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5 surprising etiquette differences between the US and Japan

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japan etiquette

I have traveled to Japan more than five times. Each time I’ve been there, I have experienced "omotenashi," which roughly translates to "the spirit of selfless hospitality," according to The Japan Times.

When I first visited Tokyo, I met locals who, despite the language barrier, would spend 15 minutes assisting me with directions on the street. People walked me out of a restaurant after finishing a meal or bowed and said thank you after I made a purchase in their store.

It's an amazing place to visit, and it seems the rest of the world is catching on. Between 1995 and 2012, the number of foreign tourists who visited Japan increased by 6% each year, Quartz reported. And some Japanese residents are not too happy about tourists' behavior — smoking, littering, and noisy, unruly travelers are disturbing the peace in Kyoto, for example, according to the South China Morning Post.

Japanese people do not expect you to adopt all of their traditional manners, but any attempts to learn some of them will likely be appreciated, according to Fodors.

Here are five major etiquette differences between the US and Japan.

SEE ALSO: A quick guide to business etiquette around the world

1. While Americans greet each other with a handshake or hug, Japanese people usually nod or bow

Americans often greet each other with a handshake, kiss on the cheek, or hug.

But in Japan, people greet each other by bowing or giving a simple nod. Traditionally, there are four different types of bowing, according to Slate. Each represents a different emotion, such as gratitude, remorsefulness, and respect. Generally speaking, the deeper the bow, the more gratitude or appreciation you are showing.

When it comes to formal business engagements, foreigners sometimes miss the mark when trying to master the Japanese bow. For instance, greetings between US officials and Japanese prime ministers have occasionally sparked controversy, according to Reuters.

 



2. Tipping in restaurants is essentially mandatory in the US, but not in Japan

 In most restaurants in the US, servers and bartenders rely on tips to make a living. As tipped workers, they usually get paid less than minimum wage, according to Crains. Customers to decide how much they want to give in gratuity, but a typical suggestion is 18-20% of the bill.

While tipping is considered a standard practice in the US, it is not part of the culture in Japan, as INSIDER previously reported. Japanese people don’t see tipping as necessary for standard services. Instead of leaving money on the table, they may show their appreciation in a creative way, like folding chopstick sleeves into origami, according to Lonely Planet.



3. Table manners differ between the 2 countries

In the US, diners should know their utensil locations and not rest their elbows on the table. As soon as Americans are seated, the usual practice is to unfold the napkin and put it on their laps until the meal is finished. Americans also should not start eating before everyone at the table is served.

When you sit down for a meal in Japan, the rules are quite different. First and foremost, polish your chopsticks skills — do not stick them into your food so they stand upright or cross them on top of your bowl, according Makiko Itoh of the Japanese food blog Just Hungry. Both of these things are reminiscent of funeral rituals in Japan, and are considered rude.

Prior to eating, Japanese people will often say "itadakimasu" to show respect to the food or the chef who made the food.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I went to Ford's Track Attack racing school. Here's what I learned from professional drivers. (F)

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Ford Track Attack Racing School

  • Ford's Performance Racing School is free to anybody who buys a Ford Performance vehicle.
  • It's a one-day course taught by experienced drivers and instructors who show you what your car can do.
  • All you have to do is get yourself to Utah.
  • I've driven plenty of tracks, but I had a lot to learn in the Shelby GT350 Mustang I was assigned.


Ford sells several thrill-inducing vehicles through its Ford Performance division. Anyone who buys one can take advantage of perhaps the greatest perk in the car world: a full day of driving instruction at Ford's Performance Racing School.

The program is free to all new owners of Shelby GT350's and 350R Mustangs, Focus RS's and ST's, Raptor pickups, and Fiesta ST's. (And something is under construction for the $400,000 Ford GT supercar, which started deliveries to the first of 250 customers in 2017.)

All that's required is that your get yourself to the Salt Lake City area and make your way to Utah Motorsports, where track-ready versions of your car will be waiting for you, along with a group of experienced instructors with serious racing credentials.

It's called Track Attack. I was put through the course, alongside a group of newly minted Shelby GT350 owners. We spent a full day learning how to be better drivers before we took it the track and put some 'Stangs through their paces.

I'm under no illusions that I'm a good track driver, but I do have some track experience. Little did I know how much more I had to learn.

SEE ALSO: FOLLOW US on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

The Racing School and the Track Attack program are based at the Utah Motorsports Campus, a complex of two tracks complete with paddocks, pits, race-control towers, and even a karting course. The facility is about a half-hour drive from Salt Lake City.



Welcome to the fun! I was preparing to participate in a drive of the Ford GT supercar and welcomed the chance to get some instruction before taking on the $400,000 Le Mans-winning beast and its 647-horsepower engine.



Any Ford customer who buys a Ford Performance vehicle is offered the chance to attend a one-day racing program for free. All they have to do is get to the venue.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

MLS has become a destination for many aging stars of soccer — here are the biggest names to make the jump

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Wayne Rooney

D.C. United of Major League Soccer officially announced on Thursday that long-time England and Premier League star Wayne Rooney is set to move to the club. 

Rooney is a big name, having played for over ten years for Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and should move the marketing needle for a D.C. United club that is set to open a new stadium soon. 

But he is also 32-years-old, and having played professional soccer since he was 16-years-old, Rooney has a lot of mileage on his legs, and his best days as a player are clearly behind him. MLS is not as tough, competition-wise, as the Premier League of course, but it still remains to be seen how effective Rooney will be for a D.C. United club that currently sits at the bottom of the league's eastern conference.  

This trade-off between on-field quality and big-name marketability is not new to MLS; the league has often been criticized as a retirement league for its tendency to make splashy signings for over-the-hill stars who may be coming to MLS just to enjoy a glorified American vacation. However, in fairness, some of these signings have gone on to enjoy tremendous success on the field as well off of it, so take a look below and the biggest names to come to the league, and see how each one has fared. 

David Beckham

The first big-name star to make the jump to MLS, so much so that the league's designated player rule which makes most of these signings possible is also called the "Beckham rule." A pair of controversial loans abroad marred Beckham's early tenure in Los Angeles, but he eventually helped lead the Galaxy to two MLS Cup titles and Supporter's Shields. Beckham was also credited with helping to raise the profile of the league. 



