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10 skills that can help you get a promotion this year, according to bosses and managers

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woman talking explaining presentation work

  • If you're looking to get a promotion in the next year, there are a few key skills you should master, according to managers. 
  • Collaboration and ownership are key to showing you can garner respect from coworkers and bring the ball into the endzone. 
  • Learning from failure and maintaining an open dialouge is also necessary to show you're ready for the next level. 

Seeking a promotion? Why not start off the year with a great goal to work towards. 2019 is going to be the year you take charge of your position and move up in your career — so make sure you carve out some time this holiday season to reflect on how you're going to do so.

If you want to add "get a promotion" to your list of New Year's resolutions, we're here to help you succeed!

Here is what bosses and managers say you should focus on if you really want to push your career forward in 2019.

SEE ALSO: Asking your coworkers two uncomfortable questions is the key to getting ahead in your career

1. Collaboration

If you want to get promoted, you have to do more than focus on your personal work. Consider branching out to see who could use an extra hand around the office. The more impressed your co-workers are with you, the more likely your boss will hear about your work ethic. Your ability to collaborate is just as important as your ability to work independently.

"Collaboration with teams across the organization always stand out," says D.G., a GRC training manager at Oracle Cloud. "I always look at an employee's internal branding to see how they are viewed by others."



2. Ownership

"We value something called FLO: 'Full Leadership Ownership.' We promote people who demonstrate an ownership of the outcome of their project," says Phil Fremont-Smith, Co-founder of Happie. "That means doing whatever it takes to get it done — staying late, getting creative, pulling in resources to help if they need it. FLO comes from a personal desire to put the ball into the end zone and score. Not just pass the ball around."



3. Effort

When it comes to your work ethic, it's not always just about hitting specific milestones. Some managers say they look at the effort an employee is putting in — does their report exhibit self-discipline and adaptability? Are they focused and being creative? The amount of effort you put in will speak volumes to your boss.

"It's more about the amount of effort I see, rather than specific milestones," says Janelle L., a marketing director. "When I [promoted] employees, they were all people I saw making [a] great effort every day. I have promoted less-skilled people over someone who is skilled but does the minimum."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

14 foods that contain a surprising amount of vitamin D

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Greek Yogurt with Blueberries

  • Vitamin D, commonly known as the "sunshine vitamin," is essential for bone health.
  • Many foods like cereals and some milks are fortified with vitamin D.
  • Fatty fish and beef liver are natural sources of vitamin D.

Vitamin D, a nutrient that's vital to bone health, has been called the "sunshine vitamin" because it's created when our bodies are exposed to sunlight. We can also incorporate this vitamin into our routine by eating foods that contain high levels of it, or by augmenting our intake with pills, drops, and other forms of supplements. The recommended daily amount ranges from 400 International Units (IU) to 800 IU depending on age.

To learn more about the relationship between diet and vitamin D, INSIDER talked to Julia Zumpano, RD, who works with the Cleveland Clinic's Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation Department and its Women's Cardiovascular Center. We also looked at information from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Dietitians of Canada, a professional organization.

From fatty fish to fortified yogurt, here are 14 foods that are rich in vitamin D.

Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna are one of the best sources of vitamin D.

A 75-gram (2.5-ounce) serving of sockeye salmon contains between 394 to 636 International Units (IU) of the vitamin depending on whether it's canned, cooked, or raw, according to Dietitians of Canada. Since salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, it also helps lower triglyceride levels.

If you prefer tuna, an equivalent serving of albacore packs 99 to 106 IU. Even your standard can of white tuna offers a good amount of vitamin D, boasting 60 IU per 75 grams.

"Most of the food that we're going to get vitamin D fro, unless you eat salmon, is going to be fortified," Zumpano told INSIDER.

 



Oysters contain a lot of vitamin D.

They may be a delicacy, but oysters are also high in vitamin D. Each serving (one cup, raw) contains a whopping 794 IU.



Vegetarians and vegans can add vitamin D to their diet with fortified tofu.

If tofu is fortified, it can be a good source of vitamin D. Although nutrients vary by brand, the USDA reports that with 139 IU in every 18 grams (0.63 ounces), Nasoya Lite Silken Tofu has one of the highest amounts of vitamin D per serving.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 of the most controversial celebrities of 2018

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fefe

  • INSIDER chose 11 controversial celebrities of 2018.
  • The list includes YouTube star Logan Paul; rappers Tekashi 6ix9ine and Kodak Black; and Hollywood actors Johnny Depp and Chris Pratt.

Many celebrities cause controversy, simply by nature of their fame — but some scandals are far more consequential than others.

INSIDER rounded up a list of public figures who were involved in some of the biggest controversies of the year.

Here are 11 of 2018's most controversial stars, in no particular order.

Johnny Depp will continue to appear in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise, despite allegations of domestic violence.

Amber Heard has repeatedly maintained the allegation that her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, physically and emotionally abused her throughout their marriage.

Heard filed a restraining order against Depp in May 2016, less than a week after filing for divorce from the "Fantastic Beasts" actor. She donated her entire divorce settlement to domestic violence and children's charities.

Read more: Ezra Miller says the cast of 'Fantastic Beasts' wasn't consulted about Johnny Depp's controversial role in the franchise

In court, Heard presented a photograph of herself with a bruise on her right eye. Months later, TMZ published a video taken by Heard, which seemed to capture Depp yelling, attempting to grab Heard's phone, and throwing a wine bottle at her.

"Twenty-five feet away from her, how the f--- am I going to hit her?"Depp said about Heard in a GQ cover story, published in October. "Which, by the way, is the last thing I would've done. I might look stupid, but I ain't f---ing stupid."

Read more: Daniel Radcliffe wades into the 'Fantastic Beasts' controversy over Johnny Depp casting: 'I can see why people are frustrated'

When the GQ reporter asked if he considers himself a violent man, Depp seemed to defend himself by saying people — paparazzi in particular — should keep their distance.

