldn't come on board the submarine.

The crew berthing also included an ashtray, a relic of a different time.

"Smoking was allowed pretty much whenever," Auer said. "If you were not a smoker on board Torsk, you were a smoker."

The Navy instituted a ban on smoking below deck on submarines in 2010.

In the crew's mess, the largest open space on Torsk, sailors ate meals, relaxed, and studied for qualifying exams if they were newer to the service.

Unlike other Navy ships with cafeteria-style chow lines, food was passed around on platters handed over from the galley and served family-style. Auer said that the back left table was nicknamed "starvation corner" since it was the last one to receive the platters.

For entertainment, crew members watched movies on a projector hanging from the ceiling and listened to records.

Torsk could only carry two movies at a time since each came on multiple 10-inch film reels. Navy ships occasionally swapped films with each other while out at sea.

Cooks prepared meals in the submarine's galley. Food was essential to lifting morale during long patrols in cramped, unpleasant conditions.

The menu included steak, lobster, and traditional holiday spreads on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"The food onboard a submarine is the best in the Navy," Auer said. "Still true today, and that's not opinion. That's documentable fact."

Coffee was available 24/7 from the percolator.

On other Navy ships, coffee was only available at mealtimes. Submariners enjoyed the perk of endless coffee at all hours of the day.

Torsk also featured a soft-serve ice cream machine.

Submarines were equipped with ice cream machines in the 1940s and 1950s, while other Navy ships received them later.

The garbage disposal unit functioned similarly to a torpedo tube, jettisoning waste into the ocean.

Garbage bags were weighted down so that they wouldn't float to the surface and expose the submarine's position.

In Torsk's radio room, crew members received and transmitted all communications.

The radio room also featured cryptographic equipment for top-secret messages.

We proceeded into the control room, where crew members could steer the submarine and adjust its depth and angle.

The control room also featured navigational equipment and a hydraulic manifold nicknamed the "Christmas tree" for its green and red lights indicating open or closed hatches.

A depth gauge provided a clue as to how deep Torsk could go, but its exact capabilities remain classified.

Typically, Auer said, Torsk's normal operational depth was around 160 to 165 feet deep.

The conning tower, where the commanding officer commanded the submarine during combat, isn't normally open to the public.

A screen displayed live shots of the conning tower rather than granting visitors access to the small space above the control room.

However, Auer made an exception for Business Insider's visit. Up to the conning tower we go!

The conning tower is accessed by climbing a ladder and through a narrow hatch, which is usually kept locked.

In the conning tower, I got to look through one of Torsk's periscopes.

I saw tourists walking on the sidewalk alongside the submarine and paddling boats in the Baltimore Inner Harbor where we were docked.

The conning tower housed torpedo fire control, from which the torpedo tubes were fired.

Torpedomen in the forward and after torpedo rooms loaded the torpedoes into the tubes and activated the standby light signaling that they were ready to fire. The buttons to actually launch the torpedoes were located in the conning tower.

The main helm, or steering wheel, was also located in the conning tower.

The control room below featured an auxiliary helm, or backup steering wheel, in case the conning tower was damaged or flooded.

After climbing back down the ladder, we encountered the yeoman's shack.

The yeoman was in charge of all of the ship's paperwork, including personnel files and supply orders.

Next came the officers' areas of the submarine, known as officers' country.

The chief petty officers, who slept in this five-bunk room, acted as liaisons between the officers and the enlisted men.

Junior officers had their own stateroom with four bunks.

The room featured a folding desk and sink, and each officer received two drawers for their personal items.

Two senior officers and the executive officer shared this room.

The executive officer, known as the "XO," was the submarine's second-in-command.

The more senior an officer was, the fewer roommates he had on board.

The commanding officer had the submarine's only private stateroom.

In his room, the commanding officer had a phone, call buttons, a gyrocompass repeater, and a depth gauge so he could continue to monitor the ship from there.

In the wardroom, officers ate their meals on Navy china.

The wardroom also served as a lounge and workspace for officers.

Officers' meals were plated and reheated in the officers' pantry next to the wardroom.

Officers ate the same meals as the rest of the crew, but they were plated and presented in a more elevated way.

The last stop on the tour was the forward torpedo room, which featured an oxygen breathing apparatus on display.

The oxygen breathing apparatus was designed for use in the event of a fire on board the submarine.

Even though Torsk is over 80 years old, it remains a prime example of the crucial role submarines play in America's dominance at sea.

Torsk may seem like an outdated museum relic, and for the US Navy, it is. For other countries with less advanced naval forces, however, it would still be a powerful asset.

Take, for instance, Torsk's sister ship, the USS Cutlass, which was commissioned in 1945. While Torsk became a museum in 1972, Cutlass was sold to Taiwan in 1973 and is still operational in the Republic of China Navy.

"This is still a relatively state-of-the-art piece of equipment relative to the world — not compared to our Navy, but compared to, say, the Iranian navy, this is very state-of-the-art," Auer said, standing in Torsk's after torpedo room. "The Iranians don't have anything like this."

• Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps lets subscribers order an endless rotation of designer apparel like clothes, bags, jewelry, and more for $159 per month.
• Five women on the Insider Reviews team use Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps in our daily lives. To show you how the service works and what value we personally get out of it, four of us show the outfits we rented over the course of a week.
• Right now, new subscribers can get $100 off their 60-day trial with the code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout. Each month, you'd get $50 off and pay $109, plus tax.
• If you're working from home, here's how we're hacking the service for comfy loungewear.
•  You can view RTR's three membership plans here, and see our list of FAQs at the bottom of this post. 

Rent the Runway (RTR) has been dubbed one of the most disruptive companies in the world thanks in large part to its innovative subscription-based model.

Rent the Runway was once the underground life hack for renting a $500 cocktail dress for $75 for a wedding. But as of 2018, its subscription plans — RTR 1 Swap (four items per month, $89), RTR 2 Swaps (eight items per month, $135) and RTR Unlimited Swaps (unlimited rentals of four items at a time, $159) — already account for 75% of its business, according to the company.

Instead of a one-off rental, RTR customers today seek a better, more sustainable alternative to shopping. 

On the Insider Reviews team alone, five women typically pay the $159 monthly fee for a Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps Subscription (below, you can find our personal reviews and pictures of outfits we've rented). 

And now that the company offers an in-between option with its Swap 2 membership, we'll be testing and comparing that service in the near future.

Right now, new subscribers can get $100 off their 60-day trial with the code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout. Each month, you would get $50 off and pay $109, plus tax.

How Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps works

Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps lets members rent an unlimited amount of designer clothes on a rotating basis every month — ranging from handbags to work clothes to bridesmaids dresses to statement earrings. It's $159 per month typically, but your first two months right now are each $50 off with the code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout.

Members can pick up to four items per rental and then return pieces whenever they want to swap out for a new style, or just keep them all for the entire month. There's no set return deadline with the membership, as long as you continue to pay by the month, and you don't have to wait until you've worn all four items to return one of them. All orders have free shipping, the membership includes insurance for minor mishaps and general wear and tear, and RTR takes care of the dry cleaning.

To return an order, members will pop the clothes back into the garment bag they came in, swap in the prepaid return label, and drop the bag to any UPS store or their designated drop-boxes. Once Rent the Runway has received the returns, members are notified that they can make new selections — and they're directed to a page full of options available for same-day or next-day delivery.

The selection is big — for instance, 31 pages of daytime dresses alone available for delivery to me tomorrow in Manhattan. Members can narrow the options down by size, body type, occasion, color, etc., and they'll also be able to see which options they've previously "hearted" that are now available for delivery. RTR will also curate personalized suggestions they think you'll like based on your previous rentals. 

If you'd like to cancel, you'll need to email cancel@renttherunway.com. You can hit "pause account" online in the section regarding your membership, but it'll only pause for one month. Both pausing and canceling it will begin at the end of your payment cycle, when you would have paid for renewal.

Here's what Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps is like to use, according to 4 women on our team:

Sally

The overall retail cost of clothes: $1,740

Left: Mara Hoffman Eliza Sweater, $395 retail

Middle: Sandy Liang Camo Rory Jacket, $595 retail

Right: Monse Inside Out Jeans, $750 retail

I've been paying for an RTR subscription since November-ish of 2018 (sometime in early winter, at least), so I've used it in all kinds of weather. I love it year-round, honestly — in the winter, I rent cute coats and sweaters, and during the rest of the year, I love using it for flouncy, fun dresses I'd never otherwise buy. 

You wouldn't know it from the clothes I rented, but my closet is almost exclusively made up of neutral black, white, navy, and cream-colored clothing. RTR lets me be a little bolder and more experimental with my choices.

One thing I love is that RTR users can upload photos of themselves in the clothes they rented and leave reviews about the fit, and you can sort by people who have similar body types to you. I rarely order an item unless I see pictures first because it helps me make a better call about fit. However, I have to say that I hate how the clothing comes wrapped in plastic dry cleaning bags — it's wasteful and annoying to deal with, but the company says they recycle it for you if you return it to them in your garment shipping bag.

Most importantly, RTR has helped me quit fast fashion and generally shop less. I know I can always find something chic and fun on RTR that feels current and trendy, so I'm much less tempted to pop into Zara. Instead, I spend my money on basics and classics that I'll wear for a long time. 

Mara

The overall retail cost of clothes: $937

Left: Unreal Fur Natural Faux Fur Delish Jacket, $339 retail

Middle: Polo Ralph Lauren Afton Blazer, $398 retail

Right: Great Jones Black Drape Top, $200 retail

If you had told me pre-RTR that I'd spend $16o on a monthly clothing subscription, I would have laughed. My others are few and unanimously priced under $10: a joint Hulu x Spotify, my favorite publications, and Scribd. 

But RTR Unlimited actually winds up saving me money. Instead of spending around $160 on clothes that end up in a donation bin later, I've almost entirely stopped shopping. I've finally donated drab reserve blouses. Instead of buying to fill gaps in my closet, I rent for them and use the flexibility of the subscription to only buy special pieces that I'll still want to own in five years. In the end, I have nicer clothes to wear every day, and my non-RTR closet is nicer than I'd be able to afford otherwise. I also get to "shop" habitually (which is a hard habit to break) without contributing to the waste of the fashion industry. 

I use Unlimited for everything: memorable sundresses and wedding guest dresses in the summer, expensive trends like a Susan Alexandra purse and adventurous pieces like this Unreal Fur jacket (above), workwear I don't need to dry clean, statement winter coats, cocktail dresses for date nights, and even relatively affordable names like Reformation and AGOLDE to test drive before I buy. 

Remi

The overall retail cost of clothes: $1,271

Left: Bacon Pink Neon Puffer Jacket, $695 retail

Middle: Sosken Jaden Houndstooth Jacket, $498 retail

Right: Reformation Green Isla Square Neck Top, $78 retail

After hearing so many rave reviews from coworkers and friends, I decided to give Rent the Runway Unlimited a try. The trial was too good of a deal to pass up. After just one month I was sold on paying full price ($160 a month) for the service.

I love shopping and trying new styles, but it can be an expensive habit. And as I learn more about the impact of fast fashion, I've been trying to shop less. Not to mention, I don't have space in my little New York apartment for more clothes. I'm at capacity and I'm not about to pull a Carrie Bradshaw and turn my oven into a shoe rack.

Rent the Runway is the better way to keep your wardrobe constantly fresh. The service has solved my "closet full of clothes but nothing to wear" conundrum by providing me with cute new pieces whenever I want. This winter, I've been taking advantage of its selection of fun jackets. I love outerwear, but it tends to be pricy and bulky. Rent the Runway lets me wear coats that I probably wouldn't buy, whether they're too bold, trendy, expensive, or what have you. Getting to wear fun statement pieces without the closet commitment is exciting, and makes me want to try things that may be out of my comfort zone, like the hot pink puffer pictured above. 

I definitely have had some misses — just like any online shopping experience, sometimes things don't fit or you end up not liking them in person. But, RTR makes it easy to return and swap out those "meh" pieces for ones you really love. Ultimately I find I save money, get to experiment with my style, and wear pieces that are way out of my budget. Plus, online shopping is a lot more fun when everything costs $0 (sort of).

Jada

The overall retail cost of clothes: $1,888

Left: ba&sh Navy Lou Coat, $785 retail

Middle: Slate & Willow Ivory Cable Knit Sweater, $138 retail and L.K. Bennett Eleanor Peacoat, $580 retail

Right: Jason Wu Grey Merino Crewneck Sweater, $385 retail

I started using Rent the Runway Unlimited last May after seeing so many teammates use the service, and it's been one of the best purchases I've ever made. 

Since then, I've rented cute dresses and skirts in the spring and summer, fancy white dresses for events in the lead-up to my wedding, casual beach dresses for my honeymoon, bags that retail for $600+, and fun coats during fall and winter. I like that the service lets me expand my wardrobe and play around with my personal style without spending a ton of money. I wear the things I rent at least twice before returning it for something else, though I did carry a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag for a whole month before returning it only to rent another one in a different color. 

The monthly $160 fee is pricey upfront, but for the value of items I'm able to rent, it's definitely worth it for me. If I were to calculate the retail values of just the items I rented before my wedding, it would definitely be more than $160. In fact, if you aren't sure how much value you'd get from the service, I'd suggest trying it out during a month or two where you have a series of events coming up like during wedding season or the holidays. 

For the first month or so, I had a lot more misses than hits because I couldn't figure out the right sizes for the pieces I was renting. The clothing descriptions aren't detailed at all and provide super-basic information like the fabric or length of a dress or skirt (and sometimes, not even that), so scrolling through past RTR renters' photos and reviews were immensely helpful, and I eventually figured out the right sizes.

There are a lot of clothes and accessories, so definitely use the filters to avoid getting overwhelmed. At the very least, I'll normally filter by my size, the earliest date available for delivery, color, and length if it's a dress or skirt and sleeve length if it's a top or sweater.

Product Embed:
Product Name: Rent the Runway Unlimited Membership
Card Type: button
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5d892e382e22af2d1011227b&type=button&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

FAQs for RTR Unlimited Swaps:

What is RTR Unlimited Swaps?

RTR Unlimited Swaps is the company's premium membership option. Members pay $159 per month for unlimited rentals of RTR clothes, keeping as many as four items at home at a time.

How much does RTR Unlimited Swaps cost?

RTR Unlimited Swaps is $159 per month.

Right now, new subscribers can get $100 off their 60-day trial with the code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout. Each month, you'll get $50 off and pay $109, plus tax.

How does RTR Unlimited Swaps work?

Rent the Runway Unlimited Swaps ($159/month) lets members rent an unlimited amount of designer clothes on a rotating basis every month — ranging from handbags to work clothes to bridesmaids dresses to statement earrings. 

Members can pick up to four items per rental and then return pieces whenever they want to swap out for a new style, or just keep them all for the entire month. There's no set return deadline with the membership, as long as you continue to pay by the month, and you don't have to wait until you've worn all four items to return one of them.

All orders have free shipping, the membership includes insurance for minor mishaps and general wear and tear, and RTR takes care of the dry cleaning.

Can I buy an RTR dress I rented through Unlimited Swaps?

Yes. To purchase a piece you have at home, sign in to your account on the app or on your computer. You'll see the pieces you have at home at the top of your homepage. Click "Buy Now" below the piece you'd like to make yours.

Once you opt to buy something, your card will be charged, and RTR will open up the reservation spot in your queue so you can order something new.

Can you pause RTR Unlimited Swaps?

You can hit "pause account" online in your account online and it will confirm that you're account has been paused. To cancel, you'll need to email cancel@renttherunway.com. Both will take into effect at the end of your payment cycle.

Is RTR taking any extra precautions during concerns over COVID-19?

Find the company's official statement below:

All our garments, accessories, hangers, and all packaging are thoroughly cleaned each time they are returned to us. 

According to Harvard Health, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted from soft surfaces like fabric or carpet to humans. In addition, our cleaning agents and practices are designed to kill viruses such as the common cold and flu. While scientific information is still developing, we have no reason to believe that our processes are ineffective against COVID-19.

The teams in our fulfillment centers use a variety of techniques to ensure that each garment is thoroughly cleaned, steamed and pressed, inspected for quality, and carefully packaged so that it arrives ready to wear. All garments go through a wet or dry cleaning process. They also go through an additional steaming process which heats items to between 248°F and 302°F with the exception of faux fur, select outerwear, leather, and faux leather garments, which still go through our standard cleaning processes. According to the CDC, flu viruses are killed by heat above 167°F. Every garment is then enclosed in plastic for protection and cleanliness, which we ask customers to return for recycling.

Find out more in the company's own FAQs to address any questions you may have about their cleaning processes.

Can you cancel your membership if you're not using it during COIVD-19?

As of now, this process hasn't changed. You can pause it for one month in your account settings or email cancel@renttherunway.com to cancel it for longer than one month or indefinitely. The company will not prorate your membership, so we recommend cancelling at the end of the month, just before your next month gets charged.

• The use of non-traditional materials to make clothing, food, and home goods is on the rise. 
• In an effort to help reduce the amount of waste on this planet, many companies are repurposing plastic water bottles that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. 
• Others create products, such as chickpea pasta or coffee-infused recycled polyester, that boast the benefits of unexpectedly versatile ingredients and materials. 

Used plastic bottles are thrown out, chickpeas are blended into hummus, and wool is woven into coats — these are the accepted beliefs about some of the common materials and ingredients we encounter in our day-to-day lives.

A growing number of companies, however, are choosing not to settle for the way things are and instead have chosen to push for the way things should be.

Whether they're looking to balance out the harms of human activity on this planet or help people lead healthier lives through diet and sleep, these companies have discovered innovative ways to turn unexpected materials into clothing, accessories, and food, all without sacrificing functionality or quality. 

You would never guess what the products from these 9 companies are made from. 

Rothy's

Shop flats and loafers at Rothy's here

Read our review of Rothy's flats here

Rothy's has repurposed nearly 13 million plastic water bottles (as of this writing) to make the light, comfortable, and stylish flats you see gracing the streets of San Francisco and Manhattan. The knit uppers are made from 100% post-consumer plastic, while the foam components in the insoles are made from other recycled shoes. Thanks to a production method involving a combination of 3D knitting machines and hand assembly, the shoes are soft, but still form-fitting, durable, and even machine-washable. 

Ministry of Supply

Shop workwear at Ministry of Supply here

Read our reviews of the Ministry of Supply Momentum Chinos, men's Kinetic Collection, and the Kinetic dress here

Considering that a runner was able to set a Guinness World Record for "Fastest Half Marathon in a Suit" while wearing Ministry of Supply, you probably have more than enough proof to know that it will hold up as you travel to and from downtown and uptown client meetings or when you step out into a humid summer day.

Ministry of Supply employs a variety of innovative techniques to make you not dread putting on workwear: the Responsive Tee has coffee-infused recycled polyester to absorb and neutralize odor, the Apollo dress shirts use a NASA-developed "Phase Change" material that's 19 times more breathable than cotton, and the Kinetic collection's Japanese Primeflex polyester is water-repellant and somehow never wrinkles. 

 

Sunski

Shop sunglasses at Sunski here

Read our review of Sunski sunglasses here

For years, Sunski demonstrated its environmental ethos by participating in 1% for the Planet, which meant it donated 1% of sales to environmental non-profits. In 2017, the company took its commitment a step further by making sunglasses from plastic scraps that would otherwise end up in a landfill in Illinois. Nearly all of these polarized, scratch-resistant glasses cost under $70 and look like any other pair you'd want to bring with you to the beach, mountains, or road trip — the only difference is that you're not leaving the planet worse off when you buy them. 

ADAY

Shop the Experiments in Conscious Design collection at ADAY here

In case you couldn't already tell from its minimalist offerings, ADAY has always valued conscious design. Not one to be complacent, it spent nine months figuring out how to continue to optimize environmental impact at the design, sourcing, and production levels. The designers came up with three solutions and its second "experiment" resulted in the Waste Not Jacket, which is made from 41 plastic water bottles. The fabric is weighty yet cool and breathable, and the jacket can be worn two different ways. 

Banza

Shop Banza pasta here: Walmart, Target, Thrive Market, and Amazon

Read our review of Banza pasta here

If you can't imagine a life without pasta but also have trouble reconciling this love with traditional dried pasta's nutrition-deficient qualities, then you should try Banza. It's made from chickpeas so you're eating double the protein, four times the fiber, and nearly half the net carbs of wheat noodles. Now, hummus isn't the only way you can enjoy chickpeas. They're low on the glycemic index, and the ones Banza uses are certified non-GMO. In the end, the swap doesn't feel like a dramatic sacrifice because it still cooks, feels, and tastes similar to regular pasta. 

Adidas x Parley

Shop Parley shoes and apparel at Adidas here

Read our reviews of the Ultraboost Parley shoes and the outdoor collection here

Parley for the Oceans is an organization that raises awareness about the threats towards our planet's oceans. Adidas is a shoe and athletic apparel company. These seemingly disparate entities came together to take plastic waste from beaches before it reaches the ocean and turn it into a running shoe that's just as high-performing and comfortable as you would expect from Adidas. The Parley line is just the beginning: Adidas' goal is to make all of its shoes from recycled plastic by 2020. 

Allbirds

Shop sneakers and loungers at Allbirds here

Read our reviews of Allbirds wool runners, wool loungers, and the tree collection here

Other than recycled plastic, it turns out shoes can also be made from merino wool and eucalyptus tree fibers. With its soft, breathable sneakers and loungers, Allbirds flips the commonly held belief that wool is uncomfortable and irritating on its head. Meanwhile, its cool tree fibers are sourced from sustainable farms that minimize fertilizer use and reliance on irrigation. Recycled plastic isn't completely out of the picture either because each pair of Allbirds laces is made from one plastic water bottle. 

Girlfriend Collective

Shop activewear at Girlfriend Collective here

Read our reviews of Girlfriend Collective leggings and the Cupro shirt here

One Insider Picks reporter's favorite pair of leggings comes not from a well-known athleisure giant, but a start-up called Girlfriend Collective. It takes 25 recycled water bottles to make these flattering, compressive, and no-pill leggings. Another innovative, eco-friendly option is the moisture-wicking LITE legging, made from recycled fishing nets — the biggest pollutant in our oceans today. The brand's Cupro collection of silky shirts takes advantage of cotton linter, a soft fiber that sticks to cotton seeds and usually gets thrown out. 

Patagonia

Shop Arbor Packs at REI here

Read our review of the Patagonia Arbor Classic Pack here

Our review of Patagonia's recycled plastic backpack addresses the question all shoppers have on their minds — does using recycled materials compromise quality? The Arbor Pack collection of light, rugged, and comfortable backpacks dismisses these doubts immediately. As an outdoors brand, Patagonia has always advocated caring for the environment and it's putting its money where its mouth by turning used soda bottles, unusable manufacturing waste, and worn-out garments into polyester fibers. 

• eBay Authenticate helps users shop for authentic luxury items like watches, handbags, jewelry, and collectibles like comic books, sports trading cards, and gold coins.
• Every item listed with eBay Authenticate is meticulously inspected and verified to be authentic by experts and is already in eBay's possession when you purchase it. That way, you can shop without worrying about getting scammed or being sent a fake.
• Below, I break down how it works for both buyers and sellers.
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

I know it's widely accepted that eBay has a bit of a reputation for being fishy, filled with scammers and counterfeit goods. But I want to clear something up here: With all the strides the company has made to protect buyers, that reputation is undeserved.

While there have, in fact, been instances of fraud and fakes on eBay (unfortunately, you can expect that on any platform where independent buyers and sellers have the autonomy to do business without a ton of oversight), the company has made amazing strides to improve the user experience for buyers and sellers and ultimately drive smoother transactions. From having plenty of brands sell products directly through the site to offering extensive buyer protection, eBay is a surprisingly safe place to shop.

Now, the brand is continuing its safe-shopping efforts with a new program called eBay Authenticate.

As a sub-section of the site, eBay Authenticate was designed to help users shop for luxury items like handbags, watches, and jewelry and collectibles like gold coins, sports trading cards, and comics with 100% confidence. Each item listed for sale has been verified to be authentic by an expert and is fairly priced based on factors like condition, rarity, and current market value.

To fully understand eBay Authenticate, it's best to learn how it works as a seller first, because that's where the inventory you will shop as a buyer comes from.

Here's how it works as a seller:

Let's say you have a designer handbag that you want to sell. The first step is to check if your item is eligible to be sold on eBay Authenticate by entering the brand, item type, and condition. If your item is eligible, you can then send it into eBay for authentication using a prepaid shipping label. From there, independent experts authenticate, price, and list your items for sale on eBay Authenticate. When your item is purchased, you get paid and eBay handles shipping the item to the buyer.

It's worth noting that eBay takes a 20% transaction fee when authenticated items are sold. Although that's quite a bit more than eBay's standard 10% transaction fee, it's worth it. You will find that the verified authenticity almost always makes it easier to sell your item, rather than listing it yourself — or using another avenue of sale. Buyers want to shop with confidence, and this is an easy way for them to do it.

Here's how it works as a buyer:

If you're accustomed to shopping on eBay, using eBay Authenticate isn't much different — you shop, pay, and receive your items in the mail. However, there are several key benefits that alleviate the concerns associated with buying big-ticket, rare, or collectible items online. 

