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Expert reveals how often you should really clean your closet and 5 tips for when you do

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The Fitz 23

The stylists of Fitz, a new closet-cleaning and styling service started by Gilt cofounder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and Fandango founder J. Michael Cline, have seen a lot of messy closets.

Business Insider recently tagged along with stylists Ellie and Maggie during a Fitz Foundation appointment — which for a flat fee of $300, gets two stylists to help curate and organize the items in your closet and drawers. 

We asked Ellie, the lead stylist, for her top tips for keeping your closet in order and clean — ahead, her advice.  

SEE ALSO: For $300, this new startup will clean your closet, fold your clothes, or create outfits for you

Edit and organize twice a year.

Ellie, who asked that we not use her last name because of her contract with Fitz, suggests a bi-annual closet cleaning session. During those times, you can purge items you no longer want to create space for updated pieces.



Replace plastic and wooden hangers with velvet ones.

Fitz stylists, which work in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Fairfield County, Connecticut are use to seeing small closets. To save space Ellie highly recommends hanging closet items on a thin, velet hanger which save space. They also prevent items from falling and slipping.  



Organize clothes by item and color.

Organizing your clothes by their type — long sleeve, short sleeve, button ups — and color can shave time off getting ready.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I've been working from home for 7 months and I've saved thousands of dollars — here's how I did it

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laptop couch relaxing

To the envy of many of my friends, I work from home full-time.

About seven months ago, I relocated from New York City to Los Angeles and started working remotely for Business Insider.

I'm originally from California, and the lure of year-round sun and the Pacific Ocean finally got the best of me. Not to mention, three to four round-trip flights a year to visit family and friends at $300 each was taking a toll on my bank account.

I recently spent a week in Business Insider's Manhattan office, and after daily lunches, coffee breaks, and subway rides, I started thinking of all the ways I save money working from home.

In total, I estimate my annual savings are nearly $6,000. Of course, some of that has gone to other expenses, such as my yoga studio membership and car and renter's insurance, but for the most part my bank account has grown, as has my entertainment budget.

Below, check out the biggest ways I save along with my estimated annual savings for each category.

SEE ALSO: The perks and perils of working from home, according to people who actually do it

DON'T MISS: The 8 best pieces of saving advice from real people who banked a fortune

No more commuting costs: $1,400 saved annually

New York City has one of the most expensive commutes in the world, according to a report by Deutsche Bank, citing the $117 monthly subway pass. That's a savings of roughly $1,400 a year now that I work from home. And that savings would be even more pronounced had I gone from commuting in Los Angeles to working from home, considering commuters shell out an average of $3,600 annually.

I have a car now, which of course comes with separate maintenance costs, but I only spend about $25 every other week, or $50 a month, to fill up my gas tank. I often go a day or two without driving my car at all because coffee shops and restaurants are within walking distance of my apartment.



I cook lunch instead of buying out: $2,500 saved annually

In Manhattan, I would pay between $10 and $15 for a fast-casual lunch. At one point I fell into the habit of buying lunches four or five days a week, spending as much as $75 weekly. Needless to say, it ate into my budget — homemade pasta and rice dishes became my go-to dinner.

Eventually I would make and bring my own lunch to work, but sometimes when it's no longer appetizing by lunchtime, or there's a special occasion or mid-day meeting, it's so easy to say "forget it" and head out to the nearest Chipotle or fancy salad shop.

Now I'll do a Trader Joe's grocery haul at the beginning of each week — which typically costs no more than $50 — buying enough for lunches, snacks, and dinners. Homemade food has become more appealing because I have access to my fridge at all times of the day — I no longer have to decide the night before what I'll be eating the next day. (I should note that I rarely order-in for lunch, which would definitely add up and likely cost more than those fast-casual Manhattan lunches considering delivery fees).



Coffee and tea breaks don't exist: $450 saved annually

Even though Business Insider's office has free coffee and tea, I was constantly tempted to run out in the afternoon to buy one at about $3 a pop. I always saw it as a good excuse to get fresh air or chat with a colleague, but it can really add up when you're doing it several times a week.

Now I only buy a beverage when I'm working from a coffee shop once or twice a week. On the other days, I drink what I have at home and step out onto my balcony if I need fresh air.



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7 questions successful couples should be able to answer

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adam driver lena dunham girls

People in healthy relationships know they'll always be learning about their partner — and their partner will always be surprising them.

But there are certain things about your partner and the relationship in general that you should know pretty early on. We asked a bunch of experts — including a dating coach and a marriage therapist — to tell us the key questions that couples in successful partnerships can answer readily.

Note: If you can't answer most of these (admittedly tough) questions, that doesn't necessarily mean you're headed for a breakup. But it might mean you and your partner need to have some real talk, so that you both understand what you want and expect from the relationship.

SEE ALSO: 6 experts share the worst piece of relationship advice they've ever heard

What are your partner's biggest emotional triggers?

"Knowing the answer to this question is important because it can defuse conflict and increase empathy within the relationship.

"Often in life we are triggered by external events that remind us of negative feelings from previous trauma. When this happens we tend to lash out at those closest to us.

"If your partner knows what triggers you to behave badly — and understands the pain that's motivating that behavior, then they can take a step back and acknowledge that the tension has nothing to do with them."

