The best advent calendars of 2026 have come a long way from the humble chocolate countdown. These days, you can spend December unwrapping luxury skincare, building mini Lego sets, sampling gourmet treats, or spoiling your pets with a daily surprise.

The catch? Many of the most coveted calendars are limited-edition releases, and the good ones sell out fast. We've tracked down and vetted 26 of this year's standouts, from affordable crowd-pleasers to extravagant splurges and delightfully unexpected gifts. Whether you're shopping for someone who has everything or treating yourself (no judgment), these are the advent calendars worth getting your hands on before they're gone.

The best advent calendars of 2026

If you're not sure where to start, six advent calendars are at the top of our list. There's the classic Bonne Maman jam calendar, a Lego countdown for Star Wars fans, a beauty-filled box from Anthropologie, a luxurious fragrance collection from Diptyque, and a decidedly less traditional option for food lovers from Fly By Jing. Each brings something different to the holiday countdown, whether you're shopping for yourself or someone on your list.

Bonne Maman 2026 jam calendar

This year's offerings of 24 adorable mini-jars of holiday-exclusive jams and spreads includes limited-edition flavors like Raspberry with Dark Chocolate, Caramel with Salted Butter, and Strawberry with Madagascar Vanilla.

2026 Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar

Make the countdown to the holidays an intergalactic adventure. Perfect for fans of The Mandalorian, this 293-piece set offers 24 brick-built surprises, including holiday-themed mini-figures like Grogu and Moff Gideon in festive gear.

Anthropologie 24 Days of Beauty

Housed in a whimsical, beautifully illustrated keepsake box, this curated Anthropologie exclusive features 24 premium beauty, bath, and body surprises. It's a show-stopping gift.

Lovehoney Couple's Advent Calendar

Spice up your holiday countdown with a luxurious 24-day box packed with premium intimate toys, games, and accessories designed for shared exploration. It's a daily invitation to connect and try something new throughout the season and beyond.

Diptyque 25 Scented Treasures

The 2026 Diptyque advent calendar is a festive way to explore the French fragrance house's signature scents, especially if you've been curious about the iconic brand but aren't sure where to start. Inside, you'll find several candles — longtime favorites of the Insider Reviews team — alongside a selection of eaux de toilette and perfumes. It's an extravagant splurge, but one that makes every day of the countdown feel like a little luxury.

Fly By Jing limited-edition 12-day advent calendar

Fly By Jing's 24-day advent calendar is already sold out, but you can still score the 12-day version. Starting December 12, discover an assortment of Sichuan hot sauces in a festive, panda-themed gift box.

Best beauty and self care advent calendars

Beauty advent calendars can be a great way to try new products, but some are more impressive on the outside than what's tucked behind the little doors. Dermstore and Sephora offer a mix of skincare and beauty discoveries, while Revolve's 2026 calendar leans into buzzy brands. For something more indulgent, there's Jo Malone's fragrance-filled countdown or Charlotte Tilbury's holiday makeup collection.

Laneige Advent Calendar

The limited-edition 2026 Laneige Advent Calendar includes 12 mini- and full-size products, including Korean skin and lip bestsellers. Like the iconic Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, the calendar also contains products formulated to hydrate, visibly plump, and nourish skin.

More beauty advent calendars worth shopping

• For the candle connoisseur: Yankee Candle 12 Days of Christmas Candle Advent Calendar, $70

• For the GRWM girls: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Wonderland 15-Piece Advent Calendar, $220

• A skincare lover's jackpot: Best of Dermstore 2026, $250

• Lingerie drawer makeover: Hanky Panky 25 Days of Original Rise Thongs Advent Calendar, $660

• The daily reset: Canopy 12 Days of Self Care Advent Calendar, was $317, now $249

• Fragrance lover's favorites: 12 Days of Jo Malone London Advent Calendar, $250

• The cool-girl beauty edit: Revolve Beauty Advent Calendar, $150

• An analogue moment: Papier 24 Day Advent Calendar, $195

• For the boho beauty: 2026 Free People Curated Beauty Advent Calendar, $148

Best food and drink advent calendars

For anyone who considers the holidays an excuse to eat something delicious every day, this category delivers. There's classic chocolate from Godiva, gourmet confections from Compartés, and a Nespresso x Swarovski coffee collab to make December mornings a little more interesting. But the real fun is the unexpected finds, like Fishwife's tinned seafood countdown and Fly By Jing's collection of spicy Sichuan flavors.

Vinebox 12/24 Nights of Wine

The Vinebox 12 Nights of Wine Advent Calendar makes an unforgettable holiday gift for a wine enthusiast. (If the wine lover you know is really enthusiastic, the calendar also comes in a 24 Nights of Wine set.) Both boxes feature 12 sommelier-selected wines — you choose white, red or rosé — in individually sealed 100ml glass tubes, as well as tasting notes and food pairing ideas.

More food and drink advent calendars worth shopping

• Cool coffee collab: Nespresso x Swarovski Advent Calendar Coffee Pack, $50

• A chocolate classic: Godiva Limited Edition Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar, was $58, now $52

• For the tinned fish obsessive: 12 Days of Fishwife Advent Calendar, $150

• A gourmet splurge: Williams Sonoma Chuck's Luxury Advent Calendar, $400

Best advent calendars for kids and pets

The best part of an advent calendar for kids (and, I would argue, pets as well) is the anticipation, and these picks give them plenty to look forward to. Melissa & Doug's magnetic Christmas tree is a charming tradition they can grow up with, while Lego's minifigure puzzles add a little brainpower to the daily countdown. And because dogs are family too, Bonne et Filou has created a calendar filled with treats that look almost too pretty to feed your pup.

Melissa & Doug Wooden Advent Calendar

A durable, screen-free (and sugar-free!) holiday tradition featuring magnetic ornaments and a shining star to count down the days to Christmas. Designed with an attached storage box, Melissa & Doug's charming wooden tree invites little hands into interactive play.

More advent calendars for kids and pets

• For the Lego lover: Countdown to Christmas Puzzles: 12 Days of Minifigure Advent Puzzles, $25

• A very Bluey holiday: Bluey Fuzzies Advent Calendar Pack, $24

• Macarons for your pooch: Bonne et Filou Dog Treats Advent Calendar, $70

• Cat toy collection: Larchio Interactive Cat Toy Advent Calendar, $20

How I chose the best advent calendars in 2026

At Business Insider Reviews, we spend the year researching, comparing, and recommending products worth your money, and advent calendars are no exception. For this guide, I looked beyond the festive packaging to find calendars with contents anyone would be excited to unwrap, from established favorites like Lego and Bonne Maman to more unexpected finds from Fly By Jing, and Fishwife.

I considered the quality and variety of the contents, brand reputation, price, and overall gift appeal, as well as whether each calendar offers something genuinely different from the others. I also prioritized options for a range of budgets and interests, because a $300 fragrance calendar and a $24 reusable wooden Christmas tree can both be great gifts for entirely different reasons.

Advent calendar FAQs

When should I buy an advent calendar?

October is a good time to start shopping for specialty advent calendars, particularly limited-edition beauty, food, and luxury releases. Some brands open pre-orders a month before December, and popular calendars can sell out well before the holiday season. Check the retailer's estimated shipping dates to make sure yours will arrive before you want to start opening it.

Are luxury advent calendars worth the money?

It depends on what's inside and how much I'll use it. Luxury beauty and fragrance calendars can be an appealing way to explore several products from an expensive brand without committing to full-size versions of everything. But don't rely on the advertised retail value alone. Compare the contents and sizes, and consider whether you'd actually buy the products individually.

What's the difference between a 12-day and a 24-day advent calendar?

A traditional advent calendar typically counts down the 24 days from December one through Christmas Eve, although some include a 25th surprise for Christmas Day. 12-day calendars offer a shorter experience, often with more substantial gifts behind each door. Check the individual products, since brands don't all follow the same countdown.

Recently it's felt like every weekend, one of my Libra friends is having a birthday dinner party. Thanks to my collection of Naadam cashmere sweaters, I can feel cozy and still look appropriate for almost any occasion during the early autumn temperature lag.

I have over 25 cashmere sweaters in my collection, and among them Naadam's are consistently the best. I tested two affordable crewnecks from Naadam and Quince, and despite being a bit pricier, Naadam is ultimately the better value. Its fabric is a touch softer and the seams are a bit more finished, which helps prevent loose threads over time.

One of my favorites is the Featherweight Cashmere Relaxed Polo, which is currently $49 off during Naadam's Friends and Family Sale. The event is on now through Wednesday October 28 and has a ton of knitwear listed at 25% off, from cotton crewnecks to matching sets. It's likely the last time you'll see such a wide selection on sale until Black Friday.

I'm also keen on cashmere lounge sets, of which Naadam has plenty on sale. I've never been much of a sweatsuit person, but I love the convenience of a matching ensemble that's comfortable and pulled together.

I wear it to our drafty office. Large open workspaces like mine are usually cold, and I can't exactly work in my winter coat. The Featherweight Cashmere Relaxed Polo feels like a soft, sophisticated dress shirt with its tortoiseshell buttons, breast pocket, and ribbed cuffs.

The knit is loose and airy, so it's light enough to wear through three seasons. This 7-gauge single ply knit means the fabric feels thin, but not insubstantial. Because cashmere is naturally insulating, even a "featherweight" layer is enough to keep me warm in drafty indoor spaces.

That said, the knit is too loose to block high winds. I like the Featherweight Cashmere because I need ventilation when going from the wind tunnel-like streets of Lower Manhattan down into a stuffy subway car. Go for the higher gauge Signature Cashmere version if you want a tighter knit for cold outdoor settings.

The bottom line

Whenever I recommend cashmere to a friend, I tell them to start at Naadam. My top favorite is its Original Cashmere Sweater, but that style likely won't be discounted by Naadam until Black Friday. The Lightweight Cashmere Relaxed Polo, however, is on sale now for $49 off. During its Friends and Family sale you can also earn free shipping when you spend $175 or more at Naadam.

• Ryobi Whisper Series blower is $70 off at Home Depot, ideal for autumn leaf cleanup tasks.
• The Ryobi blower reaches 180 MPH and weighs 10 pounds, handling thick leaves and debris with ease and efficiency.
• Ryobi's 8.0 Ah battery has up to an 85-minute runtime and works across the Ryobi 40V ecosystem

As soon as fall arrives, my tree-covered backyard covers my deck in leaves, and the classic rake just doesn't cut it. Last year I started using the Ryobi Whisper Series 800 CFM Cordless Battery Leaf Blower, and it packs all the muscle of a gas-powered blower without the fumes, noise, or weight. In fact, it earned the coveted superlative of quietest operation in our guide to the best leaf blowers.

Right now, Home Depot has it marked down 20%, dropping the price from $349 to $279, giving you a chance to snag it before peak leaf drop hits your yard. Because one day, a blanket of leaves just sort of coats your lawn, and you want something fast and easy to clean up with. Don't forget some work gloves and debris bags for your yard cleanup.

See all Home Depot Daily Deals.

Why you'll love it

Uncompromising power from a battery. The 800 CFM model can reach up to 180 miles per hour, making quick work of your lawn cleanup. This particular Ryobi is the most powerful in the Whisper Series lineup. It dislodged thick layers of compacted leaves and even pushed out pinecones, small brush, and acorns. It would have no issue clearing heavy, wet pile leaves, too. The 8.0 Ah battery it comes with has a runtime of about 85 minutes and takes two hours to fully recharge. It's also available in a slightly less powerful 650 CFM for $249 and a 550 CFM model for $149; both come with a single 4.0 Ah battery

Comfortable controls, though two hands are best. It has a variable control to adjust wind strength and power without holding down a trigger, making it more comfortable to hold. It does not, however, have any straps, and at 10 pounds, it is most balanced when held with both hands.

Quieter than other leaf blowers. Its 59-decibel output (on low) is about the equivalent of a running refrigerator and less than that of a standard vacuum cleaner. At max speed, it topped out around 76 decibels, measured from six feet away. This is a major difference from comparable brands, and Ryobi claims it's 82% quieter than gas, which can reach up to 100 decibels, louder than a subway train. If you live close to a neighbor, you can clear your yard without disturbing their peace.

Works with other Ryobi products in the ecosystem. Ryobi maintains that any 40V battery works with any 40V product, meaning that the included 8.0 Ah battery is compatible with other Ryobi 40V outdoor power equipment, including lawn mowers, string trimmers, chain saws, and snow blowers.

I'd buy the set with the battery, since it's only a $50 difference to go the tool-only route. Backup batteries start at $159 for a 4.0 Ah battery, which has half the capacity of the 8.0 Ah.

The bottom line

This deal is ideal for people with tree-heavy yards who want to breeze through fall cleanup without disturbing the neighborhood. While it comes with a heavier, more premium design and price tag than entry-level models, I think it easily justifies the cost through its impressive blowing power, quiet operation, and trigger-free, easy handling. Plus, if you're already a fan of Ryobi and a user of its 40V power equipment, you can seamlessly swap batteries with the rest of your collection.

• My husband and I enjoy hiking, but our kids, 7 and 10, often complain along the way.
• On a visit to Finland, we went hiking with a guide, and my kids were engaged the whole time.
• It encouraged me to change a few things about the way I approach and plan family hikes.

It was an hour into our hike through Southern Konnevesi National Park in Finland, and neither of my 7- and 10-year-old daughters was complaining. It was glorious.

Normally, within the first hour, I would have already heard the question "How much longer?" One of them would also declare, "It's boring. We're just walking."

So what was different about this hike? Why weren't they complaining? It's because I took a different approach to this hike than I have with past ones — and it worked. Here's what I did.

A stranger motivated them more than I ever could

For this hike, we had a local guide with us, and my kids hung on her every word. They were asking questions non-stop and following her down the trail without a single complaint.

I almost laughed when I saw them literally stepping in her footprints and mimicking every move she made. This is not what my husband and I were accustomed to.

When she leaned on a rock to hear "the whispers of the forest," my kids did the same. When she found edible berries, my kids rushed there to try them first.

I do my best to make hikes interesting for my kids, but I am also a first-time visitor to most of the places we explore. No matter how much I research beforehand, I usually can't predict what they will find interesting along the trail. By contrast, this local guide knew exactly how to keep them excited, which kept them moving along.

Having a job kept them interested

I also noticed that the guide occasionally gave them "crucial" jobs along the trail. Who could find the next patch of berries, who could spot mushrooms growing on a log, or who could hear a bird singing?

When we are alone, I try to do these things too, but I cannot always answer the questions that ultimately follow: "Are these berries edible?" "What kind of mushroom is that?" or "Which bird is singing?"

I know my kids are naturally curious, but I wondered why my kids seem uninterested when it's just us. I began to realize they stopped asking me questions because they knew I didn't always have answers. Since our guide did this time, they asked her. They were eager to learn.

I tailored the goal to their needs

I also noticed they had not asked the dreaded question, "How much longer?" Not even once on our 2.5-mile hike.

I kept thinking about my usual responses. I say things like, "Look at the beautiful forest. Just enjoy the view and breathe in the fresh air," or, "Come on, we're almost there. It'll be worth it when we arrive."

Kids care about what's happening in the next five minutes in a way that's different from how my husband and I approach things. I was expecting them to hike like adults, getting from one point to the next. If they can discover something new at every step, they will relish the journey and won't feel time passing slowly. That's something I'm planning to incorporate into our future family hikes.

On a different trip, we tried forest bathing with a local guide in Austria, which lasted over three hours. When it ended, my kids frowned and said, "That was so short. Can we keep going?"

We allow time for free play along the way

After these experiences, I became much more careful about which trails I choose when hiking with my kids.

I know now that the best trails for my kids are the ones that offer exciting experiences along the way: a lake where kids can swim with tadpoles, a stream to cross, or rocks to scramble over.

I've also learned not to rush the stops. My daughters love spending time throwing rocks into a lake, sending leaf rafts down a stream, balancing on fallen logs, building hearts from flowers, or watching frogs or insects.

The biggest change for me has been to stop measuring a hike's success by how far we get and start measuring it by how much fun we had.

In Finland, I realized my kids already enjoy hiking. They just enjoy different things during a hike than I do as an adult. I should never forget that sometimes the part they remember most has nothing to do with the trail itself.

• Meta is offering CEO Mark Zuckerberg a $20 billion stock deal to keep him close to its headquarters.
• The move speaks to a common belief that the best work happens when everyone is together in person.
• Research suggests companies with far-flung CEOs pay a price for that distance.

Meta wants more than rank-and-file employees at the office. It wants CEO Mark Zuckerberg there, too — even if that comes at a hefty price.

The tech giant's board said in a securities filing Wednesday that it would create a new class of non-voting stock in part to keep Zuckerberg in control and give him a financial incentive to continue living near its headquarters. It described his presence at the office as "critically important" to its future success. Meta has required employees to come in at least three days a week since 2023.

Zuckerberg previously told the board he was considering moving in response to a proposed California billionaire tax. The stock deal would give the CEO $20 billion in "immediate liquidity" to cover the tax by selling stock without losing control of Meta, the filing said.

That arrangement carries particular weight at Meta, where Zuckerberg is leading the company's AI push. It also speaks to a common belief that has driven return-to-office mandates: The best work happens when people — including senior leaders — are physically together.

Staying local

Cole Rubin, cofounder of sports technology company FanFeed, said CEOs and other execs are sending a message to employees by physically working alongside them.

"You're not going to question why you're working long hours if you actually can see the leader doing the same," Rubin told Business Insider.

Having bosses in the office can also help a company move faster when unexpected opportunities arise, he said. Employees can walk into a leader's office, get an immediate answer, and act before the moment passes.

"It's not the scheduled calls where the magic happens," Rubin said. "When you have the decision-maker there, it gives people a lot of freedom to be able to feel heard."

A leader's presence is especially important during crises, said Bill George, former chairman and CEO of Medtronic, a medical-technology company. Being together lets executives quickly assess what has happened, gauge employees' reactions, and decide on a course of action.

"We've got to really feel what's going on emotionally, and we actually physically have to discuss it," he said.

George also noted that RTO demands placed on workers can ring hollow if the CEO doesn't follow them. "You've got to be there if your employees are there," he said.

Long-distance tradeoffs

Meta wouldn't have been the first company with a long-distance CEO if Zuckerberg had opted to leave the Golden State.

Brian Niccol was living in California when he was named CEO of Seattle-based Starbucks in 2024. The coffee chain had agreed as part of his hiring package not to require him to relocate. Later, it built a 4,624-square-foot satellite office five minutes from his home so he could work alongside colleagues, Business Insider first reported. Niccol has since purchased a property in Seattle.

Companies with long-distance CEOs don't perform as well on average as those with leaders on-site, according to a 2025 study by Boston College and Arizona State. They also have lower valuations and worse insider reviews, the findings show.

Meta's decision to woo Zuckerberg to stay in California was made by a special committee on its board, which said it was informed by challenges the company faced when he couldn't be physically present with management during the pandemic.

The committee said it didn't want Meta "to face similar challenges going forward."

• Cybersecurity researchers say the PHP vulnerability has repercussions for normal people, too.
• Even if you don't own a website, hackers could use the vulnerability to steal your information.
• One quick fix: diversify your passwords.

If you're still using the same password for everything, it might finally be time to get on that.

While the major cybersecurity vulnerabilities that OpenAI agents helped expose on Wednesday primarily impact the owners and operators of websites, it could also give hackers the opportunity to hijack your personal information, researchers said.

"Be extra careful visiting ANY web site in the next few days," Changpeng Zhao, the cofounder of cryptocurrency platform Binance, said on X.

OpenAI said on Wednesday that researchers using its AI models uncovered two "critical" flaws in the infrastructure of PHP, a popular open-source programming language used on about 70% of the world's websites.

Because digital commerce websites, for instance, can store personal shopper information in PHP systems, that information would be accessible to a bad actor exploiting the web provider's system if that provider hasn't updated it.

The National Security Administration warned that hackers using one of the PHP exploits could "steal sensitive data, disrupt services, or move deeper into a network."

"Even if you yourself are not building software and that's not where your core business is, a lot of your life does depend on companies that depend on those systems," Madeline Lawrence, cofounder of Aikido Security, an application security platform, told Business Insider on Thursday.

"And they could be deeply, deeply vulnerable," she added. She said that one day after the disclosure, cybersecurity platform Cloudflare reported millions of attempts to exploit the vulnerability.

If you do own a website, PHP has released updates it says will help shield websites from hackers. Instructions for applying those updates are available on PHP's homepage.

For everyone else, here are a few tips cybersecurity researchers say you can use to protect your info.

• Don't reuse passwords; use a password manager.
• Check for security advisories from your bank.
• Use two-factor authentication on your devices and accounts — especially for email, banking, and your password manager.
• If your data has been breached, expect more convincing scams and phishing emails.
• Turn auto-updates on and restart your computer weekly.

"You can ask your claude code to audit what on your laptop is out of date and needs updating," Peter Wildeford, head of policy at the AI Policy Network, a bipartisan nonprofit that advocates for safety guardrails and federal oversight, added in a post on X.

Though Lawrence called the vulnerability "very severe," she cautioned against people running to close their bank accounts to protect themselves.

"Assume that if you're getting a notification that your data has been leaked," she said. "Take action on that because you could have credentials or information floating around the dark web."

RGB LED is the latest innovation in TV tech, allowing screens to produce a wider, purer range of colors than ever before. But not all RGB LED TVs are created equal. I've tested top models from brands like Samsung and Hisense, but the Sony Bravia 7 II is my favorite RGB LED TV so far. It shows off all the benefits that make RGB tech so cool while coming in at a surprisingly reasonable price. And right now, it's an even better deal at up to $800 off.

