• For some New Yorkers, winning the NYC housing lottery is the only way they can afford to stay in the city.
• But competition is tough: There are about 3.5 million applications each year.
• Those who have won say it often took multiple applications and months of waiting before they heard back.

Louis Ciprian, 29, moved around New York City a lot when he was younger.

His father died when he was 11, and Ciprian and his mother fell on hard times. At 15, he entered the foster care system. For the next couple of years, he bounced from place to place and even graduated from high school while living in a homeless shelter.

After college, he started couch surfing, living with different roommates while looking for a more permanent place to call home.

In 2022, he started applying for the New York City affordable housing lottery, which is run by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

Two years later, in July, Ciprian finally received the call that he'd been waiting for: He won the lottery for a one-bedroom apartment in the Bronx, where rent is $1,481 a month.

He was thankful and relieved.

"To be able to get an opportunity like that where I'm paying rent that is affordable and not going to hit more than 30% of my income, it's an amazing feeling," Ciprian, a customer success manager at a real estate technology company, told Business Insider.

After years of grappling with homelessness, he now has a place of his own.

1 in 450 chance of winning

NYC is experiencing a severe housing affordability crisis.

From 2022 to 2023, rents in NYC increased seven times as fast as wages, a Zillow and StreetEasy analysis found. Even tech workers — who make an average of $135,000 annually — can only afford 35% of rentals in the city.

It's not surprising that many lower-earning New Yorkers are choosing to leave the city or even the country entirely in order to enjoy a lower cost of living.

For those still in NYC, the outlook is far from rosy. Over the past decade, the city grew by nearly 800,000 people, but only added 200,000 new homes, mayor Eric Adams said in a speech in December 2022.

Not only that, the city has also lost some 100,000 apartments — many in wealthy neighborhoods — because New Yorkers keep consolidating multi-family buildings and turning them into one- or two-family homes.

A 2023 city housing and vacancy survey found that only 1.4% of NYC apartments were available to rent last year, and over 40% of all renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

For many New Yorkers like Ciprian, winning the housing lottery is their only hope of securing an affordable apartment in an increasingly expensive city.

While the application is free, each household must meet specific income requirements to qualify for an apartment. But winning the affordable housing lottery is a feat in itself.

The HPD receives about 3.5 million applications a year, Natasha Kersey, an HPD representative, told BI.

On average, there are 450 applications received per rental unit.

With competition so stiff, it is not uncommon for people to apply for multiple apartments offered in the lottery.

Nkenge Clarke, 30, told BI previously that she had sent out over 130 applications before she finally succeeded in her bid.

"It took me maybe over a year before I started hearing back from different properties that I applied to," Clarke said. "Some of them I ended up not qualifying for, some of them I didn't provide enough documentation for."

Now, she pays about $1,000 in rent every month for a one-bedroom apartment in Chelsea, a neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan. The timing was impeccable; her previous landlord was looking to raise her rent had she renewed her lease.

"This place literally came just in time, like a few months before my second-year lease ended," Clarke said.

While the process took a lot of paperwork and patience, it was well worth the effort, she added. After all, living in an affordable apartment in the heart of the city was like a dream come true.

Stabilized rent in an ever-expensive market

Interested parties can apply for the affordable housing lottery online via the Housing Connect portal or by mail. Once the deadline passes, all applications are combined to create a pool from which the lottery is conducted, Aileen Reynolds, the assistant commissioner of housing opportunity at HPD, told BI.

A computer algorithm randomizes all the applications and assigns everyone a number, known as a lottery log number. That number, she added, dictates the order in which the developers have to contact the applicants.

While it helps applicants get a sense of where they stand, it's not a perfect science since there might be people who applied but do not qualify for the apartments.

It can take any time between weeks to months for an applicant to hear back, Reynolds said.

In Josh Ayala's case, it took him eight months to receive a call back after he had applied for his apartment.

"I was like, wait, what? I totally forgot I applied to this," Ayala, 26, told BI in August.

Thankfully, it all worked out for him; He signed the lease for the apartment within a month of the viewing. Now he pays $2,345 in monthly rent, which is stabilized.

"Around COVID-19 time, people were moving into apartments, and for one year, it was a great price. But the next year, the landlord would just increase their rent exorbitantly," Ayala said. "I didn't want that to happen to me, so I wanted something that was more secure, too."

Likewise, rent stabilization was the main reason Brynne McManimie and Peter Romano started applying for the housing lottery.

In 2021, they lived in a $2,600-a-month apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. They had gotten a good deal on their lease due to the pandemic, but it didn't last long.

"After a year, our landlord raised our rent by like 25% and it made us very nervous about staying in that apartment," McManimie told BI in June. Their new rent was going to be $3,300 a month, and they decided it was too expensive for them to afford.

But luck was on their side: Within a month of applying for the housing lottery, they were contacted about a one-bedroom unit in Brooklyn.

The couple ended up signing a two-year lease. Now, they pay $2,800 in monthly rent.

"Since it's rent-stabilized, they can't raise it like a ton," Romano told BI. "Which is honestly really attractive to us, given what happened with our last landlord."

The income and household eligibility criteria for the lottery apartments only apply at the initial stage.

"Folks only need to qualify based on house size and income at the time they move in," Reynolds said.

'Native New Yorkers deserve to stay here'

But the housing lottery isn't without its criticism.

For years, the city's "community preference" policy dictated that half of new affordable apartments must first be offered to those already living in the area.

However, in 2015, three women filed a lawsuit against the city, saying that the policy reinforced segregation.

After almost a decade, the city finally agreed to settle the lawsuit in January. Under the terms of the settlement, the city will reduce the percentage of affordable houses set aside for those already living in the same community to 20%, down from the original 50%, per court documents. In May 2029, it will drop to 15%.

"Although the preference has been reduced, the outcome allows us to preserve it and continue to do our work by advocating for New Yorkers that need more housing at deeply affordable levels," Kersey said.

Still, NYC residents do get priority in the affordable housing lottery — although applicants don't need to be US citizens, Reynolds said.

In the meantime, the housing lottery will still be one of the best ways for New Yorkers to stay in affordable apartments in the city.

"As much as I'm for the housing lottery, I think that it does suck that as a native, sometimes the only hope and dream of staying in the city affordably is this route," Ceronne Mitchell, who pays $1,600 a month for her one-bedroom lottery housing apartment in Queens, told BI previously.

"Native New Yorkers deserve to stay here, and I'm always proud when one can," she added.

• Ryan Reynolds is facing backlash for saying that Blake Lively had a working-class background.
• Lively's parents worked in the entertainment industry, and her four siblings are actors, too.
• Being relatable can help a celebrity's appeal, but an inauthentic approach can quickly backfire, a PR expert said.

Ryan Reynolds has come under fire for saying that he and his wife, Blake Lively, grew up with working-class backgrounds.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published last week, the "Deadpool" star spoke about his and Lively's decision to keep their four kids out of the spotlight "to give them as normal a life as possible."

"I try not to impose upon them the difference in their childhood to my childhood or my wife's childhood," Reynolds told The Hollywood Reporter.

"We both grew up very working class, and I remember when they were very young, I used to say or think, like, 'Oh God, I would never have had a gift like this when I was a kid,' or, 'I never would've had this luxury of getting takeout,' or whatever. Then I realized that that's not really their bag of rocks to carry," Reynolds continued.

His comment about Lively's upbringing has drawn the ire of some fans because her parents had entertainment careers.

Her father, Ernie Lively, was an actor and producer with a Hollywood career spanning almost five decades, per his IMDB page. His acting credits include the 1989 comedy film "Turner & Hooch" and the 1992 action thriller "Passenger 57."

He also played Lively's onscreen father in the 2005 film "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and its 2008 sequel.

Her mother, Elaine Lively, was a talent manager who also appeared in the 1993 video game "Return to Zork," per her IMDB page.

All four of Lively's siblings are actors, per People.

In a 2006 interview with Radio Free, Lively said that she had "grown up on sets." Moreover, her brother, Eric got her into showbiz when she was a teenager, she added.

"He [told] his agents, 'You have to start sending Blake out on auditions.' And I didn't want to make him mad because he's such a good brother, so I just went on auditions to appease him. And then after a few months of auditioning, I got 'Sisterhood,'" Lively said.

Some internet users posted their displeasure with Reynolds' remarks in the comments section of an Instagram post by New York Magazine's The Cut.

"More and more I'm learning that rich people say 'working class' when they mean 'had a salary,'" one commenter wrote.

"You keep using that word, 'working class.' I do not think it means what you think it means," another wrote.

Reynolds' upbringing in Vancouver was seemingly more modest than that of his wife.

His father, James Reynolds, worked as a police officer and then as a food broker, per People. His mother, Tammy Reynolds, was a retail store saleswoman, per Reynolds' IMDB page.