"I've even said before, if a paparazzo gets a shot, they're far away and they get a shot of me and my kid, whatever, that's their thing," he said. "But if I catch you, I will eat your nose. I will eat your nose, chew it up and swallow it in front of you and then you'll f---ing think about it next time. I f---ing mean it."

Depp is currently being sued by a film location manager, who claims Depp punched him on set in 2017.

While many "Harry Potter" fans are furious that Depp has not yet been replaced in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise, J.K. Rowling said she is still "genuinely happy" to have him star.



Tekashi 6ix9ine was sentenced to probation and community service after pleading guilty in a 2015 child-sex case.

Daniel Hernandez — also known as 69, 6ix9ine, and Tekashi69 — is a top-charting rapper and Instagram star with more than 15 million followers. After spending several years on the indie-SoundCloud-rapper circuit, Hernandez recently achieved mainstream credibility with "FEFE," a hit single he made with Nicki Minaj earlier this year.

Read more: Here's everything you need to know about Tekashi 6ix9ine, the controversial 22-year-old rapper who could go to prison for life

In November of this year, federal authorities arrested Hernandez on racketeering and firearms charges and alleged that he's part of a violent gang. 

Hernandez was also sentenced in October to four years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service for a 2015 child-sex case (there were a number of procedural delays and appeals between his plea deal in 2015 and 2018). The lurid acts are described in detail in a criminal complaint obtained in 2017 by Jezebel.



Piers Morgan is known for making sexist remarks and controversial arguments.

Piers Morgan is a 53-year-old British journalist who has a history of writing widely criticized editorials, usually about female celebrities.

In August 2018, Morgan wrote about Tess Holliday on the cover of Cosmopolitan UK. "As Britain battles an ever-worsening obesity crisis, this is the new cover of Cosmo," he wrote on Instagram. "Apparently we're supposed to view it as a 'huge step forward for body positivity.' What a load of old baloney. This cover is just as dangerous and misguided as celebrating size zero models." 

Days later, he refused to mince words after Holliday posted a photo of herself in lingerie and wrote an open letter to Holliday that said she should be "deterred from celebrating because it's unhealthy."

In addition, Morgan slammed Ellen DeGeneres and called her a hypocrite for praising shirtless male celebrities. He also accused the band Little Mix of "using sex to sell records" after the group released images of themselves naked with insults written on their bodies to promote their song "Strip."

The group defended their choice, saying: "What we do with our bodies is our choice and we felt liberated owning the negative words thrown at us as women. We'll never stop talking/writing music about issues that affect so many women around the world. We have a voice to use it!"

Ariana Grande also took issue with Morgan's words.

Grande wrote on Twitter: "Ellen is an incredible & kind human being.. I use my talent AND my sexuality all the time because I choose to. women can be sexual AND talented. naked and dignified. it's OUR choice.  & we will keep fighting til people understand. I say this w all due respect but thank u, next."

Morgan continued to target celebrities, like the time he criticized "James Bond" star Daniel Craig for being photographed carrying his newborn daughter in "an emasculating papoose."

Twitter had a field day with that comment and even Chris Evans called him out.

Morgan also appeared to have a problem with 92-year-old actor Dick Van Dyke's name. The "Mary Poppins" star shut him down with a simple tweet, though. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Japan was officially the best place to travel in 2018. Here are 15 photos that will make you want to visit ASAP.

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Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan

  • Travel + Leisure named Japan its 2018 destination of the year.
  • The magazine selects each year's choices among a jury of writers, editors, and relevant experts.
  • Towering mountains, beautiful cherry blossoms, and neon-flooded streets make Japan a remarkable place.
  • Some of the best things to do include taking the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto to see Mount Fuji on the way and walking the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine for an unparalleled view of Kyoto.
  • You can also take a dip in the natural hot springs at Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, which is widely considered the world's oldest hotel.

Tokyo may be an impressive city, but that's not all Japan has to offer.

The country's islands, shrines, world-renowned cuisine, and beautiful scenery are just a few reasons why it's a great place to travel. So it should come as no surprise that Travel + Leisure named Japan its 2018 destination of the year.

From the bustling streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, to the majestic Mount Fuji, here are some things to see and do in Japan that will make you want to visit immediately.

Ride a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto and see Mount Fuji along the way.

Traveling across Japan isn't a terribly difficult undertaking thanks to its Shinkansen bullet train network. With trains that travel at speeds of up to almost 200 miles per hour, passengers riding south from Tokyo to cities like Kyoto and Osaka can take the window seat and enjoy a beautiful view of Mount Fuji, a dormant volcano and Japan's highest mountain.



Visit a cherry blossom festival in the spring.

The cherry blossom, or sakura in Japanese, is a revered flower in Japan. Considered a symbol of life and its vulnerability, many Japanese families congregate to practice hanami, or the tradition of publicly watching and celebrating cherry blossoms when they bloom in the spring. 

While there are plenty of festivals devoted to the flower in Japan, the southern city of Matsuyama is most famous for its historic cherry blossom-themed spring festival where the flowers bloom amid Matsuyama Castle each year.



Visit an island where cats outnumber people.

Tashirojima earned its nickname as "Cat Island" for good reason. While the island is home to around 100 humans, they are heavily outnumbered by their feline friends. Initially brought to the island for pest control, the cats are now taken care of by the island's residents, largely due to the good luck cats are said to symbolize in Japan.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 bird facts that sound fake but are true

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two curious ostriches

  • Crows, ravens, and pigeons are all smarter than you may previously have thought — and scientists have proof.
  • Chickens and ostriches are thought to be descendants of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
  • The average man would need to eat around 285 pounds of meat per day if they had the metabolism of a hummingbird.
  • The Bassian thrush releases gas to scare worms out of hiding.

The bird world is a fascinating — and strange — place. From a bird with claws on its wings to another bird's ability to recognize human faces, there's a lot of interesting things to know about various bird species. 

Here are several bizarre bird facts with which to impress your friends and family at trivia nights.

 

Chickens and ostriches are the closest modern relatives to Tyrannosaurus rex.

