Author: openjargon

• Many millennials and Gen Zers are incurring debt to finance their summer travel plans.
• Post-pandemic travel is booming despite inflation.
• Experts say that remote work and "bleisure travel" have increased spending on travel experiences.

Young Americans are having the summer of their dreams — just don't ask to see their bank balances.

A Forbes Advisor survey of 1,000 Americans who plan to travel in 2024 showed the post-pandemic "revenge travel" boom is in full force, despite rising inflation.

An estimated 92% of those surveyed said they plan to travel as much as they did in 2023, and more than half of Gen-Zers and millennials surveyed said they planned to travel more.

Millennials and Gen Zers are even willing to take on debt to fund their summer travel, according to three new surveys by Credit Karma, Bankrate, and Bank of America cited in a recent Business Insider report.

"Now that travel is back, younger travelers want to make the most of the time they have and prioritize spending on experiences versus tangible items," Johannes Thomas, CEO of Trivago, told BI.

The stats weren't surprising to Thomas, who told BI that this new trend could be partly attributed to the rise of remote work.

To work from home — or abroad

In a recent survey reported by BI in April, 34% of US CEOs said they expect workers whose roles were once tied to an office to be back in their commuting five days a week in the next three years. That's down from 62% who held that view in 2023, according to the study released Thursday by KPMG US.

"Remote work and flexibility are the new normal," Thomas said, adding that taking vacations while working has been made easier for younger people entering the workforce.

The ability to work from anywhere is appealing to those looking to fit more travel into their schedule, regardless of their bank balance.

It may be easier, but that doesn't necessarily mean cheaper. Around 62% of millennials and 61% of Gen-Zers surveyed by Forbes Advisor said they plan to spend a minimum of $4,000 on travel in 2024.

Ivan Saprov, founder and CEO of Voyagu, told BI that the rise of "bleisure travel" — the combination of business and leisure travel — has encouraged young people to prioritize taking trips during economic uncertainty.

For example, he said the rising combination of hotel chains and coworking spaces has made it "convenient for young professionals to work remotely while traveling."

"With the rise of remote and hybrid work formats, it is now easier than ever to mix work with pleasure," Saprov said.

Revenge travel and other loans

It's not just remote and hybrid working that may have contributed to a rise in travel spending.

Travel experts previously told BI they had noticed an uptick in clients opting for luxury air travel experiences, from private jets to first-class and premium-class plane tickets.

Oliver Bell, cofounder of luxury travel company Oliver's Travels, said this trend could be partly attributed to "revenge travel," where people are "willing to spend more for incredible experiences" in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Social media may also be playing a role. Thomas and financial expert Julie Beckham told BI that young people are likely to be influenced by peers who are showcasing their travel experiences online.

"FOMO (or fear of missing out) has a lot to do with saying yes to travel we can't afford," said Beckham, an AVP/Financial Education Development and Strategy Officer at Rockland Trust.

"We are very uncomfortable talking about finances as a society and it can cause people to overspend to keep up with their friends or appearances on social media," she added.

Debt is also a burden many people are used to carrying. According to Experian data, the average American owes $104,215 in mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, car loans, credit card debt, student loan debt, and other debts like personal loans.

Of course, you don't have to sacrifice financial stability to travel if it's within your means.

Beckham recommends creating an international spending plan for future trips.

She said it's worth being open and honest with your travel companions about your budget expectations so that you can plan for cheaper alternatives if required.

"It feels a lot better to save for a year to go away than to go away and spend the next year paying for that vacation plus interest," Beckham said.

"When possible, avoid the temptation to just charge it and deal with it later. While your tan fades, your debt will grow, and so might your stress."

• Janet Sussman moved from the US to Panama after a series of personal tragedies.
• She found the cost of living in Panama much lower and the community more supportive.
• Her new life involves house-sitting and enjoying a simpler, healthier lifestyle.

Janet Sussman had her eyes set on her dream home: a cabin in the woods of upstate New York. But after a series of catastrophes, she decided to move far from the US to the coast of Panama.

In 2006, her son died in a construction accident, six months after her husband had a major stroke. Sussman scrambled to return to school, take up multiple jobs, and move so her husband could live out his last years peacefully. After years of stress, she decided to relocate to Panama in 2012.

Living costs are much cheaper, people are much more respectful and less overworked, and the country's nature is what she desired. After working as a teacher for a few years, she now house-sits full-time, traveling the country while making some money.

"We all have tragedies in our lives, and we need those," Sussman said. "If not, you don't appreciate the good things, and that's why I think I have such a child-like awe of my travels."

Moving to Panama

Sussman grew up in Philadelphia, but she and her husband wanted to move away before her kids grew up. They settled in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and Sussman got a job in the catering department for several hotels. She worked her way up to regional catering director for five hotels.

She opened a nonprofit organization that ran a catering company training at-risk youth to obtain food safety certification licenses.

However, as her organization was growing, her husband had a major stroke. Six months later, her eldest son died in a construction accident in 2006. Her son had planned to help Sussman and her husband build a log cabin on five acres in upstate New York, their "dream house" where they would retire.

Around this time, she applied for a teaching position in Florida, but her offer was canceled. She worked three jobs, went to school, traveled two hours to see her husband each weekend, and struggled to pay her mortgage.