Since all of the items are professionally authenticated and in the possession of eBay at the time of your purchase, you can guarantee that the item you receive is the same item in the listing. There's no chance of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars only to never hear from the seller again or to receive a counterfeit item in return (granted, there are protections for that, but it doesn't make getting scammed any less frustrating). 

In the rare instance that you do have doubts about the authenticity of an item you've received, you can contact the seller, return the item in the same condition you received it in with the eBay Authenticate tag still attached, and the experts will re-authenticate your item. If they can't confirm the authenticity of your item, you'll receive a full refund. This is a major benefit as some sellers on eBay don't offer returns. If you purchase something on eBay outside of eBay Authenticate and it turns out to be counterfeit, you run the risk of being stuck with that item and not getting your money back, unless you ask eBay to step in and they're able to remedy the situation.

The best part is that shopping on eBay Authenticate costs you zero extra dollars. With all of the added benefits, there's really no reason not to shop — or at least browse — on eBay Authenticate for those high-end luxury items and collectibles you've been nervous about buying online.

How eBay Authenticate can save you money:

Generally, the safest way to get authentic items is to buy it directly from the manufacturer's retail store or website, but that's usually not the best option — or an option at all. For example, if you want a Rolex watch or a Chanel handbag, you will absolutely spend more at retail locations compared to shopping on eBay, since the items listed on eBay are generally going to be lightly used. 

The bottom line

I've never purchased a high-end watch or designer handbag on eBay, but I have made many successful purchases on the site in the past. My personal purchases mostly include collectible sneakers and rare BMW car parts, and much of my confidence in buying those things came from my own expertise.

Before I learned about this program, I would have steered clear of buying a watch, bag, or anything else that's highly collectible simply because I'm not an expert in those areas, but with eBay Authenticate, I wouldn't hesitate to do it. 

If you've come to terms with never owning your dream watch or designer handbag because of an egregious retail price, eBay Authenticate can make it a feasible reality. You'll also find many giftable items for the upcoming holiday season. 

Start shopping on eBay Authenticate now.

• Sneakers are integral to casual style, but whether you realize it or not, how you lace your sneakers can hurt or enhance the overall look of your outfit.
• By paying close attention to how they're laced, you can add a unique flair to your personal style or simply make your sneakers look sleeker. For a shoe like the super popular Comme Des Garçons PLAY x Converse Chuck 70s, unique lacing helps them stand out from the rest.
• Below, I've outlined how to lace your sneakers in different patterns including classic over or under, loop-back, and straight. 

I own an insane amount of sneakers (I've seriously lost count) with pairs ranging from vintage Air Jordans from the '90s to the latest releases from startups and big brand names. Even though I have such a wide spectrum of styles, one thing that I can say about each and every pair that I've worn — and I try to wear all of my sneakers — is that I always re-lace them before putting them on for the first time.

Maybe it's just my extremely close attention to detail, but I find that redoing the laces is a quick and easy way to improve the aesthetic of the sneakers or to add a unique flair to one's style.

While most sneakers come out of the box laced up and ready to wear, you'll regularly find laces that are uneven, twisted, in the wrong pattern, or simply pulled way too tight. You have to consider that the factory worker who laced up your sneakers is tasked with lacing hundreds of shoes in a row, so some degree of sloppiness is bound to happen.

There are an endless amount of ways to lace your shoes, but I'll walk you through a few of my favorite patterns that anyone should be able to do with ease.

Here's everything you'll need:

•  A cool pair of sneakers, of course. Check out our buying guides for the best stylish sneakers and best white sneakers to find a pair. Each pair of shoes I used below can be found between these two guides.
• Extra laces are optional but a great way to add personality to your sneakers. Shop all shoelaces on Amazon or buy this 10-count variety pack for $19.99 for Etsy.

Keep scrolling to learn a few different ways to lace your sneakers.

First, make sure both ends of the lace are even

The first step to lacing your sneakers neatly is to make sure the lace tips are even. Put each lace tip in the first set of eyelets from the top and pull the lace tight, while making sure it stays even.

This is super important regardless of what lace style you choose because unevenness will become more noticeable when you reach to final eyelets. If they're too uneven, you won't be able to tie your shoes.

Note: The shoe pictured above is the Nike Air Force 1 Low with removable Swooshes (currently sold out). The removable Swooshes come in dark wash denim, medium wash denim, and tan leather, so you'll be able to come up with a variety of looks.

The classic under pattern: Re-lace your shoes for a much cleaner look than out of the box

Most shoes come with a standard diagonal-and-under lace pattern, and for a classic shoe like the Air Force 1, I think it's fitting. However, they come out of the box laced super tight, usually very messy, and uneven. To make it look much neater, simply redo it.

Once you've made sure the laces are even, you can start the diagonal pattern going to the second set of eyelets. Start lacing them criss-cross style, with the first lace going over and down into each eyelet, rather than coming up through the eyelets. Be sure to follow the same pattern exactly, so that the lace going to the right side is always under and the lace going to the left is always over (or vice versa). 

When you move on to the second shoe, you should follow the same pattern so that both shoes have the laces going in the same direction. If you lace your shoes up and something just doesn't look right, but you can't quite pinpoint it, you probably messed up the pattern somewhere. Consistency is the key to making your sneakers look neat and clean.

The classic under pattern: final results

The shoe toward the back is still factory-laced, while the shoe in the front is redone. Although it's the same pattern, the shoe in the front is slightly looser and much neater.

The diagonal-and-over pattern: another easy style

I ultimately went with the diagonal-and-over pattern for my new Air Force 1s, and it's just as easy to do as the diagonal-and-under pattern. Instead of going through the eyelets from the bottom, simply go through the top and remember to follow the same consistent pattern on both shoes. This is a super clean look — far better than any stock brand photo, if I do say so myself.

And if you're wondering about my jeans, they're Mott & Bow's Skinny Warren in Medium Blue.

The loop-back pattern: How to create the loop

If the standard diagonal-and-under or diagonal-and-over patterns are too basic for you, the loop-back is a cool style you probably won't see others sporting. Instead of going across the tongue of the shoe, the pattern consists of intertwined loops going up both sides of the shoe. 

I decided to do this pattern on a pair of Comme Des Garçons PLAY x Converse Chuck 70s (currently sold out) I got for my girlfriend. Aside from the solid color Chuck 70s, the CDG collaboration is probably the most popular Chuck 70, so I wanted to do something unique.

In the picture above, you'll see the loop-back pattern completed on the first two sets of eyelets and the next loop ready to continue the pattern.

The loop-back pattern: Put the other end of the lace through the loop

Once you create a loop on one side of the shoe, simply put the other lace through the loop and bring it back to the next eyelet on the same side. After you loop them together, pull them evenly so the point at which they cross is in the middle of the tongue — not too far to the left or right of the shoe.

The loop-back pattern: The end result is a unique weave-like pattern

Compared to the normal diagonal-and-over pattern (seen on the sneaker in the background), the loop-back pattern is cool and unique — definitely not something you'll see every day. 

In my opinion, Converse are some of the best sneakers for showing off your personality, so any lace style is fair game. The loop-back is one of my favorites though.

The straight pattern: This can be tricky, so pay attention

The straight pattern can be a little bit tricky since much of the lacework is hidden underneath the eyelet panels. First, follow the blue arrows in the picture above, which indicate the hidden lacing. Then follow the yellow arrows, which indicate lacing across the tongue. 

Note: The shoes pictured above are the Nothing New low tops. They are sustainably made from 100% recycled plastic. Read my full review to learn more about the brand. 

The straight pattern: Continue the pattern — you're almost there

Simply continue the pattern until you reach the top of the eyelets. Since a good portion of the lacework is hidden along the sides of the eyelet panels instead of going across the shoes, you won't be able to tighten the shoes very well by pulling on the laces.

With that said, the straight pattern is good for shoes that you'll only wear casually. If you plan on tightening your shoes for secure lockdown while playing sports or working out, you'll want to lace your sneakers normally.

The straight pattern completed: It's great for casual looks

The lacing might be intricate, but the final look is simple and very fitting for a casual shoe.

Where to buy extra laces

Swapping in different color laces is another great way to add an original look to your sneakers. Shoes sometimes come with extra laces, but more often, they don't. All three sneakers I used in this review didn't come with extra laces.

Whether you're looking for a different color that didn't come included or you're replacing a beat-up pair, Amazon is a solid place to shop. 

You'll find a variety of lace styles, colors, and lengths, but one of the best deals is this 10-count variety pack for $19.99 from Etsy.

Typically, 40-inch and 45-inch laces are good for low-tops, while 54-inch laces are good for high-tops and boots. If you're unsure of which length you need, measuring the laces you currently have in your shoes is a fail-safe way to get the right length.

Product Embed:
Product Name: SneakerAccessory Flat Sneaker Shoelaces (10 pairs)
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5e9f43f20fc639153b501943&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

• Nordstrom's rewards program, The Nordy Club, offers more perks the more you spend.
• Perks include first access to top brands, style and beauty workshops, and free basic alterations.
• If you're already a member or cardholder, you're automatically enrolled in the program.
• Sign up here for free and start earning points and perks. You can also find coupons and promo codes for Nordstrom Rack here. 
• See more: Here's how to gain early access to Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale now — plus a $60 Bonus Note, Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale starts now for Nordstrom cardholders — here's what you need to know and what deals are worth checking out, and the best daily deals happening now.

Nordstrom's rewards program — The Nordy Club — rewards members with more and better perks the more they spend. With the program, you earn points just for shopping at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, HauteLook and subscription service Trunk Club (which you can find a review here).

 Current rewards members and cardholders will automatically be enrolled. If you're not one of them, you can enroll for free here and put your seasonal shopping to work toward better perks.

What perks come with the Nordy Club rewards program?

The rewards program gets better the more you spend, unlocking a new status and new accompanying benefits, like access to beauty and style workshops, curbside pickup, and being the first to shop select brands.

In workshops, stylists help you curate your look using your budget and the diverse range of brands Nordstrom has access to. Curbside pickup means you can buy online and stop by a participating store, where a Nordstrom employee will walk the order out to your car.

You can also get free basic alterations at Nordstrom on regular priced items you bought from either Nordstrom or Trunk Club. Learn more about the perks here.

You earn one point per dollar, and you can unlock Nordstrom Notes with those points (Nordstrom Notes are essentially Nordstrom gift cards you earn). 

The membership levels are based on annual spending, and follow this model — each with unique perks:

• Member ($0-$500)
• Insider ($500+)
• Influencer ($2,000+)
• Ambassador ($5,000+)

If you're a member with Ambassador+ status, you get access to one yearly visit from a Nordstrom Stylist to your home. The stylist will edit your closet with you, and offer expert styling advice and tailoring services. If you have a favorite stylist, just call them when you're ready for a spring cleaning. 

Ambassador+ Status members also get priority access to style events and invite-only events and First to Shop Clear the Rack events (plus 25% off red-tag clearance items), alongside cardholders. 

Why the Nordy Club is better for Nordstrom cardholders:

Cardholders automatically get a $40 "Bonus Note" from the company when they make a purchase at Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack with the new card on the day they're approved. They also automatically get access to Insider Benefits and earn three points per dollar spent (triple what a non-cardholder earns). In addition to all the great member benefits, they also get early access to the Anniversary Sale and Clear the Rack events, plus $100 in alterations benefits, and all alterations made at Nordstrom stores will be reimbursed in the form of Nordstrom Notes equal to the exact dollar value of the charge on your Nordstrom card (up to the benefit amount listed).

Either way you participate, Nordstrom's rewards program is a great value if you take advantage of it — a cohesive addition to the brand that gets a good portion of its fanfare for its customer service, free shipping, and ambiguous but uniquely lenient return policy. The program is better for cardholders, but the average member can achieve benefits and perks just by shopping.

Sign up for the free Nordy Club rewards program here and start earning.

Sign up for the Nordstrom Card here.

• I impulse-bought a sweater set through an Instagram ad from Cider, a trendy online clothing store.
• My order arrived on time and I was actually impressed with the quality of the clothes.
• Half of the set is sold out now, but there are lots of other cute sets available.

I swore I'd never give into fast-fashion ads on Instagram, but I was recently served an exceptionally cute one from Cider and, whoops, I totally caved. 

Cider isn't too far off from Forever 21 or Zara with its many trendy styles at affordable price points, but it has a bit of a Euphoria High School vibe. You'll find a ton of lacey crop tops, retro-inspired mini dresses, and the ability to shop by mood (cute, dreamy, grunge, etc.). Some styles have plus-size options, but I wouldn't call Cider truly size-inclusive.

I was skeptical of ordering from Cider since I don't usually buy fast fashion, but I actually had a really great experience buying from the brand. 

The thing that got me on Instagram was this adorable bright pink sweater/shorts set — a color that is totally out of my usual neutrals-only wheelhouse. I ended up buying it straight from the ad, which is also unlike me, and very good marketing on their part. Unfortunately, the shorts from the set are already sold out, but the sweater is still availabe (as are a ton of other cute sets, dresses, and more).

My order shipped within about a week and arrived days later in perfect condition with no weird smells or wrinkles. I opted for an XL in the shorts (I'm usually a size 10-12 often wear a large in bottoms, but most of these brands seem to run small so I sized up) and a L in the cardigan (my usual size), both of which were the tiniest bit oversized on me. When it comes to sizing, I recommend going true to your usual.

The material is very thick, made from a dense knit, and it's not itchy in the slightest, which is something I'm super sensitive to. I've worn it completely on its own and with white T-shirts underneath, and the sweater is versatile enough for pairing with jeans and ballet flats or sneakers so it's basically like getting several outfits in one. It washes well and hasn't started pilling yet, either. 

The one complaint I have about this set is that I don't like the pleats on the front of the shorts, but not all of the shorts are designed this way. 

Overall, I had a good experience ordering from Cider and I'd buy from the brand again if something really fun caught my eye. I can't speak to the quality of everything they make, but if you're wondering whether it's legit, I can at least say you're not going to end up with doll-sized clothing or something made of tissue paper. 

If you're curious what else Cider makes, here are some more cute styles I've loved from the site, including a few affordable sets:

Cider FAQs:

Does Cider run small?

Not in my experience. I actually found that the set I ordered ran a little large. If you're ordering something oversized and you're usually between sizes, I'd opt for the smaller one — otherwise I suggest ordering true to your usual size.

Is Cider a legit clothing brand?

From my personal experience, yes! I got exactly what I ordered, no scams.

How long does Cider shipping take?

I received my set took about a week and a half to arrive in New York after placing the order. I can't speak for every order or shipping location, but from all the reviews I read, this seemed to be standard.

• In my senior year at Stanford, I began my job search but couldn't secure a full-time offer.
• I was frustrated because I felt overqualified, yet I wasn't even getting interviews.
• I started my own PR business, which has since made six figures.

I started applying for jobs in the first week of my senior year at Stanford University, assuming I would have something lined up by graduation, if not sooner. I was surrounded by friends entering finance and consulting, where recruiting begins early and offers are secured months, sometimes years, in advance.

While I wasn't part of a traditional corporate pipeline, I had spent my college years building inroads in Silicon Valley, managing marketing for hot startups.

For nine months, I tracked every application in a spreadsheet. Over time, I simplified it, deleting the "Second Round Interview" column. I wasn't even making it to the first round. Most of the time, there was no update at all.

By graduation in 2025, I still didn't have a full-time job offer.

I had experience, but it didn't seem to count

When I did hear back, it wasn't for full-time roles; it was for internships. One came through an alumni referral. Another was in a field unrelated to my experience.

What made the situation more frustrating was how well-qualified —perhaps even overqualified — I felt.

I started doing marketing work at 15, helping local small businesses. In college, that work expanded into roles at tech companies, often taking up 30 to 40 hours a week alongside my classes. By graduation, I had seven years of experience.

As a sophomore, I switched from engineering to English and linguistics. Mastery of language and narrative made me a better marketer. But as a senior, I began to worry I might end up as the stereotypical unemployed English major.

I was a financial aid student who didn't want to burden my parents after graduation. I found myself considering roles that would only prolong the search I was trying to finish.

The job market felt different from what I expected

At highly competitive universities like Stanford, most students spend every summer interning, expecting it to lead to full-time offers. I followed that path.

But when I started applying, the road seemed to lead to a cliff rather than the golden gates of adulthood.

In 2025, I wasn't just competing with other graduates. I was up against candidates who had recently been laid off. Many of my target industries were slowing hiring or cutting roles entirely.

I started taking on whatever work I could find

With graduation approaching, I started saving whatever I could.

A professor of mine asked me to help run her book campaign. I told her I had never worked in publishing or in public relations, but I said yes anyway.

Around the same time, I began assisting a journalist through my school's alumni network, editing her writing, pitching stories, and managing her newsletter.

Even in the midst of my own misery, I could see the difference my work made. It was exciting, even if it paid less than I was used to.

I turned that work into my own business

Three weeks before graduation, after being rejected from a minimum-wage internship I had gone through three rounds of interviews for, I created my own role: publicist and founder of Punctuation PR.

While finishing my thesis, I filed paperwork to start an LLC. I built a website. I told my parents that instead of staying unemployed in an uncertain economy, I was starting a marketing and publicity agency for writers. The return on my effort would be more within my control.

They were unexpectedly supportive. My mom told me she was proud — not just because I was creating a job for myself, but because I was building something that could one day create jobs for others.

The day after graduation, I drove from the Bay Area to Los Angeles and started working full-time from a barely unpacked apartment.

I turned my side projects into clients and cold emailed academics and authors. I wrote contracts, set up billing, and raised my rates.

Referrals came in. One project led to another.

It became my full-time income

For the first few months, I lived paycheck to paycheck. When I couldn't pay off my credit card, I sold my clothes and furniture. I often worked more than 12 hours a day.

Within six months, I was earning more than the entry-level roles I had been applying for.

In early 2026, Punctuation PR became a six-figure business. I had worked with over a dozen clients, built relationships with publishers and media outlets, and helped my books reach hundreds of thousands of new readers.

What began as a stopgap became my full-time income.

It changed how I think about work

I used to believe that graduating — and similar milestones — followed a sort of ideal inertia: once success was in motion, it would naturally continue, uninterrupted.

In reality, life is a series of unbalanced forces. You change speed and direction. In 2026, the institutions that once felt stable now feel far less certain for many.

Starting a business is still one of the riskiest things a person can do. I hope to scale my company from six to seven figures in the coming years. There's no guarantee that I will, but there's also no guarantee that I won't.

It's up to me to decide.

• Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady uses Under Armour Recover after big games and training.
• UA Recover uses far-infrared technology, similar to a sauna, to help regenerate cells and heal muscles.
• Learn more about how it works plus our own experience using UA Recover below.

Tom Brady just did the unimaginable. After spending the last 19 years of his career as a New England Patriot, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won his seventh Super Bowl championship — in his home stadium, at that.

There's no question that while Brady's natural ability and lots of training have contributed to the high success rate in his 10 Super Bowl appearances, recovery treatments have also helped him perform to the best of his ability.

Naturally, soreness and pain come along with being an athlete, but they are no excuse for poor performance. From ice baths to massages to cupping therapies, athletes try everything when it comes to recovery techniques. But Brady's most clever method is as simple as getting dressed in Under Armour Recover clothing. The brand's Recover collection includes sleepwear, sportswear, and even outerwear that's designed to help you bounce back faster.

How Under Armour Recover works 

UA Recover incorporates bioceramic technology into a patterned lining of the garments. The pattern includes special bioceramic particles that absorb infrared wavelengths emitted by the body and reflect back far infrared energy, helping the body recover faster while promoting better sleep. Far-infrared energy is a completely safe type of radiation that promotes cell regrowth within the body.

That means your muscles and joints regenerate faster, resulting in less soreness after intense physical activity.

The therapeutic effects of far-infrared energy have long been used in saunas to treat pain and discomfort. Under Armour's Recover technology provides those same benefits and lets you skip the trip to the sauna by using far-infrared-emitting bioceramic particles and your own body heat.

First impressions and review

When I first learned about the way bioceramic technology reflects far infrared energy back to the body, I was skeptical and thought it was just fancy wording for warmth. But, after giving one of the sleepwear sets a shot, I can say that's definitely not the case. I was instructed that it would take a couple of weeks to see the full benefits and that turned out to be true. I didn't see a difference after just one wear, but after several wears, I noticed significantly fewer aches and overall better nights of sleep.

I also found the sleepwear to be effective for lounging around the house. Put them on while you're lounging or working from home, and you'll be able to feel the technology at work, compared to sleeping through it.

In my experience, the far-infrared gives off a very soothing sensation that your joints and muscles will appreciate. Granted, the Athlete Recovery Sleepwear won't ease pain immediately the way using a heating pad or even taking a Tylenol would, but it's constantly at work. Heating pads can't be worn around the clock and medicine wears off, so the consistency that UA Recover offers is a major bonus. As long as you're wearing it, you'll be on your way to recovery.

The bottom line

Instead of having to wrap yourself in bioceramic bandages or sit in saunas as Brady would, you can get the same healing properties while wearing your everyday clothes. The bioceramic material is also safe to wash and dry, so the effectiveness of the clothes won't diminish over time. 

Whether you're a professional athlete like Tom Brady who's looking to shorten your recovery time between workouts and competitions or just someone searching for a way to alleviate aches, UA Recover is a must-try.

Shop the full UA Recover Collection at Under Armour here.

Shop select UA Recover Sleepwear items at TB12 here.

Here are our favorite UA Recover pieces:

Men's Under Armour Sleepwear Long Sleeve

Men's Under Armour Sleepwear Long Sleeve, $90

Men's UA Recover Sleepwear Joggers

Men's UA Recover Sleepwear Joggers, $90

Women's Under Armour Sleepwear Long Sleeve

Women's Under Armour Sleepwear Long Sleeve, $80 

Women's UA Recover Sleepwear Joggers

Women's UA Recover Sleepwear Joggers, $90

Men's UA Recover Fleece Quarter Zip

Men's UA Recover Fleece Quarter Zip, $100

Men's UA Recover Pants

Men's UA Recover Pants, $104.97

Men's UA Recover Long Sleeve

UA Recover Long Sleeve, $65

Women's UA Recover Woven Shine Jacket

Women's UA Recover Woven Shine Jacket, $110

Women's UA Recover Tricot Pants

Women's UA Recover Tricot Pants, $80

• People love luxury handbags, but for many, the price is a huge obstacle. 
• Rebag gives you the opportunity to buy authentic second-hand designer bags that look like new, for less.
• By acting as the middleman between those who want to sell their old luxury bags and those who want to buy new ones, Rebag can get great prices for both parties.

Over the past few years, there has been serious growth in the luxury-goods market. In 2017 alone, Millennials contributed to an 85% surge in the sector. When one thousand dollars can pay your rent and then some, it can seem excessive to drop that money on a single purse. Yet, for many, the appeal of luxury handbags is undeniable. The leather is softer, the structure sturdier, and many of the designs iconic.

A beautiful, designer handbag can take an outfit from average to avant-garde. On an average budget, though, luxury bags might be out of the question. That's when you turn to Rebag, a site that lets you buy and sell authentic designer handbags.

Rebag sells authentic second-hand bags from the most sought-after brands. The company only accepts bags from an exclusive list of fewer than 50 designers — Gucci, Prada, and Chanel among others.

How to buy and sell second-hand designer handbags on Rebag

Rebag won't just accept any bag from a luxury brand, either. There are strict guidelines on what condition bags must be in in order to be accepted.

You'll need to send in some photos and details on the condition of the piece, and if Rebag deems it worthy of resale, you'll be given a quote. Best of all, you get to keep 100% of the quoted price once you send the bag in to be resold.

As a buyer, Rebag makes the process easier for you, too. If you're questioning the authenticity of the bags on the site, Rebag outlines the methods its team uses to spot a fake.

You can shop the site by collection, price, brand, color, and more. When you stumble upon a bag you love, you'll a great deal of information on everything from the model to the condition it's in, so you won't be surprised by any unexpected scratches or wear and tear. You'll also see the estimated retail price, which sometimes can be $1,000+ more than the Rebag price — so you can decide for yourself if you think it's a good deal. 

Rebag also has an app, which you can download on your smartphone to speed up the buying or selling process — or to just browse the beautifully curated selection whenever. 

At the end of the day, the bags you'll find on Rebag are by no means cheap — they're still very expensive. If you really want a luxury bag though, you can save a lot of money by choosing to purchase one second-hand on the site.

Additionally, you can find some cool, vintage pieces that you wouldn't be able to find in a retail store today.

Because it's well-organized, well-presented, and well-curated — Rebag is sure to make any hangbag aficionado swoon.

Buy and sell luxury handbags on Rebag.

• Summer wouldn't be the same without that magical sound of flip-flops at the beach and pool.
• These simple sandals come in a variety of styles, including day-to-night options.
• Some brands offer styles with arch support or massaging footbeds.

The sound of flip-flops flipping and flopping at the beach or pool is one of the quintessential sounds of summer. These simple sandals have a history dating back to the ancient Egyptians. The modern version first became popular in the 1950s when they received their onomatopoeic name for the distinctive sound they make, although they also go by a variety of other names including thongs (Australia), slippers (Hawaii), and clam diggers (Texas). 