Emyli Lovz, dating coach



Does your partner have debt?

"How are they currently managing it and how do they plan to pay it off?

"We know that money issues are a big cause of relationships breaking up; so it's essential for both parties to communicate their status and plans so resentments or secrecy doesn't build up."

Andrea Syrtash, relationship expert and founder of pregnantish



What are your partner's deal-breakers? What are yours?

"Successful partners know who they are, who they aren't, what their struggles and blind spots are, and perhaps most importantly — they know their absolute bottom line deal-breakers.

"My wife, for instance, would never tolerate me even looking like I'm even approaching getting violent with her. I make a fist during an argument, and she'll be gone. Now, I've never been in a fight in my life, but this is not about me — this is about what she knows she cannot tolerate.

"And that's the point — great partners are actively working on self-awareness, and they actually use their partner's feedback to help them grow."

Hal Runkel, marriage and family therapist and author of "Choose Your Own Adulthood"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Why billionaire Steve Ballmer spent $10 million to build a free — and strangely patriotic — website

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Steve Ballmer

It's been said we're living in a post-fact, post-truth world, where people choose to ignore facts or believe lies that challenge their own worldview.

Steve Ballmer, the billionaire former CEO of Microsoft and current NBA Clippers team owner, isn't buying it.

That's why he wrote $10 million worth of personal checks to create a free website called USAFacts.org, he told Business Insider. 

The site takes government data from 70 different government sources to create a financial report on the government. It makes it easy to find out everything, from how much taxes we all really pay to crime and divorce rates.

Ballmer says the idea for the site has nothing to do with one political party or another, but everything to do with state of politics in general.

"It's not a political site, but I hope it plays a role," he told Business Insider. "I am partisan for facts themselves."

He says today's political environment feels like a sports event, where everyone is rooting for their own team and against the other team — and that's inherently dangerous.

"A sports game is easy. Somebody wins, somebody loses, and that's OK. But that's not how it should be in this country," he says. "In politics, unlike sports, everybody needs to arrive at a common conclusion and we all live with the conclusion."

In other words, the same laws govern us all, no matter which team championed it. And there's a reason to hope that Ballmer is onto to something and people still do care deeply about facts, even if we all have different opinions about what to do about them.

When the site officially launched in April, Ballmer didn't know what the response would be, if anyone would care. But the day it launched, the site was so overwhelmed with traffic that the traffic crashed the site for hours. In its first 48 hours, USAFacts.org chalked up more than half a million visitors and 2 million page views. He even got fan letters from people with suggestions on how to better calculate divorce rates or from those who found some typos. 

Some of the stuff the site has discovered about America is downright fascinating. Take a look:

SEE ALSO: Microsoft billionaire Steve Ballmer wants his wealth to help families here at home in the US

SEE ALSO: Steve Ballmer on the Clippers' second-fiddle status in LA: 'Let's face it. We've been kicking the Lakers' a--'

USAFacts is surprisingly patriotic because it begins with the Preamble to the Constitution. It reminds us that we're all in the country together. The Preamble is treated as the government's four mission statements. The site then delves into how each mission is doing.



One area Ballmer finds personally fascinating is where the government gets its revenue. In 2014, the latest year that data was available, the government brought in $5.2 trillion. For all the talk about corporate tax rates, it only accounts for 7% of that. Most revenue, 33%, comes from individual taxes.



The country spends more than it makes — and the mission of "securing blessings" takes the biggest chunk. This includes education (14% of the total US budget), Medicare (9%), Social Security (16%) and interest payments on our debt (6%). In comparison, we spend 11% on defense.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

14 of your most embarrassing questions about wine answered with science

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We've been there.

You're in a liquor or grocery store, trying to pick out wine with a group of friends when, inevitably, some unexpected member offers up their expert opinion.

Truth be told, there's a whole lot of science behind wine. Genetics, chemistry, microbiology, and even psychology all play a role in everything from how wine is produced, to which bottles we buy and when.

To get a better sense of what goes into making that glass of red or white, in 2016 we chatted with James Harbertson, a Washington State University professor of enology — that's the study of wine. In honor of National Wine Day, here's everything you need to know.

SEE ALSO: The definitive, scientific answers to 20 health questions everyone has

DON'T MISS: 15 simple ways to relax, according to scientists

Is cheap wine bad for you?

No way. Last year, rumors of a lawsuit that claimed that cheap wines had high levels of arsenic in it began circulating. One small detail the rumors left out: The lawsuit compared the levels of arsenic in wine to that of drinking water. To have any kind of negative experience as a result of this, you'd most likely have to drink about 2 liters of wine — a little more than 13 servings' worth.

That's an awful lot of wine.



What's the difference between a wine that costs $50 and a wine that costs $500?

The short answer? Not a lot — so long as you're just drinking it.

The price comes from a number of different factors — the maker, the type of grape, how long it's aged, etc. But if you're just looking for a solid bottle of wine, an inexpensive bottle could taste just as good if not better than a thousand-dollar bottle.

If anything, there's a bigger psychological component at play. A study that conducted a blind taste test in which people were given samples of wine found that they did not get any more enjoyment from a more expensive wine compared to a less expensive version. In another study, researchers found that untrained wine tasters actually liked the more expensive wines less than the cheaper ones.