Her husband decided he wanted to live his last years on the property where they would have their dream home, and they put a manufactured home on the property. He died in 2010. The 2008 recession was not particularly friendly to their wallets, either.

"It was just one thing after another, and I was beside myself, but I still had to function. My other two children had already found their significant other," Sussman said. "I didn't know who I was in this new role. I didn't know where to go from there."

In 2009, she first decided to visit Panama, taking a $79 round-trip Spirit flight. She felt she had lived there in a past life, and she almost instantly knew she wanted to move there. After a few more years of stress and overwork, she moved to Panama in 2012, though she knew she had to keep working.

To stay afloat, she had started a shuttle service in Panama between the airport and hotels. She bought a van in the US and shipped it to Panama, along with spare parts that could not be found in the country.

She traveled between the two countries for a few years, but she wasn't happy in the US and still unable to make enough to keep her head above water.

She got a job as a teacher at an international school in Panama, which she said she thought would be a one-year temporary gig, though she stayed for over four years. She then started a language school, which she sold because she didn't want to work too hard as she approached retirement.

She still needed some income, so she became a house sitter for ex-pats, traveling the country full-time while getting paid — which she does to this day. She sold her apartment and stayed at Airbnbs between house visits.

Getting adjusted to Panama

Sussman remembers her "a-ha" moment for moving to Panama. She was exploring Panama City with locals, who took her to one of the lowest-income neighborhoods. She was invited to a small two-room home where she said 10 people lived, and she was offered whatever food they had. Some didn't have the money for a bus ride the next day, but she said they were willing to sacrifice any stability to be with each other.

"My takeaway from that was, by United States standards, some people have less than nothing, but they're happy and they're generous. They share what they have," Sussman said. "That's what I needed at that time. I was feeling sorry for myself because I felt I had lost so much, but it was nothing in comparison to how they have to live every day in buildings that would be condemned in the US."

She said she saw simple acts of kindness all the time when she first moved, and she said the people were why she settled long-term.

She said Panama City is getting much more expensive in the expat areas, particularly in more touristy beach locations. Many don't want to learn the language, which has led some communities to feel isolated from the rest of the city. Learning Spanish helped her become much more immersed in local culture and better respect her neighbors, as well as pick up on certain gestures or traditions.

"It's our job to adapt, not them to us," Sussman said.

Cost of living in Panama

For her 18th-floor apartment in Panama City, which had 24/7 security, she paid about $850 a month. Meanwhile, her daughter in Clearwater, Florida, was excited to find a $1,400-a-month apartment with few amenities. She paid $40 a month for her electric bill, while she said her daughter paid about $350 in Florida during the summer. She added Airbnbs are cheaper in Panama — she stayed at one for $455 a month in a beach town.

Most of her daily expenses are much lower than in the US, though her costs are more variable now as she constantly moves. She often gets fresh produce from stands on the side of the road, which keeps costs down as she rarely buys imported products. She said she eats much healthier in Panama than in the US.

She said she bought five pineapples a few weeks ago for $1, and often her produce is free if it falls from the tree. For chains like McDonald's, she said prices are about half as much in Panama for the same order she gets in Florida when visiting.

"A lot of people are saying that Panama is getting so expensive, but to me, if you want all your name-brand shampoos and all that other stuff, you're going to pay for it," Sussman said. "But then why move? If you're going to complain, then why are you here?"

Her health insurance is $71.50 a month with a $10 copay, and it was as low as $31.50 a month with a $3 copay until she turned 65. During the pandemic, she paid $26 for foot surgery. Her auto insurance is $179 a year for her 2017 Chevrolet Spark, while her phone bill is just $14 a month.

Once women residents turn 55 and men turn 60 in Panama, they get 25% off at restaurants, 30% off transportation, 15% to 20% off doctor's bills, and an import tax exemption of up to $10,000 for household goods. This has helped Sussman keep her finances down for daily expenses and lengthier travel.

Some costs are a little more expensive in Panama, such as gas. But overall, she said she's found her peace in Panama.

"You don't know about tomorrow, so you enjoy today," Sussman said. "You might travel around if you're looking to go someplace for a reason, but you know when you get there, and you just breathe in and say, this is it."

Have you recently left the United States for a new country? Reach out to this reporter at nsheidlower@businessinsider.com.

• Sophie Kihm is the editor in chief at Nameberry.
• Here, she shares seven trends that she's seeing in baby names.
• These include character names and giving boys names that would traditionally be given to girls. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sophie Kihm is the editor in chief at Nameberry. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Naming another human is no small feat. And yet, names are impacted so much by trends in pop culture. This year, I'm seeing more parents naming children after the parents' interests, whether that's with names of characters in their favorite anime or STEM-inspired names from parents who work in science, technology, and math.

Parents are also embracing names typically given to girls — for their daughters and sons — and choosing names that are easy to pronounce in various languages.

Here are seven trends I'm seeing in the world of naming— and believe it or not, the name Seven (which has Turkish origins) is on the rise for both boys and girls.

Girl's names for boys

Historically, names have migrated from predominantly male to predominantly female. Think Leslie, Ashley, and Dana.