At their simplest, this sandal style features a post that goes in between the first and second toes and often has Y-shaped straps that go around the sides of the feet. With that being said, there are many variations on the basic theme, as you'll see below. 

We've included men's, women's, and unisex choices, and although anyone can wear any of these, the women's and men's selections have limited sizing compared to the unisex options. 

OluKai 'Ohana

These are easy wearing sandals good for all-day wear that look great whether running errands, hanging out at the beach, or having a casual dinner out.

When You slide into a pair of OluKai 'Ohana flip-flops, the footbed feels smooth and pillowy yet with a firmness below the surface. These are easy-wearing sandals that look great whether running errands, hanging out at the beach, or having a casual dinner out. The upper is made from a soft, but sturdy synthetic material that's lined with a quick-drying jersey, and doesn't chafe the space between your toes where they touch the nylon post. Over time they conform to the shape of your feet.

OluKai is also a certified B Corporation that meets high ethical and environmental standards and has been giving back to Hawaii, where the company was born in 2006, through its Ama OluKai Foundation, which helps preserve the state's heritage, culture, and the environment through grants to various non-profits.

Vionic Tide II Post Sandal

The Vionic Tide II Post Sandals are good for your feet and look good on them too.

If you're used to thin, flat flip-flops, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the Vionic Tide II Post Sandal. They're made with a footbed that supports your feet and cradles the arch in a design that's been proven to alleviate heel pain. It even has a Seal of Acceptance by the American Podiatric Medical Association. My wife, who owns these sandals, tells me she doesn't experience any chaffing between her toes even after wearing them all day. The footbed is firm but cushiony and there's a medium-density EVA midsole that's good at minimizing shock when you walk, which helps reduce stress on your knees and ankles.

Vionic recommends slowly breaking these sandals if you're not used to flip-flops with arch support. The outsoles are durable and provide good traction. The Tide IIs come in six colorways and are cute enough to dress up for a casual night out. These are the brand's most popular styles and with good reason. 

Crocs Crocband Flip-Flop

The Crocband has all the advantages of Crocs' clogs—shock absorbing, comfortable, water and odor resistant—in a sleek flip-flop with a massaging footbed.

Crocs are known for its clogs, but the Colorado-based company also makes a lot of other footwear — including the Crocband Flip-Flops. They combine the brand's signature comfort (chefs and school kids love them for a reason) and the breathability, lightness, and sleek look of a sandal.

The Crocband has a massaging footbed, a sporty look with a signature midsole racing stripe. It is made of a proprietary resin called Croslite (the same thing they use for the clogs) that has maximum cushioning, is odor and water-resistant, buoyant, quick-drying, and easy to clean. With a whopping 34 colorways, you should be able to find one that suits you. These only come in full sizes, and we recommend sizing up if you usually wear a half-size. 

Reef Voyage Lux Sandals

Reef's Voyage Lux flip-flops are beautifully crafted leather flip-flops that are tough enough for whatever outdoor activity you throw at them. 

Reef, the California sandal and surf lifestyle company, always does a fantastic job of combining comfortable footwear that doesn't require breaking them in with quality craftsmanship. The Voyage Lux men's sandal is a good example. Unlike some flip-flops I've owned, these didn't give me a blister between my toes and were comfortable from day one. After four years of hard seasonal use, mine are still going strong.

The leather footbed has gotten even softer and developed a nice patina (like an old baseball glove) while the foam midsole is still responsive and cushiony. These flip-flops have a leather upper with a soft molded footbed, an EVA midsole, and a rubber outsole with a thickly ridged sawtooth tread that keeps you steady in slippery conditions. Plus, Reef offers free shipping and returns. 

Everlane ReNew Strappy Sandal

Everlane's ReNew sandal combines the best of a flip-flop with a strappy sandal for an elevated look and a bit of extra support while walking. 

Everlane is a go-to favorite for many reasons, including timeless style over fast fashion trends, relatively transparent sourcing, and a drive to be as sustainable as possible. Their ReNew Strappy Sandal gives you the best of a flip-flop and a strappy sandal. Unlike typical flip-flops, the thong strap extends fully around the ankle with a stretchy back strap that provides a bit of extra support when walking. The footbed is made of recycled polyester and has a cushioned insole, and the recycled rubber outsole will keep you from slipping poolside. These sandals are made in Vietnam. They don't come in half-sizes so size up if you fall in between sizes. 

Havaianas Unisex Top Flip-Flops

Havaianas has been making exceptional flip-flops since 1962 and still makes them out of natural rubber in Brazil.

Havaianas flip-flops have been a part of summer since 1962 when the Brazilian brand first launched the first mass-produced rubber flip-flop. The Top Flip-Flop is an iconic style still produced in Brazil. Because they're made of natural rubber, they may feel a bit stiffer than foam versions when you first wear them but they'll quickly become more pliable. The rubber should also keep from compressing over time, unlike foam. These sandals feature wide straps and a cushioned footbed with the brand's signature textured rice pattern that harks back to these flip-flops origins as they were based on traditional Japanese zori sandals. They come in nine colors, including a bright orange that's perfect for a summer holiday. 

Hari Mari HM x Peter Millar Flip-Flops

The Hari Mari HM x Peter Millar Flip-Flops are made from water-resistant full-grain leather and feature firm arch support, memory foam in all the right places, and rubber bottoms with good gripping power on wet areas.

The Hari Mari HM x Peter Millar Flip-Flops are a limited-edition collaboration with North Carolina-based premium sportswear brand Peter Millar, which is known for its craftsmanship and casual elegance. These flip-flops are made from water-resistant, full-grain leather and feature firm arch support, memory foam in all the right places, and rubber bottoms with good gripping power on wet areas. You could consider these "dressy" flip-flops, as in they'd look great with a pair of chinos and a linen button-up shirt or a more casual camp shirt and Bermuda shorts.

They come in three colorways, but the chambray and cognac pair is especially good-looking with its woven linen chambray straps. Hari Mari flip-flops don't come in half sizes, so size up if you're between, per the company's recommendation. You can also feel good about buying from this brand. Hari Mari donates one percent of its profits from every flip-flop sale to its "Flops Fighting Cancer" initiative that assists pediatric cancer patients.

Birkenstock Gizeh Patent

Think of the Birkenstock Gizeh Patent as minimalist upscale flip-flops that are good for your feet. 

The German brand Birkenstock that's been around since the 1700s has a well-deserved reputation for being super comfortable, thanks to the sandals' contoured cork footbeds that conform to the wearer's feet. While best known for its iconic two-strap sandal, the brand also makes a thong style. The footbeds are lined in soft suede with a springy EVA midsole sandwiched between the suede and the brand's signature cork layer that offers arch support, a deep heel cup, and a wide toe box. The outsole is also made of EVA and is light but provides good cushioning.

Besides being able to slip into them on like traditional flip-flops, these sandals have buckle closures so you can adjust them for an individualized fit. The backside of the Birko-Flor is lined with soft, breathable fleece that's gentle on the skin. Zappos offers three color choices, including a shiny bright red. Think of these as minimalist upscale flip-flops that are good for your feet. 

Archies Arch-Support Flip-Flops

Archie's one-piece design prevents the dreaded flip-flop blowout while the design promotes proper foot posture. All this and a decent price tag, too.

Australian footwear brand Archies, which was started by a physiotherapist, has a hugely loyal following thanks to its super comfy flip-flops that come at a reasonable price point of $35. These podiatrist-recommended sandals are made from special closed-cell foam that's springy, soft, and molds to the feet. The high arch may take a little getting used to, but you'll soon appreciate it. Unlike many flip-flops, Archies has a one-piece construction that prevents the dreaded blowout when the post pops out of the sole. They don't come in half-sizes so the company recommends that if you have narrow feet to size down and wide feet to size up. 

Freewater Treeline Sport

The Freewater Treeline Sport is a multifunctional sandal that can be worn like a flip-flop or a walking sandal. 

The Treeline Sport takes the flip-flop in an outdoor direction with a multifunctional design that allows you to wear them as flip-flops or as hiking sandals, thanks to a removable ankle strap. There's also a strap that goes across the top of the foot for added support. These sandals feature a ridged Therm-a-Rest material as the footbed. In the Treeline Sport, these ridges massage your feet and promote airflow and water drainage. The Vibram Eco Tread outsoles are made of 30% recycled content and are good at gripping the ground in wet conditions. Another benefit of buying these sandals is that one percent of Freewater's net sales go to grassroots projects that provide clean drinking water in developing nations. Size up if you wear a half-size, according to Freewater. 

J. Crew Easy Summer Flip-Flops

WIth a rainbow of colorways and a nice price, the J. Crew Easy Summer Flip-Flops will quickly become your sunny day staple.

Cute, simple but elegant, and priced right, J. Crew's Easy Summer Flip-Flops pair with whatever you're wearing, and can easily go from the beach to a casual night out. With eight colors, from metallic gold to brilliant cobalt (a bright blue) you may have trouble deciding which to get. The sole has good traction and the footbed is lightly padded and looks great with shorts, jeans, or a maxi dress. If you wear a half-size, get the next whole size up.

Oofos Ooriginal Sandal

Oofos Ooriginal Sandals are like walking on marshmallows and are made to aid your recovery after a brutal workout or a hard day at work. 

The experience of wearing the Oofos Ooriginal Sandal has often been described as "like walking on marshmallows." They're soft and ultra-cushiony, thanks to a proprietary foam technology that absorbs 37% more impact than regular foam footwear material. These are billed as recovery sandals, meaning their main function is to relieve tired feet after strenuous activity like running or hiking. This is achieved through the patented footbed design that takes the pressure off the feet, knees, and lower back. They're also machine washable, have a six-month warranty, and don't require any break-in period. Oofos don't come in half sizes so the company recommends sizing up for women and down for men. 

Astral Filipe

The Astral Filipe takes you from poolside to mountainside with a removal ankle strap and super-grippy outsoles.

Astral, the North Carolina-based outdoor equipment company, offers a flip-flop that's built for the outdoors, whether at the beach, on a hike, or cruising around the city. The uppers are made from cushioned synthetic leather and feature a soft, water-wicking knit liner and a cushy nylon webbing toe post. Below, there's a springy EVA midsole and outstanding outsoles made from G Rubber, the company's proprietary material, which is super grippy, non-marking, and abrasion-resistant The Filipe comes with removable ankle straps to take you from poolside to mountainside in a jiffy. If you wear a half-size, size up. 

Hoka One One Ora Recovery Flip

Hoka One One is best known for its "maximalist" super-cushioned running shoes so it makes sense its Ora Recovery Flip also features tons of plush cushioning and design that encourages a smoother gait.

Hoka One One, the French athletic shoe company, is best known for its super-cushioned "maximal" running shoes that have excellent cushioning-to-weight ratios and promote stability. It should come as no surprise that the company's Ora Recovery Flips also feature an extra thick cushioned midsole, a plush, textured EVA footbed, and a design that encourages a smoother gait. These also have a textile upper that helps wick moisture and an outsole that has great traction. The Ora Flips are extremely light at 4.5 oz per sandal. Like the Oofos, these are designed for post-workout or a hard day at work and help relieve tired feet while promoting recovery. Besides that, they offer them in basic black or two brighter hues: Luminary Green/Blue Tint or Cantaloupe/Fiesta, a pretty pinkish-orange.

Revs Lights Massage Flip Flops

Give yourself a massage while you walk with the Revs Lights Massage Flip Flops. 

With its hundreds of massaging rubber nodules on the footbeds, the Revs Light flip-flops aren't just for chilling poolside, these are meant to stimulate your pressure points for better circulation and to reduce fatigue, among other alleged health benefits. Designed by a Scottish reflexologist, these sandals are also designed to improve your posture and stance. 

The footbed and straps are made of rubber and the outsole of shock-absorbing EVA. Many customers suggest easing into wearing them over time as they can feel unusual when you first put them on. They come in a bunch of fun colorways from metallic to two-tone blue and bright yellow. Since there are no half sizes, it's recommended you size up.

Sole Catalina Sport Flip

The Sole Catalina Sport Flipis good for your feet and the environment that mold to the shape of your feet and includes a new type of sustainable foam made from algae rather than petroleum.

Sole made its name with its orthotic insoles but the Canadian company also makes a popular line of footwear, including the Catalina Sport Flip, a sandal with the same eco-friendly technology that goes into its insoles. The Catalina sandals mold to your feet after about a week of use for a customized wearing experience. They feature a sustainable Bloom Algae Foam footbed made from algae instead of petroleum, an EVA midsole, and arch support. The upper is made from a nicely padded, soft synthetic nubuck-like material. Plus, they're water-friendly and have a grippy outsole. Size up if you typically wear a half size.

Flojos Olivia Vintage Sandal

Flojos Olivia Vintage Sandal is a versatile wedge flip-flop with a 70s feel but modern materials for a comfortable fit. 

Flojos, which started life in Mexico in 1972, is a California sandal brand with a throwback beach vibe and decently priced footwear ranging from $20 to $60. The Olivia Vintage Sandal is a wedge flip-flop with a 70s feel that's the brand's most popular style. The 2 ½ inch heel is not too tall, not too short, but definitely gives you a bit of a lift while still being comfortable thanks to the cupped footbed design that cradles the feet and a springy EVA midsole, and a light sponge rubber outsole.

The burnished faux leather straps also give these wedges a vintage feel but they haven't forgotten the comfort here either as the straps are lined with a soft fabric and the toe post is also softly reinforced. Dress them up with wide-leg pants and a poet's blouse or down with denim shorts and a T. Per the brand, if you typically wear a half size and have narrow feet, go down to the next whole size. If you wear a half-size and have wide feet, size up.

Indosole Flip-Flops

Indosole Flip-Flops are eco-conscious with soles made from recycled tires. Beyond that, they come in a range of beautiful colorways, are well made, and very comfortable. 

While not billed as unisex, Indosole's flip-flops are gender-neutral except for the sizing. Let's start with one of the major differences between this brand and others on the market. The company uses recycled tires in its products. Tire waste is a huge international environmental problem as they don't easily decompose and are often burned in developing countries polluting the air, ground, and water.

Indosole, a certified B corporation, came up with a way to break the tires down and reconstitute them for use as sturdy outsoles. The rubber the company uses for the footbed is ethically sourced and the strap is from a custom-made material called ENVRO Fiber that comes from sustainably grown plants and recycled sources. Besides the environmental aspects of these flip-flops, these are well-made, waterproof, non-slip, come in a ton of beautiful colorways, and are very comfortable. 

• Ray-Ban has been making high-quality frames that are both functional and stylish for over 80 years.
• From classic and mirrored lenses to polarized lenses, Ray-Ban has sunglasses for everyone.
• For more Ray-Ban, read our guides on the best women's, men's, and polarized sunglasses.

If a company has been thriving for years, it's safe to say they probably make pretty good stuff. Ray-Ban has been making functional and cool eyewear since 1937. Today, the brand still offers some of the best sunglasses on the market. Here, we lay out why we love these sunglasses and answer frequently asked questions about the brand.

What kind of UV protection do Ray-Ban sunglasses provide?

While sunglasses have become a fashion accessory all on their own, at the core of it, they're made to protect your eyes. Every pair of Ray-Bans delivers on this front. All Ray-Ban lenses have UV protection, but the exact level varies among the types of lenses. Here's what Ray-Ban offers:

• Classic lenses absorb 85% of visible light and block most blue light while providing a "natural vision" because they don't alter the colors you see around you. 
• Mirrored lenses reduce glare for visual comfort near snow and water. Colors look clearer and brighter. 
• Polarized lenses block more than 99% of reflected light around you, eliminate glares, and enhance contrast. Everything looks clearer and brighter.

Does Ray-Ban offer prescription lenses?

Another great feature from Ray-Ban is the ability to get prescription lenses. Choose from a wide range of classic Ray-Ban frames and make them yours with custom prescription lenses. You can even make them polarized. 

Of course, nice lenses need to be complemented by equally nice frames, and luckily, Ray-Ban has those, too. You can find high-quality metal and acetate options in small, standard, or large sizes to get the perfect fit. A majority of Ray-Ban customers go for the standard size, but if you're on the fence, you can check out the brand's size guide. 

The high-quality frames, protective lenses, and just-right fit make Ray-Bans equal parts performance and fashion. That means they're just as fit for a leisurely day on the town as an active day on the water, in the snow, or wherever you like to go.

What kind of sunglasses does Ray-Ban make? 

From the iconic to the contemporary, Ray-Ban has a strong selection of stylish pairs fit for every face. You'll probably recognize Ray-Ban's three most classic pairs: The Aviator, The Wayfarer, and The Clubmaster. While eyewear trends come and go, these three pairs are classics. Insider Reviews social media associate Victoria Gracie swears by her Ray-Ban Clubmasters. "In the past," she said, "I've had trouble finding sunglasses that fit my face well, but Ray-Ban's Clubmasters seem to do the trick. The quality is also top-notch — I'm not as careful as I should be with my Ray-Bans, but they're still in pristine condition, and the mirrored lenses don't even show any scratches."

In fact, the Aviators and Clubmasters have even earned spots in our guides to the best women's sunglasses, best men's sunglasses, and best polarized sunglasses — they're that good. In the rare event that you don't see a pair you like, you can even design your own pair from scratch.

Our personal favorite Ray-Bans

Personal Finance Insider reporter Liz Kneuven has both prescription and regular Ray-Bans. She credits her love for the Erika sunglasses ($153) to the unique shape that's slightly round but still angular. "Before those glasses got really popular, it was hard to find anything that shape. They're just so flattering," she says. "For me, it's all about the shape. I've owned and shopped for several pairs of nice sunglasses, but I've never been able to find any other round-ish ones that complimented my face shape like the Ray-Ban Erikas do."

The Round Metal sunglasses ($161) are by far my favorite Ray-Bans, and truthfully, my favorite sunglasses ever. I'm already on my second pair. Inspired by musicians in the 1960s, the style is just retro enough. They're understated but universally flattering, and they edge up pretty much any outfit I wear. Whether it's a sundress and sandals or ripped jeans and a plain white T-shirt, the gold frame and dark green lenses on these match everything. While they are a little pricey, I feel like I've gotten more than my money's worth of wear. Plus, I'd rather pay a little extra for comfort, quality, and the peace of mind that my eyes are actually protected from the sun.

Style and beauty editor Ashley Phillips is also a fan of the Round Metal sunglasses. "I like how these have a cool retro feel, but at the same time they go with basically everything. And even though the wire frame looks delicate, I've owned this pair for years and it's still in great shape."

How much do Ray-Bans cost?

The range of prices you'll come across when shopping for sunglasses is huge. You could pick up a pair for five bucks at the local bodega or drop over $500 on a pair from your favorite designer label. Ray-Ban falls pretty central on the spectrum, with pairs starting around $150 and going up to about $500 for ones made with an ultra-light titanium frame.

With Ray-Ban, you know you're getting quality lenses and durable frames that can keep up with you through whatever activities your day brings. Cheap sunglasses are a great way to try out new trends without spending too much money, but many pairs are more fun than functional and don't offer enough UV protection. On the other hand, just because a pair of sunglasses is very expensive that doesn't necessarily mean you're getting a higher quality UV protection. You may be paying more for the designer label. I've spent more than $150 on sunglasses from other brands and was ultimately disappointed at how they (barely) blocked the sun from my eyes. From these experiences, I've decided that $150 on a pair of Ray-Bans is actually pretty fair — just do your best not to lose them. 

If you're looking for a pair of Ray-Bans with prescription lenses, you may also be able to receive reimbursement from your insurance company. Both Ray-Ban and retailers like GlassesUSA accept several types of insurance plans. 

The bottom line

Ray-Ban is a heritage brand, and for good reason. They've stayed true to the classics, but have also managed to keep up with the trends without losing sight of their brand. The end result is a brand with universal appeal that everyone from your younger brother to your best friend to your grandma will be proud to rock. Whether you're a Ray-Bans loyalist, or new to the brand, it's definitely a great place to pick up your next pair of sunglasses. 

Shop all sunglasses at Ray-Ban.

Shop Ray-Ban sunglasses at GlassesUSA.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

It doesn't take skilled debate tactics to convince someone that small changes made on a global scale can have a huge impact in the 21st century. 

Take, for instance, the fact that Americans alone use an average of 500 million plastic straws every day, which inspired the Be Straw Free campaign by the National Parks Service.

It's a seemingly insignificant habit that has huge consequences: That plastic waste winds up in our oceans, polluting the water and killing animals, only to eventually make its way back to us through the food we eat (and the micro plastic in them).

In order to address the problem and build a more sustainable (and mutually beneficial) business plan, Adidas paired up with Parley for the Oceans to repurpose the millions of pounds of plastic currently polluting the world's oceans. Instead of remaining waste, Adidas has found a smart way to use recycling to their (and the planet's) benefit. 

If deciding not to use straws anymore has a huge impact on the environment, consider the impact a global brand like Adidas could have. We've all heard of the horrifying "Great Pacific garbage patch" which is essentially an enormous swath of ocean coated in pelagic plastics, chemical sludge, and and other debris caught there by the North Pacific Gyre's currents. And most people will find it surprising that a 2015 study estimated that around eight million metric tons of our plastic waste enters the oceans from land every year.

Adidas finding a use for that waste that not only takes it out of our oceans (meaning less ending up in sea turtles stomachs and our own), but also provides its usual Adidas-sized revenue boost that helps provide us with a healthy market, too. 

So we've established that the Adidas x Parley shoes are a great idea from an ecological standpoint — but are they still great shoes? 

I recently got a pair of the Ultra Boost X shoes that came out of the Parley collaboration and I love them. They're made with Adidas' Boost technology, which you can read more about here, but the main gist is that they provide super high energy return for runners and makes your shoes ultra-comfortable. Even though new sneaker technology can seem gimmicky at best, this really isn't a gimmick — and it continues to spread through Adidas' line. 

Another concern with new technology is that the shoe will look more functional than stylish — something that certainly isn't a problem with the Ultra Boost X Parley. It comes in two colors: white with pale, purplish blue and light blue tones (pictured above) and an intense navy/light blue mix, with both colors mimicking different moods of the ocean. The sock-like Primeknit upper feels comfortable and breathable, and the style itself is one of my favorite parts about the shoe — which is considerable since they're among the most comfortable running shoes I've ever owned. 

The Boost technology makes running feel more impactful and the knit upper helps facilitate helpful airflow and keep my feet from overheating. If I were to break a personal record on a run, I'd probably do it in these shoes. Plus, the knit and ultra lightweight rubber sole make them among the lightest shoes I own, as well as the most useful for my runs. They're $200, but it would be an easy decision to buy another pair to replace them if I ever lost them.

The only thing I would mention is that the Ultra Boost X Parley can feel narrow (mine are snug but not uncomfortable), so if you have wider feet you may want to order one of your usual size and one size up to compare comfort. 

By 2020, Adidas wants all of their shoes to be made using recycled plastic, which is good for the health of the planet, but it's good to know that their first foray into sustainability has been a success.

If you're looking for a lightweight, comfortable pair of running shoes with innovative technology, a nice look, and a positive environmental impact — you may want to check out the Adidas Ultra Boost X Parley. And if for some reason they don't work for you, you have 30 days to return them.   

Grab your pair of Adidas Ultra Boost X Parley here. 

• ThredUP is the most convenient mass upcycling program I've found for city dwellers without a car. 
• ThredUP's Clean-Out Closet service lets you order a bag online, fill it up at home, and schedule a pickup or drop it off at a mailing center. They will also potentially pay you for high-end items you send in, and recycle the rest or send it back to you. It's not the most lucrative upcycling option, but a bit of money is a perk. 
• There are also a few other programs that reward you for cleaning out your closet, and a few that make the process as easy as ordering a bag online, filling it up at home, and scheduling a pickup.
• Get free shipping on orders $79+ using the promo code on our Insider coupons page.
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

Despite having a type-A personality, I wouldn't call my closet particularly well-organized.

It's not for lack of trying. For the last year, I've spent more time trimming the fat — going through my small New York City closet, packing bags, and schlepping clothes in Ubers and city buses all across the city to sell or donate — than probably any other activity. It's the right thing to do from a humane and ecological perspective, but it's not always easy when you live in an urban center with no personal transportation. 

Like most chores that require sweating, rolling suitcases over uneven city concrete, and occasionally pleading with God to speed up time, I started to dread the trek. And that dread led me down the rabbit hole of fantastic services that will essentially do all the legwork for you. For example, Give Back Box will email you a free shipping label to slap on any box you have in the house to send your donations to charities for free. If it looks like you have to pay for a label, just search "Give Back Box print free shipping label" on Google or simply click here. The Salvation Army will also come pick up donation boxes if you sign up for a slot online, but be prepared to wait weeks because this option is popular. A handful of companies will actually reward you for getting rid of stuff you no longer use.

But my favorite may be thredUP's donation program for its ease and benefits. You can order a clean-out kit online to be delivered to your home, fill it up with goods you want to recycle (or sell), and leave your bag for your mail carrier, schedule a USPS pickup, or drop it off at any FedEx Office or USPS location.

