• Amazon drivers can earn up to an extra $25,000 for the holidays if you thank them for a delivery.
• The company has brought back its "Thank my driver" feature after first launching it in 2022.
• Amazon covered a limited amount of $5 thank-yous at no cost to customers.

Amazon brought back its promotion that'll allow you to thank your delivery driver this holiday season.

If you're pleased with your ride, you can participate by typing "Thank my Driver" into the search bar of your Amazon app or asking Alexa to "thank my driver." You'll have to thank them within 14 days of your last delivery.

It's already got a lot of traction in 2024.

The "Thank My Driver" promotion began on December 4 this year, and Amazon tipped drivers $5 for the first 2 million thank-yous from US customers.

Amazon hit the 2-million limit within six days. However, there are still ways to help your delivery person earn extra cash.

Similar to 2023, the company is offering "additional awards" for drivers who receive praise for their deliveries, according to a press release from Amazon.

Here's what Amazon is offering: "$100 each for the 1,000 most-thanked drivers each day through the rest of December; $10,000 for the seven top-thanked drivers each week until the end of December."

Meanwhile, the seven most-thanked Amazon drivers from December 4 to December 31 will receive $25,000 plus an extra $25,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice.

"Treat your customers like family, and they will do the same to you," driver Andrew Shearouse, one of the 2023 recipients of the $25,000 tip, said.

Only US-based drivers are eligible, and they must be an Amazon Flex partner, drive for a delivery service partner, or be a hub delivery associate. A delivery driver can only be thanked once per delivery. Amazon package deliveries from the Post Office and companies like UPS aren't eligible for the extra rewards.

Those looking for other ways to thank their delivery people can check TikTok, where creators are posting about the care packages they leave on their doorstep — especially during the busy holiday delivery season.

During the holiday season, Amazon drivers' shifts can be as long as 10 hours — and a serious workout. There are some Amazon drivers who earn $18 an hour compared to full-time UPS drivers who earn an average total compensation package of $145,000 per year, according to UPS.

In September, Amazon announced that it will spend $2.1 billion to give its delivery drivers a pay raise. Although the exact rate depends on location, the boost may bump drivers' pay to a national average of $22 an hour.

• Chefs shared some key tips and tricks to make the best holiday cookies every time.
• You can make multiple types of cookies from one batch of dough.
• Using high-quality tools can make your baking process easier and save you some time.

Whether baking for yourself or as a gift for family and friends, you may find that sometimes your oven can be your worst enemy when you're baking cookies.

To make your winter baking a breeze, Business Insider spoke with chefs to get their best tips and tricks for making holiday cookies.

The key is to rest the dough and let cookies set

Michael Wallace, culinary director at Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces, told BI that home bakers need to allocate time to let the dough and finished treats sit.

"First thing I like to tell people is the importance of resting the dough," Wallace said. "I like to let it rest for at least two hours before baking."

"Next would be to allow the cookies to cool after baking for five minutes before transferring from the baking sheet," he said. "This allows the cookie to 'set up.'"

Wallace also said that unless you're using gluten-free flour, be cautious of overmixing your dough.

You should freeze your dough before baking 

Chef Tricia Brennan Nally told BI that you should prioritize letting your dough firm up in the freezer or fridge. 

"Scoop and freeze your dough before baking," Nally said. "Chilled dough is always best, but it's difficult to scoop when it's cold."

Adequate chilling time can vary depending on the dough you're using and the cookies you're trying to make, so do your research and allocate that waiting period ahead of baking.

Remember that less can be more

Nally added that it may be worth your time to focus on nailing one type of cookie rather than tackling a bunch of varieties at once. 

"I'm also a fan of quality over quantity," Nally said. "I'd rather give people one or two or the same kind of cookie — or any pastry — and have them be really good than give them 10 subpar cookies."

If you've already made different batches of dough, you can always place them in the freezer to bake at a later date.

You can make different kinds of cookies using the same dough

Nally also recommends baking different cookie varieties with the same dough to keep things fresh.

"Try making multiple kinds of cookies with the same dough base, like a sugar or shortbread dough that can be turned into thumbprint cookies, sandwich cookies, rolled for cutouts, etc.," Nally said. 

In addition to mixing up cookie shapes, you can also vary the way you decorate and plate your holiday treats.

Having good tools can sometimes make a difference

As a chef myself, I'll share a few parting words.

Always be sure to chill your dough before rolling it out – particularly if it is sugar-cookie dough. It needs time to firm up so that cookie cutters are able to create the sharpest lines.

I'd also recommend purchasing a bench knife, which will help you slice dough, cut butter into flour, and more — having the right tools in the kitchen can make all the difference.

Other items I'd recommend you stock up on are different size cookie scoops, a small offset spatula, and a Silpat baking mat.

This story was originally published in December 2018 and most recently updated on December 19, 2024.

• The infamous "lock-in" effect that's restricting home supply may be going away next year.
• Realtor.com's chief economist expects more homeowners to list their homes for sale in 2025.
• High levels of home equity and life changes will encourage home sales, Danielle Hale said.

2024 has been a tough year for homebuyers.

Affordability levels are still low with elevated home prices and mortgage rates. A huge jump in mortgage rates to around 6.8% today from under 3% in 2022 has also created a "lock-in" effect, where existing homeowners don't want to sell into a higher mortgage rate environment than when many of them bought — further limiting home inventory coming onto the market and sending prices soaring even higher.

There's reason to be optimistic, though. The US housing market will see more favorable buying conditions in 2025, according to Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. Hale sees two trends that will help encourage existing homeowners to put their homes up for sale.

Existing homeowners have built up home equity

Existing homeowners have reaped big home equity gains in recent years thanks to rapidly rising home values.

Homeowners are also increasing their home equity by making monthly mortgage payments, as those who bought houses a few years ago have had the opportunity to make a sizable dent in their mortgage, Hale said. Homeowners with a smaller mortgage balance may be less sensitive to the higher interest-rate environment of today's housing market.

According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, homeowners are feeling richer now thanks to the home equity they've accumulated over the last few years of dizzying home price increases. As a result, more listings are being put on the market.

Homeowners can put their home equity to work when they move and buy a new house.

"If they're using their home equity to make a move, that enables them to either be a cash buyer or take out a very small mortgage," Hale said. "That gives them a bit more flexibility in today's market."

Mortgage rates may become less important to buyers and sellers

Homebuying decisions can also be influenced by factors other than mortgage rates or home prices, according to Hale.

The more time that passes since a homeowner's initial purchase, the more likely it is that they'll have a life change requiring them to move, regardless of the cost of moving, Hale said.

People buy houses for reasons other than financial ones, Hale pointed out. Big life changes that could spur a move include a new job, retirement, marriage, or having children.

"All of these can be reasons that people might make a move even if the costs are more expensive to buy a home," Hale said.

Additionally, consumers might be getting accustomed to high mortgage rates, according to Redfin.

"Buyers realized mortgage rates may not drop below 5%, and probably not below 6%, in the near future," Mimi Trieu, a Redfin real-estate agent, said. Existing homeowners holding off on moving due to high mortgage rates may soon give up on waiting it out.

A more "buyer-friendly" housing market

These changes won't be immediate, but they will have a noticeable impact on the housing market, according to Hale. She believes that the housing market is trending in a more "buyer-friendly direction."

"It's going to take more time," Hale said of the lock-in effect. "But as it diminishes, that's going to free up more sellers."

Lower interest rates — and subsequently, lower mortgage rates — would certainly speed up the erosion of the lock-in effect, Hale said. However, even if mortgage rates hover around the 6% range in 2025, which is what Realtor.com expects, the lock-in effect will still fade.

Homebuyers could see a notable change by the end of next year, Hale predicted.

"In mid-2024, 84% of homeowners with a mortgage had a mortgage rate under 6%. We think that by the end of 2025, that share will be 75%," Hale said.

• Regina Grogan is a tech exec who says high stress once impacted her mental health and relationships.
• Grogan has developed nine daily habits that help her reduce stress and increase productivity.
• Grogan's methods include cold plunges, meditation, and gratitude lists for better mood.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Regina Grogan, a Zillennial technology executive, AI founder, and former Google consultant based in Salt Lake City. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I worked in high-stress Silicon Valley for over 10 years, including as a Google consultant, before transitioning to being an associate security engineer at one of the largest banks.

Working in the tech industry is stressful — it has extreme volatility, which has led me to feel anxious and depressed in the past. I've seen tech startups shut down very suddenly with zero discussion. I've also worked in big companies undergoing layoffs and wondered, "Am I next?"

High stress also impacted my relationships. My work took up a lot of my personal time, so I wasn't able to build as many relationships as I wish I had.

Over the years, I've discovered hacks to mitigate stress, boost my mood, and increase productivity. These are my favorites.

1. Cold plunge

I take a 15 to 20-minute ice bath or cold shower every morning. The first five minutes are awful and shocking. Then I acclimate to it, and it actually feels really good.

During the plunge, I feel extremely alert, the world looks brighter, and when I emerge, everything feels like a new beginning.

