• How to turn small weekly savings into life-changing wealth with ASX shares

    A couple are happy sitting on their yacht.

    Most people assume you need a large sum of money to get started in the share market, but that simply isn’t true.

    The real power comes from saving small amounts consistently and letting compounding quietly amplify those contributions over time.

    With enough discipline and patience, even a modest weekly investment in ASX shares can grow into a life-changing nest egg.

    Start with an amount you barely notice

    The first step is surprisingly simple. Choose a weekly amount you can save without thinking too hard about it. For some it might be $20 a week, for others $50 or more. What matters most is that the amount is small enough that you can save it consistently, week after week, without feeling deprived or tempted to skip.

    These seemingly insignificant contributions become the foundation of your long-term wealth.

    Put your weekly savings into ASX shares

    Once those weekly savings start accumulating, the key is putting that money to work in ASX shares rather than letting it sit in a low-interest account.

    Growth-focused assets, such as ETFs, blue chip shares, and high-quality ASX growth stocks, have historically delivered far stronger long-term returns than cash.

    You won’t see results immediately, and investing always involves ups and downs (just look at the market this month), but the long-term trajectory of markets has consistently been upward. Even small investments can meaningfully compound when they’re earning returns year after year.

    Let compounding do the hard work

    This is where the real magic happens. If you invested $50 a week at an average long-term return of 10% per annum, which is achievable but not guaranteed, you could end up with a significant portfolio.

    $50 a week, or approximately $220 a month, would turn into $44,000 after 10 years, $88,000 after 15 years, $160,000 after 20 years, and then almost $275,000 after 25 years.

    Increase that weekly amount and the results become even more impressive. With $100 a week earning the same return, a portfolio could grow to $900,000 after 30 years. Time and consistency are the two greatest accelerators of long-term wealth.

    Foolish takeaway

    You don’t need a high income or a large starting amount to build meaningful wealth. You need small weekly contributions, a long-term mindset, and the discipline to stick with the plan.

    Compounding rewards those who are patient, consistent, and willing to let time do the heavy lifting.

    With a simple weekly saving habit and a sensible investment strategy, life-changing wealth is more achievable than most people realise.

    The post How to turn small weekly savings into life-changing wealth with ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Will you still be paying off a home loan in retirement?

    man and woman discussing retirement and superannuation

    A Vanguard survey shows one in three Australian Millennials and one in four Gen Xers expect to enter retirement with a mortgage.

    That’s if they can ever afford to buy a home in the first place.

    Vanguard’s 2025 ‘How Australia Retires’ report encompassed a survey of 1,800 people aged 18 years and above.

    The survey found 36% of Millennials, born between 1981 and 1995, think they will still be paying off their home loan in retirement.

    The survey also found that 27% of Gen Xers, born between 1966 and 1980, expect to still be paying off their mortgage in retirement.

    A surprising number of baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1965, also expect to retire with a mortgage.

    The survey found just under one in four baby boomers expect to still have a home loan in retirement.

    The comparison is very unfavourable to the status quo.

    Among the 4.5 million retirees in Australia today, only 8% still have a mortgage.

    Home ownership ‘vital’ in retirement

    Vanguard said home ownership plays a vital role in Australia’s retirement system.

    In fact, some experts argue that home ownership should be recognised as the ‘fourth pillar’ supporting people in retirement, alongside superannuation, the age pension, and private savings and investments.

    Vanguard said working-age Australians anticipate “a very different housing reality in retirement”.

    Working-age Australians are significantly more likely to expect to carry mortgage debt into retirement compared to current retirees.

    While the vast majority of Australians continue to value home ownership, the rate of ownership has steadily declined over recent decades.

    In 2021, just over half (54.6%) of Millennials aged 25–39 were homeowners (either with a mortgage or owning outright), compared with 62.1% of Generation X at the same age in 2006, and nearly two-thirds (65.8%) of Baby Boomers in 1991.

    For many younger Australians, home ownership feels increasingly out of reach.

    What do people do if they still have a mortgage at retirement?

    Vanguard reported that 47% of survey respondents expected to continue paying off their home loans during retirement.

    One in four said they would consider using their superannuation to pay off their mortgage in full.

    And 20% said they would consider selling their mortgaged home to repay the debt and buy another property.