If you're collecting, on the other hand, of course the price tag will make a difference.

"In the end, it's just wine," said Harbertson.



What are tannins and what are they doing in my wine?

You know that dry feeling you get in your mouth after a sip of red wine? You can thank tannins, naturally occurring chemicals that are found in wine and other beverages, like black tea.

Tannins give wine its weight — what makes it more milky than watery — so they're integral to all red wines, Harbertson said. They bind to proteins like the ones in saliva, which is what makes your mouth dry out. It's not as simple an experience as tasting something that's bitter, he said. The interaction of red wine in your mouth ends up feeling more like a texture than just a taste, something known as a "mouthfeel."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 reasons why more millennials aren't buying homes

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moving out

Millennial homeownership in the US is at a record low.

The age range of millennials — Bank of America Merrill Lynch economists used 25 to 34 — is usually prime time for purchasing a first family home. That demographic factor is one reason why some housing economists are bullish on demand.

However, the data has not yet caught up. 

"We believe the delay in homeownership is due to tighter credit standard and lifestyle changes, including delayed marriage and children," wrote Michelle Meyer, a US economist at BAML, in a recent note.

"We do not expect these factors to change in the medium term, keeping the homeownership rate low for young adults."

The following charts illustrate some of these factors. 

SEE ALSO: Bank of America's CEO says a pre-crisis idea could make it easier for millennials to buy homes

Housing is less affordable for millennials compared to the overall population.

The National Association of Realtors computes an affordability index by comparing the median home price to the median family income. That way, it gauges whether a typical family can qualify for a mortgage loan in a particular region. 

Although housing is affordable for millennials by this aggregate measure, it's lower than for the rest of the population whose work experience means that their incomes are likely higher. 

The big obstacle for young people is making a down payment, which the NAR assumes as 20%, Meyer said. 



The record level of student debt also makes it hard to take on a mortgage loan.

There was $1.44 trillion in outstanding student loans at the end of the first quarter, according to the Federal Reserve. 



It's not only about affordability.

The millennial homeownership rate has fallen at a faster rate than other age groups.

"Maybe there is something to the stories about Millennials preferring to spend money on avocado toast instead of their home?" 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 signs your coworker is a psychopath

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Psychopath Anton Chigurh No Country for Old Men

The word psychopath gets thrown around quite a lot sometimes.

Famous movie villains are often incorrectly labeled as psychopaths. You might even call your rude neighbor a psycho. And who hasn't complained about the psychopaths on the road today after getting cut off in traffic?

But how can you tell if you're working with a legitimate psychopath?

Psychopaths aren't simply jerks or bullies — they must meet a certain set of criteria, as outlined by the Hare Psychopathy Checklist.

While only a professional should diagnose psychopathy, a psychopathic cowoker or boss may demonstrate some of these signs.

SEE ALSO: 21 signs you have a terrible boss

DON'T MISS: 7 signs you can't trust your coworkers

They have sadistic motives and intents

"I think the most telling sign is their sadistic nature," Andrew Faas, a former senior executive with Canada's two largest retail organizations and author of "The Bully's Trap," tells Business Insider.

A psychopath motivates others through fear, rather than respect, he says, and they intend to destroy rather than correct.

This one characteristic is what separates psychopaths from a boss or coworker who is simply "firm," he says.

"I've led and managed workforces that are in the thousands, and I've always been and still am a very demanding leader, but I motivate through respect because I want people to improve," Faas says.



They're glib and constantly turn on the superficial charm

Psychopaths are masters at presenting themselves well.

They are great conversationalists who can easily sprinkle chit-chat with witty comebacks and "unlikely but convincing" stories that make them look good, writes psychologist Robert Hare, creator of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, in a post on Psychology Today.

Confronted with such charm, you may believe that the psychopath is a decent — delightful, even — person by the end of the conversation.

Hare writes that one of his raters once interviewed a male prisoner who threw in some compliments about her appearance, and by the end of the interview she felt unusually pretty.

"When I got back outside, I couldn't believe I'd fallen for a line like that," she said.



They have a grandiose estimation of self

Psychopaths see themselves as the center of the universe, writes Hare on Psychology Today. They are so important in their minds that they believe other people are just tools to be used.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The insane workouts Alison Brie did to get in shape for her new show

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Glow Netflix final

At 5'3", Alison Brie seems like the last person who could play a convincing professional wrestler, but her trainer is here to tell you she's the real deal. 

For Brie's new show, Netflix's "GLOW" (available June 23), the funny actress busted her butt for months with trainer Jason Walsh to not just look the part, but also to actually withstand the rigors of playing one of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.

"Alison did all her stunts," Walsh recently told Business Insider. "I'll tell you right now, I've worked with a lot of people and she's a little bad a--."

In "GLOW," Brie stars as Ruth Wilder, a struggling actress who gets invited to audition along with 12 other women for the professional wrestling promotion Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (G.L.O.W.), which was indeed a real promotion started in the '80s.

Walsh, who's worked with everyone from Emily Blunt on "Edge of Tomorrow" to Matt Damon for "Jason Bourne," put together a workout plan for Brie that was a mix of cardio and strength training four days a week (often with a workout in the morning and afternoon each day) so her body could take the abuse.

