Breaking up with someone is hard, but not texting that person ever again can be even harder. Whether it's a drunk text, casual check-in, or sly "Happy Birthday!" message, severing all forms of communication with an ex-partner is easier said than done.

According to psychotherapist Alex Carling, not texting an ex after a breakup is difficult for a number of reasons. One of which is the force of habit.

"After a breakup, our thought processes will be on auto-pilot. We will be thinking of them because our mind is used to doing so," she explained. "When the brain has processed a familiar pattern of thoughts, especially when there's been a strong emotional link over a period of time, the brain will start to predict it."

Essentially, you've grown so accustomed to texting your former significant other that you have to unlearn this behavior — which can be difficult, but not impossible. Carling has created a list of strategies that will help exes prevent themselves from texting one and other. Her tips are rooted in the idea that "thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interlinked", and learning how to "attend to the emotional and cognitive pull of the problem."

So, if you want to avoid texting your ex, here's a relationship expert's guide to getting there:

Learn to listen to your thoughts.

Self-awareness is one of the most important aspects of recovering from a breakup, and it's the ability to be self-aware that will help you never text your ex again. No, seriously.

"Your thoughts are the starting point of disaster or regret when it comes to texting your ex," Carling told us. "If you don't become aware of your thoughts, the emotions will come with force and you could find it more difficult to pull back from those."

Accept and be OK with thoughts about your ex.

Pushing thoughts of your ex into a dark corner of your mind is actually more detrimental to your mental health in the long run.

"The worst thing you can do is try and deny your thoughts," Carling said. "Trying to push a thought out of your mind gives the thought strength, it can grow and begin to feel all-consuming. You may not want to remember the good times, you're probably not struck on all the different scenarios that pop into your head when you think about what your ex is up to; but they are all normal, natural and part of the process of having feelings for someone, so let them be and let them go."

Realize that wanting to text your ex is totally normal.

You probably texted your ex every single day for the duration of your relationship, so it's absolutely normal to want to reach out to them after going your separate ways. That's especially true if you feel like you didn't quite get the closure you were looking for.

"From a fling to a long-term relationship, if you liked your ex it's obvious that you're going to want to text them and if you feel like you were wronged — you probably have a lot you want to say," Carling said. "The issue is taking the wanting and turning it into a doing — that's what we're working towards avoiding."

Today, more than five years after Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, the five boroughs are still recovering from the storm.

Sandy did $19 billion in damage to NYC, and the rate of development along the city's coastlines has only increased. New York now has more residents living in high-risk flood zones than any other city in the nation.

Local city-planning experts have worried how NYC will cope when the next superstorm inevitably hits the city.

So in 2013, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) held an open call for proposals that would make NYC more resilient against flooding and future storms. The competition, called Rebuild By Design, awarded funding to seven winners — one being a massive barrier along the southern end of Manhattan.

Called the BIG U and designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the ambitious project calls for a series of levees, a floodwall, and a park that would help protect the island from inundation. One of BIG's lead designers, Jeremy Siegel, told Business Insider that the project is moving forward, and construction will begin in spring 2019.

So far, HUD and the City of New York have given nearly $1 billion toward its implementation.

Take a look at the BIG U's design below.

SEE ALSO: Architects designed these floating villages that would withstand flooding in the San Francisco Bay Area

Plans for the BIG U consist of two main parts: the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (which will stretch along the East River from East 25th Street to Montgomery Street) and the Lower Manhattan Resiliency Project (spanning Montgomery Street to Battery Park City).

Along with BIG, One Architecture and Urbanism, Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects (MNLA), Starr Whitehouse, James Lima Planning + Development, Level Infrastructure, Burohappold, Arcadis, Green Shield Ecology, Aea Consulting, Big Ideas, and the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency have also been involved in the project.

In late March, Manhattan’s Community Board 3 approved BIG's designs for the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR) portion.

The goal of the ESCR is to not only prevent flooding in the low-lying areas of Manhattan, but also to revitalize the existing park space along the East River.

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945 marked the end of the World War II, and the beginning of the age of nuclear weapons.

During the Cold War, the policy of mutually assured destruction between the US and the Soviet Union — appropriately referred to as "MAD"— meant that if one nation used nuclear weapons on another, then an equal response would have been doled out as soon as possible.

Over the course of the Cold War, and several times after it, the citizens of the world were forced to hold their breath as the superpowers came close to nuclear war.

Here are nine times the world was at the brink of nuclear war — but pulled back:

October 5, 1960 - The moon is mistaken for missiles

Early warning radar quickly became one of the most important tools in the nuclear age. American radar stations were built all around the world with the hope that they would detect incoming Soviet missiles, warning the homeland of a strike and allowing for the president to form a response. 

On October 5, 1960, one such warning was issued from a newly constructed early warning radar station in Thule, Greenland (now called Qaanaaq). Dozens of missiles were reportedly detected, and at one point were said to reach the US in 20 minutes. 

A panic ensued at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) HQ in Colorado, and NORAD was placed on its highest alert level. 

The panic was put to rest when it was realized that Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was visiting New York at the time. A later investigation found that the radar had mistaken the moon rising over Norway as Soviet missiles.

November 24, 1961 - A single switch causes a mechanical failure

Just over a year later, Strategic Air Command (SAC) HQ in Omaha, Nebraska lost contact with the Thule radar station. SAC officials then tried to contact NORAD HQ in Colorado, but the line was reportedly dead.

It was determined before that the probability that both Thule and NORAD's communications would shut down due to technical malfunction was very low, making SAC believe that an attack was underway. 

SAC's entire alert force was ordered to prepare for takeoff, but crisis was averted when a US bomber managed to make contact with Thule and confirm no attack was underway. 

It was later discovered that a single malfunctioning switch managed to shut down all communications, even emergency hotlines, between SAC, Thule, and NORAD. 

October 25, 1962 - A bear almost turns the Cuban Missile Crisis hot

The Cuban Missile Crisis is perhaps the closest the world has ever come to global nuclear war. Four instances over the 13-day event stand out in particular, the first one happening on October 25, 1962.

Tensions were already high during the crisis, and the US military was placed on DEFCON 3, two steps away from nuclear war. 

Just after midnight on October 25, a guard at the Duluth Sector Direction Center in Minnesota saw a figure attempting to climb the fence around the facility. The guard, worried that the figure was a Soviet saboteur, shot at the figure and activated the sabotage alarm. 