What makes the Bravia 7 II so special is its use of Sony's new True RGB backlight. This system uses separate red, green, and blue diodes to produce a wider range of colors than typical QLED and Mini LED rivals. It also boasts impressive contrast control and solid viewing angles for a backlit TV. The 65- and 75-inch Bravia 7 II are both $800 off, while the 55-inch model is $400 off — the best prices I’ve seen on each size yet.

I’ve been reviewing TVs for more than a decade, and the Bravia 7 II stands out as one of the best values Sony has ever offered. The brand is known for delivering premium performance at premium prices, and though the Bravia 7 II still costs a decent chunk of change, its price is competitive considering its cutting-edge technology — especially with these discounts.

Why we love the Sony Bravia 7 II True RGB TV

The Bravia 7 II is the best Sony TV for most people. It uses the same core technology that powers the brand's more expensive Bravia 9 II, but comes in at a more approachable price without sacrificing too many features.

Color is one of the TV's most notable strengths. In my testing, Sony’s True RGB lighting system proved to be more than just marketing hype. I measured the display's BT.2020 color gamut at around 87%. Though it's still rare for movies and shows to take full advantage of such a wide color range, that extra coverage helps futureproof the TV. And for today's content, the TV covers nearly 100% of the more commonly used P3 color gamut. The result is a vibrant, rich sheen that looks gorgeous when watching HDR (high dynamic range) videos.

Brightness is also solid with a peak of roughly 2,243 nits, which is enough for bright and dark rooms. And perhaps even more importantly, the TV can control its brightness exceptionally well for a backlit display. Black bars in widescreen movies don't quite disappear in a dark room, but the Bravia 7 II's local dimming is among the best in this class. With the lights off, dim scenes have an inky quality rather than turning into a cloudy mess.

Image quality also holds up surprisingly well from off-angle. Vibrant red hues in my go-to test scene remained vivid when sitting at my desk off to the side of the TV. On lesser displays, this scene looks more washed out and orange.

Sony rounds things out with the fast, intuitive Google TV interface, Gemini voice control, and a unique "Mirage Stand." The stand has a clear front panel that uses optical refraction to make cables routed behind it almost appear to vanish. This is one of those clever little design touches that just makes you smile when you see it in person.

Other RGB LED TVs I've tested also offer solid performance, but the Bravia 7 II is the best value. The Samsung R95H costs more and was a bit dimmer in my tests. The similarly priced Hisense UR9 is a closer match to the Bravia 7 II, and was actually brighter in my tests, but Sony's TV offers more refined backlight control and a cleaner, crisper image thanks to its superior processing.

The Bravia 7 II does miss out on a few extra perks that you get with Sony's pricier Bravia 9 II, including an even brighter picture, an excellent anti-glare screen coating, and a rechargeable backlit remote. But given the price difference, I'm genuinely impressed by just how close this more affordable model gets to flagship performance.

Looking for more recommendations? Check out our guide to the best TVs. And learn more about RGB tech in our RGB LED vs. Mini LED guide.

An outdoor cat house can keep felines who live outside safe and comfortable during long, cold winters with wind, snow, and ice. We tested 11 ourselves to find the best ones, and our top pick for multiple cats is now on sale. You can save 30% on the New Age Pet Ecoflex Outdoor Cat House and get it set up before temperatures drop below freezing.

The house is at its lowest price since August, down to $60 from $85. You may also be able to get a $25 eGift card deal if your total purchase of eligible items is $100 or more.

Our in-depth reporting on outdoor cat houses helped us narrow down our list of shelters using strict criteria. It's essential that houses meet several specifications in order to provide community cats, often referred to as feral cats, with safe shelter. The New Age house checked all the boxes for a model that supports two to three adult cats or a mother cat and her kittens.

Why we love the New Age Pet Ecoflex Outdoor Cat House

It's big enough for two to three bonded cats. Community cats tend to stay close. However, they need a house that isn't too big in order to retain heat and keep warm. This one performs well when some straw is added in the colder months.

It has two entrances, which is important for a multi-cat house. With two baffled doors, the shelter allows cats to go in and out without trapping or blocking each other. The doors are also designed so cats aren't in the direct path of wind and rain.

The material is durable and weatherproof. This house is made of Ecoflex, a composite of polymers and wood fiber byproducts. The material does a really good job repelling water, and the house scored a respectable 4 out of 5 points in our waterproofing test. It was only held back from a perfect score due to some water droplets that were allowed in through the doors.

Minor drawbacks to consider

A little bit of water — button-sized droplets — made it into the house because of a small gap near the baffle. This gap also likely contributed to the house's reduced heat retention. Adding straw for insulation along the interior walls will help counter that. You'll also need to remove the insulation before cleaning the house, which requires an included specialized tool to remove four screws. Be sure to remember where you store the tool.

• I booked two separate flight itineraries on different airlines for a family trip to Ireland.
• I realized this was a mistake after the first airline diverted, and the second left without us.
• The fix cost my family nearly $3,000 in new tickets and a day's worth of touring.

I'm a veteran traveler who has booked more long-haul flights than I can count. But earlier this year, I made a very expensive rookie mistake.

While planning a trip, I came across a deal I couldn't pass up: a $317 one-way flight on Icelandair to Ireland with a multi-day layover in Reykjavik. It was essentially a way to take a trip within a trip without paying extra airfare.

The catch? The flight departed from New York, not our home airport in Florida. I'd be in New York a few days early, but my family would need to fly up to meet me. Booking separate itineraries was far from ideal, but I figured a five-hour buffer would be enough.

It wasn't.

A storm in New York canceled my family's JetBlue flight from Florida, and their replacement flight then couldn't land and was diverted to Virginia. Their Icelandair flight to Europe was automatically canceled after they were marked as no-shows.

On the night we were supposed to fly together to Iceland, my family was stuck states away, and I was scrambling to find a solution.

With my family's original flight gone, we had to spend nearly $3,000 to get them back on track and navigate the complicated credit card trip insurance process. Here are 4 lessons I learned the hard way.

Booking separate itineraries comes with a pricey risk

Arriving in the city of your next flight at least 24 hours before may feel a bit extreme, but it's the minimum safety net you need.

Being already in the right location for your flight can be a huge weight off your shoulders. It also allows sufficient time for rebooking should something go wrong with your flight.

My last-minute whim to visit a few friends upstate turned out to be key. Those extra two nights in New York meant I was able to make the flight to Iceland. If I had booked my family of three on a flight the day before our long-haul flight, they would have made it too.

My family made it to New York the next morning and ended up taking a replacement flight to Iceland that evening, getting in about 24 hours later than originally planned. I bought two basic economy tickets for $734 each, and one standard economy ticket with extra baggage allowance for $1,105. In total, I spent $2,573 on new tickets.

The costly mistake made me realize that although an extra hotel night is an added expense and may mean using more PTO, it's a cheap investment compared to the cost of new international flights — and the cost of missed events — if things don't go to plan.

This is especially worth it if you have definite plans right after your arrival, such as a cruise or a concert.

Neither airline has to help in my scenario

When you book connecting flights on a single itinerary, the airline is responsible for getting you to your destination. If you miss that connection through no fault of your own, then the airline will put you on another available flight at no additional cost.

When you book flights separately, you're responsible for making each connection — or buying new tickets if you miss one. And generally, regardless of reason, the airline operating your next flight isn't obligated to accommodate you if you miss it because of a problem with your previous airline.

Our tickets to New York and Iceland were separate, so despite numerous calls to each airline, none were responsible for the missed connection. If you do miss a connection on a single booking, look up alternatives yourself and discuss them with the agent. It's not guaranteed, but they may be able to accommodate you on a partner airline at a more convenient time.

And remember, it's not the staff's fault for the disruption. You get more bees with honey.

I should have read the fine print

I didn't book the cheapest fare, but I didn't read the fine print either.

When things started to go wrong, I was shocked to see there was a $250 change fee per person on my original flight and no refunds. Changing the tickets would have cost nearly as much as the original flight, plus the fare difference.

At the time, it was uncertain when my family would actually arrive in New York and feasibly be able to catch the next flight to Iceland, so we didn't change the tickets. Missing the first flight on this stopover itinerary meant my family was marked a no-show and their onward leg to Dublin was canceled, which is standard airline policy.

While there were other ways to get to Iceland, there were few nonstop flights from Iceland to Ireland — a one-stop meant at least four extra hours of travel — so the best option was to book a new stopover ticket with Icelandair.

When I started booking the new tickets, I noticed that almost every fare class had punitive cancellation and change policies — and this time I was sure to be familiar with the terms of my booking.

I need to better understand my credit card's trip protections

Premium credit cards can have your back when flight plans go wrong, but they don't cover everything.

We used the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business' trip cancellation and interruption protection for the original Icelandair tickets and were reimbursed $952. The coverage typically reimburses covered unused, prepaid expenses — but not the cost of buying new airline tickets.

Trip delay coverage doesn't either, but it can cover other expenses for covered trips. However, credit card policies vary — and this is where I went wrong.

We booked the flights to New York on an American Express Business Platinum Card but used a different card for the return flights. That meant the Amex trip-delay protection did not apply: its terms require the full round-trip fare to be charged to the eligible card.

I had split the flights across cards to preserve Chase's bag-delay protection, but I didn't realize I was giving up the Amex protection in the process, so the $103 spent on dinner after the diversion wasn't covered. For future trips, I'll use only one credit card with good travel protections for all my trip expenses to reduce complications.

Airlines may also provide some compensation for flight disruptions. In our case, my family was reimbursed for a hotel stay ($185) on the night they were diverted. When delayed, I always keep receipts of all my added expenses to submit to the appropriate parties.

Overall, although our vacation had a rocky start and cost more than we planned, we had a great trip and are glad we pushed through it.

Missing a flight always seems avoidable in hindsight, and some things are beyond anyone's control, but with a few precautions, we can travel more confidently. Next time, I'm booking the extra hotel night.

• For Love & Money is a column from Business Insider answering your relationship and money questions.
• This week, a reader's kids incorrectly believe they're getting a large inheritance.
• Our columnist says to loop them into their plans, and to focus on the memories they'll leave behind.

Dear For Love & Money,

My husband and I are in our 60s, the baby boomer generation. Due to hard work over the course of our adult lives, we've been able to comfortably retire. Because my husband and I set them up for success, our two kids, now all grown up, are doing quite well.

We paid for a considerable portion of their college costs, their health insurance, and their car insurance until they moved out. We drove them to all the extracurriculars that helped get them where they are today, and paid for a couple of decades' worth of food, clothing, and shelter. They also got to have amazing life experiences, such as a two-week European vacation when they were teenagers.

Recently, we had them and their spouses over for dinner, and a lighthearted conversation came up about inheritances. Our kids joked about who the favorite child was and who was likely to inherit our wealth. Since they were kidding, my husband and I didn't feel at the time that we needed to set the record straight.

But now we've been talking and are now wondering if we need to say more — because we actually don't plan on leaving any inheritances for our children. We plan to use our hard-earned savings for our retirement years.

If we live the comfortable, adventurous lives we want to over the next 20 years, we don't expect there will be much left for an inheritance. We even plan to sell the house, which is paid off, to afford our final years when we need assisted living.

I don't feel like we owe our children anything, and they don't seem to need anything. However, I'm starting to wonder if telling them our plans will be a problem. How do I tell my kids there isn't going to be any inheritance after we pass?

Sincerely,

Boomer Who Wants to Spend My Own Money

Dear Boomer,

Maybe I grew up poorer than I realize, but in my experience, few middle-class people plan on receiving a financially meaningful inheritance.

We expect to go through Grandma's basement and figure out what to do with a lifetime's worth of accumulated belongings. We hope our parents have life insurance policies to cover the costs of wrapping up a life and saying goodbye.

But few of us truly envision future will readings where the black sheep laughs cynically about being cut out, the stepson throws a tantrum over not inheriting the Van Gogh collection, and the niece no one's ever met inherits it all.

However, we've all seen that movie. Thus, we joke about our parents' wills, favorite children, and who will inherit Yellowstone Dutton Ranch when they're gone.

You asked me how to tell your kids, "There isn't going to be an inheritance," but I don't think this is an announcement you need to make. For most people who hold no claim to great wealth, even if they are financially comfortable, estate planning is a family affair.

You and your husband will still have the final say over your estate, but medical bills, inflation, health concerns, and all sorts of unknowns can easily complicate money matters. Your anxiety might stem from you second-guessing a dynamic you were comfortable with back when the reality felt far away.

You might not have a fortune to bestow on your children when you pass, but you will still give them an estate to sort out and conclude. They will be the ones to carry out your end-of-life wishes and figure out memory care should the need arise. Your children are the ones who will need to present death certificates to close down your bank accounts and hold an estate sale should you stay in your house to the end, after all.

Considering the enormity of this task, looping your children in now is a good idea. There's no need for this conversation to include a dramatic confession about how little you have to leave them; instead, it invites them into your plans and lets them know what to expect.

It isn't too late to start investing a small amount and designating the returns for your children, of course. But remember that when your kids are playfully squabbling over inheritance, they are likely thinking of the possessions you will be handing down rather than money.

For instance, my dad has a large library of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves packed with hardbacks written by writers like Louis L'Amour, Dean Koontz, and Agatha Christie. Neither my siblings nor I expect to receive even a tiny cash legacy, and we know the books hold little value, but you can bet we always argue — mostly in jest — over who will inherit the collection.

Simply taking the time to thoughtfully divide your prized possessions and sentimental momentos and naming who gets what in your will is likely more of an inheritance than your kids expect, but one they will be very grateful to receive.

In your letter, you listed all the ways you've set your kids up for success, but I didn't need the list to believe you. You have built a legacy where your adult children and their partners can sit around your dinner table joking with you and one another. This is the best legacy — one full of love and laughter. You did it.

Rooting for you,

For Love & Money

An earlier version of this article was originally published in December 2024.

Looking for advice on how your savings, debt, or another financial challenge is affecting your relationships? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.

Apple is turning up to the foldable smartphone game fashionably late, and fans of the brand are excited as iPhone Duo preorders are now live. Learn how to secure your device now, before stock dwindles and ship dates are pushed further.

The iPhone Duo combines a compact outer display with a larger foldable screen inside, giving you more room when you need it without making the phone feel obtuse all the time. It also brings Apple's latest performance and camera upgrades, making it a more flexible option for everyday use. For iOS fans who use their smartphone for everything, it's a long-awaited upgrade.

If you're already sold on Apple's first foldable, I'll break down how to preorder the iPhone Duo, where it'll be available, carrier and trade-in deals, and the fastest ship dates to check before you buy below.

How to buy the iPhone Duo

To secure your iPhone Duo order, just head to your carrier of choice (like Verizon or T-Mobile), add your preferred color and size to your cart, then proceed to checkout.

Where to get the iPhone Duo now

Due to hardware supply limitations and extremely high demand, the iPhone Duo went out of stock moments after preorders opened, with fulfillment dates as far out as late January 2027. If you can't wait that long for the new device, here's where the ship dates stand for most colors and storage sizes across major retailers.

• Straight Talk - October 26, 2026
• Xfinity - November 13, 2026
• T-Mobile: December 9, 2027
• Verizon - December 18, 2026

• Apple - January 22, 2027

These dates will likely be pushed back further as more shoppers order their devices in the coming weeks, so don't hesitate to buy when you've made up your mind. That said, make sure that you're ready to use the provider you buy through — devices sold through carriers will be locked to the company's cellular service for a set period.

What's new in the iPhone Duo

The iPhone Duo is a precedent-setting device, Apple's first-ever foldable. Since this is the very first generation, it makes no improvements over earlier versions. Instead, it starts with the tech Apple has been perfecting over the years while hopefully learning from the competition. Here are some of the most exciting features to come:

• Foldable dual-screen design: The iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display for normal phone use and opens into a much larger 7.6-inch inner display. Both screens support ProMotion, Always-On display, and up to 3,000 nits of outdoor brightness.
• Space for multitasking: The larger inner screen lets you run two apps side by side with Split View, open two windows of the same app, save app pairs, and quickly switch between apps. It's Apple's biggest step into "tablet" performance territory for the smartphone.
• A20 Pro performance: It uses the same A20 Pro chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, along with a vapor-chamber cooling system designed to maintain steady performance during gaming, multitasking, and AI-heavy tasks. In our tests, we've already found it to be a powerful and effective setup.
• 48MP dual-camera system: The Duo has a 48MP main camera with 2x optical-quality zoom and a 48MP Ultra Wide camera that also handles macro photography. Its folding design also lets you use the rear cameras for higher-quality selfies while previewing the shot on the outside screen.
• New foldable camera tricks: Features like Duo Preview show your subject what the camera sees on the outer screen, while the phone can be partially folded and propped up for hands-free photos, videos, and FaceTime calls.
• Dual-battery design: Apple put a battery in each half of the phone. It advertises up to 31 hours of video playback with the inner display and up to 44 hours with the outer display.
• iOS 27 designed for folding: The software automatically rearranges itself depending on whether the phone is open, closed, rotated, or partially folded. StandBy also works on either display, even when the phone isn't charging.
• Siri AI and Apple Intelligence: The Duo supports Apple's new Siri AI, which can use personal context and onscreen awareness to answer questions and perform actions. The larger display also lets you keep Siri open alongside another app.
• Apple Pencil support: Finally, the Apple Pencil with USB-C will work with both Duo displays later this year, giving the foldable more tablet-like functionality for notes, sketches, and document markup. Wireless charging Apple Pencils aren't compatible.
• Touch ID, instead of relying solely on Face ID: Touch ID is built into the side button, making it easy to unlock the Duo whether it's open or closed. It's the return of a beloved feature for many old iPhone users.
• Premium foldable construction: The phone features grade 5 titanium, a precision hinge that keeps the inner display flat, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. It comes in star white and night sky.

When will the iPhone Duo release?

The iPhone Duo will start shipping out to shoppers starting on Friday, October 23. As of now, all purchases are preorders and won't be fulfilled until after the device is officially released.

Stock is already very limited for the coveted new foldable. I recommend ordering as soon as possible to prevent your phone's shipping date from getting delayed any further.

Preorder your device now at Verizon or T-Mobile.

See also: iPhone 18 Pro deals | Verizon iPhone 18 bundle deals

Follow our WhatsApp channel on mobile for more buying guides, deals, and reviews.

The office dress code is changing, and for some professionals, workwear is becoming a serious investment.

At New York Fashion Week, Business Insider's Clarisa Melendez spoke with attendees who said workplace style can signal personality, confidence, and the kind of business they conduct. Some of their most meaningful workwear investments came with eye-catching price tags.

• Skydance is cutting tech and product leaders after closing its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
• Four WBD technology executives are out, per a memo from Skydance chief product officer Dane Glasgow.
• Its new team will mostly feature Paramount execs who worked on its recent tech transformation.

Consolidation is underway at David Ellison's Skydance just a few weeks after the company closed its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Skydance's chief product officer, Dane Glasgow, laid out the product and tech leadership structure of the combined entity in a memo viewed by Business Insider.

Four top WBD executives are leaving, according to the memo.

They include:

• Avi Saxena, Warner Bros. Discovery's chief technology officer
• Tyler Whitworth, chief product officer for WBD's streaming business
• Dave Duvall, WBD's chief information officer
• Trish Collins Weedon, WBD's chief information security officer (CISO)

Duvall, Saxena, and Whitworth will stay on in an "advisory capacity as we undergo this transition," Glasgow wrote.

The company is mostly keeping Paramount executives in charge of its combined tech and product organization.

These leaders include:

• Lakshman Nathan, Paramount's chief information officer
• Carlo Joseph, its chief information security officer
• Jim Harrison, its executive vice president of infrastructure, broadcast, and distribution
• Nick Lee, Paramount's executive vice president of media systems

A few WBD executives are staying on in Skydance's post-merger leadership, per Glasgow's memo.

They include Brinton Miller, formerly WBD's media technology and operations lead, who will serve as Skydance's executive vice president of production and studio technology, and James Crossland, formerly head of global content operations at WBD, who will serve as its EVP of global content operations.

Skydance has spent the past year revamping its tech and product team, often recruiting talent from tech companies.

Glasgow joined Paramount from Meta, while Lee joined from Microsoft's AI division. Other team leaders in its post-merger structure include head of design Suzanne Pellican, formerly a Google exec; Hugh Williams, a former Google, eBay, and Microsoft exec; and Barak Turovsky, who came to Paramount after serving as chief AI officer at General Motors and VP of AI at Cisco.

Bringing technical expertise to Paramount has been a priority for Ellison, who wants to turn the century-old media brand into a modern, tech-forward business like Netflix. The company revamped its data and insights strategy in January, and merged some engineering teams in March to bolster its streaming tech.

"We are building a product and tech organization that can compete with anybody coming out of Silicon Valley," Ellison told CNBC earlier this month.

In his memo, Glasgow expressed gratitude for the work of both Paramount and WBD staffers, writing that he was "encouraged by the early collaboration, the bold new ideas you're bringing forward, and your openness to exploring new ways of working with your colleagues."

He also acknowledged the structural changes could be disruptive.

"I know a change of this scale brings questions, especially as we get to know new teams and colleagues," Glasgow wrote. "Your leaders will share more about their organizations in the coming weeks and we'll bring our teams together soon to keep building with and learning from each other."

• O'Leary Digital's CEO says a Wall Street firm's analysis misses work happening before construction.
• Paul Palandjian, the CEO, said the company's two campuses will generate their own electricity.
• He outlined land deals, permitting, and early funding, saying delivery should be judged in phases.

Kevin O'Leary's data center company has a message for analysts who doubt its enormous AI ambitions: You're not seeing the whole picture.

Paul Palandjian, CEO of O'Leary Digital, pushed back on a Bernstein Research assessment that put the firm near the bottom of the data center industry's credibility rankings. In an emailed response to Business Insider, he detailed land agreements, water applications and licensing, engineering work, and funding that he said the analysis overlooks.

