What we choose to spend our hard-earned money on can say a lot about us.

In an Ask Reddit thread, Redditors were asked, "What is the best purchase you have ever made?" Over 13,000 people responded to share their favorite buys, from a luxury mattress to an HD projector.

Keep reading to see some of their best responses.

Bluetooth earphones

"[These] Bluetooth Earphones. I'll never go back to messing with wires!" - mr_jp

Buy them here:$110

Tools

"Tools. I have an arsenal of tools, but basic hand tools will last a lifetime and have saved me as much money as they've made me." - vigpounder

Kindle

"My wife bought me a Kindle for Christmas one year, and I thanked her politely, while thinking 'Man, she doesn't know me at ALL. Why would ANYONE want to read books digitally?'

"But she had loaded a couple of books on it, and I thought I should be polite and read one.

"I have never looked back. Best purchase ever. I can carry several books around without the weight. If I hear about an interesting book, I can pull out my Kindle and be reading that book 30 seconds later via Amazon." - TheAbyssGazesAlso

Buy it here: $100

US employees spend, on average, about a quarter of the workweek combing through hundreds of emails.

Despite the fact that we're glued to our reply buttons, career coach Barbara Pachter says that plenty of professionals still don't know how to use email appropriately.

Because of the sheer volume of messages we're reading and writing, we may be more prone to making embarrassing errors, and those mistakes can have serious consequences.

Pachter outlines the basics of modern email etiquette in her book "The Essentials of Business Etiquette."

We spoke to her and pulled out the most essential rules you need to know.

Vivian Giang and Rachel Sugar contributed to earlier versions of this article.

SEE ALSO: 17 business-etiquette rules every professional needs to know

1. Include a clear, direct subject line

Examples of a good subject line include "Meeting date changed,""Quick question about your presentation," or "Suggestions for the proposal."

"People often decide whether to open an email based on the subject line," Pachter says. "Choose one that lets readers know you are addressing their concerns or business issues."

2. Use a professional email address

If you work for a company, you should use your company email address. But if you use a personal email account — whether you are self-employed or just like using it occasionally for work-related correspondences — then you should be careful when choosing that address, Pachter says.

You should always have an email address that conveys your name so that the recipient knows exactly who is sending the email. Never use email addresses — perhaps remnants of your grade-school days — that are not appropriate for use in the workplace, such as "babygirl@..." or "beerlover@...," no matter how much you love a cold brew.

3. Think twice before hitting "reply all"

No one wants to read emails from 20 people that have nothing to do with them. Ignoring the emails can be difficult, with many people getting notifications of new messages on their smartphones or distracting pop-up messages on their computer screens.

Refrain from hitting "reply all" unless you really think everyone on the list needs to receive the email, Pachter says.

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

Computers aren't getting more powerful at the same pace that they used to.

Since 1965 computer scientists have used an informal rule called "Moore's Law" to calculate how much faster computer processors will become. Intel, whose co-founder George Moore coined the concept has officially acknowledged that after half a century, Moore's Law is slowing down.

And that's great news. Instead of power, computer manufacturers have begun focusing on making their computers more efficient, which will ultimately make them last longer. That methodology, coupled with the fact that the tasks most people use their computers for on a day-to-day basis are no longer resource-intensive means you can do a lot more without spending a lot of money. 

There's no reason to spend four figures on a laptop if all you're going to do is browse the web, use social media, write papers, and make slideshows; even doing two of those things at once won't eat up a lot of your system's memory. 

It's true that there are some trade offs to buying a lower-end computer. It probably won't be made from premium materials, or have as high resolution of a screen, but that's fine for most people. Another upside is that many laptops have user-replicable parts, so if your computer is feeling a little sluggish after a few years, you can upgrade one component instead of buying a new machine.

Let me be clear, if you're looking for a machine capable of seamlessly rendering 4K footage while playing a game, these picks won't do you much good. People who are looking for that have probably accepted the fact that a "budget" level computer won't be for them anyway.

Below are a couple examples of budget laptops that have made the grade. For even more choices, be sure to check out our budget laptop buying guide.

SEE ALSO: This is the best WiFi router I’ve ever used

SEE ALSO: This is a must-have accessory for owners of Apple's new MacBook

HP 15-F211WM

The HP 15-F211WM is a pretty good 15" budget laptop from HP. It has 4GB of memory, which is plenty for day-to-day tasks, and a 500GB hard drive capable of holding thousands of songs, documents, pictures, and movies.