2. Meditation

I was very addicted to my digital devices until I noticed it was severely affecting my mental clarity and focus. Now I try to stay off my phone as much as possible in the morning, and instead, meditate for 25 minutes.

Ever since I made the switch, my mind has become quieter and I feel reset from the attention obsession that my digital devices create.

3. Increase my bodily awareness

I've realized I have to create balance in life by tuning into my body and intuition for guidance. I now listen more to my instincts.

One time, I was working on a partnership and felt physically uneasy while reviewing the terms. Looking back, I realize I was sensing a subconscious resistance in my body about this partnership, which ended up going south.

4. Take a walk without my phone

I often use my phone as an anxiety and comfort tool. The only way I've had luck mitigating this anxiety is by leaving my phone at home, coming back, and seeing that nothing horrible has happened.

5. Think about what I can and can't control

Let's say a vendor messes up a project, or the intern accidentally gets spam-attacked and is freaked out. Instead of panicking, I use the psychological strategy of the "circle of control," asking myself, "What can I control in this stressful situation?"

If the answer is nothing, I have to let it go.

6. Ask myself, "How can I help others today?"

Doing small acts of kindness helps me take the focus off of myself and redirect my energy toward helping others. This can be helping someone at work, volunteering, or simply letting someone in front of me in traffic.

At the end of the day, I can say, "Today didn't go super well, but I did something in my control to improve things."

7. Make a list of what I'm grateful for

I live a privileged life, and it's easy to forget how hard life is for many other people. In my case, I used to have depression. I've seen bad days, but it's easier to forget when I make a gratitude list.

When I zoom out, I can see how lucky I am and that I have a lot to be thankful for.

8. Epsom salt bath

Every evening, around 9 p.m., I take a hot Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt regulates the nervous system and also staves off loneliness — or so they found in some studies.

I do this as a "day ender" to help me officially close out the day. Otherwise, I'll keep working into the night.

9. Write down my worries and wait to review them

Before I go to sleep at 10 p.m., I write down everything I'm worrying about as a "brain dump." I put it in a box and revisit it a week later to see how many of them came to pass.

Almost none of them do. Over time, I've gained more confidence and calmness.

Ever since I started using these hacks, I've been in a great mood and more productive than ever

My colleagues always talk about my energy and good mood. These hacks allow me to be creative and productive at work, even in a stressful environment.

If you work in Big Tech and have productivity hacks you'd like to share, please email Tess Martinelli at [email protected].

• After visiting 17 countries, I will always swear by checking a bag during my travel experiences.
• Forgoing a carry-on and checking a bag means I don't have to compete for overhead bin space.
• When traveling with a large checked bag, I get to pack everything I want to bring on my trip.

I consider myself fairly frugal when it comes to travel. I've booked the 6 a.m. flight to save $50 and have flown basic economy more times than I'd care to admit.

But after visiting 17 countries, there's one little luxury I can't go without when flying: checking a bag. Yes, checking a bag both ways can be expensive — usually about $50 to $70 both ways. However, I believe a more comfortable travel experience is worth the splurge.

Checking a bag makes my time in the airport less stressful and helps set a positive tone for my trips — which is why I'll always swear by it.

Checking my bag and forgoing a carry-on makes moving around the airport easier

I hate maneuvering a carry-on around bathroom stalls or pulling my bag behind me while holding my lunch. I find that my carry-on bag is practically tied to me while I'm in the airport, which can become annoying.

To avoid this, I forgo a carry-on and pack everything in my checked bag. Once I turn my bag into an agent, I don't have any cumbersome luggage to bring to the gate. This allows me to move around the airport much more easily.

Boarding a plane without a carry-on is less stressful

Checking a bag means I can avoid the Hunger Games-type madness that comes when it's time to board the plane.

Most passengers with a carry-on try to board as quickly as possible before the space in the airplane's overhead bin runs out. Avoiding this anxiety-inducing exercise and not rushing to board is a little luxury worth the price of checking a bag.

Opting for a large checked bag means I can pack everything I want to bring on my trip

When I traveled with a carry-on, there were times when I ran out of space. I often felt like the abominable snowman, wearing multiple layers and a jacket, which wasn't a nice experience.

Now, packing all my belongings in a large checked bag gives me more choices for what I can bring on my trip. As someone who's a bit indecisive and dislikes the concept of packing light, I feel great having this space to pack several clothing options.

After all, the clothes I'm in the mood to wear when packing may differ from those I want when it's time to get dressed.

In my experience, a large checked bag doesn't make transportation from the airport more difficult

I used to think that having a carry-on would be the most advantageous when I landed — this type of luggage is usually smaller than a checked bag, so I figured taking it on a train or other form of transit would be easy.

However, in reality, I find that the size of my bag usually doesn't matter if I'm just going from the airport to a hotel.

If I were backpacking across Europe, sure, I'd take as little baggage as possible. However, in my opinion, cramming things into a smaller bag doesn't make sense when the effort to get from point A to point B is the same either way.

Traveling can be expensive and anxiety-inducing. Still, if you ask me, checking a bag is a relatively easy way to have a better travel experience.

This story was originally published on August 12, 2024, and most recently updated on December 13, 2024.

• Kylie Kelce said that there are toys she wouldn't want in her house on the latest episode of "Not Gonna Lie."
• Her 'please don't buy this for my children' gift guide includes toys with too much glitter and pets.
• Kelce's podcast topped the charts on Spotify and Apple after its premiere last Thursday.

If you're wondering what gifts to buy — or not buy — for kids this festive season, Kylie Kelce has got you covered.

On Thursday, during the second episode of her podcast "Not Gonna Lie," the media personality and wife of Jason Kelce shared her "brutally honest" gift guide for kids.

"I don't know about you guys, but I often see toys when I'm out shopping or scrolling social media, and I just think to myself, 'Not in my house,'" she said.

Referring to the list as her 'please don't buy this for my children' guide to holiday shopping, she recommended that other parents share it with "aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends — anyone who has asked, 'What can I get the kids for Christmas?'"

"This is your opportunity to have me deliver that harsh reality," said the soon-to-be mom of four.

1. Toys that require more than 5 minutes to assemble

When a kid sees a box with a picture of the toy, they will immediately want to play with it, the former field hockey player said.

"And you know what they're going to do the whole time you're trying to assemble it on a Christmas morning, a Hanukkah evening?" she said. "They're going to stand behind you and say, 'Are you done yet? Are you done yet?'"

"Don't do that to people. Let's not," she said.

2. Anything with too much glitter

As a mom of three daughters, all aged 5 and under, Kelce said that "pretty much everything" they get has glitter on it. "It makes their hearts so happy. I can't veto glitter as a whole," she said.

What she doesn't like about it is how glitter falls everywhere. "I need you to get something that glitter is sealed; I need it attached to that surface; I need it not leaving it," she said.

3. Toys with no volume control

Kelce said that when her daughter Wyatt was 2, she received an electronic drum set. However, it didn't come with volume control.

"I tried taping over the speaker, I tried putting it on a blanket when Wyatt wanted to play with it," she said.

She eventually retired the toy a week later but said the same person, Ed Kelce, her father-in-law, got her kid a new drum set the following Christmas. Thankfully, the new drum set did have volume control, she said.

"But there's still a lot of deep amount of guilt associated with the fact that I hid a Christmas gift from my child because I couldn't stand to listen to that damn thing for one more minute at the volume that it was playing at," she said. "I'm so sorry, Ed."

4. Anything with a heartbeat

Her kids have yet to be gifted a pet, but Kelce said she fears that when the time eventually comes, she will have to respond by returning it.

Calling it a "sick, twisted joke to gift," Kelce added that it's the parents who will end up taking responsibility for the pet.

"I'm already proud of myself when I can keep three children alive each day. I don't need to be working on any more pets, specifically pets that I have not chosen to bring into my household," she said.

5. Toys with too many pieces

"Once the kids start playing with toys that have a million pieces, I then have to go around and pick up all the little pieces," Kelce said. Eventually, pieces go missing, rendering the toys useless, and she ends up stepping on them, she added.

6. Toy weapons

Kelce said her kids have received a few toy weapons. On one occasion, her daughter, Elliotte, got "picked off" in the backyard by an airplane gun that Wyatt played with.

"So, they've proved that they have not earned the trust required to receive weapons, because they will try to take each other out, and I don't want to mediate any of that again," she said.

"Not Gonna Lie" dethroned "The Joe Rogan Experience" to take the top of the charts on Spotify Podcasts and Apple Podcasts after the release of its first episode last Thursday.

"It absolutely blew my mind," Kelce said at the beginning of her second episode. "I really appreciate you guys having such positive feedback, considering I'm still a rookie, and we're working out the kinks."

The podcast is produced by Wave Sports + Entertainment, the company behind her husband's podcast, "New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce." In August, the brothers signed a three-year deal with Amazon's Wondery worth over $100 million.

Kelce previously opened up about her rise to fame following her marriage to former NFL player, Jason Kelce.