Why do celebrities try to claim working-class affiliations?

Reynolds and Lively are still dealing with backlash from "It Ends with Us," which could explain why they're trying to lean into relatability as a strategy, Megan Balyk, a vice president at public relations firm Jive PR + Digital, told Business Insider.

"In today's world where authenticity is key, a working-class background can make a celebrity seem more genuine. Plus, it can help deflect criticism about privilege or nepotism," Balyk said.

But an inauthentic approach can backfire.

Social media has made it easy for fans to fact-check claims, and they're quick to call out any inconsistencies, she said.

"If a celebrity's claims seem false or exaggerated, it can lead to backlash, as we saw not too long ago with Victoria Beckham when she said she grew up 'working class' in the Beckham documentary, despite her father owning a Rolls-Royce," Balyk said.

There's also a risk of trivializing the struggles of people from disadvantaged backgrounds, she said.

Balyk said the backlash in Reynolds' case could be because people are becoming more aware of nepotism in Hollywood.

"There's a growing fatigue with celebrities who seem to downplay their privileges," she said.

"A better strategy would be to openly acknowledge their current position while showing genuine appreciation for any advantages they've had. It's better to be honest about your background than to overstate past hardships," she added.

A representative for Reynolds did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.

• Floating fish farms used to be a common sight along Singapore's coast.
• But now, their numbers are dwindling: As of October, there were 74 sea-based fish farms left, down from 98 in 2023.
• Local farmers say they face high operational costs and cheaper imports from regional competitors.

Once a week, Alvin Yeo hops onto a small, white skiff at Lim Chu Kang jetty and heads out to a farm on the water owned by his dad.

It's a breezy five-minute journey that takes him past dozens of similar floating farms along the Straits of Johor, which separates Singapore from the neighboring country of Malaysia.

Formed by interlocking planks held together with thick nails and buoyed by floating barrels, these platforms are living relics of the country's fishing village past.

The sun is harsh on most days, but the water is surprisingly calm, save for the waves created by the passing coastal guard boats patrolling the area. Towering apartment buildings loom in the background, a stark contrast to the weatherworn wooden platforms bobbing in the water.

Yeo's father — a former civil engineer — has been in the farming industry for almost 30 years, having started a fish farm in the '90s with his brother out of passion.

"My father is a hobbyist. He likes to rear fish," Yeo, 35, told Business Insider. "But he's not exactly a businessman, so the farm wasn't really making any money."

For small businesses like theirs, it's a constant struggle to stay afloat. Amid rising costs, environmental challenges, and a growing reluctance among younger generations to take on the demanding job, traditional farming in Singapore almost feels like a sunset industry.

Yeo is a rare exception.

Dwindling fish farm numbers

Around 2020, Yeo — a freelance musician — decided to join the trade. Together with his father, the duo separated from the original business to start Heng Heng Fish Farm.

Like most traditional farms, the fish are reared in open-net cages lowered directly into the sea.

While his father oversees the farm's day-to-day operations, Yeo mainly handles the business side of things.

Yeo is also trying to adopt more modern and sustainable techniques to their traditional farm, such as using solar panels for energy and introducing pelleted feed, which pollutes the water less than typical fish feed made from expired confectionary and other food by-products.

"I just felt that I needed to do it because I have feelings for the sea I grew up in. So I didn't want to see it just deteriorate as years go by," he said.

Much like street peddlers and traditional villages, the floating fish farms are a part of Singapore's cultural and economic identity that is rapidly disappearing as the city-state evolves past its fishing village origins.

The country's "kelongs" — offshore wooden platforms used to trap fish — used to be a common sight along the coast. The government stopped issuing new licenses in 1965.

Now, there are only four "kelongs" left in Singapore.

"With the dwindling catch from the wild and increasing cost of raw materials for maintenance of the 'kelong,' 'kelong' owners also saw the need to move toward fish farming as a viable commercial operation," the Singapore Food Agency, or SFA, told BI in a statement, adding that some of them have transitioned to coastal fish farms over the years.

Many locals still refer to these floating fish farms as "kelongs," even though they're not quite the same thing, Yeo said.

Fish farms are dwindling in numbers too, even as the resource-scarce country inches toward the deadline for its "30 by 30" goal — an initiative set by the Singapore government to be able to produce 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030.

Tough to beat prices from regional competitors

According to SFA data, there were 74 sea-based fish farms left in Singapore as of October, down from 98 at the end of 2023. This means about a quarter of these farms have shuttered in the past year.

Some farmers told the local paper The Straits Times that they had between June 2023 and June 2024 to take up a grant of 100,000 Singapore dollars, or $74,500, from the SFA to help them wind down operations. Those who had accepted the grant cited high costs, environmental conditions, and retirement as reasons for exiting the industry. The SFA did not share with BI the number of farmers who accepted the grant.

"To be competitive in the market, you have to be cheaper than imports. But it's hard to fight the cost of imports, especially from places like China, Indonesia, and Malaysia," Yeo said.

The cost of running a business in Singapore tends to be higher compared to neighboring countries, Kevin Cheong, an adjunct lecturer at the Singapore Management University who recently co-authored a study on sustainable fish farming in Singapore, told BI.

"Electricity costs, land costs, labor costs, all these things stack up against the consumer," Cheong said. "Primary production in Singapore, essentially agriculture, would be very challenging."

In Yeo's farm, the tilapia he grows can be harvested in six months. At the current scale of his production, he can harvest 12 batches of around 7,000 fish each in a year.

Since the floating farms are made from wood, their structure requires regular upkeep — and a metric ton of Chengal wood can cost up to SG$4,000, Yeo said.

"We don't really earn much. At the end of the day, it's just enough to keep the farm running," Yeo said.

A challenging environment

Beyond cost constraints, farmers are bogged down by the effects of the climate crisis.

Rising temperatures can lead to a higher incidence of disease outbreaks and algae blooms, Toh Tai Chong, a senior lecturer at the Reef Ecology Lab at the National University of Singapore, told BI.

Algae blooms are deadly for fish because they deplete the oxygen in the water and cause widespread fish death, he added.

"Open-pen sea-based farms are particularly susceptible because the fishes are reared in the natural environment, which is almost impossible to regulate," he said.

Farmers, in turn, have to grapple with worsening conditions.

"In my dad's era, fish didn't really have to be taken care of," Yeo said, gesturing at the bags of fish pellets behind him. "You could simply feed them till they got big, then sell them. But now, you have to feed and raise them."

Dean Jerry, an aquaculture professor who teaches at James Cook University's Singapore and Australian campuses, told BI that to cope with the changing environment, sea-based fish farmers have to rear more hardy species or invest in aquaculture technologies.

Many of these solutions are focused on closed-cage containment so farmers have more control over the environment, he said.

The challenge is compounded by the fact that most sea-based farms don't have mains power, he said. This means farmers will end up incurring extra costs installing diesel generators or solar panels to run these systems, he added.

"It's very, very costly to implement any sort of technological solutions because a lot of technological solutions will require power," he said.

The challenging nature of the job seems to have discouraged younger locals from stepping up to continue the trade.

Yeo, who only knows of one other farmer around his age, has two employees — a husband and wife duo from Myanmar who work and sleep on the floating farm.

"Local help is just impossible to get," he said.

Efforts to stay afloat

To help farmers sustain their businesses, the local government has stepped in with plans to overhaul the aquaculture sector.

In November, the government announced its Singapore Aquaculture Plan. Some new initiatives include increasing the supply of locally produced, genetically superior eggs and facilitating the exports of local fish to China.

"Our fish farms, as part of local production, cushion us from overseas supply disruptions and complement our efforts to diversify import sources of seafood," said Damian Chan, the CEO of SFA, per a media release.

The SFA told BI in a statement that farmers who are keen to increase their farms' productivity can rely on the SFA for advice and funding support for technology adoption.

On the other hand, the Singapore government will support those who choose to exit the industry by providing job-matching and training initiatives, it said.

Despite uncertainties about the aquaculture industry, some young farmers are finding alternate ways to stay afloat. Wong Jing Kai, who left his marketing job a decade ago to run Ah Hua Kelong, is one of them.

"Farming is considered a sunset industry," said Wong, 35. "Nobody wants to do it. So I'm like, if people don't do, I'll do it then."

But instead of being a wholesaler and pitting himself against more competitive imports, Wong opened Scaled — a seafood restaurant — and a fish soup hawker stall, to move his fish stock.

He can support his farm by supplying his own fish to his eateries, he said. "My plan is to have five fish soup stores and three to four restaurants on land. Then, I think we're more or less covered," he said.

Others, like Yeo, believe that the industry will survive as long as local consumers become more receptive to eating local fish.