Its most premium feature its touch screen, which should ease the transition between interacting with your smartphone and laptop. It has all of the standard ports, including USB 2 and 3 for connecting accessories, Ethernet for high speed networking, and HDMI to connect it to a TV or projector. Opinions on Amazon are mostly positive, and those who bought the computer looking to perform average tasks seem satisfied.

HP 15-F211WM, $369.99, available at Amazon.

ASUS VivoBook E200HA-US01-GD

The Asus Vivobook is a budget machine that sacrifices power for a small form factor. It has 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space, but it's 2.2lb and has an 11.2 inch screen. This would be a good option for someone who's always on the go, and keeps a lot of their data in the cloud.

The lack of local storage or disc drive means it's probably not a good fit for heavy media users. People who have used the device have praised its slim size and long battery life. Another plus is that it comes with a free year of Microsoft's Office 365 software suite, which normally costs $100. Another nice feature is that this laptop is full to the brim with the latest and greatest Bluetooth and WiFi antennas, further underscoring the fact that it's made for someone with a more cloud-centric lifestyle.

ASUS VivoBook E200HA-US01-GD, $200, available on Amazon.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Sunday's episode of "Game of Thrones,""Battle of the Bastards."

"Game of Thrones" staged two great battles this week.

In the first one, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) had to fend off an attack by the masters of Meereen. It took not one, but all three dragons to exert her power over the masters once again.

And with the odds against them, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Sansa Stark's (Sophie Turner) army went to battle with Ramsay Bolton for the lordship of Winterfell. There were plenty of casualties, including their brother Rickon Stark (Art Parkinson), but Ramsay's forces fell. And this season's biggest villain met his end. Finally.

With all that to pay attention to, there may have been some details that viewers didn't catch.

Here are five important things you probably missed on this week's "Game of Thrones":

SEE ALSO: The 5 most talked-about moments from last week's 'Game of Thrones'

DON'T MISS: The 6 most popular fan theories for how 'Game of Thrones' will end

Will Dany go bad?

There's already some belief that Dany is walking down a villainous path, one that has the burned corpses of Khals, the beheaded bodies of slave masters, and a trail of broken hearts. After all, bloodlust does run in the family. Her father was The Mad King.

When Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) had to remind her that she was getting carried away with the burning-of-cities talk, it felt like there was some foreshadowing of this theory.

Who are the other dragon riders?

In the George R.R. Martin books, on which "Thrones" is based, there's a saying that the dragon has three heads. This is commonly theorized to mean that three people will become dragon riders. Not anyone can be a dragon rider. If it's not meant to be, they will surely be killed by the dragon before they even get close to mounting it.

One theory is that Jon Snow will become the second rider. Some believe all the riders will be women. So this week's alliance with Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) had some wondering if she'd be one of those dragon riders.

A historic battle inspired a deadly tactic by Ramsay's men.

That deadly semicircle that Ramsay's men formed around Jon Snow's army was inspired by the Roman Battle of the Cannae in 216 BC.

"The Romans get caught and encircled by Hannibal and just slaughtered," executive producer D.B. Weiss said during the "Inside the Episode" video.

Executive producer David Benioff added, "The Battle of the Bastards becomes incredibly compact and all these men, all these combatants, crammed into this incredibly tight space on the battlefield. You read some accounts of the battles in the Civil War where bodies are piled so thick, they actually become an obstruction on the battlefield."

Warning: There are spoilers ahead if you have not watched Sunday's episode of "Game of Thrones."

The ninth episode of "Game of Thrones" served up one of the bloodiest and most realistic battles we've seen in the show's history. From Rickon and Ramsay's deaths to a new couple fans are "shipping," it was a packed episode to say the least.

The "Battle of the Bastards" held epic fight scenes and tense dialogues, some of which contained more than meets the eye.

Scroll down for a look at the five things you probably missed.

Tyrion's conversation with Daenerys foreshadowed a deadly theory.

During their opening scene, Tyrion and Daenerys spoke about her father — the Mad King Aerys Targaryen. As a warning to Daenerys not to get too out of control with her destruction, Tyrion recounted a story he heard from Jaime about caches of wildfire placed all throughout the King's Landing. 

Wildfire is a magical substance that can burn through wood, flesh, and even steel. The Mad King wanted to burn the city to the ground, and Jaime killed him (breaking his Kingsguard oath in the process) to protect the city. The significance of this story from Tyrion has little to do with the past, however, and everything to do with the future of the series.