But these days, we're seeing parents bestow names typically given to girls on their sons. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen named their son Wren, while Rihanna used Rose as a middle name for her son Riot. This generation of parents loves to play with gender roles and social expectations, and it shows.

Here are some examples of boys' names that we're seeing rise despite the fact that they're more often used for girls:

• Willow
• Harlow
• Cleo
• June
• Juniper
• Jade
• Robin
• Winter

Adult-sounding name

These names are usually associated with older generations, having been popular decades ago. This trend can be tied right to social media, and the naming experts who remind parents that they're naming an eventual adult, not just a baby. Parents who choose these names think it's better to grow into an adult-sounding name than outgrow a baby-ish name.

For girls, these baby women names are popular:

• Marjorie (helped along by the Taylor Swift song of the same name)
• Martha
• Georgine
• Florence
• Dolores

Popular names for little men include:

• Lionel
• Arthur
• Duncan
• Cedric
• Harold
• Ray

Names ending in '-ai'

So many modern families are multicultural, which contributes to this trend. Names that end in "ai" are easily pronounced in many languages, including indigenous languages, European languages, Japanese, and African languages. I like to say these names travel light, meaning they're easy to understand and pronounce anywhere.

Some of these names, like Kai, have existed for a long time. Others are modern inventions. Some of the more popular options for names are:

• Jakai
• Zakai
• Adlai
• Lorelai
• Mordecai
• Ozai
• Azakai

Insta-ready names

We're all familiar with the old-time Ivy League names that portray wealth and privilege. The more modern spin on this is what I think of as "natural glamour" names. To me, these names have the same feel as the "Ballerina Farm" Instagram account: very effortless and pastoral until you pull back the layers.

Some examples for girls include:

• Mable
• Flora
• Talia
• Phoebe
• Petra
• Asha

For boys:

• Killian
• Harris
• Magnus
• Harvey
• Orson
• Archie

Names based on the parents' interests

Many parents name their children after the things that they (the parents) love, including names inspired by a favorite musical icon, book, or Anime series.

For girls, these include:

• Collins
• Lennon
• Joanie
• Marceline
• Raya
• Ophelia

For boys:

• Zeppelin
• Guthrie
• Elton
• Jiraiya
• Cassian
• Anakin
• Chozen

Sky and space names

Another area where interest is sky-high (ha!) is names inspired by the atmosphere and weather. Sometimes, these can include space-inspired names given for a parent's love of science.

For girls, we're seeing:

• Araceli
• Astra
• Cielo
• Icelynn
• Nova
• Lumi
• Sole
• Sky
• Stormy

For boys, the popular options include:

• Kepler
• Darwin
• Edison
• Cosmo
• Air
• Lightning
• Zephyr
• Storm

Girly girl names

For a while, it felt feminist to give girls traditionally masculine or gender-neutral names. But now we're seeing parents embrace that names can be girly but still strong. We're seeing a rise in long, elaborate names but also in shorter, cutesy names for girls. These include:

• Winslow
• Dorthea
• Talula
• Guinevere
• Lulu
• Pippa
• Honey

We can never quite predict what names will be popular (I didn't think Chozen would be on this list!), but the changes and trends in baby naming keep me on my toes.

• More than half of baby boomers have less than $250,000 in assets, per Retirement Income Institute. 
• With limited savings, older adults are dependent on just over $1,000 monthly in Social Security.
• For many, Social Security income is insufficient to cover groceries, healthcare, and bills. 

Virginia Hambrick, 66, is retired but worried she will have to return to work. Her savings are long gone, and her $1,625 monthly Social Security check isn't nearly enough to support her and her husband's expenses.

The couple lives in a rural area about 50 miles outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hambrick had a long career in the manufacturing and hospitality industries but retired in the early 2010s with limited savings. Her husband has been caring for sick relatives for the past several years and doesn't have an income. Additionally, he's 57 and his Social Security check won't kick in until he's at least 62.

Hambrick needs more money. Every day, it's difficult to scrape together enough food to eat and her bills feel never-ending. But, even if she were to find a job, Hambrick worries about maintaining it. She can't afford a car or gas to drive anywhere, and she doubts she could work in retail or food service because she struggles to stand for hours at a time.

"If somebody wants to work around my limitations, then they would have a totally dedicated employee," Hambrick previously told Business Insider.

Hambrick's story echoes that of many American baby boomers. The country is facing a retirement crisis, and millions of older adults don't have the savings or assets to support themselves when they are no longer earning a paycheck.

Per Northwestern Mutual, it costs about $1.5 million per person to comfortably retire in America, more if you live in a high-cost-of-living city.

But there's a disconnect. Fifty-two percent of boomers have $250,000 or less in retirement assets, per an April report from the Retirement Income Institute, the retirement-focused research arm of the Alliance for Lifetime Income. And, the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey found that more than half of Americans over 65 have an annual income of $30,000 or less. This pushes some older adults close to the federal poverty line.

Perhaps most vulnerable to this retirement crisis are "peak boomers," the last members of the generation who turn 65 this year. They are feeling the fallout of America's 1980s switch from government pensions to employee-funded 401(k)s, and hope not to be financial burdens on their adult children. The group also faces uncertainty over Social Security — the average check in 2024 is $1,907 but the federal fund could start shrinking by 2030.