There are two types of thredUP clean-out kits, both of which are free. 

• The Standard Clean-Out Kit means you earn cash or credit for accepted women's and kids' items in the bag. Any unaccepted items (the things thredUP wouldn't be able to sell on-site) are shipped back to you (for $10.99) or responsibly recycled, according to the company.
• The Donation Clean-Out Kit is what it sounds like. You can send in women's, men's, and kids' items. Instead of earning any money, thredUP says it will give $5 per bag on your behalf to a charity of your choice and responsibly recycle the items you send. You'll also get a tax receipt. Charities include Help a Mother Out, Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation, and Girls Inc.

ThredUP told Business Insider that the company found charities often do not have the resources or time to sort through and distribute the clothing they receive, so the company decided to turn clothes into cash for organizations that don't normally take clothing donations. Given the amount of textile waste, it sounds good in the sense that a) people can recycle textiles responsibly and easily and b) there's an opportunity to make more useful donations to charities. And if every bag is a $5 donation rather than by pound, you could theoretically send in a few bags if your items could fit in two as easily as in one. 

If you choose to do the Standard Clean-Out, it's good to know the company says that it only accepts 40% of the items in the average kit. To be accepted, they have to show no signs of wear (pilling, fading, shrinkage), damage, or alterations. 

How getting paid by thredUP works

If thredUP opts to sell your item, you get a cut of the sale. According to the company, item payouts range from 5% to 80% of the listing price, and higher-end brands get you a higher percentage of the payout. Learn more here about payouts, and learn more here about selling luxury items.

It's sort of like Poshmark or eBay except you can send all of it off at once, and they take care of the actual selling: inspecting them, professionally photographing them, listing them, and shipping them.

You can also earn shopping credit at a favorite store for cleaning out your closet. If you choose partner credit as your payout option, you could earn an extra bonus for a limited time — like a 20% bonus to Amour Vert or a 15% bonus to Reformation.

How to use the Clean-Out service

To use the service, I ordered a Clean-Out kit from the site, picked it up from my mailbox, filled it with clothes, and scheduled a USPS pickup at USPS.com online. Then, since I sent in some relatively high-end items using the Standard option, I waited to see if ThredUp would list or responsibly recycle them (I chose not to have them sent back if they weren't sold). 

Your kit will be processed typically within one week of being received. If you want a guarantee that it will be within one week, you can opt for it by agreeing to $16 being deducted from your earnings.

The pros and cons

ThredUP's service is convenient in the way that it offers perks and options and does the heavy lifting for you. Especially for those looking to recycle clothing en masse in an urban area (particularly if you do so regularly or without access to a car), it's a great option. You won't need to find a bag or box, and aside from the actual act of going through your closet, all the work is done by a couple of clicks online. ThredUP's program is also unique in its flexible options. You can send items to sell, opt to have them recycled or rerouted back to you if they're not accepted, or have the company donate $5 per bag to a charity if you use just their Donation Kit.

You also don't have to deal with the legwork that platforms such as Poshmark and eBay require. ThredUp takes care of the photos, the selling, and the shipping. 

If you're looking to get the most money possible for high-end items, it's probably not the most lucrative option. Depending on what your local upcycling options are, you may earn more by bringing relatively high-end items to a Buffalo Exchange. Though for luxury items which fetch as much as 80% commission of the sale, thredUP may still be a contender. For me, since my focus is largely on low-maintenance recycling, earning a few bucks here or there is just a bonus. 

Order a thredUP Clean-Out bag online to donate clothes now.

• Over 300 million pairs of sneakers are thrown out annually.
• It can take 30 to 40 years for a pair to decompose in a landfill.
• Learn about 10 sneaker brands using eco-friendly materials and more sustainable production methods.

The sneaker industry is bigger than ever, and its growth shows no signs of slowing. 

More than 23 billion pairs of sneakers are produced every year, but behind the great demand for footwear is an industry so wasteful it's almost beyond measure. Most of these new pairs use virgin plastic, rubber, and petroleum, producing alarming amounts of carbon dioxide. According to sneaker startup Nothing New, about 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown out every year and, on average, it takes 30-40 years for a pair to fully decompose in a landfill.

In the past, most shoppers would have put little thought into exactly how the items they bought were made, but that is no longer the case all around. In addition to demanding trendsetting styles and groundbreaking innovations, the educated consumers of today expect products to be made responsibly.

Sportswear retail expert Matt Powell explained to Insider that younger people are very concerned with how their purchases are affecting the environment. "Sustainability is an important theme in retail, so much so that younger consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products," said Powell. "Brands have long been concerned about making products sustainably, but they're being more forward and open about it."

If you're looking to make better, more sustainable choices, we hear you. We are too, which is why we rounded up this list of brands that are using innovative, eco-friendly materials and more sustainable production methods to make sneakers.

From performance sneakers made by popular brands like Nike and Adidas to fashion-forward trainers from startups like Everlane and Allbirds, you'll find plenty of brands new and old working to set new standards.

Check out 10 brands making more sustainable sneakers:

Cariuma

Founded in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Cariuma is a sneaker brand that focuses on sustainability. The brand handmakes its sneakers using high-quality natural materials including organic fair-trade cotton, natural rubber from hevea brasiliensis trees, and leather from gold-rated tanneries using hides sourced from areas that weren't deforested for cattle farming.

The brand ships its shoes directly in the shoebox, which eliminates the need for wasteful packaging. It also makes up for the carbon emissions associated with shipping products by purchasing carbon offsets, which brings its carbon footprint down to zero.

Cariuma's sneakers have an old-school look, but with modern comfort. The insoles have a generous amount of memory foam, which make them easy to wear all day long.

Read our full review on Cariuma sneakers here.

Shop all shoes at Cariuma here, $79-$159

Adidas x Parley

When it comes to mainstream sportswear brands, Adidas is easily the most vocal about its sustainability efforts — and environmental organization Parley for the Oceans has been its biggest collaborator. The two brands teamed up for the first time in 2015 with a sneaker using yarn made from recycled ocean plastic and illegal deep-sea gill nets. They officially launched products to the public in 2016.

In 2020, Adidas made more than 20 million pairs of sneakers with Parley ocean plastic — a major increase from 11 million pairs in 2019 and 5 million pairs in 2018.

Today, you'll find Parley's recycled materials on everything from running sneakers like the Ultra 4D 5.0 and Ultra Boost to outdoor shoes like the Terrex Two.

Shop all Adidas products made with recycled materials here.

Tread by Everlane

While recycled knits account for a big part of the sustainable sneakers market, Tread by Everlane is for those who still appreciate quality leather. With 94.2% non-virgin plastic soles, leather sourced from the world's cleanest tannery, and laces and linings made from recycled plastic bottles, The Trainer is touted (by its maker, mind you) as the world's lowest-impact sneakers.

Even if you aren't a particularly conscious consumer (although you should be), Tread by Everlane has great appeal. Its style lends itself well to minimalists and lovers of that cut-and-sewn look found on retro running sneakers.

Read our full review on Everlane Trainer sneakers here.

Shop all Everlane sneakers here.

Reebok Cotton + Corn

Reebok first launched the Cotton + Corn sneakers with the NPC UK sneaker. It originally featured leather accents on the heel tab, but after receiving kickback from Peta, the brand took the initiative to make the shoe completely vegan. The updated sneaker features a 100% cotton upper, a sole derived from corn, and insoles made from castor bean oil. Even the packaging is 100% recycled.

Now, Reebok is continuing vegan shoes with the Corn + Cotton Slip-On, a casual sneaker.

Shop all Reebok Cotton + Corn sneakers here.

Nothing New

Founded in 2019, Nothing New is a sneaker startup that aims to positively impact the planet and educate the people that live on it. Unlike most brands on this list that are simply making strides to improve their eco-friendliness, sustainability is at the very core of the brand.

As the name suggests, Nothing New sneakers are made with only recycled materials. The upper is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, while its other components are made from recycled cotton, fishing nets, rubber, and cork.

Beyond the production process, Nothing New offers $20 discounts on new pairs to those who send back their used sneakers. Depending on the condition of the sneakers, Nothing New will clean and donate them or break them down and put the materials back into its recycled supply chain.

Read our full review on Nothing New sneakers here.

Shop all Nothing New sneakers here.

Nike

Over the last five decades, Nike has continually pushed boundaries in sportswear innovation. While performance has been at the forefront of its designs, sustainability has also been a major factor in recent years. Even though sustainability isn't heavily incorporated into the brand's marketing (compared to Adidas Parley or Allbirds), the brand's work has not gone unnoticed.

In 2018, Nike was recognized by Textile Exchange as using the most recycled polyester in the industry for the sixth year in a row, and from 2010-2018, the brand transformed 6.4 billion plastic water bottles into recycled footwear or apparel.

Nike's signature Flyknit material, which can be found on footwear throughout the brand's catalog, is made in-part with recycled plastic, but the Swoosh is doing more than sustainable knits.

In 2019, Nike also launched sneakers made from Flyleather, a new material made from at least 50% recycled leather fiber. Although there haven't been many other sneakers to release with Flyleather yet, you can expect the material to be included more often in future designs.

In 2020, Nike furthered its impact on sustainability by using recycled rubbers on midsoles and outsoles — a feature that could be seen on everything from Nike SBs to Converse. Some of the most notable use of materials made from recycled trash is the Nike Space Hippie collection and the new Cosmic Unity basketball shoe. In total, the brand has roughly 900 items available that are made from at least 20% recycled materials.

Shop all Nike products made from recycled materials here.

Converse Renew

The Chuck Taylor All-Stars are cemented in footwear as one of, if not the most timeless sneakers on the planet, but Converse has proven that it's able to stay in touch with modern demands. Using 100% recycled plastic bottles to make up its canvas upper, the Renew Collection is the latest example of its commitment to produce more carefully.

The process starts with plastic bottles sourced by the US-based recycling company First Mile. The plastic is then ground up into flakes, melted, rolled into bales, spun into yarn, and weaved into canvas.

The best part about the Converse Renew collection is that shoes are fully customizable and are available in sizes from toddlers to adults. 

Shop the Converse Renew collection here.

Allbirds

As the brainchild of New Zealand native Tim Brown and San Francisco-based renewables expert Joey Zwillinger, Allbirds is the wildly popular sneaker startup you've seen all throughout Silicon Valley and New York City. In the first four years, the brand reached a $77.5 million valuation — all thanks to its sustainable footwear.

Love them or hate them, all of Allbirds' designs are undeniably unique and unmatched in comfort. The brand's shoes are made with merino wool or eucalyptus trees for the uppers and sugar cane for the SweetFoam soles. They even made the patent on their SweetFoam material public so that other brands could utilize it as a sustainable alternative. Recycled plastic and castor bean oil also make their way into the inner-workings of the shoes. Allbirds even uses 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard for packaging that serves as a shoe box, shopping bag, and mailer all in one.

We've reviewed everything from the signature Wool Runners to the newer Tree Toppers and found them to be incredibly comfortable. Read all of our Allbirds reviews here.

Shop Allbirds sneakers for men and women here, $95-$115

Greats

Founded in 2014 by Ryan Babenzien and footwear designer Jon Buscemi, Greats began as an affordable alternative to the luxury sneaker market. The brand's signature style, The Greats Royale, features premium leather, is manufactured in Italy, and only costs $179 — which far less than comparable high-end sneakers.

In efforts to be more eco-friendly, Greats redesigned the silhouette with a recycled plastic knit upper. Seven plastic bottles go into making each pair of Royale Knit sneakers, and in the initial production run alone, Greats removed 75,000 bottles from the ocean.

In addition to the recycled plastic uppers, Greats uses recycled materials to produce the shoe boxes and packaging.

Shop all Greats sneakers here.

Rothy's

Founded in 2016, Rothy's took over social media and the streets of New York and San Francisco with its recycled plastic flats for women. With such a heavy emphasis on sustainability, it was only right for the brand to start making other styles, including sneakers. 

Aptly named "The Sneaker," Rothy's recycled plastic sneaker features a Vans-inspired slip-on look with a recycled plastic upper. Other eco-friendly elements of the shoe include recycled foam insoles, vegan, outsoles made from recyclable, carbon-free rubber and TPU, and vegan and non-toxic adhesives.

To date, Rothy's has repurposed more than 35 million plastic water bottles in its footwear. For now, the brand only makes footwear for women and kids, so if you're looking for shoes in men's sizing, you'll have to check out one of the other brands on this list.

Read our Rothy's review here.

Shop all recycled plastic shoes at Rothy's here, $125-$165

 

• Amazon has launched over 50 in-house fashion labels, contributing to its outpacing of Macy's as an apparel retailer.
• Its feminine fashion labels are surprisingly stylish, and range from casual athleisure to fashion-forward wardrobe staples.
• Almost all of the styles are under $100 and priced affordably, plus everything is available on Amazon Prime, making the delivery and return process incredibly fast and easy. 
• Sign up for Insider Review's weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

Amazon has already made a name for itself as one of the world's largest retail marketplaces, and has even started carving its own path as a powerful player in the tech industry. But the company is now looking to expand its self-branded offerings beyond the Echo and Kindle by making its foray into the fashion world.

In a tumultuous market that has seen powerhouse brick-and-mortar retailers like Macy's shutter their doors across the country, Amazon is looking to use its online marketplace to bring fashion to the masses. The site already provides a platform for plenty of major fashion companies like Nike and Kate Spade to sell their goods — but in 2017, Amazon also decided develop its own in-house brands in hopes of capturing a larger share of sales, and bringing better value to its customers.

And the honest truth? Amazon is making some really stylish clothing.

To date, Amazon has developed more than 50 different fashion labels for people of all ages and genders, running the gamut from workwear to lingerie, baby clothes to shoes, and even athleisure styles and basics. There are a few standout labels in the women's/feminine clothing category that are worth noting, so we've broken down everything you need to know about Amazon's best fashion lines, which are all available on Prime.

Amazon's in-house fashion brands for women:

Lark & Ro

Shop all Lark & Ro styles

Lark & Ro's overall feel is polished and professional, but each piece has some sort of modern flair or silhouette that keeps it looking trendy. You'll find all the workwear basics, including solid sheath and patterned wrap dresses, blouses with interesting detailing, and a selection of foundational pieces like cashmere sweaters and trench coats. The color palette skews more toward neutrals like black, grey, and white, plus variations of mostly darker shades of blues, pinks, and purples.

In terms of price points, Lark & Ro will run you roughly the same as stores like LOFT, Gap, and Banana Republic, with prices averaging between $30 and $80.

Product Embed:
Product Name: Lark & Ro Women's Center Twist Dress
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2e4c21ad83a4a90344171&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Lark & Ro Women's Georgette Woven Blouse
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2e542be509c3ce63c85d2&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Lark & Ro Women's Cap Sleeve Lace Dress with Scallop Details
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2e64ff348c340fe0a677a&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Daily/Ritual

Shop all Daily Ritual styles

Daily/Ritual specializes in cozy loungewear and casual basics like slouchy sweaters and hoodies, sweatshirt dresses, leggings, and even reasonably priced two-packs of tanks and tees. The colors are mostly neutrals like black, white, and gray, making it easy to mix and match, and the majority of their styles also come in plus sizes.

The whole line is relatively inexpensive, with most dresses costing around $30 and two-packs priced at an average of $20 total. The leggings are all under $20, which is a serious steal. 

Product Embed:
Product Name: Daily Ritual Women's Supersoft Terry Long-Sleeve Hooded Pullover
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2e1f7977c43642b3ff01c&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Daily Ritual Women's Terry Long-Sleeve V-Neck Dress
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2e28dacfefb452e4114fc&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Daily Ritual Women's Supersoft Terry Short-Sleeve Shirt
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2e32ad67e1260f03dbfaa&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Cable Stitch

Shop all Cable Stitch styles

As you might have guessed by its name, Cable Stitch is Amazon's line of knit sweaters and dresses. Honestly, it might be our favorite of all the brand's fashion offerings. You'll find more than just basic cable-knit sweaters here — the designers have done a fantastic job of creating interesting shapes and details for each piece.

You'll find everything from tasteful cutout shoulders to ruffled sleeves, oversized cardigans to fitted color-block options, and even a few midi-length sweater dresses. Prices across the line vary, but not by much. Most items are between $40 and $70.

Product Embed:
Product Name: Cable Stitch Women's Stripe Ribbed Dress
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2df098fc3977b5f7b3ea6&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Cable Stitch Women's Contrast-Sleeve Cotton Sweater
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2df95977c4363c70c3193&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Cable Stitch Women's Mock Neck Cozy Sweater
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2e009ce3d6978a662aaa8&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Amazon Essentials

Shop all Amazon Essentials styles

When you need to stock up on the basics, Amazon Essentials is where you can find a solid collection of everyday apparel for the entire family, and all at affordable prices. The designs are super simple and versatile and span everything from socks to pajamas to puffer jackets. Most of the sizing runs from XS-XXL, and there are maternity styles available, too.

Along with the staple items, you can find a few gems that are slightly more trend-driven, like colorful loungewear sets for around $20 per piece and fleece jackets with a Patagonia-like flair for $36, both of which look like they'd cost quite a bit more if they were hanging on the racks of a department store. We consider Amazon Essentials to be similar to American Apparel or Old Navy, but with the benefits of 2-day shipping.

Product Embed:
Product Name: Amazon Essentials Women's Sherpa Long Sleeve Mock Neck Full-Zip Jacket
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2db3c2c44cc51965c93f2&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Amazon Essentials Women's Relaxed Fit Fleece Jogger Sweatpants
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2dc0197b255708210d684&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Amazon Essentials Women's Lightweight Water-Resistant Packable Puffer Coat
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2dd17acfefb4363647483&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Mae

Shop all Mae styles

Amazon's in-house lingerie brand, Mae, is home to a line of practical T-shirt bras and packs of no-show underwear in neutral colors. In addition to the basics, Mae has plenty of pretty lace bralettes in various styles, with options that include high necklines, light padding, and cutouts. While the selection of sleepwear isn't as large as the intimates, you'll still find plenty of pajama sets in slinky, cozy fabrics and a few chemises too. 

There aren't endless options to browse through as you might see at a lingerie retailer, but the main draw of Mae is that it covers all the basics and then some — and all at a serious value. A three-pack of underwear can go for as little as $9 (coming out to just $3 each) and the majority of the bralettes are around $16. The size range runs from XS-XL for underwear and bralettes and up to 3X for pajamas.

Product Embed:
Product Name: Mae Women's Galloon Lace Cheeky Underwear (3-Pack)
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d8be0afbe759316aa398&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Mae Women's Uplift Plunge T-Shirt Bra
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d949acfefb410461246f&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Mae Women's Belted Knit Waffle Robe
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d9ffbf96b91bdd75d57a&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Core 10

Shop all Core 10 styles

Surprisingly, Amazon can be a great place to find activewear. The e-commerce giant's own line, called Core 10, has a full range of workout gear that includes sports bras, hoodies, joggers, and tank tops. Perhaps most popular are the leggings which have developed their own sort of cult following.

You can even customize your own pair with Amazon's "Build Your Own" tool that lets you choose the waistband style and length for just $44. Most of the Core 10 leggings have a limited color selection, but they're an overall great value and can stand up to higher-priced options on the market. They're also available in sizes XS-2X.

Product Embed:
Product Name: Core 10 Women's Compression Racerback Sports Bra
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d58bbe509c35b033999b&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Core 10 Women's 'Nearly Naked' Lightweight Non-Sheer Yoga High Waist 7/8 Crop Legging
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d6b7f348c339d3111652&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Core 10 Women's Yoga Fitted Racerback Tank
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d77a02495a65a338079e&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Goodthreads

Shop all Goodthreads styles

While Goodthreads started out with just menswear, the Amazon-owned brand has since expanded to include women's and feminine styles too. Similar to Daily Ritual and Amazon Essentials, you'll discover lots of everyday basics like sweaters and T-shirts in a multitude of color options.

But, unlike the other two, Goodthreads has a much larger selection of tailored button-downs (like crisp oxfords and festive plaids) and denim. Whether you're looking to expand your rotation of work-to-weekend shirts or you're in need of a new pair of jeans for less than $45, Goodthreads can help you update your closet for less. Most sizes range from XS-XXL and from 24-32 for pants.

Product Embed:
Product Name: Goodthreads Women's Washed Cotton Boyfriend Tunic
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d33e977c435d4a0e2891&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Goodthreads Women's Mid-Rise Skinny Jean
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d3dbacfefb3f8178bdc9&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%Product Embed:
Product Name: Goodthreads Women's Boucle Shaker Stitch Balloon-Sleeve Sweater
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fa2d490d67e125a3b2fdd9d&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

• Sustainability is becoming a big trend in the packaged goods and fashion industry as environmental concerns are increasingly top of mind for consumers.  
• The U.S. sustainability market is projected to reach $150 billion in sales by 2021, according to Nielsen. 
• We used clothing brand Reformation as a case study of sorts and spoke with experts in consumer behavior and the fashion industry to better understand the sustainability movement, why consumers love it, and how more brands can do their part. 

A good product is no longer enough to win a consumer's favor. Shoppers want more than just quality, often looking for products and brands that align with their personal values. 

It seems obvious. Why support a brand financially if we don't agree with their social and environmental values? In the face of climate change, those of us who care enough are ready to consider the consequences of our shopping habits.

The fashion industry is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to pollution. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 billion pounds of textiles end up in landfills each year. Realistically, most of us won't quit shopping cold-turkey. We may not even give up all fast-fashion. But, many people are willing to change their habits for the better. 

Dr. Matt Johnson, professor at Hult International Business School and founder of neuromarketing blog Pop Neuro, says, "There is accumulating evidence that consumers are impacted by the perceived sustainability of [a] brand, and further, that consumers are willing to pay a premium for products from a sustainable brand over a non-sustainable competitor brand." 

Value and ease of purchase are still the main drivers of purchase decisions, but sustainability is becoming a bigger factor. A 2019 survey led by Hotwire found that 47% of internet users worldwide had ditched products and services from a brand that violated their personal values. Protecting the environment topped that list. 

Traditionally, you'd find labels like "organic" and "sustainably-grown" in the grocery aisle, but the same verbiage is becoming popular in the fashion industry, too.

Sustainable fashion doesn't seem like a natural pairing — fashion's trend-driven ways press us to buy new pieces every season, while sustainability asks us to pare down — but more and more brands are bettering their business with eco-friendly practices. Reformation is one of the brands leading the charge.

Yael Aflalo, Reformation's founder and CEO, was in the fashion industry for years and "really started to dislike a lot of the harmful industry practices — overprinting lookbooks and tossing 80% of them, yards of leftover fabric getting thrown out," she says. "On a trip to China, I saw first-hand the devastating amount of pollution there from manufacturing, and I knew that I had to make a change and stop contributing to the fashion industry's waste."

The brand's flowy dresses, dressy tops, cozy sweaters, jeans, and more, are beloved by the "it-girl" set. But, they're also made sustainably — everything from the fabrics used to the manufacturing processes to the hangers used in-store are chosen with keeping a minimal carbon footprint in mind.

Reformation is proof that you can be sustainable without sacrificing style. "Without sacrifice" is the key. Aflalo wants shoppers to see how easy it is to live a more sustainable lifestyle. "The success of our sustainability initiatives is determined by how effortless they are to adopt," she says. "We start with small digestible solutions that people can incorporate into their daily lives to make an impact and highlight how those changes can affect the big picture." Buying clothing that you were going to buy anyway, but choosing the item that was made ethically and with less waste is sustainability made easy. There's no significant behavior change, but a simple choice that can ultimately make a big difference. 

Even if being sustainable isn't a personal priority, the idea of using a purchase to do good is attractive to many shoppers.

Purchasing expensive products that are environmentally-friendly in some way can help us compensate for the guilt we feel about our self-indulgent spending, Dr. Johnson explains. "A part of us feels guilty about the money we're spending on a new Prius, for example, but the fact that it's a product which has an environmentally friendly angle helps us feel better about the purchase."

For many shoppers, though, choosing a sustainable product is a personal priority, and they want people to know it. It's called Social Signaling, a theory that we buy certain things because of what they say about us to the people around us. People buy designer bags not only because they like the style, but because of the message they tell the world when they're holding one and the social status the product imbues.

The same goes for the environment. Dr. Johnson shares the example of a new Prius. "We may buy a Prius (at least in part) because it is a purchase reliably associated with environmental consciousness, and we want to signal that we're environmentally conscious," he says. And, it turns out that these social motivations are more important than practical features like gas mileage. In a 2007 survey, Prius owners proudly reported that the primary reasons for purchasing the car are because it "makes a statement about me" and that "it shows the world that its owner cares."

While we may be willing to pay more for something that is environmentally friendly, the ultimate goal should be for sustainability to be accessible.

Aflalo wants to break down the notion that sustainability is inherently more expensive. By definition, she says, it isn't — instead, it is "related to less waste and material use, which can actually lead to savings ... But there are some aspects of responsible manufacturing and better materials that may lead to marginally higher costs. So as we scale our business, we are committed to making our stuff even more accessible and passing on efficiencies and savings to our customers wherever possible."

