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☆ How my family of 6 spent nearly $9,000 on a Disney vacation — and what we'll do differently next time
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Daryl Austin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

First off, driving instead of flying saved us a lot of moneyMy family added a road-trip component to our trip. Daryl AustinWe saved money by driving to Disney instead of flying. AdvertisementLastly, we saved money by cutting back on character-dining experiences and sharing most of our mealsOur family split meals at Disneyland when we could. In hindsight, this means we could've saved some serious money on tickets and food costs by cutting out our last two days at Disney. Otherwise, my wife and I will be dreading the next Disney vacation nearly as much as our kids will be eagerly anticipating it.

Persons: —, Daryl Austin, That's, we'd, we've, Dole, would've, could've, Daryl Austin Disney Organizations: Service, Universal Studios, Business, Marriott, Gas, Disney, we've, Disneyland, Minnie Locations: Utah, Southern California, California, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Marriott Anaheim, Disneyland

☆ Furniture flippers are getting roasted online for painting vintage wood pieces 'millennial gray'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

How do you feel about painted furniture?" Halfpoint Images/Getty ImagesDemand is up for vintage wood furniture — without paintPart of the backlash certainly stems from the current state of the furniture industry, in which it's increasingly difficult to get your hands on brand-new, high-quality furniture. As a result, the secondhand furniture market is booming, with vintage furniture sellers proliferating on places like Instagram and Facebook Marketplace. The flippers said most of the hate comments tend to come from flips of midcentury modern furniture, in particular, a beloved and lasting design aesthetic from around roughly the 1930s to 1970s. Despite all the vocal online haters of painted furniture, there's a reason furniture flippers do it: the pieces sell.

Persons: —, Christina Clericuzio, grandma, Clericuzio sanded, Clericuzio, TikTok, Jennifer Beck, flipper, Gen Z, it's, she's, she'd, Beck, It's, Mike Coleman, he's, Coleman, Christina Clericuzio's Organizations: Service, Business, United Furniture, Facebook, The Washington Post, Big, Ikea Locations: Connecticut, Tennessee, Anthropologie, Mesa , Arizona, Chicago

☆ I gifted myself an adult gap year for my 30th birthday. I've never been this happy and I'm the most broke I've ever been.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Jane Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

I immigrated to Canada from Nigeria when I was 22 for my master's degree and started working right after graduating. I had thought about starting my own clothing brand for years, so I started working on ideas for that too. One of the biggest things I'm taking away from this sabbatical is realizing that a lot of things are not that serious. I've never been this happy, and I'm the most broke I've ever been. AdvertisementIf you took a sabbatical and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at janezhang@businessinsider.com.

Persons: Alma Rex, Ezonfade, —, I'm, would've, I'd, what's, I've, Jane Zhang Organizations: Service, YouTube, Google, Abbey Locations: Toronto, Canada, Nigeria, Caribbean, Europe, Punta Cana, janezhang@businessinsider.com

☆ The US-China rivalry will reshape the landscape for Big Tech earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The growth of US tech earnings is vulnerable to ongoing tensions with China. As Beijing exerts influence in the region, US tech firms will compete for a smaller market share. S&P Global data shows that for US chip firms, China is even more important for business than their home turf. AdvertisementGeopolitical tensionsAbishur Prakash, the founder of advisory firm The Geopolitical Business, told Business Insider that US tech companies ignoring the geopolitical tensions with China are risking serious setbacks to their portfolios. Experts believe that China will gradually contribute less to the revenue of mega-cap US tech firms.