Cersei might use the Mad King's wildfire stash to her advantage.

Wildfire has come up several times in the series, and fans believe it has all been leading up to Cersei going full "Mad King" herself and burning King's Landing to the ground using wildfire. In this episode, Tyrion made a point to say there was wildfire under the Sept of Baelor. And guess where Cersei's trial will be held in the next episode? It's looking like things are going to heat up in the finale.

Daenerys had an old family insult tossed her way.

Razdal mo Eraz, one of the Wise Masters of Yunkai, was among the leaders in the siege against Meereen. The last time he came face to face with Daenerys was in season three, when he offered her gold and ships in return for leaving their city alone.

When discussing surrender terms with Daenerys and Tyrion, Razdal tells the Mother of Dragons that she will now be forced from the city with nothing. "You will flee Slaver’s Bay on foot, like the Beggar Queen you are," he said. Book readers will recognize this dismissive insult as par for the course when it comes to Targaryens.

With rising sea levels, erosion, and pollution as a result of climate change on the uptick, many idyllic islands (and their rare and stunning wildlife) are fast approaching an expiration date.

Add these gorgeous getaways to the front of your bucket list — it might just be now or never.

7. The Maldives

The Maldives (a.k.a. paradise) is a country composed of around 1,190 islands bobbing in the Indian Ocean. With miles of pristine white sand beaches, luxury resorts, thatched-roof huts, and turquoise waters, it’s no surprise nearly one million pleasure-seekers (love birds, beach bums, you name it) are drawn to the fantastical escape every year. But for those who have had the destination on their bucket list for years (or simply want to return for a second or third or fourth visit), you better act fast. At only five feet above sea level, scientists forecast the rising sea levels -- a result of climate change -- could flood the island nation within 100 years.

6. The Seychelles

What you see: a dreamy collection of 115 islands -- filled with beautiful beaches, magnificent cliffs, lush jungles, crystal clear water, and five-star resorts -- off the east coast of Africa. What you don’t see (and we apologize in advance for being the bearer of bad news): over the years, climate change -- and its resulting rising water levels -- has severely damaged the coral reefs, which shelter the islands from wave erosion. Some even predict that the entire country could be engulfed in as soon as 50 years.

If you haven’t noticed a trend yet, this should seal the deal. Sandwiched somewhere betweenHawaii and Australia, the Marshall Islands -- and namely it’s capital, Majuro -- are bearing the consequences of, yep you got it, climate change. Situated only three feet above sea level, the islands are pummeled by regular high tides, destroying houses (and anything else in its path) along the way.

The iconic Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. hosts a legendary past, becoming famous for its location within the complex that sparked the political scandal ending Richard Nixon's presidency. 

Closed since 2007, the hotel officially reopened to the public last week after a $125 million renovation. 

With swanky new touches like a luxe whiskey bar adorned with thousands of bottles and a stunning new ballroom, guests can expect an elevated experience with playful touches that pay homage to the hotel's historic past.

SEE ALSO: 16 incredible destinations in Asia that tourists don't know about yet

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

The Watergate Hotel sits on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., and has stood as the hotel of choice for discerning and wealthy travelers since it opened in March of 1967. Originally designed by Italian architect, Luigi Moretti, the hotel was made to look like a sail on the Potomac River with its sprawling curves.

The new design features interiors selected by renowned designer Ron Arad and sculptural furnishings from Italian designer, Moroso. “Mad Men” costumer designer, Janie Bryant, has also created chic uniforms for the staff to reflect the hotel’s new modern edge, while fun touches like pens reading "Stolen from The Watergate Hotel" and key cards that say "no need to break in" nod to the hotel's past.

Several original structures were restored, including the indoor pool and staircase. The saltwater lap pool, which is surrounded by tiles flecked in real silver, features two lanes, an aerobic area, and a whirlpool to unwind in.

Come with me to the office of a scrappy social mediastart-up in a run-down building on the upper west side of New York City in July of 2009. 

You open the door and see four executives speaking to each other.  Actually you only see three of the executives speaking. The fourth, silent executive is avoiding conflict. That executive is staring blankly back at the three doing the talking. 

That guy right there, making no noise, and staring blankly. That's me. Well, that's the 34 year old me. You may not know it from looking at me, but I'm in the midst of a panic attack.  

Yep, right there in the middle of an office, my brain seems to have shut down. It may seem odd that I'm having a panic attack in the middle of an office. It won't seem so odd if you consider that I'm getting fired. 