Thierry Henry

The legendary France and Arsenal striker joined the New York Red Bulls in 2010. His tenure in New York didn't quite reach the same heights as Beckham in Los Angeles, but he still helped the club win a Supporter's Shield in 2013 and made three MLS Best XIs. 



Robbie Keane

One of the most successful examples of a late-career transition to MLS, Keane joined the LA Galaxy in the middle of the 2011 season. He was a part of two MLS Cup-winning campaigns and was selected to four MLS Best XIs, and even won the league MVP award in 2014. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Google Calendar has a new out-of-office feature that can automatically decline meeting invitations — here's how to set it up (GOOG, GOOGL)

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Google Calendar out of office

Google just added a new "Out of office" feature to its Calendar app to make meeting management a little easier. 

Similar to Google's Vacation Responder feature in Gmail, which can send automated replies while you're away from your computer, the new Out of office feature lets you preemptively deny meeting requests for certain periods of time on your Google Calendar. Google announced the feature in a blog post on Thursday, saying it will "further improve your digital well-being."

The way that Out of office messages are set up right now, incoming emails and invites automatically receive an "I can't respond right now," but only once you're out of the office. With this feature — which can be applied to day-to-day hours or for vacation days — the creator of the meeting will know you'll be unavailable on that day and time as soon as he or she makes the meeting. 

That leaves you to get on with your work and your personal life, by avoiding the repeated conversation about your hours and travel time. 

Here's how to set up the Out of office feature in Google Calendar:

For one-off times — say, when you're going out of town or need to go heads down on an assignment — click on a day like you would for an event or a reminder, and select the Out of office mode. Then fill in the rest of the necessary information.

When I typed "Vacation" into the title field, Google automatically changed the event to the Out of office mode with a pop-up explaining itself: "Going out of office? Use Out of office to create auto declining events."

"Going forward, Google Calendar will try to intelligently detect, based on the title entered, when you’re creating an out of office object and change the type automatically," Google said in the blog post. "You can always manually change this if you’d like to opt for a different entry type."

Note that even though you are creating an event like you would any other, the "Create event" shortcut in the bottom right-hand corner (that red plus sign) won't work. It's for events only.



The days will appear differently in your 'Week' view, and any meetings previously created will be declined.

If you change your mind or schedule incorrectly, don't worry — once you delete the time off, Google Calendar automatically re-accepts anything that was declined. 



Google Calendar will also decline incoming meetings requests for those days with an email that includes your tailor-made message. Here's what it looks like on their end:



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's how you should actually be applying your makeup to look your best

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makeup mistakes ruining foundation doing makeup model

With all the new makeup trends hitting the net, it’s hard to know what will stick around and what won’t. From contouring to massive highlighting, a few trends — though some not preferred by makeup artists— have found a way to make their way into the makeup routines of beauty enthusiasts everywhere. Since things are always changing, however, it’s a little difficult to know exactly how you should be applying your makeup in order to make it stay all day. According to Veronica Graham, professional makeup artist and CEO of AmplifyingBeauty, the order of your makeup application won’t matter if a good cleansing routine isn’t implemented first.

"When it comes to any makeup application routine, it all starts with the skin," Graham said. "The skincare is the most important part of the makeup application. When that’s taken good care of, it allows your makeup to go on flawless."

Though some may disagree, here's how you should be applying your makeup in order to make it stay all day, as told to INSIDER by a professional makeup artist.

A good makeup routine starts before you even apply your makeup.

Although having a flawless face may seem to come down to the type of makeup you use, it actually starts with how you take care of your skin on a daily basis.

"After taking care of your cleansing routine, your first step should be to use a toner," she said. "This will bring the PH balance back to your skin — regardless if your skin is dry, oil, or combination. Following that, I apply a water-based moisturizer that’s not heavy on my skin. It allows my pores to still be able to breathe and also allows room for buildable coverage."



Next, you should apply primer.

Though your cleansing and moisturizing routines are a huge part of giving your makeup the outcome that you desire, an often ignored step is adding in primer. According to Cosmopolitan, primer ensures that you will get the most from your foundations and pigments. And, Graham definitely agrees.

"Primer is the 'barrier' between the makeup and skin and will help with oil and dryness," she told INSIDER. "It’s very important that you understand your skin type for this step. Dry skin absorbs the makeup and creates lines and cracks; oily skin causes your makeup to look super dewy or shine, which is fine you you are going for that look. There are primers out there to help with both options."

 



As much as it’s debated, foundation comes after primer.

There’s been much back and forth over the years about whether concealer should come before foundation, Graham told INSIDER that foundation should be the next step after primer.

"Whether it’s a BB cream, cream to powder, liquid or mousse foundation, is totally your choice," she said. "Afterwards though, I always suggest lightly off-setting your foundation with a powder foundation that warms your face."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 of the cheapest US travel destinations for an affordable summer trip

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Travel

  • Summer travel destination can be stressful, especially for families traveling on a budget. 
  • Instead of venturing outside of the US, there are popular US destinations that families can travel to without breaking their bank accounts, like Florida and Texas. 
  • Here are the 10 cheapest travel destinations in the US this year that SmartAsset ranked by cost of hotels, flights, car rentals and meals.

 

With summer starting to heat up it's time for families to start planning their summer vacations. This can be a stressful period, especially for families whose budgets are already stretched trying to afford their mortgage and saving for retirement. But while a dream trip to a distant country may be off the table, there are plenty of affordable US destinations which families can enjoy without breaking their savings accounts. Below we rank the most affordable US travel destinations.

With summer starting to heat up it's time for families to start planning their summer vacations. This can be a stressful period, especially for families whose budgets are already stretched trying to afford their mortgage and saving for retirement. But while a dream trip to a distant country may be off the table, there are plenty of affordable US destinations which families can enjoy without breaking their savings accounts. Below we rank the most affordable US travel destinations.

In order to find the most affordable travel destinations in the country, SmartAsset estimated the costs of a vacation for a family of four and for an individual. Specifically, we looked at the cost of hotels, flights, car rentals and meals for a family of four and an individual in 48 cities.

This is the fourth annual version of this study. Check out the 2017 version here.