This triggered air raid alarms to go off at all air bases in the area. Pilots at Volk Field in neighboring Wisconsin to panic, since they knew that no tests or practices would happen while the military was on DEFCON 3.

The pilots were ordered to their nuclear armed F-106A interceptors, and were taxiing down the runway when it was determined the alarm was false. They were stopped by a car that had raced to the airfield to tell the pilots to stop.

The intruder turned out to be a bear.

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.

The Insider Pick:

• A wedge needs to be one of the most versatile clubs in your golf bag, as you will need to use it from the fairway, the fringe, the rough … and even the sand trap. The Titleist Vokey SM7 family of wedges will give you all the versatility you need at a high-performance level.

For most people, the wedge in the golf bag is the equivalent of the placekicker in football. You usually don’t want to use one, because it often means you’ve made some sort of mistake on your approach shot. But when you’re forced to use it, the wedge (or placekicker) had better deliver for you.

Fortunately, golf club designers have recognized the need for the wedge to be a consistent performer in your golf bag. In recent years, they’ve given wedges a host of excellent features that allow you to precisely control your shots around the green, giving you a better chance of cutting strokes from your score.

Wedges also need to be able to work from a multitude of lies, giving you a high level of versatility in shot making, whether you’re on the fringe or in the fairway. Wedges also work great from the rough or from a sand trap, but none of us ever end up in those positions on the golf course, right? We've researched top-performing wedges to find the best ones you can buy for any scenario.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Titleist Vokey SM7 is our top pick and why you might also like the Callaway Mack Daddy 4, the Mizuno S18, the Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth, and the Wilson Harmonized.

The best wedge overall

Why you'll love it: The Titleist Vokey SM7 family of wedges have all of the latest design features and personalization options to help you shave strokes off your score.

When you want the best control around the greens, a great wedge design is a must. And the Titleist Vokey SM7 family of wedges contains the best features and design that you’ll find in this type of golf club, ensuring you can find a wedge — or two or three — that will match your game.

The SM7 gives you great feel on short approach shots. This is an important feature for any wedge, as you’ll be hitting this club with full swings, half swings, and everything in between. You need to be able to trust that you can make a variety of shots with your wedge, and the Titleist Vokey SM7 delivers on that promise.

The design of the club head has changed a bit from previous Titleist wedges. The back of the club has varying shapes, based on the loft of the wedge, which is available between 46 and 62 degrees. This design affects the center of gravity of the club, ensuring a proper ball strike for the type of loft that’s in use.

When using a wedge with a low loft angle, you’ll naturally strike the ball lower on the face. Along those same lines, ball strikes higher on the club face are common with higher lofts. The Titleist Vokey SM7’s design adjusts the center of gravity for each different club loft to account for this difference.

The Titleist SM7 wedges can be personalized nicely to your swing path and shot making needs, according to Golfalot. It’s probably no surprise that the Titleist Vokey SM7 wedges are extremely popular on the PGA Tour.

Golf Monthly says the Vokey SM7 family lives up to its billing as a premium set of wedges, combining beautiful craftsmanship with outstanding design features. But there are so many choices and decisions to make that it may overwhelm high handicap golfers.

However, if you’re a low handicap golfer, the 23 different options with the SM7 wedges will serve you well, allowing to make almost any shot you could ever need, according to Golf Digest, which awards the SM7 perfect scores in performance, innovation, and feel.

Worldwide Golf Shops reviewer Johnnie C says the Titleist SM7 wedge gives him a lot of confidence in all kinds of shots around the green, from a sand trap, or from the fairway.

Pros: High-end build quality among wedges, delivers the precise control you want around the greens, center of gravity adjustments at different lofts are impressive, maintains similar great design look from SM6

Cons: Expensive price tag, almost too many choices for average golfers to understand

Buy the Titleist Vokey SM7 Wedge on Worldwide Golf Shops for $149.99

The best wedge for spin control

Why you'll love it: If you want to mimic your favorite pro golfer’s ability to put backspin on high wedge shots, the Callaway Mack Daddy 4 wedge has an innovative design with grooves on the club face.

Golf gear companies are constantly testing new designs. Some of them are a bit crazy, and some change the game so much, they’re eventually banned on the professional level (like belly putters). Other design tweaks are so precise and minuscule that you might not see them at a glance, but you can certainly feel the difference in your ball striking ability.

The Callaway Mack Daddy 4 family of wedges fits in this category, as Callaway’s designers have created a new design in the grooves of the wedges that is almost impossible to see, but that simply delivers results.

The Mack Daddy 4 wedges have traditional square grooves across the club face that generate ball spin, but Callaway added micro grooves to the club, creating a series of inverted grooves in between the larger indented grooves. Additionally, Callaway makes this family of wedges in four different grinds, which should help players with different needs find the exact grind that matches their ball striking abilities.

Golf Digest says Callaway’s design of the grooves in the Mack Daddy 4 delivers an amazingly high level of grip and spin on the ball. Because there are so many different lofts and bounce angles within this family of wedges, you’ll be able to more often find just the right wedge to allow for a full swing shot, according to Golfalot.

These new Callaway wedges are becoming popular on professional golf tours, and National Club Golfer says it’s easy to understand why. They look great and have a cutting edge technology in the redesigned grooves.

The Left Rough says Callaway made a smart decision to use indentations in the back of the club face to shift the center of gravity upward as the loft increases in these wedges, giving them a natural feel.

You likely will receive additional distance with these wedges versus what you’re using now, according to Worldwide Golf Shops reviewer KK Bodie, because of the impressive ball striking ability you’ll have with these clubs.

Pros: Impressive design of grooves on the club face for higher spin rate, great looking wedges that pro players use, multiple options for loft to allow for more full swing shots, should receive added distance

Cons: Expensive wedges, high handicap players won’t need the extra spin the club face delivers

Buy the Callaway Mack Daddy 4 Wedge (Men’s) on Worldwide Golf Shops for $149.99

Buy the Callaway Mack Daddy 4 Wedge (Women’s) on Worldwide Golf Shops for $149.99

The best weight-balanced wedge

Why you'll love it: The Mizuno S18 family of wedges feature a well-balanced design that will help with mis-hit shots, so they’ll stay on track.