"Scrutiny during this cycle is fair," Palandjian wrote. He added, "A score built from announced-capacity data ranks every pre-construction project low on construction progress by definition, and it cannot see confidential work."

His response gets at a central question in the AI building boom: How much weight should investors give the work that happens before data center construction begins?

Bernstein examined thousands of data center projects using data from the tracking firm Aterio, assessing factors such as construction progress, electricity availability, and industry experience. Its analysis concluded that only about 35% of announced data center capacity in the US will get built.

O'Leary Digital received a credibility score of 0.35 out of 5. Bernstein estimated that 489 megawatts of its announced 15-gigawatt pipeline would materialize, roughly 3%. The analysts grouped it with ambitious newcomers described as "bragawatts."

Palandjian said the 15-gigawatt figure represents the full build-out of two campuses in Utah and Alberta over several years.

"We would rather be judged on milestones than on a model," he wrote.

Data center power without the queue

Palandjian's clearest distinction concerns electricity, one of the biggest obstacles facing data center developers.

"We are not in an interconnection queue," he wrote, referring to the waiting lists for connections to the electricity grid.

Instead, both campuses are designed to generate all their electricity on-site, he said, with direct access to natural gas pipelines and supplies. That's what the industry calls "behind the meter": producing power at the facility rather than relying on an electricity utility to supply it from the grid.

Data center land, water, and early money

In Utah, Palandjian said the Military Installation Development Authority had approved and executed a 30-year development agreement naming O'Leary Digital as master developer of the project area.

About 11,000 acres are under binding agreements, he said. Master planning, ground studies, and laser-based land surveying have finished at both sites, and the company filed an engineered Utah water application in late September, he added.

In Alberta, about 13,000 acres are under a binding agreement, and a water license for 6 million cubic meters a year has been granted, Palandjian said. He also said that both sites are away from densely populated residential communities.

On money, Palandjian said his firm has capital for both pre-development and advancing the project toward key milestones. He did not specify a funding amount or say the entire build-out was financed.

He said that the engineering, power, and construction firms working with the company, and the global banks advising it, provide evidence of its ability to deliver.

"With that team, every critical part of the project is being worked through, gaps are identified early, and we are closing them to raise our probability of success," he wrote.

Palandjian said that while O'Leary Digital is young, its team has decades of experience in real estate, power, and infrastructure.

Bernstein's skepticism does not mean every newcomer will fail.

"It's not that all of these guys are sort of terrible and not going to deliver, but we just have lower confidence because we don't know them," analyst Madison Rezaei said.

With Palandjian's update, now we know a bit more.

Sign up for the AI Insider newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com

• A tech-led sell-off ripped through the stock market on Thursday amid renewed fears about AI.
• Meta and Tesla delivered solid earnings, but more concerns about AI spending clobbered markets.
• Chip stocks were hammered, oil price surged, and bond yields plunged back below 5%.

The stock market was clobbered on Thursday.

AI spending fears once again rocked the bull market, shaving nearly 3% off the Nasdaq 100 and sending investors retreating back to Treasury bonds, which have seen yields touch multi-decade highs this month. It was the worst day for the tech-heavy index since June.

The the tech-led rout was brought on by renewed fears that AI giants may be spending too much on artificial intelligence with too little to show for it. Recent earnings from Meta and Tesla failed to wow investors despite beating estimates.

Here's where US indexes stood at the 4 p.m. ET closing bell:

• S&P 500: 7,663.39, down 1.21%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 52,866.85, up 0.02% (+10.76 points)
• Nasdaq 100: 28,958.69, down 2.90%

The drop attests to how sensitive markets has become to even slight changes in sentiment around capex and the broader AI buildout.

The jitters, combined with a spike in oil prices that sent Brent crude to the highest level since May, were enough to send investors rushing back to bond for safety.

The 10-year Treasury yield plunged 18 basis points, falling below 5% for the first time in almost a month. The yield ended the day at about 4.97%.

Tesla beat estimates for the third quarter, but its stock dropped 2% as investors balked at the company's lowered profitability. Meta also fell as much as 7% as traders shrugged off the Facebook parent's upbeat earnings and strong guidance.

Tesla whittled its capex estimate for the year to $20 billion, down from $25 billion. Meta's capex estimate was largely unchanged for the year, but investors sense that more "spending discipline" from tech titans means the AI investment boom could slow, sparking negative consequences for "supplies across the entire chain," economist David Rosenberg said.

In August, Goldman Sachs projected that global AI investment was on track to surpass $1 trillion this year.

"Following an extraordinary run in technology stocks, markets are becoming more demanding around evidence of the payoff from high investment in AI and concerned about the sustainability of this spending amid higher interest rates," said James McCann, senior economist at Edward Jones.

The chips sector saw the sharpest declines, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF losing nearly 7%.

Geopolitical tensions added to the selling pressure. Brent crude, the international benchmark, spiked 4% to top $113 a barrel as markets digested a New York Times report that said the US and Israel are planning strikes on Iran after the midterm elections.

David Morrison, a senior market analyst at Trade Nation, said the market was exhibiting a worrying reaction to Meta's and Tesla's earnings, given that both firms reported solid results.

"The market reaction to these key updates and the overall effect this has had on the chip sector and other AI-adjacent stocks this morning is concerning. Not only does it show that upside momentum has waned significantly, but that intermediate support levels are creaking dangerously," he wrote in a client note.

"Investors may be mostly passive investors nowadays, but their mood seems to follow the trend of individual stocks, plenty of which have been struggling even as the indices trade much closer to all-time highs," Paul Hickey, the co-founder at Bespoke Investment, said of weaker investor sentiment.

CoreWeave, a neocloud company that's come under investor scrutiny recently for its debt, plunged 10%. The stock is down 39% from levels in early October, even as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has come out to defend CoreWeave and other neoclouds, claiming that demand is "off the charts."

Here were some of the most notable moves in the tech sector:

It's been a volatile few weeks for traders as the midterm elections — a key event that stocks are often thought to struggle leading into — inch closer.

The bullish tone in markets has seemingly "reversed overnight," and investors appear to be on "flight-to-quality trade," strategists on JPMorgan's markets intelligence desk wrote in a note.

The bank pointed to lower yields, a sign that investors are scooping up safe-haven Treasurys. The 10-year US Treasury yield dropped 11 basis points on Thursday despite the move up in oil, falling back to its lowest level in about a month.

"Underlying price actions and feedback from our trading desk also suggested the still fragile narrative around AI financing concerns and the lack of conviction / re-grossing from the recent tech reversal," the bank said of factors contributing to the sell-off.

Treasurys are acting like more traditional safe-havens again after a long stretch of selling driven by fears of high inflation and fiscal instability. Investors have flocked back to US government debt as tech weakness causes the four-year-old bull market to falter and as more geopolitical instability looms.

Meanwhile, hyperscalers' corporate bond spreads, a measure of how much investors want to be paid to hold the debt, have widened back to levels last seen in July, the bank added, attesting to credit jitters weighing on the AI trade.

Pressure also continued on the bond market across the Atlantic. The 10-year French OAT surged 7 basis points as political unrest continued across the nation, a sign that investors are dumping government debt securities and heading toward other areas of safety. France's bond market has been catapulted into a historic sell-off amid the cost-of-living riots, with its 10-year bond yield breaking past 5% for the first time in 24 years this week.

Mint Mobile is celebrating its 10th anniversary with one of its best unlimited offers of the year. Right now, new customers can get six months of Unlimited service for the equivalent of $10 a month, with a $60 upfront payment required for the full six-month plan.

The deal includes unlimited talk, text, and data, plus up to 20GB of mobile hotspot data each month. All four of Mint's plans are included at the same price for this promotion, so Unlimited is the clear choice for its unbeatable value. Below, I'll break down how to get Mint Mobile's $10-a-month deal, who qualifies, and what to know before switching.

How to get the Mint Mobile anniversary deal

Luckily, signing up for this exclusive Mint deal is as easy as adding your preferred plan tier to the cart and checking out.

The offer includes all Mint levels, so you can choose the data allowance that's best for you. Since they are all down to $60 for six months, going for Unlimited is a no-brainer at a whopping 71% off, compared to a meager 50% off for the base 6GB option.

Who can get this Mint 6-month deal?

To get the $10 offer, you need to be a new Mint customer. Shoppers who have left and now want to return may need to use a new email address for their account to qualify.

When does Mint's anniversary sale end?

This sale ends on October 22, so time is running out. Stock typically doesn't run out for Mint, so you have some time to think, but don't hesitate too long, or it'll end before you know it.

What plans are included in this Mint Mobile deal?

Mint's anniversary offer covers all of its 6-month plans, from 6GB to Unlimited. Because of that, the best value is gained by choosing the top-tier Unlimited Plan at 71% off. Here's a list of the included options:

• 6GB - $120 $60
• 17GB - $150 $60
• 23GB - $210 $60
• Unlimited - $210 $60

No matter which you add to your cart, all come with either a digitally delivered eSIM or a physically shipped SIM card. They also include free calling to Mexico, Canada, and the UK, along with free mobile hotspot.

Check out our roundup of the best Mint Mobile deals for monthly updates. Learn more in our Mint Mobile review.

Follow our WhatsApp channel on mobile for more buying guides, deals, and reviews.

• Workers on family health insurance plans paid $7,471 for premiums in 2026, a 9% increase from 2025.
• Costs are even higher at smaller businesses: Workers there pay nearly $10,000 for family premiums.
• Rising premiums have outpaced wage growth, and are only expected to increase more in 2027.

It's costing families nearly $7,500 a year for health insurance — and more increases are looming.

A 2026 health benefits survey from KFF found that workers on a family plan paid an average of $7,471 a year in premiums — a 9% increase from 2025. And that's just the worker contribution — when accounting for employer contributions, family plan premiums totaled $28,303 in 2026, a roughly 5% increase from 2025.

That's a hefty price for both workers and their employers, and even more acute for workers at smaller businesses: KFF's survey found that at firms with fewer than 200 employees, they paid nearly $10,000 toward family premiums in 2026. Smaller firms are often more beholden to insurance companies, since they don't wield the same bargaining power as larger firms.

Mounting health costs might be part of why consumers feel so gloomy: As wages have increased, insurance premiums have risen even faster. While wages increased 3.7% year-over-year for workers — which might look like a nice pay bump on paper — worker-paid premiums outpaced that salary growth, rising by 9%.

And over the past few years, how much workers pay for health plans has eaten up a larger share of their household income. For workers across all firms, their premium costs amounted to nearly 8% of real household median income in 2025.

Are you worried about rising health insurance costs, or already paying thousands out of pocket? Share your story with this reporter at jkaplan@businessinsider.com.

All of that comes as employers and workers brace for open enrollment season, and more hikes loom: An analysis from PricewaterhouseCoopers, based on a survey of health plan actuaries, projects that commercial healthcare group costs will rise by 9% in 2027. Similarly, Aon, an insurance management firm, found that employer healthcare costs are projected to climb by 9.5% next year without any cost mitigation measures — meaning before firms figure out how to pass some of those mounting costs on to their workers.

For workers and firms, that means a tighter financial squeeze: Companies are paying more to cover their workers, but costs are likely still outpacing wages. At the same time, firms might not be able to provide higher wages as care costs climb. It means that everyone is paying more, and nobody's feeling good about it: An Ipsos/Axios poll found that 69% of Americans say a 10% increase would negatively impact their household finances, with 30% saying it would have a major negative impact.

• Small-business workers are facing higher costs for family health coverage than those at larger firms.
• Affordability and healthcare costs are key concerns for American workers and voters in the midterms.
• Small firms struggle with health benefit options due to less bargaining power and higher costs.

Health insurance costs are going up, and it's especially rough for workers at small businesses.

A new annual survey of employers and their health benefits from KFF found that small-business workers pay more for family coverage than workers at firms of every other size. At the same time, many of these workers have fewer plan choices than at larger firms, meaning they're often stuck with whatever option their employer selected.

From 2025 to 2026, annual worker contributions for family coverage at firms with 10 to 199 workers increased from $8,889 to $9,687, a 9% increase. While the largest firms saw a sharper increase, workers' contributions at employers with 5,000 or more employees were nearly $3,000 less. For all firms, contributions rose about 9% to $7,471.

Of covered workers at small firms, nearly one in three has a plan requiring an employee contribution of over $12,000 annually, more than double the rate at large firms.

According to the survey, 66% of small firms offer health benefits, compared with 98% of firms with 200 or more workers. That's up from 59% in 2025 but remains below the 72% level of five years ago.

Workers at small firms pay an average 37% of the family premium, compared with 25% at larger firms.

While premiums for health insurance plans that cover only a worker and not their family are similar for small and large businesses, the average deductible at small firms is nearly $1,000 higher than at large firms. More than half of small-firm workers face a deductible of at least $2,000, compared to just a third of large-firm workers.

Though the report doesn't get into the discrepancy for family plans in depth, small businesses often have less bargaining power with insurers. Because small businesses operate on smaller margins, they often don't have the money to subsidize spouses and children at the same level as larger businesses. Risk is also more concentrated among smaller businesses, meaning that future premiums and claims may be heightened by a single employee with costly medical needs.

Additionally, because small firms are much less likely to self-fund, they're often more dependent on insurers and therefore pass along rate increases to their workers. Average annual premiums rose 5% in 2026, with employers citing projected cost increases, while the survey separately found that GLP-1 coverage can affect prescription-drug spending. Workers at small employers are more likely to have weaker coverage for specialty drugs.

Affordability is top of mind for Americans gearing up to vote in the midterms. Healthcare costs remain a top financial concern. Millions of Americans have lost health coverage as ACA marketplace subsidies expired and Medicaid enrollment protections ended.

Small businesses have been hit hard over the past few years by inflation, higher interest rates, and tariffs. Small businesses have been embracing AI as a cost-saving measure, though many face unexpected costs due to token overuse or subscription price increases.

Dozens of workers have told Business Insider that preparing for retirement has been a significant source of stress as they navigate a tight job market. However, among employers that offer health benefits, 23% of firms with 200-999 workers offer retiree health benefits, versus 35% of firms with 5,000 or more workers.

There are some silver linings for workers. Premiums for single workers are slightly lower at smaller firms than at larger ones overall. Employees at small firms on single health insurance plans were much more likely to have their entire premium paid by their employer, though they're also much more likely to pay more than half of the family premium. Among small firms offering coverage, nearly all offer family coverage.

While walking to the car last night, my iPhone slipped out of my hand and clattered to the brick ground face down. Everyone knows the slow-motion dread of flipping your phone over to assess the damage, but I was relieved to see that my OtterBox Glass screen protector took all of the damage, cracking apart at the point of impact and leaving my actual phone unscathed.

OtterBox is running a quick sale through October 23, which knocks 20% off select items with the code FLASH20, including my screen protector. I'm using an iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the deal is available for any case or screen protector in the iPhone 17 and 18 device families.

The OtterBox screen protector is made from tempered glass, which is our top recommended material for screen safety. Standard, flimsy, plastic-only screen covers of the past are only good for scratch protection, but a glass screen protector helps prevent shattering as well.

OtterBox cases come with a frame installation kit and cleaning supplies, including an alcohol wipe and polishing cloth. Admittedly, the frame installation kit directions are a little unhelpful, but it's pretty intuitive and easy to put on.

My screen protector typically costs $40, but the current OtterBox deal will knock that down to just $32 before any taxes and shipping fees. It's on the pricier end of standard screen protectors (you can check out a few other top recommendations in our guide to the best iPhone 18 Pro Max screen protectors), but the two-pack is just $10 more (and also on sale), so I recommend going with that.

While iPhones have become increasingly rugged, we still recommend using both a screen protector and a case. Even the cheapest options can help protect a device that now often costs over $1,000.

The tech experts on our team are longtime fans of OtterBox, which is consistently one of our top picks for heavy-duty protection. The Defender Series made the cut in our guide to the best iPhone 18 Pro Max cases, thanks to its military-grade drop protection. The case is normally $70, but the flash deal discounts it to $56.

I've been using the brand's cases for my iPhones for years now, and recently tested out the Lumen Series, which offered lots to love in its sleek design. The case is typically $50, but the same offer brings that down to $40.

You can stack multiple items and use the promo code on all of them. Or (instead), you can get 30% off your entire order if you purchase 3+ items.

• The Billboard 200 is the definitive all-genre chart for album sales in the US.
• Only 10 artists in Billboard history have topped the chart at least 10 different times.
• The Beatles have the most No. 1 albums with 19. Taylor Swift and Drake are tied for second place.

The Billboard 200 has tracked the best-selling albums in the US for decades.

It's a major accomplishment to top the chart, especially when an artist manages the feat with multiple different albums.

Only a handful of artists have crossed into double-digit No. 1s, including modern superstars like Taylor Swift, Drake, Jay-Z, and Future. They're listed below in ascending order.

Editor's note: Although Elvis Presley is often credited with 10 No. 1 albums, a Billboard representative told Business Insider that most of his biggest releases predate the modern Billboard 200 chart, which launched in 1963.

Madonna — 10

Madonna's 2026 album "Confessions II" became her milestone 10th No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Madonna is also the first artist with a No. 1 album in the 2020s to have already topped the chart in three other decades: twice in the 2010s ("Madame X" and "MDNA"), four times in the 2000s ("Hard Candy," "Confessions on a Dance Floor," "American Life," and "Music"), and thrice in the 1980s ("Like a Prayer," "True Blue," and "Like a Virgin").

Bruce Springsteen — 11

Bruce Springsteen's 11 chart-topping albums span over three decades, from 1980's "The River" to 2014's "High Hopes" — even though Springsteen has yet to score a No. 1 hit song on the Billboard Hot 100.

Barbra Streisand — 11

Barbra Streisand logged her first No. 1 entry on the Billboard 200 with "People" in 1964.

Fifty-one years later, she set a record for the longest span between No. 1s when "Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway," her 2016 studio album, topped the chart.

Streisand previously held the record for the most No. 1 albums among female artists until Taylor Swift broke it in 2023.

Kanye West — 11

Ye, who still releases music under the name Kanye West, topped the Billboard 200 for the first time in 2005 with "Late Registration."

He logged his 11th consecutive No. 1 album in 2024 with "Vultures 1," a collaborative effort with Ty Dolla $ign.

Eminem — 11

When it was released in 2000, Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" sold over 1 million copies in its first week, easily earning a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200.

Two decades later, "Music to Be Murdered By" debuted at No. 1, becoming Eminem's historic 10th chart-topper. He logged his 11th in 2024 with "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)."

Future — 11

Future earned his first No. 1 album in 2015 with "DS2," which has since spent over 300 weeks on the Billboard 200.

In 2024, Future's "Mixtape Pluto" debuted atop the chart — his third No. 1 album in just six months and 11th overall.

Earlier that year, Future topped the chart with "We Don't Trust You" and "We Still Don't Trust You," collaborative efforts with Metro Boomin. The former is widely known for reigniting a feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

Jay-Z — 14

Jay-Z began collecting No. 1s in 1998 with his third studio album, "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life." In 2017, he extended his total to 14 with his latest effort, "4:44."

Jay-Z is also one of the most-awarded artists in Grammy history.

Drake — 15

Since pivoting to music after starring on "Degrassi" as a teenager, Drake has racked up 15 No. 1 albums, from 2010's "Thank Me Later" to 2026's "Iceman."

Drake's grand total also includes one mixtape ("Care Package"), three collaborative albums ("What A Time To Be Alive" with Future, "Her Loss" with 21 Savage, and "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U" with PartyNextDoor), and one project mysteriously billed as a playlist ("More Life").

Taylor Swift — 15

Only one of Taylor Swift's albums hasn't topped the chart: her self-titled debut, which peaked at No. 5 in 2008.

Swift earned her first No. 1 later that same year with "Fearless," which has since been ranked the fourth-biggest album in Billboard 200 history. In the 2020s, Swift rerecorded four of her old albums and rebranded each new release as "Taylor's Version." All four of those topped the chart, too.

Most recently, 2025's "The Life of a Showgirl" launched atop the chart with the biggest sales week in history, breaking Adele's record. It became her 15th No. 1 album, extending her record for the most among women. She is tied for the most among solo artists.

Swift has also broken Elvis Presley's record for the most cumulative weeks spent at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a solo artist.

The Beatles — 19

The Beatles hold both records for the most No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 and the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. The latter group includes classics like "Revolver" (1966), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967), "Abbey Road" (1969), and their post-band breakup compilation "1" (2000).

As a solo musician, Paul McCartney has topped the Billboard 200 eight more times, while John Lennon managed the feat three times before he died in 1980.

• Goldman Sachs Asset Management found 80% of Gen Zers have worked outside their primary jobs.
• People across generations said this was because they needed the money or for financial security.
• Not feeling secure can affect financial goals, like homeownership.

Having a job doesn't always mean you have enough to cover daily living or savings goals.

A July survey of Americans by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and the behavioral economics firm Escalent found over 60% of respondents have worked outside their primary roles, largely because they needed to. Twenty-seven percent of respondents said work covers their expenses, but it's tough to get ahead.

"Employment remains essential for retirement security, but for many Americans, it is no longer sufficient," a Goldman Sachs Asset Management retirement report said.

Gen Zers were most likely to say they earn or have earned money outside their primary job; millennials followed closely behind. The report said that's despite most Gen Z and millennial workers reporting their jobs provide financial stability.

"Younger workers may feel stable in their main jobs while still seeing extra work as necessary," the report said.

Throughout the generations, a majority said they're doing gig or side work out of necessity or for financial security.

"The traditional full-time job may no longer be carrying the full weight of financial security," the report said. "For many, supplementing income appears to have become part of the baseline."

Some Americans are living paycheck to paycheck or adjusting their budgets to cope with rising gas prices and other everyday expenses. It can be hard to get ahead when wage growth has been consistently falling short of inflation, and it's tough to find a new job to try to earn more money.