Key findings

  • Sunshine State Florida has three cities in our top 15, which is more than any other states. Close competitors are Texas, Arizona and Nevada, which each have two. What is great about visiting Florida is that not only is it an affordable state, but once you're there you don't have to spend any extra money to enjoy the great weather.
  • More of the same – Now that we have done this study for four years, some definite patterns are starting to emerge. For example, Orlando is a very affordable place to travel (although your budget mileage may vary depending on if you go to Disney World) and the only thing keeping you from an affordable trip to Las Vegas is your luck at the casino.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best places to go on vacation this summer in the US, according to TripAdvisor

1. Orlando, Florida

For the third year in a row, Orlando is the most affordable travel destination. We estimate that an individual traveler could expect to pay just under $800 for their weekend trip to Orlando, while a family of four would be facing a cost of just over $2,225. Across all the metrics, Orlando is an affordable place to visit. It ranks no worse than sixth in any category. One metric that helps families is the falling cost of airfare. The average plane ticket is around $4 less than last year.

As the home of Disney World, this city is especially enticing for young families but there are other great vacation options unrelated to theme parks. For example, the Kennedy Space Center would be a great place to visit for a family with a budding astronaut in their ranks.



2. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas repeats last year's second place finish again this year. Sin City ranks so well because of the affordable flights. According to our data, the average round-trip flight to Las Vegas costs under $234. For that metric, Las Vegas ranks first.

In total we estimate that a single traveler spending three nights in Las Vegas could expect to pay nearly $857, while a family of four making the same trip would need to budget $2,308.



3. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Our top three remain the same from last year. In third, once again, is Fort Lauderdale. Getting to and getting around this city is affordable, according to our research. This city has the fifth-lowest car rental costs and second-lowest average round-trip airfare costs. What makes Fort Lauderdale fall behind Orlando and Las Vegas are the meal and hotel costs. In both of those metrics, Fort Lauderdale ranks in the middle of the pack.

This is a great city for people looking to experience nature. Fort Lauderdale sits right next to the Everglades and offers visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see wild alligators.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I tried Silicon Valley's favorite diet using a meal-replacing keto shake — here's the verdict

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ketogenic keto diet review 5382

For years, Silicon Valley has tried to engineer methods for living better, longer, and easier, with mixed results.

Some have even opted out of real food altogether, instead relying on products like Soylent, a bland but nutrient-rich liquid.

But for those looking to not just simplify their eating, but lose weight and curb their appetite, the ketogenic diet ("keto," for those in the know) has become something of a cult-favorite eating plan, even attracting the likes of Kim Kardashian and LeBron James.

People credit the fat-fueled-diet craze with helping them lose weight and stay full, because it turns on the same metabolism mode, called ketosis, triggered by starvation. It moves the body into a fat-store-burning state, instead of relying on carbohydrates for energy.

But as I recently discovered, the keto diet is not easy to follow.

It's true that by sticking to a low-carb, high-fat routine you're allowed to eat some traditional diet no-no's, like bacon, eggs, butter, and plenty of creamy salad dressing. However, keto dieters are limited in what else they can eat — not too many carrots, watch the berry intake, and forget about quinoa.

Ketolent (not the same brand as Soylent) theoretically takes all the work out of the keto diet, providing a ready-to-mix shake. When I found out about the product, I thought it was worth a try.

I had no idea what kind of wild ride I was about to endure.

SEE ALSO: An exercise scientist says Silicon Valley's favorite diet is a scary 'experiment that the population is doing on itself'

The recipe for Ketolent was developed by Ted Tieken, a 35-year-old who's been on the keto eating plan since 2014. Tieken says the high-fat diet has turned around his chronic pain, left him more energized, and helped him lose 35 pounds.

"When I first started making the shakes, I loved that I didn't have to worry about what to eat for lunch and I could focus on everything else going on in my life," Tieken told Business Insider in an email.

He started selling Ketolent in December 2014 and now says he averages one shake a day (sometimes two) and recommends other keto fans with a busy schedule do the same.

"I usually either have one for breakfast and skip lunch, or skip breakfast and have one for lunch," he said. "Too many calories is a real problem in the modern food system, and we've engineered our product to give our customers as much satiety as we can so we can give them control over their calories."

Tieken's company, Sated, says the insta-blend isn't just designed for time-pressed techies — it's for anyone who wants to avoid the difficult work of figuring out what to eat on the keto meal plan.

A 30-serving supply costs $90, meaning a single keto shake comes out to $3.



The shake consists of Sated-branded powder mixed with water, plus a fatty oil blend. It includes olive, flax, and coconut oils and packs a whopping 280 calories per scoop, providing the heft of my 400-calorie breakfast shake.

People on the keto diet usually get at least 60% of their calories from fat — nearly double the recommended daily dose.

When prepared as a 12-ounce shake, Ketolent packs 35 grams of fat into my breakfast, providing nearly half of my recommended total fat for the day (45%) and 60% of my daily saturated fat.

It's not even 10 a.m. They weren't kidding about this "eat more fat" business.



The keto diet is focused on healthy fats. But when I'm not slurping shakes, it can be a confusing eating plan, because some healthy foods like carrots and beans are banned.

I freaked out on Day One of my new experiment when I realized that I'd inadvertently added half-and-half into my coffee.

A couple of teaspoons added to mellow out my morning cup amounts to more than one additional gram of carbohydrates a day, which is a lot when you're trying to stay under the rigid "20 grams of carbs a day" version of the keto plan.

And I have to completely ban carbohydrate-rich foods that are staples of a cheap, healthy diet, like beans, quinoa, and whole grains.

It all makes me glad I don't have to worry about what keto-approved food to eat for breakfast, before my brain (and caffeine) kicks in — instead, I just mix up a Ketolent shake.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A look at the daily routine of Benjamin Franklin, who didn't always follow his own 'early to bed, early to rise' advice

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Benjamin Franklin

  • Benjamin Franklin left behind detailed writings about his typical daily routine.
  • His schedule varied over the years — as did his commitment to some of his own popular aphorisms.
  • According to his fellow Founding FatherJohn Adams, Franklin didn't always follow his own advice in his later years.


Benjamin Franklin was a true Renaissance man.