If you’re someone who needs to receive feedback from your clubs when you make contact, you’ll appreciate the Mizuno S18 family of wedges. When you strike the ball even a little off-center, you’ll feel the difference.

Fortunately, though, the weight balance on the club face in the S18 gives you some forgiveness for those off-center strikes. So you’ll feel it when you mis-hit the shot, but it won’t travel as far off line as it could have.

Mizuno offers its S18 family of wedges in lofts between 46 and 60 degrees, giving you plenty of options for finding just the right club. Mizuno engineers have increased the width and depth of the grooves in the club face for the higher lofted wedges, which will allow the club to throw off moisture and dirt collected during the swing, ensuring a higher level of contact with the ball.

The design of the Mizuno S18 wedge places more weight toward the top of the club face. This pushes the center of gravity higher on the blade, giving you a high level of balance as you swing the club. You’ll also receive a high level of spin on the S18 because of the balanced design in the club face, as well as better control of the ball off the club.

This balance should help you achieve greater distance on shots from the rough, where you may be striking the ball higher up on the club face, according to the Golfalot review.

Golfers will have better forgiveness on wedge shots with the Mizuno S18, according to Golf Monthly, because it has a wider sole than most wedges, as well as relief in the heel and toe areas. This balance certainly can help you hit shots more squarely.

Plugged-in Golf says the S18 has a high level of feel, so when an experienced golfer hits a shot slightly off-center, he or she will feel the difference versus a perfectly struck shot. This feature may not be of much use to high handicap golfers who haven’t yet learned how to feel shots.

Experienced golfers will appreciate the different sole grinds on the Mizuno wedges, as they’ll be able to pick the right wedge from the S18 family to match their individual swings. Golf Magazine says the S18 family is the best group of wedges Mizuno has ever developed.

Pros: New design generates better control over the ball, extensive feedback when you have an off-center mis-hit, forgiving design because of the balance of the weight in the club face and sole of the club

Cons: Expensive price point for a wedge, most features aimed more at experienced golfers instead of high handicap players

Buy the Mizuno S18 Wedge on Amazon for $149.99

Baia do Sancho, a beach on the small island of Fernando de Noronha off of Brazil, is consistently ranked one of the world's best beaches. In fact, it was #1 on TripAdvisor for years.

Having had the good fortune to visit earlier this year, I can say that the laurels are well-deserved. However, I had no idea what an adventure it would be to get there...

One hot day this January, I decided to check out world's best beach: Baia do Sancho.

The island of Fernando de Noronha is a schlep in and of itself. About an hour from mainland Brazil, flights only leave from two cities, Recife and Natal, and they are anything but frequent.

The archipelago of volcanic islands was Brazil’s first Marine Park, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As such, you'll have to pay an environmental tax just to get in.

The famous beach is part of the Parque Nacional Marinho de Fernando de Noronha — a national park. This means you'll have to pay a fee to visit.

Because it's part of a national park, visitors need to pay a fee. However, you can't just pay the fee at the beach, you need to visit the park's offices, located around 15 minutes away by car, and do it there.

Once you pay, you get a pass that's valid for 10 days. For foreigners, it'll cost around $53 (this gives you access to the park as a whole, which covers 70% of the main island and includes more stunning beaches and various hikes).

Once we paid the fee, we were herded through a gift shop to present our passes before we could head down a wooden walkway towards the beach.

The walkway was another five to 10 minutes — considering how hot it was, it probably felt a lot further than it actually was.

• Whether you're new to exercising or have been at it for years, you may unknowingly be making some pretty serious mistakes.
• We spoke to nine fitness experts to figure out which seemingly harmless exercise habits might actually be hurting you or causing injury.
• From the way you're stretching (or not stretching!) to doing the same workout every day, you might be putting your body through unnecessary stress and pain.

Whether you're an exercise newbie or you've been on your fitness grind for years, there's no doubt you enjoy the many feel-good benefits of exercise on your physical and mental health—  regular exercise is great for your brain and body, and challenging your body just feels awesome.

But plenty of common workout habits are actually kind of dangerous, and you may unknowingly be hurting yourself in the process. INSIDER spoke with nine fitness experts who gave us the low-down on common habits that are not only ruining your workouts but also potentially causing you to injure yourself.

You're working out every single day.

Although it's true that getting regular exercise is awesome for your body, you absolutely need to give yourself adequate rest. According to Dr. Chelsea Axe, DC, CSCS and fitness expert at DrAxe.com, there are some potentially risky (and even life-threatening!) side effects of not giving your body the rest it needs.

"The side effects of overtraining are real and can range from mild to potentially life-threatening. Consistently skipping our rest days and overtraining can lead to poor performance and excess fatigue, thanks to [the] negative impacts not just on your muscles, but your metabolic, immune and hormonal systems, too," she told INSIDER.

Another possible result? Weight gain — which is likely the opposite of what you're looking for. "Another common consequence of too much training is actually weight gain. Failing to use your rest days, you risk chronically elevated cortisol levels, which impairs insulin sensitivity and puts your body into fat-storing mode," Dr. Axe said.

Cortisol is a hormone your body produces when it's under stress—too much cortisol is not good for your muscles.

There are a myriad other physical issues associated with excessive exercise, according to Dr. Axe. She notes "joint pain, signs of adrenal fatigue, digestive issues, irritability, insomnia and irregular periods for women are all other warning signs that you're in dire need of more rest days."

One other seriously scary side effect is a higher risk of depression. Dr. Axe notes that it's "one of the most surprising and serious impacts of overtraining and skipping rest days over the long term," adding, "Miami University researchers found that overtraining coincided with increased depression symptoms and suicidal behaviors related to growing pain insensitivity."

Dr. Axe advises that you "pay attention to the other things going on in your life, too." She notes, "If you're experiencing a few days of extreme psychological stress, counter that with more yoga or stretching … It's most likely just what your adrenals really need." Even athletes are sure to take regular rest days, and it's critical that you do, too.

You're a "weekend warrior," saving workouts for your days off.

As our schedules get increasingly busier, it's easy to compensate by saving intense workouts for weekends and days off instead of trying to squeeze them in during the week. This is a bad idea, according to Dr. Axe.

"One of the most serious threats of playing the weekend warrior game is a condition called rhabdomyolysis," she explained. Often associated with 'crush' injuries that happen during terrorist attacks, natural disasters, war or car accidents, it can also be triggered by a single case of overtraining.