"As public figures, Jason and I know there's talk about our marriage, but we don't give much thought to it," Kelce previously told Business Insider.

"We use social media in a way that is authentic to us and I make a conscious effort not to offer us up for the opinions of others."

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

• As a former Sephora employee, I've tried many of the store's budget-friendly products for under $25.
• The Rare Beauty liquid blushes and Tower 28 jelly glosses add the perfect flush of color.
• The Sephora Collection liquid foundation is one of the best base products I've tried.

When I worked at Sephora, I loved finding high-quality beauty finds that didn't break the bank.

Here are 9 of my favorite products that cost $25 or less.

A Sephora Collection foundation is one of my favorites.

I highly recommend checking out all of the Sephora Collection lines. Sephora is owned by LVMH (Louis Vuitton) and though the brand's packaging is simple, the formulas are amazing.

The Best Skin Ever foundation is one of my favorite base products because it's the perfect formula for my dry skin.

This $22 long-wearing foundation has light to medium coverage and a natural, dewy finish.

The Sephora Collection blushes come in a variety of beautiful shades.

The $14 Sephora Collection Colorful blushes are absolutely beautiful. If a shade you like is in stock, I recommend picking it up because they sell out quickly.

The blushes come in matte and shimmer finishes. The pigmentation is great, the texture is soft and buttery, and the application is smooth. 

The Sephora Collection eyebrow pencils blend effortlessly.

If you're looking for a good eyebrow pencil, the Sephora Collection has got you covered.

The $13 Retractable brow pencil is waterproof and smudge-proof and has an ultra-fine tip for easy application. I love to brush the spoolie through my brows to soften the look. 

Rare Beauty's liquid blushes pack the pigmentation.

Rare Beauty has quickly become one of the best brands at Sephora. The brand's easy-to-use products and packaging and the mission alone make it worth checking out.

I recommend starting with the $23 Soft Pinch Liquid blush. It's extremely pigmented so you need the tiniest dot to blend into a beautiful blushed look.

I didn't use to be a cream or liquid-blush person but once I started using formulas like these, I fell in love.

You're missing out if you aren't using a beauty blender.

If you don't apply your liquid or cream makeup with a damp beauty blender, you're missing out. After working in the beauty industry and using this sponge for seven years, I can never go back.

I know $20 for a makeup tool may sound like a splurge but something about the design of the original beauty blender and its soft texture blends my base to a flawless finish.

Though there are more affordable alternatives that create a similar effect, I've used other sponges and brushes and still think nothing beats the beauty blender.

Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bombs create perfect, juicy-looking lips.

I used to be a matte liquid-lipstick girl, but as I got older I thought it made my lips look dry and crusty. Now, I want my lips as glossy and juicy as possible and the $21 Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow is the most perfect lip-gloss shade and formula.

This gloss looks great on every single skin tone, age, and lip shape. I would recommend this to anyone who was looking for the perfect nude lip gloss.

I also love the shade FU$$Y, which is a soft pink. The formula is thick and moisturizing without being sticky and has a soft watermelon-like scent and a high-shine finish.

Tower 28's lip glosses add just the right amount of shine.

If you're looking for a great lip gloss from a "clean" beauty brand, I recommend the $16 Tower 28 ShineOn lip jelly gloss.

This unscented, lightweight formula isn't sticky and has the perfect amount of shine. This gloss looks amazing with or without makeup, and there are a variety of natural-looking shade options.

Clinique's spot treatment is the way to go when you need to get rid of a pimple.

Clinique may not be a brand I use a lot, but I've always loved the .5-ounce $23 Acne Solutions clearing gel.

This gel is a lifesaver if you have a pimple that you want to get rid of quickly. It has salicylic acid, witch hazel, and laminaria-saccharina extract to eliminate blemishes and prevent new ones from forming.

I apply this gel at night and see my minimized pimple in the morning.

Don't pass up a mini Supergoop sunscreen in Sephora's Beauty on the Fly section.

If you want to shop at Sephora but can't quite justify a splurge, check out the mini-sized, more affordable items in the Beauty on the Fly section by the register.

Though a lot of these products aren't a better value per ounce than the full size, they're still a good way to try something at a lower price or pick up if you need something TSA-approved.

Personally, I loved the $22 Supergoop Glow-Screen Sunscreen SPF 40 for the summer. I'm a fan of its dewy finish, how it works on its own as a primer, and the way it gives my skin radiance without makeup. I usually throw the mini size in my purse to reapply throughout the day.

This story was originally published on September 6, 2022, and most recently updated on December 12, 2024.

• My husband and I improved our 15-hour economy flight by buying an extra seat, a "bubble" seat.
• For about $200 to $240 each way, we had an extra seat in between us.
• We loved having extra space to stretch out during our flight, and we'd do it again. 

Flying economy is never fun.

But on a 15-hour flight from Vancouver to New Zealand, my husband and I found a few ways to make our long journey in economy bearable.

Booking an extra seat (which some call a "bubble" seat) was definitely the best thing we tried.

We bid on a 'bubble' seat to give ourselves extra space during the flight

Seventy-two hours before departure, our airline offered us the option to bid on a "bubble" seat, which allows a traveler to block out the seat next to them.

This seemed like an affordable way to get more space without trying to bid our way into first class — so my husband and I went for it.

We had the option to block out two seats for more money, which would've given us a whole row on the plane.

But since we were flying together and wanted to save money, we bid on one "bubble" seat to share, essentially giving us three seats for two people.

The day before our flight we were informed that our bid was accepted.

We paid 277 Canadian dollars, about $207, for a "bubble" seat on our way to New Zealand and 321 Canadian dollars, about $240, on the return trip.

Both times, we were placed in the plane's middle section, where we had three of the four seats in our row. We still had one person in our row but it was so nice to have the extra space to stretch out.

We also broke up our flight and bought lounge passes during our layover

In addition to bidding on a "bubble" seat, my husband and I chose a flight with a stop in Fiji to make our long-haul journey less painful.

This layover let us stretch our legs and saved us a lot of money, as the connecting flight was half the price of a direct one.

Before our flight home from Fiji to Vancouver, we also bought airport lounge passes for $40 per person.

In the lounge, we comfortably enjoyed our layover with great food and unlimited drinks before getting back on a plane.

The 'bubble' seat was the MVP of our trip

The best thing we did to improve our flying experience was getting a "bubble" seat.

I'd love to see more airlines let travelers bid on "bubble" seats, but booking an extra seat in advance or bidding on upgrades with extra legroom could also be decent alternatives for now.

The main downside of getting a "bubble" seat is that we couldn't choose where we were seated. I usually book a window seat, but both bids placed us in the middle of the plane.

Still, although "bubble" seat prices vary, a few hundred bucks wasn't bad for an extra seat and extra space.

I'd definitely do this again for a long-haul flight.

• I almost always get my weekly groceries at Aldi, and I've learned some money-saving tips.
• The budget grocer already has pretty good prices, but there are usually weekly deals.
• I try to avoid looking through the Aldi Finds aisle and stick to the perimeter of the store.

My fiancée and I shop on a budget, and we're dedicated to Aldi.

The grocery chain already offers great prices, but we've begun doing a few things there to stretch our dollar even further.

Here's how we save money shopping for groceries at Aldi.

We use the weekly circular — it's usually at the front entrance.

One of the first things we do when we walk into Aldi is grab the weekly circular, which is usually stationed on a rack right by the main entrance.

The ads showcase Aldi's current deals, so it's a great guide for anyone looking to save.

When we focus on these discounted items, I also find we get less sidetracked by flashy deals on products we didn't intend to buy.

An empty produce box helps us carry our groceries for free.

Aldi has a bring-your-own-bag policy, so they're not free at the register. Instead of buying them, we usually grab a large, empty produce box from the shelves.

Most Aldi stores have a section where you can find these boxes in a bin with recyclables, so it's pretty easy.

You can obviously just bring your own reusable bags, but we've found that the box is an even better solution for us.

It's much easier to pop one box in the trunk of our car and carry it into the house in a single trip. Once we're home, we reuse the box for storage or recycle it.

We avoid Aldi's premade meals and heat-and-eat dinners.

We tend to avoid premade meals, heat-and-eat dinners, and specialty deli items like dips and cheeses.

Although they're convenient, they tend to be significantly more expensive per serving than cooking something from scratch. Instead, we stick to Aldi's staple ingredients, like fresh produce, canned beans, tortillas, and chicken.

By focusing on these core items, we've created a weekly meal plan that's cost-effective and healthy for our lifestyle.

Although the Aldi Finds are tempting, we try to avoid them.

The Aldi Finds aisle typically features unique items, seasonal treats, and specialty goods that aren't part of the store's regular inventory.

All the signage might make shoppers feel like they're getting some sort of deal, I think the aisle can be a trap for impulse buys.

Sometimes, we find hidden gems in the aisle, but Aldi Finds are usually not essential to our weekly shopping list — and looking through them can just lead to us spending more money.

We usually skip this aisle entirely so we're not tempted.

We stick to the perimeter of the store.