Not feeling financially secure can lead to putting off savings goals. Eighty-three percent of Gen Z and 78% of millennials said they put major financial goals on hold. Forty-one percent of millennials have delayed emergency savings despite being employed, and 30% said they delayed housing or homebuying goals. For Gen Zers, the shares were 35% and 34%, respectively.

While some people may be working a part-time side job, others are "overemployed" and working multiple full-time jobs. One millennial has worked five full-time remote IT jobs, earning over $700,000 annually. As Business Insider's Jacob Zinkula reported, overemployed people use their extra earnings for different reasons, such as retiring early or paying down debt.

Having multiple income streams can also be considered a "portfolio career," where people piece together different kinds of work, such as writing a newsletter, doing a side gig, and holding an office job. It can be one way to try "stability stacking" to feel more secure about your career if, for example, you were laid off and lost an income stream.

"When you decentralize everything from one 9-to-5 and build a portfolio career, you protect yourself from the emotional and financial shock if and when business needs change at your 9-to-5," said career coach Janel Abrahami in a TikTok video.

And sometimes, working a side gig can become a complete career pivot. Harlan Rappaport, in his 20s, turned his email marketing side hustle into a full-time career after working as an investment analyst at a financial institution.

"I used to get really excited about the numbers, but over the last couple of years, I realized it's more about the freedom I've had in my life over the last couple of years as a freelancer," Rappaport said in an as-told-to essay. "I don't miss family events, can travel when I want, and can work from anywhere in the world."

• Elon Musk has repeatedly said cars will drive themselves around the world.
• Now, he's making a bolder claim: Tesla will dominate that autonomy, he predicts.
• The only thing that could get in the way, Musk says: these pesky governments!

Tesla CEO Elon Musk famously thinks bots will drive us around.

On Wednesday, he took that long-running vision of autonomy a step further. During the automaker's earnings call, Musk predicted that Tesla itself would dominate how passengers get around — so long as pesky regulators don't get in the way.

"I think Tesla will end up doing a majority of all passenger miles on Earth in any country where it is allowed to operate freely," he said. "And you can come back and look at this prediction, but I feel confident about this prediction."

He said Tesla's biggest hurdle to world domination is foreign governments blocking autonomous tech "to protect a domestic industry."

That is a bolder statement than Musk's prior autonomy predictions.

During a January earnings call, he said the "vast majority of miles traveled" would eventually be autonomous and guessed that people would manually drive fewer than 5% of miles. That prediction left other autonomous competitors — Waymo, Zoox, Ford, GM, Rivian, etc. — in the fray.

Vehicle autonomy is core to Tesla's valuation story. The company says its future lineup will include only one vehicle that drivers can operate manually: the high-priced Roadster.

In September, the company started rolling out the steering-wheel-less Cybercab for ride-hailing in Texas.

That rollout has had its fits and starts. While Tesla says it's ramping production and preparing to launch Cybercab rides in Florida, the NHTSA issued an audit inquiry hours after the car's public release to probe the automaker's self-certification.

Musk, who has described his predictions as his "best guesses," has missed several recent timelines for Tesla's autonomy rollout — including a prediction that unsupervised autonomy would ramp across the US in 2025.

Now, Tesla has a new target date for the consumer launch of its full self-driving software. On Wednesday, Ashok Elluswamy, the company's VP of AI, said unsupervised FSD is coming "somewhere around Q2 next year."

Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• A version of this story originally appeared in Business Insider's weekly VC Insider newsletter.
• Sign up for BI's VC Insider newsletter here.

Ben here. Up until recently, it was a great time to be the founder of a neolab, the lavishly funded, research-first AI startups founded by top talent who defected from the likes of OpenAI or Google DeepMind.

We reported last month that Jeff Dean, Google's former chief scientist, is seeking a valuation as high as $50 billion for his new AI science startup. OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever's Safe Superintelligence is worth $32 billion. Another OpenAI alum, Mira Murati, is raising a round for Thinking Machines Lab at a valuation of around $40 billion.

But lately, in conversations with multiple VCs around Silicon Valley, there is a growing divide about whether neolabs can make the economics work with their multibillion-dollar price tags and formidable competition from frontier labs.

One VC at a top firm, who asked that I not use his name, told me neolabs are the most hotly debated type of investment right now.

"Some would say you shouldn't invest in any, and others would say this is basically all you should be investing in because software's dead, and you either have to own models or hardware, and even if you enter at a billion, the company could be worth a trillion," he said.

When I recently asked Menlo Ventures partner Matt Murphy at Business Insider's Growth Mode conference which sector he thought was most overhyped, he immediately cited neolabs, which was noteworthy, given that Menlo invested in some of them.

Murphy pointed to an example from his time as an early board advisor at Google, which he said did so well because it "was like a match thrown into a bonfire."

"The opposite thing you want to do is start a match with a bonfire," Murphy told me. "That's the risk of what's going on now with companies raising such large rounds."

Another Menlo partner, Deedy Das, posted last month about the "difficult game" of making neolab math work.

Das seemed a bit taken aback by the reaction to his post and later texted me: "Like all startups, many will fail, some will work."

Picking which ones will work is why VCs get paid the big bucks.

Neolabs are a power-law bet taken to an extreme, Radical Ventures' Aaron Rosenberg told me.

Investors know most will likely burn enormous sums on compute and talent without ever becoming profitable. But the rare winner could become a foundational AI company worth hundreds of billions or more.

"We're confident that the best neolabs will attract ongoing support," Rosenberg said. "Talent continues to transition out of the incumbents and academia into founder roles, and we see no signs of that slowing."

Like Radical, New Enterprise Associates wrote a bullish view in June. One of the authors, Andrew Schoen, told me his views have not changed. "There are neolabs I know of that are finalizing billion-plus-dollar rounds of equity financing, and those processes are moving very smoothly and quickly," he said.

The Buzz

Katie here. Many of tech's biggest names gathered at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco on Saturday, at a black-tie event in the name of Menlo Ventures' 50th anniversary.

Hollywood titan turned venture capitalist Jeffrey Katzenberg of Dreamworks fame asked the audience to join a prayer "for the blockbuster IPO of Anthropic," a joking reference to Menlo's early investment in the company.

I also spotted Morgan Stanley's storied technology banker Michael Grimes, who is undoubtedly holding his own AI IPO prayers. Other attendees included an array of public company and startup CEOs, including those from Snowflake, Zscaler, Legora, and OpenRouter.

As Menlo partner Venky Ganesan quipped, there was more AUM (assets under management) in the room than in many countries, given the attendees' net worth and the investment capital they manage.

Menlo isn't the first venture firm to host a splashy anniversary party; Index Ventures recently went big for its 30th anniversary.

A person at a rival venture shop expressed disappointment that their firm doesn't host such celebrations.

Menlo's night ended with concerts from two super confidential Grammy Award winners trying to rake in those AI bucks!

Around the Cap Table

• We reported this week that Fireworks AI is seeking fresh funding at a valuation of between $30 billion and $40 billion, a dramatic jump just months after its last blockbuster round was closed.
• "You Can See Everything" has everyone talking. Ben thought it was absolute genius, if a bit long. It will make this year's Oscars race exciting. See it in theaters before the experience is lessened by spoilers.
• Our colleague Rya Jetha explored the excitement and pitfalls of investing in robotics startups. Like neolabs, robotics companies are commanding big valuations with little to show for it, yet.
• Foursquare's $0 acquisition ended with no payout for employees or investors, according to founder Dennis Crowley.

Post of The Week

The VC Insider team

Ben Bergman, chief correspondent, in Los Angeles. Katie Roof, editor at large, in San Francisco. Pranav Dixit, senior technology editor, in San Francisco. Leena Rao, executive editor, in Los Angeles.

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and mathematicians have a complicated relationship.
• OpenAI has taken credit for solving hundreds of math problems, irking many mathematicians.
• At a recent talk at Stanford, Altman said mathematicians have already gone from anger to acceptance.

Like someone in mourning, Sam Altman said mathematicians went through phases after OpenAI began its blitz into the field.

First, there was disbelief. Then, there was pain.

"The day one reaction was like, 'We're cooked, and our field is over,'" OpenAI's CEO said. "'We're telling our grad students to switch majors.'"

After that, there was anger.

"The day three reaction was maybe like: 'It's horrible that OpenAI did this,'" Altman said at a recent talk at Stanford, before hundreds of students jittery about the viability of their future careers.

Come day five, though, in Altman's telling, mathematicians began to come around to what he described as AI's now-inalienable role in the study of numbers and proofs.

"We've now seen a lot of people say, actually, I'm going to have a different but hopefully better kind of career as a mathematician," Altman said.

Altman's buoyant assessment contrasts sharply with what some in the math community have described as an existential transformation.

After OpenAI abruptly broke into the field's prerogatives in September, announcing its models had solved the Navier-Stokes equations — a famously challenging math puzzle that stumped the industry's brightest since the 19th Century — preeminent mathematicians erupted in fury.

A pair of academics, one at New York University and another at Anthropic, accused OpenAI of using data from their chat logs to help crack the problem. Mathematicians also complained that while an AI model might have solved the problem, it didn't show its work, leaving them with the less celebratory task of verifying it.

And in the wake of all that controversy, there was more controversy.

A group of undergrads at Caltech, wary of how rapidly AI was disrupting their field and wanting to stay relevant, advertised a "mathathon" where participants were encouraged to use AI to solve long-standing problems.

OpenAI dropped out of sponsoring the event after more than 700 academics signed an open letter denouncing the competition for promoting AI "slop." (Organizers have since made adjustments to the rules, and the competition is set for November.)

More recently, Terence Tao, a math prodigy at UCLA who earned his doctorate at 20, said math's "romantic era" is over, as top academics like him adjust to a workflow that involves verifying AI's work rather than solving problems individually.

"Some things are being lost," Tao said after OpenAI this month said it solved over 700 more problems.

Meanwhile, Altman, sitting on the opposite side of the debate, has adopted the optimism of the disrupter.

"I don't think there's going to be like a job apocalypse," Altman said of AI causing companies to restructure their workforces. In the field of math, however, Altman said the disruptions came more quickly than in other disciplines and industries.

"That was the fastest that I think we've all gotten to watch a field go through this cycle," he said.

• Rising Treasury yields have rocked markets in recent months.
• But the dizzying surge to nearly quarter-century highs might be done.
• Jim Paulsen says both history and current economic realities say yields are near a peak.

If you're afraid of another roller coaster in bonds that takes yields back to quarter-century highs, there's a chance the worst is over.

History points to a simple reason that Treasury yields may be done rising: simply put, they're already high. Surging yields have sent waves of fear rippling through Wall Street, with the benchmark 10 year Treasury yield reaching its highest point in 24 years this month.

But according to Jim Paulsen, a veteran Wall Streeter and the former chief investment strategist at The Leuthold Group, there may be some good news for jittery investors worried about more bond volatility.

"US yields may surprisingly be nearing a peak for a simple but perhaps more important reason — compared to history, the current 10-year Treasury bond yield is fairly 'high'!" Paulsen wrote on Thursday.

A lot of people are quick to point out that, relative to prior decades like the 1980s, yields are still low. Paulsen pushed back on that notion, looking at 155 years of history to show that the 10-year bond yield is higher than 76% of monthly readings since 1871.

That doesn't mean that yields can't keep rising. Paulsen acknowledged the possibility, noting the upward pressure created by fiscal issues and heavy new supply of both corporate and government bonds.

However, he said there's another reason yields could remain subdued. In his view, the US is nowhere near an inflationary crisis like the 1970s, and the economy is signaling that prices should cool, reducing the need for more rate hikes from the Federal Reserve.

Strong, consistent demand helped keep prices high during the 1970s, which ultimately made it harder for policy makers to contain inflation. Paulsen argues that's far from what is taking place in the US today, despite inflation being rising again, albeit for very different reasons.

"Today's inflationary struggle is due primarily to 'supply-side' constraints which are solvable," he said. "If the US is not headed again for a repeat of the 1970s-80s inflationary blowoff — which seems very unlikely — today's 10-year yield is indeed among the highest in US history."

• Julian Buckner founded Vesta Home, a luxury interior design company in 2018.
• He's worked with celebrities and high-end clients staging their homes and selling custom furniture.
• He gives his advice on how to make your home feel more luxurious without breaking the bank.

For luxury and elegance, homeowners often have to shell out for professional help finding the latest trends and big-ticket items. But what if you want your home to look expensive, but you can't break the bank?

According to the CEO of a luxury interior design company, there are still ways to communicate luxury via your own personal taste.

"Anyone with money can walk into a B&B Italia and spend $1 million on furniture and have it look like a B&B Italia showroom," said Julian Buckner, who founded the Los Angeles-based staging, interior design, and furniture sales company Vesta Home in 2018. "Taste is knowing when to put in the ultra-modern leather casino sofa and then marry it with some vintage nightstand that you found at the design mart in Texas."

Buckner, who has worked with clients like LeBron James, Travis Scott, and Jonah Hill, said the average home he stages is worth about $6 million. But his advice applies regardless of price point. Below, he shares his tips for how people can make their homes feel more luxurious without the hefty price tag.

Bring a personal touch to your decorating.

Bringing something unique and unexpected into a room as decoration shows a level of thought that conveys luxury unlike anything else, Buckner said.

"Those small knickknacks or found items may be the single biggest thing to add personality to a space," he said. "I've seen those antique old wooden shoe horns, antique toys, plaster or marble busts, anything you just wanted to tie into the broader aesthetic."

Just make sure not to get carried away.

"I see people go to HomeGoods and just buy a bunch of random knickknacks and put them on every shelf, and I think that cheapens it," Buckner said.

"It's like informal men's dress wear," he added. "There are a couple of areas you can express personality, and it's maybe in your socks and your choice of a wristwatch. I think that same thing is true in luxury design, where it's in those found items, those antiques, and ultimately the accessories; that's a really unique opportunity to express yourself."

Make furniture unique by having fun with different fabrics.

There are other subtle ways to show off your personality, too. Buckner said a great way to add a unique fixture to your home is to reupholster furniture.

"I think that the average consumer does not appreciate, does not understand, or does not even know that reupholstering is an option," he said. "You can take a relatively inexpensive sofa and for not a ton of money, reupholster it in a really unique fabric that ties into the rest of the home, and that can absolutely make a space."

Try not to have everything match.

While having a theme to a room is fine, Buckner said having things too "matchy-matchy" is no longer in style.

"You can see that with the emergence and the popularity of a company like a Restoration Hardware, this more monotone type of furniture and people buying full rooms together and having everything matchy-matchy," Buckner said. "We're seeing a shift away from that and a real focus on curation — on things not matching."

Sometimes, things clashing can actually make a room more interesting.

"I think when things don't match, when there's a little bit of dissonance in the design, that's an area — when it's done tastefully, not tons of different fabrics and colors and textures everywhere — to make you stop and think, 'Oh, that's interesting,'" he said. "We're starting to see a lot more of that."

Window treatments are the most important and easiest fixes for your home.

Buckner's No. 1 fix for adding style to your home is adjusting your window treatments.

"Window treatments, I think, are often massively overlooked, and it's a very inexpensive way to make a space feel very high-end," he said. "Whether the curtains are too heavy, they're poorly positioned, or the rods look cheap, there's such an opportunity there in fabric and layering on the window treatment side that I think can add a ton to a room."

Trendy isn't always better.

It's hard not to be inspired when you see a celebrity's home with a special lamp or a certain style of couch (Buckner said Bouclé has had its moment), but it's often better to stay away from popular trends.

While Buckner's high-end clients change their homes around every three to five years, trying to keep up with trends isn't cost-effective for the average consumer. It's more important to find pieces that you like first.

"I would stay away from trends and focus on timeless design and products that you actually love. Spend the time on putting that together, whether it's something you found in a unique place, or has a story behind it, or something that resonates," Buckner said.

"When it's thoughtfully done, it really conveys the highest level of taste."

• Hedge funds have been in a long-running war for talent.
• It's driven pay for talented traders sky-high, with some earning tens of millions of dollars in guarantees.
• A recent report from Goldman Sachs found that some of this pressure may be easing thanks to SMAs.

The war isn't over, but it may have peaked.

Hedge funds have been fighting one another for years for top traders. The surge of assets into the industry, in particular into the people-heavy multi-strategy platforms, has given firms essentially a blank check to bring in top PMs. It's driven compensation figures through the roof, with funds guaranteeing tens of millions of dollars to investing talent before they've made a single trade.

But new research from Goldman Sachs found that hiring among these multi-strategy and multi-manager funds has slowed, relative to the amount of assets they've brought in over the past 12 months. These firms grew head count 7% from mid-2025 to mid-2026, a step down from when these funds' employee totals jumped 10%, 18%, and 27% in 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

One reason for the slowdown: Separately managed accounts.

"This slowdown is likely a byproduct of the continued build-out of external allocation programs, which effectively substitutes third-party capital deployment for internal hiring," the report reads.

Funds, including Millennium, Schonfeld, and Qube, have been aggressive in putting their capital to work in funds operating outside their four walls, almost always via an SMA, which provides more transparency and flexibility than typical. Even firms that have traditionally not pursued external allocation opportunities, like Citadel, have begun to dip their toes into the space.

The structure has given talented portfolio managers looking to start their own venture a straightforward path to running their own firm without spending months fundraising from slow-moving institutions like pensions and sovereign wealth funds. Often, the founders of firms accepting SMA investments from large platforms were once traders at prominent multi-strategy managers.

The growth of SMAs over the past 12 months is equivalent to roughly 800 full-time employees, according to Goldman. If funds had instead hired 800 employees, the year-over-year growth would have been more than 10%, roughly the same as the year prior.

SMAs have been one of the biggest trends in the industry, and funds running capital from these large firms now control a sizable chunk of money. Goldman's report states external assets under management went from $34 billion to $47 billion over the past 12 months.

For funds that have most of their investment talent in-house, such as Millennium and Schonfeld, the right external allocation is often one that can handle a large investment. The average ticket size, Goldman writes, is nearly $190 million, up 19% from the year prior.

It's still early, but the thesis that SMA growth could help cool a white-hot market for talent has so far played out. Goldman's report also notes that firms have pulled back on non-investment hiring, with 43% of roles going to investment personnel in 2026, up from 40% in 2024.

"A reversal, even a modest one, is a meaningful development," Goldman wrote.

• After traveling to over 50 cities in Europe, I've enjoyed visiting some lesser-known locations.
• Bath, England, is a great place to visit for Roman ruins and beautiful architecture.
• I also loved traveling to Bruges, Belgium, which is both historic and romantic.

I've visited over 50 cities in Europe, and although I love global tourist hubs like London and Paris, I also try to seek out smaller cities and towns.

Here are five lesser-known destinations in Europe I recommend visiting.

Bath, England, is just a 90-minute train ride from London.

As you probably could have guessed from this city's name, Bath is known for its Roman baths. These baths, dating back to AD 70, are some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world.

The city is full of beautiful Georgian architecture, which can be admired in places like the Royal Crescent — a crescent-shaped row of 30 houses.

I also loved visiting the Circus, which is made up of townhouses arranged in a circular pattern. In my opinion, these areas are part of what makes walking around Bath feel unique.

The train from London to Bath takes about 90 minutes, making this city the perfect day trip.

Heidelberg, Germany, embraces modern life without losing its historical charm.

Heidelberg has striking views around every corner. The city is home to a centuries-old castle as well as the oldest university in Germany.

I enjoyed walking along Philosophenweg (also called Philosopher's Way), where professors sought solitude and academic inspiration. The path was especially beautiful during my trip in the fall.

We loved spending time in the city, which had lots of nice restaurants and cool bars. In my opinion, Heidelberg does an amazing job of embracing the new while holding on to its historical charm.

Bruges, Belgium, is a romantic city.

Bruges is a laid-back destination that makes a convenient day trip from nearby Paris and Brussels. In my opinion, visiting the medieval city feels like stepping back in time.

The best thing I did was take a boat ride on the canal, admiring the architecture while cruising through Minnewaterpark, commonly referred to as the Lake of Love.

The city is perfect for couples looking to indulge in Belgian beer and chocolate.

Mostar is a beautiful city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mostar really surprised me because it didn't look like anywhere else I'd been. The towering 16th-century Old Bridge connecting the two sides of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The city also has a well-preserved Ottoman quarter with charming cobblestone streets.

During my time in Mostar, I loved drinking Bosnian coffee, taking in the views of the city, and feasting on local dishes like ćevapi.

Andorra La Vella is a hidden gem in the Pyrenees mountains.

Andorra La Vella is the capital of Andorra, a country in the Pyrenees between France and Spain.

Every restaurant we dined at featured dishes influenced by the surrounding countries. If you want to try authentic Andorran food, head to a borda — a traditional house once used for agricultural purposes. Now, these buildings are used as charming restaurants.

Andorra la Vella makes a great day trip from Barcelona, but, in my opinion, the city deserves more than a one-day visit.

This story was originally published on July 3, 2024, and most recently updated on October 22, 2025.

• May Lee successfully applied for a role at McMurdo Station in Antarctica at age 60.
• Jobs at McMurdo require an extensive background and health check, and are very competitive.
• She told Business Insider about the nearly seven-month job process, from application to deployment.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with May Lee, a 60-year-old broadcast engineer with GreyHawk Global at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. She previously worked there as a supply technician for Amentum after spending decades at HP, most recently as a marketing and communications manager. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I was laid off from HP after 30 years, so I decided to look beyond tech jobs and pursue something different at 60.

I had visited Antarctica twice for vacation and fell in love with it. At the time, I didn't know that you could work there. When I looked into it, I knew I had to apply.

It's so hard to describe how amazing it is to work at McMurdo Station. If you ever get a chance to experience it, I highly recommend it.