Persons: —, Tesla, Apple, Prakash, Elon, Kelvin Wong, walling, Jay Pelosky, Pelosky, Wong Organizations: Service, TPW, American, Nvidia, AMD Locations: China, Beijing, India, Europe, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia

☆ I took my kids on their first Amtrak. Our $336 roundtrip train to NYC had significant delays, but I'd do it again.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Lauren Harkawik | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I took my two kids on the Amtrak for the first time to get from Albany to New York City. We faced significant delays on the train, but I'd choose the Amtrak over driving in the future. AdvertisementMy husband and I recently traveled with our two kids from Albany to New York City to visit family. Although we could've hopped in the car, we decided it was the perfect opportunity for our kids to experience their first Amtrak train ride. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: I'd, — Organizations: Amtrak, Service, Business Locations: Albany, New York City

☆ My mom died on Mother's Day weekend. It's a painful anniversary, but I've found a special way to honor her.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Sara Pam Neufeld | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementWhen people hear that my mom died the afternoon before Mother's Day in 2018, the reaction is a variation of, "Oh, that really sucks." As anyone who has lost a mother knows, Mother's Day is hard forever after. In the United States, Mother's Day was still a day away, but we had gotten to celebrate Mexican Mother's Day, always held on May 10. She wanted me to bring my kids, then ages 1 and 3, to her house in Connecticut for Mother's Day. AdvertisementMy mom knew just where I needed to spend Mother's Day weekend, and now I know just where to find her.

Persons: It's, —, I've, could've, I'd, Sara Neufeld, Jennifer Brosious, Jen, Bubbi, Jen I'd, Stevie, Maureen, she'd, journaling, Sara Pam Neufeld Organizations: Mother's, Service Locations: Mexico, United States, Hamden , Connecticut, Queens, Connecticut, New York, Queens , New York City

☆ John Leguizamo reveals he turned down Stanley Tucci's iconic part in 'The Devil Wears Prada'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

John Leguizamo revealed that he turned down Stanley Tucci's part in "The Devil Wears Prada." AdvertisementJohn Leguizamo said that he declined what turned out to be an iconic role for Stanley Tucci — lovable art director Nigel Kipling in "The Devil Wears Prada." 'The Devil Wears Prada,' the Stanley Tucci part," Leguizamo responded. 20th Century Studios"The Devil Wears Prada" wasn't the only role that Leguizamo said he regretted turning down. "I felt dissed, and they probably weren't dissing me, but I felt dissed," Leguizamo said.

Persons: John Leguizamo, Stanley, Wears, Leguizamo, Smith, —, Stanley Tucci, Nigel Kipling, Tucci, Anne Hathaway's, Andy, Miranda Priestly, Meryl Streep, Anna Wintour, Vince Vaughn's, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Robin Williams, Williams, Sid Organizations: Service, Studios

☆ My 2 children came out as trans. Nothing could've prepared me for what they have gone through.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Liv Styler | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

My children came out to me one summer; they both started HRT to help with their body dysmorphia. I worry about the dangers of being trans in this world, but I am trying to be courageous. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Both of my kids came out one summerI've always considered myself to be someone who could handle or adapt to anything. While I can't say HRT has been the cure-all, I can say that it has made a monumental change in their self-esteem and their confidence.

Persons: —, I'm, We're LatinX Organizations: HRT, Service, It's Locations: —

☆ My husband is turning 68 and terrified of retiring. I'm ready for a more flexible lifestyle.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Marcia Kester Doyle | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . We've been married for 40 years, and I've never known a man with a stronger work ethic than my husband. AdvertisementIn July, my husband turns 68 and is still uncertain about leaving his ground maintenance job at an upscale condo. While most boomers are thrilled to leave the rat race and rack up their flying miles, my husband is terrified of leaving his beloved job. AdvertisementI'm ready for a more flexible lifestyleDeprogramming someone conditioned to work full-time was more difficult than I'd anticipated.

Persons: —, We've, I've, He's, he'll, he's, We're, he'd, I'm, we're Organizations: Service

☆ My Investment Banking Job Nearly Destroyed Me
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

I hadn't expected to be lying on the office floor thinking that I needed to quit my investment banking job — yet there I was. The allure of an investment banking job is seductive. Being an investment banking analyst was much sexier in theory than practiceI knew banking would be intense from the internship, but nothing could've prepared me for just how intense the full-time role was. There's very little advice out there on how to quit your investment banking job. I can't say I loved investment banking to that degree, so I walked away.