After getting his start in the printing business, he went on to establish himself as a leading writer and political thinker in the English colonies in North America; invent the lightning rod, bifocals, and swim fins; make a number of crucial scientific discoveries; and help draft the Declaration of Independence and secure his country's' freedom from England.

The Founding Father got a lot done, so it's no surprise that he earned the unofficial moniker of "First American."

And it's definitely not a shock that he was pretty intentional about his time, according to his autobiography. 

Here's a breakdown of what Franklin's days looked like:

SEE ALSO: I followed Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule for a week, and the most rewarding part was also the most difficult

DON'T MISS: The turkey was never going to be the US national bird — here's the truth behind Thanksgiving lore

DON'T MISS: Visiting a modern-day salon where people discuss Ben Franklin's ideas showed me how valuable his insights can be 290 years later

You probably know the old cliche, which is popularly attributed to Franklin: "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." According to his autobiography, the Founding Father did wake up early, rising at 5 a.m.

Source: Business Insider, "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin"



He would then wash up and practice positivity and gratitude by addressing "Powerful Goodness." This "Powerful Goodness" was Franklin's concept of God. The Founding Father was a Deist, meaning he believed in a higher being.

Source: Business Insider, "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,"The Washington Post



Before 8 a.m., Franklin would also get down to business and do some reading.

Source: "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Netflix's 6 original Marvel superhero shows, ranked from worst to best

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luke cage

Netflix made a deal with Marvel Comics back in 2013 to produce four Marvel-universe shows and a mini-series.

The deal expanded last year, when Netflix released its sixth Marvel show, "The Punisher." Its latest Marvel release was the second season of "Luke Cage," which premiered to positive reviews this week.

To find out which of the Marvel Netflix shows have fared the best among critics, we turned to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes for the composite critical receptions of all seasons for each series. We used audience scores to break any ties. 

Here are Netflix's six original Marvel shows, ranked from worst to best, according to critics:  

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Netflix's 25 original comedy shows, from worst to best

6. "Iron Fist"— 17%

Critic score: 17%

Audience score: 75%

Netflix description: "Danny Rand resurfaces 15 years after being presumed dead. Now, with the power of the Iron Fist, he seeks to reclaim his past and fulfill his destiny."



5. "The Punisher"— 63%

Critic score: 63%

Audience score: 93%

Netflix description: "A former Marine out to punish the criminals responsible for his family's murder finds himself ensnared in a military conspiracy."



4. "The Defenders"— 76%

Critic score: 76%

Audience score: 75%

Netflix description: "Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist join forces to take on common enemies as a sinister conspiracy threatens New York City."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Costco rival BJ's Wholesale Club just went public for the second time. Here's what it's like to shop there.

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BJsWholesale 6984

  • BJ's Wholesale Club is a membership-based warehouse club selling everything from fresh produce to furniture.
  • BJ's competes with other warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club.
  • The warehouse chain began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. It had previously traded publicly until 2011, when a deal with two private-equity firms took it private. 
  • We visited a BJ's Wholesale in Jersey City, New Jersey, to see what it was like to shop there.

BJ's Wholesale Club is a membership-based warehouse club selling groceries, clothing, furniture, and just about everything else.

BJ's competes with similar warehouse clubs Costco and Sam's Club. While the competition is tough, BJ's is showing some signs of strength. On Thursday, the warehouse chain began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "BJ." BJ's had previously traded publicly until it made a deal with two private-equity firms to take it private in 2011, according to CNN Money.

Shopping at BJ's is a privilege exclusive to its paying members. The Online Access membership, the cheapest membership plan, costs $10 annually and gives you access to member prices on the BJ's website. The Inner Circle membership costs $55 annually, allowing you to shop in stores or online and use BJ's travel services, optical center, auto center, and more. For $110, BJ's Perks members get everything the Inner Circle members get, plus 2% cash back on purchases.

We recently visited a BJ's in Jersey City, New Jersey — here's what it's like to shop there:

SEE ALSO: Costco has another type of store that stocks almost completely different products, and some say it's even better than a regular Costco

We visited a BJ's Wholesale Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.



At the front of the store was the tech department, selling a huge selection of laptops and TVs. Most TVs cost between $500 and $2,000.



There were a few branded displays, like a mini in-store Verizon center.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These 11 stunning luxury RVs are nicer than most full-sized homes

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Prevost

  • Owning an RV isn't always a way to cut down on expenses; there are many luxury mobile home companies that are way nicer than the average home.
  • The Furrion ELYSIUM is basically a penthouse apartment with the addition of a rooftop hot tub and helicopter.
  • The Marchi Mobile is the nicest and most expensive RV in the world, costing about $3 million.


You'd think buying a mobile home is a great way to cut down on costs, but that's not always the case.

There are many luxury mobile home companies with RVs that cost much more than the average price of a home, and somehow make you want one instead of a house anyway.

Here are some luxury RVs that are way nicer, and more expensive, than your home.

The Newmar King Aire 4553 starts at $1 million.

The base model of the Newmar King Aire already has everything you need. According to the company, it includes a sound system, multiple televisions, and a pretty spacious bedroom.



The Foretravel ih-45 motor coach is available for about $1.3 million.

A Foretravel Motorcoach includes everything from a washer and dryer, outdoor entertainment center, and built-in vacuum to a king bed, and large mounted TV's with storage behind.

The RVs even have rooftop A/C units and technology that claims to reduce road noise.



The Prevost H3-45 VIP is available for about $1.6 million.

The Prevost RVs include slide-out all-around windows, a ton of floor space, as well as some pretty swanky interior design. Their H3-45 VIP model is available for about $1.6 million.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I've been to 25 countries, and there are 16 things you'll almost never find outside the US

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houston texans cheerleaders

  • Many things that are common in the United States are nearly impossible to find in other countries.
  • They include food items like peanut butter or Southern-style biscuits.
  • They also include everyday items like mailboxes and red Solo cups.


There are many things that, for better or for worse, you can only find in America.

Common food items like peanut butter or Southern-style biscuits are nearly impossible to find in other countries, for example. The same goes for everyday sights like mailboxes, take-out boxes, and red Solo cups.

At least that's what I found in my travels to 25 different countries. With each new country I visit, from Costa Rica to the Philippines, I find more and more examples of things that I didn't realize were distinctly American.