Here's what the job application process was like.

I applied for 3 roles, but didn't realize how competitive it is

The US National Science Foundation manages the US Antarctic Program. The body contracts out operational support to several companies, each with a specific focus. For example, Gana A'Yoo is responsible for areas like food services and waste management.

In mid-April, I applied for three roles: rooms coordinator at Gana A'Yoo, service desk support technician at Grey Hawk Global, and a supply assistant supervisor at Amentum.

I applied using my HP résumé, which lists my various roles at the company.

I was turned down for the rooms coordinator role within a week or two, with an email stating that I did "not meet the minimum requirements."

This came as a surprise to me. So, I started researching more about working in Antarctica — something I should have done beforehand — and learned that it's very competitive to get a job there. I read on blogs that if you don't make your résumé match the job description exactly, you get weeded out. So, I think that's what happened.

A recruiter reached out to me anyway

I then kind of wrote off my pursuit of a job in Antarctica. I thought maybe this just wasn't meant to be.

Then, in May, a recruiter from Amentum, which offers roles in logistics and skilled trades, reached out to me, saying that my résumé appeared to be a match for what they were looking for. The job I got was a supply technician at Amentum.

When asked to send my résumé by email, I updated it to make sure it matched the job description.

I also received a pre-screening questionnaire about my availability, credentials, and whether I could work in the US without sponsorship.

I got hired as an alternate

A week later, I had a 30-minute video call with the recruiter about what the hiring process entails and more details about the job environment.

This was followed a few days later by an 80-minute phone call with the hiring manager, during which they asked behavioral, situational, and competency-based questions.

I received an offer contract for an alternate position. An alternate is the backup for a primary who can't go for whatever reason. I was told that the quicker I get through the background and physical qualification (PQ) checks, the quicker I could get to the top of the alternate list.

The health check is extensive

Because Antarctica is so remote, they want to make sure that you're healthy. Because if you go down there and something happens, there are no medical facilities that can take care of you.

In June, I received a 17-page PQ form that requested comprehensive medical and dental information.

There were eight required blood tests, a physical exam, vision screening, and a dental exam, among others. Depending on your age, sex, and deployment location and term, there may be additional tests. The costs of these were reimbursable by the company.

There is also a very comprehensive background check

In addition to the PQ, I underwent a comprehensive government background check.

I was cleared to onboard in June and was notified that I was changed to a primary in July.

Often, this is because a primary has dropped out; they might've failed the PQ, even if they passed it the year before, or something in their life might've happened that requires them to stay home.

There was some back-and-forth with my PQ, which I had to resubmit after getting an updated Tdap vaccine.

In September, I received the current-season influenza vaccine, and my PQ was approved.

I made it to Antarctica in October

I flew from San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand, and then to Christchurch. There were a couple of days of training, and I also got outfitted with extreme-cold-weather gear.

Then, after seven months of preparation, I was finally deployed to McMurdo on a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.

• Dolly Parton's legacy lives on in the music and fashion of today's biggest country stars.
• Many gathered in Nashville for the TV special "CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton."
• Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, and Carrie Underwood all honored Parton with their outfits.

Dolly Parton's legacy sparkled over Nashville this week

The Country Music Association (CMA) hosted "I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday night.

Some of the genre's biggest stars made appearances, both performing Parton's songs onstage and walking the red carpet in outfits inspired by the music legend.

These are the best-dressed stars we saw.

Kelsea Ballerini looked elegant in white feathers and diamonds.

She arrived on the red carpet wearing a $1,250 draped, satin gown from Bronx Banco's bridal line.

It had feather-lined bell sleeves, a low back, and a floor-length skirt. Ballerini paired it with an updo hairstyle and long diamond earrings.

She looked like a Hollywood starlet and perfectly mirrored the best of Parton's famous glam.

Lainey Wilson kept true to her style while also honoring Parton.

Wilson's signature style is pretty different from Parton's. The singer and "Yellowstone" star prefers bell-bottoms and cowboy hats to rhinestone dresses and big hairdos.

Still, Wilson honored the legend with her outfit: black trousers worn with a butterfly-print duster top. She also wore cowboy boots, a matching hat, and thick western jewelry.

Butterflies were famously Parton's favorite motif, as she grew up around them in Tennessee.

Reba McEntire honored her friend onstage while wearing a classic country getup.

McEntire performed "He's Alive" while wearing a white, caftan-style dress with a collar and long sleeves.

The latter were lined with long, rhinestoned fringe, while the dress itself was embellished with a rhinestone scrollwork pattern.

It was the perfect outfit choice to deliver an emotional tribute.

Kristin Chenoweth wore a dress that looked like it could have come from Parton's closet.

Chenoweth walked the red carpet in a form-fitting gown covered in silver sequins. It had a mock neck, long sleeves, and a floor-length skirt.

The dress resembled many of the sequined looks Parton wore throughout her career.

Chenoweth paired it with delicate diamond earrings and multiple rings.

Carrie Underwood chose a princess gown with subtle butterfly details.

Her white, strapless gown had a full skirt, a tulle overlay, and all-over butterfly appliqués in shades of pink. Underwood also wore long diamond earrings and her hair styled in waves.

It was the right choice to wear both on the carpet and onstage, where Underwood performed "I Will Always Love You."

Katy Perry nodded to another of Parton's favorite fashion elements: animal print.

Perry wore a vintage Roberto Cavalli gown from 2004 for the celebration. It was sleeveless with a deep neckline and a flowing skirt, and also decorated with multiple animal prints.

The dress was a daring and unique choice for the event, standing out from the sparkling white ensembles that most other celebrities wore.

And because Parton wore animal print on numerous occasions, it was a fun tribute to the more daring side of her style.

Ella Langley chose a minidress with a butterfly appliqué.

Langely, the country star behind the hit "Choosin' Texas," wore a pale-pink minidress with long sleeves and a plunging neckline.

It was embellished with strings of beads and crystals, and a pink, bedazzled butterfly at the center of her chest.

Langley was pretty and glowing on the red carpet — just like Parton always was.

Hillary Scott of Lady A fame wore two of Parton's favorite things.

Scott wore a sleeveless gown with a sweetheart neckline and a thigh-high slit. While that might sound simple, the dress also featured an all-over leopard print crafted from sequins.

Together, the features created a dress that reflected Parton's boldest style moments.

• US Army officials say laser weapons require surprisingly little protective gear.
• Troops should stay at least 10 feet from targets and never look into the laser.
• The Army wants lasers that work on different vehicles and can be learned in minutes.

US Army officials say the safety protocols for soldiers using lasers are surprisingly simple: don't stand too close to the target and don't look into the weapon.

Directed-energy weapons are seeing more operational use, particularly at the US southern border, where the Army has employed them against cartel-linked drones. The service envisions these systems operating on different vehicles and being easy for soldiers to learn and use safely.

At the Association of the United States Army, or AUSA, convention last week in Washington, DC, officials and industry partners spoke on developments in directed-energy weapons.

Asked about personal protective equipment, or PPE, and any concerns about specular reflection from lasers, Kirk Williams, chief engineer of the Army's directed energy project office, said the rules were similar in some respects to those for other weapons.

"Well, the short and sweet of that answer is: unless you're within ten feet of the target, a specular reflection is eye-safe, so the soldiers don't need the eye protection from the laser," he said, explaining that "it's like any other weapons system: don't look into it."

"We tell the soldiers the same thing about an M-16. Don't look down the barrel. Same thing with lasers, don't look down the barrel."

Specular reflections occur when light bounces off a surface. In the case of a laser weapon, reflected light can bounce off a targeted vehicle or drone. While the target absorbs most of the energy, some reflections might stray and cause eye or skin damage to soldiers near the target.

Williams said that part of the reason the Army likes these weapons is their relatively low risk to soldiers and the limited need for protective gear. "They are safe," he said, adding that "the great thing about a laser is we can also turn them off instantaneously."

The weapons also have safeguards that shut them down if there is a risk of hitting something other than the intended target.

During the panel, Williams and others also talked about the Army's priorities for deploying more laser weapons, an area of growing importance for the Army and the broader US military.

Brig. Gen. Guy Yelverton, the capability program executive for defensive fires, said the service wants to integrate high-energy lasers onto "any vehicle in the motorpool." He said the Army's Enduring High Energy Laser, or E-HEL, is mounted on a sled, allowing it to be integrated onto multiple types of vehicles.

The E-HEL is an Army directed-energy weapon program using AeroVironment's LOCUST laser system.

Yelverton said that making weapons compatible with different vehicles and usable by soldiers across military specialties will allow the Army to deploy them more widely.

The general said that this flexibility would allow the Army to deploy laser weapons "across all Army formations," giving commanders more options for where to put them and which soldiers should operate them.

"It's a great dilemma to have," he said.

Officials also said part of disseminating the weapons is making them easy to train on. "Most of our training sessions, we can train somebody in like, five minutes, to be able to use this system and start shooting things down," Williams said, adding that using standard controllers like those for an Xbox made it intuitive.

The Army's testing of laser weapons and other counter-drone systems at the southern border has reinforced the idea that the US will need layered defenses to counter a range of drone threats. Drug cartels are increasingly using drones to support operations, and the Army has already used lasers to shoot some down.

• I often love Ina Garten's easy, flavorful recipes, so I gave her buttermilk mashed potatoes a try.
• The buttermilk made this dish more flavorful than other mashed-potato recipes I've followed.
• From now on, I plan on making this recipe every time I host or attend a dinner party.

I firmly believe that no fall or winter dinner party is complete without a big bowl of piping-hot mashed potatoes.

That said, there's nothing worse than digging into a pile of fluffy potatoes, only to discover that they're bland or dry.

Although there are dozens of ways to dress up spuds with mix-ins like cheese, sour cream, and extra butter, kitchen queen Ina Garten has a wonderfully simple recipe that I had to try.

I'm so glad I did. Not only is Garten's recipe short and sweet, but the dish is flavor-packed, ultra-creamy, and about to be a part of every future holiday spread in my house.

Here's how to make Garten's mashed potatoes.

The ingredient list is short and simple.

You only need six ingredients for this simple side dish: kosher salt, potatoes, whole milk, unsalted butter, buttermilk, and black pepper.

Garten recommends using a potato that's easy to boil, such as Yukon Gold. Russets would work well, too: Compared to other potatoes, these varieties contain more starch, which breaks down when mashed into a light and fluffy texture.

Yukons are my personal preference; I've found them to be slightly creamier than other options.

The potatoes took me under 10 minutes to prep.

Once I collected my ingredients — and set a big pot of well-salted water to boil on the stove — I started on the prep work.

The first step here is peeling the potatoes, but don't worry about doing it perfectly.

I've found that, as long as the spuds are clean, a few pieces of potato skin in the mix won't really change the dish's quality. Some home chefs might even like to leave a bit of skin on for extra texture.

The potatoes should then be cut into roughly equal-sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.

Garten recommends 1 ½-inch cubes, but it's OK if you're not super precise, since everything will be mashed together later.

Cook the potatoes, and don't let them get gummy.

Once the water came to a boil on the stove, I added the prepped potatoes and reduced the heat to maintain a gentle simmer with the lid off.

An important part of the recipe is to avoid boiling the potatoes, which can make them turn gummy. Instead, keep the water at a nice simmer until you can easily pierce the spuds with a paring knife. This took me between 10 and 15 minutes.

When they're done, drain the potatoes in the sink and return them to the pot to finish the dish.

While the potatoes simmered, I warmed the butter and milk.

Next, I created a mixture of melted butter and whole milk to infuse the cooked potatoes with rich, creamy flavor and texture.

A key step in Garten's recipe is to warm these two ingredients in a small saucepan while the potatoes cook. The butter will melt into the milk, causing an emulsion.

Dry spuds absorb hot liquids better than cold ones, and you'll have an easier time combining the ingredients without any cold lumps of butter.

Just don't let the mixture come to a boil, which can cause the milk to separate from the butter.

Then, I mashed the potatoes.

When the potatoes are done cooking, strain the water over the sink and return them to the pot. Now, it's time to start mashing.

Garten's recipe calls for using a food mill to break down the potatoes, but I live in a New York City apartment with barely enough room to store a large pot. So, I used a good old-fashioned potato masher.

Once I'd crushed the potatoes into a mostly uniform mush, I added the warm butter and incorporated it with a rubber spatula, per Garten's instructions.

I added just enough buttermilk for a super creamy mash.

Once you've folded the butter and milk into the potatoes, it's time for the star ingredient: buttermilk.

I halved Garten's recipe, which typically feeds five or six, and decided to add a half cup of buttermilk. At first, I was worried I'd overdone it — my mash looked soupy.

After a little more stirring and time, though, the starchy potatoes absorbed the buttermilk, and I had myself an incredibly light and fluffy mash.

The seasoning — and the buttermilk — made Garten's recipe stand out from the rest.

Adding the right amount of salt and pepper is essential for any dish, but mashed potatoes are often tragically overlooked in the seasoning department.

Garten recommends adding another 2 teaspoons of salt and pepper to the mash, and I agree wholeheartedly.

The result is a rich, tangy, and flavorful side dish you don't need to wait for a holiday to make. In my opinion, the buttermilk stole the show: I've found that potatoes can be a bit "blah" when not properly seasoned, and this recipe had a slightly acidic quality that I loved.

I'll be bringing these potatoes to Thanksgiving dinner this year, and every holiday party for the foreseeable future.

This story was originally published on November 20, 2025, and most recently updated on October 22, 2026.

• Polls estimate Trump's approval rating at 34% among registered voters and 36% among likely voters.
• Gallup previously tracked presidential approval ratings for nearly 90 years until earlier this year.
• Bill Clinton had the highest recorded approval ratings when he left the Oval Office in January 2001.

Only two weeks out from the midterm elections, President Donald Trump's approval ratings have reached their lowest point during his second term.

The latest poll conducted by The New York Times in partnership with Siena University shows that only 34% of registered voters approve of Trump's handling of the job, while 60% disapprove.

The American Research Group, a different New Hampshire-based pollster, asked the same question and found that 29% of respondents approved of Trump's job performance during a similar polling period, while 67% disapproved. The poll also found that only 27% of surveyed Americans approve of the president's handling of the economy.

These new polls stand against a changing polling landscape.

For nearly 90 years, the Gallup presidential approval polls measured Americans' public opinion on the president's job performance, but now, they're a thing of the past.

In February, Gallup, the analytics and polling company that pioneered presidential approval ratings, confirmed they were ending the practice, which, since the 1930s, had asked Americans: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way [the current president] is handling his job as president?"

In Gallup's latest poll, conducted in early December 2025, 36% of respondents said they approved of Trump's performance, and 59% of respondents said they disapproved of his handling of the presidency.

The American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara, compiled the final Gallup ratings for each presidential term over the past 70 years — from Harry Truman to Joe Biden — and indicated how popular each leader was when they left the Oval Office.

See how the last 13 US presidents ranked in their end-of-term polling, from the lowest to the highest final approval ratings.

Richard Nixon

Final approval rating: 24%

While Richard Nixon won the 1972 election in a historic landslide, the end of his presidency was tainted by the Watergate scandal that led him to resign on August 9, 1974, when facing the threat of impeachment and removal.

Surveyed between August 2 and 5, 1974 — after the House Judiciary Committee had passed articles of impeachment against the president, but before Nixon resigned — 66% of respondents to the Gallup poll said they disapproved of Nixon's presidency, the highest disapproval rate of any president on the list.

Harry S. Truman

Final approval rating: 32%

Assuming the presidency after Franklin D. Roosevelt's death, Harry Truman served two terms that covered the aftermath of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War, including the Korean War, which was widely unpopular and contributed to his low approval rating by the end of his second term in 1953.

When asked December 11 to 16, 1952, 56% of poll respondents said they disapproved of his handling of the presidency during his term.

Jimmy Carter

Final approval rating: 34%

Jimmy Carter had high approval ratings and a single-digit disapproval rating in the early days of his term, but his handling of international affairs, such as the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, along with a struggling economy, ultimately made him widely unpopular by the end of his term.

He lost the 1980 presidential election to Ronald Reagan and faced a disapproval rating of 55% in polling conducted December 5 to 8, when he was readying to leave the White House.

George W. Bush

Final approval rating: 34%

Despite uniting the nation in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, George W. Bush saw his public approval fade during his second term. His approval rating spiked after the 2001 terrorist attacks, the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003, and the capture of Saddam Hussein.

After his reelection, his popularity began to decline as the Iraq War extended. His handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the onset of the 2008 financial crisis also contributed to his low approval ratings.

From January 9 to 11, 2009, as Bush prepared to hand over the presidency to Barack Obama, 61% of poll respondents said they disapproved of his handling of the presidency during his second term.

Donald Trump

Final approval rating: 34%

Donald Trump's first presidency was divisive from the start, as he entered the White House with an approval rating below 50%. He's the first president in modern history to never exceed 50% approval on the Gallup polls during his entire presidency.

While his approval ratings dwindled over the course of his four years in office, his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in particular came under scrutiny ahead of his loss in the 2020 election.

His lowest approval rating in office came during his final Gallup poll, conducted January 4 to 15, 2021.

Most of that polling period took place immediately after the Capitol insurrection on January 6, and Trump faced a disapproval rating of 62%, the second-worst only after Richard Nixon's at the time he left office.

Joe Biden

Final approval rating: 40%

While Joe Biden saw approval ratings above 50% during his first six months in office, rising inflation, illegal immigration, and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza contributed to a decline in his approval ratings.

His lowest-ranking Gallup poll, in which 36% of respondents said they approved of his handling of the role, came in July 2024, a month after his debate performance against Trump shifted focus toward his age and fitness for office.

As he left office, in polls collected January 2 to 16, 2025, Biden received a disapproval rating of 54%.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Final approval rating: 49%

After assuming the presidency because of John F. Kennedy's assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson won the 1964 election in a historic landslide, but he faced decreasing approval ratings over his handling of the Vietnam War.

Low approval ratings, along with a divided party, led Johnson to withdraw from the 1968 presidential race.

At the time of his withdrawal, only 36% of poll respondents said they approved of his handling of the presidency.

By the time he left the office, however, his approval rating had risen to 49%. In polling conducted January 1 to 6, 1969, 37% of respondents said they disapproved of his handling of the role, and 14% said they had no opinion, one of the higher percentages among the listed presidents.

Gerald Ford

Final approval rating: 53%

Assuming the presidency upon Nixon's resignation, Gerald Ford served as US president from August 1974 until January 1977, after losing the election to Jimmy Carter.

During his presidency, Ford faced mixed reviews, with his approval dropping after he pardoned Nixon and introduced conditional amnesty for draft dodgers in September 1974.

Polled December 10 to 13, 1976, after he had lost the reelection to Jimmy Carter, 32% of respondents said they disapproved of Ford's handling of the presidency, and 15% said they had no opinion on it, the highest percentage of the listed presidents.

George H. W. Bush

Final approval rating: 56%

Though the elder Bush lost his reelection bid in the 1992 presidential election against Bill Clinton, public opinion of him was generally positive by the end of his term.

In the weeks before his 1992 nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, however, George H. W. Bush had only a 29% approval rating, the lowest of his presidency. A recession and a reversal of his tax policy contributed to his drop in popularity.

In polling conducted January 8 to 11, 1993, 37% of respondents said they disapproved of his handling of the presidency, while 56% said they approved.

Barack Obama

Final approval rating: 59%

Since the beginning of his presidency in 2009, Barack Obama had a high approval rating for a modern-day president; he averaged nearly 47% approval over eight years.

At his lowest point, in polling conducted September 8 to 11, 2011, 37% of poll respondents said they approved of his presidency, a decline most likely influenced by the president's healthcare policies and his handling of the 2008 economic crisis and the subsequent rise in unemployment rates.

In polls conducted January 17 to 19, 2017, when Obama was leaving office, 37% of respondents said they disapproved of his handling of the role, with 59% saying they approved.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Final approval rating: 59%

After winning the 1952 election in a landslide, Dwight D. Eisenhower saw high approval ratings throughout his presidency, never dropping below the disapproval rating.

Holding office during the critical Cold War years, Eisenhower saw his approval remain positive through the end of his second term, with only 28% of respondents polled December 8 to 13, 1960, saying they disapproved of his handling of the presidency, the lowest among the presidents listed.

Ronald Reagan

Final approval rating: 63%

Ronald Reagan's strong leadership toward ending the Cold War and implementing his economic policies contributed to consistently positive ratings during his presidency and the subsequent election of his vice president, George H. W. Bush, as his successor to the presidency.

By the time he left office, 29% of respondents in a Gallup poll conducted December 27 to 29, 1988, said they disapproved of his handling of the presidency.

Bill Clinton

Final approval rating: 66%

After winning the 1992 elections against the incumbent George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton saw high approval ratings throughout his presidency, though he faced mixed opinions at times during his first term because of his domestic agenda, including tax policy and social issues.

Despite being impeached in 1998 by the House of Representatives over his testimony describing the nature of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, Clinton continued to see positive approval ratings throughout his second term.

By the time he left the White House, he had an approval rating of 66%, the highest of all the presidents on this list.

In the poll conducted January 10 to 14, 2001, only 29% of respondents said they disapproved of his handling of the presidency.

• SpaceX is phasing out its popular Falcon 9 rocket in favor of its much larger Starship rocket.
• That presents a headache for the US Space Force, POLITICO reports.
• The Space Force has said it's open to eventually using SpaceX's Starship. But there are engineering challenges to overcome.

SpaceX's plans to retire its most popular rocket could jeopardize the United States' ability to launch military satellites — a plight compounded by the Pentagon's dependence on Elon Musk's company.