Persons: could've, nauseous, there'd, Ji Organizations: Business, Ivy League, Wall

☆ 'Time capsule' LA home torn down by Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger could have been shown 'some honor,' designer's daughter says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The property, situated in Brentwood, was designed by Craig Ellwood and is known as the "Zimmerman House." Craig Ellwood, Zimmerman House (Los Angeles, Calif.), 1953. The Zimmerman HouseLiving room of the Zimmerman House designed by Craig Ellwood (Los Angeles, Calif.), 1953. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (2004.R.10)The Zimmerman House was a 2,770-square-foot home named after its first owners, Martin and Eva Zimmerman. The Eichler Network, a website focusing on midcentury modern homes in California, has shared photos of what appears to be the leveled Zimmerman House.

Persons: —, Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Craig Ellwood, Zimmerman, Pratt, Schwarzenegger, Robb, Ellwood's, Erin Ellwood, that's, Julius Schulman, J, Paul Getty, Maria Shriver, Ken Ungar, Ellwood, Martin, Eva Zimmerman, Garrett Eckbo, could've Organizations: Service, Business, Los Angeles Times, Paul Getty Trust, Getty Research Institute, Los, Hollywood, Eichler Network Locations: Los Angeles, Brentwood, Calif, California

☆ Should investors buy the dip in Lululemon? Here's what this fund manager says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of popular athleisure brand Lululemon have plummeted this year, trailing the S & P 500 significantly. Its shares, which were included in the Wall Street index just last October, are down around 28% year-to-date. Dwyer also pointed out that Lululemon is unlikely to be exposed to any geopolitical risks surrounding China. "Millennials represent around a third to 40% in China and then Gen Z are a much bigger share of the demographic - they are fans of this brand," Dwyer. According to FactSet, Lululemon has a buy rating of 69% and analysts covering the stock give it 28.1% potential upside from the average price target.

Persons: Jack Dwyer, Dwyer, FactSet, Lululemon Organizations: Infusive Asset Management, CNBC, Consumer Alpha Global, Fund, Netflix, PepsiCo Locations: China, —, LVMH

☆ The 15 bonus tracks from Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' could be their own near-perfect album
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

That's certainly true of her latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," which arrived last Friday to mixed reviews. New Taylor Swift music is bound to spark widespread debate, but the conversation swelled when she surprise-released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," a deluxe edition with 15 extra songs. Indeed, most of these deluxe tracks succeed as self-contained stories, recalling the mythic peaks of "Folklore" and "Evermore." Then again, more songs equals more streams, and "The Tortured Poets Department" is on target to become one of the most-played albums of the streaming era. AdvertisementFinal Grade: 9.3/10"The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" was released on April 19, 2024.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, I'm, Swift, I've, Swift's, aIMee, Cassandra, Peter, Wendy, shouldn't, It's, Beth Garrabrant Worth, Chloe, Sam, Sophia, Marcus, Robin Organizations: Service, Poets Department, Business, Department, Press Locations: Cardigan

☆ Supreme Court justices dance around question of whether Trump could pardon himself if he wins reelection
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Self-pardoning wasn't on the table at Thursday's Supreme Court hearing. The Supreme Court has never ruled on whether such a move would be permissible. The purpose of the hearing was for the Supreme Court to hear arguments over whether Trump should be immune from criminal prosecution for his conduct as president. He told Michael Dreeben, the lawyer representing Smith's team, that the question might be crucial as the Supreme Court deliberates the scope of presidential immunity. In order to obtain a pardon, he would have to be convicted and serve at least five years of a sentence.

Persons: Alito, —, Donald Trump, could've, Trump, — Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch —, Jack Smith's, Smith, Gorsuch, he'll, We've, it's, Michael Dreeben, haven't, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Dreeben, Joe Biden, Stormy Daniels Organizations: Thursday's, Trump, Service, NBC, Mar, DC Circuit, Justice Department's, Justice Department Locations: New York, Manhattan, Georgia