"Alison would be jumping off ropes and landing on people and flipping. I wanted to get her resilient so she didn't run the risk of injury," Walsh said. "The science of training has really shifted the past decade to that more than glamour muscles." 

Walsh did this through two different workout methods of his creation: Rise Movement, which is one-on-one strength training, and Rise Nation, a cardio class in which clients use a VersaClimber.

Here's a glimpse at the exercises Walsh put Brie through:

SEE ALSO: 100 movies on Netflix that everyone needs to watch in their lifetime

Heavy bag slams

Here's Brie (center) with Molly McQueen (left) and Mika Kelly (right) doing this insane workout.

"This is a full-body, explosive workout for conditioning," Walsh said.

They would do 6 sets of 5 reps.

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Deadlifts

Another full-body workout. Walsh said Brie was deadlifting 165 pounds and did 6 sets of 3-5 reps.

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Farmer walks

"Great way to get the body warmed up," Walsh said. Brie held onto 65-pound dumbbells and did 45-second walks for 3-4 sets.

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What it's like it play the new sequel to one of the most beautiful games of all time

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Few mobile games have been as successful as "Monument Valley," which was first released in 2014 for the iPhone.

Since then, the gorgeous title has netted London game studio Ustwo over $14 million, spawned countless knockoffs, and has even been featured on Netflix's "House of Cards."

Ustwo surprised everyone when it unexpectedly released its long-awaited sequel, "Monument Valley 2," earlier this week. The new installment takes the same striking visual and audio design and builds on it with new characters and levels.

Here's what it's like to play "Monument Valley 2:" 

SEE ALSO: This is the most beautiful virtual reality game we've ever played

Like its predecessor, "Monument Valley 2" is a puzzler game, which means you progress by solving each level's architectural quirks and puzzles.



The biggest difference in the sequel is that you play as two characters, rather than one: Ro and her child. Navigating both characters (by tapping where you want them to go) through each level adds a new layer of complexity.



"Monument Valley 2" has a story, but it's not immediately obvious. You're prompted to make your own inferences about the main characters and other creatures you interact with along the way.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The players from LeBron James' legendary 2003 NBA Draft

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lebron james 2003 nba draft

The 2003 NBA Draft remains one of the most legendary drafts in NBA history.

Though it may lack the depth of the classic 1996 Kobe Bryant draft, it was among the most top-heavy we've ever seen.

Of course, like all drafts, it also produced some famous busts, role players, and players who went into other fields after their playing days were over.

See what happened to the top 29 picks of the draft below:

LeBron James was picked No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.



LeBron is one of the best players of all time, with four MVPs and three titles after winning a championship with the Cavs last year.



Darko Milicic was picked No. 2 overall by the Detroit Pistons.



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These are the items we refuse to travel without

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

EllenTraveling isn't easy. Seeing family and friends around the world is great, but the hours you spend on trains, planes, and automobiles to get there can be exhausting.

Through years of traveling experience, many of us have come up with our own strategies on how to stay comfortable and calm on business trips and vacations.

With this in mind, I asked my colleagues on the Insider Picks team to share their five packing essentials that help make traveling a more pleasant experience for them.

Take a look to see if there’s anything you want to add to your carry-on before your next trip.

SEE ALSO: 8 pairs of sunglasses we wear all summer long

Brandt Ranj, associate commerce editor

1. If the noise on long flights bothers you, a pair of noise cancelling headphones can make a huge difference. In terms of noise cancelling quality and price, Sony’s H.ear headphones are my choice. They’re Bluetooth, but you can plug an cable into them if you’d like to use them with the in-flight entertainment system. (Sony H.ear on Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone, $219.99)

2. Dark Sky is my go-to weather app, and I wouldn’t leave my apartment without it, much less the state or country. Using highly localized data, Dark Sky can give you weather information about exactly where you are and will be. My favorite feature is its precipitation chart, which will tell you how long and how intense the rain is going to be so you can plan accordingly. (Dark Sky Weather App, $3.99)

3. My iPad Pro is the only “computer” I take on trips, it also doubles as a great personal entertainment center. As apps like Netflix let you download content for offline viewing, this becomes an even better travel companion. (Apple 128 GB iPad Pro, $655.74)

**PLEASE NOTE: ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THIRD PARTY SELLERS**

4. Linked to the pick above, the Brydge keyboard gives me the same typing experience a MacBook would without having to always be attached. It has many iOS specific keys to adjust the volume/brightness of your iPad or take you to its home screen. If you’re serious about getting work done but don’t want to take a laptop, I can’t recommend this keyboard highly enough. (Brydge 12.9 Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Pro, $149.99)

5. Always take more charging cables than you need to. Always. (Anker Nylon Braided Tangle-Free Micro USB Cable 2-pack, $9.99)



Breton Fischetti, senior director, commerce

1. I don't subscribe to the idea that people should dress in pajamas for a flight, which is why these Mott & Bow jeans are a real blessing for travelers. Their dynamic stretch fabric has plenty of movement, so you can look put together but still fly comfortably. These are the only pants I will wear on planes now, and if you'd like to hear more about them, I did a full review here. (Mott & Bow Staple Jeans, $128)