If it sounds scary, that's because it is.

"Rhabdomyolysis, known as rhabdo, is a complex condition that is triggered by the rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle," Dr. Axe told INSIDER. "This breakdown leads to muscle proteins leaking out of the cells and into the bloodstream. People who de-conditioned and jump fast into training are at an elevated risk of rhabdo, a condition that can ultimately lead to everything from an electrolyte imbalance to acute renal failure."

You're only doing one type of workout.

Maybe you're addicted to that spin bike or prefer to crush it in the weight room, thinking that as long as you're not sitting on the couch all day, it's better than nothing. And although that is true, you've got to switch up your workouts often, if only to prevent injury.

According to Tyler Spraul, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and the head trainer at Exercise.com, there are a few issues with sticking to the same exact fitness routine.

"This can hurt you in a few ways," he told us. "You're only going to get better in that one area — whatever it is that you're focusing on. If you want to be more well-rounded, you need to try different exercises and workout styles! Even professional athletes need to have strong foundations in more general parts of fitness like conditioning, mobility, moving through different planes, etc. instead of only training the specific moves they use at work."

Plus, the effects on the muscles you're working — and not working — are potentially detrimental.

"If you're only doing one thing, chances are that you will build up a lot of imbalances between different muscle groups, and maybe even from one side of your body to the other. While muscle imbalances are common and not usually problematic, if you only do one thing year after year, you're going to run into trouble," he told us. "You also need to be on the lookout for signs of overuse. Repeating the same motions over and over can cause problems, particularly if your form isn't spot on"

He also noted that if you're feeling pain or soreness in your joints and ligaments instead of your muscles, that something's not right.

• Sometimes we don't see the results we'd like to from our workouts.
• But that doesn't mean your exercise routine isn't enough.
• If you are hitting your workout goals, maintaining a healthy lifestyle outside of the gym, and your metabolism is working well, your workouts are probably enough.

Few things are as discouraging as heading to the gym regularly and not seeing results. Unfortunately though, at some point if you've started working out, it feels as if everything you're doing is in vain.

Although amping up your workouts may be your first response — just like it was for me — sometimes it's better to look for the subtle signs that are you in fact getting enough exercise. Andrea Fornarola, founder of Elements Fitness Studio, told INSIDER that there are plenty of other ways to determine if your current workout routine is enough.

"There is a super fine line between hitting it hard, and then working out too much. Usually people think that the more you workout the better it is, but that's not always the case," she said. "If you are exercising three to four times a week, and hitting your target heart rate for at least 30 minutes, you are most likely working out enough — even if it doesn't feel like it. It's better to work smarter not harder."

Need more proof that you're workouts are doing their job even if it feels like you're not doing enough? Here are seven signs that your workouts are going better than you think.

You walk a lot on a daily basis.

Over the last few years, counting steps has become all the rage in monitoring cardio intake, and according to Jeana Anderson Cohen, founder of the wellness company A Sweat Life, you should still consider your steps part of your workout routine.

"Counting your steps is a great way to attune yourself to the amount of daily activity you're actually getting," she told INSIDER. "Even if you didn't fit a gym-session in, those 15,000 steps you enjoyed walking your dog, catching a bus, and taking your conference call as you walked your office count against your activity needs."

Cardio doesn't always need to be on a treadmill. You can sometimes get the proper amount needed by just doing your day-to-day activities.

You're reaching your goals.

Working out can seem pointless if you haven't put your eye on a prize. That's why Dr. Kevin Kinney, a chiropractic doctor and wellness expert, told INSIDER that you should be keeping track of your goals.

"The simplest way to know that you are working out enough is to set and keep track of your progress through measurable goals," he said. "Whether the goal is increasing in weight, repetitions, strength, flexibility, speed, or distance. If you are consistently hitting and exceeding that thing, then you are on a healthy regimen. Goals should challenge you but also be achievable and practical."

Set a workout routine each week that will increase from your previous week's goals.

You're hitting your target time.

According to Cohen, if you're starting to feel as if your workout isn't getting the job done, consider the amount of time you've been working out.

"Steady state cardio — or LISS (low intensity steady state) workouts — can be judged on time," she said. "From power walking to jogging, settle into a pace that's a 5 to 6 on a scale of 1 to 10 for you and hang out there for 45 to 60 minutes. Even if it feels like you're not working hard enough, LISS is an important part of your fitness mix."

You never want to overdo it just to make yourself feel like you've worked out. Pay attention to how your body reacts to your workout.

• Sam's Club is known for its bulk products and huge savings, but it's a members-only store that costs at least $45 a year to join.
• You don't need to have a membership to make use of some of Sam's Club's services, like the optical center or food court.
• Sam's Club's online store and guest pass policy have also made it easier to shop at Sam's Club without a membership.

SEE ALSO: We shopped at Costco and Sam's Club to see which is better — and there's a clear reason why you should join one over the other

Print out a single day guest pass from Sam's Club's website.

The guest pass allows you to shop at Sam's Club without a membership, but you'll be charged a 10% service fee. California, South Carolina, and Elmsford, NY are exempt from the fee.

(Source: Sam's Club)

Become a complimentary add-on member on a friend or family member's account.

(Source: Reader's Digest)

Shop at Sam's Club's online store.

Non-members can shop online at samsclub.com, but a 10% service fee is applied unless you live in California, South Carolina, and Elmsford, NY.

(Source: Sam's Club)

• Debit card fraud increased by 10% from 2016 to 2017, according to FICO.
• Since debit cards are linked to bank accounts, they don't offer as much fraud protection as credit cards.
• Here's when you shouldn't use a debit card — and when you should use cash or a credit card instead.

Swipe with caution.

While a debit card can help prevent you from racking up some serious credit card debt, it can also put you in a more dangerous situation — like the risk of identity theft or fraudulent charges. 

Trust me, I know from experience. 

I've always been an avid debit card user — I love tracking where my money goes, which seems nearly impossible to do with cash, and I aim to keep my credit utilization under 30% to keep my credit score in good standing. That said, I use my debit card for a decent bulk of my purchases or payments.

Yet, I learned the hard way that a debit card isn't your best bet for everything.