☆ At 31 songs, Taylor Swift's new album is way too long. Is the streaming era to blame?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Taylor Swift released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" on Friday. AdvertisementTaylor Swift's album release days should be days of celebration. "In the past 3 hours she has released more songs than Lorde has in the past decade," one listener observed on X. Indeed, "The Tortured Poets Department" is Swift's eighth album (including rerecords) in less than four years. Of course, Swift is far from the only artist who's released a bloated project, and these days, the streaming era is largely to blame.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, it's, —, Taylor, I'd, Lorde, That's, Clara Bow, I've, haven't, Rihanna, there's, who's, they've, Swifties Organizations: Poets Department, Service, Department, Spotify, DJ

☆ Israel-Iran conflict: Israel strike 'not the most' escalatory path it could've taken, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIsrael-Iran conflict: Israel strike 'not the most' escalatory path it could've taken, analyst saysRob Casey, partner and senior analyst at Signum Global Advisors, says "the ball is back in Iran's court."

Persons: Rob Casey Organizations: Israel, Signum Global Advisors Locations: Iran, Israel, Iran's

☆ Toni Braxton says she was told to hide her lupus diagnosis because 'people get scared around sick celebrities'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewToni Braxton, 56, is speaking up about how her lupus diagnosis has impacted her life and career. "I was told to hide I had lupus," Braxton said, adding that it was her management's idea. AdvertisementBraxton, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2008, added that being upfront about her illness hurt her career. "You would not get work, because the second I told I had it, I didn't get work at first. In April 2023, Braxton told Today that lupus "attacked" her heart and that she had narrowly avoided a deadly heart attack because she decided not to skip her doctor's appointment.

Persons: —, Toni Braxton, Braxton —, Daniel Wallace —, Mary Alice Haney, Thaïs Aliabadi, Braxton, I'm, Braxton isn't, Selena Gomez, I've, could've, Gomez, Seal, lupus, traumatizing, Lupus Organizations: Service, OB, Business, Billboard, Yahoo, Lupus Foundation of America

☆ A brand aimed at moms is using a porn star to create uncensored videos showing how to use its products
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mother and baby company, Frida, has opted to use a porn actress in its product explainer videos. The company has previously had social media posts and TV adverts rejected due to nudity. AdvertisementA mother and baby company, Frida, has given up on working around censorship on social media and is turning to a porn actress to showcase its products instead. But the company struggled to find ways to share how to use Frida products without TV networks and social media censoring them. AdvertisementInstead of working around nudity rules on social media, it doubled down and hired porn actress, Asa Akira, to demonstrate the products on its new website, Frida Uncovered.

Persons: Frida, —, Chelsea Hirschhorn, we've, Hirschhorn, Asa Akira, Akira Organizations: Service, New York Times, Times, Google, ABC, Meta Locations: Instagram

☆ LVMH's report could've been a lot worse, says Javier Gonzalez Lastra
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLVMH's report could've been a lot worse, says Javier Gonzalez LastraJavier Gonzalez Lastra, Investment Partner and Portfolio Manager at Tema Luxury ETF, discusses earnings from LVMH.

Persons: could've, Javier Gonzalez Lastra Javier Gonzalez Lastra Organizations: Investment

☆ A former Facebook exec said he regrets not defending ousted Oculus cofounder Palmer Luckey from a 'witch hunt.' Drama ensued.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A key former Facebook exec has reignited discussion of Oculus founder Palmer Luckey's 2016 firing. Former Oculus CTO and ex-Meta VR exec John Carmack said on X that he regrets not defending Luckey. Carmack and Luckey joined Facebook after it acquired Oculus, the VR company founded by Luckey in 2012, for $2 billion in 2014. "The culture has changed a lot since you left (internal discussions have to be work focused)," Bosworth replied on X. Business Insider reached out to representatives of Bosworth, Carmack, and Luckey but didn't receive an immediate response.

Persons: Palmer, John Carmack, Andrew Bosworth, Luckey, —, Palmer Luckey —, Carmack, Hillary Clinton, @PalmerLuckey, OTXBBnkK0p — John Carmack, Donald Trump, Clinton, he's, Carmack —, Bosworth, Meta, Forbes, wasn't, I'm Organizations: Facebook, Meta, Service, VR, Wall Street, Business Locations: California

☆ I had to put LinkedIn workers on performance-improvement plans — then I got laid off myself
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

LinkedIn then laid off more than 1,400 workers in two rounds of job cuts last year. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with a former senior engineering manager at LinkedIn. During the pandemic, we sort of lowered the bar of performance expectations. If they are already starting to be a little cold or reserved, it's unlikely you're going to change their mind. 'Kill list' leaked on BlindLinkedIn laid off 716 sales, operations, and support workers in May 2023.