    Hamish Landreth, Director of Financial Services at Prosperity Advisers Group, said paying off a home loan was an increasingly common consideration for new retirees, as it is generally recommended not to retire with personal debt.

    While a person’s superannuation savings may provide enough to pay off their home, this strategy is not always appropriate, he said.

    Landreth told The Fool:

    … there can be reasons to not withdraw superannuation to reduce borrowings, especially when the superannuation investments are consistently earning more than borrowing costs or where there are taxation benefits for maintaining the borrowings.

    The Vanguard survey found most Australians intend to keep their family home in retirement rather than downsize to a smaller property. 

    The post Will you still be paying off a home loan in retirement? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Billionaire Warren Buffett sold 74% of Berkshire’s stake in Apple and has piled more than $4 billion into a “Magnificent” stock that’s up over 11,000% since its IPO

    Woman looking at her smartphone and analysing share price.

    The most important data release of the entire fourth quarter occurred on Friday, Nov. 14, and there’s a good chance you might have missed it.

    No later than 45 calendar days following the end of a quarter, institutional investors with at least $100 million in assets under management are required to file Form 13F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This filing provides a snapshot for investors that spills the beans on which stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and select option contracts Wall Street’s savviest money managers bought and sold in the latest quarter (in this instance, the September-ended quarter).

    Although there’s a laundry list of successful billionaire investors to monitor, none garners attention quite like Berkshire Hathaway‘s (BRK.A0.41%)(BRK.B0.57%) billionaire boss, Warren Buffett. The “Oracle of Omaha” has nearly doubled the annualized return of the S&P 500 since 1965, including dividends paid!

    Berkshire Hathaway’s latest 13F wasn’t short on surprises. Berkshire’s No. 1 holding, Apple (AAPL+0.42%), was meaningfully pared down, while another member of the “Magnificent Seven” was introduced as a borderline core holding.

    Nearly three-quarters of Berkshire’s stake in Apple has been axed in two years

    Let me preface the following discussion with two critical points. First, Warren Buffett is an unwavering optimist who would never bet against America or the U.S. stock market. He’s a long-term investor at heart.

    However, the second must-know point is that he’s an ardent value investor. If the Oracle of Omaha doesn’t believe he’s getting a good deal, no number of competitive advantages can keep Buffett from potentially being a seller of a public company.

    With the above being said, Berkshire’s billionaire boss has been a persistent seller of Apple stock since Sept. 30, 2023, with this position being cut in six of the last eight quarters. Including the 41,787,236 shares disposed of during the third quarter, a total of 677,347,618 shares were sold over the two-year period, representing a 74% reduction.

    It’s certainly plausible that profit-taking is the primary reason for this selling activity. During Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in 2024, Buffett opined that a higher (expected) peak marginal corporate income tax rate was coming, and that locking in some of Berkshire’s unrealized investment gains at an advantageous rate would be wise. No investment holding has bulked up Berkshire’s unrealized profits quite like Apple.

    The concern for investors is that there may be more to this story than meets the eye.

    For example, despite having a generally loyal customer base and a valuable brand, Apple’s growth engine has been relatively stagnant for years. Although subscription services revenue continues to be the one bright spot, sales of physical devices, including the popular iPhone, have been somewhat flat for nearly four years. In other words, Apple is no longer the growth story it once was.

    To add fuel to the fire, Apple’s valuation has been expanding to eyebrow-raising levels amid this lack of meaningful sales growth. While the company’s market-leading share repurchase program has undoubtedly helped boost its earnings per share (EPS) over time, Apple is valued at a trailing-12-month (TTM) price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of nearly 37, which is a 22% premium to its average TTM P/E ratio over the trailing-five-year period.

    While Warren Buffett has been known to bend some of his unwritten investing rules, he doesn’t budge when it comes to value. Apple is no longer the screaming bargain it once was.

    The Oracle of Omaha has taken a greater-than $4 billion stake in a truly magnificent company

    At the other end of the spectrum, Berkshire Hathaway’s soon-to-be-retiring billionaire CEO oversaw purchases in seven securities during the third quarter. None of these buys made more waves on Wall Street than the 17,846,142 shares purchased of Magnificent Seven member Alphabet (GOOGL+3.02%)(GOOG+2.82%). Buffett’s company specifically purchased the Class A (GOOGL) voting shares, with the value of this position handily surpassing $4.3 billion by the end of September.