My brain seems like it's shutting down, but really it's doing the exact opposite, and has just shifted into hyper drive. Thoughts are swooshing by at light speed.

I'm thinking about the unborn baby my wife is carrying and how the news will affect her health.  I'm also feeling the humiliation that will come along with this being the third time in two short years where I've lost my job. It's seeping into every deep dark crevice of my body. My soul. Deep humiliation. Again. 

Now back in present day, I can still hear every word. "Today is your last day at Buddy Media."

Devastating. 

I've had a great deal of time to think about what that moment and here are five ways to move past the devastation of a termination. 

SEE ALSO: 21 signs you're about to be fired

1. Allow yourself time to mourn

I barely moved for the first week. When I finally did move, Buddy Media got wind that I had interviewed at a competitor and revoked my minuscule two weeks severance.  

I went back to not moving for another week. I licked my wounds, drank some scotch. But after that, I was back in the game. Take some alone time. But not for too long, or it will take hold of you. Depression is a real thing. You have to keep moving. 

2. Focus on the positive

Just two short months after Buddy Media fired me, I was "discovered" by a television producer who put my ugly mug on television. I dove into this opportunity hard, and I never looked back

3. Get introspective about what you could have done better

This is a tough one. But here's the rub — many smart people get fired for many varied reasons. Think it through, chalk it up as a learning experience, and don't let it happen again.

Maybe the lesson for you is that you're not cut out to have a boss. Or maybe you just need to find the right one for you. 

The Galápagos Islands are not a destination for the novice traveler. It takes a long time to get there — no matter where you're coming from — and when done right, your trip will be jam-packed with incredible adventures.

Professional travel blogger Trevor Morrow, who runs the blog Trevor Morrow Travel: Dude-Approved Travel, Food, and Gear, was recently invited to stay at the luxury resort Pikaia Lodge on the island of Santa Cruz. He got the VIP treatment from the moment he disembarked from the plane.

Morrow's experience included spa treatments, a gorgeous private yacht, and snorkeling adventures conducted by a Galápagos native who has also led private tours for Google cofounder Sergey Brin.

"A trip to the Galápagos really falls into the 'trip of a lifetime' category," Morrow told Business Insider. Morrow would know — his travel writing has taken him across the world, including to Belize, Nepal, Iceland, and Amsterdam. "It's a legendary destination and one that takes a bit of planning and dedication to visit." 

SEE ALSO: 19 stunning photos that show how different weddings are around the world

Morrow left his home in Los Angeles at 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night to catch a red-eye to Miami. From there, he flew into Quito, Ecuador, where he stayed one night before flying to the island of Baltra in the Galápagos on Monday. He got to the Pikaia Lodge at 5 p.m. on Monday, after clocking in well over 24 hours' worth of travel.

Morrow's luxurious experience with Pikaia Lodge began at the airport. "I saw a woman standing there with a sign with my name on it. While everyone else went right, she ushered me to the left and into the airport’s VIP entrance," Morrow said.

"All guests staying at Pikaia Lodge are treated to the same VIP welcome," he said.

LinkedIn recently released a list of the "Top Attractors." The list ranks the 40 most competitive companies to get hired at and the companies where, once hired, employees never want to leave. 

Whether it's for great company culture, perks or the business' overall mission, tech companies dominated the list. They comprised over half the list and occupied every spot in the top ten!

Here's the list of all the tech companies on the list, ranked from last to first. Read on to find out which company was Number 1:

SEE ALSO: Microsoft just slammed Google Chrome's biggest problem

21. Yelp

Yelp asks its employees to “be unboring" and welcomes new ideas. The online review company secured more advertising dollars earlier this year after crossing 100 million reviews on its site and is working to hire employees in lower-cost cities and raise wages for those working customer service. 

20. Cisco

CEO Chuck Robbins, who commands 72,000 employees, is not afraid to restructure and incorporate new talent in order to jumpstart innovation. Robbins is asking employees to keep a fast pace, but hes' brought new energy to the information technology giant's headquarters in California.  

19. Leidos

Leidos takes technology created under a variety of government contracts and turns around and sells it to commercial clients. 34,000 employees, strong, the company is still hiring. The company just promised to hire 3,000 veterans or their spouses over the next five years.

From 7000 BCE to today, at least 19 cities have led the world in population.

We’ve profiled each of them, taking data and insights primarily from "Why the West Rules — For Now" by Stanford historian and archaeologist Ian Morris.