"Of course, I hope to grow the business and be in this industry for a long time," he said. He hopes to have a high-tech fish farm one day — ideally on land, where conditions are less unpredictable.

"I take each day as it comes," he added.

• Last week, Jim Carrey said he came out of retirement to star in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" because of money.
• A day later, he clarified to Comicbook.com that he wasn't really retired, just "power-resting" between projects.
• More older Americans are unretiring — either out of financial necessity or to stay active.

Jim Carrey, 62, walked back on his comments about coming out of retirement because he was strapped for cash.

At the London premiere of "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" on December 10, Carrey told the Associated Press that he signed on for the new film because "I bought a lot of stuff, and I need the money, frankly."

In an interview with ComicBook.com published a day later, on December 11, the actor clarified that "it's not really about the money. I joke about the money."

While he acknowledged that he previously spoke about retiring, he added, "You can't be definite about these things."

"I said I'd like to retire, but I think I was talking more about power-resting. Because as soon as a good idea comes your way, or a group of people that you really enjoyed working with and stuff, it just — things tend to change," he said.

Carrey added that with the "right idea," he's even open to reprising his role in sequels to "The Mask" or "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

While doing a press tour for "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" in April 2022, Carrey told Access Hollywood that he was "fairly serious" about "retiring."

"If the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I'm taking a break," Carrey said.

"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is Carrey's first film since then.

Carrey isn't the only Hollywood celebrity who has spoken about retirement.

Last week, David Letterman, 77, told GQ he wasn't ready to retire because "retirement is a myth."

"Retirement is nonsense. You won't retire. The human mechanism will not allow you to retire," Letterman said.

In response to the interviewer's point that people do retire, the former late-night host said, "But what do they do? Sit there and wait for — give me the name of a show — 'Judge Judy' to come on?"

The average retirement age in the US is 63. But the sudden transition from a 9-to-5 job to having endless leisure time can leave retirees feeling restless.

Edelman Financial Engines's 2024 Everyday Wealth in America survey found that 37% of the 3,008 respondents aged 30 and above say they want their post-working life to be different from previous generations, with many saying they are seeking a more active and adventurous lifestyle.

As such, some older Americans end up unretiring after some time, either to stay active or due to financial necessity.

A representative for Carrey did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.

• Rick Steves, 69, says he has some regrets about his career choice because of how it impacted his personal life.
• "It has not been great for relationships with loved ones," Steves told The New York Times.
• In August, the travel writer revealed on social media that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Travel writer Rick Steves, who was diagnosed with cancer in August, says he has some "regrets" over his choice of career.

"It has not been good for my family. I got divorced. It has not been great for relationships with loved ones," Steves, 69, told The New York Times in an interview published on Saturday.

Looking back on all his time on the road, Steves says he would have enjoyed leading a quiet life like before.

"You know, I would love to be the person I was before I was a travel writer. I would have had a very, very beautiful life being a piano teacher and coming home every night for dinner and mowing the lawn and joining clubs and being regular and reliable," he said. "But I've chosen a different path. It's a mission for me."

While he is sad about how some things in his personal life have turned out, his priorities "are the way they are."

"It's almost a calling from a pastoral sense or something. This is why God put me here. It gives me energy. It's like breathing straight oxygen. And I wouldn't wish it on anybody, but it fits me," he added.

In August, Steves shared on social media that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and would be undergoing prostate surgery.

In light of his diagnosis, Steves also shared that he has thought about what his life would be like when the day he can no longer travel — either because of age or sickness — comes.

"I would welcome the day, strangely, when I could not travel anymore, because it would open a gate of things that I've not done because of my love for travel," Steves said. "I've got a great piano sitting here. I don't play it enough. I've got a cabin in the mountains. I've got an amazing girlfriend. I've got a wonderful son and daughter and a grandson."

Even if he couldn't do his work anymore, he says he doesn't think he'll "miss a beat."

"This world is such a beautiful place to experience, and there are dimensions of experiencing this world that I have yet to try," he added.

A representative for Steves told Business Insider that the writer has no further comments.

Steves isn't alone in his struggles to balance professional commitments and personal life.

Well-being experts Clare Davenport and Elizabeth Koehler shared in an essay that "juggling work, family, and distractions is like a circus act with no intermission."

But instead of dividing work time and personal time "into neat, equal slices," it may be more beneficial to think of it as finding the right "work-life rhythm," psychologist Veronica West told Business Insider previously. This work-life rhythm mindset is not based on counting hours but a "feeling that both work and life energize rather than drain you," she said.

Work psychologists Tina Armasu and Eleni Giannakoudi told BI previously that to avoid burnout at work, it's important to minimize talking about work outside the office and dedicate some free time to doing things for fun instead of only completing what you feel obligated to.

"Once you become very aware of the different areas of your life and their priority, then it's easier to use this as a compass, basically, to plan your week, plan your days, and make decisions," Giannakoudi said.

• Deborah and Jason Brawn bought an abandoned house in rural Japan for about $23,000 in 2023.
• The Australian couple plan to restore the property in the coming years as they transition into retirement.
• They say that integrating into the local community is a crucial part of being a homeowner in Japan.

Deborah and Jason Brawn's shared dream was to buy a house in Japan.

The couple — from Brisbane, Australia — had long been interested in Japanese culture and its way of life, having visited the country multiple times over the years.

In 2023, they finally decided to take the plunge. With their four kids all grown up, they were soon-to-be empty nesters — it was now or never to follow their dreams.

"We knew that Japan had an issue with akiya, and because we really love the Japanese lifestyle, the people, the culture, and the old traditional houses, we thought, why not?" Jason, 51, told Business Insider. "Everyone else seemed to be following their dreams. Why can't we?"

A lifelong connection to Japan

The couple's love affair with Japan started with Deborah, who studied Japanese at university in the '90s. After graduation, she moved to Tokyo for five years, where she worked as an English teacher. For three decades, she also practiced karate.

Her love for Japan eventually rubbed off on Jason.

However, it was during the pandemic that the couple first learned about akiya, or abandoned houses, in Japan.

Due to the shrinking population and internal migration toward cities, there are millions of unoccupied houses in rural Japanese towns.

In recent years, the Japanese government started offering incentives — such as renovation subsidies and even free properties — in an effort to lure residents to these "ghost towns."

"I'd actually looked at foreclosed properties years and years ago, wanting to buy a property in Japan before the word 'akiya' had become popular. But I was in a position where I had young children," Deborah, 52, told BI.

Now that their youngest is 18, it made sense for the couple to start planning for the next stage of their lives, including retirement. That's where buying an akiya comes in.

"We wanted a project. Like the word 'ikigai,' we wanted to be able to get up and say, that's our passion now. We've raised kids, we want to go there as much as we can and just tinker," Deborah, a business analyst, said.

However, since Japan's borders were still closed at the time, the couple did most of their initial research online. They joined Facebook groups and spoke to like-minded people to learn more about the process.

They knew they wanted to be outside the city and close to nature. While browsing online listings, they put together a list of potential houses they wanted to see in person once travel resumed.

"We were sort of matching them against what we are looking for — something old, very traditional," Jason, a construction workplace health and safety inspector, said.

In November 2022, after the borders opened, they jumped on a plane to Japan for a quick visit.

In April 2023, they returned to the country for a six-week trip, where they drove around and looked at all the houses on their list.

It was in Mitocho, a small town near Masuda city, where they found the perfect akiya — a traditional Japanese house constructed in 1868, during the Meiji era. Masuda city is about a two-hour drive from Hiroshima, and a 90-minute flight from Tokyo.

"We drove over there, and when we saw it, we just knew that was the one, and we didn't look anymore after that," Deborah said.

The property had been vacant for 12 years before they came along. The couple was told it had served as a sake brewery until the early 1900s.

In order to inspect the property, they had to fill out a couple of forms for the local akiya bank. An akiya bank is a database maintained by the local municipalities for abandoned or vacant houses.

"They were very serious," Deborah said. "It was all in Japanese. We had to fill out a form with all our details, our families, what we do for a job, all that stuff. And then another form about our intentions and what we want to do with the house."

A retirement project

The couple paid 3.5 million Japanese yen, or $23,000, for the akiya in August 2023.

It was a 7LDK, which in Japanese housing terminology means that the house has seven bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, and a kitchen.

There are about 300 houses in their village, and their akiya is situated along a street leading to the community center. There's also a 7-11 across the rice field from their akiya.

So far, the couple has fixed up the front of the house by tidying up the garden, as well as adding a new gravel driveway and car park. They've also restored the kitchen, and gotten rid of the old toilet in favor of a modern bathroom.

"The intent is to bring the house back to its former glory with one or two modern touches," Jason said.

While they were prepared for the challenges of fixing up the old house, they were surprised by the amount of wildlife they encountered, including both spiders and snakes.