Although a link between dinosaurs and modern birds had long been suspected, in 2008 research was published in the journal Science that found molecular evidence, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

It's worth noting that chickens and ostriches aren't that closely related themselves, so there's certainly more information to be discovered.

 



Baby hoatzins have tiny claws on their wings.

Native to the Amazon, hoatzin babies have tiny claws on their wings — as well as on their feet. Since their nests are in trees that frequently overhang water, it's a safety feature for when predators try to eat the babies. Baby hoatzins can simply hop down into the water, then climb back up the tree when it's safe, according to Audubon.

The wing claws disappear as the birds mature — once they can fly, they no longer need them.




 



Crows and ravens are extremely intelligent.

According to National Geographic, crows can use tools and solve logic puzzles. Further, scientists believe that ravens may even pre-plan their tasks— a trait previously thought to be exclusively human.

Read more: The smartest bird in the world can use tools like a human, and it's amazing to watch



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

From a hush-hush Apple meeting to mysterious executive departures, 9 of the most important tech stories Business Insider reported in 2018

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Tim Cook

From massive, multibillion dollar acquisitions to boardroom shake-ups and disturbing scandals, the tech industry had an eventful 2018.

Business Insider's team of tech journalists was first to report some of the most important developments, from the surprise departure of Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene to the internal turmoil at augmented-reality (AR) pioneer Magic Leap and the problems leading up to Uber's fatal autonomous-car crash.

As the tech world moves ahead into 2019, we decided to distill the year's catalog of exclusive stories and investigations into a list of the nine most important reports. Check out the list below for some great reads you may have missed, or to refresh your perspective and challenge your assumptions as you prepare for the new year in tech.

Microsoft in talks to acquire GitHub

A Microsoft acquisition of GitHub — the popular platform for software developers — seemed like a wild notion when Business Insider's Julie Bort and Becky Peterson broke the news this summer that the two companies were in discussions for a multibillion-dollar deal.

Within days, however, Microsoft announced plans to buy GitHub for $7.5 billion, sending shockwaves throughout the tech world and spurring competitor IBM to acquire Red Hat.

Read the full story here »



The inside story of Travis Kalanick's downfall at Uber

A lot of stories have been written about the internal turmoil at Uber that led to the ousting of CEO Travis Kalanick.

Business Insider's chief tech correspondent, Julie Bort, wrote the definitive account, speaking to dozens of people over six months. She unearthed important new details, revelations, and behind-the-scenes events that set in motion a boardroom coup that's sure to be analyzed by business-school professors for years to come.

Read the full story here »



Apple's secret app-developer meeting

Kif Leswing's fascinating and detailed report about an invite-only meeting with app developers that Apple hosted in a New York City luxury loft shed new light on the iPhone-maker's strategy to focus on subscriptions.

With Apple's recent shift to focusing on its "services" business, building a reliable app-subscriptions revenue stream and keeping developers happy will become increasingly vital to the company's success.

Read the full story here »



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 top VCs give their best 2019 predictions for healthcare, from a biotech correction to a 'shadow cash economy' stepping into the light

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Wende Hutton

  • We asked healthcare and biotech venture capitalists from leading firms like Venrock, Canaan Partners, and General Catalyst Partners to share their predictions for 2019.
  • While some had their eye on new ways to aid mental health, others are on the lookout for biotechs with a more focused approach to drug development.
  • From biotech-market corrections to an ever-growing field of direct-to-consumer healthcare companies, here's what the VCs anticipate will be in store next year.

The healthcare industry is at a crossroads.

Big tech players are encroaching on entrenched healthcare companies, forcing them — as well as startups — to think of different ways to care for patients. In biotech, a red-hot initial-public-offering window appears to be closing.

Looking ahead to 2019, Business Insider turned to six healthcare and biotech investors at top venture-capital firms to find out what they're keeping an eye on going into the new year.

SUBSCRIBE: Dispensed: a weekly dose of pharma, biotech, and healthcare news

Venrock partner Camille Samuels predicts a biotech correction and a slump for Moderna.

Venrock partner Camille Samuels is ready to get back to the basics in biotech.

"I'm enthused by the correction," Samuels told Business Insider. Over the past five years, the Nasdaq biotech index is up 25%, though recently stocks have taken a tumble, putting them into correction territory, a term that refers to a 10% or greater decline from a stock's most recent peak.

In 2019, she said, she's anticipating a return to the basic biotech-business model. That is, instead of a broad platform with six or more potential drugs in the works, a more straightforward focus on one or two lead programs that a company knows super well.

The correction in turn will drive that because there will be less available capital pouring into early-stage companies, forcing them to have a more zoomed-in approach.

"I remain an optimist on the fundamentals of biotech, but the industry has gotten so enthusiastic as to be undisciplined," Samuels said.

On the policy side, Samuels said she expects to see the biopharma industry make a concession on drug pricing to appease the Trump administration. That said, she doesn't expect it to have broad implications.

Another prediction: "Moderna will exit at a $3 billion valuation next year."

Moderna debuted on the public market on December 7 after raising more than $600 million in the biggest IPO in biotech history. While the IPO valued Moderna at $7.5 billion, it's currently trading well below its IPO price, with a market value of $5 billion.

Samuels expects that to drop even further by the end of 2019, to a market value of $3 billion.

"It's hard for me, looking at their pipeline, to figure out why they're valued five times, six times [as much as] other companies with the same pipeline," Samuels said.

Lastly, she sees exhaustion with financing cancer-drug makers sinking in, with interest picking up for other diseases that have been left at the wayside.

Two of the scientific areas she's most interested in at the moment: mitochondrial RNA-based medicines and antiaging biology, particularly a subsection she refers to as "inflamm-aging."



Wende Hutton, a general partner at Canaan Partners, anticipates a more skittish IPO market.

"We're coming out of a very ebullient year," Hutton told Business Insider. As part of the massive year biotech companies had entering the public market, Canaan Partners' portfolio had two entries.

Hutton said she expects to see a lot of new startups form and a lot of early-stage fundraising rounds, given the money that venture funds have raised over the last 18 months. But as the IPO markets start to look more skittish and uncertain, that might signal a slowdown in public debuts for 2019.