Cities have, of course, grown vastly bigger over time. Nine thousand years ago, Çatalhöyük led the world with 1,000 people. Today, Tokyo has 38 million.

This trend is a mark of increasing social complexity, and it could be just getting started.

Keep reading to see the greatest cities in history. (Note: This article updates an older list based on other sources.)

SEE ALSO: The top 25 cities for the future

Çatalhöyük led the world with 1,000 people by 7000 BCE.

Located in Turkey, Çatalhöyük is considered by many to be the world’s first city. By 6500 BCE its population of 3,000 was even more impressive.

The city included hundreds of mud-brink homes stacked on two mounds. It was so dense that people walked on the roofs of houses rather than streets.

The city had a rich culture, evidenced by murals, figurines, and ceremonial burial sites. A painting on one wall has been called the world's oldest map and the world's oldest landscape painting.

Çatalhöyük was abandoned around 5700 BCE.

Tell Brak led the world with 4,000 people by 5000 BCE.

Located in Syria, Tell Brak was part of a major trade route, situated on a river crossing between Anatolia, the Levant, and southern Mesopotamia.

The city was also home to the "Eye Temple," named by archaeologists for the discovery of hundreds of idols featuring big eyes.

Uruk took the lead with 40,000 people by 3300 BCE.

Located in Iraq by the Euphrates River, Uruk expanded during a long period of poor harvests, as people were forced to organize to survive.

There is evidence here of rationing, taxation, an increasingly hierarchical society, and an emerging state. Uruk culture came to dominate cities from Syria to Iran.

The legendary king Gilgamesh, memorialized in the early epic, ruled Uruk around the 27th century BCE.

Uruk began losing ground to regional rivals a century or two later.

For most of us who ride, having a "get-off" at some point is all but an eventuality. So what can we do to mitigate the risks? The causes of crashes can be distilled down into two basic categories: ones that are caused by our own actions on the bike, and ones that are caused by something or someone else. The first is easier to control, and second is less so. But with practice, technique, and some training we can learn how to stack the odds in our favor. Honing these skills and techniques on the relative safety of a race track is a great way to make you a better rider on the road.

Ken Hill – The Pro Moto Coach

Ken Hill is a professional motorcycle coach whose main mission is to help people be better, safer riders. In his own words, Ken states: “I don’t train ‘racers or ‘street riders,’ I simply teach people how to be better motorcycle riders.”

Ken has plenty of experience: He has raced professionally for the AMA, and currently works with top professional motorcycles racers, including MotoAmerica racers such as JD Beach and the M4 Suzuki race team.

Ken has also instructed for great motorcycle riding programs such as Freddie Spencer Riding School and the Yamaha Champions Riding School. Currently, Ken works with the Rickdiculous Racing and the Rick Development Camp.

Ken primarily teaches people how to ride motorcycles at a track, which in my opinion is the best way to be a better rider. There’s more room to ride, so that means there’s literally more room for error. Therefore, it’s safer to try new things than on the streets.

I’ve personally worked with Ken in the past, and he’s helped my riding immensely. I often wished there were times when I could hear him giving his reassuring, logical advice right before I went out to my races. Fortunately, I no longer have to wish for that.

Ken recently started doing podcasts that comprise of frequently asked questions he receives from riders. So far, he’s covered topics such as when and how to apply the brakes, or how to obtain better body positioning.

Ken's latest podcast, How to Get Over a Crash, really intrigued me because I’ve crashed a handful of times, so I know what it’s like to go down on numerous occasions. This podcast contains good stuff, especially since he first covers why motorcyclists crash before he gets into the “how to get over it” part.

I mean, really: Who the hell wants to crash? It hurts you, the bike, and your pocketbook. So, I feel it’s important to discuss the main reasons why you or I crash, as well as the ways to learn from the mistakes that caused the crash.

(Note: Ken discuses these points and how they are applied to track day riding and/or racing. However, most of these points are definitely useful for the street riders who tackle the twisties, too!)

Here are the top five reasons motorcyclists crash...and examples!

SEE ALSO: 50 years ago, a radical idea changed cars forever — here's how it started

1. Lack of Focus/Lack of a Plan

In this podcast, Ken mentions that you shouldn’t be distracted by something else other than riding. What helps with getting focused? Putting a plan in place in regards to what you’re going to work on, and how to accomplish the goals you set for yourself.