"And we've got monkeys, we've got centipedes, we've got bears, and killer hornets too. I was chased by one inside the house, so that was really scary — even though it makes a funny story now," Deborah said.

The language barrier was also a bit of a challenge for Jason, even though he's taking Japanese classes now.

"I can't really speak Japanese, whereas Deb can. So it puts a lot of pressure on her too," Jason said. "It's not like being in Tokyo or Kyoto where a lot of Japanese speak English."

The couple expects to spend the next few years chipping away at this project. They have also started documenting their restoration progress on their YouTube channel.

"We've got no urgent timeframe, and we're not trying to make money out of the property. We don't want to Airbnb it or anything like that. This is for us," Deborah said.

The couple still lives primarily in Brisbane, where their jobs are based. They plan to continue splitting their time between Japan and Australia until they fully retire in "hopefully five to eight years," Deborah said.

Integrating into the local community

When they're back in Australia, the akiya sits empty, but Jason said they've installed cameras around the property so they can monitor the yard.

The couple has also become friends with the real-estate agent who handled their akiya transaction — so much so that he even drives by their property once a week just to check on it on their behalf.

Building relationships with their neighbors and the wider community has been the key to the success of their akiya project.

"We've got a good support network there, but that doesn't just come along. You've got to work at that," Deborah said.

She added that they've been involved in the local community since day one, and even joined the neighborhood association.

In fact, the couple says that participating in the local community is one of the most important aspects of buying an akiya in Japan.

It's also why the local akiya bank was so invested in knowing why the couple wanted to buy the property, Jason said.

In recent years, foreigners have been snapping up these old, abandoned homes, in part due to the low price tags and the lack of restrictions on foreigners purchasing property in Japan. For many of them, it's more affordable to own an akiya in Japan than to own real estate in their home countries.

"In most cases potential buyers are asked their intentions before attending a viewing or submitting an application," Alex Shapiro, the cofounder of Blackship Realty, a Tokyo-based real-estate agency, told BI.

The local municipal governments may prioritize potential buyers who intend to live there, contribute to the local community, and pay local government taxes, he said.

However, each local government sets its own rules, Sami Senoussi, the cofounder of Akiya Heaven, which offers consulting services for akiya purchases, told BI.

"Some rural communities, especially those with aging populations, impose stricter guidelines in an effort to preserve the character and culture of their towns," he said. In more urban areas, including Tokyo, it's less common, he added.

Additionally, potential buyers may also be asked to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to fund the renovations, especially if the akiya in question requires significant repairs, he said.

Indeed, while buying an akiya may be relatively affordable, the cost of fixing the house up can balloon quickly, Jason said.

"There's a lot of time, effort, and money that needs to go into them. And commitment — you can't just turn up in the community and play no part. You've got to put an equal amount of time into the house as much as you've got to put it into the community, and forge those relationships," he added.

Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at [email protected].

• Multimillionaire "Shark Tank" star Barbara Corcoran says she prefers flying economy to first class.
• She said she would rather accumulate her free miles and give them to her family for free vacations.
• Airfares are lower now compared to the past, but many Americans still feel they're not getting good deals.

"Shark Tank" star Barbara Cocoran may be a multimillionaire, but she still prefers to fly in economy.

On Tuesday's episode of "The Jamie Kern Lima Show" podcast, the entrepreneur spoke about her flying preferences and why she doesn't think the more expensive cabins are worth it.

"Do you know what a first-class ticket costs?" Cocoran told podcast host Jamie Kern Lima. "Listen, the way I figure it is, a coach ticket is about 25% of a first-class ticket. I get the free miles and I can give them away. I have everybody in my family flying on my free miles."

To her, that's a better way for her to spend her airline miles because it means her family can enjoy free trips.

"What's more important — that everybody gets free vacations, or that I'm comfortable in first class?" she said. "I guess I could afford to do both, but I won't because I'll be in coach feeling really smug because I know I have three plane tickets that could take somebody somewhere. It accumulates, you know?"

And it's not just Cocoran who feels that way.

Even though airfares are more affordable now compared to three decades ago — when adjusted for inflation — many Americans still don't feel like they're getting a good deal.

"Airfare is the single most confusing and volatile purchase we regularly make," Scott Keyes, an airline industry expert told Business Insider previously. "Combine that with negativity bias and it's no surprise that even as airfare hits historic lows, people are more likely to think it's at historic highs."

BI's Monica Humphries reviewed the business class cabin aboard an Air New Zealand flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, in summer of 2022. The ticket cost $6,000, and even though it was the best flight of her life, she said she wouldn't do it again.

"For the same price as a round-trip flight, in theory, I could've paid for another three weeks in New Zealand, covered months of rent, or put a down payment on a new car," she wrote in her review. The cost of a one-way ticket for the same flight for summer next year is still around $6,000, according to Air New Zealand's website.

In order to save money on airfare, travel hacks like "skiplagging" — which involves booking a flight with a layover in the intended destination and then bailing on the second leg of the journey — have gained immense popularity in the past year. However, many airlines have taken a stance against the practice.

In an essay for BI, travel writer Jonathan DeLise wrote that his favorite way of saving money on airfare involves taking "positioning" flights instead of direct ones. First, he flies to an intermediary airport with better ticket deals, and then he starts his journey to his destination. While this method allows him to save on flights, it doesn't save him time.

A representative for Cocoran did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.

• Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, 99, says eating in moderation is the key to longevity.
• "Age does not follow time. Age follows bodily health — the way you can function," he told Nikkei Asia.
• The number of people aged 80 or older is expected to reach 426 million worldwide, per WHO estimates.

Malaysia's former prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, will be 100 next year. His secret to longevity? Moderation.

"I don't eat too much. Obesity isn't good for survival," Mahathir told Nikkei Asia during an interview published in November.

"Age does not follow time. Age follows bodily health — the way you can function. Because of that, old age is not because of time; it's not because you are 60 that you are old. You may be 90, but if people at 90 are still strong, still able to work and function, then 90 would not be old age," he said.

Mahathir added that what people think of as old age has changed over time.

"At this moment, 60 or 65 is considered old, but we must remember that in the past, 30 was already old. During the time of Julius Caesar, leaders were only in their 30s because they died very early," he said.

Mahathir first served as Malaysia's prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

He reentered national politics in 2018 in a bid to unseat former prime minister Najib Razak, who had been accused of embezzling millions in state funds in the 1MDB scandal.

That same year, at age 92, Mahathir was elected as the country's prime minister once more — although he resigned a little under two years later.

Looking back on his political career, Mahathir shared that he regretted resigning from his post in 2003, "when I was not even 80 years old."

"When I was in my 70s, approaching 80, I told myself that 80 was very old. I thought I wouldn't be able to function well anymore. However, after I retired, I found that I was still able to work, still able to function," Mahathir said.

Experience comes with age, and society should try to retain older workers so as to not lose the wealth of knowledge that this demographic can provide, he said.

"If you retain older people in the workforce and allow them to continue working instead of retiring too early, you can benefit from their experience," Mahathir said.

During his second tenure as Malaysia's prime minister, Mahathir was considered one of the oldest elected world leaders. The oldest current national leader is President Paul Biya of Cameroon, who is 91 years old. In comparison, Joe Biden, at 82, is the oldest American president.

The number of people aged 80 or older is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050 to reach 426 million worldwide, per WHO estimates.

A representative for Mahathir did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.

• Jenina, 36, and Adam, 38, spent about $60,000 building a tiny house in the Philippines countryside.
• They were inspired by the design of shepherd's huts in the UK, where Adam is from.
• Now, they're renting it out on Airbnb, and rates start at $150 a night.

Jenina, 36, and her husband, Adam, 38, have always wanted to own a tiny house in the woods.

The couple, who met as students at a party while studying in the UK, dreamed of having a cozy place they could escape to and reconnect with nature.

The two of them — who asked to be identified by only their first names for privacy reasons — were living in Bulacan, a province in the Philippines, at the time. Bulacan is about an hour's drive from the capital city of Manila.

Every weekend, they would visit the 22-hectare farm owned by Jenina's parents.

The couple always thought it'd be a good idea to have a small retreat there, somewhere they could bask in nature. The family farm is in Doña Remedios Trinidad, also known as DRT, in the Bulacan countryside. In July 2023, they turned their tiny-house dream into a reality.

"Initially, we envisioned this property as our personal holiday retreat— a sanctuary for relaxation," Jenina, who co-owns a digital-marketing agency, told Business Insider. "Being fans of tiny homes, we loved the idea of creating something minimalist yet functional."

Designed like a shepherd's hut

The couple was inspired by the design of shepherds' huts in the UK, where Adam is from, and decided to model their tiny home after it.

"We've always been fans of shepherd's huts for their practicality and charm. Their unique compact design inspired us, especially since they aren't widely known in the Philippines but are quite iconic in the UK," Jenina said.