It may sound simple, but shopping around the perimeter of the store helps us stick to our budget.

In most Aldi locations, the more basic essentials, like produce, dairy, and meats, are located around the outer edges of the store.

In contrast, the center aisles usually have Aldi Finds, holiday items, household goods, snacks, and other products that are more likely to encourage impulse purchases.

When we shop, we literally snake our way around the perimeter, only detouring into the aisles when we need something on our list. It keeps our shopping trip efficient and minimizes our exposure to nonessential items.

• As a baker with over 10 years of experience, I've learned some great cookie-baking tips.
• Properly creaming the butter and sugar is key for achieving great texture.
• For soft, chewy cookies, let them cool on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack.

Whether you're baking for one or a whole party, homemade cookies are always a hit.

After working at a grocery store and owning my own bakery, I have several tricks I use every time I make cookies.

Cream the butter and sugar properly

Creaming butter and sugar is the first step for countless cookie recipes.

Simply mixing softened butter with granulated sugar or brown sugar until combined isn't enough. It's important to really whip the ingredients together for several minutes to create air bubbles in the mixture.

Those bubbles play a key role once the dough is in the oven by creating steam, which ultimately results in a great texture.

Proper creaming typically takes three to five minutes, depending on your mixer. The final product will be pale and fluffy and ready for room-temperature eggs.

Use pure vanilla extract

Most cookie recipes call for vanilla extract — especially chocolate-chip and sugar cookies.

However, the flavor will only be as good as the ingredients you add.

Vanilla extract is used to enhance the flavors of other ingredients and add its own distinct flavor, so it's best to stick to a pure, high-quality option. Artificial extract won't achieve the same incredible results.

Pay attention to chilling time

Not all recipes call for chilling time, but if your dough does, be sure to follow it. It's a crucial step to preventing cookies from spreading too much while baking.

Part of what controls the spread is the butter.

At room temperature, it's quite soft. Chilling the dough gives the fat time to solidify again, which ultimately takes longer to melt in the oven.

Use a cookie-dough scoop

Want cookies that are uniform in size and shape? Use a cookie-dough scoop to evenly divide the dough.

They look like mini ice-cream scoops and can be found in multiple sizes.

Just scoop the dough, roll it into a ball, and place it on your baking sheet.

Always line your baking sheets

The key to preventing cookies from sticking is lining your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Many recipes suggest greasing the sheet, but that can often impact the way the cookies spread.

Parchment paper on its own prevents sticking without affecting the dough. Plus, it can be reused multiple times while baking several sheets of cookies.

Give the cookies some space

It varies depending on the type of cookie, but pretty much every dough will spread while baking — even if it's just the slightest amount.

When you're placing dough on a baking sheet, give each cookie 1 ½ to 2 inches of space to ensure they don't merge together while baking.

Keep an eye on your cookies in the oven

Even set to a uniform 350 degrees Fahrenheit, every oven will bake a bit differently.

It's important to check your cookies a few minutes before the recipe's baking time is up.

Cookies are usually done when the edges are lightly golden brown, which may be several minutes before or after the timer actually goes off.

For softer cookies, let them finish baking out of the oven

If you're a fan of soft, chewy cookies, the key is to pull them out at the right moment.

Once the edges of the cookies have just started to brown, remove the baking sheet from the oven and set it on the stovetop.

Allow the residual heat from the baking sheet to finish off the cookies for two to three minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

This story was originally published in December 2022 and most recently updated on December 9, 2024.

• The red-hot US housing market could cool off slightly in 2025, making it easier to buy a home.
• Expect stable or declining mortgage rates and more housing inventory, according to Redfin.
• However, it's still prohibitively difficult for younger homebuyers to break into the market.

The American dream of home ownership has become increasingly harder to achieve in the last few years. Home prices are elevated, mortgage rates are high, and housing supply is constrained. That's not to mention the growing threat of climate change, which is driving up housing costs such as insurance, HOA fees, and property taxes in high-risk states.

There's both some good and bad news on the horizon for homebuyers, according to housing market experts.

The good news? On the whole, it'll be easier to buy a house in 2025. But the bad news, for younger homebuyers at least, is that's mostly just the case for boomers. Homeownership is actually looking as distant as ever for first-time buyers, especially Gen Z and millennials.

3 reasons it'll be easier to buy a house in 2025

First, housing prices are projected to increase slower than in previous years. Redfin economists Daryl Fairweather and Chen Zhao predict that median US home-sale prices will rise by 4% in 2025. Goldman Sachs has a similar outlook for 2025, predicting that US home prices will increase by 4.4%. That's roughly in line with median wage growth. Considering that US home prices shot up over 40% between March 2020 and January 2024, this sanguine prediction is good news for prospective homebuyers.

Another impediment to homeownership has been high mortgage rates, which have more than doubled in the last few years. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has risen from below 3% in 2021 to around 7%.

While a 7% rate is still high historically, it's a sign of improvement from this housing cycle's high of 7.8% in October 2023. And rates could come down further in 2025, according to housing market experts. Redfin expects mortgage rates to stay the same or decrease next year. Realtor.com forecasts mortgage rates to end 2025 at 6.2%.

Lastly, experts predict that new housing inventory will hit the market, bringing relief on the supply side. A Republican sweep in Congress is a positive sign for homebuilders, as the construction industry will benefit from fewer regulations, according to Redfin.

In October before the election, Jeffery Roach, chief economist of LPL Financial, said that an increase in housing starts, or construction of new residential housing units, was a signal for more single-family homes hitting the market over the course of the next few quarters. According to Realtor.com, housing starts for new single-family homes could hit 1.1 million in 2025, a 13.8% increase.

All of these factors could improve the housing market going into 2025. Redfin predicts that home sales will increase anywhere between 2% and 9% next year.

No houses for young homebuyers

But unfortunately, if you're a first-time homebuyer, you're probably out of luck. Redfin doesn't expect the increase in home sales to be driven by young or working-class buyers. It's looking likely that any new housing inventory that hits the market will go toward older Americans first.

"Instead, affordable homes will be snapped up by older buyers who are priced out of higher price tiers," Fairweather and Zhao wrote in a recent report.

Indeed, first-time homebuyers are having unprecedented difficulty in the housing market. It's typically more difficult for first-time buyers to purchase a home because they don't have funds from selling a previous home to use for a down payment and mortgage payments, Redfin said in a June report, but today's housing environment is especially hostile towards young buyers.

Wages simply haven't kept up with the pace of home price increases over the past five years. According to Elijah de la Campa, a Redfin senior economist, the cost of starter homes have increased twice as fast as incomes during that time. Additionally, for Gen Z and millennials, student loans and credit card debt are emerging as roadblocks to homeownership, as it's difficult to qualify for mortgages with a poor credit score and high levels of debt.

As a result, the median age of first-time homebuyers is now 38, according to the National Association of Realtors — an all-time high. That's up from 35 in 2023. First-time homebuyers are also an increasingly smaller proportion of the market, at just 24% in the 12-month period ending in June 2024. The year prior, that proportion was 32%.

Comparatively, boomers have an advantage in the housing market. According to Edward Yardeni, president of financial research firm Yardeni Research, boomers own roughly half of the nation's net worth and homeowner equity, giving them a leg up in the housing market. Now, as boomers age and look to downsize their homes or move elsewhere for retirement, they can take advantage of the home equity they've amassed from years of home ownership.

"Gen Zers, meanwhile, will keep living with family or renting until well into their 30s," wrote Fairweather and Zhao.

• Mark Cuban learns about new technologies and trends through his teenage kids.
• Knowing about social media also allows the billionaire to connect with them.
• Cuban recently left "Shark Tank" to spend more time with his kids.

Social media may feel like unchartered territory to some parents — but Mark Cuban is leaning in.

In an interview with People posted on Thursday, the entrepreneur shared eight rules that he follows in life — including this one parenting tip.

"Number one, follow the scroll," Cuban, 66, said. "Oh my goodness, I learned so much from my kids. I learned what 'skibidi' is," he said, referring to the Gen Alpha lingo. "Skibidi Toilet" is an animated YouTube series about singing and dancing toiletlike creatures that want to take over the world.

Social media is an integral part of their lives, he added. "I keep on learning from them because they are exposed to all these new technologies."

Referring to himself as a "tech guy," Cuban said he tries to understand how social media algorithms influence his kids' lives.

Knowing about social media also helps him connect with them.

"They're in the car, and I'm driving my son. I can look over at a stoplight and see him scrolling through his Instagram or TikTok and know exactly what he's interested in," he said.

"Trying to be able to connect to him, which, like for any parent, could be almost impossible, but it's just informative," he added.

Cuban has three kids, who are 14, 17, and 21.

In May 2020, he posted a video on Instagram of him dancing with his daughters. "Teaching me to dance 😂😂😂," he wrote in the caption.

Last November, Cuban announced that he would leave "Shark Tank" after Season 16, which premiered in October on ABC.

"I'm leaving just to spend more time with my kids — they're teenagers now," he told The Wrap in October. "We shoot in June and September, and just getting the opportunity now when they're getting out of school to be able to spend time directly with them, that's important. I'm tired of missing that."