A few days after filling up my gas tank in South Florida, I noticed some strange charges on my checking account — a few payments at different gas stations in the area and a charge at a Home Depot located in the more northern part of Florida. Since I lacked any homebuilding skills at the time (although I'm still no Bob the Builder), I knew right away these weren't my doing.

The fraudulent charges came out to roughly $175 — not a small sum, but it could have been worse. As a broke college student at the time, $175 was a goldmine. I had less than $10 left in my checking account — and I didn't even own a credit card yet.

Luckily, my bank alerted me to the unauthorized debit card use, and after I filed a dispute form my money was reimbursed.

That was the last time I used a debit card at a gas station, which is a popular target for criminals with card skimmers.

It seems I'm not the only one who has ignored the protective benefits of a credit card and experienced the highs and lows of a debit card — in August 2017, FICO reported a 39% rise in debit cards compromised at US ATMs and merchants. For 2017 overall, 10% more debit cards were compromised in the US compared to 2016.

Debit cards and credit cards are processed differently, meaning they propose different risks. With debit cards, there's more money at stake.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, users aren't held liable if they report a lost or stolen debit card before unauthorized charges are made, but are held liable for up to $50 of unauthorized or fraudulent charges if the issue is reported within two days. If you report the issue within 60 days, you may be held liable up to $500. And if you wait until after 60 days, your maximum loss is all the money the thief took from your debit account — and possibly any other accounts linked to it.

Credit cards have better fraudulent protection. Legally, credit card users are only liable for up to $50 of unauthorized or fraudulent activity if the activity occurs before you report it missing. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, if you report a lost or stolen card before it's used, the card company can't hold you responsible. If someone steals and uses your account number, you generally have no liability.

Credit cards also offer other valuable protections, such as chargebacks, extended warranties, and price protection.

Make sure to keep your checking account safe by resisting the urge to swipe your debit card at these seven risky places.

SEE ALSO: Here's why you should use a credit card instead of a debit card

DON'T MISS: How to figure out if you should use credit, debit, or cash

Independent or Unfamiliar ATMs

You may want to think twice about swiping at an ATM you haven't used before. Today's thieves are doing more than attaching skimming devices to ATMs to steal card information — they're also "wiretapping," in which they intercept card data by inserting a device through a small hole in the ATM and covering it up with a fake decal. 

It's so sneaky, it's incredibly difficult to detect. And as Equifax points out, if you're unfamiliar with the machine, it will be even harder for you to notice something unusual about it.

This is especially true of independent ATMs, but bank ATMs are also vulnerable. Equifax recommends opting for an ATM you know well or one inside (not outside) a bank or protected lobby.

No matter which ATM you use, don't forget to cover your hand over the PIN pad in case the skimmer has also installed a hidden camera.

Gas Pumps

As I — and others— found out firsthand, swiping your card at the gas pump is a huge no-no.

Like an ATM, they can be hacked with skimmers. External, or overlay, skimmers fit over the card reader and steal your data and PIN. Internal skimmers can be ultra thin skimmers that fit inside the card reader, or simple cables that run between the card reader and main board and record card data (wiretapping). 

"A consumer may likely have no indication that they used an altered dispenser until they find a discrepancy on their bank statements," Frank Frassetto, division administrator of Trade and Consumer protection, told ConsumerAffairs.

Use your credit card instead, but cash is even better. If you must pay with a debit card, always run it as credit and never enter your PIN.

Restaurants

A night out can be more costly than you think. A restaurant is one of the few places where you're not actually doing the swiping — the waiter does it for you. When your card leaves your sight so the waiter can process the bill, you have no idea what's going on behind the scenes.

Servers can bring handheld card skimmers to work, swipe customer card information, and use the stolen data later. Even if you pick up take-out from a restaurant without sit-down service where you pay using the card yourself, the restaurant may keep your customer information on file.

You're best off wining and dining on cash or a credit card.

• Air India, India's debt-ridden, flailing national carrier is one of the two airlines that flies nonstop to India from the US.
• In March, I took the nonstop 15-hour long flight between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Last month, I went on my annual pilgrimage to India. My parents still live there, so a trip once a year or so is pretty much non-negotiable. 

But this time, instead of settling for a connecting flight with a layover in Europe as per usual, I decided to fly nonstop to New Delhi — not only to save time but because the direct flight during this time of the year didn't come with the exorbitant price tag that it usually comes with around the time of the Christmas holidays. 

My only two options were United, which is a 15-hour flight from Newark Liberty International Airport, and Air India, which takes around the same time, but departs from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. I decided to go with an economy ticket on the latter.

Make no mistake — Air India has a terrible reputation. India's national carrier is a flailing, debt-ridden airline that frequently ends up at the very bottom of global rankings. Its facilities are hardly state-of-the-art, and it often gets dismal customer service reviews.

I was nervous, as I too had a bad experience flying Air India once before. But I had last flown the airline on this route all the way back in 2010, as a tourist to the US heading back to India. So I decided to give it another shot.

Here's what I thought of my Air India flight, departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport at 2:25 p.m. for New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, operated on a Boeing 777-300 ER.

SEE ALSO: Take a look inside the hidden bedrooms on board Boeing's 787 Dreamliner

I arrived at JFK at 11:55 a.m. for my flight at 2:25 p.m. on a Saturday. I had two medium-sized bags, and a carry-on, even though only one is pictured here.

I like to show up at least three hours in advance for international flights, so I was a little worried when I saw how crowded the terminal was. But despite the long lines, I was past both check-in and security by 12:20 p.m.

Not too long after that, it was time to board the Boeing 777-300. I felt a surge of patriotism upon spotting the Indian flag. Fun fact: The tail is supposed to be a red flying swan with a "Chakra" in orange inside it — a version of the blue 24-spoked wheel at the center of the flag.

• Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996.
• Xennials are a "microgeneration" born between 1977 and 1985.
• There are meaningful differences between their lives. For example, xennials were already in the workforce when the recession hit, while many millennials were just graduating from college.

If you were born between 1977 and 1985, you're officially a member of the microgeneration known as xennials.

The term was coined by Sarah Stankorb in a 2014 Good magazine article to describe a group that straddles Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980, and millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, according to the Pew Research Center.

Xennials, according to Stankorb and the many similar stories that followed, grew up watching "My So-Called Life" and popping cassettes into the stereo, but transitioned pretty seamlessly to using smartphones and social media.