    Most of Berkshire Hathaway’s purchasing activity over the last three years has involved establishing positions ranging from $10 million to as much as $1.7 billion. In just three months, Buffett’s company built a stake exceeding $4 billion in Google parent Alphabet, making this stock, which has gained more than 11,000% since its initial public offering (IPO), a borderline core holding (1.6% of Berkshire’s invested assets).

    The first important box Alphabet checks off for Berkshire’s billionaire chief is its sustainable moat. Google has accounted for between 89% and 93% of global internet search share since 2015, according to data compiled by GlobalStats. Not even the emergence of large language models (LLMs) has threatened Google’s near-monopoly status for internet search, which is fantastic news for the company’s ad-pricing power.

    To build on the previous point, Warren Buffett tends to be a big fan of cyclical businesses. He’s aware of the nonlinear nature of economic cycles — periods of economic growth last substantially longer than recessions — and positions Berkshire’s investment portfolio to take advantage of these long-winded growth opportunities. Ad-driven businesses, such as Google and Alphabet’s streaming service YouTube, benefit from disproportionately long periods of economic expansion.

    Alphabet is also a key player in the cloud infrastructure service space. Google Cloud accounted for an estimated 13% of global cloud infrastructure service share for the third quarter, according to Synergy Research Group. Sales for Google Cloud jumped 25% in the September-ended quarter from the prior-year period, with an annual revenue run rate that now surpasses $60 billion. The incorporation of generative artificial intelligence and LLMs into Google Cloud for clients can further accelerate this segment’s growth rate.

    Continuing down the list, Alphabet’s balance sheet is something to marvel at. The company closed out the quarter with $98.5 billion in combined cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, and has generated $112.3 billion in cash from its operating activities through the first nine months of 2025. This abundance of capital enables Alphabet to make aggressive investments in high-growth initiatives, as well as repurchase its stock and distribute a dividend to its shareholders. Warren Buffett has always been a fan of hearty capital-return programs.

    The cherry on top is that Alphabet’s valuation makes sense. Although its TTM P/E ratio of 27 might not appear inexpensive on the surface, Alphabet’s projected annual sales growth rate of 13% to 14% per year suggests it offers more long-term upside than Apple.

    The post Billionaire Warren Buffett sold 74% of Berkshire’s stake in Apple and has piled more than $4 billion into a “Magnificent” stock that’s up over 11,000% since its IPO appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now?

    Before you buy Alphabet shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Alphabet wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Sean Williams has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Apple, and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Apple, and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Here’s how much the governor makes in every state

    New York governor Kathy Hochul
    Kathy Hochul is the highest-paid governor in the US.

    • The annual salaries of state governors vary, with the lowest being $70,000 in Maine.
    • Kathy Hochul, Gavin Newsom, and Josh Shapiro are among the highest-paid US governors.
    • The average annual salary for a state governor is $167,128 in 2025.

    In some states, being the governor doesn't automatically make you a top earner.

    There's a wide range in what state governors earn each year, from $70,000 in Maine to $250,000 in New York.

    Across all 50 states, governors earn an average official annual salary of $167,128 and are subject to federal and state income taxes, except in states without them, such as Florida or Texas.

    By comparison, the top 1% of US earners each make at least $731,492 a year, placing the average governor below the ultrarich but also well above the average US wage of $69,846 in 2024, according to the Social Security Administration.

    While governors across all 50 states are generally allowed to earn money beyond their state salary through investments, book deals, and other sources, the income they're permitted to take in is closely regulated, and rules vary by state.

    Some, like Florida's Ron DeSantis, have brought in yearly incomes of over $1 million thanks to book royalties, while others, like Illinois' JB Pritzker, earn eight figures due to investment gains and even gambling wins.

    As such, some governors, like Pritzker and Connecticut's Ned Lamont, who are independently wealthy, have chosen to forgo their six-figure salaries from the state.

    Beyond the salary, other financial perks of being a governor may include living in the governor's mansion, receiving private transportation from the state, and having access to security and staff.

    See how much your governor makes every year, as determined by state legislatures.