2. I used to think that ear buds were perfectly fine for watching movies or listening to music on planes, but I was absolutely wrong. Having a good pair of over ear headphones will make a huge difference in your comfort. They are able to block out more cabin noise (babies) and any other distractions like that never ending hum of planes that affects my ability to fall and stay asleep. This pair of headphones has been my go-to since we featured them a few months ago — they're well priced and sit comfortably on my head for hours with no need to adjust. (MUZIK One Connect Smarter Headphone, $249.99)

3. I've written about this bag at length, so I'm just going to quote my previous story on the Black hole Duffel here. "This bag can handle anything short of a hurricane without your stuff getting wet, and fits a shocking amount, while still maintaining the size of a slightly-larger-than-average backpack. That means on crowded subways, buses, trains, or streets, your movement isn't affected by your stuff; instead, the bag keeps a low profile. I've also never been asked to gate check it on a crowded plane because it looks so small. Airline employees are trained to look at roller bags as targets when overhead compartments get full, but this one barely registers and fits into every overhead compartment I've encountered." (Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag, $129)

4. Everyone should carry a portable charger when traveling — it's just a good idea so you don't get stuck without a phone wherever you are. We've written at length about Anker's great products, and I like this charger because it's powerful enough to charge my phone once or twice while being small enough to fit in my pocket. (Anker PowerCore Slim 5000 Portable Charger, $29.99)

5. The first thing I want to do after I get off of a flight is wash my face. It makes a huge difference in my mood for the rest of the day, which is especially important if I have something important to do shortly after I land. I am a big enough fan of Kiehl's energizing face wash that I just leave it in my bag so I never forget it. (Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash, $22)



Ellen Hoffman, commerce editor

1. Who hasn’t scrambled to charge their phone before a long flight? Now there’s help for busy travelers. Away's carry-on has a built-in battery that can charge your devices, so you’re never left looking for an outlet at the airport. Plus, this one has two USB ports, so you can help out a friend if you're traveling together. It's the carry-on I always take with me on trips. (Away Carry-On, $225)

2.I own a handful of Bluetooth speakers, but this one from Anker is the one I use the most. While a speaker might seem like a superfluous thing to bring on a trip, it's actually one of the most versatile gadgets I pack. I used it to help me sleep (see my next pick for more on that), liven up my showers (because it's also waterproof), and for some entertainment when I'm relaxing in my Airbnb or hotel room at night. It's well-constructed and sounds excellent, which are the two most important considerations when picking a speaker. (Anker SoundCore Sport XL Bluetooth Speaker, $69.99)

3.It may sound hyperbolic to say this white noise app has changed my life, but it has. I've been using Noisli every night for about two years now, and I wouldn't go anywhere without it. Thankfully, I never have to since I can access it from my iPhone or iPad. Right before I'm ready to go to bed, I pair Noisli via Bluetooth my portable speaker when I'm away. I primarily use it to help me sleep, but you can also use it to help you to focus while working or relax while reading. It proved particularly helpful during the London leg of my trip — my first-floor Airbnb was located on a busy street and Noisli helped drown out the traffic outside. (Noisli App for iOS or Android, $1.99)

4.This is the one thing I wish I packed for my last trip. Selfie sticks look silly, but they serve a practical purpose on vacations. I get it now. This one from Fugetek can handle smartphones, GoPros, and digital cameras, and extends out over four feet — way further than your arm. Reviews of it are very positive for the most part, with most people praising its durability and the fact that accessories, like a carrying case, are included. (Fugetek Bluetooth Selfie Stick, $19.95)

5.Dagne Dover's large Landon Carryall is a practical and stylish companion for long weekend trips, or for going from the office to the gym after work. It has a padded laptop sleeve; a water bottle holder; a key leash; two interior mesh pockets that are great for storing a book, charging cables, or portable batteries; and another large interior pocket for whatever other odds and ends you want to pack. There's even a separate mesh pouch for toiletries and a shoe duster for your footwear you don't want making contact with your clothes. Dagne Dover also put a pocket on the back of the bag, so you can keep your keys, phone, or passport tucked away and secure, but still readily accessible in a pinch. For further convenience, the bag unsnaps at the sides to create more room for the extra pair of heels you swear you're going to wear. (Dagne Dover Large Landon Carryall, $185)



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The 17 best universities in the United Kingdom

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Cambridge puntingLONDON – Every year, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), puts together a comprehensive ranking of the best universities on the planet.

A university's ranking is based on the institution's reputation with academics and employers, and the number of research citations the school gets per paper published in a specific discipline — in this case, law. QS then gives a score out of 100.

UK universities have been on a downward trend. Most have dropped down the global rankings and Cambridge, the UK's best, fell out of the top three in 2016 and hasn't managed to reclaim its spot. 

Check out Britain's top universities below. We've included their global ranking in brackets.

17: University of Leeds (101st globally) — Located in England's biggest county, Leeds scored best for employer reputation, picking up 86.9 points.



16: University of St. Andrews (92nd globally) — The UK's third oldest university, after Oxford and Cambridge, scored 98 out of 100 for its international faculty.



14= University of Birmingham (84th globally) — An employer reputation score of 88.6 wasn't enough to stop Birmingham dropping two places globally.