A $28 Reformation tee may seem pricey when compared to a fast-fashion option, but the sustainable fashion movement asks us to consider environmental cost, not just the cost to our own wallet. 

There are plenty of brands capitalizing on the movement. Everlane has become a popular choice with its self-proclaimed "radical transparency" in everything from pricing to using innovative materials, like recycled water bottles. Naadam is redefining luxury with its affordable, sustainable cashmere that's better for the environment and its workers. 

It's not just startups that are getting in on the positive trend. Big-box retailers are adding more sustainable products to their aisles and committing to cleaning up their practices. The "Clean at Sephora" section of the beauty giant brings eco-friendly, clean beauty products to the masses. Target has a goal to use 100% sustainable, organic cotton in all products from Target-owned brands by 2022. Nordstrom recently launched a Sustainable Style category to help shoppers easily find responsibly-made products.

These efforts surely attract a more sustainably-minded demographic, and it's something worth showing off. Dr. Johnson thinks sustainable brands can certainly use marketing and branding to their advantage. Even though they are typically for-profit companies, he says, with a genuine sustainability foundation, non-profits are more likely to partner with these brands. In turn, this likely adds credibility to sustainability claims. 

For Reformation, sustainability plays a significant role in branding.

"Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We're #2."

The brand's kitschy slogan is an homage to their sustainable practices, but that's just the start of it. "In recent years," Aflalo says, "we've taken a more formalized approach to transparency through initiatives like RefScale, factory tours, and sustainability reports, educating consumers about the environmental impact of fashion." On the brand's website, you can find plenty of information about its sustainable practices, including a quarterly Sustainability Report that delves deep into the brand's overall environmental footprint. 

As someone who has started a fashion brand of their own, Aflalo understands it's not always easy to completely switch up production in favor of more sustainable approaches, which is why she suggests starting small. "To start," she says, "[brands] can focus on sustainable materials — so they can source an organic or better material, and just plug that into their same business model ... This one is a bit harder, but look into operations and business impact to offer better transparency around manufacturing processes (which is often the dirtiest part of the industry) and hold your business accountable to start making changes. The big and small changes will add up," she says. "If we want to have transformational change, we all need to participate."

The same goes for us, the shoppers. We may not all be ready to be minimalists and pare our wardrobes down. We may not be able to give up eating meat, driving to work, or wearing cashmere, but we can tweak these habits to make them better for the planet. Carpooling, meatless Mondays, or shopping with an eye for sustainable materials are small changes we can make for the better.

Shop sustainable fashion at Reformation.

Check out Dr. Johnson's blog about consumer psychology.

Read more about some of our favorite sustainable brands:

• I grew up in El Salvador, where I was given freedom at a young age.
• Now that I'm raising my kids in the US, I want them to have independence, too.
• I let my 8-year-old walk to school alone, and I taught her to cook at 7.

Growing up in El Salvador, my parents taught me to be independent from an early age. When I was about 6 years old, I would go pick up small items at la tiendita (the corner store) or grab some tortillas down the road from my house by myself.

A couple of years later, I started walking to my elementary school by myself, about 1 kilometer (a little over half a mile) away. Then, my parents started a tiendita business in front of the house, and I began helping them with sales when I was 10 years old and knew basic math.

Naturally, I want my kids to be independent too, but what that looks like is a little different than what I experienced growing up. I moved to the US as a young adult, got married, and am raising my two children, ages 8 and 1, here.

While many kids here don't have the same freedom I did in El Salvador, my wife and I are trying to do things differently. Here are some ways we're letting our oldest explore her world on her own.

We let her walk to school by herself when she turned 8

My daughter's school is within walking distance. We have been walking her to school for the past few years. When she was about to turn 8, she said, "I want to walk to school by myself."

That day, my heart sank; I wasn't ready for it, but she was.

We began practicing having her be the leader, walking to school, stopping and looking both ways at the stop sign, and telling us it was safe to cross. For her 8th birthday, we let her walk to school alone for the first time. It was a proud moment for me, and it gave me peace of mind that we could see her cross the only street she had to cross by herself.

A minute later, the crossing guard texted my wife, letting her know that our daughter had made it to the school grounds OK, and that, moving forward, she would send a thumbs-up emoji every time our kid crossed the street with her. That gave me extra peace of mind.

We had her start taking the dog out by herself when she was 7

When our oldest daughter was 3 years old, she began asking for a dog.

Eventually, she got her wish, and while she's the family dog, we're having her increasingly take on more responsibility for her care.

When my daughter turned 7, she started taking our dog out in our front yard by herself. She is still getting used to picking up the dog's poop, but for the most part, she does a good job of taking her dog out independently.

She's also in charge of feeding her and playing with her. We still have to give her daily reminders, but she does the work herself.

She started running a lemonade stand when she was 4 and a half

In El Salvador, I learned about money and hard work early in life, so I want my daughter to learn that as well.

When my daughter was 4 and a half years old, my wife and I helped her set up her first lemonade stand. We went to the grocery store to buy the lemons, and then at home, I taught her how to make homemade lemonade. She helped wash the lemons, squeeze them, add the sugar, and stir the lemonade.

When we set up the lemonade stand, I sat with my daughter and taught her how to serve her customers. The first lemonade stand was a success; even though she was selling the lemonade for only $1 a cup, she made over $60, mostly from tips. People are very generous and really encourage entrepreneurship in our town. Now it's become an annual tradition. This summer, I think she'll be ready to be out there by herself.

I started teaching her how to cook by herself when she was 7

I want my daughter to know how to make full meals when she's older and become a good cook like me.

Last summer, when she was 7, I started teaching her how to make pupusas (a Salvadoran dish), omelets, pasta, and pancakes.

As a matter of fact, on the morning I wrote this essay, she made pancakes for our whole family from scratch under my supervision. She collected the ingredients, mixed them together, and cooked them in a frying pan. She did incredibly well, but still needs a little more practice flipping them.

Looking ahead

As my daughter grows older, I will continue to help her become more independent and have our youngest follow in her footsteps.

I also hope to follow my parents' example by teaching them both to drive in their early teenage years, to be hardworking people, and to know how to live and take care of themselves by the time they're both adults.

• Star quants Yiming Zhang and Darko Kirovski are leaving systematic trading powerhouse Jump Trading.
• The influential researchers worked in the HFT's vaunted Jump Core Strategies group.
• Jump Trading had a record quarter in the first quarter of 2026, amid market turbulence.

Two top researchers at Jump Trading Group are leaving the quantitative trading firm.

Yiming Zhang and Darko Kirovski, who joined the proprietary trading firm in 2009 and 2011, respectively, resigned this week, the company confirmed.

Both were influential researchers in one of the largest and most profitable units at the firm, Jump Core Strategies, known for its prowess in high-frequency trading.

"Yiming and Darko were instrumental in Jump's growth over the last 17 years, and we'll be forever grateful for that," Jump cofounder Paul Gurinas said in a statement to Business Insider. "They will be friends of the firm forever."

It could not immediately be confirmed where Zhang and Kirovski are headed next. Zhang declined to comment, while Kirovski did not respond to a request to comment.

In a bio tied to a 2023 public speaking appearance at his alma mater, UCLA, Kirovski said that "he has had as much fun as any human in research has ever had at Jump Trading's jcs group, one of the biggest market makers on the planet."

"Interestingly, for more than a decade the group has been running probably the largest machine learning operation in the world unbeknownst to most," the bio continues.

Chicago-based Jump is among a cadre of privately held, highly secretive high-speed trading firms that dominate many of the world's largest financial markets. Similar to peers including Jane Street, Citadel Securities, and Hudson River Trading, Jump has grown substantially since the pandemic in 2020, when many of the market makers capitalized on the unprecedented volatility to print record profits.

The market volatility that pushed big banks to record trading revenues in the first quarter of 2026 has similarly benefited systematic market makers. Jump had its best quarter on record, one person familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

Founded in 1999, Jump now has more than 2,000 employees — up from 1,100 in 2022 — spread across eight countries and 13 offices, according to its website, and trades across most asset classes. Like its peers, it has also diversified beyond high-speed market making — high-volume trading at fractions of a second that add up to billions in annual profits — into strategies that involve holding securities for longer periods.

So-called mid-frequency trading, which has traditionally been the domain of quant hedge funds such as D.E. Shaw and Two Sigma, can play out over minutes, hours, or even days and relies on predictive signals derived from statistical research.

Many of the best quant trading firms have relied on machine learning techniques to develop trading strategies for years, long before the agentic AI craze ushered in by OpenAI, Anthropic, and other artificial intelligence labs.

• Around 100,000 university students travel to the US each summer under the J-1 Visa program.
• Small and seasonal businesses rely on these workers to supplement their workforce.
• However, shifting international dynamics and scrutiny of the US immigration process could affect applicants.

Small and seasonal US businesses rely on about 100,000 international students to boost their staff each summer.

This year, though, demand threatens to outweigh supply.

"We're seeing the same number of businesses participate. However, the requested number of supplemental participants might be slightly less," Kasey Simon, president of United Work & Travel, told Business Insider. "Five to 10% less overall."

The company is a designated sponsor of BridgeUSA's Summer Work Travel program. In the spirit of cultural exchange, the program invites full-time university students from across the globe to work temporarily in the US. To do so, they must obtain a J-1 visa.

These student workers are a key part of America's workforce, appearing at popular tourist destinations like Ocean City, Cape Cod, the Texas coast, and the Florida Panhandle around peak season.

"Smaller seasonal businesses typically rely on the international workforce to supplement their domestic workforce and give them added support during the shoulder seasons," Simon said. "The first few weeks of the season, American workers are still in school, and by the end of the season, they've left the resort town."

The student workers cover a wide range of hospitality and tourism roles, including lifeguards, bartenders, theme park attendants, retail staffers, and restaurant servers.

However, Simon said uncertainty surrounding the visa process and shifting geopolitical relationships could rattle would-be participants, leaving some businesses in a lurch.

Now hiring?

President Donald Trump has maintained a hard line on immigration during his time in office, enacting full or limited visa suspensions for numerous countries. The administration has also enhanced the vetting and screening process for visas, including online presence reviews.

Although J-1 is a non-immigrant visa, Simon said delays in the vetting process could disrupt the pipeline. Hold-ups at a US embassy could mean student workers arrive later than scheduled, forcing businesses to operate at limited capacity. Business owners often oversee students' lodging as well, so rent on an empty room accumulates.

Noise surrounding the US's immigration policies could also dissuade some participants.

"There are also certain countries, depending on their relationship with the United States, that may not open appointments or be willing or able to issue as many visas as they once had," Simon said. "For example, Russia used to be very popular on this program. It's not as popular as it used to be. Pre- COVID, China was extremely popular, and now it's just gaining back its popularity."

Other events, like hurricanes or natural weather events, play a role, too.

"Whatever happens in the world can impact who's participating," he added.

Additionally, Simon said many of the student workers depend on the money they earn during the summer.

"If our economy is not as strong or powerful as it once was, it may impact an individual's willingness to participate," Simon said.

For small businesses, the fallout can be costly.

"If it's a hotel, they may not be able to service all of their rooms on a daily basis or may not be able to open their restaurant, which would be reduced revenue," Simon said. "The impact is direct."

Cultural exchange

Despite all the variables, Simon said US business owners have come to expect uncertainty.

"They're prepared for things like that, and the employers who are properly educated in the program embrace it," Simon said. "They make it work."

For many businesses, the cultural exchange is just as significant as securing employees.

"We're at a point now where we have children of past participants coming on our program. It is so valuable. Not just for the seasonal businesses, but for the United States as a whole," Simon said.

Simon said he's optimistic that the program will continue to flourish, even with everything happening in the world.

"There are a significant amount of challenges, but year after year, the program has proven its value," Simon said.

• Greg Abel has replaced the legendary Warren Buffett as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO.
• Tim Cook, who took Apple's reins from Steve Jobs, has shown how to successfully follow an icon.
• Cook forged his own path, playing to his strengths while protecting what Jobs built.

Greg Abel has taken on the Herculean task of succeeding Warren Buffett as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO.

If he's looking for guidance, there's one person in particular who's followed in the footsteps of a business icon and taken their company to even greater heights.

"I don't think anyone can appreciate what Greg Abel is going through right now better than Tim Cook," Kevin Carpenter, the author of "The Berkshire Beat" newsletter, told Business Insider.

Two legends, two companies

Grasping the full weight of expectation on Abel and Cook requires understanding the legacies they inherited.

Buffett spent six decades transforming Berkshire from a failing textile mill into a $1 trillion conglomerate that owns scores of businesses including Geico, Dairy Queen, and BNSF Railway, and holds huge stakes in public companies such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express.

The late Steve Jobs, who cofounded Apple 50 years ago, pioneered a personal-computing revolution, built an iconic brand, and changed the fabric of society with inventions such as the iPhone.

Both men became synonymous with their companies, and transcended the business world to become pop-culture icons with hordes of passionate followers.

Perceived as singular geniuses in their fields — Buffett in investing and Jobs in consumer technology and marketing — they achieved such extraordinary success that they seemed irreplaceable.

Yet nothing lasts forever. Buffett, 95, handed Berkshire's reins to Abel at the start of this year, while Cook took over from Jobs shortly before his death in October 2011.

With Cook at the helm, Apple has roughly quadrupled its net sales and net income to $416 billion and $112 billion respectively last financial year, catapulting its market capitalization from around $350 billion to $4 trillion.

Cook and Abel didn't respond to requests for comment.

Guard the culture

Cook has fiercely protected the fundamental values that Jobs built Apple around.

He recently told "CBS Sunday Morning" that those principles include collaboration, focus, "insanely great" execution, obsession with the user experience, and creating "magic" for customers by owning the intersection of hardware, software, and services.

In similar fashion, Abel pledged to steward Berkshire's "foundational values" in his first letter to shareholders in February: its decentralized model, integrity, financial strength, capital discipline, risk management, and operational excellence.

Cook may be in charge but he still sees Apple as Jobs' baby. "His DNA is deep in this company," the executive said. "We revere him."

He added that Jobs' "greatest invention wasn't a product — it was Apple itself."

Abel paid similar homage in his letter, writing that Buffett and his late business partner, Charlie Munger, "combined world-class capital allocation" with "vision and leadership" to create Berkshire, and he was "committed to strengthening the great legacy" the pair built.

Forge your own path

Cook hasn't been afraid to diverge from Jobs.

He revealed to "CBS Sunday Morning" what Jobs told him after informing him that would be Apple's next CEO: "His advice to me was: 'Never ask what I would do. Just do the right thing.'"

Jobs explained to Cook that he didn't want Apple to suffer the same "paralysis" as Disney did after its founder died with management "sitting around and talking about what Walt would do."

"I'll never forget that," Cook said. "It was such a gift for me because he took off of my shoulder this question of 'What would Steve do?'"

"I just put my head down and thought, 'I'm going to be the best version of myself,'" he added.

Cook's greatest challenge was reshaping Apple to operate without Jobs, Tripp Mickle, the author of "After Steve," a book about the decade at Apple after Jobs' death, told Business Insider.

"Steve Jobs had made every major decision, especially on product development and marketing," Mickle said. Cook changed that so "decisions were made collectively" by Apple's executive team, and products such as the Apple Watch were developed by "a group of leaders," Mickle said.

Cook has also focused more on operations and financials than Jobs did. He's expanded into China, harnessing the nation's manufacturing nous to massively ramp up iPhone production, and supercharging sales and profits by selling to a mushrooming middle class.

John Longo, the author of "Buffett's Tips," told Business Insider that Abel is likely to emulate Cook in charting his own course.

"Abel will want Buffett's spirit to always be with Berkshire, but he will not run the firm by asking, 'What would Warren do?" Longo said.

"Rather, he will stay in his own circle of competence and make decisions he believes are best for the firm over the long term," the finance professor and fund manager said.

Longo added that Abel's background as an operator could see Berkshire buy fewer individual stocks and make more acquisitions instead.

He also predicted Abel will break from Buffett by introducing a modest dividend, funded by Berkshire's vast cash reserves — a record $373 billion on December 31 — and robust cash generation. He noted that Cook reinstated Apple's dividend within a year of becoming CEO.

Harness your strengths

Cook has brought a different set of skills to Apple.

He's "leaned on his sales and production expertise to make the iPhone ubiquitous," and wrangled its chipmaking team to build a better processor that "breathed new life into its Mac business," Mickle said.

"Cook's process has been method over magic," he continued. "Where Jobs became regarded as a great innovator, who introduced products that upended industries, Cook became known for steering Apple's business success, as it became the world's largest company for a decade."

The flip side is that Cook's Apple has "shed some of its reputation for innovation," Mickle said, pointing to its scrapped plans to build a self-driving car, its lackluster HomePod, and its Vision Pro headset flop.

"Successors to iconic leaders often succeed not by imitation but by bringing different strengths," Larry Cunningham, the author of several books about Berkshire and the director of the University of Delaware's Weinberg Center, told Business Insider.

"Cook knew he was not Jobs and didn't care to be," he added.

Carpenter said that Cook's incredible success at Apple is "in large part because he embraced his own strengths rather than trying to be a poor imitation of Steve Jobs."

Buffett, who made a fortune for Berkshire by investing in Apple, has repeatedly praised Cook for building Apple into a global behemoth by scaling manufacturing and distribution and establishing a global supply chain.

The Berkshire chairman recently told CNBC that Cook "couldn't have done what Steve Jobs did," but Jobs "would not have done as well" with the version of Apple that he handed to Cook.

"I imagine Buffett would say the same" about Abel, Carpenter said.

"Abel's operations acumen is just what Berkshire needs in the future as wholly-owned subsidiaries continue to become a bigger and bigger part of the business," he added.

Chris Ballard, the managing director of Check Capital Management, told Business Insider that Berkshire shareholders can expect Abel to add value in different ways to Buffett.

Abel "isn't going to be the 'Oracle of Omaha' who gives long philosophical lectures at the annual meeting; he should be the guy who knows exactly why BNSF's profit margins are lagging and how to fix them," Ballard said.

Paul Lountzis, a longtime Berkshire shareholder and the president of Lountzis Asset Management, told Business Insider that Abel can prove himself a worthy successor to Buffett by doing what he does best — just like Cook has in the post-Jobs era.

"Greg needs to be Greg and not try to be Warren," Lountzis said, as that will empower him to "utilize his own unique strengths to continue to build Berkshire."

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Better looks, better odds

If you're not intentional about your appearance, you might be overlooking real currency in the workplace.

Whether you care or not, your appearance is shaping real outcomes in the workplace. That includes how you're perceived, how ambitious you seem, access to promotional opportunities, and even higher compensation.

It's why Business Insider created Hot at Work, a new series that explores how appearance and beauty standards shape opportunity, pay, and confidence at work.

We've explored modern beauty standards and how some professionals feel pressured, often self-imposed, to spend $12,000 to present a youthful appearance to fit in with their industry. Or how executives are getting plastic surgery to look less irritable and more approachable on the job.

Our reporters have also explored the downsides of maximizing your appearance at work. For example, one writer spoke to professionals who refrain from wearing designer clothes at work because it can send the wrong message about money management.

Experts are also doling out advice if you're still facing the "do I or don't I" wear jeans to the office conundrum.

You could write off thinking about your appearance as superficial, but others are gaining by using it as a strategy.

• Iran's military says it has resumed control of the Strait of Hormuz.
• It says the action is in response to the US blockade of Iran's ports.
• Opening the strait was a central demand for a two-week ceasefire that took effect on April 8.

Iran's military on Saturday accused the United States of acts of "piracy" and "sea robbery" in its blockade of its ports — and that in response it is resuming control of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Control over the Strait of Hormuz has been returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under strict management and control by the Armed Forces," a spokesman said.

In a statement to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, the spokesman insisted that until the US ended restrictions on the free movement of vessels to and from Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz "will remain tightly controlled and unchanged from its previous status."

Iran announced on Friday morning that the strait was open for maritime traffic, and mid-afternoon data showed that commercial vessels were passing through the strategic waterway, though only a small number.

President Donald Trump greeted the news in a Truth Social post, writing that "Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for passage."

The market reaction to the announcement saw stocks climb higher and oil fall.

Hours later, a large group of vessels sailed toward the strait but inexplicably turned away, ship-tracking data shows, raising questions about the status of this critical chokepoint.

Opening the strait has been a central demand since the start of a fragile ceasefire earlier this month and amid the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The strategic Strait of Hormuz is a narrow chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and a major artery for global shipments of oil and natural gas.

• Banks are pouring billions into AI, reshaping jobs, culture, and power on Wall Street.
• Leaders, some of whom are tracking AI use, have been pressed on how the spending is paying off.
• Here's everything we know about how banks from JPMorgan to Wells Fargo are using AI.

Wall Street is betting big on, and pouring billions into, AI — and leaders have had to answer for their spending.

During banks' first-quarter earnings last week, analysts pressed some executives on how those giant investments are paying off, whether in productivity gains or head count changes. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan had to explain why his company is an AI beneficiary, rather than a victim; Citi executives were asked about their "philosophy" on hiring and resourcing during "this new AI regime."

And with Anthropic's Mythos model stoking cybersecurity fears, CEOs faced heightened scrutiny on safety, too. April's earnings calls came just one week after many Wall Street CEOs attended an impromptu meeting at the Treasury to discuss the powerful new AI model.

The pressure to demonstrate returns on AI isn't new. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, for example, defended his bank's spending on a January earnings call, saying he is trying to keep the company from falling behind. The bank has an annual technology budget of almost $20 billion.

By comparison, Bank of America spent around $13 billion on tech in 2025. Speaking at a conference in February, Moynihan said that the bank plans to spend 10% more on technology development in 2026.

As banks rapidly weave generative AI into everything from trading floors to back offices, the technology is reshaping not just workflows, but workplace culture. It's changing what it means to be a software engineer, how junior bankers stand out, and even the roles inside the C-suite. The shift, it seems, is only just beginning.

Here's what we know about how Wall Street banks are embracing AI.

JPMorgan Chase

The nation's biggest bank is putting a lot of effort toward making sure it's an early mover in AI.

The firm is keeping close tabs on how its tens of thousands of engineers are using AI, Business Insider reported. One dashboard tracks how much developers use GitHub Copilot and classifies them into "light," "heavy," or "non" users. The bank has also updated objectives for its engineers, who are now expected to "drive excellence" by adopting AI, according to posts on the company intranet.

In February, JPMorgan reorganized its commercial and investment bank to "maximize the impact of AI," according to an internal memo reviewed by Business Insider. Each major business in the division now reports to Guy Halamish, the newly named chief operating officer of the CIB. The move is part of an effort to speed up AI adoption.

JPMorgan Chase's asset management unit made its own big move in 2026, announcing plans to discontinue a long-held practice of using external proxy advisors for shareholder voting in the US. In place of external human advisors, the firm is launching an in-house AI platform, called Proxy IQ, to support shareholder decisions.

JPMorgan has rolled out its proprietary genAI platform to more than 200,000 employees — seeking to reengineer workflows for everyone from coders to portfolio managers. CEO Dimon is himself a "tremendous" user of the bank's generative AI suite.

The firm is investing in a skilled AI workforce, and executives have offered an inside look at how it's training employees to use its tools.

• JPMorgan's analytics boss lifts the lid on how America's biggest bank is schooling 300,000 workers on AI
• Here's what its execs revealed about how AI is reshaping the bank at its 2025 investor day.

Dimon has previously said he's out to win the AI arms race, and he thinks JPMorgan's $2 billion AI investment has already matched its cost in savings.

Wells Fargo

Business Insider spoke to Saul Van Beurden, the bank's Head of AI, about how AI is fueling the bank's post-asset cap growth.

The firm uses a "hub and spoke" model for its AI architecture, with Van Beurden's small team as the central hub and each business line's generative AI lead as a spoke. AI agents, he said, are becoming central to some of the highest-impact use cases.

When Business Insider spoke to Van Beurden in March, the bank wasn't mandating that its employees use AI.

Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf has previously said that generative AI tools have already made the bank's engineers up to 35% more productive.

Wells Fargo also tapped Amazon Web Services executive Faraz Shafiq to lead AI products and solutions, the latest in a string of high-profile tech poachings on Wall Street.

Bank of America

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has said AI is already embedded across the firm, from consumer banking to institutional clients.

Clients have interacted with Bank of America's virtual assistant, Erica, more than 3.2 billion times since the tool launched in 2018, the bank said in March. As of last year, more than 90% of employees used Erica for Employees.

Moynihan shed light on some of the models that use AI at the bank when speaking at the February conference. There is, he said, a model that puts out a daily markets report, and others that help draft pitch books. In March, the firm rolled out a tool to help financial advisors prepare for client meetings.

Citigroup

Citigroup has taken a bottom-up approach to embedding AI throughout the business, with 4,000 employees trained as something of AI stewards.

The firm's AI tools are now available to 182,000 employees in 84 countries, and CEO Jane Fraser said on a fourth-quarter earnings call in January that adoption of the proprietary tools is above 70%. Fraser said during third-quarter earnings that generative AI tools have saved 100,000 developer hours a week with automated code reviews — "a very meaningful productivity uplift."

The bank launched the pilot of agentic AI for 5,000 colleagues in September.