Some people call them the "Oregon Trail generation," after the once popular video game, or "Generation Catalano," after Jared Leto's character in "My So-Called Life."

Below, we've outlined some of the biggest differences between xennials and their slightly younger siblings, millennials.

SEE ALSO: There's a term for people born in the early 80s who don't feel like a millennial or a Gen X-er — here's everything we know

Xennials were already in the workforce when the recession hit. Many millennials, however, were just graduating from college and looking for jobs. Interestingly, some research suggests that xennials may have been hit hardest by the recession because of a combination of student-loan debt, job losses, and other factors.

Sources: GOOD Magazine and CityLab

Many xennials made it through their childhood and teen years without social media — no Facebook or even Myspace. Many millennials, on the other hand, had Myspace and Facebook accounts before entering college.

Source: Social Media Week

On September 11, 2001, xennials were in their teens and 20s; millennials were much younger. As one writer said of xennials, "Much of our childhoods were spared the dark shadow cast by tragedy and war," while millennials were somewhat shaken out of their innocence.

Source: GOOD Magazine

• Charismatic people have certain traits and behaviors in common that make them likable.
• Above all, they focus on other people instead of themselves.
• For example, they ask lots of questions in conversation, show empathy, and nod attentively.

Everyone worries from time to time.

Maybe you walked into a roomful of coworkers whispering and assumed they were gossiping about you. Or maybe your friends forgot to include you on the email chain for an upcoming getaway.

Our advice? Relax. You're probably plenty well-liked.

But if you're really worried about it, we've put together a list of research-and-expert-backed signs that you're likable — perhaps even more so than you realize.

You'll notice that many of the items on this list have to do with paying more attention to other people and less attention to yourself. Somewhat ironically, once you stop worrying about being likable, you'll have a better chance at winning other people over.

SEE ALSO: 8 signs you're likable at the office, even if it doesn't feel like it

You make a great first impression

First impressions are notoriously hard to shake — so if you make a solid one, you're basically set up to be likable for life.

In one 2016 study published in the journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science, researchers found that participants' evaluations of people in photographs ended up influencing their perceptions of those people even after they'd met them in real life.

That said, if you do make a poor first impression, there are ways to reverse it. For example, if someone views you negatively, you can help them see your behavior in a new context.

Say you ignore an acquaintance on the street because you just had a massive fight with your partner and aren't in the mood to talk. Later you find out that the acquaintance thinks you're a jerk. You might want to get in touch with her and explain that you normally love talking to her, but you'd just finished sobbing and didn't want to embarrass yourself or her.

You show positive emotions

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood! (Isn't it?)

According to a research paper from the Ohio State University and the University of Hawaii, people can unconsciously feel the emotions of those around them.

The authors of the paper say that's possibly because we naturally mimic others' movements and facial expressions, which in turn makes us feel something similar to what they're feeling.

It follows then that if you're generally upbeat and enthusiastic, other people will feel the same when you're around.

You're not always perfect

Ever tripped on the carpet on your way out of an important meeting? Go you!

Science suggests that revealing you aren't perfect can make you seem more relatable and vulnerable toward the people around you.

Researcher Elliot Aronson at the University of Texas, Austin first discovered this phenomenon when he studied how simple mistakes can affect perceived attraction. He asked male students from the University of Minnesota to listen to tape recordings of people taking a quiz.

When people did well on the quiz but spilled coffee at the end of the interview, the students rated them higher on likability than when they did well on the quiz and didn't spill coffee or didn't do well on the quiz and spilled coffee.

In other words, you have to reveal that you're competent before making a mistake — otherwise you'll just seem silly.

• DNA testing can teach you everything from your ethnic background and disease pre-disposition to food preferences and exercise habits.
• A DNA testing company called Vitagene approached me to take a DNA test for $100, so I swabbed the inside of my cheek and mailed the sample to their lab.
• I wasn't expecting anything significant, yet the results of my DNA test were a complete shock.
• A caveat: DNA testing is an imperfect science, and the FDA is only beginning to investigate the claims made by companies like Vitagene.

When I was approached to take a DNA test by a company called Vitagene, I was intrigued. I'd always wanted to know my ethnic breakdown (spoiler alert: mostly European). But what really fascinated me was the prospect of demystifying my genetic code — sort of.

Vitagene promised to dig into my one-of-a-kind DNA to determine my sensitivities and predisposed ailments. Plus, they'd give me a custom diet and exercise regimen and handpick the exact supplements I should be taking based not only on my genetics, but also on my family medical history, lifestyle habits, and health goals.

Of course, DNA testing is still an imperfect science, and there are currently no universal standards for accuracy. The FDA is only just starting to regulate the health claims made by DNA testing services. I never expected my test results to hold the same kind of weight as real diagnostic testing or be a substitute for real health professionals (and neither should you).

I swabbed the inside of my cheek, mailed the sample to their lab, and completed a quick questionnaire on their site. Easy peasy — and the whole thing costs a cool $100, cheaper than some other brands.

A month later, Vitagene emailed me a link to retrieve my password-protected results online. Some of the findings didn't surprise me: I have a high alcohol tolerance but I'm lactose intolerant. Carbs make me pack on the pounds, but fatty foods do not.

What did surprise me? Everything else.

Here are the most eye-opening things I learned from my DNA test.

SEE ALSO: DNA testing is growing, but 2 states are concerned with its claims

1. I shouldn't rely on multivitamins

According to Dr. Julie Chen, an integrative medicine physician on Vitagene's advisory board, I should get all of my essential nutrients from the foods I eat. In other words, my diet should be my multivitamin. I should only take supplements to address my deficiencies (hence the word "supplements"). Excess vitamins can potentially be harmful — and the New York Times agrees.

My personal list of supplements is pretty short — and surprisingly bizarre. In addition to the usual suspects, like vitamin D and probiotics, Vitagene suggests I stock up on obscurities like chromium, glucosamine chondroitin complex, and — brace yourself — bromelain quercetin complex. Apparently, these pills will help regulate my blood sugar and protect me from joint pain and inflammation, respectively.

But do I need them? I'll let my (actual) doctor decide.

2. I may be predisposed to overindulging in food

The cat's out of the bag. I only exercise because I have to, and I keep my cupboards pretty bare because I have no self-control. The craziest part? I'm allegedly genetically predisposed to be this way!