She said they thought the distinctive style of the shepherd's hut would stand out aesthetically against the surrounding greenery.

The land was previously used as a pineapple plantation and to grow other fruit and vegetable crops. The couple made sure to build on a spot that was already cleared so that no trees had to be cut, Jenina said.

The whole construction process took about eight months, and the couple worked with a structural engineer and an architect to complete the project.

They said the hilly terrain of the plot made things especially challenging.

"We had to dig out four septic tanks and lay a solid foundation, bringing in a structural engineer to ensure the build was both secure and sustainable," Jenina said.

She said it was also difficult to transport building materials to the remote site, as it was miles from the nearest main road.

It didn't help that there was no electricity back then either, she added.

Sourcing materials was another major hurdle since finding unique items such as cast-iron wheels and frames required custom orders, which the couple collaborated on with a local architect.

"Managing the entire project ourselves tested our patience and problem-solving skills, but seeing the final result made all the challenges worthwhile," she said.

Turning it into a vacation rental

The two of them aren't the only ones who have hopped onto the tiny-house movement.

As housing keeps getting more expensive for people all around the world, tiny houses represent a cheaper alternative to real estate.

Six people who live in tiny houses previously told BI it was a way for them to improve their finances. Not only did they reduce their housing expenses, but living in a tiny house also forced them to reevaluate their daily spending habits.

"We evaluate what we buy a lot more carefully, which in turn ends up saving money from those 'I need to have this' moments. This allows us to invest back into our lives," Tim, a tiny-house blogger in Florida, told BI previously.

Jenina said they spent about 3.5 million Philippines pesos, or $60,000, to build the tiny house, including the cost of the landscaping around the structure.

The tiny house measures about 194 square feet and has a double bed, a sofa bed, a mini kitchen, and a full bathroom.

The internal and external walls are made of fiber cement, which helps keep the interior cool and comfortable even in tropical weather, Jenina said.

The curved roof is also crafted with durable Polyvinyl Chloride material that can last up to 50 years, she said — much longer than traditional roofing options.

Though the hut was meant to be their little getaway, the couple relocated to Cambodia in July this year after Adam accepted a job offer. He's a brand director for a luxury-goods company.

With the move, the couple also decided to turn their shepherd's hut into a guesthouse so that others could enjoy the space.

The tiny house — which can accommodate up to four adults — is available for rent on Airbnb or through their Facebook, with rates starting from 8,500 Philippine pesos on weekdays and 10,000 Philippine pesos on weekends and holidays.

The tiny hut is surrounded by plenty of natural sights that guests can enjoy, such as the Biak-Na-Bato National Park and the Verdivia Falls, a waterfall with clear pools popular for swimming and relaxing, Jenina said.

Their family members use the hut often, and the couple will always pop by for a quick stay whenever they're back in the Philippines to visit the family.

While living in the tiny hut permanently isn't in their immediate plans, they're definitely open to the idea in the future.

"Our favorite part of the hut is the stairs at the front," Jenina said. "From there, you can take in the breathtaking view of the mountains. It's the perfect spot to relax and connect with nature."

Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at [email protected].

• Billie Eilish says she developed body image issues after a preteen obsession with Brandy Melville.
• Brandy Melville is a fast-fashion clothing retailer known for its "one size fits most" sizing policy.
• A 2021 Business Insider investigation exposed allegations of discrimination and sexual exploitation at the retailer.

Billie Eilish says she developed body image issues as a tween because of her obsession with the one-size clothing brand Brandy Melville.

In an interview with Complex published on Thursday, the singer opened up about how the fast-fashion brand heavily impacted the way she viewed her body.

The "What Was I Made For?" singer said that all she wore as a child were fairy dresses and skirts, even though she's now known for her baggy streetwear style.

"I never wore pants or shorts when I was a little kid," Eilish told Complex. "But when I got to be about 11, I got obsessed with this brand called Brandy Melville. And they only sold clothes in one size. I was chubbier and I was obsessed with these clothes, but I'd buy a shirt and it wouldn't fit me. That's when my body problems started. I was around the age of 10 or 11."

She shared that she went through puberty early and that she "wasn't slim." Not only that, being in ballet further exacerbated her body image issues, she said.

"I was wearing all these baggy clothes, and it was my style, but at the same time, it was how I could feel comfortable in my body and not feel tied to how my body looks. I didn't want my body to be part of my outfit. I wanted my outfit to be my outfit, and my body happens to be inside it," Eilish said.

Brandy Melville is a popular clothing brand known for selling basics like crop tops and mini skirts, and its "one size fits most" sizing policy.

In 2021, the brand came under fire for claims regarding a toxic and exploitative workplace culture. Several Brandy Melville employees told Business Insider's Kate Taylor that the company's top execs frequently discriminated against non-white employees, crossed professional boundaries with its young retail employees, and made sexist and antisemitic jokes. Brandy Melville did not offer any comment to BI in 2021 in response to the allegations.

In December 2022, the owners of Brandy Melville agreed to pay $1.45 million to settle claims from former workers that the retailer had violated California labor laws by forcing them to work "off the clock" and without breaks. However, they denied all wrongdoing in the court documents.

In July, Brandy Melville opened a sister store — named St. George — in Santa Monica, California, where some items are now available in a "medium" size, The Cut reported.

Representatives for Eilish and Brandy Melville did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

• McDonald's Snack Wraps are set to return to US menus in 2025.
• The cult-favorite menu item was launched in 2006 and discontinued in 2020.
• This announcement comes in the wake of the deadly E. coli outbreak in October linked to Quarter Pounders.

Fans of McDonald's Snack Wrap, rejoice — the fast-food giant is finally bringing the popular menu item back.

On Thursday, Joe Erlinger, the president of McDonald's US, confirmed on "Good Morning America" that the Snack Wrap will return next year.

"It has a cult following. I get so many emails in my inbox about this product," Erlinger said.

McDonald's Snack Wraps — chicken, lettuce, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla — were launched in 2006. In 2008, the company even enlisted supermodel Heidi Klum to star in a promotional campaign for the item.

The fan-favorite food was removed from national menus in 2016. Although franchisees could still choose to serve the Snack Wraps, they often complained that the wraps took too long to make, Bloomberg reported in 2015.

The Snack Wrap was officially discontinued in the US in 2020 as part of a menu simplification.

However, different variations of the Snack Wrap are still available on some international menus.

The Snack Wrap's return to US menus comes after years of online petitioning by fans — including one on Change.org that's been signed by over 18,000 people.

However, the exact launch date of the Snack Wrap remains unclear; Erlinger declined to share specifics while on the show.

"I'm not going to tell you exactly when in 2025 for competitive reasons," he said.

The announcement also comes in the wake of a deadly E. coli outbreak in October linked to slivered onions served on McDonald's Quarter Pounders.

About a week after reports of the outbreak emerged, the company said that its daily sales had dipped.

"We saw that shift to kind of having daily negative sales and guest count results since the beginning of the food safety incident," CFO Ian Borden said during the company's third-quarter earnings call on October 29.

In November, CNN reported that the fast-food giant was investing $100,000,000 to lure customers back to its restaurants. Thirty-five million of the investment will go toward marketing, while $65,000,000 will be spent on the franchisees that were worst affected by the outbreak.

A representative for McDonald's did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

• Hoda Kotb, 60, says she was body-shamed by a former boss when she was younger.
• "He goes, 'Hey, I got an idea. Maybe you might want to try to get on the treadmill,'" Kotb said, recalling his words.
• In the US, there are no federal laws that prohibit weight discrimination.

Hoda Kotb, 60, says she was body-shamed by her former boss.

During Monday's episode of "Today with Hoda and Jenna," Kotb recalled how her former boss had made comments about her weight when she was younger.

"I still remember I had just started working in a small market. And I played basketball in high school, so I always assumed I was in shape even though, literally, after college and stuff, I wasn't," Kotb told her cohost, Jenna Bush Hager.

"I still remember my boss going to me, 'Hey, Hoda,' and I was like, 'Yeah?' He goes, 'Hey, I got an idea. Maybe you might want to try to get on the treadmill,'" Kotb said, recalling his words.

Kotb says she was shocked by his comment because she didn't see herself that way.

"You know when you have a perception of yourself that is not the perception of the world?" Kotb said. "Yeah, so I was like, 'What are you talking about?'"

She went on to explain that "if you don't fit," people will "want you to wear something a certain way, cut your hair a certain way, speak a certain way."

But when people pretend to be someone they're not, they'll start losing who they really are, Kotb said, adding that there are times when people do have to "do things to fit into a work environment."

Kotb's comment came about during a discussion on the show about Timothée Chalamet and how he recently shared that he was told to change his body type early in his career to land bigger roles.