Like Samuels, Hutton said she's anticipating a shift in focus from platform-based companies with a number of drugs in the works to companies focused on one or two drugs, in large part because those are easier buys for pharmaceutical companies looking to build up their development pipelines.

"If there's any retrenchment of capital, that's a great place to put your money," Hutton said.

Hutton said she's still seeing a lot of money flowing into cancer-drug makers, particularly those developing drugs that act on the body's immune system. Hers and Canaan's interest, she said, will also be in finding new candidates for neurology and rare diseases.



Ambar Bhattacharyya at Maverick Ventures sees a 'shadow cash economy' stepping into the light.

The way Ambar Bhattacharyya sees it, the economy of consumers willing to pay cash — rather than use their insurance — for healthcare is about to emerge.

"A shadow cash economy is coming out of the shadows," Bhattacharyya told Business Insider.

Companies like GoodRx, 23andMe, and Warby Parker have already paved the way. Now with the explosion of direct-to-consumer health companies like men's health company Hims, in which Bhattacharyya is an investor, the new relationship with healthcare and a willingness to pay cash for services that might otherwise be covered by insurance will cement itself.

Bhattacharyya said he also expects to see interest in cybersecurity pick up in 2019, potentially in the form of services like LifeLock's work in identity theft showing up in medical records to protect from health-insurance fraud.

Maverick, an early investor in One Medical, anticipates seeing more brick-and-mortar doctor's offices for specialties pop up, possibly for diabetes or mental health. Already, he's seen companies like Two Chairs for mental health spring up in northern California and fertility clinic Kindbody in New York.

On the employment side, Bhattacharyya is looking forward to seeing people who are pursuing careers in technology start to consider healthcare in a more serious way, particularly as tech giants like Facebook face reputational challenges.

Two areas Bhattacharyya is less interested in seeing new companies: new approaches to pharmacy benefits management (the companies in charge of negotiating drug prices), and tech services for diabetes (an area that already has a fair amount of competition).



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Stunning photos show New Year's Eve celebrations around the world

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Fireworks explode over the Lagoon Beach Ancol during New Year's Eve celebrations in Jakarta

  • People are celebrating the arrival of 2019 around the world.
  • See images of New Year's Eve celebrations from the Philippines to Russia.
  • Fireworks lit up the skies of Paris, London, Hong Kong, and more.

People around the world are saying goodbye to 2018 and ushering in 2019 in spectacular fashion. Fireworks lit up the skies of many cities across the globe. Here are stunning images of New Year's Eve celebrations around the world.

Manila, Philippines

A New Year's Eve party in Manila in the Philippines.



Jakarta, Indonesia

In Jakarta, Indonesia, fireworks went off over the Lagoon Beach Ancol.



Vienna, Austria

People wait for fireworks at city hall in Vienna, Austria.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Nintendo's biggest game of 2018 is getting much better as we move into 2019

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super smash bros ultimate

  • Nintendo's biggest game of 2018 is available now: "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is the latest entry in the long-running fighting game series, and the first on Nintendo's Switch.
  • The new game is already being heralded as the best in the series, and it's deserved; the game is excellent.
  • "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is the first major game release with online multiplayer since Nintendo launched its paid service, Nintendo Switch Online, in September. It costs $20 per year and is required for online play.

The biggest Nintendo game of 2018 is, unsurprisingly, an overwhelmingly good game. 

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is  a massive, sprawling encyclopedia of gaming history. At its heart, the "Smash Bros." series is about Nintendo characters fighting to the death.

"Ultimate" is essentially a fighting game, but it contains so, so much more than that: A 700-plus list of songs spanning three decades of games; a surprisingly deep and expansive single-player campaign; a traditional fighting game "story" mode for each of its 70-plus characters; and, notably for this piece, an expanded online multiplayer section.

Nintendo launched a paid online service in September, dubbed Nintendo Switch Online, which is required for online play. "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is the first major Nintendo release since that service launched, and it has a major online component.

Speaking generously, that online component experienced major hiccups around launch. But in the weeks since — and a handful of updates later — the online portion of "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" has become a sterling example of what Nintendo's online experience can be.

Here's what I mean:

SEE ALSO: 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' brings more than 70 characters to the Nintendo Switch — here they all are

Things did not start out well for "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" online.

When "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" arrived on December 7, and for the following week, it was plagued with online connectivity issues. 

Matches suffered from game-breaking lag, where gameplay paused for seconds at a time as the game struggled to smoothly connect as few as two players.

Here's what I wrote at the time:

Of the dozens of matches I've played online, a shockingly small percentage could be described as "smooth." At some point in every match, and often throughout every match, I've hit crushing lag. 

What do I mean by "lag"? Even if you don't know the term, you've no doubt experienced it: A video buffering in YouTube/Netflix/etc.? That's lag.

In the case of "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate," that disconnect is far more detrimental.

Sometimes it's a stutter in gameplay here or there. Sometimes it's a several-second stop in the action. It's unpredictable, frustrating, and — worst of all — it makes the game nearly unplayable.



The issues were compounded by the fact that Nintendo now charges a fee — albeit a comparatively low fee of $20/year — for online gameplay.

Starting in late September 2018, Nintendo's Switch console now requires a paid subscription to Nintendo Switch Online in order to play most online multiplayer games. 

There are exceptions, like "Fortnite," but the vast majority of Nintendo Switch games with online components — like "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,""Splatoon 2," and "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate"— require the paid service for online play. 

More simply: You can't play any of those games over the internet without paying $20/year for Nintendo Switch Online. 

The service comes with other features, like access to a growing library of classic NES games and the ability to put save games in the cloud. And, at $20/year, the cost is significantly lower than competing services on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. 

But considering that "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" was the biggest Nintendo game of the year, and the fact that it has a major online component, and the fact that Nintendo started charging for online gameplay in September, having major connectivity issues at launch wasn't a good sign.



But in the weeks since launch, things are looking up.