From My Own Crash #1

I did a track day right before I was to get my racing license, and I remember being all over the place that day. I went out for the first session in the morning, so the track was cold. Even though track riders are always warned to take it easy for a lap or two for the first session, I didn’t listen: My lack of focus caused a minor lowside at Turn 11 at Thunderhill Raceway.

I clearly wasn’t focused. I needed to be aware of my tires as well as lean angle on the first lap out. I should have been more cognizant and told myself, “Make sure to get your rubbers up to temp before getting the bike to do what you want it to do.”

2. Abrupt Inputs

“Grab, stab, flick, throw, toss, hack, does not get better as you add speed to it, it gets worse,” Ken says in this podcast. Your inputs can make or break you. Ken states that you have to be less aggressive with how you get on the throttle, how you apply the brakes, and how you lean off the bike..

Your inputs need to always be smooth—especially your initial inputs. By doing this, not only will you go faster, but your chances of hitting the pavement will also decrease.

From My Own Crash #2

Ah, false neutrals—they happen, and when they do, it’s imperative to be able to think fast.

If you've never experienced one, a false neutral is when you go to grab the next gear, but it doesn’t fully engage. Therefore, you're riding the motorcycle in no gear or a "false neutral." So that happened to me while full throttle, going into the next turn. I went to go down a gear, but realized the bike wasn’t slowing down. I stood the bike up knowing I was about to go off track. I abruptly grabbed a handful of front brake right before I went off the track in an effort to slow myself down.

It was abrupt, and I knew what I did the second I hit the ground. I should have been smoother on my inputs, and I also should have went off track and ride it out by only using the rear brake. Lost focus and abrupt inputs caused this crash.

3. Rushing Corner Entry

This one is pretty straightforward. Ken says that the problem is that when you rush exit corner entries, things can get hairy. Again, the goal with everything you do on the bike needs to be smooth, smooth, smooth — everything from your inputs to how you go into a corner. Patience does pay off at times.

From My Own Crash #3

I crashed hard while rushing a corner. I wanted to give it over with (I’ll tell you why in the next section), so every time I went through that specific turn, I wasn’t focused on what I needed to do well to get through that turn safely. It sure bite me in the end: Not only did I take myself out, but someone who was following me close behind also went down because he couldn’t avoid me.

One of the smartest things Apple is doing is encouraging teenagers who like to code to write iOS apps. This helps the company create a new generation of fans.

Even just a few years ago, programmers under age 18 were not welcomed by Apple with open arms. You had to be 18 to get an Apple Developer account and submit an app to the App Store or to attend its huge annual World Wide Developer's Conference.

Today, teen developers can be as young as 13 to submit apps, according Apple's terms of service.

And those who want to attend the WWDC apply for a scholarship that waives the conference fees for them.

They are the second stars of the show, with special access to Apple's star executives.

Teen programmers Blake Bollinger and Michael Verges, who wrote an app together, were among Apple's 350 scholarship winners to attend WWDC 2016, held last week in San Francisco. Most of the scholars were high school or college students. 

Their app is called "Verse" and it will help singers train their voices. It was written for iOS 10 and hasn't been published yet.

Here is their account of what their week at Apple's WWDC was like.

SEE ALSO: This 9-year-old girl just got a shout out by Apple CEO Tim Cook

Saturday, June 11: We arrived on Saturday night just in time to take some pictures through the windows of the Moscone Center.

Sunday, June 12, was the day of the scholarship orientation. We signed in and got our badges. (Michael Verges, left, Blake Bollinger, right.)

We used our badged to sign into an iPad to get access to the show. It also gave us access to parties and other special events.

From where you parked your car to the password for your Facebook account, the sheer number of things you have to remember each day is pretty astounding.

So if you are having trouble keeping some of these details sharp, chances are you're not alone.

But there is a group of people whose main goal is to make what you see and hear stick. These "memory athletes" travel the world to showcase their skills — and a group of them is set to compete this June 24-26 in San Diego, California as part of an event called the Extreme Memory Tournament.

But these memory champions also have some great advice for the rest of us. Here are five simple strategies for remembering things you've learned.

SEE ALSO: Scientists have finally figured out why we remember some things and forget others

DON'T MISS: The scientific way to remember everyone's name

1. Create a memory palace.

The memory palace is based on the idea that our spatial memories are much stronger than our memories for specific words or objects. You can probably easily recall, for example, where in your home you store your holiday decorations or your office supplies, says World Memory Champion Alex Mullen. And you can apply this innate ability to other harder-to-recall things, like a list of groceries.