A 2023 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that almost 72% of US workers who have experienced unfair treatment at work due to their weight say it made them feel like quitting their jobs. Additionally, 11% of HR professionals surveyed say obese employees at their organization are not always treated as fairly as average-weight employees.

There are no federal laws that prohibit weight discrimination, although some cities in the US — such as San Francisco and Washington DC — have passed local laws banning weight discrimination. In 2023, New York City passed a law making weight discrimination illegal.

Michigan was the first state to pass a law that prevents weight discrimination.

Emily Capelli, a psychotherapist, previously told Business Insider that it can be helpful to speak up against weight stigma.

"You can say, just simply, 'That feels fatphobic,' or 'That hurts my feelings'," Capelli suggests. "This falls under setting boundaries with people, and I think it's helpful to say that setting boundaries is a skill. Like riding a bike, you can work on this skill."

There are also ways to change the subject or shut down the conversation if the topic comes up, she said: "It's perfectly OK to walk away."

A representative for Kotb did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

• Matt Guy moved to Japan in 2023 and bought a traditional house in a ski town for $6,000.
• He lives in the two-story house — that was built in the '60s — with his Japanese partner.
• He hopes that people will not buy property in Japan solely because it's cheap or trendy.

Matt Guy visited Japan for the first time during a six-week trip in 2010. Half of the visit was spent snowboarding, while the other half was spent exploring the country.

At that time, Guy — who was born in Australia — had already traveled to 30 different countries and lived in several places before, but Japan piqued his curiosity.

"I left the country feeling kind of different," Guy, 40, told Business Insider.

He knew he wanted to explore and understand the country more deeply, which led him to move to Japan in 2014 and enroll in a one-year course to learn the language.

Slowly, the idea of relocating to Japan started to take root. In 2016, he returned as an English teacher and stayed for two years. But he was itching to see the world once again, so he left.

It wasn't until 2023 that he returned to Japan — and this time, for good.

"By the time I committed to making Japan my home, it wasn't on a whim. I came with knowledge, experience, and respect for a place I had grown to deeply love," he said.

House-hunting in Japan

At that time, Guy — who has a background in construction — was on the hunt for a permanent place to call home.

He had spent the past couple of years looking at listings in Japan and scouting out different areas where he wouldn't mind living.

"I would still be searching even when I was overseas," Guy said. "I spent all of that time shaping up what is most desirable to me and what ticks the boxes for me."

As someone who likes the outdoors and enjoys activities such as hiking, backcountry skiing, and snowboarding, he has always wanted to live in a ski town.

By a stroke of luck, a friend who owns a ski lodge near Myoko Kogen — a popular ski area in the Niigata prefecture — had invited Guy to spend the summer.

By the end of the season, Guy ended up finding his forever home.

"I came here without an intention to buy anything, but it just lined up that this house became available," he said.

He chanced upon the listing online after searching for property in the area.

The traditional two-story house, built in the '60s, was owned by a couple in their eighties, who were eager to show him around.

"He's like, 'Come in, let me show you the good points of my house. If you open this window during the summer and that window, you get this cross ventilation coming through. This window gets the best sunshine,'" Guy said, recalling the previous owner's words. "It was incredible."

Guy says he bought the property for slightly under 1 million Japanese yen, or about $6,000.

"One of the things that I wanted was to live in a ski town up on the hill. I want the ski lift and the chairlift to be there," Guy said. "But as I've spent more time in the mountains, I've realized that if I come down a little bit, away from the more popular area, I'd be able to save money, and enjoy other benefits too."

For instance, it doesn't snow as heavily where he is.

"I don't have to clear snow. Some of my neighbors up the hill do," he said. "There are fewer insects; there are fewer woodpeckers that destroy your house. There are no bears here."

Rural but convenient

Guy — now a content creator who makes videos about off-the-beaten-path destinations in Japan — lives in the house with his partner, who is Japanese.

The house was largely move-in ready, save for the bathroom, which had some termites, he said.

"Everything else could have been left as it was. There was really no renovation necessary," Guy said.

However, he had his own idea of how he wanted the place to look, so he made some changes to the interiors.

"I recently renovated my bathroom and my shower room, and I made it out of Hinoki Japanese wood, and now that's become one of my favorite spots in the house," he added.

Even though the area he lives in is considered rural, there are still plenty of amenities around.

"For example, my next-door neighbor is a sushi restaurant. Two doors down, there's a soba restaurant. My local hospital is about 35 seconds walk away. The pharmacy is across the street from that. The post office is 15 seconds walk away," Guy said. "So it's all very convenient."

To get to Tokyo, all he has to do is hop on the Shinkansen, bullet train, and he'll be there in about two hours, he said.

A more present and intentional life

Since moving to Japan, Guy says he's found himself living a life that's more connected to the present.

For instance, the way that Japanese culture celebrates the changing seasons has encouraged him to focus less on what's next and more on what's happening now.

"This shift has brought a deeper sense of gratitude for everyday moments, whether it's enjoying a seasonal meal or taking part in a local tradition," he said.

He's also grown to be more patient since Japanese culture emphasizes politeness and respect in daily interactions.

"Whether it's waiting your turn to speak, carefully listening, or queuing for a train or a popular restaurant, patience becomes second nature," Guy said. "The value placed on maintaining harmony also means situations are often handled calmly and thoughtfully, which has taught me the value of slowing down and considering others."

Japanese society also views people as equals, regardless of their jobs, he said.

"Whether you are a bus driver or a doctor, you're very much treated with just as much respect as anybody else," Guy said. "People know that you're needed to operate. You are still part of the system needed to make everything work smoothly."

Playing a part in the community

Guy says one of the biggest things people should consider is that buying a house in Japan means participating in the local community.

"I think it's important to think about how you are a contributor to the community," Guy said. "It cannot be an entirely selfish approach of 'I just want a cheap ski house in Japan.'"

For instance, Guy and his neighbors meet every three months to do community service, such as cleaning the streets together.

"I think the first question is, 'How can I be valuable to the community that I live in?' And it's got to go beyond teaching English to people who don't ever need to use English in this community. It's got to go beyond cooking them things or baking them cookies," Guy said.

It's important that people consider their decision carefully before buying a house here, especially since it's quite a trend right now, Guy — who also does property consulting on the side — said.

According to Japan's Ministry of Justice, 2,604 Americans moved to the country in 2023, bringing the total number of American expats in Japan to 63,408.

Four Americans told BI previously listed the country's safety standards and relative affordability as their reasons for making the move. Some of them even buy and renovate one of the country's 8 million cheap abandoned homes.

He hopes people who purchase property in Japan do so because they genuinely love the country and its culture, and want to contribute to it — not just because they like the aesthetics of owning a house there.

"Buying a house in Japan is not just a financial transaction; it's a cultural exchange that affects both the buyer and the surrounding area," Guy said. "My hope is to see Japan maintain its unique character and charm rather than having homes purchased solely because they are inexpensive."

Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at [email protected].

• Disney's "Moana 2" set a new five-day Thanksgiving box office record with $221 million in sales.
• The previous record was held by "Frozen II," which brought $125 million in 2019.
• "Moana 2," "Wicked," and "Gladiator II" contributed to the $420 million in box office sales over Thanksgiving.

"Moana 2" made a big splash at the box office over Thanksgiving weekend.

The highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 Disney film has brought in $221 million in domestic ticket sales since opening on Wednesday — the first day of the five-day Thanksgiving weekend — based on studio estimates.

The film broke the five-day Thanksgiving box office record, surpassing the $125 million record set by "Frozen II" in 2019. Before that, the title was held by "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," which brought in $109.9 million in 2013.

The Thanksgiving box office weekend has also seen the continued success of "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" — both of which were released on November 22.

Like "Barbenheimer," fans have dubbed the movies "Glicked" thanks to their coincidental release date.

During the five-day Thanksgiving period, "Wicked" — which stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo — brought in $117.5 million domestically, while "Gladiator II" — which stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal — earned $44 million, based on estimates from IMDB's Box Office Mojo.

The three films contributed to the $420 million raked in over the five-day period — the best-ever Thanksgiving box office sales, surpassing the $315.6 million record set over the same period in 2018, according to Comscore data, per NBC.

Based on studio estimates, "Moana 2" has made $386 million globally so far.

In 2016, "Moana" also topped box offices on Thanksgiving weekend with $81 million in ticket sales.

It was released on Disney+ in 2019 and was the most-watched movie on a streaming platform in the US in 2023, with over 11.3 billion minutes streamed, per data from Nielsen.

A representative from Comscore did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

• Ted Danson is thankful he didn't meet his wife, Mary Steenburgen, until later in life.
• "I was not really fully emotionally baked until shortly before I met Mary," Danson told People.
• They met in 1983, reconnected in 1993, and got married in 1995.