Persons: —, they're, could've, it's, texted Organizations: LinkedIn, Service, Business

☆ Russia 'knew where we were going to attack,' Zelenskyy says in reflection on why Ukraine's big counteroffensive stumbled
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Chris Panella | Paul Ronzheimer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Russia knew where Ukraine's big counteroffensive last year was going to attack, Zelenskyy said Tuesday. Ukraine has said its 2023 counteroffensive plans were leaked to Russia before the operation began. Along with Russia learning about Ukraine's plans ahead of time, Zelenskyy said some of the issues were Ukraine's fault. AdvertisementOne of Ukraine's sea drones, funded by the large-scale volunteer collection platform UNITED24. Ukraine's drones have also been upgraded over time, some carrying larger, more powerful warheads to do more damage.

Persons: Zelenskyy, —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelensky, Axel Springer, Ukraine's, Kyrylo Budanov, could've, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Ukraine couldn't, Ukraine Zelenskyy, That's, Vladimir Putin, It's Organizations: Service, CBC News, Anadolu Agency, Getty, NATO, Security Service, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Azov, Donetsk, Dnipro, Kyiv, Kerch, Crimea

☆ I'm a first-generation HBCU graduate. I'm now broke and lonelier than ever without my college friends for support.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Imani Herring | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Now that I'm a broke, jobless graduate, I feel lonelier than ever without my Spelman sisterhood by my side. AdvertisementI'm feeling much lonelier now that I'm a graduateIt's been almost a year since I left Spelman with my degree, honors, and accomplishments. I cheer my college friends on from behind my phone screen and wish I were there with them, sharing in their celebrations like before. I'm trying to find happiness in my post-grad lifeI don't want my peak to be college, so I've looked to other avenues for community. So, for now, I'll stick to crocheting little lemon pouches and granny squares, hoping I can see my college friends again soon.

Persons: I'd, Spelman, we'd, Isley, COVID, could've, It's, I'm, I've, wasn't Organizations: Service, Spelman College, Business, Spelman Locations: Atlanta

☆ Higher yielding CDs are coming due. Here’s where savers are redeploying their cash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Today's higher rates on CDs aren't going to last , however. For investors contending with maturing CDs, that means they're running out of places to stash their idle cash and still generate an attractive yield. "The issue is reinvestment risk," said Michael Carbone, certified financial planner and financial advisor at Eppolito Financial Strategies in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. That's because once the Fed begins cutting rates, fixed income with longer-dated maturities will allow investors to lock in those higher yields. An opportunity to diversify fixed income In addition to adding exposure to longer-dated bonds, advisors have also been diversifying across different classes of fixed income.

Persons: Wells Fargo, Banks, Jerome Powell, Michael Carbone, Catherine Valega, Valega, Carbone, Josh Nelson, he's Organizations: Green Bee, Keystone Financial Services, MBS Locations: Chelmsford , Massachusetts, Winchester , Massachusetts, Loveland , Colorado, BlackRock

☆ I make up to $2,700 in tips a week as a server. Dropping out of college was the best thing I could've done.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jenny Powers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Kyle Zajac, a 22-year-old server, earns thousands of tips weekly at an upscale steakhouse. Zajac dropped out of college to focus on a higher-paying server job and doesn't regret his choice. AdvertisementNow, I work as a server at an upscale steakhouse, and I bring home thousands in tips each week. During the year I worked there, I began applying for upscale server jobs. AdvertisementRecently, thanks to a convention, I took home $2,400 in tips in one week, and the week before I earned $1,800.

Persons: Kyle Zajac, Zajac, —, I've, I'd, I'm, they've Organizations: Service, US Department of Labor, Ford Locations: Indianapolis, Philippines, Europe

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