Starting soon after launch and continuing through the end of December, "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" has been updated three times (including the "day one" patch). 

Nintendo's patch notes are vague, containing broad statements like, "Several issues have been fixed to improve gameplay experience."

But the proof is in the playing: The game's online stability has increased dramatically since launch.

I can attest to this personally, as I've played hundreds of matches online in the last three weeks, and anecdotal evidence from other players I've spoken with indicates the impact has been widespread.

In a complete flip, the majority of games I encounter are smooth. I rarely encounter lag, and even more rarely encounter lag on the magnitude of what it once was. For the first time ever, Nintendo has an online experience befitting its best multiplayer game.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These were the 12 highest-grossing games of 2018 on Steam, the biggest platform in PC gaming

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  • Steam is a digital marketplace and video game platform used by tens of millions of PC gamers on a daily basis. The most popular games on Steam have more than 500,000 players online at any given time.
  • Valve, the company behind Steam, recently released a list of the 100 highest-grossing games of 2018. The top-earning games are on sale until January 3rd, 2019.
  • There are almost 20,000 games for sale in the Steam marketplace, but some of the highest-earning titles are actually available for free, including 3 of the top 12.

With the close of 2018, video game retailers are offering a variety of capstone sales to celebrate the best games of the year. Steam, the largest digital marketplace for PC games, is no different, offering discounts of up to 80% on the top games of 2018 during the Steam Winter Sale.

Alongside the winter sale, Steam has released a list of the 100 top-selling games of 2018, based on gross revenue. That includes all sales of digital content, beyond the price of the base game. Steam separated the games into four tiers based on their earnings: platinum, gold, silver, and bronze.

Below, we've taken a look at all 12 games in the platinum rank. Surprisingly, only three of the platinum games were released during 2018, and another three are actually free-to-play. Because the games are judged by gross revenue, free-to-play games are boosted by smaller, microtransactions that charge players for in-game currency and other incremental content. Older titles can also continue bringing in revenue by selling new expansion content. 

Keep in mind that not all PC games are available on Steam, so popular titles like "Fortnite,""Overwatch,""League of Legends," and "World of Warcraft" are not considered.

Here are the 12 highest-grossing games of 2018:

SEE ALSO: The top 3 best-selling games of all time are a surprising group of games that have all sold over 100 million copies apiece

DON'T MISS: The best-selling video game of every year, dating back to 1995

"Warframe" by Digital Extremes

"Warframe" is a free-to-play online action game with a mix of mission-based objectives and open world gameplay. "Warframe" has been around since 2012, but the game has been experiencing a massive surge in popularity, thanks to ongoing support from developer Digital Extremes.

While the game is free, "Warframe" offers a wide selection of armor, weapons, and items that can bought up front with real-life cash. Dedicated players can buy the same items with currency they earn while playing the game.



"DOTA 2" by Valve

"DOTA 2" is a free-to-play game developed by Valve, the same company that owns and operates Steam. Originally a mod of "Warcraft III,""DOTA 2" has been around for more than a decade and helped create a brand-new genre of video game, the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, or MOBA.

DOTA 2 features more than 100 playable characters and primarily earns revenue by selling cosmetic items for use in-game. This year, Valve also introduced Dota Plus, a monthly subscription that charges users for access to advanced statistics and exclusive features.



"Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege" by Ubisoft Montreal

"Rainbow Six Siege" has been a shocking success in the very competitive market for PC first-person shooters. The "Rainbow Six" series of squad-based shooters dates back to the 90s, but "Siege" has shifted the franchise formula.

Players now choose from an ever-increasing roster of soldiers with special abilities called "operators." Ubisoft has been able to keep its player base invested in the game by releasing new operators regularly, and the cost of new operator packs helps the game stay sustainable as it enters its fourth year.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner built and spend their $1.1 billion fortune

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jared kushner ivanka trump

  • Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have been a high-profile couple long before they became fixtures in the White House.
  • Coming from two prominent real estate families, the couple is estimated to be worth a collective $1.1 billion.
  • Despite holding unpaid positions, Trump and Kushner raked in at least $83 million in outside income during their first year in President Donald Trump's administration.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are worth an estimated $1.1 billion combined.

Both hailing from prominent New York City real estate families, Kushner and Trump have had impressive houses and habits since before they settled in Washington, D.C.

Though their roles as White House advisers are unpaid, the couple reported earning at least $83 million in outside income the first year President Donald Trump was in office.

This is how they spend their family-built fortunes.

SEE ALSO: From rich kid to first daughter: The life of Ivanka Trump

DON'T MISS: How Jared Kushner rocketed to the top of American politics by his mid-30s — and found himself in more hot water than ever

Sources have estimated that Ivanka Trump's net worth is roughly $300 million, and Jared Kushner's net worth could be $800 million.

Source: CelebrityNet Worth



An ethics filing shows that Trump and Kushner earned at least $83 million in income last year, despite being in unpaid roles with the administration.

Sources: AP, The Guardian



Outside of the administration, both Jared and Ivanka have a number of ongoing professional interests.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These 11 cars are going away in 2019

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Chevy SS

  • In 2019, numerous cars will vanish.
  • Some will be updated, but others could be gone for good.
  • The biggest trend is carmakers killing sedans and small cars in favor of SUVs and crossovers.

There's no point in being nostalgic in the auto industry — cars come and go with regularity.

Still, it's always a bit sad when a vehicle says goodbye. The only solace is that nameplates have vanished for years, only to return in revised form.

In 2019, we'll witness the effects of a major strategic shift in the US market, as consumers move away from sedans and embrace SUVs and crossovers. Hybrids could also be in trouble, as all-electric vehicles start to arrive. The Detroit Big Three — General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles — are already executing the shift.

Other types of rides are being updated in 2019, while some beloved high-performance machines are vanishing due to slow sales.

Here's a quick roundup of some of the cars that are going away in 2019 (by no means exhaustive, and based mainly on cars I've driven):

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Front-engine C7 Chevy Corvette: I'm not 100% sure if the front-engined Vette will vanish, but it seems clear that the eighth-generation of the iconic sports car will have its motor behind the driver's head — a mid-engine design. It's possible that Chevy would produce the Vette in two configurations. We'll see.