Read on to see 16 things that you won't find outside the United States.

Peanut butter

Peanut butter is a staple of school lunches across America, but you'd be hard pressed to find it outside of the States. It was one of the food products I didn't realize I would miss until I was deprived of it. 

Although you may get lucky and find a jar at an international grocery store, peanut butter is one of those foods that non-Americans don't know what they're missing out on.



Cheerleading

Cheerleading is almost exclusively an American activity. Thanks to American movies and TV, many people in other countries are aware of cheerleading, but few have actually seen it in person. For now, it's part of what distinguishes sporting events in the US.



Take-out boxes

First-time visitors to the US are frequently shocked at the massive portion sizes offered in American restaurants.

While their surprise is justified, they may not realize that in the US, it's also very common for customers to take home leftover food in a take-out box. The practice isn't nearly as common in other countries.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 famous 'facts' about the Fourth of July that aren't true — and what actually happened instead

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American flag face paint USA US America fan

  • The Fourth of July is a big deal in the US.
  • It marks the 13 colonies' declaration of independence from Britain.
  • There are a number of popular historical tales out there about the US's Independence Day.
  • Here are a few that are untrue or impossible to actually verify.

The Fourth of July is all about fireworks, food, and freedom for many Americans.

In the US, Independence Day commemorates the 13 colonies' decision to rebel against King George III and declare their independence.

But be careful before you start regaling your friends with Fourth of July lore.

There are plenty of popular myths about Independence Day disguised as common knowledge.

Here are a few "facts" about the Fourth of July that are actually historically bogus:

SEE ALSO: A look at the daily routine of Benjamin Franklin, who didn't always follow his own 'early to bed, early to rise' advice

DON'T MISS: What the Founding Fathers were doing before their act of rebellion made them famous

The founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776

On a hot summer day in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress declared the 13 colonies independent from the Crown. Massachusetts delegate and future US president John Adams was certain that he'd witnessed history — and that the date would live on in memory.

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America," wrote Adams, in a July 3, 1776 letter to his wife, Abigail.

Poor Adams. He was only off by two days. The Continental Congress actually issued an initial resolution asserting independence from Britain on July 2, which was then revised and finalized on July 4.

However, historians believe that the signing didn't take place until about a month later. Emily Sneff, research manager of the Declaration Resources Project at Harvard University, writes that 49 of the 56 signers didn't even add their signatures the declaration until August 2, 1776: "It took several months, if not years, for all of the signatures to be added."

She cites the Journals of the Continental Congress, which include this August 2 entry: "The declaration of independence being engrossed and compared at the table was signed."

So, why do we gather together to blow things up and grill meat on the Fourth? The Declaration was technically agreed to on that day, and the copies distributed throughout the colonies were dated July 4, 1776.

As a result, that was the date that stuck in people's minds.



The Revolutionary War was all about the American colonies and Britain

As any American student can tell you, Independence Day in a nutshell was the rebellious, teen-aged colonies finally having it out with their overbearing mother country. And France helped, too.

It's probably more helpful to look at the war through the lens of the power struggle between France and Britain. The American Revolution was, in many ways, more of an episode in their drama, as opposed to an earth-shaking event, in and of itself.

The American Revolution took place on the heels of the French and Indian War — one of the theaters of the Seven Years' War between France and Britain.

That North American clash provided a prelude to the Revolution, launching George Washington's military career and prompting a victorious but cash-strapped Britain to raise taxes on its colonies.

France's eventual decision to dive into the fight on the side of the colonists was a chance for payback.

That being said, it's understandable why the American Revolution is a bigger deal in the US than other countries— it is our history, after all. Plus, it's probably fair to say that the rebellion, along with the spread of the Enlightenment, sparked future global changes, including the French Revolution.



The Liberty Bell cracked on Independence Day

The Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell are forever tied together in the popular imagination.

As the lore goes, after the colonies declared independence, the citizens of Philadelphia partied so hard that they cracked the bell, which was first made in 1751.

While it's a great story, this tale is total nonsense. First of all, the official announcement about the Declaration didn't go out until July 8.

"On that day, lots of bells were rung to celebrate public readings of the Declaration, and the Liberty Bell was probably one of them," writes historian Joseph Coohill — who blogs about historical myths under the name Professor Buzzkill.

We have no way of knowing for sure, though, since the state house steeple in which the bell was housed was kind of falling apart and under repair at the time, according to the Independence Hall Association.



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Here are the first pictures of C-17s and C-130Js operating at the US military's new base in Syria

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C 17 take off Northern Syria

CENTCOM has just published some interesting photographs of U.S. assets supporting Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. In particular, the images depict U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J operating from an austere runway at what the official captions refer to as an “undisclosed location”.

However, the new images, taken between Jun. 20 and 23, 2018 and released by CENTCOM Public Affairs earlier today, were immediately geolocated by the OSINT investigator and famous Twitter user Samir (@obretix).

Therefore, those you can find in this post are, to our knowledge, the very first photographs showing operations at a new U.S./Coalition military base in Syria’s northeastern province of Al-Hasakah whose construction works were exposed by OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) analysis of satellite pictures in 2017 and completion appeared to be imminent or just finished at the end of April 2018:

Here are some of the images:

SEE ALSO: Check out these photos of the US military drills in Europe that have Russia spooked

A U.S. Marine Corps C-130 Hercules departs from an undisclosed location, June 22, 2018.



The C-130 was transporting personnel and supplies to another location in Combined Joint Task Force’s area of operations.

The KC-130J Hercules supports expeditionary operations by providing air-to-air refueling, rapid ground refueling and logistic support to operating forces. Tactical transportation of personnel or cargo includes aerial delivery or austere landing zone operations.



A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster readies for departure from an undisclosed location, June 23, 2018.

C-17s can airdrop both cargo and personnel, and is able to land on small, austere runways as short as 3,000 feet with a full load.



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6 best-selling projectors on Amazon that are good enough for movie night

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Anker Nebula

If you're serious about turning your home theater into a home theater, you're going to need a projector. Although they're smaller than a TV, projectors can "throw" a screen that's hundreds of inches. 

Our guides on the best home and pico (tech speak for small) projectors can help point you in the right direction, but new models come out so often that we can't always keep up. 