Cuban is not alone in using social media as a tool of connection.

Nina McCollum recently wrote for Business Insider that she uses TikTok and Instagram to communicate with her teenage son. They watch social media content together and have discussions about them.

"Politics, religion, science, life choices, and risk-taking are just some of the discussions social content has sparked," she wrote. "None of this connection would be happening if we didn't communicate through these videos."

A few celebrity parents have resorted to other means of connection.

"Modern Family" actor, Julie Bowen, said she hangs out around the house so her three teen sons know where to find her if they need her.

"If you just kind of park it, make fake cookies in the kitchen no one's ever going to eat, they start coming in and out. You start having conversations with teenagers," Bowen said in an October episode of "The Three Questions with Andy Richter" podcast.

Molly Shannon, a "Saturday Night Live" alum, advised parents of teens to change their attitudes about parenting in an interview on "Today with Hoda and Jenn." She added that they should have empathy when interacting with their teens.

"Most of the time, they just want to be heard. I try to think of that," she said.

Cuban did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

• I've been skiing and snowboarding for decades and taught my children how to do the winter sports.
• Make sure your layers are keeping you dry, and pay extra attention to your hands.
• Start on the bunny hill and work your way up — don't ski or board above your level.

I've been skiing and snowboarding my whole life and even taught my children how.

Every so often, while riding the chairlift, I look down upon some out-of-control skier in soaked-through jeans, a snow-flecked sweatshirt, and cotton gloves. A few moments later, they crash into some obstacle and tangle themselves among their skis and poles.

The sports are fun winter activities, but if you're not properly dressed or prepared, you're putting yourself and others at risk.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, here are a few tips for staying safe on the mountain.

Make sure you're packing the proper equipment

Slope safety begins at home. Before you leave, consider your outfit.

You'll definitely want waterproof snow pants and a jacket that will keep off the wind and rain, but your layers don't have to be anything fancy.

To start, you may be able to cobble together something warm from what you already own. Try wool sweaters, synthetic running shirts, and that random fleece vest that you own but never wear.

I think it's pointless for a new skier to drop hundreds of dollars on gear, but there are a few body parts worth investing in (hand, feet, head). If you're going to spend money on anything, invest in good gloves.

Beyond that, ski socks are priceless in keeping toes warm. A good neck gaiter and a basic pair of goggles can prevent nose and eyes, respectively, from dripping icicles, too.

Staying dry is of the utmost importance

Keeping your body warm and dry is necessary on the slopes.

Rule No. 1: Anything made of cotton has no place on the mountain.

When cotton gets wet — an inevitability for first-time skiers and snowboarders who spend a lot of time on the ground or anyone who's prone to sweating — the material absorbs the moisture, remains wet, and makes you cold.

Choose synthetic materials or natural fibers like wool that help to wick away water from the body and keep you warm.

The boots you pick can make or break your day on the slopes

Whether you're renting or investing in your first pair of ski or snowboard boots, know that they're supposed to be snug.

The boots are meant to react to your feet's movements, so they have to be a little tight. However, they shouldn't be cutting off your circulation.

If they're uncomfortable in the rental shop, they're going to feel terrible on the mountain.

Do yourself a favor and make sure they feel as close to perfect as possible before you hit the chairlift. The employees in ski shops should be experts who are able to help.

Take it slow — especially if you're a beginner

Once you arrive at the mountain, don't look to tackle anything above your level.

If you're a beginner, head straight for the bunny slopes. There's no shame in learning to turn, stop, and not kill yourself or someone else on the mountain's gentlest run.

The fastest way to get off the bunny hill is to take a one-hour lesson to help you acquire the basic skills to become a more competent rider.

After you gain the fundamentals, progress in order. Conquering the bunny hill doesn't mean you're ready for black diamonds. Head to green-circle beginner trails to practice your turns and technique. After getting comfortable with those skills on that terrain, try the blue-square intermediate trails.

Pro tip: Keep in mind that trail markings are not universal from mountain to mountain. A black diamond in the Poconos usually isn't as difficult as a black diamond in Colorado.

You're not too cool for a helmet

We're heading into 2025 and not the aughts — a time when people didn't seem to truly understand that speed, hard surfaces, and bare skulls made for dangerous combinations on the slopes.

Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you'll want a helmet. You can usually rent these if needed.

Learn the 'basic food groups' for skiers

I think taking a lesson is the best way to really get the hang of skiing, but there are a few tips and stances to get you started.

First-time skiers need to remember two foods: pizza and french fries.

Keep a gentle bend in your knees and shape your skis like a piece of pie to give yourself a more controlled stance and proceed down the mountain at reduced speed. Thinner pizza slices make you go faster, and wider ones slow you down.

When you're ready to go faster, shaping your skis like french fries will send you straight down.

Keep your knees bent when you're on a board

Snowboarders have fewer food terms to remember, but you'll want to loosely bend your knees and carve back and forth across the mountain to limit your speed.

The trickiest part of snowboarding is shifting from your heel to toe to change directions.

My best advice is to start slow, commit to every turn, and look where you want to go (not backward).

• Brian Chesky and Nvidia's Jensen Huang avoid one-on-one meetings with subordinates.
• "You become like their therapist," Chesky told Fortune.
• Yet one person who studies meetings said making an employee feel heard can have "amazing" outcomes.

Meetings are the main way Airbnb's Brian Chesky gets work done. Yet he says the one-on-one format with a direct report is fundamentally flawed.

"Almost no great CEO in history has ever done them," the Airbnb chief said in a recent interview.

That's because when an employee "owns the agenda," they bring up subjects managers don't want to discuss — and "you become like their therapist," Chesky said. Topics can also arise that would benefit other people at the company to hear, but instead, they're sequestered in a one-on-one.

Of course, there are certain times when a one-on-one makes sense, Chesky told Fortune in the interview — such as when an employee is having a difficult time personally and needs to confide to a boss privately.

But generally, he said, they're just not productive on a regular basis.

Chesky isn't alone. Although he has many direct reports, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also prefers to skip one-on-one meetings.

"I don't really believe there's any information that I operate on that somehow only one or two people should hear about," Huang said at Stripe Sessions earlier this year.

Making employees feel heard can have 'amazing' outcomes

While some leaders are cracking down, one expert previously told Business Insider that, when conducted correctly, one-on-ones can boost employee engagement, productivity, and overall happiness.

"The outcomes associated with effective one-on-ones are amazing," said Steven G. Rogelberg, an organizational psychologist who's also a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the author of "Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings."

Rogelberg previously told BI that one-on-ones are more successful when the worker leads the conversation. He said managers should dedicate roughly 25 minutes a week and focus on the personal needs of employees as well as the practical aspects of the job.

Many managers avoid that first component, Rogelberg said, because it takes more effort.

But at the same time, workers need to do their due diligence, he said — showing up prepared to talk more than half the time. Some fruitful topics include: challenges, how a manager can better support a worker, and what's going well and what could be improved.

'Nitpicking sessions'

Chesky isn't the only boss who's over the one-on-one. In May, Aditya Agarwal, a former Facebook director, wrote in a post on X that after more than a decade of conducting such meetings with those who report to him, he determined they did more harm than good.

"They condition people to do spot checks on happiness and constantly be critical about things that aren't ideal. In practice, 1:1s descend into nitpicking sessions," Agarwal wrote as part of a thread.

Agarwal added that bosses should give feedback every three to six months rather than weekly. That approach, he said, could drive managers to pick up on patterns and give "holistic" guidance rather than weekly spot checks.

• A few months ago, I started using an AI notetaking app, Granola, in meetings.
• I take notes and then after the call, the AI builds a more fulsome outline of the conversation.
• Taking notes on what's most important helps us get more from meetings, Granola's CEO said.

A few minutes after I'd hopped on a call with a tech founder, he mentioned that he'd started using an "amazing" AI notetaking app.

It was helping him capture the various decisions and to-do's that came up in the many meetings that punctuated his calendar.

I was intrigued. I'd tried artificial intelligence tools for summarizing interview notes and transcripts. The results were often great at capturing themes, yet the AI tended to sweep past the details, pithy comments, or intriguing ideas I would tend to highlight.

It was like getting a book report from someone who'd only skimmed the reading.

Not long after my call with the tech founder, I downloaded the app, which is called Granola, on my Mac. It's a desktop tool, for now. An iOS version is on its way and Windows after that.

I've been using Granola since midsummer, and it's changed my meetings. To be clear, I also use a different app to get a full recording of the call to ensure my reporting and quotes are accurate. But what delighted the founder who tipped me off to Granola is also what I like best: I get to shape the outline for the notes that the AI generates.

My kind of notes

When I began using it, I allowed Granola to synch with my calendar. A few minutes before, I get a prompt to join a meeting. When the call begins, I then get permission from whomever I'm talking with to record the conversation. (Granola also has a prompt that pops up at the bottom that reminds users to get the OK to transcribe calls.)