With drained savings accounts, growing debt, and limited assets, some older adults like Hambrick are clinging to their monthly Social Security checks. But for many, it isn't enough.

"I never imagined being in this position," Hambrick said.

With no savings, older adults depend on Social Security

Mary Dacus, 69, thought she would have a savings account at this point in her life. She and her husband, Stephen, felt comfortable for a few years after they stopped working several years ago. But, as their retirement funds depleted and inflation drove up their expenses, Dacus said they now barely have enough money to live every day.

Dacus and Stephen live in Robinson, Illinois, on their combined monthly Social Security income of $2,140. They have no money in case of an emergency and are nearly $10,000 in debt because they feel forced to pay grocery, housing, and healthcare bills on their credit cards.

Dacus often has to rely on food pantries to make sure she and Stephen have enough to eat — they only receive $23 a month in SNAP benefits and it "barely covers one meal," she said. Sometimes, she has to request an advance on their Social Security checks so they can pay for their meals or utilities.

And, Dacus worries that Stephen's recent cancer diagnosis could be financially "catastrophic" because they don't have Medicaid and Medicare won't cover long-term treatment.

Looming Social Security cuts in the next decade are a source of constant anxiety for Dacus.

"It scares us to death because we'll still be here, God-willing," she previously told BI. "How are we to survive?"

To be sure, some older adults feel financially secure in retirement. Due to strong company 401(k) matches or savvy investments, they have savings and assets, and aren't dependent on Social Security — some are even able to retire early.

It can be difficult for boomers to qualify for assistance, even with a low-income

Angela Babin feels stuck. The 62-year-old lives alone in a mobile home in Houma, Louisiana, about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans. She receives $1,104 a month in Social Security.

Babin lost most of her would-be retirement savings and assets in a divorce about 16 years ago, and stopped working earlier than she planned because of health complications. She now lives paycheck to paycheck — and $1,000 a month it isn't enough to cover her food, car, or utility bills. Her home was also badly damaged three years ago by Hurricane Ida, and she can't afford the necessary repairs, which she said state emergency funds won't fully cover.

"I don't want to be rich, I just need to be comfortable," she previously told BI. "I just want to know that I can have food when I need it and a nice roof over my head."

Babin said it's especially difficult for older adults to qualify for government assistance even if their Social Security income doesn't cover basic necessities. She's often worried about having enough to eat: the $28 a month she receives from SNAP covers bread, milk, and coffee, but little else. When she can visit a food pantry, the food is often spoiled, she said.

Even without savings, Babin doesn't qualify for many of America's safety nets. Programs that could supplement her income, like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and some tax credits are set up for parents with dependent children.

As an older adult, she doesn't know who to ask for help. She said she "has to survive" but is losing hope that her situation will change.

Some older adults didn't expect to struggle in retirement

Boomers are staring down an uncertain future. Hambrick, Dacus, and Babin all told BI that they don't feel like they are overspending. But limited government assistance, insufficient funds from Social Security, and no savings to fall back on aren't enough to pay bills.

In retirement, Hambrick thought she would be "traveling to new places and having fun with my husband." She never thought she would have to start submitting job applications.

"A lot of people think that, with Social Security, you get this big check, and you can move to Florida, and you could buy a boat and go fishing," Dacus said. "That's not what it is."

Are you an older adult living on Social Security? Are you open to sharing how you're saving for retirement? If so, reach out to this reporter at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com.

• Americans, in a Bankrate survey, said that they need nearly $200,000 annually to feel financially secure.
• Gen Zers, who already tend to feel financially vulnerable, said they need the most to feel secure.
• Gen Z is also coming up against rising costs other generations didn't contend with.

Americans think they need a whole lot more money than they're making to feel comfortable, according to a new survey.

The latest survey from Bankrate, which polled 2,407 US adults from May 16 to 20, looks at how much Americans think they need to make to feel financially secure. And, on the whole, workers said they'll need nearly $200,000 annually — on average, $186,000 — just to feel comfortable.

But some generations said they'll need more than others to feel secure. Gen Z is particularly worried.

According to the survey, Gen Z respondents said a $200,000 annual salary would ensure their financial security. Millennials said they'd need $199,000, and for Gen Xers and baby boomers, their financial security targets were at $183,000 and $171,000, respectively.

The survey comes after 44% of Gen Zers said in a previous Business Insider survey they're feeling financially vulnerable;, and are the most stressed about saving money. According to the Survey of Consumer Finances, the median net worth of Americans under the age of 35 is $39,040, and their median income is $60,530.

While it's difficult to pinpoint an exact dollar amount that would ensure financial security for any generation, the latest responses are a sign of the continued impact of inflation and other economic stressors continuing to hit Americans particularly hard. The Consumer Price Index rose 3.3% year over year in May — a slight decrease from April's 3.4% reading — but despite the cooling, recent surveys have shown the economy and inflation are top concerns for Americans.

"We define 'financial security' as synonymous with 'living comfortably' — a subjective term for most Americans, no doubt, but in our research/talking with Americans individually, they all seem to arrive at similar definitions," Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster told BI. "Overwhelmingly, they say it's the financial state of not having to worry about money. Comfort is when one can cover their expenses/needs and occasional wants, while also saving for the future."