Ted Danson has one thing to be grateful for this year — not meeting his wife, Mary Steenburgen, until later in life.

In an interview with People published Thursday, "The Good Place" actor says that their relationship wouldn't have worked out if they had met earlier.

"Guarantee you the answer is no. I'll just speak for myself," Danson, 76, told People. "I was not really fully emotionally baked until shortly before I met Mary."

The year before he met Steenburgen, he made a commitment to work on himself.

"I had, about a year before, decided I want to become a more emotionally mature, honest human being," he said. "I worked very hard at it or I don't think Mary Steenburgen would've even seen me. So yeah. The answer is no. Thank God we didn't meet earlier."

Danson and Steenburgen met in 1983 when he auditioned to play her on-screen husband in "Cross Creek." A decade later, they reconnected on the set of the 1993 film "Pontiac Moon" and married in 1995. They each have two children from their previous marriages.

In the '80s, the average age for American men to get married was 25, while women were tying the knot three years earlier at 22. In recent years, those ages have risen to 30 and 28, respectively, according to US Census data.

Danson says part of the reason their relationship works is also because they always have each other's backs.

"Whenever I become self-deprecating, full of doubt, which I do on a regular basis, she lovingly goes, 'Snap out of it,' and kind of forces me out the door into turning the next corner in life," he said.

Dr. Lindsay C. Gibson, a clinical psychologist, previously told Business Insider that an emotionally mature romantic partner will show clear signs of listening, be able to express empathy, and be good at regulating their emotions.

Interactions with them will also feel natural, she said.

"They're looking to dovetail with you as much as possible because they like harmony," Dr. Gibson said. "They like getting along with people, they don't say impulsive or thoughtless things, and they seem to notice how things affect someone."

A representative for Danson did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

• Christian Louboutin made one key change to the iconic red soles from his namesake brand for Taylor Swift.
• Louboutin told InStyle he used rubber soles instead of leather for Swift's Eras Tour shoes.
• The shoe designer previously said he had crafted 250 pairs of shoes for the singer to wear on her tour.

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour shoes were made for walking, running, and jumping regardless of the weather. After all, the show must go on.

In an interview with InStyle published on Wednesday, shoe designer Christian Louboutin said that he made one key change to his iconic red soles when creating footwear for the singer on her tour.

"Weather is unpredictable," Louboutin told InStyle. "However, each pair is crafted with a signature red rubber sole, which makes it easy to dance."

The shoe brand's iconic red soles are usually made from leather and painted with a special red lacquer, per Louboutin's website.

The designer added that he typically uses rubber soles when designing shoes for musicians on their tours, as this ensures that the shoes can withstand performances night after night.

The designs of Swift's Eras Tour shoes were inspired by the singer's past looks, and were the result of a collaborative effort between Swift, her stylist Joseph Cassell, and himself, Louboutin said.

"Each pair is made to fully allow for quick changes through the entirety of the show. As they are dancing for over three hours, comfort is also extremely important. So we incorporated sturdy block heels and also flats," Louboutin said.

In November last year, one lucky Swiftie managed to snag an exclusive Eras Tour souvenir — a bejeweled heel from one of the singer's Louboutin boots that had broken off while she was performing.

In May, Louboutin told Vogue that he had designed 250 pairs of shoes for the superstar, including 60 new pairs for the European leg of her Eras Tour alone.

Luxury cobblers previously told Business Insider that the "Cruel Summer" singer may have sparked an interest in Louboutins among Gen Z after donning the red soles on her tour.

"She's a big influencer in the brand and product," Pasquale Fabrizio, designer and owner of Pasquale Shoe Repair in Los Angeles, said. "Just endorsing it and wearing it allows the younger generation of girls to go after that look. She exemplifies fashion."

Fabrizio added that he's seen more and more people come into his shop over the past few years to have their Louboutin shoes repaired.

For reference, the brand's iconic stiletto pumps cost upward of $795, while boots cost upward of $1,195, per the brand's website.

A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

• Guy Fieri's youngest son, Ryder, gets to choose what the family eats whenever he's back from college.
• That's because food "just doesn't taste the same as it does at home," Fieri told People, recalling his son's words.
• Some colleges, like UCLA, have gained a reputation for serving good campus food.

Guy Fieri's youngest son, Ryder, is back from college and ready to indulge in his dad's cooking.

During an interview with People published on Tuesday, Fieri spoke about how his teenager is adjusting to college life at San Diego State University.

There's just one thing he misses, though: His dad's cooking.

"He has a good meal program there at San Diego State, but he says it just doesn't taste the same as it does at home. And I'm like, man, that brings tears to my eyes," Fieri told People. "I think if you're staying in a dorm, it never compares to home."

The Food Network star says that his son gets to decide what's for dinner since he's back for the holidays.

"He sets a menu," Fieri said, referring to his son. "He'll write down his list of what he'd like to have: 'So do you think on Friday night we could have this?'"

Although his youngest son currently lives in a college dorm, Fieri says he "can't wait" for him to get an apartment.

"But when he has an apartment, I'm going to be like the old Italian nonna that's going to be packaging him up the cooler to take back. 'Here's four blocks of chili. Here's your marinara, here's your chicken marsala,'" Fieri said.

Fieri also has an older son, Hunter, 28, whom he shares with his wife, Lori.

Campus dining halls aren't typically seen as places with good food, but some colleges have gained a reputation for serving dishes that are a cut above the rest.

Niche, a company that compiles information on schools, has published a list of the 2025 Best College Food in America based on reviews from students and alums.

UCLA — where yearly meal plans cost between $5,301 and $6,614.28 — tops the list. Ranked in second place is the University of Massachusetts Amherst, followed by Virginia Tech in third place.

In a personal essay for Business Insider, a mother of two college-bound sons suggested that parents visit the dining hall to see if the school is the right fit for their child.

"If prospective students cannot see themselves at one of the tables, want to sit down with a group, or otherwise find someone who could be their friend, that college might not be the best fit," Cristine Struble wrote.

A representative for Fieri did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

• Tish Cyrus-Purcell says her divorce from Billy Ray Cyrus was difficult even for her kids, who are now adults.
• "For me, I never wanted to be divorced," Cyrus-Purcell said on a podcast.
• The former couple divorced in 2022. They previously filed for divorce in 2010 and 2013, but reconciled both times.

Tish Cyrus-Purcell says she wanted her marriage to Billy Ray Cyrus to end.

During Sunday's episode of the "Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson" podcast, Cyrus-Purcell spoke about her divorce from the country singer and its impact on their kids.

"For me, I never wanted to be divorced," Cyrus-Purcell told host Oliver Hudson, adding that she looked at her parents' long-lasting marriage as something that she wanted to emulate.

"Like my mom and dad met on a Monday, got married on a Friday, and were together until my dad passed away. Great childhood, best example of a marriage you could ever imagine," Cyrus-Purcell said.

Not only that, being in the public eye meant that her life was "already so odd and at some times unstable" that it made her want to hold onto their relationship even more.

"I wanted to make it work, probably for a little too long, like, for my own mental health," she said.

Cyrus-Purcell has three kids — Miley, Braison, and Noah — with Cyrus. She also has two older children, Brandi and Trace, from a previous relationship, whom Cyrus adopted upon their marriage.

The couple divorced in 2022, and Cyrus-Purcell married "Prison Break" star Dominic Purcell in 2023.

Looking back, the mother of five said that her split from Cyrus "was tough on everyone in some ways" — even her older children.

"Like my son Trace, for example. He's 36, he'll be 36 in February. He was bummed. He was like, 'I wish my mom and dad would never get like that. I wish that wouldn't have happened,'" Cyrus-Purcell said, recalling her son's reaction.

Cyrus-Purcell's oldest daughter, Brandi — who was also a guest on the podcast episode — shared that she felt the situation was easier to deal with because her siblings are adults now.

Cyrus-Purcell and Cyrus had previously filed for divorce in 2010 and 2013 but reconciled both times.

"In the beginning, like you know, the prior filings especially, Noah was so young, and that was definitely a big thing," Brandi told host Hudson. "My mom really wanted the family to stay together for Noah. But then, once Noah was an adult, I do feel like it was not great, but also, we're all old enough to understand it."

A representative for Cyrus-Purcell did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

Navigating divorce with kids

In the US, there are 2.4 divorces per 1,000 people, per the latest data from the CDC.

Navigating a divorce with children can sometimes be complicated. Parents often focus only on what they want when discussing the settlement, Susan Moss, an attorney based in NYC, told Business Insider previously.

However, the kids should have a say too — especially since they are the ones who have to shuttle between two households, Moss said.

Although divorce can bring up many negative emotions, it's also important for parents to not bad-mouth their spouses to their kids, she added.