The notetaking window in Granola is pretty much a blank page, which I like because it's a clean UX. I can drop in a title or use the one populated by what's on my calendar.

Once things begin, I only type what's most important, and the AI follows my lead. I can type just a few words and know that, after the call, with a click, Granola will build an outline around the points I flagged.

That's a huge help and different from the summaries I often get from other AI tools. Plus, I also always look back at the untidy notes I took in case something in the AI version feels off.

If I take no notes at all — which is rare — Granola will still deliver a pretty sharp summary complete with subheads and bullets.

The biggest benefit for me is that I worry less about scribbling down each thing that I might later deem important. In essence, I can be more present.

That's a frequent comment from users, Chris Pedregal, Granola's CEO, told me over a call in which we each took notes with the app.

In fact, given the whac-a-mole way many of us work — quickly triaging the messages that bombard us throughout the day — AI notetaking apps could have our back.

Pedregal said he was surprised when the company began hearing from users that they'll often zone out during a meeting to respond to an urgent Slack or WhatsApp message, then go back to Granola and pop up the transcript to read what they missed.

That's notable, in part, because in a recent survey, 57% of Granola users reported being in leadership roles. Pedregal said that supports the narrative that many top execs might be more excited about AI than some rank-and-file workers.

Pedregal, 38, cofounded Granola in March 2023. He's from the US, though he and the company's staff are based in London. Granola is focused on the American market and has US investors, he said. The company recently completed a $20 million Series A round. Google acquired Pedregal's prior startup, Socratic, in 2018.

Finding the sweet spot

The benefit of having an AI notetaker, I've found, is more than knowing I don't have to worry as much about details in the moment (though I'll always double-check afterward). Pedregal said the reason the app doesn't record audio is to make it less invasive.

The things I type are often the points that stand out because they're unique — or questionable — and that I want to think or ask more about.

Pedregal says jotting down a few notes during a meeting — but not being slavish about capturing everything — is the sweet spot. Unless we're trying to multitask, that middle path often enough, he said, to keep us tethered to the conversation and engaged with what speakers are saying.

I admit I've felt good while in meetings on busy days knowing that the safety net is there.

• The STAR and PARADE methods of answering behavioral interview questions are both popular.
• They can help when you're asked about a time you faced a challenge or made a mistake at work, for example.
• Career experts shared with BI their advice for how and when to use each method.

Share an example of a challenge you've faced at work. Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision in your role. Tell me about a mistake you've made on the job.

We've all probably heard some variation of these behavioral interview questions before. Though they're pretty common, it can still be difficult to know the right way to answer them.

Two well-known methods, STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) and PARADE (Problem, Anticipated consequence, Role, Action, Decision-making rationale, End result), are commonly suggested as means to craft your response.

While the two are both ultimately designed to guide candidates with their answers, which structure is more effective?

We asked career experts to break down the difference between the two, and which one may work best for you.

The STAR method

The widely used STAR framework is a personal favorite recommendation of Amri Celeste, a recruitment manager and interview coach.

"The pros are that the STAR Method structure automatically arranges an answer into a story format," she said. "And we tend to remember information in story format much easier than plain data or information, so it automatically makes answers memorable."

The straightforward format is broken down into four simple steps:

1. Situation: Set the scene by providing context on the challenge you faced.
2. Task: Explain your role in that situation.
3. Action: Describe what actions or steps you took to tackle the situation.
4. Result: End with the outcome of your actions and how you grew from the experience.

Andrew Fennell, a former corporate recruiter and founder of résumé builder website StandOut CV, said that the STAR method's structured approach is especially effective at exhibiting "measurable achievements" and "clear problem-solving skills."

"It helps candidates organize their responses by focusing on a specific scenario, their responsibilities, the actions they took, and the outcomes they achieved," he said.

However, Fennell said that the framework may sometimes feel "rigid" and responses could seem "overly rehearsed." Additionally, he said that candidates using the STAR method sometimes are not able to "highlight softer skills or adaptability in more abstract scenarios."

The PARADE method

While the STAR method can offer succinct, informative answers, the PARADE method is a more detailed structure that examines the decision-making process and its broader impact in greater depth.

"This is particularly useful for leadership or strategic roles where the reasoning behind actions is just as important as the outcomes," Fennel said.

The PARADE method is broken down into a slightly longer structure:

1. Problem: Lay out the challenge or situation you faced.
2. Anticipated consequence: Explain the potential consequences or impacts that could occur if the problem remained unsolved.
3. Role: Define the role or position you played in resolving the situation.
4. Action: Describe what specific actions you took.
5. Decision-making rationale: Explain the reasoning behind your actions and why you chose those steps as opposed to other ones.
6. End result: Finish with the outcome of the situation.

Although both the STAR and PARADE methods provide examples that illustrate how candidates can achieve jobs, Tessa White, CEO of The Job Doctor and author of "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success," said that she finds the PARADE structure "more powerful."

"It gives greater context — how big was the problem? Why was it a problem? How do I know I created impact?" said White.

However, Fennel said that candidates might find it more difficult to prepare the PARADE method due to its level of detail.

"It risks leading to lengthy or overly complex answers if not handled carefully," he said.

Which is better? It depends on the question or role

Although both structures are effective in showcasing a candidate's ability through an example, Fennel said that the STAR method is particularly useful for "standard competency-based interviews" that need "concise and focused" answers.

"Its straightforward structure works well for roles that prioritize technical expertise or clear problem-solving," he said.

Celeste recommends using the STAR method for questions that require an example, such as ones that begin with "Describe a time when" or "Give an example of." In contrast, the structure is less suitable for questions like "Tell me about yourself" or "Why should we hire you?"

However, for questions focused on problem-solving and critical thinking, Celeste suggests using the PARADE method. This includes prompts like "Can you walk me through a situation where you needed to adopt a new strategy?" or "Describe a complex problem you faced at work."

She also said the PARADE method is better suited for mid to senior-level roles because of its detailed format, which results in longer and more complex answers that "may not be needed for a first-level position."

In the end, however, what's most important is telling a compelling story that demonstrates what you've accomplished and what you can do in the new job.

"I've sat through thousands of interviews, and the person who can clearly share how they solved a problem or created impact is rare," says White. "Most individuals focus on what they can do, but not how they can do it. I'm looking for proof points, and both methods do just that."

• Job seekers are bulking up their résumés with extra details to stand out in a competitive market.
• Experts warn that overly detailed résumés can be hard to navigate and may hinder job prospects.
• AI tools and keyword stuffing contribute to longer CVs, but concise formats are still best.

It might be time to put your résumé on a diet.

In recent years, a competitive job market has ramped up the temptation to trick out résumés with added details about our skills and professional accomplishments, several career experts told Business Insider.

Yet a swole document can also be harder to navigate.

"You want to make your résumé a sales page, not a Wikipedia page," Madeline Mann, a career coach and CEO of Self Made Millennial, told BI.

Many job seekers believe that including extra detail will help show off their qualifications to employers. But, Mann said, employers have specifics they're seeking on a résumé — often what's outlined in the job description.

"You do not want it to be a treasure hunt for them to find those things," she said.

A year-end résumé cleanup

With the end of the year approaching, it might be a good time to take a fresh look at what's on your résumé as many employers tend to advertise new roles in January. Plus, an uptick in job postings for recruiters in some industries indicates that stepped-up hiring might soon follow.

Doing some trimming for the new year can help because as word counts on CVs creep higher, more employers might have to search for what they need.

A review by LiveCareer of some 50,000 résumés in its database found that, on average, they had nearly doubled in length from 2018 to 2023 as more job seekers did things like adding a section highlighting their skills.

LiveCareer also found that the number of people devoting résumé real estate to certificates, languages, and other accomplishments had about doubled.

James Neave, the head of data science at the job site Adzuna, told BI that he'd also seen CVs balloon. On average, the word count of the US résumés in its database has increased by about 40% since August 2021, he said.

Stay relevant

Neave said one culprit behind résumé creep could be the inclination to inject our professional calling cards with all of the keywords from a job description.

So-called keyword stuffing, where you add the operative words or phrases that appear in a job posting to your résumé, is nothing new. Yet more people hunting down jobs might be focusing on that in an attempt to shoulder their way past the applicant-tracking systems that most large employers use to sort résumés.

Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with LiveCareer, told BI that many job seekers feel the need to include more keywords, skills, and components like accomplishments in their résumés simply to stay afloat in a competitive job market.

But it's easy to overdo it, she said. Adding too much risks having a recruiter overlook what's most important.

Escalera recommends job seekers use distinct sections to help make their résumé easy to read. She suggests working from the top down by starting with a professional summary. Unlike the "objective" that once took the top spot, the professional summary should focus on how the candidate can contribute to what the employer is seeking, Escalera said.

But, unlike an objective that once might have been a sentence or two, professional summaries often get loaded up with how long we've worked, various skills, and the value we'd bring to a job, she said.

"There's much more going into this thing to be able to stand out," Escalera said.