    Alabama
    Alabama governor Kay Ivey

    Governor: Kay Ivey (Republican)

    Salary: $131,800

    Alaska
    Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy

    Governor: Mike Dunleavy (Republican)

    Salary: $176,000

    Arizona
    Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs

    Governor: Katie Hobbs (Democrat)

    Salary: $95,000

    The Arizona governor, which has the second-lowest salary out of all US governors, will be eligible for a salary of $165,000 starting in 2027, per the state legislature.

    Arkansas
    Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders

    Governor: Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican)

    Salary: $166,771

    California
    California governor Gavin Newsom

    Governor: Gavin Newsom (Democrat)

    Salary: $242,295

    As of December 2024, the California Department of Human Resources listed the governor's salary as $242,295, making Gavin Newsom the third-highest paid governor in the US.

    Colorado
    Colorado governor Jared Polis

    Governor: Jared Polis (Democrat)

    Salary: $134,632

    The Colorado governor, previously one of the lowest-paid governors in the nation, has received a $134,632 salary since 2023, as outlined by state law. It is now the 11th-lowest governor's salary across all states.

    Connecticut
    Connecticus governor Ned Lamont

    Governor: Ned Lamont (Democrat)

    Salary: $226,711 (forgone)

    Although the State of Connecticut sets the governor's salary as $226,711, the independently wealthy Ned Lamont has chosen to forgo the salary during his gubernatorial run. Lamont made his money in telecommunications and investments, and is the great-grandson of Thomas W. Lamont, a former chair of J. P. Morgan & Co. who built substantial wealth in banking.

    The state has the fifth-highest salary for a governor in the US.

    Delaware
    Delaware governor Matt Meyer

    Governor: Matt Meyer (Democrat)

    Salary: $185,096

    From July 2025 until 2029, the salary for the governor of Delaware is $185,096, per the state legislature.

    Florida
    Florida governor Ron DeSantis

    Governor: Ron DeSantis (Republican)

    Salary: $141,400

    The Florida governor makes $141,400 each year, although the Florida state legislature has approved a raise to $251,414 for the office starting in 2027, which would make the Florida governor the highest paid in the nation, if other high-paying states do not also increase their salaries.

    Georgia
    Georgia governor Brian Kemp

    Governor: Brian Kemp (Republican)

    Salary: $182,000

    While Georgia Governor Brian Kemp currently earns $182,000 a year, a recent proposal could tie him with New York Governor Kathy Hochul as the highest-paid in the nation, as reported by the Associated Press.

    Hawaii
    Hawaii Governor Josh Green

    Governor: Josh Green (Democrat)

    Salary: $184,860

    Idaho
    Idaho governor Brad Little

    Governor: Brad Little (Republican)

    Salary: $151,400

    Illinois
    Illinois governor JB Pritzker

    Governor: Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker (Democrat)

    Salary: $205,700 (foregone)

    Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a member of the Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has chosen to forgo his salary. The state has set the governor's salary at $205,700 as of 2023, per the Illinois General Assembly, making the position the ninth-highest paid governor in the US.

    Indiana
    Indiana governor Mike Braun

    Governor: Mike Braun (Republican)

    Salary: $220,418

    Indiana governor Mike Braun, who makes $220,418 each year per the Indiana state government, is the sixth-highest-paid governor in the US.

    Iowa
    Iowa governor Kim Reynolds

    Governor: Kim Reynolds (Republican)

    Salary: $130,000

    Kansas
    Kansa governor Laura Kelly

    Governor: Laura Kelly (Democrat)

    Salary: $110,707

    Kentucky
    Kentucky governor Andy Beshear

    Governor: Andy Beshear (Democrat)

    Salary: $184,826

    Louisiana
    Louisiana governor Jeff Landry

    Governor: Jeff Landry (Republican)

    Salary: $129,394

    Maine
    Maine governor Janet Mills

    Governor: Janet Mills (Democrat)

    Salary: $70,000

    With a salary of $70,000, Maine governor Janet Mills is the lowest-paid governor in the US.

    Maryland
    Marland governor Wes Moore

    Governor: Wes Moore (Democrat)

    Salary: $192,000

    As of his third year as Maryland governor, per the state legislature, Wes Moore has a salary of $192,000, making him the 10th-highest paid US governor.

    Massachusetts
    Massachusetts governor Maura Healey

    Governor: Maura Healey (Democrat)

    Salary: $222,185

    Massachusetts governor Maura Healey received a salary of $222,185 in 2024, per the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, making hers the fifth-highest governor's salary in the US.