"It allows complex, multi-step tasks to be completed with a single prompt, and the early results are very promising, and we'll expand access to this in the months ahead," said Fraser. "Finally, we have launched a firm-wide effort to systematically embed AI in our processes end-to-end."

She also highlighted several tools to help its wealth management advisors. Citi hired an AI leader from Morgan Stanley last year to help revamp its wealth technology. The bank is using AI to speed up the client onboarding process and retire outdated software, Tim Ryan, the head of technology, told Reuters.

In June 2025, the bank doubled down on its AI ambitions, appointing new leadership to helm its tech transformation.

Goldman Sachs

Goldman put $6 billion behind its technology spend this year, but David Solomon, the bank's CEO, said he wished it were more.

He said he would like to be at least $8 billion, but "I can't afford it because I've got to deliver returns," he said at a conference in early October.

A definitive statement about how AI will affect Goldman came from a memo to employees in October announcing the third iteration of the cross-bank initiative, OneGS. The memo said the plan would leverage AI to drive efficiency at the firm, slow hiring, and result in a "limited reduction" of roles.

Goldman, like its peers, has been rolling out tools, including an internal AI assistant, to all employees this summer. The bank has been working with Anthropic to develop AI agents that can automate a number of internal functions, Marco Argenti, the chief information officer, told CNBC in February. The project focused on accounting for trades and transactions and on client onboarding, he said.

Yet employees have been using AI long before the effort with Anthropic, as some have told Business Insider.

• 7 Goldman Sachs insiders explain how the bank's new AI sidekick is helping them crush it at work
• Goldman is assembling a growing arsenal of AI tools. Here's everything we know about 5.

Goldman's top partners and Solomon are eager to see AI rev up their businesses. From realizing internal productivity gains to capturing more business as clients look to raise money for anticipated AI development and acquisitions, here's what the top echelon is expecting.

• Goldman's tech boss discusses the future of AI on Wall Street — and how it will reshape careers
• David Solomon says AI means Goldman needs 'more high-value people'

Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley's CFO, Sharon Yeshaya, lifted the curtain on some of the firm's progress on AI during an earnings call last year.

She highlighted DevGen.AI, a tool that, from January to June, had saved developers more than 280,000 hours, or 11,666 days, they would have previously dedicated to deciphering outdated code, Business Insider previously reported.

Parable, an interactive tool that analyzes and summarizes data, and LeadIQ, an AI-powered lead distribution platform that matches users of its workplace and self-directed platforms to the bank's financial advisors, were also spotlighted in the call.

A survey of Morgan Stanley's interns also gave a peek into just how popular and useful AI has been for the industry's youngest cohort. ChatGPT is their favorite tool by far, with 72% of Morgan Stanley's interns saying they use it daily or several times a week. The bank was early to have a partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.

Morgan Stanley also spoke with Business Insider about bringing employees' AI ideas to life. Here's a look at that process.

• Morgan Stanley has 30 AI projects in the pipeline. Here's how the bank sources employees' ideas for inspiration.

• Ukraine's counter-drone tech has surging interest amid Iran attacks, but exports are limited.
• A Ukrainian interceptor drone maker said it wants its tech proven beyond Ukraine.
• It worries that if it doesn't get involved soon, "someone will take our place."

The Iran war could be a big opportunity for Ukraine's battle-proven counter-drone tech, but one company says it worries it will miss its window without export access.

The US and its allies in the Middle East are now facing drone threats that Ukraine has fought for years, driving demand for low-cost interceptor drones. Many are built by Ukrainian firms, but exports of battlefield tech remain tightly controlled.

Stanislav Hryshyn, the co-founder of Ukrainian company General Cherry, which makes drones and interceptor drones used by Ukraine's forces, said deploying his company's interceptors abroad would give it the chance to prove that its interceptors work in conflicts other than Russia's war against Ukraine.

Hryshyn said the company has seen a surge in interest and inquiries since the Iran war began and Tehran started firing Shahed drones and missiles at US allies. Other firms report similar demand, especially in the Middle East and Europe. But Ukraine's export rules prevent many defense tech sales abroad.

He said his desire to help isn't only about the business that could come with selling his gear for use in the war. It's also about gaining "this new level of expertise and experience" that Ukrainian companies have not had before.

"For us to receive this new experience, expertise, new layer of using our product, that's critical," he said. "Money is very secondary to this."

It's one thing to prove effective against Russia. It's another to prove it in a different war — and directly support US allies.

But without fast access to those markets, he warned, Ukraine's industry could lose its edge. "This window of change is closing right now," he said. "Someone will take our place."

A host of companies outside of Ukraine are also making interceptor drones. Hryshyn fears delays will let foreign firms scale faster, pushing partners toward non-Ukrainian suppliers with ready stock.

Interceptors are in demand

The war with Iran is showing that interceptor drones are "now very critical, not just for Ukraine, but also for other countries as well," Hryshyn said. Iran and Russia's actions mean "the Pandora's box is open" to new and widespread drone threats.

Ukraine has already been helping in the Middle East. Zelenskyy said last week Ukrainian personnel had shot down drones in multiple countries in the region, without specifying exactly where or what systems were used. He said more than 200 Ukrainian military experts are advising regional partners.

Zelesnkyy also said that Ukraine could supply partners with more than 1,000 interceptor drones a day if backed by sufficient investment to scale production.

But direct sales are another matter. Without them, companies risk losing their technological lead as rivals copy and scale similar systems.

Hryshyn said he understands the restrictions — "we are at war," he said. But he argued exports could strengthen Ukraine's position.

Much of Ukraine's defense industry says exports would actually boost domestic production. Without them, companies are limited to producing only what Ukraine can afford on a constrained defense budget. Foreign sales would bring in revenue to expand output — including for Ukraine's own military.

One Ukrainian defense industry leader told Business Insider that interceptor exports could ultimately mean more interceptors for Ukraine's military. Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry, said the sector can produce 2.5 times more interceptors than Ukraine can currently buy and far more with added funding. "What we can get from our allies in terms of export is like extra money into our industry," he said.

He added that joint production with allied countries — already growing — could benefit both partners and Ukraine's war effort.

Hryshyn said some agreements may emerge, even if not public. Fedirko said companies are preparing for potential policy changes allowing exports.

Ukraine's counter-drone tech is drawing interest because it's battle-tested and fills a major gap in modern air defense.

Many of Ukraine's partners, including the US, have highly capable air defense systems, but the tremendous expenditure of expensive interceptors is not sustainable against low-cost drones.

An Iranian Shahed drone costs around $50,000, but each PAC-3 interceptor missile for the US-made Patriot air defense system costs around $3.7 million. A Ukrainian interceptor drone, which typically costs $6,000 or less, is a more appealing and effective option.

Ukraine's results have reinforced that case. In March, officials said they were stopping about 90% of incoming Russian drones and missiles using a mix of interceptors, air defenses, and mobile units.

• High gas prices due to the war in Iran are hitting many ride-hailing drivers' bottom lines.
• One driver for Uber and Lyft said he's rethinking which trips he takes because of gas prices.
• Long trips to remote places look less attractive, Bill Lewis said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bill Lewis, a ride-hailing driver who lives in Pennsylvania. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I live in the Poconos. I used to commute to New York City from here. I was a trader on stock exchanges for 25 years.

I started as a clerk and worked my way up. When the algorithms took over the floor, they laid us off. Now, I'm dealing with algorithms again as a driver.

I drive for Uber and Lyft absolutely full time — seven days a week, about 75 hours a week. People from out of town need rides, especially on weekends during the summer, but for the most part, I'm taking the same people to work each day.

I take between 22 and 28 rides a day. Sometimes, I do long rides to the Allentown airport, but for the most part, I'm within 25 miles of my house every day.

Gas is always a huge expense for me. I drive a Prius, but I still fill up six to seven times a week. Before the war in Iran started, a fill-up cost me about $22. Today, it cost me $31 for the same exact tank.

I've changed my driving habits to try to save money.

Some of my rides take me far out of town to remote places where I might not get a ride back toward home. Now, those trips aren't worth it, because it's going to cost me more in gas to get back into town and claim another ride.

I've also started taking back roads when I can. The highway might be four or five minutes quicker, but in my area, taking smaller roads is often more direct and saves miles. If I can save on gas, that adds up after a while.

I hope the ride-hailing apps add a gas surcharge to help drivers cover higher costs. That's what they did four years ago when gas prices went up after Russia invaded Ukraine — they charged passengers an extra $0.45 to $0.55 cents per ride. There's not a customer I know who wouldn't understand if the companies did that again.

Some weeks, I'd probably make an extra $80 if the apps offered that again. So far, Uber and Lyft have offered cashback on gas through partner apps, or if you use their debit cards, which I don't have.

I'm getting by with my hybrid, though, which gets around 50 miles per gallon. If you're driving a regular car that gets 25 to 30 miles per gallon, I don't see how this kind of work is profitable.

Do you have a story to share about Uber, DoorDash, or another gig app? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

"I have always seen myself as a very ordinary person with no real athletic ability," said Linda Kelly.

Still, at 80, she has completed multiple half-marathons and routinely hikes, bikes, and runs around her part-time home in Anchorage, Alaska.

Kelly is as fit as someone decades earlier, with the lab results to prove it. Her son, cardiologist Dr. Jake Kelly, put Kelly to the test on a treadmill and found she had an exceptionally high VO₂ max, the gold standard of cardio fitness.

The metric measures your body's ability to use oxygen during exercise, and research links higher levels to a longer life.

Kelly told Business Insider she's never followed any extreme exercise plan or strict longevity routine. Instead, it's the result of tiny yet consistent movements that accumulated over her lifetime.

Some people think staying fit into old age requires intense training, but research suggests consistency matters more. And Kelly is living proof of how powerful it can be to invest in simple, sustainable habits: walking every day, running when you can, and making time for yourself.

"It's what every ordinary person can do, and who knew it would turn out to have such great benefits," Kelly said.

Exercise over the years

From a young age, Kelly said she loved every opportunity to exercise, from high school gym class and volleyball practice to long runs or bike rides.

As she got older, life got busy as she started a career and a family. Still, Kelly found ways to move every day, logging "probably a million miles" by just walking with her twin baby boys in a stroller, or pedaling on a DIY stationary bike. Her husband helped her build it by mounting a bike frame and some cinder blocks.

She also got plenty of steps in at work as a teacher, preferring to interact with students rather than stay behind a desk.

"I never liked sitting still," she said. "My goal was [to] achieve one interaction of eyeball-to-eyeball with every kid … every day."

Kelly retired in 2013. She had lived in several states — Texas, Colorado, and Louisiana — before moving to Anchorage, where her son, Jake, lives.

Throughout her life, her philosophy has been to embrace the joy of movement for its own sake.

"You don't have to be talented to move. That's the beauty of it. You don't have to have the grace of a ballerina to feel the joy of moving," Kelly said. "That's sustained me all my life."

Why VO₂ max matters

VO₂ max has become an incredibly hot topic (and a point of pride) as growing research suggests it's a key predictor of a longer, healthier life.

While Kelly may not have set out to be a star athlete, her stats would be the envy of gym bros and longevity nerds alike. Her son Jake measured Kelly's health data with a Garmin fitness watch, a portable VO₂ max analyzer, and a treadmill test.

She scored 30.7 ml/kg/min, a strong result for someone in their 50s. For her age group, it's elite.

A higher VO₂ max number indicates better fitness, trainers previously told Business Insider. And a good VO₂ max for a woman in her 50s is 24.6 ml/kg/min, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For a woman in her 40s, around 27.7 is considered good.

Kelly's score was higher than both benchmarks and off the charts for her age group. Research suggests that VO₂ max tends to decline steadily over time, often dipping well below 30 ml/kg/min in women by age 80.

Still, Jake said he sees a high VO₂ max as a reflection of a simpler longevity metric: how durable a person is over time. Kelly is a textbook example of how to set yourself up for longevity because she wasn't chasing a specific fitness metric, but instead focusing on her overall ability to keep moving, her son said.

"Later in life, if you have the capacity to walk faster, to go upstairs, to lift your suitcase, then you have physiologic reserves," he said. "That means your heart, lungs, liver, muscles, mitochondria are all working and you have capacity to do things."

Jake, 45 years old and an endurance athlete himself, wasn't surprised by the results. He always knew his mom was exceptional. "She's the one who taught me," he said.

A daily movement routine

Kelly hasn't slowed down at 80.

These days, she splits her time between Alaska, where she moved to be closer to Jake, and a farming town in rural Texas. There, she takes care of her own housework, yard work, and enjoys running and biking on the country roads.

She and her husband travel extensively, preferring to live like locals when possible by renting apartments in the places they visit rather than staying in resorts.

No matter where she is in the world, Kelly said exercise is still a key part of her day. She starts her mornings with a dynamic yoga-inspired routine, alternating between poses and counter-poses. It takes 20 to 30 minutes, can be done with limited space and equipment, and leaves her feeling spry.

"I don't do well in a yoga class holding a pose for three minutes going 'ommmm' because it's too slow for me," she said, adding that by the time she finishes her specialized routine, "I don't have much pain or stiffness."

She takes daily walks with her 13-year-old giant schnauzer. "He has the heart of a much younger dog. Exercise works for your dog, too," Kelly said.

Along with the exercise, she keeps a busy social life thanks to fitness groups and her community. Spending time with friends is linked to longer life, and can also help people stay more active, research suggests.

In Anchorage, Kelly is part of a hiking group led by an 89-year-old marathon runner, with the youngest member being 55. In the winter, she stays active with water aerobics at the local fitness center three to four times a week.

Kelly isn't a fan of the treadmill and doesn't think working out should feel like a chore. "You don't have to get up at 4 in the morning to run on the treadmill for an hour and a half. Go outside and walk for 10 minutes," she said.

The takeaway

As a cardiologist, Jake said we can all learn from his mom's longevity-boosting routine, incorporating habits accessible to almost anyone, even if you have a busy schedule or can't make it to the gym.

First, start walking. Getting your steps in every day is the foundation of a healthy heart.

From there, add a little intensity, aiming for Zone 2 effort, a comfortably hard pace. Try walking on an incline or picking up the pace, so you're sweating but not so out of breath that you can't hold a conversation.

As you build fitness, increase the intensity for short bursts that challenge you. Then, incorporate strength training. Even small amounts of resistance exercise can support healthy muscles and bones, promoting longevity.

Finally, stay consistent, Jake said. Exercise only works if you keep it up for the long term, and small, daily movements add up to big benefits.

"What I learned from my mom is that fitness stacks over time. She had many years where she didn't go to the gym or anything, but she walked her dog," he said. "If you do that for 80 years…you're going to do great."

• No matter what trends come and go, monograms remain an integral part of men's fashion.
• They were initially used to differentiate clothes at the dry cleaners. Now they're status symbols.
• Monograms are most effective when used on custom-tailored clothing.

Charlie Tran always knows what items are his. He labels everything with his initials.

In recent years, the 28-year-old tech consultant from Texas purchased monogrammed button-down shirts, a Yeti cup etched with his name, an intialed stationery set, and more.

"Everyone's trying to find themselves, especially in this day and age, by using social media and copying influencers," Tran said. "But that's not what I want anymore. I want something of my own."

So he's been personalizing his belongings.

Monograms aren't flashy by any means — you might miss them if you're not looking hard enough — but they've become an effective status symbol for men. They show up as small initials embroidered on dress shirts or handkerchiefs, etched onto whisky glasses, or printed on wallets. Though subtle, they signal that you've put thought — and money — into how you present yourself.

"Monograms let you know that the wearer has achieved a certain level of success; they can afford to [customize something] from a time and a financial perspective," Brian Lipstein, the founder of the tailoring and image consulting business Henry A. Davidsen, told Business Insider.

And in the modern era of copy-and-paste fashion, more men are looking for ways to stand out without being loud about it. For many, monograms are the answer to signaling taste and status while keeping things understated.

From coins to clothes

Monograms were intended to be practical — a marker of who owned the garment.

Lipstein, who also serves as president of the Custom Tailors and Designers Association, said they can be traced back to 300 BC, when they first appeared on ancient Greek coins. Artists and royal families later used monograms to mark special pieces, and they also came into use for clothing during the Middle Ages.

"The larger purpose of monograms was for identification," Lipstein said. "It's a personalization, identification, and marking of property that essentially says, 'This is mine.'"

They remained useful for centuries, especially for distinguishing common clothing items at dry cleaners, he added. Shirts, specifically, were typically embroidered with monograms across the waist so that the initials remained hidden but could easily be found by the owner.

Monograms are still useful as identification markers, but their purpose has expanded in recent decades. Most commonly, luxury brands use them to create flashy, coveted prints. The bigger the monogram, the more obvious it is that you're wearing a designer piece.

Think Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci. You could recognize their monograms anywhere.

As a result, consumers now use personal monograms similarly: as status symbols. They're exclusive, intentional, and cost extra.

"If somebody wears a monogram on their shirt, the assumption is that the person had it custom-made for them," Lipstein said. "Most people buying off the rack aren't thinking to that level of detail. They're not going to make the time or effort to find someone to do the embroidery, take it there, and pay to get it done."

Unlike designer monograms, though, personal initials are typically quieter. Shoppers want their monograms to be more visible, but not flashy.

When designing shirts, Lipstein advises clients to choose the waistband or the left cuff as the placement for their monograms.

"We choose the left cuff over the right because it's customary to shake hands with our right, regardless of whether you're right-handed or left-handed," he said. "So if you're shaking hands with your right and the monogram's there on the cuff, it could be perceived as throwing it in somebody's face. The left is a little more subtle."

It's also become popular for men to request embroidery of their full signatures. Lipstein said it's one of the most personal monograms you can have, and also a conversation starter.

A truly one-of-a-kind luxury

When asked how he feels seeing his initials on his belongings, Tran paused.

"I'm trying to think of a really profound answer, but really, I just like to see my name," he said. "It reminds me of my family, my heritage, and where I come from."

Even if other people don't see his initials, he knows they're there. They transform each item from basic to meaningful.

"It's a form of luxury to have something that's your own," he said.

And it's not only the initials themselves that can make an item or garment feel more personal. It's the entire design process.

Lipstein said Henry A. Davidsen offers about 50 monogram styles and 60 thread colors for custom pieces. Clients can also choose unique placements, such as on a pocket or a tail.

Those without a personal tailor can turn to any number of retailers for personalized goods.

Brands like Mark and Graham have made monograms their entire business, while companies like Tumi, L.L. Bean, Williams Sonoma, and even Apple offer monogram options at small fees.

Regardless of visibility, each monogram can be equally effective.

"When you know there's a monogram, it's in your subconscious that you're wearing something that was made for you," Lipstein said. "It's a reminder to you how special that piece is and how intentionally it was designed."

At formal events and in professional settings, that can be beneficial. Research suggests that what you wear can shape your confidence and overall work performance.

Entering the world of monograms

So where do you start? The answer is anywhere, though accessories are a good place to begin.

Tran said his first monogrammed piece was an embroidered L.L. Bean tote bag. "I've always seen them around, and I thought it would be a cool thing to have and slap my name on it," he said.

Once you're ready to move on to clothes, the process becomes a bit more detailed. You could, of course, bring a shirt you already own to a tailor and have it monogrammed. However, Lipstein said that defeats the purpose.

"It wouldn't be truly yours, in the sense that you didn't get to design it and have it made perfectly for you," he said. "I don't think it would add a lot of that subconscious confidence."

Instead, he recommends meeting with an image consultant to determine which garments you need and which styles work best for you. From there, consultants can typically introduce you to a tailor who can monogram.

"It's not just one element [that makes an outfit]," Lipstein said. "It's gotta be a 360-degree approach."

• Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" on Friday.
• Stocks jumped amid hopes of an economic resurgence after weeks of gloomy forecasting.
• Markets pros laid out the areas of the market they're bullish on with maritime trade flowing again.

The stock market was in party mode on Friday after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz was open again.

The development came as a massive relief to investors who had been fretting that a prolonged obstruction of energy flows could keep oil prices elevated and stoke a new bout of inflation.

Now, things are looking up for the economy again, and Wall Street pros think that a lower risk of inflation clears the way for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.

"With the Strait of Hormuz now reopening, there's renewed optimism that broader economic momentum can re‑emerge," said Charles Rinehart, chief investment officer at Johnson Investment Counsel.

But besides the broader stock market, where are the best places to put your money to benefit from an economic resurgence if the reopening of the Strait holds? We asked a few Wall Street pros for their highest-conviction calls. Here are the three are

Small-caps

Mike Reynolds, Glenmede's VP of investment strategy, said small-caps are primed to jump for a few reasons.

One is that smaller stocks are cyclical, meaning they tend to move with economic growth trends.

Another is that the Fed is more likely to slash rates now, and smaller firms are more sensitive to borrowing costs.

Third, they should benefit from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by being able to deduct research and development costs from their tax liability more immediately.

"We think all signs point toward small caps having a really banner year in 2026," he said.

Funds that offer exposure to this trade include the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB), the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR), and the Dimensional US Small Cap ETF (DFAS).

Emerging markets

When the Strait of Hormuz closed in March, emerging market stocks were among the hardest hit by the conflict, particularly stocks in Asia. That's because their economies are heavily reliant on oil coming out of the Middle East.

With the Strait reopened, Asian EM stocks should be primed to pop, according to Stephen Parker, JPMorgan Private Bank's co-head of Global Investment Strategy.

He told Business Insider that Asian EM stocks tied to the AI trade still have strong fundamentals, and have been thrown out with the bathwater during the recent sell-off.

"The fundamental story in Asia, specifically tied to the tech sector, the supply chain related to AI hardware story in places like Korea, Taiwan, and China creates a really interesting opportunity, particularly when you think about valuations which still look heavily discounted compared to the US," Parker said.

Some funds that offer exposure to this trade include iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Asia ETF (EEMA) and the Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE).

The Magnificent Seven

Lance Roberts, the chief strategist at RIA Advisors, which oversees around $2 billion, said that it's a perfect time to buy the Magnificent Seven stocks—Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, and Tesla.

Valuations for the group of mega-cap tech titans, which investors have tended to pay a premium for, have fallen in recent weeks to levels on par with the rest of the market — the cheapest they've been since 2015.

"I think the Mag Seven are back, because they have the most earnings growth and they had a big reduction in valuation," Roberts said.

Funds that offer exposure to the Magnificent Seven stocks include the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS) and the Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK).

• Chris Whalen thinks hot inflation will weigh on the US economy for years after the Iran war ends.
• The veteran analyst says supply disruptions in the Middle East will take a long time to normalize.
• He said he expected inflation to rise to the high single-digits, about double its current rate.

Investors see the Iran war as all but over, but a market vet warns the effects will be felt a lot longer than Wall Street might realize.

Chris Whalen, an investment banker, longtime analyst, and the chairman of Whalen Global Advisors, thinks the inflation shock from the Iran war had already been baked into market and economic forecasts.

Yet, even though markets got a boost after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz was open to ships on Friday, it will likely take a long time for oil markets to normalize, and Americans could be dealing with the inflationary impacts for years to come, he told Business Insider this week.

"This is a very delicate ecosystem that we have messed with," he said of the oil markets. "I would double whatever inflation estimates people had before the war."

The 1-year expected inflation rate was 2.5% in February, according to data from the Cleveland Fed.

Whalen said the inflation rate rising into the high single digits was plausible, implying the rate would nearly double from current levels. Consumer prices accelerated to a 3.3% yearly pace in March.

"Opening the Strait is great. The inflation impact will be with us for months or years," he told BI in an email after Iran announced the Strait was "completely open" on Friday.

Inflation has been the chief worry on Wall Street lately. The idea is that higher oil prices from the war could feed inflation across other parts of the economy, since oil is a key input for goods ranging from fuel to plastic to industrial components.

Markets breathed a sigh of relief when Iran announced the reopening of the Strait, but supply kinks that have been created since the start of the conflict will likely take a long time to smooth out, Whalen said.

He pointed traffic around the Strait of Hormuz, which had been significantly disrupted in the past month. The shipping routes that were upended and the supply chain chaos could take months or even years to normalize, Whalen said.

The same issue applies to energy infrastructure, which takes years and significant money to rebuild. One report from Rystad Energy estimates it could cost as much as $58 billion to restore infrastructure in the Middle East damaged by the war.

The US will likely try to "adjust" for the loss of supply in the Middle East by ramping up its own production, but that will also take years to set up the proper infrastructure, Whalen added.

"All of these little systems moving energy, moving refined products, have been disrupted. You've also disrupted the supply infrastructure in the Gulf," Whalen said. "You're talking about months or years, depending on how much damage."

"Is that the end of the world? No, but it's going to continue to put horrible pressure on consumers," he added of the inflationary impact.

Whalen said he believes that the economy could eventually tip into full-blown stagflation — a situation where prices spiral while the economy slows — by 2028. The scenario, which slammed the US economy in the 1970s, is often regarded as the worst-case for markets, and is thought by policymakers to be even more difficult to resolve than a typical recession, as high inflation prevents the Fed from cutting rates.

• Jet fuel prices have surged since the Iran war started, prompting airlines to raise ticket prices.
• Travel gurus say booking flights with points or miles is best when cash prices are high.
• For those who haven't yet accrued points, signing up for a credit card can help.