Try it: Take your list (let's say it includes apples, paper towels, bread, and milk) and, as you walk through your home in your mind, create a scene of each grocery item in each space. In the living room, for example, you might imagine a group of kids bobbing for apples, while in the dining area you picture each furniture item covered in rolls of paper towels. Next you approach your bedroom, where you picture a giant laying on your bed while snacking on loaves of bread. In the bathroom, you see the sink and bathtub overflowing with milk.

2. Think of a scene.

We form visual memories much like how a camera records an image: What we see gets imprinted, kind of like a photograph, in a specific set of brain cells in our hippocampus, deep inside the brain. This process is called encoding.

The reason we misplace things like our keys, wallet, phone, or car so often is because we store so many similar versions of those memories. Think of how many times you've parked your car or tossed your keys somewhere. Your brain has encoded thousands of those memories. Over time, they begin to blur.

To improve your memory, you have to be able to keep those recollections apart. Next time you set down your keys, try creating a precise scene in your head, suggests US Memory Champion Joshua Foer. Take note of the surface on which you're resting it. Is it wood, steel, or concrete? Red or blue? Is there a photograph or an object nearby that you can keep in mind?

3. Establish an emotional connection.

Having a sense of connection with an object or a place can help us remember details about it.

In a recent review, Harvard and MIT scientists compared how well people could remember photographs against how well they could recall the color of a few simple squares. Overall, people were far better at remembering details about the photos than they were at recalling details about the squares. Researchers think this discrepancy has to do with people's ability to link things in the photos with their own feelings or memories, and therby keep the memory sharper.

Smart money management is as much about what you do as it is what you're able to avoid. The money you save bringing a brown-bag lunch every day for a week can be erased with just one careless fee.

Here are 10 fees the frugal avoid at all costs.

SEE ALSO: How to never pay an ATM fee again

1. Shipping fees

You can save a lot of money buying online as long as you don't pay it all back with shipping fees. Smart shoppers find ways to get free shipping, whether it's joining a program like Amazon Prime, looking for a coupon, or just buying enough to get over a dollar amount for free shipping.

2. Late payment fees

Late payment fees, assessed when you are late on paying a bill, are horrible because you get nothing for the fee and they are completely avoidable if you have a system in place. If your finances support it, auto-pay all your bills so you never experience a late payment fee.

If they don't, change all your due dates to the same day and set multiple reminders to pay all of your bills on that day. If you're carrying a balance on your credit cards, it can impact your credit. You can see how your balances are affecting your credit scores for free on Credit.com.

3. Overdraft fees

Overdraft fees are assessed when you draw a balance below zero. The solution, besides knowing how much money is in an account, is in having a good backup. Find a bank where you will have both a checking and savings account, with the savings account acting as an overdraft backup to your checking account. Many online banks offer this for free, which is crucial in avoiding any fees, so you get higher interest rates and protection against overdrafts.

4. Convenience fees

Convenience fees are surcharges added to a bill when you pay with a credit card. This happens most often in situations where the payee only accepts cash and checks, which have no processing fees. Since credit cards assess a fee on all transactions, payees are looking to pass that fee to the customer. The fee will often be greater than whatever cash back or reward points you'd get for using a card.

5. ATM surcharges

When you use an ATM that isn't owned by your bank, you face two expensive charges. The bank that owns the ATM will charge you a fee to use the ATM, and your bank will charge you for using another bank's ATM! This double whammy can get very expensive, especially if you make it routine. You could avoid using another bank's ATM, but sometimes that isn't possible. A better solution is to use a bank that offers to refund your ATM fee surcharges.

6. Partial payment fees

On some large annual and semi-annual payments, such as for automobile insurance, the company may let you split up the charge over several months in return for paying a slightly higher total amount. This partial payment fee isn't explicitly listed; the installment payments are simply higher. Whether it's car registration, property taxes, or some other large bill, save up so you can make the total payment when it's due.

7. Foreign transaction fees

When you use your credit cards outside the United States, there may be a foreign transaction fee associated with each charge. The fee is a percentage added to the charge and ranges anywhere from 2% to 3%. You can avoid this by using a credit card that doesn't charge you a foreign transaction fee, considered a valuable credit card perk for heavy travelers.

8. Checked baggage fees

If you travel a lot, you know that checking baggage can sometimes be an expensive proposition. Most airlines offer one complimentary checked bag but the charges increase if you check more than one. Be sure to include this additional cost in your flight comparisons since some airlines do not charge you as much for checked baggage (for example, Southwest Airlines offers two free checked bags).