Chevy SS: The simple V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive beast is based on the Australian-spec Holden Commodore. It will disappear in 2019, and with it Chevy's budget alternative to BMW's M cars.



Third-generation Chevy Silverado: Don't worry, though, because the 2019 redesign has already arrived.



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5 reasons you should get the new 2018 MacBook Air instead of the MacBook Pro

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macbook air

To the fanfare of MacBook Air fans, Apple finally released a new MacBook Air with updated specs, features, and design in 2018.

There was some unforeseen rain that hit the MacBook Air parade when the laptop's $1,200 price tag was announced. The original model cost $1,000, which was one of its main draws. 

With that said, there are still some very good reasons to consider the MacBook Air over the MacBook Pro. Since the MacBook Air has a 13-inch display, I'm mostly comparing it to the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Check out why you should consider the MacBook Air as your next laptop:

SEE ALSO: Costco is now offering the best deal you can find on the new MacBook Air — but you'll need to be a member to get it

The new MacBook Air is ever so slightly lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The new MacBook Air weighs in at 2.75 pounds, which is slightly lighter than the original MacBook Air's 2.9 pounds. Compare that to the 3-pound 13-inch MacBook Pro, and you have yourself a lighter laptop! It's not a massively significant difference, but lighter is better for many computer users out there.



The MacBook Air has better battery life than the 13-inch MacBook Pro

According to the spec sheets, the new MacBook Air can last for up to 12 hours of web browsing, while the MacBook Pro can last up to 10 hours.



It's thinner overall than the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Actually, believe it or not, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is 0.02-inch thinner than the new MacBook Air at both laptops' thickest points. With that said, the MacBook Air tapers down to an extremely thin 0.16 inches at its thinnest points, whereas the MacBook Pro maintains its thickness throughout its design. 



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We shopped at the UK's favorite grocery store and saw why it has celebrity fans like Kate Middleton

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Waitrose

  • Waitrose is a grocery chain in the UK. It was recently ranked first on a list of seven chains, including well-known stores Tesco and Sainsbury's, in a survey done by Market Force Information in May 2018.
  • 4,300 consumers were surveyed for the report and asked questions about their experiences shopping in these stores.
  • Here's what it is like to shop at Waitrose. 

The UK grocery wars are heating up as Aldi and Lidl continue to grow rapidly and take market share, working their way up the ranks to become the fifth and seventh largest grocery chains, respectively. Now they have their sights set on the US

Waitrose, the posh UK grocery chain that is beloved by Kate Middleton and is said to boost property prices when it opens in new areas, has increasingly found itself losing market share to these discount players. However, according to a recent survey done by Market Force Information, it still ranks best in class when it comes to consumer perception. 

4,300 consumers aged 18 and over were surveyed for the report, which was released in May 2018. Waitrose scored highest of the seven main chains — Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl, and Aldi — on assortment, layout, and cleanliness of its stores.  

With this in mind, I visited one of its stores in the UK:

SEE ALSO: We compared grocery shopping at stores in the US and the UK, and it was shockingly clear which country does it better

I visited a Waitrose store near Milton Keynes, a large town that's around 1.5 hours from Central London. This location opened in 2013. Disclaimer: I am a Brit, and this was not the first time that I had shopped at a Waitrose store.

It's around 30,000 square feet in size, which is about a third of the size of a typical Walmart and just smaller than the average Whole Foods store in the US.



Passing through the double doors, the first thing I noticed is that the store was modern and bright.



The entrance area was enticing — fresh fruit and vegetables were front and center, and there was a coffee station to the left.



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A sinking Arctic town wants to move itself 2 miles east, and its billion dollar plan is finally becoming a reality

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Kiruna City Hall

  • A small Swedish town called Kiruna is attempting to move itself 2 miles east, starting with a brand new city hall.
  • The town currently rests on sinking land that has grown less and less stable due to the local iron mine. 
  • In an effort to preserve its history and economy, Kiruna will construct around 3,000 new residences by 2040.


The Arctic town of Kiruna isn't for everyone. Its population is small (around 18,000 people), its temperatures are frigid, and its location is remote (90 miles north of the Arctic Circle).

More troubling still, the Swedish town is sinking.

As the home of the world’s largest iron mine, Kiruna has a long history of digging below ground. Over time, iron excavations have caused the ground to unsettle, jeopardizing the safety of homes, businesses, and historic buildings. 

But locals remain determined to preserve the history and economy of their beloved hometown. 

In 2004, Kiruna came up with a billion-dollar plan to move itself a couple miles east, onto more stable territory.

Nearly a decade and a half later, the town has finally unveiled the first of its new buildings — a gold-flecked town hall and community center known as "The Crystal." Take a look at its design. 

SEE ALSO: This picturesque Norwegian town has more books than residents

Kiruna hopes to construct more than 3,000 residential buildings, with The Crystal symbolizing what's to come.

Upcoming projects include a library and swimming pool.



The structure was designed by the Danish architectural firm Henning Larsen, which drew inspiration from the old town hall.



The Crystal preserves the town's existing bell tower.



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Here's how you can buy a discounted car through Costco (COST)

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costco auto program

  • The Costco Auto Program allows Costco members to buy discounted cars from participating dealerships.
  • A wide variety of vehicle types and models are available to buy or lease.
  • The average discount is over $1,000.

 

Costco sells just about everything, so it's no surprise that the retailer can also help customers buy discounted cars.

Through the Costco Auto Program, Costco members can search for a variety of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, jet skis, and RVs.

Once you've chosen a vehicle and your preferred trim, features, and exterior color, Costco sends you the contact information for a participating dealership and salesperson, at which point you can visit the dealership to find out the vehicle's discounted price and decide if you'd like to buy or lease it.

Read more: We took an $81,000 Porsche Macan GTS on a road trip to see if it's a sports car in an SUV body — here's the verdict

The range of available vehicles extends from budget options that start under $20,000 to luxury vehicles that top $100,000.