So we're turning to Amazon's best-sellers list for help. We looked through the top 50 projectors that Amazon shoppers like and plucked the best ones from the bunch to recommend to you. These six projectors all have different features that help them stand out from the crowd.

Whether you want a portable projector, or need one with a better-than-HD resolution, you'll find what you're looking for here.

Below you'll find the six best-selling projectors on Amazon that are worth your money.

SEE ALSO: 10 best-selling battery packs that Amazon customers swear by to recharge their tech on the go

SEE ALSO: 10 best-selling portable Bluetooth speakers that Amazon shoppers love

Epson VS250

Epson VS250, $299.99

Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 554 reviews

This projector's 800 x 600 resolution might be a little low for cinephiles, but it's a good budget-friendly pick for the average person.

It can throw a 350-inch image on a surface from 30 inches away, has an HDMI port for media streamers, component inputs (red, yellow, and white ports) for older tech like DVD players, and a USB port to play videos and images from a flash drive.



Optoma HD143X

Optoma HD143X, $499

Amazon ratings: 4.3 out of 1,263 reviews

If you're more serious about video watching, Optima's projector does throw full 1080P video on a screen up to 300 inches in size.

It only has HDMI ports, though, so you can only connect modern game consoles and media streamers to it. Although it doesn't have built-in speakers, it does have an "audio out" port, so you can plug a pair into it instead of setting up a whole audio system.



Anker Nebula Capsule

Anker Nebula Capsule, $349.99

Amazon rating: 4.2 out of 186 reviews

Anker's Nebula Capusle is another non-HD projector, but it makes up for its lower resolution by being portable, thanks to a built-in battery.

You can take the Nebula with you wherever you go and turn any surface into a 100-inch screen for up to four hours, which is a huge plus if you really want to have a serious movie night on a camping trip.

Although it has a USB and HDMI port, the Nubula actually runs Android, so you can stream video from Netflix, Hulu, or other popular services without plugging anything into it.



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13 reasons why most people fail on the keto diet — and what you can do to prevent that from happening

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ketogenic keto diet review 3922

  • The keto diet involves high-fat, low-carb consumption. 
  • Restrictions on some fruits and vegetables, sugar, and most carbs can be a challenge for some looking to try the keto diet
  • Here are the most common reasons why people fall off the keto plan and how you can stick to it when the going gets tough. 

The ketogenic—keto—diet is an ultra-low-carb eating style that promises weight loss, steady blood sugar, and greater energy. However, it’s not all rosy due to restrictions on some fruits and vegetables, all sugar, and most carbs. Here, reasons why people fall off the keto plan and what you can do when the going gets tough.

You're not prepared

The keto diet will be unlike almost any other diet you’ve tried. That’s why going into this eating style without helpful strategies, plans, and ideas for making day-to-day food decisions easier can backfire.

“It’s a lot more involved than cutting out bread and pasta,” says Mary Weidner, cofounder of Strongr Fastr, a keto meal-planning app. “It requires planning and tracking just how many carbs you’re eating. Make no mistake, it takes effort and work—more so than other diets—and this can be overwhelming.”

Fix: Put in the prep work. “Fail to prepare, then prepare to fail,” says Lisa Davis, PhD, PA-C, CNS, the chief nutrition officer for Terra’s Kitchen, a food delivery service that caters to many different types of eating plans. “Meal prepping is crucial in achieving ketosis because the macros are so specific.” Before you begin prepping, make sure you check out the hidden dangers of a keto diet.



You eat too much protein

Yes, you read that right. While meat-lovers may approach the plan with gusto, digging into the steaks, burgers, bacon, pork tenderloin, and sausage—which are all keto-approved foods—too much can be a bad thing.

“Contrary to popular belief, a ketogenic diet is not a high-protein diet,” says Brett Osborn, board-certified neurosurgeon, anti-aging physician, and nutrition advisor to BPI Sports. “In fact, protein should make up only 15 to 30 percent of your daily calories. Otherwise, ketone production will stall.”

“Excess protein interferes with ketosis, and people who focus too much on protein may not achieve a ketogenic state,” says Kristen Mancinelli, RD, author of The Ketogenic Diet and the upcoming book Jumpstart Ketosis. “Remember, keto is mostly fat, low to moderate protein, and almost no carbs.”

Fix: Track your protein, carbs, fat, and more so you get a better picture of what you’re eating in a day. Then, try to plan your meals and snacks to better align with your high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carb goals.



You eat too many calories

In the first few weeks of a keto diet, it’s not uncommon for you to drop several pounds quickly. That’s a great morale boost and incentive to keep going. However, you may soon find the scale stalling if you are not in ketosis and are eating too much.

“Some people may experience a complete stall in weight loss, or perhaps even a slight regain of some of that initial weight loss,” says Wes Shoemaker, who runs the YouTube channel called Highfalutin’ Low Carb. “This is when it’s important to keep track of carbohydrate intake as well as caloric intake.”

“Eating more than you need will make you gain weight,” Mancinelli says. “This is true even if you’re eating a ketogenic diet. A common mistake people make is they think if they switch to eating keto, all the fat will just melt away. That may happen—but it won’t if you consistently overeat.”

Fix:Newcomers to keto who experience this transitional phase may give up, simply thinking that keto doesn’t work for them, Shoemaker says. “The best advice is to give it time. Carefully track your food intake, and more importantly weigh and measure your portion sizes,” he says. “Many of us have over-inflated ideas of what reasonable portion sizes look like.”



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We compared 3 online meat delivery services that send juicy steaks and premium cuts straight to your door — here are the differences

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meat delivery startups thumb

Special occasions and holidays often call for a trip to a nice steakhouse where you can enjoy a tender, carefully-cut steak or a juicy gourmet burger.

But if you love cooking as much as you love eating, don't want to wait for a big occasion to eat a delicious meal, and value convenience, you no longer have to visit a restaurant in order to have a plate of premium, restaurant-quality meat in front of you. 