Pants are one of the most difficult items for guys to buy. The reason for that is simple: Men don't actually know the terminology they need to get exactly what they're looking for.

Fortunately, that can be fixed with knowledge. From leg opening to fly style, we've covered everything you need to know to buy the perfect pair of pants.

SEE ALSO: 26 grooming and style hacks every guy should know

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

The term "rise" refers to the distance between the top of the pants' waistband and the crotch.

The zip fly has largely overtaken the button fly in popularity, and it offers a quicker and easier way to close your pants. Here are the benefits of each:

For the pants' front, there are two options: pleats and flat front.

In New York's trendy Soho neighborhood, there's an unassuming building on Grand Street that says "by appointment only."

It bears Nike's signature check mark.

Welcome to 45 Grand, Nike's exclusive, invite-only gym. Models like Karlie Kloss have worked out here.

Nike says that influencers and active Nike Plus members are invited to join world class trainers on personal "journeys," where trainers construct workouts designed to meet each individual's needs.

Nike invited Business Insider to check out the facilities, and even let me get a grueling personalized workout.

It's tough to get an invite, but you can get a firsthand look here.

Here we are — at 45 Grand in Soho. For a few hours, I get to be around the energy of the elite! (The gym was empty, aside from a few employees.)

There's a narrow hallway when you walk in, which emphasizes the exclusivity of the space.

Stairs lead up to the second floor. There's Nike imagery all over the space.

It turns out that several states have designated official snack foods: Jell-O was declared the official snack of Utah back in 2001, and Illinois — a top producer of corn — made popcorn its official snack in 2003. New York declared yogurt its official state snack in 2014.

We think every state should have an official snack food, and so we researched the best snack from every state in the U.S. 

ALABAMA: Moon Pies — two graham crackers with marshmallow filling, coated in chocolate — are so beloved in Alabama that a 12-foot version of the cookie drops from one of Mobile's tallest buildings on New Year's Eve.

ALASKA: The state’s great salmon run is seasonal, but healthy, smoky salmon jerky can be enjoyed year-round.

ARIZONA: Famous for its Tex-Mex cuisine, Arizona is one of the best places in the world to try a burrito.

You don't have to shell out thousands of dollars to find the perfect wedding dress.

Ten designers showed off their intricate, cheap, and gorgeous gowns for the 12th annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest presented by Cheap Chic Weddings, a site dedicated to cheap wedding hacks, and Charmin.

All of the dresses were made strictly from Charmin toilet paper, and the results were absolutely breathtaking. The designers could use needle, thread, tape, and glue to hold the gowns together. 

The 10 finalists were chosen from more than 1,500 entries. Van Tran, a designer from Brooklyn, won the contest and took home the $10,000 grand prize.

Check out more of the dresses below:

Some of the finalists.

This dress by Roy Cruz was voted the fan favorite from online votes.

Donna Vincler's dress placed third and won $2,500.

Every year, more than 950 chefs, culinary professionals, and food writers convene to rank the 100 best restaurants in the world.

Members of the elite group, called the World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, hail from 27 different countries and are hand-selected by the Academy's governing board each year. They nominate their favorite restaurants and rate the food and dining experiences at each.

The restaurants are ranked based on average scores, and the final list is considered by some to be even more prestigious than the longstanding Michelin Guide.

Although the rating guidelines are highly subjective, the ranking is meant to highlight restaurants that are pioneers in the future of food and fine dining, the list's editor, William Drew, tells Tech Insider.

Here are 21 innovative restaurants that should make your bucket list.

21. Arzak in San Sebastian, Spain.

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Arzak offers multiple tasting menus as well as dishes á la carte. Specialties include sea bass that's served on top of a tablet with moving images of the sea.

Standout dish: Pigeon with potato feathers

20. Amber in Hong Kong, China.

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Richard Ekkebus, Amber's head chef, has developed a contemporary cooking style that emphasizes high-quality seasonal produce and seafood.

Standout dish: Pineapple, tomato, cherries, fresh almonds and niçoise olive salad

19. Arpège in Paris, France.

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The Academy calls head chef Alain Passard's vegetable-centric dishes "transcendental." The menu doesn't include any meat, and the restaurant boasts three Michelin stars. 

Standout dish: Chausey lobster aiguillettes with côtes du jura wine