    Michigan
    Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer

    Governor: Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat)

    Salary: $159,300

    Minnesota
    Minessota governor Tim Walz

    Governor: Tim Walz (Democrat)

    Salary: $174,775 (although Walz accepts $127,629)

    The Minnesota governor's official salary is $174,775 as of July 1, 2025, and will increase to $200,000 in July 2026, per the Minnesota Legislature. However, Walz has repeatedly declined the raises and accepts the previous salary of $127,629.

    "This is about the state workforce," he said, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune in March. "I don't want this to be an issue about the governor trying to pay himself. I think I'm compensated fairly by the state of Minnesota for the work I do at this point."

    Mississippi
    Mississippi governor Tate Reeves

    Governor: Tate Reeves (Republican)

    Salary: $160,000

    Missouri
    Missouri governor Mike Kehoe

    Governor: Mike Kehoe (Republican)

    Salary: $142,658

    Montana
    Montana governor Greg Gianforte

    Governor: Greg Gianforte (Republican)

    Salary: $141,517

    Nebraska
    Nebraska governor Jim Pillen

    Governor: Jim Pillen (Republican)

    Salary: $105,000

    Nebraska governor Jim Pillen, who earns $105,000 a year in 2025, per state legislature, is the fourth-lowest paid governor in the US.

    Nevada
    Nevada governor Joe Lombardo

    Governor: Joe Lombardo (Republican)

    Salary: $170,062

    New Hampshire
    New Hampshire governor Kelly Ayotte

    Governor: Kelly Ayotte (Republican)

    Salary: $163,510

    New Jersey
    New Jersey governor Phil Murphy

    Governor: Phil Murphy (Democrat)

    Salary: $175,000

    Although the current New Jersey governor, Phil Murphy, earns $175,000 a year in 2025, the office he will vacate in 2026 is slated to receive a raise to $210,000, the Associated Press reported.

    New Mexico
    New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

    Governor: Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democrat)

    Salary: $110,000

    New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is the sixth-lowest-paid governor in the US.

    New York
    New York governor Kathy Hochul

    Governor: Kathy Hochul (Democrat)

    Salary: $250,000

    With a salary of $250,000 established by New York law, Kathy Hochul is the highest-paid governor in the US.

    North Carolina
    North Carolina governor Josh Stein

    Governor: Josh Stein (Democrat)

    Salary: $203,073

    North Carolina governor Josh Stein has a salary of $203,073 in 2025, making him one of the top-10 highest-paid governors in the US.

    North Dakota
    Nprth Dakota governor Kelly Armstrong

    Governor: Kelly Armstrong (Republican)

    Salary: $163,107

    Ohio
    Ohio governor Mike DeWine

    Governor: Mike DeWine (Republican)

    Salary: $172,665

    As of 2024, the Ohio governor, Mike DeWine, has a salary of $172,665.

    Oklahoma
    Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt

    Governor: Kevin Stitt (Republican)

    Salary: $147,000

    While the current Oklahoma governor, Kevin Stitt, has a salary of $147,000 in 2025, his successor will see a raise to $185,000, per Oklahoma's Journal Record.

    Oregon
    Oregon governor Tina Kotek

    Governor: Tina Kotek (Democrat)

    Salary: $98,600

    The Oregon governor takes home the third-lowest pay out of all governors.

    Pennsylvania
    Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro

    Governor: Josh Shapiro (Democrat)

    Salary: $245,760

    Shapiro received two raises since 2023, as shown in the state's budget office data. In 2025, he makes a $245,760 salary, making him the second-highest-paid governor in the US.

    Rhode Island
    Rhode Island governor Daniel McKee

    Governor: Daniel McKee (Democrat)

    Salary: $163,295

    South Carolina
    South Carolina governor Henry McMaster

    Governor: Henry McMaster (Republican)

    Salary: $106,078

    With a salary of $106,078 in 2025, per state records, the South Carolina governor is the fifth-lowest-paid governor in the US.

    South Dakota
    South Dakota governor Larry Rhoden
    South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden makes $146,472 a year in 2025.