Next up is a skills section. For people applying for roles with quantifiable results — like sales or marketing — it can be wise to then include a section on career accomplishments. Following that would be experience and, last, education.

AI doesn't always help

While using AI to write or revamp résumés hasn't been a thing for very long, Mann said that the technology could explain at least some CVs' newfound heft. That's because while the tech can help draft and proof résumés, AI can also bring its own risks, she said.

"It's the average of all the resources that are out there, so it creates these incredibly generic résumés," Mann said.

The reason, she said, is because many people have been writing résumés in rather generic ways for a long time so that's the bulk of what AI has been trained on.

Stick to two pages — maximum

For years, the advice has broadly been that newbie workers should keep their résumé to about a page. More seasoned workers, the thinking often goes, should cap their CVs around two pages and not go beyond three.

That advice still holds, Adzuna's Neave said.

"If I get a CV and it's like four or five pages, I'm inwardly groaning already," he said. That's because it's just harder to work with, Neave said.

He recommends people with five years or less of work experience cap a résumé at a page. For longer-tenure workers, two pages should suffice in most cases.

Focus on your most recent experience

Mann, from Self Made Millennial, said that because employers tend to care about your most recent work, it's best to focus the experience section on the past decade or about the last four roles.

For most experience beyond that, she said, it's often sufficient to drop in a bullet for that role or just name the jobs. It's still important that the résumé be an accurate portrayal of your career path, Mann said, but going into detail on the old stuff often isn't useful for employers.

"If a company is interviewing you and you're constantly going back 10-plus years to answer their questions, that is going to probably hurt you," she said. "They are more interested in what have you been up to lately."

Do you have something to share about what you're seeing in your job search or in the workplace? Business Insider would like to hear from you. Email our workplace team from a nonwork device at [email protected] with your story, or ask for one of our reporter's Signal numbers.

An earlier version of this story appeared on September 8, 2024.

• Holiday gatherings are ripe for conflicts over politics, relationships, social issues, and more.
• Preparation, a curious perspective, and personal boundaries help when navigating arguments.
• Four communication experts shared their tips for keeping the holiday festivities peaceful this year.

If this year you're headed into Thanksgiving dinner with a pit in your stomach, worrying that your Great Aunt Karen will say something that'll set the whole family on a course toward WWIII, worry no longer.

This year, you don't have to get caught in a political debate or battle of wits with your friends or extended family — if you don't want to. With tips from communications professionals who know precisely how to navigate tension-filled conversations and come out the other side peacefully this holiday season, if you prefer, you can keep things light.

Business Insider talked to four communications professionals specializing in relationships, conflict, and negotiation: a professor of debate, a licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor, a national speaker who helps people negotiate business deals and address conflict at work, as well as a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant. Here's what they say are the best ways to avoid clashing with your family at your end-of-year festivities.

Be prepared

"What we do when we bring our significant others or some of our friends to dinner, right before we go in, we say something like a disclaimer," Risha Grant, an international speaker and DEI consultant, told Business Insider. We warn them that our grandmother, uncle, or other extended family is "from a different generation, so they may say something offensive — just ignore them."

But instead of giving that disclaimer to your guests, Grant suggests giving it to your loved ones ahead of time. Instead of asking your guests to let things slide, try telling your problematic relative that this year, you'd rather keep things neutral.

By explicitly spelling out that the family is trying to avoid hot-button conversations this year, you set expectations for everyone and put yourself in the driver's seat, settling some of the anxiety that comes with thinking about what might happen.

"If you can have that conversation beforehand, and let your loved ones know that dinner is not the time to have that conversation, you can try to head it off," Grant said.

Set and keep firm boundaries

But when Uncle Brandon just has to make a comment, even after you've clearly said you don't want to engage, you don't have to let it derail the day, said Keisha Saunders-Waldron, a licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor.

Not everything has to be an argument, especially at the dinner table. If your family is annoying you, but not saying anything that goes against your values, Saunders-Waldron says it's OK to let some things go.

"It could be worth hashing out when we're talking about things where your value systems and core beliefs start to kick in — but if we know there is no resolution, and it's not worth ending the relationship over, then we want to agree to disagree," Saunders-Waldron said.

It helps to set firm boundaries about what type of conversation you're willing to engage in ahead of time, then stick to them, Saunders-Waldron told Business Insider. And remember: Boundaries are rules you make about your own behavior, not about trying to control someone else's.

"Those boundaries can sound like saying: 'I'm not willing to continue to be badgered right now. So I have about two more minutes to talk to you before I'm walking away, and I'm giving you the respect of letting you know that I'm walking away.'"

Check your attitude

If you want to try engaging in a conversation you know could become tense, the easiest way to help make the conversation go smoothly is to start by managing your own perspective, Justin Hale, a speaker and training designer for Crucial Learning, a corporate training company, told Business Insider.

Often, family debates can devolve into reactionary arguments, where people's fight-or-flight instincts get triggered. Before entering the fray, remember that you're conversing with your loved ones — not fighting a tiger that has jumped out of the bushes.

And don't go into a discussion hoping to win the argument, said Vanderbilt Professor John Koch, senior lecturer and director of debate. If that's your approach, "you're going about it wrong."

"Seek understanding first," Koch said. "If winning and losing are your only options, you're missing the point."

Assume the person you're speaking to has good intent, Hale added. Remind yourself that your conversation partner may have insight into the topic that you hadn't considered before, even if you believe they're wrong in their opinion. Don't discount the idea that you can learn from the conversation — even if you're just learning more about a viewpoint you disagree with.

"Certainty is the robber of curiosity. The more certain you become, the less open you are to being curious," Hale said. "People are afraid of curiosity because they're worried that, by being curious, they are agreeing that the other person is right — but that's absolutely not true."

Lead with humor and humility

If things get tense despite your best efforts, it can be helpful to start by acknowledging that everyone is wrong sometimes. Being humble and leaning into humor can help diffuse conflict before it escalates.

"Everybody's president has made mistakes," Hale said. "Everybody's politicians have been wrong. And nobody wants to admit that."

Hale suggests starting potentially challenging conversations by going around the table, with everyone sharing something they've been wrong about. Not only can this be a hilarious bonding activity, but it also opens the door for everyone to acknowledge they could be wrong now, too.

"Having a civil dialogue doesn't need to be a lost art," Koch said. "You can have a heated discussion without name-calling and put-downs."

And if you do misstep and find yourself the one losing your temper, Saunders-Waldron said, it's never too early or too late to apologize. Take a quick walk around the block to shake off any excessive negativity, then try again.

"Tell them: 'I recognized that I could have been in a better space and I wasn't. And so I would like to just apologize and see how I could fix the blunder,'" Saunders-Waldron said.

Know when to cut your losses and head home

Of course, it's possible that — despite your best efforts — the conflict escalates anyway. If you feel the conversation at the holiday event cannot be held respectfully, it's also fine to refuse to engage. And doing so thoughtfully can help preserve your relationships while clarifying your values.

"I think grace is a big deal in this whole topic because you don't want to alienate from your family," Grant said. "I would still give everybody a hug on the way out — maybe not the person I'm pissed off at — but grandma, grandpa, I'd say 'I love all of you so much. It was great up until this time, but I refuse to put myself or my loved ones in this situation. Maybe we'll come back tomorrow and see you.'"

The key to respectfully disengaging is to check out before the conversation becomes explosive, she said. It can help to remember that the outcome of the conversation is important to you because you value the relationship with the person you're arguing with.

"You do it with love," Grant said. "You let people know why you're leaving, but you've set a hard boundary for what is OK and what is not OK. Because, at the end of the day, the only thing that we control is ourselves — I can't control you, but I can control where I spend my day."

• I traveled from New York to Miami and back in Amtrak sleeper cars. Each ride was 30 hours.
• For 60 hours of train travel, I brought a carry-on duffel bag and my camera backpack.
• I was glad I brought some odor-eliminating spray, but I regret forgetting flip-flops for the shower.

For a weeklong trip to Florida in 2021, I traveled round-trip from New York to Miami on Amtrak trains. Each ride was about 30 hours long, and my tickets included a private room with a bed, access to a bathroom, and complimentary meals.

On my way to Miami, I booked a roomette, a 20-square-foot private space with two seats across from each other, a table that folded out in between, and a bed above the seats that pulled down. The seats also pulled out into a bed. Some Roomettes also include a toilet and sink.

On my way home, I booked an Amtrak bedroom. It's twice the size of a roomette with an additional chair and a shower.

Knowing I'd be staying overnight in sleeper cars, I packed some travel essentials I thought would be helpful for sleeping, eating, working, and relaxing on a train. I tried my best to ensure my duffel bag and backpack included all the items I'd ever want to ensure a comfortable and entertaining 60 hours of travel. But I regretted leaving some items behind.

I packed a duffel bag and my camera backpack, both of which I kept with me on the trains.

I had the option to check a bag, but I decided to keep all my belongings with me throughout the trip.

Since each ride was an overnight trip, I was glad I packed a comfortable outfit separately from my clothes for the rest of my trip so they were easy to find in my bag.