SpaceX is by far the dominant player in the rocket business and indispensable to the military, dwarfing competitors and accounting for 85% of US launches in 2025. The company is phasing out its Falcon 9 rocket to make way for Starship, a massive new vehicle that SpaceX says will be more efficient and profitable, but which many military satellites aren't designed to fit.

The situation leaves the Space Force in a launch crunch that could affect the military's ability to put its advanced satellites in orbit — and on time. The Pentagon has few alternatives to ferry its equipment, and SpaceX's competitors are likely years away from being able to offer comparable services, reports POLITICO, which — like Business Insider — is part of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network.

"Everybody's having problems, so the Space Force is freaking out a little bit about launch," one former Space Force official, who, like others, was granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue.

It also highlights the scale of Musk's company's footprint and the way its business decisions can affect the security of countries including the United States. From the battlefield in Ukraine, where Kyiv is dependent on his Starlink satellite internet service, to cutting-edge artificial intelligence and SpaceX's stranglehold over the pathways to orbit, the world's first trillionaire has a direct hand in the technology that will shape the future.

The Space Force recently tried to book rides for three future satellite missions, but SpaceX declined to offer its services, according to two people familiar with the missions. No other rocket companies offered to take them either, the people said.

A top official at the Space Force downplayed the problem about finding rockets to launch military satellites.

"I wouldn't say there [are] missions I'm worried about being able to fly; I would say we're working through the right way to support those customers," said Brig. Gen. Eric Zarybnisky, the Space Force's acting portfolio acquisition executive for space access.

But Zarybnisky acknowledged growing pains for the government and space industry as demand for rockets increases. "Temporarily, there are some things we'll need to work through, again, as we get new providers flying," he said.

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.

The three Space Force missions that didn't find a ride were listed through the National Security Space Launch initiative, or NSSL — the program the service uses to buy rocket launches for its satellites.

Two of the missions were for the Space Development Agency, according to the people. The agency is a branch of the Space Force that's building a network of hundreds of military satellites in low-Earth orbit to provide expanded data services, and missile warning and tracking capabilities.

Details about the third Space Force mission or the precise date for when the Space Force hoped to launch the missions are unclear.

The Space Force has set up a two-lane system for buying its launches, one for less demanding efforts and another for more challenging missions. The hope was that new competitors, such as Rocket Lab, Stoke Space and Relativity, would have an easier time winning contracts for the lower-risk missions. But SpaceX has dominated both lanes with its Falcon rocket, and other providers have been slow to scale up.

The Space Force hopes to use two large rockets from SpaceX competitors to ferry key military satellites into orbit: United Launch Alliance's Vulcan and Blue Origin's New Glenn.

But the Vulcan rocket has struggled to launch consistently and was grounded earlier this year after problems with its solid rocket boosters. Space Force officials have been frustrated by ULA's delays and have moved missions slated for a Vulcan to a SpaceX Falcon.

Meanwhile, Blue Origin's New Glenn program had a devastating setback in May when a rocket exploded on the company's only launchpad in Florida — putting the rocket out of commission likely until next year.

The Space Force has said it's open to eventually using SpaceX's Starship. But there are engineering challenges to overcome because Starship is designed for "flat stack" satellites such as Starlink, while most military satellites are designed for a larger cargo bay. And it's unclear when SpaceX will have the capacity to meet the Pentagon's needs, given its plans to use Starship to build out orbital data-centers and other company priorities.

Other newer companies may have some solutions. Stoke Space, Relativity and Rocket Lab are all working on medium-lift rockets that could help meet the military's needs. But none of those companies has flown successful test flights of their new vehicles, meaning it could take years for them to start launching reliably and frequently.

Zarybnisky remained optimistic that Blue Origin and ULA will work through their technical problems and that new competitors will get up and running in time.

"We're excited to see where those new providers come on board and are able to support the national security base launches that we need," he said.

It's not just the Pentagon feeling the pinch. The move to decommission the Falcon 9 rocket and focus on Starship has sent the entire space industry into panic — especially commercial satellite builders. Some of those firms have been unable to secure Falcon 9 flights after 2028.

The Space Force didn't disclose a set date for when it will fly its last Falcon mission, but Zarybnisky said the service is "actively talking to SpaceX and understanding where the spacecraft programs are, where they are in their build and test cycle. The end date will really be driven by the spacecraft customers that we have launch service contracts for already."

It's unclear what happens after the Space Force runs through that batch of missions. An industry representative warned that the service is unprepared to deal with the crisis coming its way as demand for rockets increases across the space industry.

New rocket companies can't bid on a Space Force launch until they've demonstrated the ability to successfully fly, part of an effort to keep vaporware companies from winning government business. But commercial satellite companies are not restricted in the same way and have been buying up early launches on rockets that haven't even flown yet. This puts more pressure on the Space Force to find future launches.

The launch crunch "probably requires the Space Force to get creative and figure out a way to start buying capacity now before it's too late," the representative said.

Another person familiar with the issue said that Space Force officials need to work with Congress to "fundamentally rethink" how the military acquires launch.

"The Space Force needs to be allowed to reserve multiple launches at a time, much further out into the 2030s, for vehicles that have yet to fly," the person said. "Yes, it's taking on more risk … [but] if it waits for new rockets to prove themselves, it may find they're already sold out."

This story originally appeared on POLITICO and is courtesy of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which harnesses the resources of the company's newsrooms to publish ambitious scoops, investigations, interviews, opinion pieces, and analysis. It allows journalists — including those from POLITICO, Business Insider, WELT, BILD, Onet, and Fakt — to collaborate on major stories for an international audience of hundreds of millions across platforms.

• In the age of camera phones, anyone can be a photographer.
• You don't need fancy gear or multiple lenses to take good pictures.
• I asked a National Geographic photographer how to make the most of the camera in your pocket.

Getting a degree in photography gave me the chance to work with all kinds of complex cameras, like the ones you see in old movies, where the operator puts a cloak over their head.

By the time I graduated, I was more comfortable with DSLRs and film cameras than the one in my pocket.

As a travel reporter, my work revolves around documenting the places I'm visiting. For some of that imagery, I've come to rely on my smallest, most nimble camera — my phone. So, in April 2022, I set out to improve my phone-photography skills.

And just like in school, I wanted to learn from a pro.

That's why I turned to Kiliii Yüyan, a National Geographic photographer who tells stories about cultures and their environments.

The magazine first published Yüyan's work in 2018, showcasing whale hunters in Alaska, he told Business Insider. Then, in 2023, National Geographic granted Yüyan the Eliza Scidmore Award for outstanding storytelling for his portfolio work, which included his July 2022 cover shot for a story documenting the lives of Indigenous people.

Yüyan said that nowadays, people are "drowning in photographs," but that doesn't mean yours have to look like everyone else's. There are ways to make your images stand out — even if you're just shooting on your phone.

Phone camera tips from a National Geographic photographer made my images feel more powerful.

When Yüyan and I chatted about taking standout photos on a phone, he talked about uncommon angles, proximity to the subject, interesting foregrounds, and time spent shooting.

Here are his best tips for creating powerful pictures with a phone, along with examples of their success from my own camera roll.

For the best lighting, backgrounds, and immersive shots, Yüyan told me to take my time and shoot a lot. He was right.

"The real secret of professional photographers is we shoot a lot and then edit it down to just one or two," Yüyan said. "You should do the same with your phone."

According to Yüyan, spending a long time in one location allows you to find optimal lighting and interesting backdrops. Truly immerse yourself in the environment to notice things that didn't stand out to you at first.

In the photos above, I spent between one and five hours at each location. I was able to take pictures with light I found inspiring, including a rainbow, the sun beaming through the trees, and a shot of a red-hued moon dimmed behind a cloud on a rooftop in Brooklyn, New York. 

"Good photographs come from deep observation, and the muses reward those who slow down, stop running from place to place, and immerse themselves in the specific place and moment," Yüyan said.

So, stick around in one location, take tons of pictures, and "make room for life to unfold in front of your lens," he told Business Insider.

Next, Yüyan said to take advantage of your phone's small size by shooting from angles we don't see every day.

To find the perfect angle, Yüyan said to start by considering how shooting with a lightweight, thin object can open up the realm of possibilities. 

"It becomes a habit to use the phone at just eye level, but if you watch someone who is good at selfies, you can see they are always moving the phone around — up, down, and around to try better angles," he said. "The same applies to making any other kind of photo."

This was an important point I'd never thought about before, but it left me wondering how to tell which angle makes the strongest shot. 

"One good criterion is seeing how much depth an angle will show in a photograph," Yüyan said.

For example, he said, if your subject is a child, pointing the camera down at the kid will typically result in a flat, boring image. It's the angle we're used to seeing, where the background is likely the floor. But shooting from beneath the child's eye level, looking up, can show the layers of the person and whatever is above them. 

"We rarely get down below a child's height to look up at the world, and that perspective can be magical," Yüyan said.

Yüyan's example reminded me of how I photographed a small dog at parks around New York. When I took pictures of her from above or straight on, I couldn't get a sense of her expression or personality.

But when I got below her and snapped the picture while aiming up, I could see her exploratory nature and how she uses her environment to feel bigger, like perching on a rock at the edge of a creek. 

I've found that shooting from beneath widely photographed landmarks makes my pictures look more original.

Yüyan's tip of experimenting with angles that add depth reminded me of another subject I've shot on my phone — the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in NYC.

The first time I photographed the famous tree, I shot from eye level. When I looked at my photo, I felt like I'd seen it many times before.

When I returned to try a lower angle beneath some foliage, I thought I ended up with a more distinctive image. I could now see layers of smaller plants in front of the tree and the tops of the buildings surrounding it, giving me a better sense of its scale, which had been missing.

Yüyan told me that I can make natural landscapes stand out more by placing something in the foreground.

Yüyan said it's hard to take standout pictures of stunning natural landscapes because they've been photographed so much. His best advice is to find a good foreground subject to set your image apart from the rest.

"Great backgrounds, such as mountains or waterfalls, are easy to find because we're always looking for them," Yüyan said. "On the other hand, a good foreground subject, such as blooming wildflowers or a craggy tree, can be much harder to find in the right location."

Yüyan recommended searching for a foreground subject and framing your shot so you can see the scenery in the distance. 

"It'll give your images depth, intimacy, and make your photos unique," he said.

His tip reminded me of when I photographed a beach across the street from the mountains in Santa Cruz, California. I started by photographing the beach from the shore. The mountains looked nice, but there was so much sand that I thought the bottom half of my image looked boring. 

So, I took my phone across some ocean rocks and into the tide pools. The rocks and reflecting water spruced up my foreground, adding layers to my image. To me, this made it feel more dynamic.

Including foreground subjects in my nature shots has made them feel more immersive.

Yüyan's foreground tip reminded me of some photos I also took during a hike in Prescott, Arizona. 

When I first arrived at the Watson Lake parking lot for my hike, I was entranced by rock formations I hadn't seen before. But my photographs from the lot didn't seem to do it justice. 

Once I started hiking and immersing myself in the landscape, I found foreground subjects, such as shrubs, that better framed the lake scene.

I thought having these elements in the second image gave a better sense of what it was really like to be there, with more layers of the environment in frame.

Yüyan's last tip suggested camera phones work best up close.

According to Yüyan, intimate photos of your subject are often more powerful because the viewer can feel how close you are to them.

That's why he suggested that when you're shooting with a phone, you should make it feel like you are standing right next to something for "a more human and intimate feeling."

But don't just use the camera's zoom function. Yüyan suggests standing face-to-face with your subject to "really get in close on what's happening." 

This tip reminded me of photographing a 250-year-old Lebanon cedar tree on the grounds of Castello di Roncade outside Venice, Italy.

As soon as I saw the tree, I snapped a photo because it was alluring. But like my shot of Santa Cruz from the shore, I thought the bottom half of my photo was a bland waste of space. And like my shot of Watson Lake from the parking lot in Prescott, I didn't find my image nearly as impressive as the real thing. 

As I walked closer, I realized the tree was even more breathtaking. In my second photograph, I stood right in front of the tree, capturing the details of its spewing branches and surrounding greenery.

My goal was to make the photo all about the tree, and I think I accomplished this in my second image because every inch of the frame showed its details.

I find that the results often show a more intimate view of my experience, like when I bought fresh pasta in Italy.

Yüyan's advice to shoot up close with phones also reminded me of another experience I had in Italy. 

When I went inside a fresh pasta shop in Vatican City, I was fascinated by the shaped dough on display. Their smooth texture and specks of flour that kept them fresh made me salivate, and I wanted to capture that feeling in a photograph. 

My first picture of the display case expressed none of this. While I could see a large chunk of the counter, this image was supposed to be about the pasta, and I could hardly capture its texture from this distance. 

So, for my second image, I got right up next to the glass and snapped a shot of the case with the widest variety of pasta shapes. I lit up as I peeked at the image because it elicited the exact feeling I was hoping for when I made it — a strong craving to taste the pasta, thanks to a front-row view detailing its shapes and textures. 

Yüyan's tips left me feeling inspired, and I can't wait to apply them to my future travels.

After getting these tips from Yüyan, I was pleased to find that some images in my camera roll supported them.

Now that I've identified what makes some of these pictures stronger than others, I'll go on my next trip feeling more inspired to shoot from my phone. 

• Two years ago, I moved to Spain, and began dating a Spaniard several months in.
• We had some immediate cultural clashes, mostly around communication and our argument styles.
• I've learned that being fluent in a language doesn't necessarily make communication easy.

I'd spent years learning Spanish before I moved to Spain, but once I arrived, I realized how much further I had to go before I could call myself fluent.

I consider myself "conversationally adjacent"; I'm a few neighborhoods over from fluent, but I still get lost.

So, when I started dating a Spaniard six months into moving here, I was fully prepared for regular vocabulary deficits and butchered grammar (especially with my archenemy, the subjunctive).

What I didn't expect was that even when I understood every word, I could still misunderstand the meaning behind it — because language was only part of the equation.

I was shocked when he called me 'ugly'

Early in our relationship, my Spanish boyfriend casually called me "fea" — literally "ugly" — and was baffled when I burst into tears.

To him, the word didn't carry the cruelty I heard in its English equivalent. In Spain, words like "fea" or "feo" are often used as playful terms of endearment. Understanding this, though, didn't make it hurt any less.

Another time, I asked him how to say "making out" in Spanish. He had no idea — and, in fact, he didn't even understand the concept when I explained it.

"You know," I said. "More than kissing, less than sex. The kind of thing teenagers do on the sofa while pretending to watch a movie." He looked at me like I had invented a new sport.

That was when I started to realize that I wasn't just learning Spanish, but discovering that dating comes with different assumptions in every culture.

We followed very different dating rules

After six months together, things were going really well, but my boyfriend and I still hadn't had "the talk."

Having lived in Canada and the US, I was used to relationships hitting a certain point when someone would say something along the lines of, "I really like you, and I think this is going well. Do you want to be in a relationship or date exclusively?"

When I brought this up, my boyfriend looked genuinely puzzled. So I asked how, in his experience, two people knew they were on the same page about progressing a relationship and not dating anyone else. He shrugged and told me that usually it's just assumed.

My mouth dropped open. "But what if you assume you're exclusive, and she assumes you're not, and it turns out she's dating other people?"

He shrugged again. "You just trust that you both feel the same way," he said.

My boyfriend isn't the only one who feels this way. After our discussion, I asked several Spanish friends about this, and they all said that neither they nor anyone they knew had ever had this conversation.

I've had to separate language, culture, and personality

Some differences are easy to laugh about later — like when we argued about "compromiso," a word I understood as "compromise" and he meant as "commitment" — but others are harder, because they're embedded in our DNA.

For instance, we argue in different ways. My boyfriend can feel ready to move on from disagreements moments after they happen. I, on the other hand, take a bit longer to recover.

Two years later, we're still together and still in love. We're also seeing a couples therapist who has experience with bicultural relationships, because not being quite fluent in each other's languages means we may understand most of the words, but we're sometimes still confused about what the other person is trying to say.

Our therapist is helping us see which misunderstandings are linguistic, which are cultural, and which are simply differences between two people.

Movies often make cross-cultural dating seem romantic — after all, body language is universal, wink, wink — but I beg to differ. Communication is supremely important when trying to build a life with someone.

So this relationship has forced both of us to assess our assumptions at every potential speed bump. Now, we ask: Is this cultural? Personal? A relationship incompatibility? Or just a "lost in translation" misunderstanding that we'll laugh about later?

• Several billionaires have left or plan to leave California over its proposed wealth tax.
• The departures could mean that the state loses more in the long term than the one-time tax brings in.
• That's according to a working paper shared by a pair of Stanford economists.

Supporters of California’s proposed billionaire tax say it could raise about $100 billion.

But a new paper puts the takings closer to $30 billion and warns that the state could ultimately lose money if its richest residents flee.

Proposition 40, which goes before voters on November 3, would impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires who were California residents on January 1, 2026, with their wealth valued at the end of the year. Most of the tax proceeds would go toward healthcare.

In a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper released this week, Stanford economists Benjamin Jaros and Joshua Rauh estimate the tax would collect between $28 billion and $36 billion — far short of supporters' $100 billion projection.

They point to billionaires moving away before the residency cutoff. Their estimate also assumes legal challenges could prevent California from collecting some of the remaining tax.

The authors identified seven billionaires reported to have left the state before the cutoff: Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, investor Peter Thiel, director Steven Spielberg, Uber cofounder Travis Kalanick, investor David Sacks, and car loan tycoon Don Hankey.

Together, they accounted for nearly 30% of the wealth the researchers considered potentially taxable. The researchers noted that moving out of the state does not, by itself, settle someone's tax residency.

The authors' bigger concern is what happens afterward. California would collect the wealth tax only once, but billionaires who leave could stop paying state income taxes year after year.

If those departures and lost payments last, their model projects an average net loss of $38.9 billion. The researchers said they ran 100,000 simulations, and that in 85% of scenarios, losses outweighed revenues from the tax.

The forecast depends on who actually left and whether they stay away.

California's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office offers a less stark view. It expects tens of billions in tax revenue and a possible ongoing drop of less than $1 billion a year in billionaire income-tax payments.

Brin is fighting the proposal on another front, too. He has given at least $102 million to Building a Better California, a group backing efforts to defeat or block Proposition 40. Two competing measures on the same ballot could keep Proposition 40 from taking effect, even if voters approve it.

While some billionaires have been vocal in their opposition to the tax, some have welcomed it. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told CBS News last month that being able to pay an estimated $8 billion over five years would be a "privilege."

In filings released this week, it was revealed that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had considered moving out of California due to the tax, but ultimately decided to stay. To ensure that Zuckerberg has sufficient liquidity to pay without diluting his control of the company, Meta created a new class of shares.

Many economists back the plans. Six Nobel Prize winners — Daron Acemoglu, Abhijit Banerjee, Peter Diamond, Esther Duflo, Paul Krugman, and Joseph Stiglitz — signed a letter in September calling the proposal the "first opportunity for the people to start reining in the power of billionaires."

At the time, Acemoglu said it could counter years of tax avoidance by the very wealthy and curb their political influence. He said that while the proposal isn’t perfect, it "deserves support."

Hulu is one of the top streaming services on the market, with standalone plans starting at just $12.49 a month. It's also one of the easiest services to bundle with other streamers, including Disney Plus, ESPN, and HBO Max. The best Hulu bundles can save you over 40% on your monthly streaming costs.

The Disney Plus website has a helpful outline of all available Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN, and HBO Max bundle options. Hulu and Disney Plus are always paired together in these bundles, and you can decide whether you want to add on ESPN or HBO Max as well. There's also a new option that lets you add NFL Plus Premium to a Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle. Month-to-month bundles start at $13 a month for Hulu and Disney Plus, which is just $0.50 more than the cost of subscribing to one of the ad-supported streamers by itself.

In our guide to the best streaming services, Hulu ranks as the best option for ABC and FOX fans. The streamer typically gets new episodes of popular shows the day after their broadcast premiere, and also has a massive on-demand back catalog of previous seasons. Additionally, Hulu is behind several Emmy Award-winning original TV shows. By bundling with Disney Plus, viewers can add in some additional family-friendly content, as well as programming for Marvel and Star Wars fans. ESPN rounds out sports offerings through its Select or Unlimited tiers, while HBO Max offers critically acclaimed series that cater to adults.

We've broken down everything you need to know about signing up for the Disney Plus and Hulu bundles. Below, you can find details on every available bundle, including pricing and savings. The prices displayed reflect the cost of the bundles compared to what it would cost each month to subscribe to the services separately.

How much do Hulu bundles cost?

The Disney Plus and Hulu bundles regularly cost between $13 and $55 a month. If you throw live TV into the mix, subscriptions reach $100-$110 a month. Prices vary depending on which combination of services you sign up for and whether you opt for ad-supported or ad-free viewing. All live TV services, such as Hulu + Live TV, ESPN, or NFL Plus, only have ad-supported live options, so any ad-free upgrades will only apply to on-demand content from Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Hulu and Disney Plus announced price hikes on select plans in September 2026. Base ad-supported plans increased from $12 a month to $12.49 a month. Ad-free plans increased from $19 a month to $21.49 a month. While the price of the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle didn't face a price hike, the ad-free bundle increased from $20 a month to $22 a month. The Hulu and Disney Plus bundles with ESPN Unlimited didn't receive a price increase, but those with ESPN Select and HBO Max faced hikes across the board. The price of Hulu + Live TV and its associated bundles also increased.

Hulu and Disney Plus occasionally offer limited-time sales on their bundles, but there are no active deals at the time of writing. You can find a full breakdown of Hulu bundle prices below.

Two app bundles

The Disney Plus and Hulu bundles range in price from $13 to $22 a month. This means that if you're planning to subscribe to Hulu, it costs just $0.50 per month more to bundle in Disney Plus on both the ad-supported and ad-free tiers.