A Costco representative told Business Insider in March that Costco members save over $1,000 off the average price of a vehicle when using the program, on average, and members can also get a 15% discount on parts, service, and accessories at participating service centers.

Here's how you can use your Costco membership to get a discount on your next car.

SEE ALSO: I tried Tesla's Navigate on Autopilot feature to see if it lives up to the hype — here's the verdict

1. Go to the Costco Auto Program's webpage or call its customer-service line.

From the Costco Auto Program webpage, you can browse and compare available vehicles, calculate monthly payments, and read reviews.

You can also call the company's customer-service line to have an employee walk you through the process over the phone.



2. Choose the vehicle you'd like.

You can choose from a variety of classes, including sedans, sports cars, SUVs, trucks, and crossovers.

While you don't learn the discounted price until you visit the dealer (this is an old sales trick — prospective customers are less likely to walk away from a potential purchase if a salesperson is able to talk face-to-face with them about their hesitations), the manufacturer's suggested retail price ranges from under $20,000 to over $150,000 for vehicles available through the program.

You can also buy or lease a motorcycle, RV, ATV, jet ski, snowmobile, or UTV.

If you don't want to buy outright, you can also lease or select a pre-owned vehicle, which the dealer inspects for any broken or worn-down parts and fixes before selling it again.



3. Customize the trim, features package, and exterior color.

For many vehicles, you can select the trim, features, and color you'd like. For others, you can choose only the model.



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We drove a $150,000 Porsche Panamera Turbo and an $86,000 Cadillac CTS-V to see which high-performance sedan was better — here's the verdict (GM)

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Cadillac CTS-V

  • The Porsche Panamera Turbo carries a hefty price tag.
  • The Cadillac CTS-V is essentially a Corvette Z06 with four doors.
  • Can the awesome Caddy face down possibly the greatest sedan on Earth?

The Porsche Panamera is an incredible machine — so incredible that we named it Business Insider's 2017 Car of the Year.

The Panamera in Turbo trim is monumental: There's a stonking twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 under the hood, cranking out 550 horsepower. But behind that motor is a cabin of unparalleled luxury.

For those who want it all, the Panamera Turbo doesn't disappoint. But it will cost you more than $150,000. Face it: one doesn't get to be a Porsche owner without doing some damage to the bank account.

That's a rich sticker, but for about half the price you can get your hands on even more power. It won't be German power — it will be Detroit oomph. And it will have a Cadillac badge.

The CTS-V is probably my favorite high-performance four-door on Earth. If you like the Corvette Z06 and its 6.2-liter, 650-horsepower V8 widowmaker, the CTS-V has the same powerplant, just tuned down by 10 horses, to 640. You would be hard-pressed to notice the dropoff in power. In both the Caddy and Vette, you're getting some extreme performance at a cost that's sort of difficult to overlook.

So let's call this comparison a showdown between perhaps the greatest sedan in existence and the extreme value proposition. Read on to see who wins.

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The CTS-V in "Red Obsession." I enjoyed the vehicle immensely. Our test car cost over $90,000 and was very well-optioned. Base, the CTS-V is about $86,000.

Read the review »

The "V" cars are Caddy's answer to high-performance versions of European sports sedans: BMW's M Sports, Mercedes-AMGs, and the Audi RS. And, of course, dedicated high-end rides such as the Panamera.

It's tough to climb higher in the General Motors lineup than the CTS-V, however. With the Z06 and ZR1 'Vettes, you get mountains of power but no back seats, and the flagship CT6 Caddy doesn't yet come in V trim.

I will at this point acknowledge that one might not be cross-shopping a CTS-V and a Panamera Turbo. But then again, a lot of folks don't think they should cross-shop a Z06 and, say, a Ferrari 488. That doesn't mean they shouldn't.



I also more recently checked out the car in a fetching "Crystal White" paint job. It got some serious stares, but I still liked the CTS-V better in red.



The heart of the Caddy is the savage, 640-horsepower, supercharged V8 LT4 motor, which the CTS-V shares with the Corvette Z06.

This engine is sublime. For my money, it's better than the Porsche's 550-horsepower V8, but I tend to think that big V8s get along better with superchargers than turbochargers. (Both increase the compression of airflow headed in an engine's cylinders for combustion, but superchargers are powered by the motor, whereas turbos are spun by engine exhaust.)

The best part of driving a CTS-V, in many ways, is starting it up and hearing the gutsy roar and rumble. Because we're dealing with a luxury sedan, out on the road, the CTS-V isolated the driver and passengers from the exhaust note, but you can sure as heck feel those 640 horses doing their thing.

The eight-speed automatic has a manual mode, so you can use the paddles behind the steering wheel to shift your gears. The CTS-V also has various drive modes, including a ferocious "track" option. I found that skipping the paddles and going with "comfort" and "sport" modes were the best route.

"Driving the car is glorious," I wrote in 2016. "The Z06 requires constant attention ... The CTS-V, by contrast, is an insane beast when you want it to be, possessed of earth-splitting violence delivered via a 0-to-60 time of 3.6 seconds."



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11 new books to help you build wealth and get more done in 2019

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millennial worker reading

  • Kick off 2019 the right way by making your life, work, and money more productive.
  • We rounded up some of the best business and money books from 2018 to make 2019 your most productive year yet.
  • They're filled with insights on how to make the most of your time, build habits, and find success at work, from creating a culture to leading the right way.

Make 2019 the year of productivity when it comes to life, work, and money. 

There's no shortage of books to help guide you through your most productive year yet. To help you get started, we rounded up some of the most popular books on Amazon in business and money published in 2018.

They're brimming with advice on how to utilize your time, focus on the things that matter, and build new habits. They're also full of secrets to success in business, from leading organizations and making the most of meetings to building a culture and overcoming obstacles — and how to scale up your business to be the next big thing.

Read more:The best business books of 2018

Because if you succeed in work and use your time effectively, your chances at building wealth will be more successful, too.