That seems to ring true for Gen Z, specifically. The Washington Post recently reported that the generation is doing worse than millennials regarding high housing costs and rising debt loads. According to the Post's analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gen Zers are paying 31% more on housing, adjusted for inflation, than what people were paying a decade ago at the same age.

Additionally, according to a May TransUnion report viewed by BI, nearly 10% more Gen Zers are 60 or more days past due on their auto and credit card loans compared to millennials a decade ago.

"Gen Z consumers have seen their finances significantly impacted by the pandemic and its aftermath, even more so than the challenges faced by Millennials as a result of the Global Financial Crisis," Michele Raneri, vice president and head of US research and consulting at TransUnion, said in a statement alongside the May report.

To be sure, it's not all bad for Gen Z. TransUnion's latest Consumer Pulse Study found that Gen Z is "the most stable of any generation" in this year's second quarter, with 45% of them reporting wage increases over the past three months. They're also outpacing other generations with regard to retirement savings and homeownership, but even so, inflation remains at the back of their — and every other generation's — minds.

"Even if prices are up 5% and wages are up 5%, I feel really good about the 5% that I'm making, but it feels like someone just took that away from me in the form of inflation," Charlie Wise, senior vice president and head of global research and consulting at TransUnion, previously told BI. "And that's got people not just concerned but, in many cases, pretty upset."

Are you a Gen Zer worried about financial security? Contact these reporters at asheffey@businessinsider.com and jkaplan@businessinsider.com.

• Ukraine's F-16s now look set to arrive when they can be particularly impactful.
• That's because they'll arrive when Ukraine has permission to use other weapons on targets in Russia.
• This means that Russian air defenses that could target them can be taken out, experts told BI.

New rules from Ukraine's allies about how it can use weapons they've supplied could have a strong impact on its long-awaited F-16s.

The first of the US-made fighter jets are due to arrive this summer, at a time when they can be particularly impactful in the fight against Russia, experts told Business Insider.

That's because Ukraine now has permission to use weaponry given by its allies to hit targets on Russian soil.

George Barros, a Russian military expert at the US-based Institute for the Study of War, said this will make the F-16s more effective.

A month or so back, he viewed the F-16s as "sort of a mixed bag" — Ukraine needed the capabilities, but Russia had a stronger air force and a major air defense network.

"Now, I'm actually a lot more optimistic," he told BI.

Ukraine can hit targets in Russia

Until May, Ukraine was prevented by its allies from using weapons they'd supplied to strike into Russian territory.

This was a major disadvantage, as Russia could gather troops and equipment just across the border, and launch attacks from places Ukraine was not able to hit.

Many analysts said it meant Ukraine was fighting with one hand behind its back.

But in May, many of its allies loosened the restrictions.

Barros said the long-standing assumption that Ukraine could not hit into Russia meant the expected impact of the aircraft was seen as limited.

"But now I see this glimmer of hope where we're so close to getting all the pieces of the puzzle together where now we can start evaluating air power," he said, "because basically we've written off air power for the last two years."

Peter Layton, a fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and a former Royal Australian Air Force officer, said that for F-16s to be most effective, Russian air defenses need to be taken out.

Being able to target air defenses stationed in Russia is therefore a major help.

Barros said Ukraine will likely have too few F-16s this summer to make a huge change. But over time, he said, it could "cascade into a large effect."

He added that the US removing more of its restrictions would make a bigger difference. (The US will still not let Ukraine use long-range munitions to strike deep inside Russian territory, where some of Russia's longest-range weaponry can fire at Ukraine from.)

Ukraine's president has also urged its allies to further relax restrictions on using long-range weapons to strike military targets in Russia, saying Ukraine still can't stop its deadly glide bomb attacks.

Ukraine can fight again

Ukraine spent the first months of this year managing critical shortages of equipment and ammunition.

But the US resumed aid in April after Republicans stalled it for six months, and supplies have started reaching frontline soldiers.

That should give a boost to Ukraine's first F-16s, some experts said, though it's not clear how long US support will last compared to when further F-16s may arrive.

Layton said that "on a tactical level" the F-16s arriving alongside replenished arsenals is a boost for Ukraine, but he added that some of Ukraine's shortages might not have been so pronounced if the F-16s had arrived earlier to aid Ukraine's air defenses.

F-16s should soon arrive

Ukraine has asked for F-16s since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, but US permission to send the US-made jets didn't come until May 2023.

Experts say that Ukraine's allies should have given F-16s sooner if they wanted to see the jets making a battlefield impact this year, as issues with pilot training and integrating them into Ukraine's military would likely have been fixed by now.

"If the West donated F-16s a year earlier, then most of these problems would be solved by now," Michael Clarke, a Russia and Ukraine expert and a British national security advisor, told BI.

"But as usual, we left it until the last possible moment when it would make a difference, and then expected the Ukrainians to work miracles with them, which is not going to happen," he added.

Experts also say that Ukraine needs more jets than what has been promised, since having smaller numbers means it needs to be extra cautious with the ones it gets.

Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and a defense strategy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told BI that "the problem is that there's not going to be very many F-16s."

He said it's unfair to expect Ukraine to achieve massive breakthroughs without significantly more of the planes.

The US has such dominance in the air because it employs "hundreds of aircraft with extensive support systems on the ground," he said.

Ukraine has been promised an estimated 85 jets by Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium, but it is not clear how many are due to arrive in the initial wave, or when more will be delivered.

Clarke said that without more jets, "in terms of defending Ukrainian airspace and being able to deal all the way across the front with Russia's numbers, the F-16s are a long way from being able to do that."

To be really effective, he said, Ukraine needs at least 200, along with the support they require.

Even so, the experts said that the F-16s will make a difference for Ukraine, without being a total game changer on their own.

The jets will help replenish lost aircraft, deter Russian jets, and act as air defenses.

Tim Robinson, a military aviation specialist at the UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, told BI the aircraft will also "make Russian pilots there a little bit more kind of wary, a little bit more careful about what they're going up against."

In March, Jessica, a marketer at a financial-services company, showed up for her annual performance review expecting a promotion and a big raise. Her boss had already told her she deserved it. She'd had a stellar year, receiving great reviews along the way. She was pretty sure she was the top performer on her team.

But when she met with her boss, he gave her the bad news: There just wasn't enough money in the budget this year. All he could give her was a measly 3.5% raise — just barely enough to keep up with inflation. He also loaded her up with extra work and new responsibilities, without giving her a promotion. If she performed her additional duties well, she was told, she might have a shot at a 6% raise next year. Maybe.

Gone are the frenzied days of 2021 and 2022, when employers were handing out bigger titles and pay packages like gold stars at a kindergarten art show. In 2023, according to data compiled by Workday, companies across every industry promoted fewer employees than they did the previous year. The cutbacks were especially stark in tech, where promotion rates plunged by 25%. And corporate America has only gotten stingier since. In a recent survey conducted by Mercer, an HR consulting firm, companies reported that they expect to promote only 8% of employees this year – down from 10.3% last year.

Why have employers suddenly gotten so stingy? The short answer is: Because they can. Yes, high interest rates and slower economic growth means that companies are being forced to tighten their belts. But two years ago, cutting promotions and raises wasn't an option. Back then, in the midst of the Great Resignation, employees denied a title bump or a bigger paycheck could simply look elsewhere. "A lot of companies honestly felt held hostage by folks," says Kelli Dragovich, an HR advisor who has served as chief people officer at several tech companies. "Everyone was afraid of the chaos of the talent war." But these days, as I recently reported, hiring rates for high-salaried employees are down to some of the lowest levels we've seen in a decade. And that's allowing employers to tighten the screws without risking an immediate exodus.

Even when the job market begins to heat up again, we may not see promotion rates recover to 2022 levels for some time — or ever. Tech companies are currently scrambling to flatten their organizations by eliminating roles for middle managers. The aim is not just to cut costs, but to encourage teams to make faster decisions. Meta, for example, is aiming to eliminate around 50 of its 300 vice presidents — a title that apparently includes five different levels. In this new structure, there just aren't as many senior-level positions for employees to get elevated into.

"There's a feeling that we got fat and happy these last eight years or so," says Dragovich. "You look at some of these organizations and the pyramid was almost inverted. You get questions like, who's doing the work if everyone's a director and above?"

For employees, it's a tough new reality to accept — especially for Gen Zers, who have come to expect frequent advances up the corporate ladder. When the employer-review site JobSage surveyed workers at the height of the Great Resignation, 58% of Gen Zers said they expected to be promoted every 18 months. That's compared with only 20% of boomers and 27% of Gen Xers.

To soften the blow, some companies are offering one-time retention bonuses to their highest performers. Even in the worst of job markets, employers realize, star employees can always go elsewhere. "It might not make sense to give them a promotion because the organization has flattened," says Dragovich. "But they're saying, stick with us. We'll get through this, then we'll start growing again. Until then, here's a huge equity grant to get you through." The grants are sometimes as large as what an employee would have received with a promotion.

But what about all the other disgruntled employees, the ones who aren't getting hefty bonuses? How can companies keep them motivated in an era of vanishing promotions? One solution to offer them is something that many younger workers have been demanding: more transparency. Often, employees are left in the dark over how promotions are decided, and what they need to do to get one. That opacity makes it hard for them to trust that they'll get more opportunities down the road. Helping them understand how they can move up will keep them more engaged.

"The experience of employees is going to be different if their company provides some clarity around career mobility, versus if career mobility is just a black box," says Michael Citron, a principal at Mercer who specializes in compensation and rewards. "That transparency provides more confidence and more understanding around what it really takes to move." If you can't give an employee a promotion, you can at least give them a road map of how to get there.

In the meantime, the downturn in promotions is leaving even the best employees, like Jessica, with stalled careers. They can't move up at their own companies. And they can't move elsewhere, because so few employers are hiring right now. In the midst of the Great Stagnation, many employees are stuck in the same, boring roles they've already outgrown, and they have nowhere to go.

But that doesn't mean they have no options. Companies need to remember that even though employees can't afford to quit their jobs in the current hiring slump, they can still quiet quit. After all, if they're not going to get rewarded for their hard work, why bother in the first place?