If you've built up a stash of airline points or miles, now is the time to use them for your next vacation.

Global jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the Iran war began, rising to almost $200 per barrel.

Fuel is airlines' second-highest cost after labor, and many carriers are trying to offset price hikes by increasing fuel surcharges, bag fees, and ticket fares.

As the cost of vacation rises, travel experts say cashing in on rewards instead of paying out of pocket for a flight could now be a smarter move.

"The Points Guy always recommends booking with any points and miles you have stashed away, especially when cash prices are high," Clint Henderson, managing editor of The Points Guy, told Business Insider.

Henderson has been doing exactly that, using his own points and miles to get ahead of potential fare increases and added fuel charges. He said he has already booked trips through spring next year to destinations such as Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.

Travelers usually accrue miles and points by flying on a specific airline and being part of their membership program, or by having a specific credit card that accrues points for everyday spending. Some are general travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve; others are co-branded with the airline, like Delta's American Express Gold Card.

"With most points and miles programs, at least in the US, you can cancel and get your points back," he said, "so I don't have to worry in case these trips don't pan out."

That safety net is particularly important as travel becomes unusually volatile. Recent US government funding lapses strained air traffic control and airport security staffing for weeks, triggering widespread airport delays and flight cancellations. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has also squeezed capacity in key connecting hubs.

For travelers who haven't built up a balance of points, Henderson said it might be worth opening a new credit card that offers a large sign-up bonus to help cover the cost of an upcoming trip. Capital One, Chase, and American Express all currently offer sign-up bonuses ranging from 75,000 points to over 100,000 points when you hit a certain spend threshold.

TJ Dunn, a Canada-based loyalty programs expert and founder of All Points West Travel Consulting, said signing up for a co-branded credit card can also come with another useful perk: a free checked bag. Some of these cards have a $0 annual fee.

In a bid to offset skyrocketing jet fuel costs, the US's biggest airlines — American, Alaska, Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, and United — have already hiked checked bag fees.

"A single trip can often justify the card's annual fee on checked baggage fee savings alone," Dunn said.

For those already on a loyalty program, Dunn said there's little point to holding onto rewards for too long: "The magic of compound interest just doesn't exist in loyalty programs, and your points are only going to lose value over time rather than appreciate."

To get the most out of points, Dunn said, it's best to be flexible with dates and destinations. "Leaving a day earlier or later, or flying into or out of a different city, could be the difference between paying 50,000 points or 100,000 points for your trip," he said.

NerdWallet travel analyst Sara Rathner told Business Insider that the timing of the fuel hikes comes during an already busy travel season, as we emerge from spring break and head into summer.

She said that traditionally, the best way to use points has been for pricey, long-haul international trips, but now that domestic travel costs are rising, this is also a worthwhile use of points.

"Point values can vary," Rathner said. "You're better off saving cash by using your points and miles now instead of saving them for something in the future, because cash is cash; you could always use it for something else."

• Dr. Julie Chen, an integrative medicine physician, has a few longevity habits to reduce her risk of disease.
• She said it's preferable to prevent instead of treat disease.
• Chen strength-trains, prioritizes sleep, and practices intermittent fasting.

Dr. Julie Chen, an integrative medicine physician, is a big fan of preventive habits.

"If someone's at the precipice of disease, it's much easier to recover them than it is for them to fall off the cliff and try to get them back," whether they're at risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes, she told Business Insider.

"For people to stay really healthy and optimize their longevity and functionality, it's about staying ahead of that curve," Chen, an advisor for the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the chief medical officer of the precision medicine company Radence, added.

Over the past decade, her work and research has inspired her to pick up multiple longevity habits, from prioritizing her sleep to adding more strength training to her routine.

She prioritizes sleep — and tested for sleep apnea

Out of all her longevity habits, Chen said sleep is the one of the most important, as lack of sleep is linked to a higher risk of health issues like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

She aims to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, as recommended by doctors.

Chen also got tested for sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops during sleep and leads to drops in oxygen levels, even though she doesn't really snore and isn't overweight — two common risk factors. While the process involved first an at-home test and then a study at a clinic, she appreciated having peace of mind. Doctors are divided over whether it is beneficial for people to get tests when they don't have any concerning symptoms or risk factors.

"Knowing how important sleep is for brain and cardiovascular health, I did get that done," she said. "I'm also a big fan of not guessing at your health."

Her workouts mix cardio and compound strength exercises

Chen aims to work out six mornings a week for at least 30 minutes, ideally 45, opting for a mix of strength training and cardio.

She starts on a Peloton bike or treadmill for about 20 minutes, then for the rest of the time does ab, leg, and arm work, focusing on compound exercises that target several body parts at once. She loves combining a squat with an overhead press or holding planks to activate her arms and core muscles.

When she was younger, she did more cardio and would regularly go on six to seven-mile runs. As she's gotten older, she's incorporated more strength training to build up her muscle mass, which naturally depletes with age.

She sees exercise is one of her most important habits. "Exercise is a huge factor for cardiovascular health, brain health, metabolic health, almost everything," she said.

She rotates her meals and takes supplements to get enough nutrients

Dietitians typically recommend getting nutrients from whole foods, and Chen makes sure to rotate her meals to get as many different ones as possible.

She usually includes a protein base, like roast chicken, grilled salmon, or shrimp, and vegetables like mixed greens, spaghetti squash, pea sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Eating a wide variety of whole foods has a range of health benefits, including boosting gut health by diversifying the gut microbiome.

"Without the foundation of the right kind of diet, it's very hard for the body to build or for it to heal," Chen said.

When it comes to vegetables, Chen prioritizes eating the rainbow given their high fiber content and anti-inflammatory benefits.

"Sometimes, people will just eat spinach and that's the only salad they eat," she said.

Chen also gets regular blood work to check her vitamin levels, and takes supplements, like B vitamins and vitamin D, to fill any gaps. She said that because of modern mass food production practices, foods might be selected for their shelf life and appearance over their nutritional density. Supplements can help when intake or absorption is limited.

"If there are any days where I don't get to control my diet as much, I look at what else I need to do, she said, such as taking protein supplements.

Intermittent fasting and green tea help her energy levels

On most days, Chen practices intermittent fasting, a form of time-restricted eating. While intermittent fasting schedules can vary, Chen doesn't eat between 9 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Research suggests that intermittent fasting has some benefits, like helping to control blood sugar levels. Because it can result in calorie restriction, some people find it helpful for fat loss, but the results can be mixed.

Chen said "everyone is different" and recommended working with a clinician to figure out if intermittent fasting is right for you. It isn't recommended for those who have struggled with disordered eating, for example.

In her case, she has found it "very helpful" in helping her body feel less inflamed. Some research suggests fasting can reduce certain markers of inflammation.

While she fasts, she has as much green tea and water as she wants. Green tea is associated with multiple health benefits, such as good brain and cardiovascular health and possibly helping lower cholesterol.

"Again, not cooking cutter — there are definitely things that people need to watch out for," Chen said. If you have a history of heart rhythm issues, she suggested talking to a doctor before introducing more caffeine into your diet.

In her case, she likes getting a steady stream of caffeine and antioxidants throughout the day.

• New York officials have proposed a pied-à-terre tax on non-primary homes worth over $5 million.
• Mayor Zohran Mamdani namechecked billionaire Ken Griffin when he announced the levy.
• Griffin would be one of many big-name billionaires affected, from Donald Trump to Jeff Bezos.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced a new pied-à-terre tax in a video on Wednesday, standing in front of a limestone tower on Central Park South and calling out one of its residents, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, by name.

Griffin is far from the only billionaire who would shoulder such a tax, which Mamdani and New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed earlier this week.

The levy on non-primary homes worth more than $5 million would apply to those who live abroad, in other states, and elsewhere in New York state, as well as to investment properties, and would be in addition to current property taxes.

The state has not said publicly how it would determine a residence's value, whether a home is a primary residence, or how much homeowners would pay. City Hall did not respond to questions about those details. While market value determines the assessed value for one to three-family homes in New York City, condos and co-ops — the vast majority of New York apartments — are assessed by a more complex formula.

The tax, part of Hochul's state budget proposal, would generate an estimated $500 million a year, according to Hochul's and Mamdani's offices.

In the announcement, Mamdani's office mentioned Griffin, who spent $238 million on a Midtown penthouse in 2019, and Russian auto dealer Alexander Varshavsky, who bought a Columbus Circle apartment for $20.5 million in cash.

"This pied-à-terre tax is specifically designed for the richest of the rich," Mamdani said in the video.

Within 24 hours, big-name billionaires and businesspeople attacked the proposal, with critics arguing it could drive investment out of the city.

"Mamdani likes the tag line 'Tax the rich.' Unfortunately, his policies will harm the constituencies he is supposedly trying to help," Bill Ackman wrote on X.

The new tax would apply to 13,000 properties, Hochul's office estimated, and several of the individuals behind those apartments could be hard to identify, having purchased their homes through trusts or LLCs.

Here are eight prominent figures from finance, entertainment, and real estate who would likely be affected by the proposed policy. Their representatives declined or did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jeff Bezos

In 2023, Bezos very publicly decamped to Miami, purchasing several properties on the private island of Indian Creek and leaving at least some of his Seattle homes behind.

He's held onto his New York real estate empire. From 2019 to 2021, he purchased five apartments inside 212 Fifth Avenue, a condo building in Manhattan's Nomad, spending more than $100 million. He had previously purchased four apartments at 25 Central Park West with his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott Bezos, though it's unclear who retained ownership of them in the divorce.

Bezos, the world's third-richest person with a net worth of $269 billion according to Bloomberg, also owns homes in Beverly Hills, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Western Texas, and Hawaii.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé

Jay-Z and Beyoncé, famously from Brooklyn and Houston, respectively, have called California — where they own a Bel-Air mansion and a record-breaking Malibu estate — home for about a decade.

The pair, worth a combined $3.8 billion, according to Forbes, kept their Tribeca loft, where they married in 2008. The apartment has no doubt ballooned in value since Jay-Z purchased it for $6.85 million more than two decades ago.

Steve Cohen

While hedge fund titan Cohen primarily lives on an estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, known as 30 Crown, he also owns another mansion 40 miles south. His 30,000-square-foot home in the West Village, which took years to construct, sits on multiple lots that Cohen purchased for more than $60 million in total in 2012.

Worth $17.4 billion, according to Bloomberg, Cohen has built a portfolio that includes an estate in East Hampton and a home in Delray Beach, Florida.

Michael Dell

Dell, the Texas-based founder of Dell Technologies, broke city records when he purchased a $100 million penthouse in 2014.

His 11,000-square-foot apartment was the first New York City residence to surpass $100 million and is located in the luxury tower One57 on Billionaires' Row, a stretch of Midtown Manhattan known for investment properties. Dell is worth $170 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Ken Griffin

Namechecked in Mamdani's announcement, Griffin owns multiple apartments in New York City. He's better known as a Chicagoan than a New Yorker and made headlines for ditching the Midwestern city for Miami in 2022.

In New York, his $238 million purchase on Central Park South set a nationwide record in 2019. Last year, he dropped another $45 million on a nearby Park Avenue co-op, and he's since doubled down, spending $38 million on the adjoining duplex, The Wall Street Journal reported the same day the pied-a-terre tax was announced.

Griffin, who is worth $48.3 billion according to Bloomberg, also owns homes in London, the Hamptons, Miami, and Palm Beach.

Stephen Ross

An advocate for moving to Florida, real estate mogul Ross made Palm Beach, where he lives in an oceanfront estate known as The Reef, his permanent residence during the pandemic.

While Ross, who is worth $16.5 billion, according to Bloomberg, has since sold many of his New York properties, he still owns at least one apartment in the city: the penthouse in 35 Hudson Yards, which his firm, Related Companies, developed.

Howard Schultz

The former Starbucks chief left Seattle for Miami earlier this year, buying a $44 million penthouse on the water.

Brooklyn-born Schultz, who Forbes estimates is worth $3.5 billion, held onto the $40 million West Village penthouse he purchased in 2017. The apartment, with a wraparound terrace and four bedrooms, is in a top-tier building that boasts a garden, pool, and golf simulator.

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump, who is worth $6.4 billion, according to Forbes, was one of several business titans who criticized the policy, posting on Truth Social that Mamdani is "DESTROYING New York."

Trump, who lives in D.C. and votes in Florida, still owns property in his hometown of New York. Most famously, he has a triplex in the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. The apartment, the subject of yearslong investigation by Letitia James, measures about 11,000 square feet.

• Some members of Dubai's expat community who left temporarily during the Iran war are returning.
• Amid the ceasefire, UAE schools are reopening, and in-person work is ramping up.
• `A private education and relocation expert said some residents are putting contingency measures in place.

The cautious return to Dubai is underway.

It's been over a week since a ceasefire was agreed between the US and Iran. The school gates are reopening, workers are gradually returning to face-to-face meetings, and expats who left temporarily are coming back.

Sandy Zanella, a doctor and mindfulness coach, moved to Dubai from the US over five years ago. Two weeks after the war broke out, Zanella and her family went to her husband's native Italy.

After speaking with friends in Dubai and hearing that life is going on as normal, she has decided to return with her two kids on Saturday. Zanella said she feels "privileged to have this kind of opportunity" to temporarily leave, but would return even if there were no ceasefire.

"The uncertainty of things is kind of heavy, but what can we do?" Zanella said, referring to her life being in Dubai right now.

Safe haven status

Over the past few decades, Dubai has marketed itself as a safe haven for expats, offering zero income tax, high salaries, and a luxury lifestyle.

The city has been home to millions of expats from across the world across the past few decades; they make up around 90% of Dubai's population, per UAE government data.

But its safe-haven status flipped overnight when the Iran war broke out at the end of February.

Iran struck the UAE with drones and missiles as part of a wider retaliation against the US and its allies in the region, causing casualties and damage to buildings and infastructure. Residents, who were initially advised to stay indoors and work from home, reported loud booms from missile interceptions and distant explosions.

Tens of thousands of travelers were stranded in the UAE after the airspace around the region was closed as the war kicked off. Hotels began slashing prices and promoting staycations to offset a drop in tourism. Schools switched to distance learning, and spring break was moved forward. Some expat families, like Zanella's, took advantage of this to temporarily leave Dubai.

Many packed up and left altogether. Citing official estimates, the Financial Times reported earlier this month that 30,000 British residents left the UAE since the start of the war, though it is too early to say how many have permanently left.

Not all residents of Dubai were able to leave. For migrant workers, many of whom work in manual labor and as drivers for wealthy expats, the regional conflict has made life more difficult. Jason Nemerovski, a researcher at Equidem, a human rights and labor rights organization, said many have reported salary cuts.

"I think that is the key thing to understand when you are making a comparison between someone from "Western countries" and a Pakistani delivery rider — this was a decision made out of desperation, not desire," Nemerovski told Business Insider, about migrant workers' decision to move to Dubai.

Nemerovski told Business Insider that a delivery rider he spoke to on Thursday said he plans to leave if he can find an opportunity elsewhere, but says people would rather stay despite the risks due to a lack of work opportunities in their home country.

And with the ceasefire holding for now, some expats are deciding to return to their lives in Dubai, albeit with some caution.

A new kind of normal

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority, which oversees private education in Dubai, announced on Wednesday that schools and higher education institutions will resume in-person teaching from Monday. School bus services also resume that day.

The UAE government advised private-sector employees to work remotely for the days following the outbreak of the war. While some residents returned to the office in the early days of the conflict, more appear to be shifting to in-person work.

Charli Wright, owner and CEO of Dubai-based marketing agency JWI, told Business Insider that after a few weeks of working from home, her team has been back in person.

Wright said clients are pushing for in-person meetings, and she has continued hiring and interviewing candidates.

Chantelle Thompson moved to Dubai from the UK at the end of January with her husband and three children. Despite the Iran war, her family chose to stay in Dubai, and she said leaving the city was never a consideration.

While she faced issues in obtaining the birth certificates required for her visa to the UAE due to postal delays, she said, aside from that, things are "running as normal." The family is now completing their relocation and arranging for their dogs to come to Dubai.

"Until we really knew what's going on, I didn't feel comfortable bringing them out here," Thompson said of her pets. "Now we've assessed the situation, we feel more comfortable getting them over."

Antonio Masih, a director at Pawsome Friends, which offers a pet relocation service in Dubai, said that while March was a "very stressful time" with over 70 to 80 inquiries a day for pet relocation out of the UAE, things have calmed down considerably since the ceasefire.

"I think there's a bit of normality now in Dubai. It's definitely calmed down a lot now," Masih told Business Insider.

"I think if you give it probably about another two weeks, I think everything will be back to normal," he added.

Send My Bag, which offers luggage delivery and relocation services, told Business Insider that there was a 543% increase in shipment orders coming out of the UAE since March 1.

Adam Ewart, the CEO, said that while they are processing small shipments out of the UAE — a behavior that suggests a more temporary move — they have started to see some larger orders leaving the UAE.

Shipments to the UAE were down 50% in the first week of the war and flat the second week. Ewart said they are picking up again, but this is partly because of family at home sending presents and care packages to relatives in the UAE.

"It makes sense that at a time like this, family in another country would be increasing this activity to show their thinking of their loved ones living in the region," said Ewart.

The wait-and-see approach

While some expat families are moving back, Hilesh Chavda, a partner at London-based law firm Spencer West, told Business Insider that he has not had any new inquiries about relocating to the Middle East, despite it being a popular destination for UK-based families.

And for those who have remained in Dubai, caution nonetheless remains. Sandy Zanella, who plans to return this weekend, said she's excited to get back to her life in Dubai. However, the uncertainty of the ceasefire means she does not yet feel confident about having her children at school full-time.

"It's the part that I can't control," she said. "I trust the teachers and everything, but it's too many hours where you can get alarms, alerts."

Angus Gibson, founder and director of Treberys Private, a private education and relocation consultancy which advises HNW families, told Business Insider that there has been a shift from reactive decision-making toward contingency planning.

"Families are increasingly looking at how to preserve stability for children, whether that means staying put with the right support around them, or putting a temporary alternative in place until the picture in Dubai becomes clearer," Gibson added.

Thompson, who stayed in Dubai during the Iran war, said her children are currently being tutored at home until they start school in Dubai in August.

"We've just realised that it's become our new normal," she said of life there.

"Obviously there are a lot of people have chosen to leave," she added. But, "there is a massive sense of community here."

• Drivers can't change high gas prices, but they can adjust their usage.
• People can work from home, carpool, and combine their trips.
• AAA's David Bennett also suggests vehicle maintenance, including checking your tires.

Joshua Garcia saw the gas price writing on the wall.

Garcia, a 40-year-old in Texas, works in logistics. He's acutely aware of how much fuel costs, since he drives around 96 miles round-trip to his office daily.

In mid-December, Garcia got an EV. He said his charging costs are around $79 a month, compared to the $750 — virtually another car payment — he anticipated spending on gas in the event of the kind of unrest we're seeing in the Middle East, though he did shell out for an at-home charger. Right now, he thinks he's at a break-even point; within five or so years, should prices remain elevated, he thinks he'll save thousands annually.

Gas prices, on average, accelerated throughout March and recently began to cool, but remain elevated as the Iran war keeps oil markets on edge. The price of regular gas was $4.076 as of Friday, up from $3.790 a month ago.

Iran said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open" to maritime traffic, which could bring the Persian Gulf region's massive oil production back to global markets. However, it will still likely take some time for prices at the pump to fall back to normal.

Changing gas prices are reshaping American drivers' everyday lives, whether through cutting back on trips or shaking up their budgets. Saving on gas can require taking the effort to check on your vehicle and being flexible with your schedule.

"Take care of your vehicle, and it'll take care of you," David Bennett, senior automotive manager at AAA, said. "Take your time when you're on the roads, plan accordingly, plan ahead."

Here are eight things you can do to cut back on gas spending.

Consider what grade of gas your vehicle actually needs

Bennett suggested considering the recommended versus the actual required octane rating. He said to check your owner's manual for this.

Manufacturers might say, "'Oh, we recommend 93 octane, but 87 is OK.' Well, if it's just recommending it, that's not required," Bennett said. "So at that case, then 87 or mid-grade 89 is perfectly acceptable, and the vehicle will run very efficiently and run fine versus you putting in the higher octane gas, which is costing you 20, 30 cents more a gallon."

Check on your vehicle

Drivers saving money on gas "really comes down to keeping their vehicle fuel efficient and running properly," Bennett said.

He added to check tire pressure; properly inflated tires help the vehicle move more easily. Most cars have a decal on the driver's side door showing the proper inflation amount.

He also said if you see any warning lights on the dashboard, go get that checked out.

"That yellow check engine light is indicating that there is a fault within one of the engine management systems," he gave as an example. "You could have a bad sensor or bad wire that's causing it not to run as efficiently as it should."

Change when you commute

Bennett suggested working from home if possible or commuting outside peak traffic hours. If you're stuck heading to the office in rush hour, you can turn off your vehicle if you are sitting motionless in traffic.

Bennett also suggested traveling outside peak hours if you are going on road trips this summer. "The busy times are going to be in probably late afternoon, rush hour, things like that," he said. "So do your driving either before or after, so that way you're not sitting in traffic idling."

David G., a 45-year-old consulting director in California, said he's opted to work from home to save on costs. He's also been using his e-bike to drop his kids off at school.

"If gas prices remain this high or continue to surge, then I will continue to avoid driving whenever possible," he said. "The problem is that high fuel prices have knock-on effects that will affect all aspects of modern American life, so I foresee forgoing future vacations, less purchases, and overall adopting more austerity measures."

Watch your speed

"Excessive speeding will decrease your gas mileage," Bennett said. "Your fuel economy essentially peaks around 50, 55 miles an hour on most cars. And then as you start to increase your speed, you could affect the gas mileage between 10 and 14%."

Plan out efficient routes

If you have a few errands to tackle or are planning a summer getaway, Bennett said to consider the most efficient way to drive.

"Is it a loop? Instead of crisscrossing the city, let's see if there's a more efficient route to do this on all five stops," Bennett said.

Combining multiple errands into a single trip and carpooling can help cut down on costs.

"Think through your day," Bennett said.

Take out items you don't need

Bennett suggested removing items that are adding weight and that you don't need in the vehicle.

"As you put more things, you're carrying around — sporting equipment or luggage that you've left in there, or you have a car carrier on top of the vehicle that you used last summer and you may use it in another month or two for your summer trip — take that off," he said. "That's all going to create drag and then decrease your gas mileage."

Take advantage of fuel rewards programs

Some savvy shoppers are leveraging new credit cards or points to ease the pain at the pump.

Austin Goodrich, a 41-year-old project manager in Michigan, has been banking points at Meijer, a local grocery chain; he can redeem 10,000 points for a dollar off a gallon of gas, which he uses to fill up his car and a five-gallon tank for his lawn equipment.

"I have thought about trying to have my wife or one of my kids that also has their own car come in behind me before I hang up the handle" to double up on points, Goodrich said. "I think my family would be too embarrassed to do that with me."

Goodrich keeps an eye on in-store promotions and has switched his prescriptions to Meijer to take advantage of the points ecosystem.

Travel to cheaper gas options

Where you fill up can also make a difference; while it might be burdensome, taking the time to locate a better pump might pay off.

"Instead of pulling into the nearest gas station solely out of convenience, use a gas-finding app to pinpoint the cheapest fuel options along your route, helping you to avoid populated or central areas where prices typically surge," said Lora Monfared, head of consumer card products at Bank of America.

• William Butterton started experimenting with side hustles after having his first kid.
• He was looking for relatively passive hustles that would leave him enough time to spend with family.
• ATM placement has proven to be the most passive, while selling sports cards can be lucrative but very hands-on.

William Butterton likes to tinker.

"I had invention journals when I was a little kid," he told Business Insider. "I always wanted to be an inventor."

Through his 20s and early 30s, those ideas mostly stayed on paper. He was comfortable in his day job and didn't feel much urgency to build something on the side — until he had his first daughter.

"That's when I started really thinking about how I could bring some extra money in, but without sacrificing that safety net that I had built at my job," he said. "As your family grows, the benefits and incentives that you have at a full-time job, especially a government one, become really important."

Butterton works as an electrical engineer for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport, Washington. His schedule gives him some room to experiment with side projects: He works 36 hours one week and 44 the next.

His most passive income stream: ATM placement

When Butterton discovered ATM placement on Instagram and TikTok, the side hustle seemed relatively low stakes.

"The more I looked into it, the more I was like, 'OK, there's really no risk in trying this, outside that original financial obligation of $2,500 to buy the ATM.'"

Butterton is wary of the term "passive income," but of all the businesses he's tried, he said that an "ATM is the closest thing that I have personally found," he said. "You're only there for 10 minutes to load it up, and then you're on your way."

He and his business partner started Viking Vendors in 2022. As of March 2026, they had five ATMs and three vending machines. They split about $1,500 in monthly profit, according to terminal activity summaries viewed by BI.

He said beginners are better off starting with ATMs than vending machines, which require more time and heavy lifting.