Kick off the year on the right note with these books.

SEE ALSO: 11 books to read in 2019 if you want to get rich

DON'T MISS: 13 unforgettable insights from a year reading about relationships, time management, and getting ahead at work

'Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones' by James Clear

From Amazon:"If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights."

Find it here »



'The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success' by Albert-László Barabási

From Amazon:"Too often, accomplishment does not equal success. We did the work but didn't get the promotion; we played hard but weren't recognized; we had the idea but didn't get the credit. We convince ourselves that talent combined with a strong work ethic is the key to getting ahead, but also realize that combination often fails to yield results, without any deeper understanding as to why.

"Recognizing this striking disconnect, the author, along with a team of renowned researchers and some of the most advanced data-crunching systems on the planet, dedicated themselves to one goal: Uncovering that ever-elusive link between performance and success."

Find it here »



'Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.' by Brené Brown

From Amazon:"Four-time #1 New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe.

"She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?"

Find it here »

 



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How to create a budget that actually works, in 5 simple steps

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taxes

  • The majority of Americans don't keep a budget even though it is important to track income and expenses.
  • When budgeting, you don't have to eliminate purchases you want — but recognize they are different from needs.
  • A few simple steps and some organizing go along way to having healthy budgeting habits that save you money.

Have you ever taken a look at the year-to-date total on your pay stub and wondered where all the money went? If so, you're not alone.

A survey conducted by Gallup showed that two-thirds of Americans do not use a budget. Unfortunately, failing to track our income and expenses in a meaningful way can lead to unhealthy spending habits, reduced savings, and taking on additional debt. All of these can be disastrous for your long-term plans!

Creating an effective and sustainable budget is one of the best ways to help you reach your financial goals, so why do so many people fail to do it? Simply put, budgeting is often perceived as a complicated and overwhelming process.

Even for those who make the effort, unrealistic goals that are impossible to meet can be discouraging. But it doesn't have to be that way. The following are five easy guidelines that can help you create (and stick to!) a better budget.

SEE ALSO: There's a better way to save money now to build wealth in the future

DON'T MISS: 11 simple tech travel hacks that will save you time and money on your next trip

1. Differentiate between needs and wants

We have all heard the stories of "found money" by those who started carefully recording their daily expenses.

Whether it's the teacher who was spending $25 a week on Starbucks or the young couple who gave up cable and opted for streaming services, a close examination of spending habits can reveal ample opportunities to save.

It is important to differentiate between needs and wants in your budget. We know needs include the necessities of life and wants are the "nice-to-haves." The latter can be a rich source of savings once they've been identified and separated from the former. 

This is not to say that wants have no place in your budget. If your budget doesn't account for those little extras, it might be harder to adhere to it. The teacher can still set aside money for those $5 coffees, but choose to have them two days a week instead of five.

It may not seem like much at first, but those savings can be invested over time or used to pay off­ high-interest debt, building a solid foundation for the future. (For related reading, see: "The Complete Guide to Planning a Yearly Budget: Needs vs. Wants.")

 



2. Include a miscellaneous category in your budget

There is no way to anticipate every expense you will encounter on a monthly or yearly basis. An unexpected car repair or family emergency can wreak havoc on your budget.

Including a miscellaneous category can help mitigate the negative impact of these situations and ensure you're prepared for them. It can also help quantify spending that you may not be capturing elsewhere, such as money for gifts or other one-time expenses.




3. Include savings as an expense

"Paying yourself first" is one of the most powerful strategies you can use to secure your financial future. Before paying bills or other expenses, set aside a designated amount you can afford to put in savings every month.

You're more likely to reach your savings goals when you treat them as an expense and commit to them as faithfully as any other component of your budget. Setting up direct deposit or automatic transfers directly into savings makes this efficient and easy.



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7 unusual status symbols from around the US

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chicken

  • Luxury watches and private yachts are obvious status symbols, but there are so many other subtle, and in some cases, particularly odd, ways to flaunt wealth.
  • In some US cities, you may be able to decipher a person's social position by the size of their family, the animals in their backyard, and even how many digits are on their license plate.

 

People have found obscure ways to flaunt their social position for centuries.

Before sports cars and luxury gym memberships came along, Americans demonstrated their wealth by snapping selfies, although not the kind we take today. Shortly after the X-ray was invented in 1895, the rich couldn't wait to snag a radiographic machine of their own. They would snap photos of their jewelry-clad bones with at-home X-ray machines they scored from the black market.

And while the days of smuggling X-ray machines are long gone, Americans now try to impress each other in different ways: by always having the newest iPhone, wearing the most expensive watch, or exclusively sporting Lululemon to spin class. But more unexpected status symbols abound in the US.

Here are seven ways Americans around the country show their social status:

SEE ALSO: The top 10 most expensive watches sold by Christie's in 2018, ranked

Silicon Valley: Urban chickens

Not all status symbols are glamorous. Take, for instance, Silicon Valley's latest hipster trend. According to The Washington Post, tech industry leaders have started housing chickens in their backyards.

While keeping livestock has historically been the thriftiest way of putting food on the table, these egg-laying hens are fed gourmet meals and sometimes even sport diapers around the house.



Chicago: Canada Goose coats

One fail-proof way to show people that you have money is to wear extreme, expedition-ready outerwear in the city. It's a widespread phenomenon, but Chicagoans are partial to the notoriously expensive brand Canada Goose, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Sure, the Windy City can feel like the Arctic Tundra sometimes, but could its finicky climate possibly warrant wearing a $1,000 parka suited for Antarctica? Probably not.



Los Angeles: The costs of Scientology courses

If you've seen or heard of Leah Remini's docuseries "Scientology and the Aftermath," then you're familiar with the controversies of the religion that Tom Cruise and John Travolta follow. According to Remini's series, Scientology is not only a secretive religion, but also an expensive one.

The courses, books, and therapy required to join the church allegedly cost thousands, which only the rich and famous can afford, according to the series. It's no surprise why Los Angeles, with its affluent stars, has been called the "Scientology Capital of the World."



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