I packed comfy pants and shorts since I was traveling south to warmer temperatures. 

I was grateful I packed various forms of entertainment, especially some that didn't require an internet connection, which could sometimes be spotty.

I brought a Nintendo Switch, a tablet, and a book to pass the time. I made sure to download a bunch of podcast episodes to my phone in case I lost service and internet at any point during the trip.

I always keep a disinfecting spray with me to make sure the surfaces I use are clean.

Even though Amtrak sanitizes rooms between visitors, according to its website, bringing my own disinfectant gave me peace of mind and made me feel more comfortable relaxing in my rooms.

Every time I travel, I also pack some Vitamin C for an immunity boost.

This packing tip comes from my mom. She always brought some sort of immunity-boosting chewable to protect us from germs while traveling. And as Business Insider previously reported, Vitamin C can help your immune system fight off some infections.

One of the most important items I brought was my comfiest pair of shoes — they feel like pillows under your feet.

I picked up these memory foam babies at T.J. Maxx for only $20. They slipped on and off very easily, which was great for leaving my room quickly with shoes on.

I tried to make the train feel like home, and at home, I dance pretty much all day, so I'm glad I brought a pair of headphones with me.

I took frequent dance breaks in my room, where I closed the curtains and blasted music in my ears. This, of course, required a pair of headphones. 

While I danced throughout the day, I was glad I could listen to music as loudly as I wanted without bothering my neighbors.

I was especially glad I brought my odor-eliminating Poo Pourri spray with me when I saw that my Roomette's toilet was next to my seat.

In some roomettes (mine included), a side table swings open to reveal a toilet. Above, there's a folding sink and mirror. 

I may have had a bigger problem with having a toilet so close to my bed, but thankfully, I had packed some Poo Pourri, a spray that goes in the toilet just before you poop to eliminate odors.

While my train tickets included meals, I was glad I brought my own snacks for the in-between times.

I thought many of my meals on the train were decent, but there were times, like when I tried and disliked a salmon dish, that I was thankful for this bag of trail mix with my favorite ingredient, coconut chips.

But it turns out that I also missed a few key things when packing. While I'm glad I brought a water bottle, I wish I'd brought a smaller one that would fit in Amtrak's cupholders.

An Amtrak attendant brought me disposable water bottles every few hours, but I was still glad I brought my own pre-filled water bottle.

But my bottle was too wide for the provided cupholders, which were just big enough for 12-ounce bottles. So, I wish I had brought a smaller reusable water bottle.

One thing I missed the most on this trip was medication for motion sickness. Both train rides felt as bumpy as a flight when the seat belt sign is on.

I figured this would only be temporary, but I thought the whole ride was shaky. I ended up feeling motion sickness for the majority of both trips and kicking myself for not bringing any remedies.

On my way home, I stayed in a bedroom with a private shower. I would have used it, but I forgot my flip-flops to keep my feet safe from germs.

I planned on showering during my 30-hour ride home from Miami, but I decided not to when I realized I had forgotten my flip-flops. I usually wear them in public showers, since it's pretty easy to pick up germs from places where many people have walked barefoot.

Since there weren't many visible outlets in the rooms, I wished I had packed a couple of outlet splitters to charge more than a few devices at a time.

I only saw a couple of sets of outlets in the rooms. With several devices to plug in, I should have brought an outlet splitter or two. 

For the same reason, my portable charging battery would have come in handy had I remembered to bring it.

I could have sworn I packed this and was so disappointed when I wanted to use it.

I usually bring my neck pillow when I fly, but I didn't think to take it on my Amtrak trek since my tickets came with beds. It would have made the waking hours more comfortable.

This specific neck pillow wraps around 1.5 times, making adjusting to various long-term sitting situations easy. 

While the train beds and blankets were much more comfortable than I expected, the pillows weren't as cushy as the ones I had at home. So I wish I'd brought my own.

The bed on the Amtrak was firm and slightly cushy on top, just the way I like a bed. But when I was drifting off to sleep each night, I thought of my fluffy, dense, soft pillows at home. 

• Between shopping, hosting events, and even attending them, the holidays can be stressful. 
• A great way to combat that stress is coming up with a plan. 
• Event and time management experts reveal how to craft your best holiday to-do list.

December to-do lists are no joke. There are cards to send, gifts to buy and wrap, parties to plan — it's easy to end up feeling more overwhelmed than festive as the holidays approach. 

But with the right plan — and realistic expectations — you can successfully conquer that massive list with minimal stress. A party planning pro and two time management experts shared some tips with Business Insider to create the ultimate timeline for completing holiday tasks. Here's their best advice.

Start with making a plan.

 

Kick off the holiday season by sitting down and making a master plan. 

"You can keep track of your holiday tasks by creating a master checklist or to-do list," Rashelle Isip, organization and productivity expert of The Order Expert, told Business Insider. "It's easier to track your holiday tasks when they're located in the same list."

You could use a notes or list app, but organizing expert Julie Morgenstern suggested using paper. Your phone is a minefield of potential distractions, she said, but paper gives you the headspace to slow down and think things through.

The next step is crucial.

"Any to-do on your list has to be converted into your calendar," Morgenstern said. "If it's not actually calendered, it's very unlikely that you're going to make time for it."

Oder your holiday cards before Thanksgiving.

Holiday card experts at Shutterfly advise ordering your holiday cards one to three weeks before Thanksgiving, in order to avoid potential delays and the extra cost of rush shipping. Here's Business Insider's review of popular online card companies to help you narrow down the options.

Decorate your house in the first week of December.

"Decorate early," party planning expert Cristy Mishkula and author of the blog Pretty My Party told Business Insider. "Right after Thanksgiving is the best time. This should be the first thing you do in addition to sending out your invitations."

And speaking of invitations...

Send out party invitations early December.

"The holidays tend to be a busy time for parties, so you want to make sure to get your invites out early so people can plan which events they will be attending," Mishkula said. 

Morgenstern and Isip agreed that the first week of December — or about four weeks before the date of the party — is a good time to invite guests. 

Send holiday cards out in the first week of December.

Moregnstern suggested sending out cards during the first week of December. Sure, late card arrivals aren't exactly a tragedy, but in a perfect world, all your holiday missives will arrive before the holidays are over. 

Start cleaning your house at the beginning of December.

If you're hosting a party, don't leave all your tidying up til the last minute. 

"Start organizing and purging items at the beginning of December, especially in the major places where your party will take place, like the kitchen," Mishkula said. 

Wrap up shopping around the second week of December.

Start shopping as early as your schedule allows, but aim to finish up midway through the month, both Isip and Morgenstern said. 

Send out packages by mid-December.

To ensure your packages arrive by December 25, send them by December 14, the United States Postal Service says. (That's for normal ground shipping within the contiguous US.)

If you're running behind, you can pay more for rush shipping. Note these suggested send-by deadlines:

• First Class Mail: December 19
• Priority Mail: December 20
• Priority Mail Express: December 22

And remember that these are general guidelines — shipping time can vary based on origin, destination, and more.

Head to the grocery store the week before your party.

"Purchase non-perishable foods and beverages a week before the party," Mishkula said.

That'll lighten the load for your second shopping trip a little closer to the party date. 

Finish wrapping gifts between the third to fourth week of December.

If you celebrate Christmas, Morgenstern suggested finishing up your wrapping by the weekend before December 25. 

That way, you leave yourself plenty of time to relax and enjoy the ramp-up to the holiday celebrations. 

Make your second grocery run one to two days before your party.

This is when you should pick up all the perishable items you're serving, Mishkula said. 

Take another look at your to-do list if you feel overwhelmed.

"One of the big mistakes people tend to make when managing their time during the holiday season is thinking that they can do it all without any effect on their stress levels or general well-being," Isip said. "It's extremely important to remember that holiday preparations are in addition to people's ongoing schedules and commitments; avoid overcommitting during the season."

But if you do end up overcommitting — and staring down a to-do list that's miles long — don't panic. First, estimate how much time each remaining task will take. Then, pare things down using Morgenstern's four Ds: delete, delay, diminish, and delegate.

"Delete items that aren't worth the time investment," Morgenstern said. Then delay things that don't need to happen in December — maybe you send out New Year's cards, for example.

Next, try diminishing items. "Ask yourself, 'Is there a shorter, quicker, easier way to do this?'" Morgenstern said. For example, you could buy 10 gifts at one place instead of visiting multiple stores. 

And finally, delegate. Don't be afraid to ask your loved ones to help out. 

Remember, everything doesn't need to be perfect.

If you're behind schedule, remember that not every task requires the maximum amount of time, effort, and finesse. It's OK if you need to put in a bit less personal effort in order to get something done. 

"Could you have your gifts wrapped at the store, have someone clean the house for the month, have someone mail gifts and cards at the post office, pay someone to walk the dog during the month of December, or place a catering order for a holiday party?" Isip said. 

Maybe you send an email holiday card over physical ones, or host a potluck instead of cooking from scratch. The examples could go on and on. 

"The magic is being able to define levels of performance for each task," Morgenstern said.