Right now, he and his partner each spend about an hour a week servicing their eight machines, but the more machines you own, the less passive the business becomes. He knows another operator with more than 100 ATMs who spends his days loading machines and struggles to take time off because the business demands constant attention.

Butterton estimates he could probably double his current fleet while keeping the business relatively passive. At the end of the day, though, "I love owning a business, but I'm not passionate about ATMs," he said. He sees the side hustle as a relatively low-stakes way to learn the ropes of running a business.

His most time-intensive side hustle: sports cards

Butterton started another side hustle after his second daughter was born. This time, the idea came from a hobby. He and a longtime friend were spending money opening sports cards and started wondering whether they could turn that interest into a business.

They noticed that some traditional local card shops were struggling, while online sellers using live-streaming platforms and social media were thriving. In 2024, they hosted their first stream on Whatnot, a platform where users buy and sell items in online video auctions. Setting up the stream is relatively cheap and easy — Butternton set up a camera in his garage — but actually making money required a lot of trial and error.

The early returns were rough: "That first stream, we got burned. You're just trying to figure out how to even use the website, and you end up losing money."

Still, they stuck with it, streaming once a week for hours on weekend nights. They called their business The Pack Daddies.

"For a couple of months there, we were sitting up there for about $5 an hour," he said. "We'd always joke that there's not a job in America that pays worse than this."

Their consistency eventually paid off. From July through December 2024, he said they sold about $20,000 worth of inventory. In the next 10 months, they expanded into other trading cards, including Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon, and sales topped $100,000. Their follower count on Whatnot also grew to about 7,500.

The card business has much more upside than the ATM business, he said, but it's also far less passive. Streams can last for hours, and they've also started setting up at local card shows to sell in person.

It's also riskier. While ATM purchases are occasional — they bought machines for $2,500 to $3,000 each — the card business can involve moving tens of thousands of dollars of inventory each month.

"If you're not keeping up with your sales, that is a recipe for disaster," he said.

Still, he finds the business more personally rewarding. He enjoys interacting with customers at trade shows, changing live-streaming formats in real time, and using skills from his engineering background, such as laser engraving customized bottle openers to incentivize first-time buyers.

His big flop: cutting boards

Not all of Butterton's ideas have worked. At one point, he tried making and selling cutting boards, but quickly realized he was in an oversaturated market and competing against woodworkers who were faster and more skilled.

"I'm not super great at woodworking, and there are a lot of people that are really good," he said. "It takes me longer, I can't sell my products for as much, and the return on investment was just not there."

That experience helped sharpen his business philosophy: Instead of competing in a crowded market, he'd rather sell tools to the people already in it.

"During a gold rush, you want to be the guy selling the shovel, not the guy digging for gold," he said. So rather than keep making cutting boards, he pivoted to a complementary product: a food-safe wood finish made with ingredients like hemp oil, white beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, and orange peel oil.

The economics were much better. He said he could make 50 cans in an hour for about $5 each and sell them for $15. He built a website for the company, One-Eyed Willy's, and started selling the product at trade shows and online, though the business never took off as much as his ATM or collectible card ventures did.

After trying several side hustles, Butterton is now thinking about consolidation: "If I remove one and put that much more time into the other, could I make even more?"

For now, he's still balancing his government job, family life, and a portfolio of side hustles — and learning which ventures are worth the effort.

• Christopher Santoso, a UX designer, has struggled to find a job since getting laid off last year.
• Despite job rejections and ghosting, Santoso remains determined and continues to upskill.
• Supportive friends have helped Santoso manage financial struggles during unemployment.

Christopher Santoso, 37, is a UX designer who lives in Chicago. He has been looking for a job since May 2025 after getting laid off. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

It's been a tough time. Last year, I had a job interview with a large company here in Chicago. I worked with a recruiter, followed their framework, and felt like I killed it. I told a story about how I did each project. I also had a close friend who knew one of the people interviewing me, so I thought the odds were in my favor. Not getting that job flipped my perception of things.

More recently, in one week, I had five interviews. It was during my birthday week. I was like, "The stars are in my favor." I was checking my zodiac apps. I thought, "Everything's going great. I'm going to kill it."

For a different job, I had several interviews. The third one was in-person. I felt like I was in good hands after that interview — even if it was going to be a "no," I was going to get a response. The last thing I heard was that I was still in consideration for the role.

A couple of weeks went by, and I still hadn't heard from the recruitment company that works with the employer. I reached out to the hiring manager and tagged the recruiter I was working with, but I didn't hear back, so I followed up again. I don't like doing that; it makes me uncomfortable. I thought, if I come off as annoying, just tell me and say "No."

Finally, I asked a friend who had a contact at the company to try to find out what was happening. My friend said that they were no longer hiring for that role. I'm just floored. This ghosting is insane.

Survival mode

I'm not going to lie, it's been tough. I have rent and bills to pay. I had to take out a loan to buy a computer, just to look for a job. I thought things would be OK by the beginning of this year.

When I get into survival mode like this, I tend to stay in my apartment. But going out and being around friends has also made me realize that I have a really supportive community of people who are willing to help me out.

I'm trying not to lean on my network. I'm very afraid to ask for help, to be honest, because I sometimes see it as a form of weakness. Society has modeled it that way.

This year has humbled me. One of my friends, on his final unemployment check, bought me groceries. He was really insistent on making sure that I was OK.

At the beginning of the year, my college friends that I'm really close with paid my January rent. I didn't ask for that. I do not want to ask that of them, but they did it because they care. My one friend who led that charge also paid my internet, phone, and electricity bills. I took food stamps at the beginning of March to keep me afloat.

I have determination

I'm two months behind on rent. I worry about when my landlord is going to serve me an eviction notice. I have so much stuff, partly because I've been involved in the music scene and have a lot of gear. I've been trying to sell some of my equipment, but people are pinching their pennies right now.

As far as hustling goes, I don't have a car, but I've looked at apps like Taskrabbit, being a shopper, and part-time jobs. You can't find those jobs either.

I've been trying to do what I can with what I can control. I've been taking my mind off things by upskilling with design programs like Figma.

I'm stubborn and have the will, grit, and determination to survive. I want to feel like I'm productive in society by leaving a legacy, whether it be big or small, and inspiring somebody the way I felt inspired when I started drawing, using Photoshop, or using the internet and coding on MySpace.

I want to center back around that joy. I experience some of that by cooking, and I recently redesigned my portfolio. The tools are a lot easier, and what would have taken me three months can now be done in a week, so I am somewhat hopeful.

Life is life. You can only control so much, but I will bounce back.

Do you have a story to share about your job search? Contact this reporter at tparadis@businessinsider.com.

• Biohacking is a rapidly growing trend that mixes technology and wellness to promote longevity.
• Silicon Valley is home to many of the newest biohacking technologies and remedies.
• I visited a wellness event in San Francisco to learn the biohacking tips tech founders swear by.

I first heard about biohacking on social media about a year ago, after coming across Bryan Johnson, a famous biohacker who spends $2 million a year to stay alive as long as possible. His Instagram bio ambitiously reads, "We may be the first generation who won't die."

It's fair to say I was intrigued.

Biohackers optimize their bodies and minds to live longer and better. So, when I walked into Shack15, a members-only social club in San Francisco, for a biohacking event, I expected to see a bunch of Bryan Johnson dopplegangers — people in matching smartwatches, obsessively tracking their bodies and chasing immortality. Instead, I found something much more typical.

Despite biohacking often being framed as a way to live longer, at this event, most people weren't chasing immortality. They just wanted to feel better now, whether they live long or not.

I attended the event to understand how Silicon Valley's wellness, work, and tech cultures collide, and to hopefully steal some tips ultra-productive founders use to feel their best. But while the technology was innovative, the biggest biohacks were much less extreme than I expected and cost nothing.

Tickets ranged from $79 to $229

One ticket cost $79 for general admission, though I was granted free access with a media pass. The most expensive tickets were $229.

The five-hour event, a partnership between wellness event brands BayDreaming and Biohack Miami, featured a full calendar across multiple rooms, including yoga, DJ sets, brunch, and speakers on longevity.

There was always something to be doing, but my interest was drawn to the main hub where wellness companies promoted their products or services, often offering free trials.

Call me a guinea pig, because if it's a free trial, I'll try anything.

I tried out B12 shots, audio tactile beds, and red light therapy

I signed my life away on a waiver before jumping right in with a B12 injection, which the doctor told me would give me an energy boost. I took the shot in my right arm, but throughout the day, I didn't notice any change.

Then, I tested out an audio-tactile bed that vibrates to music — and I swear it felt like my body was sinking into the ground in the most relaxing way.

A red-light vest was less convincing. It's supposed to reduce pain and inflammation wherever the light touches, but the vendor told me it likely wouldn't work well through my clothes. This ruined any hope of the placebo effect, since I had to keep our clothes on.

Some other treatments I didn't get an opportunity to try were hydrogen therapy and an IV drip.

Some treatments cost thousands of dollars

While testing the products was free, most companies were selling products or services that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The audio-tactile bed for relaxation starts at $2,600, and a wearable bra insert designed to track women's health data costs $200.

Maybe I'm just salty because these items are out of my budget, but the prices made me question, "Are the health benefits really worth the cost?"

There was a surprisingly diverse population

I expected a room full of wealthy founders in luxury gear. When I scanned the space for expensive sneakers or watches, I only found myself burning holes into people's generic-brand workout clothes with my gaze. I looked down at my Target leggings and beat-up running shoes with a sigh of relief.

Surprisingly, I even noticed age and body diversity among the people there.

I naively expected anyone who'd adorn the title "biohacker" to be a young person harrowingly obsessed with physical appearance, with little to no room for diversity, but I was happily wrong.

People were skeptical of the technology

When I talked to some of the patrons, a lot of them were hesitant to try the technologies. They wondered about the potential side effects of an IV drip or questioned the efficacy of some of the sound therapies.

"I don't really believe in that," 26-year-old startup founder, Pouya Rezvani, said about brain-mapping.

While these patrons paid money to attend the event, it seems they have their hesitancies when it comes to using new technology that hasn't been proven or regulated.

Even though the biohacking community is "living in the future" in some regard, it appeared to me that human skepticism has yet to catch up.

Many of the wellness remedies offered were expensive and pretty big-time commitments

I was surprised to see that many of the people I spoke with didn't find expensive and time-consuming remedies worth it.

Aleks Chojnacki, a 31-year-old head of partnerships in AI technology, says, "I'm rushing from thing to thing. So if it's too much of an additional weight into my day and my schedule, I know I'm probably not going to maintain it."

Thirty-two-year-old founder of Etho wellness club, Mikey Margolin, agrees. "I come from a mindset that wellness does not have to be expensive. I think that this culture of biohacking and wellness is amazing in the sense of optimizing you as a human being, but we are given all those tools on this planet to optimize ourselves without having to spend any money. And that can be as simple as getting sunlight."

Most wellness participants just wanted to focus on the basics: food, sleep, and friends

When I asked people about their longevity routines, almost no one mentioned high-tech treatments. Instead, they kept coming back to the basics.

Barry McCabe, a 34-year-old who runs a sports performance technology company, told me, "It's cool to see all the new ideas and new innovation and new waves of trends coming on the market. But for me, it's the basics: sleep, mental well-being, and good food."

Many of the day's activities, from yoga to guided breathwork, were just about reducing stress and boosting well-being. Project manager, Maike Kleier, says, "I just want to feel good now, and if that increases my lifetime, that's great."

• Shortly after moving to Chicago, I got scammed by three well-dressed strangers in a park.
• I'm a smart, competent adult. I didn't think I would ever fall for something like this.
• Months later, I'm still disputing the $15,000 charge with my credit card company.

Eight months ago, our family of six packed up our life in New Jersey and moved to Chicago — my husband, our kids ( 6 and 4), and our tiny, exuberant Maltipoo, Ace, who experiences the world at a high volume of delight.

By February, I was still exploring the city. Still learning the rhythm of it, the specific grit and beauty of a Chicago winter. February 18th felt like a small miracle: one of those rare, sunlit days where the air softens just enough to remind you that spring is actually going to come — finally.

I had a packed workday, back-to-back meetings, and the usual mental juggling act of deadlines and school pickups. But one meeting ended early, and suddenly I had a rare, unexpected sliver of time. Enough for a real walk, not the rushed loop I usually did with Ace between calls. This walk turned out to be far from the mind-clearing break from my day I was anticipating, though.

A quick decision on a rare, beautiful day

My dog and I wandered a little farther than usual, from my neighborhood of Bucktown toward nearby Wicker Park, the sun warm on my face, the old and new houses a beautiful juxtaposition. I was half-listening to a voice memo from a friend, half-running through my mental to-do list, already calculating when I'd need to head back for preschool and kindergarten pickup. It was a small pocket of ease inside a very full life.

I walked from Bucktown to Wicker Park down a quiet residential street, a pretty mix of old and new houses and apartment buildings with beautiful gardens and old trees. Three people stopped me — two men and a woman, all wearing black suits, holding clipboards and stacks of fliers. They looked official in that vague but convincing way.

"Hi," one of them said brightly. "We're special education teachers raising money for the family of a student who passed away. Would you be willing to donate?"

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, but I was distracted, mid-thought, already moving through the interaction. Of course, I thought. That's deeply awful. I can give something. It felt like the kind of small, decent thing I could do in the midst of my busy day.

I made my donation via Apple Pay on their phone and wrote my name on their clipboard. I said I would give $20. As I tapped to pay, they kept me busy — more clipboards, handshakes, chatter, while they handled their own phone. They were effusive with gratitude, thanking me, shaking my hand, and even crouching down to pet my dog. One of them laughed and said he didn't really like dogs, but he liked mine. That tracks, as Ace is a love bug.

The charge wasn't $20; it was $5,000. Three times.

As soon as I walked away, I had a weird feeling, an unmistakable flicker of unease. I pulled out my phone and opened my bank app, more out of instinct than logic.

The charge wasn't $20; it was $5,000. Three times. $15,000.

On the most beautiful day I'd had in months, in a neighborhood that was just starting to feel like home, my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. Oh shit.

I also had a meeting with a potential new client in 30 minutes. Before then, in a flurry, my hands shaking, I called the police, my husband, my mom, and the bank that issued the credit card I had used to attempt to donate $20 to the family of a dead kid.

I filed a fraud claim, still shaky, still hoping there had been some kind of mistake that could be quickly undone. Nine days later, I got the notice: denied.

I called the bank. And then I called again, and again. Each time, waiting on hold for what felt like forever, explaining the story from the beginning, trying to sound calm, reasonable, and not cry.

Eventually, they reopened it — not as a fraud, but as a billing dispute. Their reasoning: I had authorized a charge. I had intended to pay $20. The problem, they said, wasn't that it happened — it was the amount

But the $15,000 is still sitting on my statement nearly two months later. Every time I open the app, I feel it again, a rush of dread.

The police told me I'm not alone

When I called the police, they told me this sort of thing happens all the time. That these groups move around, that they're practiced, that they know exactly how to catch people in a moment of distraction or goodwill. They suggested I take a photo if I see them again.

I keep thinking about that — how ordinary it all felt. How I am, by all reasonable measures, a competent, careful, fairly skeptical adult. I manage a household, a career, and a thousand daily decisions. And still, in the space of a few distracted minutes on a sunny afternoon, I handed over everything they needed.

There's something about the story they chose — a deceased child, special education — that still gets under my skin. As a mom, it sparked something in me that felt urgent, human, nightmarish, unquestionable. And then there was the warmth of it: the eye contact, the handshakes and thank yous, the way they pet Ace so enthusiastically, laughing, connecting. Thinking about it still makes me nauseous.

I'm still sitting with a lot of feelings — and the $15k charge

I'm a writer, and so putting things down on the page is how I process, metabolize, and make sense of the world. I'm still in it, still adding another call to the bank to my calendar (ugg) between deadlines and my daughter's ballet classes.

I think about why I said yes so quickly. How the story of a child's death cut through everything else.

I don't have a tied-in-a-bow takeaway yet, just this lingering awareness of how porous those moments are, how easily care, distraction, and trust blurred together. How most people are truly, deeply good, and how, sometimes, that's exactly what fraudsters are counting on.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Karl-Anthony Towns, a 30-year-old basketball player for the New York Knicks. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

When people ask me what gives me an edge, I say it's confidence, but all of that confidence comes from training. If there are no lights and no fans, my confidence is built in the gym.

I'm a player on the New York Knicks. My father played and coached basketball, which inspired me to pursue the sport, among other things. When I was at St. Joseph High School in New Jersey, our team won a state championship in 2014.

In college, I played for the Kentucky Wildcats and started my NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015. I joined the Knicks in 2024 and have played for them for almost two years.

Truly believing in my work and my abilities gives me an edge. I think anyone else in the NBA feels that way as well.

Here's what a typical day looks like for me.

I wake up at 6 a.m. and have a light, liquid breakfast

I'm not a big breakfast guy, which is funny, because everyone says it's the most important meal of the day. A lot of guys I know don't like eating in the morning because we don't like to feel heavy.

When I wake up, I have 16 ounces of water and then black coffee, MCT oil (derived from palm kernel and coconut oils for an energy boost), and chicken bone broth.

I go to practice at 7 a.m.

Of course, on game days, which are about three to four days a week during the season, you want to be hydrated, but staying hydrated even on off-days is important — the more hydrated you are, the quicker the body recovers.

I drink water all day. Sparkling water is my favorite. Starting at 7 a.m., I'm at practice all day, so I'm always being handed Gatorade bottles and water.

At the Knicks facility, we have our hydration tested. A lot of us check our hydration throughout the day, even when we leave the facility, to make sure we're at a good level.

Lunges are my favorite mobility workout

When I was in high school, my favorite compound exercise was the deadlift, which works the entire body.

Now that I'm older, I prefer lunges, chin-ups, and goblet squats for working multiple muscle groups. Lunges especially help with my mobility, working my legs and quads.

After dealing with a meniscus tear a few years ago, it's been awesome to see how my body has reacted and recovered from it. It's the only surgery I've ever had, and I wouldn't have known how my body could bounce back if it hadn't happened.

Don't underestimate your toes

A lot of the players get work done on our feet — massages, rolling out our feet with a lacrosse ball or tennis ball, picking up and lowering the ball to work on the contraction.

I'm a believer in strengthening the toes. When I played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, a lot of players would practice barefoot, gripping the floor, getting our feet and our toes into it, obviously working out the muscles and ligaments.

Our feet always swell up because we run so much, so I'll take some Advil. It's great to have that still working for inflammation after all these years of playing basketball. (Editor's note: Towns recently partnered with the company to promote its Advil Exchange program, which encourages consumers to check their medicine cabinets for expired over-the-counter pain medications and replace them with Advil).

My lunches and dinners follow a similar pattern

I have chicken as my protein, with some greens and veggies. I always like color on the plate. Carb-wise, I usually have sweet potatoes, cauliflower rice, or quinoa. During the season, when I need more carbs, I might have some white rice.

Snacks in between lunch and dinner are usually unsalted almonds, a protein bar, and electrolytes.

I'm so used to my diet at this point that I find a lot of enjoyment in it. My fiancé, Jordyn Woods, makes me try other things, like salmon or another fish instead of chicken.

All of us nap before the game

The whole team naps before each game for a max of about two hours.

It's part of the routine. We shoot around, take a nap for recovery, and then go back to the stadium.

After a game, I go home, get some rest, and I'm back to practice the next morning.

• I attended the closing party for the Jefferies Private Growth Conference at Nobu Malibu.
• The mood was ebullient, with excitement about upcoming mega IPOs and fears about the war in Iran fading.
• "You'll see some tech companies look to go public in the next four to six weeks," one banker told me.

The celebrities and wannabe celebrities who usually inhabit LA's Nobu Malibu were swapped out Wednesday night by bankers in sport coats mingling with startup founders, munching on caviar handrolls while sipping lychee martinis and champagne. The good times are back.

It was the closing party for the Jefferies Private Growth Conference, where the bank pairs investors with executives from late-stage companies like Ramp and Databricks. Speed dating for startups, with wagyu beef and a prime ocean view.

The mood at this year's event was ebullient, no doubt helped by the free-flowing Nobu open bar and an energetic DJ who nearly drowned out the sounds of crashing waves.

More importantly, there was a celebration about the upcoming mega IPOs from SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic, mixed with relief volatility tied to the war in Iran, which faded faster than feared.

"It's remarkable how quickly things change," said one banker. "Before the conference started, we saw the largest single stock buying activity on our trading desk since COVID."

The Nasdaq Composite has been on a historic tear over the last two weeks, rising roughly 10% since the beginning of the month.

"Two weeks ago, I would have told you that we wouldn't see tech IPOs until the summertime," the banker told me. "Now I think that you'll see some tech companies look to go public in the next four to six weeks."

For months, the dominant narrative on Wall Street has been that the IPO market wouldn't truly reopen until SpaceX went public first, with its massive public market debut expected in June.

"That was the conventional wisdom coming in," he said. "But now I don't think that anyone cares."

Instead of acting as a gatekeeper, SpaceX is increasingly viewed as being so colossal that it is an event unto itself.

"People are very excited about SpaceX," the banker said. "I don't think that there will be any IPOs that try to price when SpaceX is pricing, but it's not to say that other companies can't go public before SpaceX."

Many companies are still cautious

Still, don't pop all the champagne just yet. Just because companies can go public does not mean they will.

Many startup CEOs have been unnerved by the dismal performance of former high-flying startups like Figma, which is down more than 80% since its August debut, another banker told me.

"I think they're all scared," he said. "What that ultimately leads to is a massive amount of stagnation."

Even with the recent rebound, the so-called SaaSpocalypse has left many publicly traded tech companies battered while private investors have been more forgiving, a third banker told me.

"The public market's paying lower multiples than the private market," he said. "It's hard to want to go public when you would be at a lower valuation."

For months, that combination of fear and unfavorable public-market dynamics kept companies on the sidelines, reinforcing the idea that it was safer to wait for better conditions, stronger comps, and for a blockbuster like SpaceX to test the waters first.

That caution hasn't gone away. Founders are still wary of weak post-IPO performance and lower public valuations. But the market's sudden rebound is creating a competing pressure: the risk of missing the window altogether.

As the first banker put it, describing what he's hearing from CEOs over the past several days: "I don't need to wait until June, let's go."

• Johanna Abzug wanted to sell her things when moving from Texas to Spain — so she vibe coded a marketplace.
• She tried Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, but found that buyers were often "uncommitted."
• "I tend to like to do things the hard way," she said. "It's been so satisfying doing this."

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Johanna Abzug, a 38-year-old freelance product designer who lives in Madrid. It's been edited for length and clarity.

We moved for political reasons.

My partner and I had just had a kid, and we lived in Texas. I don't know if it was postpartum rash decision-making, but I decided this would be the best thing for our family. That was my main objective for over a year: getting us all moved.

I had these big items. When it really got down to seeing all the things that are of value, I could donate them, but I need cash. This is something I would like to sell. You keep adding onto that list, and it ended up being over 200 things that I had to sell.

I started doing things on Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, and realized this is not feasible. I cannot do this. Trying to sell a bed frame and a mattress on Facebook Marketplace, I'd get dozens of messages from people who are uncommitted: "Is this available?" or "Will you take $10 for this $1200 thing?" I don't want to deal with that.

I tend to like to do things the hard way. I searched for something that would meet the needs that I had, but I could not find one. That's why I created one.

I used Bubble, which is a no-code thing, where you basically hook up the logic behind things. I had a working prototype and made a way for me to create an inventory of what I had really quickly, and then made a sale for it.

It was like an online garage sale where people can come and add multiple things, with the idea of selling as much as I can, as quickly as I can, because I want to be done with this task.

I call it a personal pop-up sale. You make a personal inventory of your items, and then, when you're ready, you can put those items into a sale. The sale is a scheduled event, and it lasts for a certain amount of time. The offers also expire after 24 hours, which necessitates more commitment. You share it with your personal network.

Where the transaction differs from Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp is that you don't chat with the buyer until after a price is agreed upon. It's offer-based, back-and-forth to start, and can be on multiple items. The idea is to separate the transactional part of selling items online from the direct message part.

The name was actually inspired by Enya. It's Sale Away.

I ended up making my own sale and posting it on Nextdoor and Craigslist. Under 10 people went to the site, and then I stopped advertising the sale.

This one person bought a lot of my stuff. The offer was over $1,000. I guess someone was moving in, and I was moving out. The transaction went great.

Then I moved. I've always been hesitant to put myself out there, and I was like, "I can just forget about it." But it always really bothered me that I never finished the project and let other people use it. That's why I rebuilt it.

I started the project using ChatGPT, and I switched to Claude. That technology has grown so much in the three years since I created the initial prototype in Bubble. It's been such a great way to carry out the ideas that I have in my head.

Building things scratches a different itch than designing things. To be a designer is usually the second-to-last stop before it goes live. The deadlines get pushed, and it all rolls downhill. I can feel the stress of developers, and that's not something that I want.

It's been so satisfying doing this. I've always had some sort of personal thing going on the side. I am also a mom to a six-year-old, and I'm taking classes to learn Spanish while working.

This is the first thing of utility that I've built, and I definitely would not have been able to do it without vibe coding.