    Governor: Larry Rhoden (Republican)

    Salary: $146,472

    Tennessee
    Tennessee governor Bill Lee

    Governor: Bill Lee (Republican)

    Salary: $204,336

    The Book of the States lists the Tennessee governor's salary at $204,336 as of 2023, which would be one of the top-10 highest governor salaries in the US, although reports by the Nashville Fox channel WZTV and watchdog organization OpenTheBooks have put the figure at $224,000 for current governor Bill Lee.

    Texas
    Texas governor Greg Abbott

    Governor: Greg Abbott (Republican)

    Salary: $153,750

    As of 2021, Texas governor Greg Abbott makes $153,750 a year, per state records.

    Utah
    Utah governor Spencer Cox

    Governor: Spencer Cox (Republican)

    Salary: $182,900

    Vermont
    Vermont governor Phil Scott

    Governor: Phil Scott (Republican)

    Salary: $234,379

    Vermont governor Phil Scott's 2024 salary was $222,371, with the number rising to $234,379 in 2025, per the Vermont General Assembly.

    Virginia
    Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin

    Governor: Glenn Youngkin (Republican)

    Salary: $175,000

    Although the Virginia governor has a salary of $175,000, the independently wealthy Glenn Youngkin has chosen to donate his earnings each quarter, per his office.

    Youngkin built his fortune during his 25 years working in private equity before running for state office. Between 2018 and his gubernatorial campaign in 2020, he served as the co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, an investment firm.

    Washington
    Washington governor Bob Ferguson

    Governor: Bob Ferguson (Democrat)

    Salary: $218,744

    West Virginia
    West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey

    Governor: Patrick Morrisey (Republican)

    Salary: $190,424

    Starting in 2025, the West Virginia governor's salary has been set to match the US Office of Personnel Management's locality pay area for the rest of US, per state legislature. That puts current governor Patrick Morrisey's salary at $190,424.

    Wisconsin
    Wisconsin governor Tony Evers

    Governor: Tony Evers (Democrat)

    Salary: $175,802

    Wyoming
    Wyoming governor Mark Gordon

    Governor: Mark Gordon (Republican)

    Salary: $140,000

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Photos show how the winning gowns from the Miss Universe pageant have changed through the years

    A side-by-side of Miss Universe from 1955 and 2025 in their crowns.
    The outfits Miss Universe candidates have worn to be crowned queen have evolved.

    • The fashion of the Miss Universe pageant has evolved since the first competition in 1952.
    • The winners used to be crowned in their swimsuits, but that changed in the '60s. 
    • Today, contestants wear sparkly gowns that sometimes include nods to their countries.

    The 74th annual Miss Universe pageant came to a close in Bangkok, bringing an end to one of the most dramatic seasons of the event to date.

    Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe, just weeks after she went head-to-head with a pageant director who yelled at her. She wore a glittering red gown to ascend the throne.

    Bosch's shimmering dress was par for the course for modern Miss Universe contestants, who typically wear sparkly gowns with eye-catching details. However, contestants have chosen simpler dresses for the pageant in years past, and in its earliest days, Miss Universe was crowned wearing a swimsuit. 

    Take a look back at the outfits contestants have worn to be crowned Miss Universe throughout the pageant's history. 

    Armi Kuusela was crowned the first Miss Universe in 1952.
    Armi Kuusela 1952
    Armi Kuusela in the middle with the rest of her court.

    Wearing a classic bathing suit from the '50s, Armi Kuusela of Finland was crowned the first-ever Miss Universe. 

    Christiane Martel represented France at the 1953 Miss Universe pageant.
    Christiane Martel 1953
    Miss Universe Christiane Martel sitting on her throne.

    Christiane Martel accepted her crown in a strapless swimsuit. 

    Miriam Stevenson was the first Miss USA to become Miss Universe.
    Miriam Stevenson 1954
    Christianne Martel, 1953 Miss Universe, crowns Miss Universe 1954 Miriam Stevenson

    Miriam Stevenson donned a halter-top swimsuit with crystals when she was crowned.  

    Hillevi Rombin represented Sweden in the 1955 Miss Universe pageant.
    Hillevi Rombin 1955

    Looking closely at Hillevi Rombin's swimsuit top, you'll notice the pearl detail, which perfectly matches the Miss Universe crown and scepter. 