"Your co-parent is usually the only mother or father your child will have. They may not be a perfect parent, but your child doesn't need to know all the ways they've failed. Instead, respect the important role this person has in your child's life," Moss said.

Divorce can be difficult even for adult children to process, Rachel Sussman, a relationships therapist, told BI previously.

"There's a dynamic with even adults that when they're with their parents, they can feel a little childlike and they want to be cared for by their parents," Sussman said.

And a parental divorce can leave adult kids feeling "like that last security blanket is being ripped out from under them," Sussman said.

Processing a parental divorce can also be further complicated by the knowledge that both parents are better off separated, BI reporter Gabby Landsverk wrote in a personal essay in 2021.

"One of the strangest moments in processing the divorce was realizing later that I felt proud of my parents for making the choice to split up and move on with their lives," she wrote.

"It's unsettling to recognize the whole life they have outside of their parenting, as individuals with their own struggles, flaws, needs, and goals," she continued.

• Dani and Evan Benton moved to Japan on a startup business visa in 2023.
• They bought an abandoned house for $6,500 and turned it into a guesthouse.
• The couple has also started a homestead with a farm and a beekeeping business.

After six years of running an urban farm and renting an Airbnb in New Orleans, followed by 15 months of travel and house-sitting around Mexico, Dani and Evan Benton were ready for their next adventure.

They knew they wanted to live a simple, rural life but still have access to modern amenities. Ideally, they would also be in an area with a nice climate where they could grow as much of their own food as possible.

Their goal had always been to start a homestead similar to what they had back in the US, and doing this in Japan seemed feasible, especially considering that the country has 8.5 million akiya, or abandoned houses, in rural areas for sale.

It helped that Evan also speaks Japanese, having studied the language in college.

Since they always loved old homes and were keen on the idea of renovating an akiya, they decided to take the plunge.

Applying for the startup business visa

In early 2023, the couple started working toward getting a startup business visa in Japan.

Their visa application required them to submit a proposal detailing their business plans.

In addition to their homestead — which would include honey production and a small-scale farming business — the couple also wanted to open a guesthouse. On the side, Dani, 40, was also planning to offer photography services.

They were drawn to Omishima island, which is over an hour away from Hiroshima airport, partially because it's one of the few areas where the startup business visa is offered.

"What the startup visa does is it encourages foreign people to move to Japan specifically to start small businesses," Dani, a professional photographer, told Business Insider. "You get residency, and you have six months to do things like open your bank account, incorporate your business, get everything funded, and obtain whatever licenses you may need."

One of the main visa requirements is that the couple invest at least 5 million Japanese yen, or around $32,450, into their business bank account or hire a minimum of two employees.

Their proposal was approved after a few revisions, and they were granted their startup business visas by the end of June 2023.

Transforming an akiya into a guesthouse

While they were sorting out their visa applications, the couple also purchased their first akiya, which would be turned into the guesthouse.

Their property-hunting process was smooth because they had been looking at listings even before they left the US. Their eventual plan was to have two akiya — one for the guesthouse and one as their own residence.

"We had a list of houses on Omishima that we wanted to check out in person when we finally made it here," Evan, 41, told BI.

While viewing an akiya — which they would eventually purchase as their residence — their real-estate agent showed them another akiya nearby that hadn't been listed online yet.

The latter was owned by a 75-year-old Japanese man who still lived in the neighborhood. His parents used to live in the house, but they died a decade ago. The house has been untouched ever since, and there were even pieces of furniture left behind.

"That ended up being the guesthouse that we bought," Evan, a former massage therapist, said. "We found our house first, but then we bought the guesthouse first."

They paid 1 million Japanese yen, or about $6,500, for their guesthouse.

"It's like the ultimate recycling project," Dani said. "It's literally saving a whole house and as much of the contents as we could."

Thankfully, the akiya was in pretty good condition, and they were able to live in it during the renovation.

"It was mainly cosmetic, so it was just a lot of things that took so much time to clean," Evan said.

The akiya even had a modern toilet that was already connected to the city sewage system.

"But we didn't have hot water for a long time, so while we were doing the renovation, we would have to go down to the public bath," Dani said.

The couple did the bulk of the work themselves and even documented the renovation process on their YouTube channel.

However, they did hire some contractors for assistance since they had a six-month deadline to get their guesthouse up and running.

"If we had had a whole year to do it, we could have done it ourselves," Dani said.

The couple says they spent about $19,000 on the akiya renovation and $5,000 on furniture, appliances, and other household items.

Guesthouse for rent on Airbnb

Dani and Evan aren't alone in being drawn to these old, vacant homes in the Japanese countryside. Due to the shrinking population and internal migration, Japan has millions of unoccupied houses in rural areas.

However, thanks to the low prices and the lack of restrictions on foreigners purchasing property, more and more foreigners are choosing to buy these old homes and breathe new life into them.

The couple's guesthouse is available for rent on Airbnb from 20,000 Japanese yen a night.

They hosted their first guests in November last year, and when their six-month startup business visa was due the following month, the couple obtained a business manager visa.

Omishima is in the middle of a series of six islands that are connected by a long suspension bridge known as the Shimanami Kaido, a famous biking route and tourist attraction.

There is a grocery store and a few local restaurants nearby, as well as a popular shrine and a samurai museum on the island, Dani said.

Like many places in Japan, Omishima is also very safe, Dani said: "We never lock our doors."

Now that the couple has gotten their guesthouse up and running, they'll be focusing their energy on turning the other akiya they bought — which is two minutes away — into their home.

"It was abandoned for 40 years, so it has a lot of work needed," Dani said.

In addition, they're working to establish their farm and honey production business.

"We enjoyed Mexican food and really missed it in Japan, so essentially, we're focusing on Mexican vegetables, growing tomatoes, tomatillos, and all kinds of hot peppers," Evan said.

As for honey production, the couple just harvested their first batch of honey from their 12 bee colonies, he added.

The couple has been living in Japan for almost two years, and the biggest lifestyle change they've noticed is that they're more connected with their local community than they were back in the US.

Not only do they know more of their neighbors, the couple also has closer relationships with them.

"Everyone lives in the same sort of concentrated area, and then they all go out to their fields and meet each other on the way," Evan said. "So we're always having saying hi to people in the street."

Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at [email protected].

• Keira Knightley says she had to step back from her career because she chose to have kids.
• "I've been really surprised in the past few years about what I've said no to," Knightley told The Times.
• Working women across industries are often forced to choose between their careers and having children.

Keira Knightley, 39, chose to prioritize motherhood over her career.

In an interview with The Times published on Saturday, Knightley spoke about her decision to have children and the impact it had on her career decisions.

"I couldn't go job to job [abroad] now. It wouldn't be in any way fair on them, and I wouldn't want to," Knightley told The Times. "I've chosen to have children, I want to bring them up, so I've had to take a major step back."

The "Pride and Prejudice" actor has two daughters — Edie, 9, and Delilah, 5 — with her husband, musician James Righton.

Not only does Knightley now prefer roles that will allow her daughters to stay settled in school, but she's also looking for roles that aren't too emotionally taxing.

"I've been really surprised in the past few years about what I've said no to. I've wanted it to be more pure entertainment and maybe that's because I've needed that," she said. "I keep being offered things about children dying or about mothers dying. Can't do it."

Even though the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies made her a household name, Knightley says she doesn't want to appear in a franchise again.

"The hours are insane. It's years of your life, you have no control over where you're filming, how long you're filming, what you're filming," she said.

Knightley says she's also open to producing or directing a film, or even switching industries, although it won't happen while her daughters are still young.

"The world is an interesting place and there are other things in it I'd like to discover. I'm aware I've been doing the same thing for a very, very long time," she said.

The actor was 16 when she starred in "Bend It Like Beckham."

Knightley isn't the only celebrity who has spoken up about juggling motherhood and their careers.

In August, Blake Lively said she experiences mom guilt whenever she has to choose work over her family.

"When you're working, sometimes you feel guilty for, you know, not being in your personal life in those hours you're at work," Lively said. "And then when you're at work, you feel guilty by being distracted by wishing that you were at your personal life."

In March, Whoopi Goldberg explained on an episode of "The View" why she prioritized her career over her child.

"My kid came before my career, and I chose my career because I knew this would never happen again," Goldberg said. "She didn't always like it, but that is the process of being a parent. They're not supposed to like everything you do."

However, Hollywood moms are not the only ones who face this dilemma; working women across industries are often forced to choose between their careers and having children.

Part of it is due to the "motherhood penalty" — the pay gap that women experience when they become mothers, according to Claudia Goldin, a Nobel Prize-winning Harvard professor.

Her 16-year-long study found that female MBA graduates who have children are more likely to have less job experience, more interruptions to their careers, and earnings decline — something that their male counterparts do not experience.

A representative for Knightley did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.