As enthusiastic carnivores and amateur home cooks, we've tried a variety of online meat delivery services that source high-quality meat, send them safely to your house, and show you the best ways to cook them. After many cooking, grilling, and tasting sessions, we've found that three companies stand out above the rest: Porter Road, ButcherBox, and Omaha Steaks

Though they all provide the same basic service, they do differ in cuts offered, where the meat is sourced, pricing, delivery frequency, and other factors. We love all three, but one might better suit your tastes and preferences, so we compared their major differences below.

With 4th of July coming up, you can step up your meat and grilling game by shopping any of these online meat delivery services. 

Porter Road

Order meat from Porter Road here

Read our review of Porter Road here

What it sells: Pasture-raised, no hormone- or antibiotic-added beef, pork, lamb, and chicken. 

How it works: Choose from curated bundles like the six-pound Grill Master Pack ($90), or create your own box by filling it with any cuts and quantities you want.

Free standard shipping is offered on orders over $100 and your order of individually packaged cuts will arrive cold in an insulated box. 

Price: À la carte cuts range from $9 (small skirt steak) to $128 (whole tenderloin). 

Why you might like it: 

  • Customization and choice: If you have specific preferences in mind, you can filter by cooking time and cooking gear to find the most appropriate cuts. Porter Road offers a large variety of cuts, from the familiar to the underrated, allowing you to mix and match the ultimate shopping basket of meat.
  • Unpretentious education: On each product detail page, you can learn what part of the animal the cut comes from and the best way to cook it. 
  • Optimized online experience: The website and photos are laid out beautifully. It's fun and easy to shop through the site, which is a worthy offshoot of the original Nashville butcher shop. 


ButcherBox

Order meat from ButcherBox here and get $10 off your order, plus two free 10 oz. ribeye steaks

Read our review of ButcherBox here

What it sells: Grass-fed, pasture-raised, no hormone- or antibiotic-added beef, pork, and chicken. 

How it works: Choose from two curated boxes: the "Classic" box contains eight to 11 pounds of meat while the "Big" box contains 16 to 22 pounds of meat. Or, create a custom box and select up to 21 different cuts of meat: the Classic custom box contains nine to 14 pounds of meat while the Big custom box contains 18 to 26 pounds of meat.

Standard shipping is free and your order of individually packaged cuts will arrive frozen in an insulated box. 

Price: A Classic curated box costs $129 per month, a Big curated box $238 per month, a Classic custom box $149 per month, and a Big custom box $270 per month. 

Why you might like it: 

  • Quantity and quality: ButcherBox is great for feeding families and large groups, so whether you're planning dinner for the month or hosting a barbecue, you'll have delicious, quality meat on hand to make everyone happy. 
  • Automatic but flexible delivery: It's a subscription service, with boxes delivered every month or every two months. You can change your box assortment, size, and delivery frequency at any time before your next invoice date. 
  • Recipe library: The large collection of recipes helps you make the most of your premium meats. 


Omaha Steaks

Order meat from Omaha Steaks here

Read our reviews of Omaha Steaks here and here

What it sells: Meat of all types, including beef, veal, and bison, fish and shellfish, plus full meals, sides, desserts, and wine

How it works: Shop sitewide and add anything to your cart. You can order combo kits and à la carte items together. 

Standard shipping costs $17.99 to $21.99 depending on your order total and your order of individually packaged cuts will arrive frozen in an insulated box. 

Price: Since Omaha Steaks sells such a large variety of product, visit the site for more detailed pricing information. 

Why you might like it: 

  • Large product selection: Though its name says "Steaks" and its strength is certainly beef, you can basically shop for your entire dinner here, down to seasonings and specialty desserts. For true indulgence, you can shop huge King Cuts and Custom Cuts
  • Highly giftable: Whereas the other services are better for personal use, Omaha Steaks is the best for gifting, offering special gift baskets and a variety of combo boxes to give to friends and family. 
  • Deals and promotions: The site runs frequent sales on cuts, meals, and sides, and some combos ship for free. You can often save more than 50% and stock up on top-quality meat. 
  • Rewards program: If you shop the site often, join the free rewards program to earn points on purchases and referrals. 


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See all the products that will cost you more because of Trump's trade war

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Toyota Corolla Assembly Line

  • Trump's import taxes are meant to help US manufacturers by making foreign products more expensive, but this will hurt likely American consumers. 
  • A new wave of tariffs targeting hundreds of Chinese industrial goods is set to take effect on July 6th.
  • According to Labor Department estimates, the average cost of washing machines shot up by 17% in the past three months.
  • Many other goods, such as the computer chips that power PCs and smartphones, are important components of the finished products consumers love — new tariffs could eventually drive up prices on these too.

President Trump has promised to get tough on America's trading partners. But with the administration now slapping hefty duties on imported goods such as steel and washing machines, and threatening them on many others, it's American consumers who could be hurt.

While Trump has long complained that trade agreements with nations like China and Mexico need to be renegotiated, his biggest move so far has been placing tariffs — import taxes, payable to the US government — on goods these countries import into the US.

The taxes are meant to help US manufacturers by making foreign goods comparatively more expensive and, therefore, less attractive to consumers. Most economists disagree with Trump's approach, however, arguing that the tariffs could easily destroy more US jobs — mainly at companies forced to pay higher raw materials costs — than they create. "Companies that can will pass the increased costs onto consumers," says Erica York, an analyst at the Tax Foundation, a Washington think tank. "If they can't pass them on, that will come out of profits, which means less money to hire or give raises."

SEE ALSO: Businesses say they are 'bracing for the worst' from Trump's tariffs and the trade war could force them to leave the US

Solar panels

As with washing machines, tariffs on solar panels — in this case 30% for 2017, with lower rates over the next several years — followed complaints from US manufacturers. But the solar tariffs were highly controversial even within the solar industry, with the Solar Energy Industries Association predicting the new tax could cost as many as 23,000 US jobs, as higher costs prompt homeowners and businesses to put off solar installations. (That's nearly one out of every 10 jobs in the solar industry.)

Just how much could the tariffs cost you? In May, energy marketplace EnergySage estimated they would add $500 to $1,000 to the cost of the typical home installation project. Such projects typically cost $16,000 to $21,000, according to the group's estimates.



Beer and soup

Trump followed up with a broader set of tariffs starting June 1: a 25% levy on steel and 10% levy on aluminum. Few Americans buy these these materials directly, almost everyone buys products that include them — like cars, for instance, or the cans that hold beer, soda, and soup.