    Gladys Zender of Peru became the first Latin American woman to win Miss Universe in 1957.
    Gladys Zender 1957

    The cascading pearls on Gladys Zender's swimsuit top help draw your eye.

    Luz Zuluaga, who won in 1958, was the only Colombian to win Miss Universe until 2014.
    Luz Marina Zuluaga 1958

    Luz Zuluaga's V-neck swimsuit was a welcome change from the sweetheart neckline of past winners. 

    Akiko Kojima was the first Japanese woman to win the Miss Universe competition in 1959.
    Akiko Kojima 1959
    Luz Marina Zuluaga, Miss Universe 1958, crowns Akiko Kojima as Miss Universe 1959

    Akiko Kojima's blue one-piece was an unexpected pop of color that stood out against the red coronation robe. 

    Linda Bement was crowned Miss Universe in 1960.
    Linda Bement 1960

    The one-shoulder chiffon dress made Linda Bement look ready for a ball.

    Iêda Maria Vargas was the first Brazilian to be crowned Miss Universe in 1963.
    Ieda Maria Vargas 1963

    Iêda Maria Vargas took the crown wearing a sky-blue gown with sewn crystals all over and a chiffon sleeve made to blow in the wind as she walked onstage.

    Corinna Tsopei of Greece paid tribute to the country's flag with the colors of her winning gown.
    Corinna Tsopei of Greece wear the country's flag colors when she was crowned.
    Miss Universe 1964 Corinna Tsopei posed with the runner-ups of that year.

    In addition to its eye-catching blue color, Corinna Tsopei's gown featured bedazzled frills hanging off her shoulders, which matched the bling of her crown and scepter.

    Apasra Hongsakula represented Thailand in the 1965 Miss Universe pageant.
    Apasra Hongsakula 1965
    Apasra Hongsakula sitting on her Miss Universe throne with the rest of her court.

    Bling is the first word that comes to mind after seeing Apasra Hongsakula's winning gown. 

    Margreta Arvidsson was the second Swedish woman to win the Miss Universe crown in 1966.
    Margreta Arvidsson 1966

    Margreta Arvidsson wore a pink strapless gown to accept her crown. If you look closely, you'll see the hem detail also matches the outline of the scepter. 

    Sylvia Hitchcock represented the US at the 1967 Miss Universe competition.
    Sylvia Louise Hitchcock 1967

    Sylvia Hitchcock's white gown, featuring a one-shoulder strap across her chest, was unexpected but added just the right amount of edge.

    Martha Vasconcellos chose a blue and silver gown for the Miss Universe pageant in 1968.
    Martha Vasconcellos 1968

    The silver tiers of Martha Vasconcellos' blue dress resembled tinsel. 

    Kerry Anne Wells wore a muted, flowy dress at the 1972 Miss Universe competition.
    Kerry Anne Wells
    Kerry Anne Wells was announced as the winner by Bob Barker, who served as a host for 20 years.

    Kerry Anne Wells' dress was made for flowing in the wind as she walked down the stage with her Miss Universe crown on.

    Margarita Moran chose an elegant, embellished gown at the Miss Universe pageant in 1973.
    Margarita Moran 1973

    Margarita Moran's long gown included a cape-like shoulder detail, a high neckline, and minimal embellishments throughout. 

    Shawn Weatherly stole the show with this beaded gown in 1980.
    Shawn Nichols Weatherly 1980

    The beaded stripes on the dress were a great contrast to the crystals hanging from the cuffs. 

    Irene Sáez was pretty in pink at the 1981 Miss Universe pageant.
    Mona Irene Lailan Saez Conde 1981

    Irene Sáez wore a pink gown covered in crystals and complete with dramatic flower sleeves.

    Karen Baldwin was the first Canadian to win the Miss Universe competition in 1982.
    Karen Diane Baldwin 1982

    Unlike previous winners, Karen Baldwin went for a black gown with a bedazzled bodice detail. 

    Yvonne Ryding's dress at the 1984 Miss Universe pageant looked simple at first glance.
    Yvonne Ryding 1984
    Yvonne Ryding right after being crowned Miss Universe 1984

    Yvonne Ryding wore a layered look, donning a white, long-sleeved gown with an overlay and floral embroidery throughout.

    Deborah Carthy-Deu was the second Miss Puerto Rico to win the Miss Universe competition in 1985.
    Deborah Carthy Deu 1985
    Deborah Carthy Deu holding her Miss Universe 1985 trophy.