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19 of the best dishes to eat in London for under £10

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London is not a cheap city, but it does boast a thriving foodie scene with plenty of reasonably priced dining options — if you know where to find them.

Its diverse restaurant scene — whether its Ethiopian cafes in Camberwell or Caribbean cuisine in Brixton — reflects the capital city's cosmopolitan DNA.

We spoke to Londoners and combed through TripAdvisor reviews and rankings from publications including Time Out, London Cheap Eats, The Londonist, and Buzzfeed to put together a list of our top picks in the city.

From street food stalls to canteen-style "all you can eat" dining halls and bring your own booze policies, scroll down to find a selection of the capital's most reasonable and Instagram-worthy "cheap eat" offerings, most of which will give you change for a tenner.

The items are ranked by price in descending order.

19. Meat kebab dishes at Mangal 1, Dalston — from £10.

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Barbecue smoke fills the air along the Kingsland Road in Dalston, which is lined with dozens of open charcoal grill restaurants (ocakbasi). Mangal 1, tucked off a side street, is popular with locals and among the most famous in north east London.

Meat kebab dishes from the sizzling ocak grill start from £10 and come with salad, while the Shish kebab is £10.50. Customers enjoy free homemade bread and can take advantage of the "bring your own booze" policy.

Find out more here. 



18. Cod and chips from Masters Superfish, Waterloo —from £9.25.

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No London "cheap eats" list would be complete without a traditional fish and chip option, but these days a decent fish supper doesn't come that cheap in the capital.

Luckily, Masters Superfish in Waterloo has kept its prices reasonable, and you can expect at least some change from a £10 note. It serves up fresh fish which is bought daily from the nearby Billingsgate market. All mains come served with chips and pickles. A battered cod fillet costs £9.25, or the Masters Special (approx. 8oz prime cod) is £10.75.

Find out more here. 



17. Cheeseburgers from Lucky Chip, various locations — from £8.25.

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Lucky Chip burgers have been hailed among the best you can get in London. As any good burger should, they ooze with melted cheese, mustard, mayo, and relish. 

The menu also features a "burger of the month." Above, the "Chuck Berry Triple Ding a Ling" special has three patties, American cheese, cheddar, Monterrey Jack, Tennessee Whiskey BBQ sauce, and sweet dill mayo.

Find out more here.



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A crucial stock market signal just got its most bullish reading of the year

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running of the bull

US stocks may be hovering near record levels, but investors don't seem to be particularly worried about protecting the plentiful gains they've enjoyed.

At least that's the signal being sent by the options market, which is more unhedged on the S&P 500 than at any point this year.

The CBOE Equity Put/Call Ratio fell to 0.51 on Monday, the lowest since December 8, and 20% below the measure's current bull market average. A low reading implies that traders are making a small number of bearish bets, relative to wagers on an increase.

But while this gauge of investor worry is at a six-month low, it wasn't always so subdued. The ratio sat close to 1.0 at a five-month high as recently as mid-April.

cboe equity put call v2

So what conditions have recently shaped up to support the bullishness — or perhaps more accurately, lack of bearishness — being seen in the stock market right now?

Here's a breakdown of five themes supporting investor positivity, and suggesting that US stocks have further to run:

The breadth of stock market gains has been wide enough to allay concerns that indexes are being pushed higher by just a smaller number of companies.

While technology stocks — most notably the FANG group of Facebook, Apple, Netflix and Google — have gotten a great deal of attention for pushing stocks higher, the wider market has also been pulling its weight.

In fact, participation in the ongoing equity rally is broadening, as shown by the equal-weight S&P 500 index recently breaking out of a narrow three-month range, says Morgan Stanley, which thinks tech is getting too much credit.

"While performance from this group of stocks has been exceptional, they are not the only outperformers," equity strategists led by Michael J. Wilson wrote in a client note. "Outside this group, there has been ample opportunity for positive returns both across US sectors and globally."

Even the FANG-dominated tech sector itself is seeing more widespread strength. Roughly 45 stocks in the S&P 500 Information Technology index are sitting at 52-week highs, the most since at least 2012, according to data compiled by Strategas Research Partners.



Markets worldwide are being propped up by robust cash holdings that are at their highest in almost three decades.

Underpinning gains in both stocks and bonds is $5 trillion of capital that is sitting on the sidelines and serving as a reservoir for buying on weakness.

"This excess cash acts as a backstop for financial assets, both bonds and equities, because any correction is quickly reversed by investors deploying their excess cash to buy the dip," Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, the managing director of global market strategy at JPMorgan, wrote in a client note.

While the $5 trillion is roughly half of what it was before the US presidential election — a period that has seen the S&P 500 surge by 14% — the outstanding cash is still close to a record and well above the average level seen since 1990, according to JPMorgan data.



Consumer sentiment has been elevated for a prolonged period, something that's historically unlocked massive gains for stocks.

We're about halfway into such a high-confidence period, following recent University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index data that kept the trend intact.

Sentiment has been this high for this long on just five other occasions since 1978, according to data compiled by Morgan Stanley. The S&P 500 saw a median return of 21% in the one year following each positive reading and a 42% gain over a two-year period, according to the firm's data.