Of course, the cost of metals is just one component of the ultimate price consumers pay.

When it comes to foodstuffs, the increase is likely to be moderate. Shortly after the tariff was announced Trump commerce secretary Wilbur Ross went on TVlugging cans of Campbell soup, insisting the steel tariff would boost the cost of each can by only a fraction of a penny. Similarly, in March The New York Timesestimated the aluminum tariff could boost beer costs by something like a penny a can.



Cars

Cars, on the other hand, use a lot more steel and aluminum than a can of soup. Ross himself said that the administration's 25% steel tariff could add as much as $175 to the price of a $35,000 car. Of course, he called that amount "trivial"— but others have noted that it's about what many people will get from the Trump tax cut.

And there's another worry for car buyers: In addition to taxing raw materials, President Trump has said he might institute a separate tariff as high as 25% on foreign cars and car parts. Automakers oppose the move, which Trump says may nonetheless be justified on national security grounds.

A new report from Moody's, released Monday, said European automakers without US plants (like Jaguar and Land Rover) would be among the hardest hit. But GM, which imports almost a third of the cars it sells in the US from plants in Canada and Mexico, and Ford, which imports about 20%, would also suffer.

Last week the American Action Forum, a Washington think tank, estimated a new 25% tariff would boost the cost of buying an imported car by $4,000 to $5,000. Even cars assembled in the US — which nonetheless typically include many foreign auto parts — would see a roughly $1,300 price increase.



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How the dollar has changed over the years

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us dollar bill 1886

While some people are in favor of eliminating the $1 bill, this common denomination has a fascinating history.

The dollar's design has undergone some interesting alterations over the years — from the "funnybacks" that emerged in the 1920s to the web-printed bills of the 1990s. 

Keep reading to learn how the buck has changed from the 19th century through the present. 

It's believed that, in 1690, the Massachusetts Bay Colony issued the first paper currency in America.

The capital was needed to finance the military during King William's War, the North American arm of the War of the Grand Alliance (aka the Nine Years' War). 

As the first colony to mint its own money, Massachusetts had a reputation for innovations in currency.



Despite opposition from Great Britain, each of the 13 colonies had its own currency by the time of the American Revolution.

These notes were typically expressed in Spanish reales as well as in British shillings, pounds, and pence. The reason behind this was that colonial North American commerce was conducted with foreign coins, as few coins were minted in the colonies.

However, by 1763, the British deemed colonial currency illegal



Noted polymath Benjamin Franklin began printing paper money as early as 1728 and proposed a universal paper currency in 1765.

Franklin is known for his quotes about money, such as "A penny saved is a penny earned," and "The use of money is all the advantage there is in having it." 

He began printing paper money in 1728, first for New Jersey and then for Pennsylvania and Delaware. 

It wasn't until 1765 that Franklin proposed a universal paper currency. He was tasked, as a diplomat, with determining a way for the British to increase colonists' taxes to fund the Seven Years' War. His preliminary plan, modeled upon banking in Pennsylvania, dictated that the British would operate the colonial land bank— a system grounded in accruing interest from loans rather than generating revenue through additional taxes. 

However, between retaliation against the Stamp Act — which introduced the first direct, internal tax on American colonists— and the Pennsylvania Assembly's orders that Franklin stop the British from infringing upon colonial money-issuing privileges, he needed to enact a different strategy. His solution: legal tender that did not rely on commodities (i.e. gold and silver) that were controlled by Britain. 

His face has adorned the 100 dollar bill since 1914 — a year after Congress passed the Federal Reserve act.

 



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8 rules for living harmoniously with your parents at 30

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parents

  • Parents bring us into the world, care for us, and teach us how to grow into independent adults.
  • It’s considered slightly shameful in the US to live with your parents into adulthood, but it's a common occurrence in other cultures.
  • Author Dylan Love moved back home with his parents at age 29 — here are eight things he did to make it work.

 

 

It turns out that you can definitely go home again. I know because I did.

I left my childhood home at age 18, bound for college. After graduating at 22, I moved to New York City and began a career as a writer and reporter. The seven years of life and work that followed completely changed my plans, desires, and circumstances. So when I moved back home at 29, my parents had to meet their adult son all over again.

It was an adjustment for all involved. Mom and Dad sacrificed space, routine, and some degree of privacy in hosting me. I had to design a new way to conduct myself; where I had once been a single guy in New York City, largely free to do as I pleased, I now needed to identify new boundaries and carve out a routine within them.

In any event, my live-at-home arrangement with my parents was a simple one: As long as I was earning money, I was free to stay with them. Working from a paranoia stoked by my parents’ dictum, “We charge rent when you stop making money,” I found myself signing a new apartment lease shortly after my 30th birthday.

Read on to soak up the wisdom I gained in my 11-month-long tour of duty with Mom and Dad. Living with your parents can be a positive, enjoyable experience if you try. Here’s what worked for me.

SEE ALSO: 8 things my parents let me do that I would never let my kids do

1. Remind yourself that this is normal

As a young adult in the US, it’s easy to feel vague shame when your parents are also your roommates. But plenty of American millennials are living at home — according to recent research from Zillow, 28% of college-educated 20-somethings live with their parents.

In other parts of the world, this is simply business as usual. In Egypt, kids often leave home only for marriage, and Italian adults might live with their parents for a variety of reasons, according to ABC News. If you live at home, you’re in good global company.



2. Make some money

Get a job! In my case, I set up shop as a freelance writer. You are bound to feel your freedom being hampered when you live with Mom and Dad, but having money is a version of freedom. Income lets you go out for drinks with friends and buy yourself nice things.

Beyond this surface-level stuff, earning money places you several rungs higher on the household ladder. It puts you in a position to contribute, which leads immediately to my next point.



3. Buy a bag of groceries every once in a while

The bigger idea here is “find ways to ease your burden on Mom and Dad.” When I moved home, it represented a 50% increase in household population.

The fridge couldn’t stay full enough, and I was a big part of the reason why. It was a no-brainer for me to spend a little money on the occasional grocery run.

Mom and Dad didn’t keep financial score on the food I ate, because my gesture of bringing resources into the house was more valuable than the eggs that disappeared every morning.



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