In addition to my DNA being ravenous and sedentary, it is also stubborn about weight loss and muscle gain. Small portions that total 1,400 calories a day and extra reps at the gym are the only way my body weight will budge, thanks to my genes.

3. I should drop the yoga mat and pick up a barbell

Namaste? Not if I want to tone up, says Vitagene. I'm built to see more results from short, intense exercises, like sprinting and bench pressing, than from aerobic workouts like jogging, swimming, and yoga, which I love.

That said, I still need aerobic exercise to keep my heart healthy; I just have to work a lot harder. In short, I'm built to be the tortoise, not the hare.

• Ulta is a beauty retailer known for selling both prestige high-end makeup and drugstore brands. 
• In addition to selling beauty products, Ulta stores have full-service salons that do hair, makeup, nails, brows, and skincare services. 
• Even though buying beauty products can add up quickly, there are a lot of ways to save money at Ulta such as taking advantage of the rewards program and stacking manufacturers coupons with Ulta coupons that are always available. 

Whether you're shopping for a prestige makeup brand, a drugstore brand, or headed to the salon, there are a lot of ways to save when shopping at Ulta.

There are savings to be had through the Ultamate Rewards program, in addition to daily savings online. Ulta also sends email subscribers exclusive coupons. In stores, Ulta has a clearance section that can be up to 70%  off and it accepts manufacturers coupons from brands that offer them.

It also offers perks like gift-with-purchase promotions and a return policy that allows you to return products you don't like within 60 days for a refund.

Here are some other tips for saving money at Ulta: 

SEE ALSO: We shopped at Sephora and Ulta to see which was a better beauty store — and the winner was clear

Sign up for the email list to get exclusive coupons — Ulta sends out $3.50 off $15 coupons frequently, and sometimes it sends a 20% off prestige brands coupon to save big on high-end brands.

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Buy discounted gift cards online to save a few dollars before you even get to the store.

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Source: Buzzfeed

If you sign up for the Ultamate Rewards program, you can earn points for every dollar spent — points add up fast and can be used as store credit.

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Source: Ulta 

NBC's huge bet on Megyn Kelly seems to be floundering, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint.

NBC paid a hefty $69 million salary (over three years) to lure Kelly from Fox News, but since then "her ratings declines and higher production costs have been a drag on a critical franchise for NBC," The Journal reports.

Her daytime show “Megyn Kelly Today,” which airs at 9 a.m., has seen underwhelming viewership, and her Sunday newsmagazine has been downgraded to "occasional prime-time specials."

The Journal called Kelly's $23-million-a-year contract a "throwback to the golden age of broadcast news," but how does it stack up next to other top TV hosts today?

In August, Variety compiled the biggest estimated annual salaries of reality, news, and talk show hosts. There were newbies to the game like Mike Meyers and Jamie Foxx, and big hitters like Ryan Seacrest, Ellen DeGeneres, and Judith Sheindlin (you know her better as Judge Judy).

Here were the top paid hosts, as estimated by Variety last summer (excluding Megyn Kelly):

Note: Some of these figures below include fees for producing and back-end compensation. 

SEE ALSO: 34 movies you have to see this fall — including "Justice League,""It," and "Blade Runner 2049"

Mike Myers (“The Gong Show”) - $3 million

Jamie Foxx (“Beat Shazam”) - $ 3 million

Alec Baldwin (“Match Game”) - $3 million

• Donald Trump just feted French president Emmanuel Macron with a lavish state dinner in the White House.
• Four years ago, Barack Obama hosted Macron's predecessor François Hollande for a similarly fancy state dinner.
• The events were both opulent, but differed in a number of key ways.

Donald Trump wined and dined French president Emmanuel Macron at the White House last night.

But how did Trump's state dinner for Macron compare with the one their predecessors shared in 2014?

Well, for one thing, the state dinner that Barack Obama hosted for then French president François Hollande was far bigger. Around 350 people attended, and the event was held in a large tent on the South Lawn of the White House, CNN reported.

Trump's guest list was tighter, with about 150 attendees, Politico reported. As such, the celebrations were largely contained to the State Dining Room in the White House.

Back in 2014, the Washington Post reported that these diplomatic soirees can come with hefty price tags — up to $500,000. They're also traditionally planned with a ton of input from the first lady, so Michelle Obama and Melania Trump and their respective staffers deserve much of the credit for the two events.

Here's a quick breakdown of how Trump's state dinner compares to Obama's:

SEE ALSO: Trump and Macron are meeting up for a state dinner — here are 9 US presidents who previously hosted French leaders

DON'T MISS: Trump is hosting his first state visit in office — take a look back at how the elaborate diplomatic tradition became what it is today

Trump broke with tradition by largely excluding everyone except for Republican-friendly figures

Obama's 2014 guest list was remarkable in one respect: the French president went stag.

Hollande's relationship with Valerie Trierweiler had just ended, so he opted to attend the event. solo.

The state dinner drew in attendees from a range of industries. Well-known figures like Elon Musk, Stephen Colbert, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jill Abramson, Jeff Zucker, Bradley Cooper, and J.J. Abrams all mingled with Hollande and the US president.

Obama also invited Republican politicians like Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, and Bill Haslam, as well as figures from his own party like Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.

Trump didn't extend the same courtesy to most Democratic figures. CNN reported that Louisiana's Democratic governor John Bel Edwards did snag an invite, however.

Trump's guest list mostly featured notable figures in his own orbit — like first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kusher, adviser Stephen Miller, CIA director Mike Pompeo, White House chief of staff John Kelly, and Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin and his wife Louise Linton. Other conservative icons included Rupert Murdoch amd Henry Kissinger made appearances.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was one notable exception.

Michelle Obama and Melania Trump both attended the event in style — but Obama's gown was likely much less expensive

At her husband's 2014 soiree, Michelle Obama wore a black and blue gown from designer Carolina Herrera. The dress was given as a gift to the first lady, and was estimated to have a price tag around $12,000.

The New York Times reported that Melania Trump's sequined silver dress was a haute couture Chanel gown, while Brigitte Macron donned a cream and gold Louis Vuitton number.

It's currently unclear how much their dresses cost — and whether or not they were gifts from the designers — although the Sidney Morning Herald reported that haute couture can run from $30,000 to $100,000.

On the other hand, Obama, Hollande, Trump, and Macron all went with black tuxes.