The S&P 500's 17% rally since June 2016 is roughly in line with that history. And perhaps more important for market speculators, it signals that the index could have 21% to 25% left to climb over the next year.

"This suggests that an environment of elevated and stable consumer sentiment is conducive to a building of animal spirits," a group of Morgan Stanley equity strategists wrote in a client note on Tuesday. "This trend started last year, but still has momentum."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Check out the exclusive Apple merchandise you can only buy once a year (AAPL)

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Official Apple t-shirts are hard to find.

For people who aren't employees, there's usually only one place to buy them or other official Apple swag: the company's headquarters at 1 Infinite Loop. 

But once a year there's an exception to that rule. Every year at WWDC, the company's conference for software developers, Apple sets up a company store where attendees can buy Apple merchandise.

On the first two days of this year's WWDC, the pop-up outlet did brisk business as Apple fans and developers waited in line to buy exclusive Apple swag. 

I went by and checked it out. Here's some of the Apple merchandise you could snag.

SEE ALSO: This is the exclusive Apple merchandise you can only get at its Silicon Valley headquarters

Last week, 5,300 developers descended on San Jose to attend Apple's annual conference for software makers.



On Monday, CEO Tim Cook gave a keynote at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.



After that, the Apple Company Store opened in an adjacent ballroom.



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Almost half of Google's management team is made up of women — here they are

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Ruth Porat

Fortune 100 companies have never been great at putting women in charge, and tech companies aren't an exception — only three of the top 10 US tech companies have women at the helm.

And while Google has a male CEO in Sundar Pichai and a male chief executive at its parent company, Alphabet, it's made strides when it comes to women in leadership roles: Women make up nearly half of Google's management team (46% to be exact). 

While it's not a perfect 50-50 split — there are six women and seven men — it's more equal than any other top tech company's executive team.

Of Apple's 11 top execs, only one is a woman: Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president of retail. Microsoft does a bit better with three female execs out of 15, and IBM has four women out of 21 execs, plus a female CEO in Ginny Rometty. While Intel has the same number of women Google does, it also has 22 male executives.

But it's Google that has the most gender equality among its leadership team. Take a look:

SEE ALSO: The incredible rise of Ruth Porat, CFO at one of the most valuable companies in the world

Diane Greene, senior vice president of Google Cloud

In November 2015, Google scored a huge coup by acquiring Bebop Technologies, a startup in the cloud-computing software space led by Diane Greene. Google convinced its board to hire Greene to lead all its cloud businesses, including Google for Work, Cloud Platform, and Google Apps. 

Greene is a legend in Silicon Valley: she founded VMware with her husband and Stanford professor, Mendel Rosenblum, and a few others in the late 1990s. She then served as the company's first CEO and led it through its sale to EMC for $635 million.

 



Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube

Wojcicki was Google's 16th (and first female) employee and became CEO of YouTube in 2014. As senior vice president of product management, Wojcicki oversaw Google's two main advertising products, AdWords and AdSenseBut even before her promotion to YouTube boss, Wojcicki was known as "the most important Googler you've never heard of." 

Wojcicki also helped Google get its start: She rented her garage to Larry Page and Sergey Brin when they first started Google.



Jessica Powell, vice president of global communications

Powell originally joined Google in 2006 and previously led Google's PR teams for Asia, Southern Europe, and emerging markets. After Google's previous PR boss, Rachel Whetstone, left the company in 2015, Powell took the helm. 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

16 things successful people do on Sunday nights

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Don't let the Sunday blues get to you.

A 2015 Monster survey found that 76% of people get bummed out on Sunday night.

But Sunday can still be a fun day (not to mention a productive one). You've just got to have the right mindset and commit to something, whether it be getting tasks done, relaxing, or spending time with your loved ones.

Here are 16 things successful people can do to capitalize on their Sunday evenings:

SEE ALSO: Here's the biggest sign it's time to quit your job

They spend quality time with their families, friends, and significant others

Successful people know their weeks will be jammed and that they are likely to be unavailable, Roy Cohen, a career coach and author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide," tells Business Insider. So they make the most of their Sunday nights by spending time with their loved ones. 



They plan something fun

"This idea may be the most important tip," Laura Vanderkam writes in her book "What The Most Successful People Do On The Weekend." "This extends the weekend and keeps you focused on the fun to come, rather than on Monday morning." 

Vanderkam quotes Caitlin Andrews, a librarian, who says her extended family gets together for dinner almost every Sunday, alternating houses. "It takes my mind off any Sunday night blues that might be coming on," Andrews says.

You might also make Sunday a movie or spa night, or you could join a Sunday-night bowling league.



They organize and plan for the week ahead

Some successful people like to look at their calendars on Sunday night and set goals and deadlines for the coming week, career coach Marsha Egan tells Business Insider. The trick is to do this without stressing yourself out.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Mercedes created the bus of the future — and it looks awesome

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Mercedes Bus

Mercedes-Benz wants to bring autonomous transportation to the masses. 

Last year, the company's semi-autonomous bus, called the Future Bus, drove a little more than 12 miles from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport to Haarlem, a city just outside Amsterdam. The bus's journey was especially impressive because the route included traffic lights, tunnels, and required the bus to navigate around people. 