That's what Jessica has been telling herself. Two days after her disappointing review, she started looking for a new job. So far, she's applied to some 200 positions. And while she's preparing to jump ship, she's resorting to something totally out of character: She's refusing to work a minute past 5 o'clock.

"I'm just so checked out at this point," she says. "I've always been a type A kind of person, an overachiever. So it's discouraging when you put in all that work and they're just like: no."

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Aki Ito is a chief correspondent at Business Insider.

• For the last three years, my mom has been our childcare provider.
• She does a great job of looking after my two kids, but we have different rules for them. 
• This creates tension and confusion.

When we moved to my hometown three years ago, my mother became our day care provider. She wanted to do it, but due to a deficit of day care slots, we also needed her to fill this role. And, of course, when choosing someone to be with my kids, I'd rather them be with my mom.

It was a good fit for everyone.

We drew up a scenario where she'd work her day job two days a week — which offered her insurance and a discount on their growing medical bills — and keep the grandchildren, two boys then 4 and 2 years old, the other three days of the week. In this setup, my spouse and I would also pay my mom the going rate.

Everyone agreed.

This has been our setup for the last three years. The boys have alternated between "Mommy days" and "Grammy days," even as my oldest started kindergarten and my youngest finished preschool.

She's great with my kids, but we have different rules

My mom has always taken great care of the boys, but we have very different personalities, which means we parent differently. Our homes also have different rules. At her house, the boys wear shoes outside. If they don't have them on, she reminds them the second they cross the threshold and asks where their shoes are. Meanwhile, I'm constantly barefoot in the yard. If my kids are too, that's great!

Grammy also doesn't allow wrestling — she says she "can't handle it" — while at our house, so long as everyone is in on the fun, it's fair game. It goes on and on like that. I'm more hands-off and OK with letting them experience natural consequences, while she would wrap them in bubble wrap if she could.

I let them be boys, and she wants to reel them in and avoid the wildness of being a young kid.

Treating the kids differently can be confusing for everyone

As you can imagine, this has led to some confusion — for the kids, yes, but for my mom, too. She regularly wants to parent over me or enforce her own rules when visiting my house. However, it's more out of habit than coming from a place of ill intent. But each time she asks them not to yell or keep their hands to themselves, it's like nails on a chalkboard for me. I nicely remind her that's her rule, not mine.

"That's not a rule here," I will tell her. "They are allowed to play in the mud if they want to."

She laughs, but there is underlying tension because she doesn't agree. Ultimately, she said what she did because she believes in a different set of rules. Mud isn't for squishing in, and houses aren't for yelling.

Meanwhile, I'm frustrated with the overbearing nature of it all and exhausted from the mental energy required to have the same conversations over and over again.

There actually are scenarios in which I'm the strict one, like car seat arrangements, for example. I have rules about how they are installed and what kind of seats they can use. Regarding this topic, it's been easier for me to just install them in her car myself. Another major difference is how we think about sugar: how much they can have, and when they can have it. But with these issues, she does follow instructions, all while listing the things that have changed since she raised kids; the classic boomer versus Millenial face-off.

Still, I'm grateful to her for watching them, and she's done a great job

I have loved her being our childcare provider, but as my youngest enters his first year of school, a part of me also feels relief. She can go back to just being Grammy, and I can just go back to being her daughter, not her childcare employer. No doubt the opinions (and the comments) will still be there, but they'll be fewer and further between — and not coming rapid fire after a long day of work.

Ultimately, though, it's been the best decision for our kids and provided them with precious moments that we will all continue to cherish.

• Lauren Boebert was seen sporting a pair of Trump sneakers at her election watch party last week.
• But the Colorado Republican said the flamboyant footwear she wore wasn't the real deal.
• "These are very China, but I'm okay with that," Boebert told Westword.

Rep. Lauren Boebert may be an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump but even she couldn't get her hands on some of Trump's campaign merchandise.

The Colorado Republican was seen sporting a pair of golden Trump sneakers at an election watch party on Tuesday. Boebert, who switched from Colorado's 3rd congressional District to the 4th congressional District, won the GOP primary for the constituency.

But the flamboyant footwear she was wearing wasn't even the real deal, Boebert said.

"These are very China, but I'm okay with that. If I could've bought the OGs, I would have," Boebert told the Denver-based media outlet Westword on Tuesday.

Boebert said she spoke to Trump after clinching her win.

"He congratulated me, he loves me and thanks me for a good win," Boebert told Westword.

Trump launched the high-top sneakers in February at this year's "Sneaker Con" in Philadelphia and was met with both boos and cheers from the audience. The shoes, which were launched with a limited run of 1000 pairs, are indeed sold out, per the product listing.

BI identified an online seller in southern China that was hawking "Never Surrender Trump male sneakers" on Taobao, a Chinese online shopping platform.

The knockoffs retail for $24.50 and are far cheaper than the originals, which sell for $399. It is unclear if Boebert had bought her pair from this seller.

The GOP congresswoman has been a staunch supporter of Trump. In fact, Boebert even skipped a day in Congress to support Trump at his hush-money trial in May but was reportedly absent at her own son's court appearances.