If you're looking to save a little bit of money and planning to hang onto Hulu and Disney Plus for at least half a year, you can opt into the six-month price-lock. The plans offer ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu for $12 a month for six months (a total of $71.94) or ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu for $20 a month for six months (a total of $119.94). After the six-month period concludes, plans will automatically renew at the then-standard monthly rates, but you can always cancel if you don't want to continue beyond those six months. The price-lock offer isn't available for any of the other Hulu bundles.

Three and four app bundles

The Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Select bundles range in price from $22 to $33 a month, depending on whether you sign up for ad-supported or ad-free streaming. The Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundles range from $36 to $45 a month. The Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max bundles cost anywhere from $22 to $35 a month.

Additionally, there's an opportunity to add NFL Plus Premium to a Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle. This ad-supported option costs $46 a month. You can get the quadruple bundle with ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu for $55 a month. ESPN Unlimited and NFL Plus Premium will always be ad-supported since they offer live TV.

How to sign up for the bundles

You can sign up for any of the Disney Plus and Hulu bundles through the Hulu or Disney Plus website. You just need to click on the plan you want, and then you'll be prompted to enter the email for your MyDisney account. If you don't immediately see the plan you want on the general landing page, you might need to log in to view the full slate of offerings, although you won't be charged until you pick a plan and input your payment information.

If you've ever had a subscription to Hulu, Disney Plus, or ESPN, the email associated with that subscription is your MyDisney account login. If you've never had a subscription or want to sign up under a new email, you can just type in your email address, and you'll be prompted to create a new account. From there, you'll enter your relevant personal and payment details.

Can you get the bundles for free?

The Hulu and Disney Plus bundles don't offer a free trial. While stand-alone Hulu previously granted a 30-day free trial on the ad-supported tier for new and eligible returning customers, the offer is no longer available. However, there are a few different ways you can still get the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle for free, at least for a few days.

The ad-supported Hulu + Live TV subscription (which costs $100 a month) sometimes comes with a three-day free trial, which means you might be able to try out the ad-supported Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN bundle during that period. DirecTV's MyEntertainment genre pack, a month-to-month entertainment and lifestyle-focused cable alternative, offers 60+ live channels and the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle (in addition to ad-supported HBO Max and AMC Plus). MyEntertainment costs $43 a month and includes a five-day free trial for new customers.

What's on Disney Plus and Hulu?

Hulu started out as a solid way to watch the latest episodes of your favorite network TV shows the day after they aired, and has since evolved into a wide-ranging service that also carries an impressive film catalog and several of its own original shows. While Hulu still offers next-day episodes from FOX and ABC hits, including "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Simpsons," some of its best programming comes from its work with FX, resulting in Emmy Award-winning shows like "Shōgun" and "The Bear."

While you can find some kids' stuff on Hulu, Disney Plus is the more family-friendly of the two, especially when it comes to hit programs like "Bluey" and the full Pixar and Disney back-catalogs. It's also a must-have for Star Wars and Marvel fans since it hosts all of the franchises' films and regularly releases new original series. "Loki," "WandaVision," and "Agatha All Along" are some of the most notable Marvel releases to hit the streamer, while "Andor," "The Mandalorian," and "Obi-Wan Kenobi" rank among the top Star Wars shows available.

For more ways to save on the latest TV shows and movies, check out our guide to the best streaming deals and bundles.

• I compared brownie recipes from Ina Garten and Gordon Ramsay.
• Garten's "outrageous" brownies are decadent, with a nutty crunch. 
• But Ramsay's easy and delicious "world's best brownies" won my heart. 

On a chilly night, there are two things I crave: a '90s rom-com and a deliciously decadent brownie. I'm a stereotypical millennial who needs a little treat and a lot of nostalgia.

Ina Garten and Gordon Ramsay can't build a time machine, but they sure know how to bake. So I turned to them for inspiration and decided to have a little celebrity-chef showdown in the process.

Would Garten's "outrageous brownies" come on top, or would Ramsay's "world's best brownies" live up to their name?

First up is Gordon Ramsay's recipe for the "world's best brownies."

I've made many of Ramsay's delicious dishes — including his 15-minute pasta and 10-minute burger — but had never whipped up one of his desserts.

That changed when I came across his recipe for the "world's best brownies."

With a name like that, I obviously had to try it.

Ramsay's brownies include a lot of dark chocolate.

To make a serving of 15-20 brownies, you'll need:

• ½ pound of dark chocolate, broken into squares or roughly chopped
• ¼ pound of dark chocolate, chopped into small chunks (optional)
• ½ pound of butter, diced, plus extra for greasing
• ¾ cup of caster sugar (granulated sugar also works)
• ½ cup of light-brown sugar
• ½ cup of all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Ramsay lists two separate chocolate measurements because the small chunks are added to the brownies in the middle of the baking process. To simplify things, I bought two bags of dark chocolate chunks (each was 10 ounces/283 grams) for this recipe.

I used one full bag for melting the chocolate and a third of the second bag while adding more chunks to my brownies. It was a little more chocolate than Ramsay intended, but I loved the results.

I began by preheating the oven, prepping my baking pan, and melting some chocolate.

After setting the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, I greased my pan and lined it with parchment paper.

Then I diced the butter and threw it into a heatproof bowl with my chocolate. Since I didn't have enough pans to melt the chocolate over the stove (known as the double-boiler or bain-marie method), I used the microwave instead. Ramsay recommends throwing the chocolate and butter into the microwave for 3 minutes, but my mixture was ready in 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

After melting the chocolate, I whisked in the sugars and added my eggs, vanilla, and dry ingredients.

I sifted the flour and salt over the batter, then stirred everything together until it was smooth and combined.

I poured my batter into the lined pan and baked my brownies for 40 minutes.

I baked my brownies for 20 minutes, then took my pan out of the oven so I could add the extra chocolate chunks. Ramsay's recipe says you should "vigorously throw the chunks of chocolate" into the brownie mix at this stage, which was surprisingly therapeutic.

I let the brownies bake for an additional 20 minutes, then let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

Ramsay's brownies are a chocolate lover's dream.

Ramsay's decision to stick to dark chocolate really helps this recipe shine, because the brownies are indulgent without tasting sickly sweet. I also loved how many chocolate chunks were stuffed into each brownie, adding some texture to all that fudginess.

I made these brownies for my fiancé, who said he loved their "smooth, irresistible chocolate flavor."

These brownies taste fantastic on their own, but adding some vanilla ice cream would make an incredible dessert.

Get the full recipe for Gordon Ramsay's "world's best brownies" here.

Ina Garten used to make "outrageous brownies" at her Barefoot Contessa store.

Before she was a Food Network star, Garten ran a beloved specialty food shop in the Hamptons, ditching her White House job to follow her passion.

In her first cookbook, "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook," Garten writes that these brownies used to fly off the shelves and that she sold "like a thousand" a week.

Garten's outrageous brownies feature two types of chocolate, instant coffee, and walnuts.

To make a serving of 20 (large) brownies, you'll need:

• 1 pound of unsalted butter
• 1 pound, plus 12 ounces, of semisweet chocolate chips
• 6 ounces of bitter chocolate
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 3 cups of chopped walnuts
• 2 ¼ cups of sugar
• 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons of instant coffee granules
• 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt

After preheating the oven and prepping my baking sheet, I melted the chocolate.

I set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then buttered and floured my pan.

I had enough pans to use the bain-marie method while I was making Garten's brownies. So I melted my butter, bitter chocolate, and one pound of the chocolate chips in a saucepan that was placed over a pot of simmering water.

After combining the wet ingredients, I added the melted chocolate.

I added my eggs, vanilla, sugar, and instant coffee to a bowl. Garten says in her recipe to stir the ingredients together without beating the eggs, so be careful!

I kept stirring as I added the melted chocolate and butter, then allowed the mixture to cool to room temperature. You don't want the batter to melt the chocolate chips, which Garten says will ruin the brownies.

I sifted my dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then added them to the cooled chocolate mixture.

Before adding the chocolate chips and walnuts to my batter, I tossed them with ¼ cup of flour.

Garten says this trick helps prevent the chocolate chips and walnuts from sinking to the bottom of the brownies while they're in the oven.

I baked my brownies for 35 minutes.

After the first 20 minutes, I hit the baking sheet against the oven rack. Garten says this helps release air that builds up between the brownies and the pan during baking.

Garten's brownies tasted luscious and decadent.

Each bite of Garten's brownies tasted deliciously rich and fudgy, and I loved how much crunch the walnuts and chocolate chips added. I'm not surprised they used to be one of Garten's most popular dishes at Barefoot Contessa.

Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's outrageous brownies here.

This celebrity-chef showdown couldn't have been tighter, but if I had to pick a winner, it would be Ramsay.

There are really no losers here because both Ramsay's and Garten's recipes are delicious and easy to make, but I was a slightly bigger fan of Ramsay's dark chocolate brownies. I love the fact that, save for two bags of chocolate chips, I already had all the ingredients for Ramsay's brownies in the pantry. It's one of the quickest and easiest desserts you could make in a pinch, but it still tastes really impressive.

But Garten's brownies are still really good! And anyone who prefers a little extra crunch should give them a try as well.

Either way, you'll have a pan of delicious brownies.

• I had been dating a guy for about a month when I took a chance and invited him on a trip.
• I was worried it might be too soon, but the vacation turned out to be a great compatibility test.
• Six years later, he's now my husband. This trip is one we look back on fondly.

How soon is too soon to invite a new romantic partner to go on vacation? I asked myself that when I had been dating a guy for a month and had an upcoming vacation that I had planned before I met him.

During the height of the pandemic lockdown in the spring of 2020, I was going stir-crazy not being able to travel freely. In those early days before vaccines or access to testing, air travel felt risky, and there were even restrictions on interstate travel. As an avid traveler who always has a next destination in mind, I needed something to look forward to during those dark days when I was afraid to hug my parents because of social distancing guidelines.

I didn't know it yet, but a solo adventure to cure my cabin fever would turn into a litmus test for a budding relationship during those unprecedented times.

I planned a trip that seemed doable, even with pandemic restrictions

I loved hiking and the outdoors before the pandemic. While many places were closed due to social distancing mandates, the national parks were mostly still open. I had never been to Acadia National Park in Maine, even though I lived in New England until I was 10. Maine is within a day's drive from my home in the Washington, DC area, so Acadia seemed like a feasible destination.

I was single at the time. I had taken solo trips before and planned to go to Maine on my own. In June, I scheduled my time off from work for the last week of August. I didn't have any accommodations picked out or much of a plan other than driving up to Maine and visiting Acadia.

Then I met someone

In July, I met a guy from a dating app. We hit it off, and soon we were seeing each other multiple times a week. About a month after we first met, we were hanging out, and I said offhand, "I'm going to miss spending time with you when I'm in Maine." He said he was going to miss me too. Then an idea, that seemed crazy, popped into my head. "Well, you could come with me," I blurted out.

As soon as I asked him to join me, I wondered if I had crossed a line. We weren't even in official "boyfriend-girlfriend" territory. We had known each other for a month, and my trip was planned for a month later. Without hesitation, he accepted my invitation to go to Maine.

Going on vacation together was a great relationship test

I was excited my new love interest wanted to join me on vacation, but I couldn't help but consider the potential for disaster. What if we stopped seeing each other before it was time to go on vacation? How would we handle a 9-hour car ride together? What if four days of nonstop togetherness was too much too soon?

As he helped me plan the trip, I got early signals that things would go well. We collaborated on finding a place to stay. We were aligned that while we didn't need a 5-star hotel, we also didn't want a bargain rustic cabin where the only bathroom was an outhouse. The night before we left, he humored my meticulous packing list and impressed me with his ability to load the car as if he were playing Tetris.

The 9-hour drive showed we were a great team, taking turns as the driver or the copilot who assisted with navigation and music selection. We discovered that, as angsty teenagers, we had nearly identical tastes in early 2000s rock music, despite growing up on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Staying together in the cabin ended up being a micro-experiment in living together, which felt effortless.

The trip itself was a blast. We admired the Atlantic Ocean from the top of Cadillac Mountain and skipped rocks on Jordan Pond in Acadia. We went kayaking at the lake by our rented cabin and ate fresh lobster. Inviting someone you're dating on vacation so soon might have been unconventional, but it turned out great. Six years later, we're still together, and the trip remains a fond memory from the early days of our relationship.

• My husband and I wanted to live together before marriage, but our parents weren't happy about it.
• However, my in-laws said we could move into their house as long as we slept in separate rooms.
• Living under the same roof helped me better understand my husband and grow closer to his parents.

I started dating my husband, Daniel, during our junior year of college. However, our relationship was mostly long-distance when we were away from school. Arkansas was my home base, and Georgia was his.

Once we graduated, we even maintained our relationship while traveling and living in separate countries.

We knew our ultimate goal was to get married, and we didn't want to be in a long-distance relationship anymore. So, we discussed getting an apartment together, either in my hometown or his.

However, neither set of parents was happy about our potential plan to live alone together before marriage. Although Daniel and I no longer identify as religious, we both come from Christian families.

So, Daniel's parents, Martin and Louise, offered a compromise: We could move into their house — we just couldn't sleep in the same room.

Living with my in-laws before marriage sounded daunting, but it brought us closer

Religious motivation aside, Daniel's parents also wanted to give us a break on rent since we didn't have much money. By living with them, we'd be able to save for a down payment on a future home.

It seemed tempting, and we didn't want to take their kindness for granted. We ultimately agreed to this setup (and got engaged about a month before moving in), but I had my concerns.

I worried I'd clash with Daniel's parents over day-to-day issues. I liked them, but I didn't know them super well yet. What if we got on each other's nerves? I also didn't like the idea of someone else's religious ideals dictating how I lived.

Thankfully, though, most of my worries about living with my future in-laws turned out to be unwarranted.

We ate dinner together most nights, which meant I was lucky enough to enjoy an amazing home-cooked meal from Louise almost daily.

Martin and Daniel watched baseball on TV most nights, and I used the opportunity to learn about the sport and eventually became a ride-or-die Atlanta Braves fan.

Despite spending time together often, I still felt like I had my space. My in-laws both went to sleep early because they had to wake up early for work, so Daniel and I still had at least a couple of hours to ourselves at night.

Of course, we still had our problems. I still feel bad about repeatedly forgetting there was no garbage disposal and tossing eggshells into the sink, and I was constantly worried about waking them up at night since they were in bed by 9 p.m.

But overall, living together was a positive experience.

I got to know my husband and in-laws in ways I never would have otherwise

After 10 months, Daniel and I got married and moved out on our own. Looking back, I definitely found it valuable to live with him before we made that commitment.

Although Daniel and I slept in separate rooms, living under the same roof still offered a useful preview of married life. It also gave me a profound understanding not just of how Daniel acted, but of why.

Some of this was small. When he visited my family and stacked dishes in the sink instead of immediately putting them in the dishwasher, I considered it rude.

After about 20 meals with his family, I realized they always waited until the sink was full to load the dishwasher. He wasn't being lazy — he was acting in the way he had been raised.

Plus, it helped me better understand my future in-laws. Because of this, we rarely, if ever, have argued about them visiting or one of them hurting my feelings. This removes a layer of potential problems in my marriage.

Living with Daniel's parents could have strained my relationship with them, but it did the opposite. It brought us closer.

Our time together became even more valuable years later

My time living with them became relevant again about a decade later when my father-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Daniel and I were ready to move back in and help however we could. We ended up only having a few weeks with Martin before he died, and stayed for a while after to help Louise tie up loose ends, plan the funeral, and spend extra time with her.

For many people, living with their in-laws for six weeks would be beyond difficult. The emotional, stressful situation still made it hard at times.

However, I was used to living with Louise. I didn't have to tiptoe around the family. I knew how the dynamic worked.

Not only could I live with them for six weeks during a life-altering time, but I was more grateful than ever that I lived with them nearly a decade earlier. I realize now that I wouldn't have gotten to know Martin as well if I hadn't lived in his home.

• I spent years saving $50,000 for a kitchen remodel that'd give me the space of my dreams.
• I'm glad I kept my layout the same and chose a timeless color palette for the space.
• Reupholstering my dining chairs saved me money, but I wish I hadn't done this project during summer.

I hated my kitchen for 19 years and spent just as long saving to remodel it.

My goals were to build a bright, modern kitchen that was more functional, offered additional storage solutions, and created a cohesive look when viewed from the two entryways to my living room.

After spending nearly $50,000 on my kitchen remodel, there are a lot of choices I'm glad I made — and only one I really regret so far.

I'm glad I kept my kitchen layout the same.

Early on, one designer who bid on my project proposed removing some walls and the soffit ceiling and adding an island to help me reach my storage and design goals.

The idea sounded great in theory, but it would've put me about $20,000 over budget, between the construction, ductwork, and the need for taller cabinets to fill the higher ceiling space.

The designer I ended up hiring urged me to keep my current layout and showed me how we could do so while adding the functionality I wanted.

Choosing a timeless color palette makes me confident that the kitchen will age beautifully.

For years, I'd dreamt of an all-white kitchen because I loved its classic, clean look. However, as my designer and I began talking and looking at my Pinterest boards, she noticed I also loved black accents.

She took the black-and-white theme and ran with it, outfitting half my kitchen with white cabinets and charcoal countertops and the other half with black cabinets and a white countertop.

She also chose coordinating tile squares: shades of white around the kitchen and a bold graphic tile in the dining room area.

This palette feels truly timeless — and I am confident I'll love this design for decades to come.

Buying little things that bring me joy helped me complete my space.

It can be easy to focus all your attention on the bigger-ticket items while remodeling, but the details really matter.

For instance, I visited Kohler, Wisconsin — home of the Kohler Company that's best known for its plumbing products — years ago and became obsessed with its sleek sinks and faucets. So, naturally, that's what I chose for my new kitchen.

Similarly, my everyday dishes no longer matched my new aesthetic, so I gave them away in my local "Buy Nothing" group and upgraded to the cutest stoneware set from Stone Lain.

The dishes were pretty affordable and have totally elevated my tablescape.

Reupholstering my old dining-room chairs saved me a lot of money.

The table and chairs on the dining side of the kitchen were still in excellent shape, and the perfect size, but the drab gray fabric on the chairs was a real eyesore.

Instead of replacing the entire set, I spent $500 to have them reupholstered with a striking fabric my designer chose. They look brand new again and have such a playful vibe.

I don't regret spending more than half my budget on cabinets and countertops.

Aside from labor, I knew that my cabinets and countertops would be my biggest line items — but they were also the largest pieces in the room, so that was OK with me.

My designer steered me toward a local company that offered a great mid-tier option on factory cabinets (read: not high-end and not custom), and they still cost $15,000. To be fair, though, adding cabinets to the entire wall of the dining area played a major role in that price tag.

I also paid a little over $11,000 for quartz countertops because we needed three slabs for this design.

However, these things are the foundation of the kitchen, and I don't think I could've skimped on either one and still achieved my desired outcome.

Still, I wish I'd planned my remodel during a different season.

It didn't take me long to realize that summer in Phoenix was the wrong time for this project. It started in June and went into September during a record-breaking heat wave (70 days with highs at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit).

Workers were in and out of the house all day, causing my poor AC unit to work overtime. If I ever do another remodel, it'll be during a more temperate time of year.

This story was originally published on November 17, 2024, and most recently updated on October 22, 2026.

• The US Army is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on AI that speeds up battlefield decision-making.
• Striveworks' Chariot program is a core AI component of the Army's new NGC2 battlefield software.
• The contract deal will bring Chariot to more Army units as the Pentagon invests heavily in AI.

The US Army is making a major investment in expanding the use of an artificial intelligence platform to help soldiers process battlefield intelligence and make decisions faster.

The $700 million deal between the Army and Striveworks is a tenfold increase from the initial enterprise contract and will bring the company's Chariot AI platform to more units and missions. Chariot is also at the core of the Army's new warfighting software, Next Generation Command and Control, or NGC2.

On Thursday, Striveworks announced the expanded agreement after months of growing demand for Chariot. Jim Rebesco, cofounder and CEO of Striveworks, told Business Insider that soldiers across specialties, from logistics to artillery, have been using the technology for different tasks.

Chariot serves as a hub for AI decision-making, deploying agents to process data and provide human users with information and next steps that align with their jobs, priorities, and commander decisions.

"Those folks are constantly receiving this data coming in from radio, reports, from sensors, from drones," Rebesco explained, "and the first job is to decide: is that a target worth paying attention to? Is it a military vehicle? Is it a tank? Is it something valuable? If so, does that meet with what my commander's priorities are?"

Chariot helps soldiers work through those questions, analyzing incoming data, checking relevant doctrine and legal standards, and comparing potential targets against the commander's priorities.

"It does everything that a team of four to 10 individuals would do over a period of about an hour; it compresses that down into minutes," Rebesco said.

Commanders and soldiers at the Army's 4th Infantry Division, for example, have used Chariot and provided feedback to Striveworks. At Project Convergence Capstone 6 at Fort Irwin, California, Chariot helped soldiers analyze and process more potential targets.

Rebesco said feedback from those exercises and others has been implemented quickly to improve the program's accuracy, speed, and the quality of information provided to soldiers.

Chariot is a key AI component of NGC2, the Army's new command-and-control program developed and tested with soldiers and industry partners in Colorado and Hawaii over the past year. After Project Convergence Capstone, the Army decided to transition NGC2 into the next phase of scaling, pushing it to I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Next steps will include making the technology available to more soldiers and ensuring it is sufficiently rugged to operate in harsh, dispersed environments, including the Indo-Pacific. Chariot also works with other military systems, including Maven and the Integrated Battle Command System, with the same data and agentic processes.

The Pentagon and the different military services are spending billions on AI to speed up battlefield decisions, analyze vast amounts of sensor data, and anticipate ammunition shortages and maintenance needs. Another goal is to lighten cognitive burdens on human users by helping soldiers make sense of more information, faster.