Obama's state dinner included more courses than Trump's

Both presidents decided to put out a menu that promised gourmet American cuisine with a French twist. The Obama administration's table decor featured a classic blue and white color palette, with gold highlights.

Unsurprisingly, the Trumps went with lots of gold.

Hollande and the Obamas tucked into four courses. Dishes included "American osetra caviar,""fingerling potato velouté," quail eggs, and a salad dubbed "the winter garden salad." Guests chowed down on a main course of dry-aged rib eye beef, and then wrapped up with a dessert of Hawaiian chocolate-malted ganache, served with vanilla ice cream and tangerines.

Meanwhile, at Trump's three course state dinner, "goat cheese gateau,""buttermilk biscuit crumbles," and "Carolina gold rice jambalaya" were all served up. The main course consisted of a rack of spring lamb, and desert featured crème fraîche ice cream and a nectarine tart, according to a menu obtained by CBS White House correspondent Mark Knoller.

It's unclear whether or not the president took two scoops of the crème fraîche.

From Kylie Jenner to Dame Judi Dench, it seems like every celebrity has at least one or two pieces of ink.

But these 18 famous faces have taken their commitment to body art to a whole new level, basically using their skin as one big canvas. But do you remember when they had completely unmarked bods? Justin Bieber might now have completely covered his chest and arms, but when he first arrived on the scene, there wasn't a tat in sight.

Keep reading to see what these famously inked celebs looked like before (and after) they got the tattoo bug.

Justin Bieber claims that his tattoos took "over a hundred hours of hard work on my body and I wouldn’t take back a single one."

In addition to two complete sleeves and a covered chest, Bieber also has multiple tattoos on his legs and back. According to PopStarTats, he has at least 59 pieces of ink all over his body.

Lady Gaga has multiple tattoos dedicated to her fans who call themselves "Little Monsters."

The singer has at least 21 tattoos, according to PopStarTats. Among them she has a monster's paw (an homage to her fans, whom she calls "Little Monsters"), a Mother Monster tattoo (also for her fans), and the words "Little Monsters."

Besides honoring her fans, she has a portrait of David Bowie (one of her musical idols), and a trumpet to commemorate her time with iconic singer Tony Bennett (the two collaborated on 2014 album "Cheek to Cheek").

David Beckham's body his truly his canvas — he has over 40 tattoos to prove it.

The Daily Mail created a graphic to explain what each of Beckham's 40 tattoos mean. Among our favorites are his Sanskrit tattoo that translates to "Victoria," two cherubs representing two of his sons Brooklyn and Romeo, "Pretty Lady" for his daughter Harper, and the Jay-Z lyric "Dream big, be unrealistic."

• Costco and Sam's Club are known for their generous sample policy.
• Members frequently brag on Twitter about heading to these stores for a free lunch.
• We taste tested samples from both locations and found that Costco was the clear winner. 

On paper, Sam's Club and Costco are almost identical – both are membership-based warehouse stores that offer customers discounted prices on products bought in bulk and other services such as eye and ear exams, a pharmacy, one-hour photo printing, and a food court.

In March, Business Insider's Jessica Tyler compared the experience of shopping at these two chains and found that the only major difference was the price of memberships – Sam's Club costs $15 less annually than Costco. 

But it all comes down to the details. Costco was the undisputed winner in a series of food-based comparisons done by Business Insider's Hollis Johnson – it won best food court overall was the clear leader on individual food items such as hot dogs and pizza slices. 

With this in mind, we decided to put one of their best-known perks to the test: the free samples. 

Both chains are known for their generous sample policy and customers frequently brag on Twitter about heading to the stores for a free meal. 

There is a method to their madness, however. By offering free samples these stores improve the shopping experience for the customer and make them more loyal. It's also a way for customers to try new products and spur them into buying more. 

Find out what happened when we visited the two chains below:

SEE ALSO: People are obsessed with Costco's free samples — but it's actually a brilliant business strategy

We headed to a Sam's Club store in Secaucus, New Jersey on a grey Tuesday afternoon. The store is located next to a Walmart and conveniently accessed by a direct bus from Manhattan.

When we arrived at the store we made a beeline to the grocery section to test the samples. On approach, we started to hear the dulcet tones of some steel drums.

Unfortunately, there weren't any live steel drummers, just a speaker. However, sandwiched between the grocery and alcohol sections we came across our first sample station.

• Baby names have been tracked by the Social Security Administration has tracked since 1880.
• We compiled a list of the most popular baby name for every year.
• Mary, Michael, James, and Jennifer have been among the most popular names in US history.

Baby names go in and out of style like fashion trends — what's popular one year may not be so hip a few years down the road.

Take Mary, for example.

Mary was once the most popular girl's name in America for more than 60 years, but today it isn't even among the 100 most common names for girls, according to the Social Security Administration, which has tracked the popularity of baby names dating back to 1880. At its peak in the early 1920s, there were more than 70,000 girls born with the name Mary each year, but in 2016, that number had plummeted to just over 2,000.

We looked at the data and found the most popular baby name for boys and girls born in the US. Take a look at the graphic below and see which names have entered and left the spotlight, and find out which name was most popular the year you were born.

SEE ALSO: Stephen or Steven? Lindsey or Lindsay? The 'right' way to spell 21 of the most popular names in the US

DON'T MISS: 8 common words you probably didn't know came from TV shows

"Mary" was the clear winner for all of the 1920s.

Source: Social Security Administration

Mary kept its spot throughout the next decade, joined by "Robert."

Source: Social Security Administration

At the end of the 1940s, Mary gave way to "Linda."

Source: Social Security Administration

For many of us, securing a job after university is a huge task, requiring countless applications, seemingly dozens of interviews, and many disheartening rejections.

But once you've got your foot on that ladder, a first professional job can be a lucrative business, with salaries in some European nations exceeding $90,000 for entry level positions, according to data from consultancy Willis Towers Watson released on Thursday.

Across Europe, salaries vary wildly, with the gap between the first and last universities on this list more than $55,000 (£40,000), but the best paid professionals are generally in Northern European countries, the continent's most prosperous nations.

Check out where in Europe young professionals pick up the biggest paychecks below.

SEE ALSO: How much you can earn in your first year at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and other big investment banks

18. Portugal — $22,630 (£16,229)

17. Greece — $25,132 (£18,023)

16. Slovenia — $29,414 (£21,094)