Mercedes is betting self-driving buses like its Future Bus will grow in demand as urban populations continue to increase and more public transportation is needed. 

"We are living in an increasingly urban world. Cities are home to more than 50% of the world's population. And the number keep increasing rapidly," said Wolfgang Bernhard, the CEO of Daimler Trucks and Buses, last July when the bus made its first journey around Amsterdam.

"If more and more people eat, sleep, and work in cities, a number of big challenges emerge. One major challenge is to move all of these people and to move them fast, safely, and comfortably. This means we need attractive, public transportation."

Here's a closer look at some of the features of Mercedes' self-driving Future Bus and how it works.

SEE ALSO: This is what happens when 3 'super SUVs' go head-to-head

Mercedes didn't have to start from scratch with the Future Bus. The company is a pioneer in autonomous trucks, so the company was able to build upon its Highway Pilot system to create City Pilot, which is the system the bus uses.



The Future Bus with City Pilot can self-drive just like a truck equipped with Highway Pilot. However it can also recognize traffic lights, steer through tunnels, and can recognize pedestrians and bicyclists.



The Future Bus is also programmed to navigate into the bus stop with incredible precision. City Pilot enables the bus to pull in so that there is less than 10 cm between the bus and the curb, making it easy for passengers to get on and off.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How the richest soccer clubs compare with the richest NFL teams

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Liverpool

There is a significant cultural divide between the US and Europe when it comes to the appreciation of sport.

While the NFL reigns supreme in America, soccer (or football if you prefer) dominates the zeitgeist internationally. Both the football teams stateside and the football clubs abroad bring in a ton of revenue.

Using data from Forbes, we ranked the teams by the amount of revenue they generate (in US dollars) and compared how much the richest clubs in Europe were taking in compared with the NFL.

When seen side by side, it's clear that while midmarket NFL teams bring in more money than their European counterparts, when it comes to the big-money soccer clubs, it's tough for the likes of the Cowboys and the Patriots to keep pace.

SEE ALSO: The value of the Golden State Warriors franchise is skyrocketing

No. 20 Napoli — $158 million

League: Serie A (Italy)

Location: Naples

2016-2017 record: 26-8-4, 86 points, third place

20th-richest NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars, $344 million in revenue



No. 19 Leicester City — $191 million

League: Premier League (England)

Location: Leicester

2016-2017 record: 12-8-18, 44 points, 12th place

19th-richest NFL team: Cleveland Browns, $347 million in revenue



No. 18 Inter Milan — $199 million

League: Serie A (Italy)

Location: Milan

2016-2017 record: 19-5-14, 62 points, seventh place

18th-richest NFL team: Arizona Cardinals, $348 million in revenue



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 11 worst money mistakes to make in your 30s

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gatsby

After a decade of experimenting, failing, and growing, most of us have figured out how to overcome the most common financial blunders of our 20s by the time we hit 30.

But as you enter a new decade, you'll face a whole new set of challenges.

We consulted financial experts to help you avoid money mistakes in your 30s as you navigate homebuying, relationships, starting a family, and saving for retirement.

Original reporting by Kathleen Elkins.

SEE ALSO: The 13 dumbest things to do with your money in your 20s

DON'T MISS: 'If you are human,' you should be investing your money, financial editor of NBC's 'Today' show says

1. Saving too much in the wrong places.

Investing is important, but oftentimes people in their 30s have placed too much emphasis on the 401(k) or other types of retirement plans, and have neglected to save for other big purchases, explains Brandon Moss, certified financial planner and VP of wealth adviser management at United Capital.

"You definitely want to maximize the match in your 401(k) or other types of plans," he explains, "But there are other major purchases coming along, especially if you're starting to have kids or looking to buy a house, that you want to have savings for."

Contribute money towards a retirement fund, but don't forget to set aside money for other things, such as a house, car, vacation, or your children's education. Moss recommends setting up multiple savings accounts to start saving for specific purchases. Check the online interface of your bank and see if it will allow you to create sub-savings accounts. 



2. Prioritizing your kid's education over your own retirement.

While focusing too heavily on the 401(k) is a common mistake, not setting aside enough money for retirement also remains a big issue, especially when kids enter the picture. 

Obviously, your child's education is important, but "your number one priority in your 30s — even if you have a family — still has to be retirement," says Michael Egan, certified financial planner and partner at Egan, Berger & Weiner, LLC. Think long term, he advises; if you don't set aside enough money for your own retirement, your child may have to support you in the future, which could end up being more expensive in the long run than student loans would be. 

"Make sure you're on pace for a decent retirement before you start setting aside money for college," he says. "Once you're on pace for that, and you have extra funds that you can set aside for a goal like college, definitely do that." He advises starting with a 529 savings plan.



3. Neglecting insurance.

Insurance in general — health, life, home, and disability — often gets put on the back burner, for two main reasons: "It's not something that's fun to talk about, so it often gets put off longer than it should," explains Moss, "And many times, people don't get great insurance advice. Oftentimes, people are advised to just get covered — it doesn't matter what type, just get something — but years down the road when they're in their late 40s and 50s and something happens, they find that they don't have the proper type or amount of insurance."

Moss advises you put in time to research insurance plans, or talk to a trusted adviser. Here are the exact types of insurance you should have in your 30s



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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