"We know the biggest risk to our national security and our national defense is not moving too fast. It's not moving fast enough," former Army secretary Dan Driscoll said after Project Convergence Capstone in July.

"The side that can sense a target, process the data, and deliver a kinetic effect the fastest wins."

• I've survived cancer for 19 years, and my scans have been clear for years.
• I still wake up at 3 a.m. worrying about symptoms and whether my cancer could return.
• I've learned that being cancer-free doesn't automatically mean feeling safe in my body.

It's been 19 years since I was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, and some nights I still wake up at 3 a.m. Not because something is wrong. Not because I'm back in treatment. Not because there's a symptom that is screaming for attention. Just wide-eyed in the dark.

I start doing what I trained myself to do all those years ago: scanning, taking inventory, checking for anything that feels even slightly off. Sometimes, before I fall back asleep, I've already Googled it. The symptom. The ache. The random thought that popped into my head.

I sometimes even nudge my husband awake and talk it through in the dark. He'll gently say, "Don't Google it. Go to sleep. You're good, babe."

Intellectually, I believe him. But physiologically, I am still alert.

My scans have been clear for years, but I still worry

This is what surviving cancer can look like. And one thing I've learned is that high functioning doesn't mean unaffected.

During doctor visits, I say I'm doing well. And in many ways, I am. I work. I lead. I parent. I function at a high level. My scans have been clear for years. But high-functioning does not always mean regulated, and that distinction matters in cancer survivorship because being declared clear does not automatically mean your body feels safe.

There were seasons when I was convinced something was wrong with my heart. Or my lungs. A tightness in my chest. A shallow breath. A sensation I couldn't quite name but could not ignore. My body would tense before my mind even caught up. I knew what it felt like to almost lose my life once. So my nervous system stayed on alert, just in case.

And yet I built a full life after treatment. I went back to work. I raised my children. I stepped into leadership. I advocated. I thrived in ways I once wasn't sure would be possible.

Outside, I looked steady. Capable. Strong.

Internally, it can look entirely different, chronic hypervigilance running quietly beneath the surface, sleep disrupted by racing thoughts about recurrence, a persistent need for control, repeated symptom research, quiet bracing before every scan. Because I was functioning, the anxiety wasn't obvious. Not to others. And sometimes not even for me.

It hid inside productivity. It dressed itself up as responsibility. It sounded like preparation and diligence. It looked like staying informed, staying ready, staying ahead.

For a long time, I called it strength. It took years to realize that some of what I was carrying wasn't just resilience. It was vigilance that had never fully powered down.

I would replay doctor's visits while driving

I noticed it most while driving alone. My thoughts would replay doctor visits in detail, analyzing tone, pauses, and phrasing. Did I ask the right questions? Did they miss something? Should I follow up sooner? The appointment might have gone well. The scans might have been clear. But my brain continued processing as if there were still a threat to solve.

Over time, I came to understand this differently. It wasn't fragility. It was conditioning. During treatment, attention to detail mattered. Vigilance mattered. Survival required it. My mind simply had not fully turned off that system. To be honest, it's still working on it.

I have 19 years of perspective

I noticed that in cancer survivorship care, emotional screenings often prioritize depression or acute distress. High-functioning anxiety often falls below those thresholds. A survivor who reports returning to work and managing responsibilities may not appear at risk. She may hesitate to show fear because she believes she should be past this by now. She may minimize symptoms to avoid appearing ungrateful.

Gratitude and anxiety often coexist. Composure can mask dysregulation. "I'm fine" can mean I'm functioning, and not necessarily that I feel safe.

When high-functioning anxiety stays unacknowledged, the effects accumulate quietly. And the hardest one to explain is an emotional fatigue that has no obvious source.

It doesn't look like exhaustion. It looks like getting through a full, productive day, working, leading, showing up for everyone who needs me, and feeling completely depleted by early evening with nothing specific to blame it on. It looks like sitting in a meeting, fully present and contributing, while another part of me is quietly managing an undercurrent that has nothing to do with what's being discussed. It looks like needing more alone time than I used to, not because anything went wrong, but because holding it all together in the foreground takes more out of me than anyone can see.

Some days it shows up as a short fuse over something small. Not because it matters that much, but because the reserves were already lower than they appeared.

The hardest part is that there's often nothing to point to. No difficult scan. No hard appointment. No clear reason to feel worn thin. And that absence of an obvious cause can make you question yourself, wonder if you're being dramatic, or ungrateful for a life you fought hard to keep. So, you push through it, dismiss it, and don't mention it at the next appointment because how do you explain fatigue that has no story attached to it?

High-functioning anxiety doesn't define me

I have built a full life since my diagnosis. I lead. I advocate. I thrive in ways I once questioned were possible. But high-functioning anxiety has been part of that journey. It does not define me. It does not dominate me. But it has shaped how I move through the world, particularly in moments where health is discussed.

As a long-term cancer survivor, when I say that I am doing well, at times, I'm telling the truth. At that moment, I may also be managing a nervous system that remembers something my medical chart no longer reflects as current.

Survivorship is not only about the absence of disease; it can also be about restoration. And that process can last far longer than anyone expects.

• Mave has raised $34 million to bring AI agents to companies' security operations.
• CEO Raziel Oren said old systems can't keep up with how quickly AI is transforming cyberattacks.
• Business Insider got an exclusive look at the pitch deck Mave used to raise its Series A round.

Mave, a cybersecurity startup that uses agents to counter the rise in AI-powered cyberattacks, has raised $34 million in funding.

The Israel-based startup says its AI agents pull together information from a company's existing security systems, investigate alerts, filter out false alarms, and take actions approved by human teams.

"Security operations is the last gate in any organization," cofounder and CEO Raziel Oren said, comparing it to the physical security guards who monitor a building's live camera footage. "This thing is really broken from the inside. The roots of the solutions there are just not keeping the relevant pace with the emerging threats."

AI has transformed cyber threats at a dizzying pace. Attacks can happen much faster and on a much larger scale, and Oren predicted that the increase in agent-powered incidents will be "exponential."

Mave says its own agents help human security teams keep up. "You can't hire your way out of this," Oren told Business Insider. "There must be a change in how you do [security operations] in order to protect your organizations."

Oren cofounded Mave with Guy Eshel in 2025 after years of friendship. The two met when Oren was Eshel's mentor in unit 8200 of the Israel Defense Forces, which sits under the intelligence corps and gave them firsthand experience with cybersecurity issues.

AI agents have come under the spotlight after a string of high-profile security breaches. Corporate leaders have grown increasingly worried about the cybersecurity risks AI poses, and some of Wall Street's executives spent third-quarter earnings calls explaining how they're defending against rogue AI agents.

The technology has also been used by researchers to uncover security flaws: this week, OpenAI said one of its AI models had helped identify a vulnerability that puts 70% of the world's websites at risk.

Oren said it takes some customers time to become comfortable handing over security operations to agents, but that the product's transparency is key to building trust. Mave says its agents track each step of their thousands of workflows, giving human employees insight into the agents' reasoning and actions.

Mave charges its customers a flat rate, depending on the company's size and needs. Other startups have also jumped at the opportunity Mave sees, including agentic cybersecurity companies Dropzone and Prophet Security.

Mave's $34 million funding consists of $28 million from a recent Series A round, led by Red Dot Capital Partners and with participation from Lumir Growth Partners, and an earlier $6 million seed round.

The startup currently has 30 employees and plans to use some of the fresh capital to continue expanding the team, mainly for go-to-market roles and AI research.

Read the pitch deck Mave used to raise its Series A round:

The co-founders met in the army.

Cyberattacks are happening much faster.

Mave consolidates security operations.

In one instance, Mave says it stopped ShinyHunters, a cybercriminal group.

Customers include Fortune 200 and Fortune 500 companies.

• Meta will give its investors free shares if Mark Zuckerberg hits certain "extraordinary" targets.
• It will pay 1:1 share dividends each time Meta stock doubles and has compounded at over 10% a year.
• Meta is rolling out Class C shares to address Zuckerberg's tax concerns and keep him in California.

Meta stockholders are set to receive free shares if Mark Zuckerberg absolutely crushes it as CEO.

The social-media giant revealed in a Wednesday filing that if its upcoming Class C shares double from a baseline price of $580.60 to just over $1,161, and their compound annualized return since September 10 has been at least 10%, shareholders will receive a dividend: a Class C share for every Meta share they own.

If Meta stock — specifically its 30-day volume-weighted average price — doubles again to around $2,322, and has risen by at least 10% on average per year, shareholders will receive the same dividend again, and so on.

Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and the AI agent Muse, acknowledged how difficult it will be to unlock those dividends, describing the stock price targets as "extraordinary" in its filing.

Its stock has already surged more than sevenfold from its November 2022 low, giving Meta a nearly $1.8 trillion market capitalization that ranks it among the 10 most valuable companies in the world.

The additional dividends would be paid on top of the initial dividend declared by Meta's board on Wednesday, which will see Class A and Class B shareholders receive Class C shares on a 1:1 basis, likely in late January.

Meta is rejigging its share structure in response to Zuckerberg's concerns about California's so-called billionaire tax: a one-off, 5% wealth tax on the roughly 250 billionaires living in the state.

Zuckerberg, who ranked fifth on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with a $247 billion net worth at Wednesday's close, will be able to sell the Class C shares to access the liquidity needed to pay the tax, avoiding a sale of his existing shares that would erode his voting power.

Meta's board took action after Zuckerberg said he was considering moving out of California because of the potential tax, and cautioned that the steps involved in relocating, such as listing his home for sale, could spark questions from employees about the company's management, the filing says.

• Visiting Utah in the winter isn't for everyone.
• I learned that the hard way in January 2025.
• My first mistake led to the rest.

Gazing out my window at the snowcapped mountains on the train to Utah, I had no idea that I'd already set myself up for regret. Some mistakes were set in motion before I'd even left my apartment.

In January 2025, I flew from my home in NYC to Denver and hopped on a 15-hour Amtrak train to Utah's Silicon Slopes — a tech hub lining the Wasatch Front that includes Salt Lake City, Park City, and the surrounding suburbs.

I spent three days exploring Utah's pocket of luxury amid ski season and left with four regrets.

My first mistake was booking my trip in the peak winter season as a non-skier.

As a first-time visitor to Salt Lake City and Park City, I thought seeing the mountains blanketed in snow would be awe-inspiring — and it really was.

I knew winter would be a popular time to visit Utah since it's a ski hub, but I underestimated how busy it would be. Park City was packed with winter sports enthusiasts.

Skiers and snowboarders crowded the sidewalks lining congested streets in downtown Park City, all suited up — some with gear in tow.

I stopped by the slopes at Deer Valley Resort and spotted long lines of skiers waiting for lifts. I waited in line to ride a funicular up and down the mountain.

Maybe seeing the snow was worth the crowds — I won't know for sure until I visit during another season. But had I realized I'd be visiting during the busiest time of year, I would have pushed my trip to the spring, during the shoulder season.

I didn't pack enough clothing.

Overpacking is a rookie mistake when traveling, so I go to great lengths to avoid stuffing too many outfits into my bag. But this time, I overcorrected.

When packing for a trip that's less than a week long, I typically only bring layers I can wear all at once when needed or mix and match. Since I was traveling in winter, I brought a couple of extra shirts, one additional pair of pants, and zero extra outer layers.

But in January along Utah's Wasatch Front, when temperatures ranged from 24 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit, I needed to wear most of my layers daily.

After bundling up for a flight and a train ride, I felt desperate for fresh layers when I arrived in Salt Lake City.

Doing laundry at the hotel was another mistake.

What do you do when you need clean clothes on the road? Utilizing the hotel's laundry services seemed the most straightforward solution, but I regretted it.

That night, I stayed at the five-star Grand America Hotel, where laundry services were top-tier. My shirts and sweaters were returned to me on hangers, each in an individual hotel-branded bag. Smaller items were wrapped in paper in a cardboard box.

I felt like I was opening a present as I sorted through my clean clothes. It excited me — until I saw the receipt.

I paid $115 for three shirts, two pairs of pants, one hoodie, six undergarments, and one two-piece blazer. It was certainly the most luxurious laundry service I'd ever experienced, but for the same money, I could have bought a whole new outfit — and what a great excuse it would have been to treat myself.

I should have made time for winter activities aside from skiing and snowboarding.

I didn't consider other winter activities I could have enjoyed besides skiing and snowboarding.

I wish I'd taken time to tour Utah Olympic Park in the snow and get a feel for what it was like during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

After my trip, I learned that Park City offers mountain-top snowshoe yoga classes, which I would have loved to try.

Next time I travel to the Silicon Slopes, I'll pack enough clothing and make use of the season's offerings.

• Jensen Huang defended demand for neocloud services as concerns grow about debt in the sector.
• "The demand for the neoclouds is off the charts," Nvidia CEO Huang said in a CNBC interview.
• Shares in CoreWeave, one of the biggest neocloud players, have dropped 50% over six months.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says demand for AI cloud infrastructure is "off the charts," even as investors grow increasingly nervous about the industry's debt-fueled expansion.

Speaking in an interview on CNBC's "Morning Call" on Thursday, Huang pushed back against concerns about the business models of so-called neoclouds, companies that provide specialized computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence.

"The demand for the neoclouds is off the charts," Huang said. "Their capabilities are extraordinary."

His comments came as CoreWeave, one of the largest publicly traded neoclouds, faces heavy scrutiny over its finances. Analysts from both HSBC and Bernstein have issued negative research notes on CoreWeave in recent days.

Its stock has dropped 50% over the past six months, and was down as much as 4% in premarket trading on Thursday. HSBC said this week it sees CoreWeave's stock price dropping another 35% or more.

Investors have grown increasingly concerned about the debt financing the AI boom, as companies borrow heavily to build data centers and acquire chips.

Rising bond yields are adding to financing costs, while interconnected investments between AI companies have raised fears of a bubble.

Futures in the tech-focused Nasdaq were under pressure on Thursday, dropping 1.7%.

A risky AI bet?

CoreWeave has become a focal point of concerns about the AI trade, having taken on substantial debt — $35.6 billion as of June, per its regulatory filings — to finance its rapid expansion.

Nvidia, which invested another $2 billion in CoreWeave in January, is both a major investor in and supplier to CoreWeave, highlighting the close financial ties that underpin parts of the AI industry.

Huang did not mention CoreWeave by name on Thursday, but argued that the broader sector's biggest challenge was access to capital, rather than demand.

"Because there's just so much demand across so many sectors of AI, there's a scarcity of capital," Huang said.

"That's going to get solved," he added.

Huang specifically defended CoreWeave last week, telling Bloomberg that its "strength is improving every day."

"I'm optimistic. Their cost of capital is actually decreasing," he said.

On Thursday, Huang also said Nvidia was working to establish its computing hardware as a financeable asset, arguing that its durability and productivity could help unlock more lending to neocloud companies.

"It is now becoming an asset class," he said.

• I love the fall, and every year, my family and I visit the Catskill Mountains.
• To make the most of the trip, my two sons usually take a day or two off school.
• However, missing the time sometimes causes stress, and I wish they had personal days.

Fall is my favorite time of year, and it just so happens that our most loved destination — the Catskill Mountains — is breathtaking in October. When we first started our Catskill family getaways in 2020, we went in the summer when the landscape was lush and green. We've been there in winter to witness snow-covered mountains and in spring, when the ground is thawing. However, my favorite time to visit is during peak foliage in autumn. I refuse to miss the colorful mountainscape simply because my kids don't get a fall break.

But taking a couple of days off is not as simple as it should be.

Making up the work can be daunting

This year, my boys are in middle and high school, and we wanted to take two days off school to extend a weekend; however, a hefty workload left them uneasy about missing more than one day. I encouraged them to ask their teachers for work ahead of time so they wouldn't be scrambling to catch up later, but most teachers didn't have lesson plans completed in advance.

While away, they logged in to their school program in between activities to complete some work remotely. When we returned home on Sunday, they finished some lingering assignments, but they weren't completely caught up from the one missed school day until later that week.

My 15-year-old is less fazed by having to complete makeup work. A day away from school doesn't stress him all that much. But my 12-year-old reminds me of myself when I was a student; he worries about the work until it's completed. I wish we could escape for a day or two without the stress of math worksheets and language arts passages looming over his head. Kids deserve a few days away from school each year, no questions asked.

There's value in spending time with family

This year, again, we escaped to a fall wonderland that my children will never forget. We took a short walk to an overlook to see the foliage from above, visited the Sundown Wild Forest where a yellow canopy covered Peekamoose Blue Hole, and continued our yearly tradition of visiting the Bethel Woods Center for their Peace, Love and Pumpkins festival after dark.

The next day, we took a ski lift to the top of Hunter Mountain to admire the fall views from another vantage point. At night, we spent time around the fire pit listening to water rush over rocks in the nearby stream. We had family meals together at restaurants and a night in, cooking at our cabin in the woods. It was a cozy experience that no school day will ever provide.

Giving kids personal days would make much-needed family getaways more accessible

Our school district — in compliance with state laws — focuses heavily on attendance. They communicate their strict attendance expectations during orientations, back-to-school night, and via email. In fact, in the past, when we were unaware that a doctor's note was required for sick days, our kids accrued the 10 allowable guardian-reported absences, and then, alarmingly, a truancy note arrived in our mailbox.

But what if kids were given personal days? What if they could take a few days off each year without having to make up all the work? We should recognize that resetting in nature is self-care. Spending time with family in the great outdoors should be encouraged.

I want them to be able to escape stress-free

Many companies provide their employees with a few personal days each year. We recognize that situations arise — aside from illness — that may require someone to take a day or two off. Why do we fail to provide the same for our kids? With the growing demands and complexity of childhood today, they may need it even more than we do.

Our fall visits to the Catskills are perfection, and they will always be worth a day or two away from school. But I wish we could escape completely, free from quizzes, book reports, and math worksheets. Perhaps one day sneaking to the mountains will be stress-free just as it should have been all along.

• After our second child, my husband and I were struggling to balance our jobs and household admin.
• To outsource some of the cooking, I found a local chef to batch-cook meals for us once a month.
• Having a freezer packed with homemade meals saved us time, and I learned a lot from the chef.

When I returned to work after my second maternity leave, our family of four found ourselves very short on free time.

Back then, my husband and I had jobs in finance in London. We were working long hours, with video calls stretching from seven in the morning to nine at night.

On weekdays, like most families with young children, we felt like we were in a never-ending cycle of rushing everywhere. Our plates were filled with nursery drop-offs and pickups, Teams calls, making dinner, cleaning up, and getting the kids ready for bed and baths, with household chores and personal admin to be completed in what was left of our free time.

Though we had full-time childcare, we had little else in the way of daily support, as our families were not local.

In our social circle, we knew that dual-career parents with young children often bought supermarket-ready meals or ordered takeout. However, these options often felt too high in salt and sugar, and limited in their selection.

That was how I found myself posting in a Facebook group for Malaysian moms in the UK, desperately trying to find someone to cook for us.

I wasn't envisioning a personal chef who would shop and make three meals a day — our budget didn't stretch that far — rather, I hoped to find a decent home cook and had a few hours to make big, batch meals that we could freeze, then reheat on our busy weekdays.

That was how we found Evelyn.

For $150 a visit, we paid for someone to batch-cook meals for our family

Evelyn was an experienced pastry chef on furlough, like many in the food-service industry at the time — we connected in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

She lived in a neighboring borough in London, which made our arrangement convenient. Equally as important, she was good at cooking Chinese-Malaysian dishes.

She would visit once a month, for about four to six hours. Our arrangement cost us around $150 per visit at the time. Before she arrived, we would discuss the menu over WhatsApp. Crucially, the dishes had to be easy to freeze and easy to reheat.

I would then shop for the ingredients she needed, which meant a combination of online grocery shopping and trips to Chinatown for less-common items.

On her visit, she would cook large portions of three dishes, which she further subdivided into another three family-sized portions. In total, we had around nine portions, which were then packed into containers and frozen — like a supermarket-ready meal, but tastier and probably healthier.

The meals she cooked were Malaysian Nyonya or Chinese-Malaysian dishes: ayam tempra (chicken dish), chai boey (a delicious sour and spicy stew with leftover roast meat), babi pongteh (a braised pork dish), and chicken with ginger and spring onion.

The 4-year arrangement had both expected and unexpected benefits

As a result of Evelyn's visits, we did not spend precious hours batch cooking on the weekends. We could spend our limited free time with our children.

Although her meals did not completely replace the need for us to cook, the constant everyday drudgery of preparing food was partially mitigated. On weekdays, after a long day of work calls, I would grab a container out of the fridge and pair it with plain white rice.

And the biggest unexpected benefit was that she taught us more of my culture. Though I'm Chinese-Malaysian, I was never taught how to cook growing up. When I started living independently, my cooking repertoire did not extend much beyond pasta, curry chicken, and whatever I could learn from YouTube videos.

Nothing compares to being shown what to cook and how to do it by a more experienced person. It was a learning experience for me to hunt for the ingredients that Evelyn had asked for in the local Chinese grocery store. On one of my trips, I had gotten a vegetable that I believed to be kai choy (Chinese mustard green), only to be told by Evelyn that it was choy sum (Chinese flowering cabbage).

By watching her, I also learned about different types of tofu and which work best for various dishes, plus how to get a good sear on meat (very high heat and a willingness to tolerate oil splatter).

Evelyn continued to come to our place every month or so until we left London about four years later. We did not restart an arrangement like this in our new place, as the kids were older and our jobs were more flexible.

I am a firm believer that you have to make your own village in this modern world, especially for those of us who have found careers far away from our families of origin. So I am forever grateful to Evelyn for her help in the intense years with babies and young children.

We had been looking for a "batch-cooking service," but instead we got a stand-in "aunty."