Boebert's 18-year-old son, Tyler, was arrested by the Rifle Police Department in February after a "string of vehicle trespass and property thefts" in Rifle, Colorado.

To be sure, Boebert probably isn't the only Trump supporter who had trouble snagging some of his merchandise.

The former president has endorsed a wide range of products — like bibles and fragrances like "Victory Cologne" and "Victory Perfume."

Trump also has a hefty war chest. In May, the Trump campaign raised $141 million in donations alongside the Republican National Committee.

Representatives for Boebert and Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

• Emily Reagan is a military spouse who became a freelance marketing assistant due to frequent moves.
• She hadn't been able to progress her media career so she started working remotely for business owners.
• Offering specialized marketing services led to both higher income and work-life balance.

I became a freelance marketing assistant without planning to in 2010 when my husband's military career forced me to quit yet another dream job.

We had just gotten orders to move back to Washington, DC from Oklahoma City. I worked in media and public relations, but I had a new baby and didn't have the energy or the connections to start over in a top media market while being the default parent to our son.

As we moved frequently over the previous seven years, I always landed new jobs, but starting over in every town didn't help my career progression. My salary was capped everywhere we went, and I'd never made more than $39,000 a year.

I watched my non-military spouse friends with traditional jobs progress in their careers, earn fancy job titles, and buy houses with pools. And then there was me — stuck starting over every 18 months and having to prove myself in each new job.

I knew I had to try something new

Before we left for DC, a business owner in Oklahoma City asked me to help him promote his digital printing and photo shop even though I was moving 1,300 miles away. A remote job sounded great, so I said yes.

When I took the position, I had no idea what I was doing, so I focused on getting the business results. I handled social media marketing, podcast pitching, and press release writing.

My first client gave me the confidence to pick up more freelance work I saw on Facebook

I came to the table with some email marketing and PR experience but learned a lot just by doing it. I also started listening to podcasts to learn things like marketing strategy and took a few online courses.

I took on more clients — everyone from furniture painters to designers — who were swamped with the day-to-day tasks of running their businesses and were eager to offload the marketing tactics that would help them make money.

I carved out a niche in the creative space, helping them grow their online presence through content marketing, blogging, SEO strategy, social media, weekly emails, community management, and marketing funnel building.

It was life-giving work for me. I loved being part of a team again and working toward a common goal. Truthfully, tidying up the toy room or cleaning the bathrooms never left me that fulfilled.

I gave myself the title of marketing assistant to differentiate myself from the thousands of virtual assistants providing admin services. One client led to another through referral after referral.

Eventually, I got smarter with my packaging and prices

At one point, I had 15 clients at once. I whittled them down to just two a month at $2,500 and a Pinterest client at $600 and boosted my income with VIP days, one-off projects, and strategy sessions. I worked 15-25 hours a week.

I advise new digital service providers to skip admin services and offer marketing services immediately. Marketing brings in leads and sales, and clients pay more based on perceived value and the results you can get for their business.

Marketing services are also the most flexible. Unless a client is in a promotional period, most of the work can be done on your time. Unlike an administrative assistant, you're not tied to regular 9-5 office hours.

I wanted a work-life balance that allowed me to have my cake and eat it, too

The military spouse unemployment rate is around 21%, but many of us are qualified and have college degrees. Employers don't want to risk hiring us when they know we'll just move again, so we tend to settle for low pay, time off, and job satisfaction.

Finding meaningful, well-paid work as a military spouse was a game changer for my professional identity, happiness, and finances. Over the past decade, I went on to have three more babies and move six more times while working as a freelance marketing assistant.

I wanted to be a working, stay-at-home mom who could be present for her children and hold down the fort when my husband was deployed. It also allowed me to contribute to the family's budget.

Within a few years, I had almost doubled my former stagnant salary of $39,000

I took control of my career and grew my income beyond what it had ever been. I progressed from $20/hour to $100/hr rates and beyond.

Now, I do less client work and most of my income comes from my course and membership, where I teach other stay-at-home moms to build a career around their lifestyle. I earn six figures.

Cracking six figures is difficult for a general virtual assistant. Very successful general VAs also typically supplement their income with digital information products or subcontractors doing agency work. I found that freelancers can hit the upper five figures and into the $100+/hour range by niching into specialized marketing services.

If you're looking for freedom and flexibility in your career, here's my advice

I suggest starting with a digital service you already know how to do, like something you've done in a previous job or volunteer role. Your confidence in your service will help you sell it.

Say yes to tasks you've never done before. Clients value your ability to figure things out. They love to keep work in-house and will call on you first. You can gain experience on their dime and grow your confidence even more.

Treat your client's business as your own. When you provide exceptional service, they'll refer you to more clients. It only takes one happy client to explode your business.

Claim a specific job title other than virtual assistant as soon as you have clarity and experience in your top three services. A specific job title will help you command higher project rates and position you as an expert.

Finally, gather client testimonials and results and share them. Social proof is your golden ticket to the next client finding you, trusting you, and never questioning your higher-end rates.

Emily Reagan is a mom of four, Air Force spouse, freelance digital marketer, and mentor who helps women learn marketing skills and find flexible remote work.