    The gold stripes of Deborah Carthy-Deu's gown balanced out with the thicker gold sequins running down the front.

    Angela Visser represented Holland at the 1989 Miss Universe competition.
    Angela Visser 1989
    Miss Universe 1989 Angela Visser

    Angela Visser glowed in this floor-length evening gown made with gold, silver, and white sequined scales. 

    Mona Grudt was the first Norwegian to win the title of Miss Universe in 1990.
    Mona Grudt 1990
    Miss Universe 1990 Mona Grudt

    Although Mona Grudt chose a classic white gown, the dramatic flare of the skirt made it a statement-worthy piece.

    Lupita Jones was the first Mexican woman to win the title of Miss Universe in 1991.
    Lupita Jones 1991
    Miss Universe 1991 Lupita Jones

    Lupita Jones wore a beaded, off-the-shoulder red gown. 

    Dayanara Torres, who was crowned Miss Universe in 1993, wore a white gown with a daring slit.
    Dayanara Torres 1993
    Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres

    The thigh-high slit of Dayanara Torres' floor-length white gown added an unexpected sexy element. It also had a strapless neckline and a fitted bodice.

    After winning the 1994 Miss Universe competition, Sushmita Sen went on to pursue a career in Bollywood.
    Sushmita Sen 1994
    Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen being crowned by 1993 winner Dayanara Torres.

    When she accepted her crown, Sushmita Sen wore a beaded dress with gold floral sleeves. 

    Chelsi Smith was the first Miss USA to be crowned Miss Universe in 15 years.
    Chelsi Smith 1995
    Miss Universe 1995 Chelsi Smith

    Chelsi Smith looked regal in this sweetheart chiffon gown. The matching scarf and red lipstick completed the look. 

    After winning Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado pursued acting and appeared on various reality competition shows.
    alicia machado

    The silver spikes on Alicia Machado's mint gown gave it an edgy feel.

    After winning Miss Universe 1997, Brook Lee went on to host TV shows in Asia and the United States.
    brook lee 1994

    The sparkly halter, beaded waistband, and thigh-high slit design elements of Brook Lee's dress worked together seamlessly. 

    Wendy Fitzwilliam made history at the 1998 Miss Universe pageant as the first contestant to win wearing a bikini in the swimsuit competition.
    Wendy Fitzwilliam 1998

    When she was crowned Miss Universe, Wendy Fitzwilliam wore statement earrings and a beaded gown. 

    Mpule Kwelagobe, crowned in 1999, was Botswana's first-ever Miss Universe winner.
    Mpule Kwelagobe 1999
    Miss Universe 1999 Mpule Kwelagobe

    A simple, flowy skirt made the sparkly off-the-shoulder top of Mpule Kwelagobe's gown stand out. 

    Lara Dutta took the Miss Universe crown in 2000.
    Lara Dutta 2000
    Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta being crowned by 1999 winner Mpule Kwelagobe

    Lara Dutta brought the festive vibes with this sparkly red gown.

    Denise Quiñones won the Miss Universe title in 2001.
    Denise Quinones 2001
    Denise Quinones being crowned by Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta

    Denise Quiñones' white halter gown, featuring different-colored beads throughout, matched the crystals on the Miss Universe crown.

    Oxana Fedorova was crowned Miss Universe in 2002.
    Justine Pasek 2002
    Miss Universe 2002 Justine Pasek

    Like other Miss Universe winners in the past, Fedorova went with a simple white gown for her crowning. 

    Four months after she was crowned Miss Universe, though, Fedorova was dethroned because "she was unable to fulfill her duties," the former president of the Miss Universe Organization, Paula Shugart, said, according to CBS News

    The first runner-up, Miss Panama Justine Pasek, was then crowned Miss Universe 2002. 

    Amelia Vega was the first person from the Dominican Republic to win the Miss Universe title in 2003.
    Amelia Vega 2003
    Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega

    Amelia Vega took the traditional white gown a step further with the crystal-embellished sleeves and shoulder straps. 

    Jennifer Hawkins looked like a walking gold statue at the 2004 Miss Universe competition.
    Jennifer Hawkins 2004
    Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins

    Jennifer Hawkins stunned judges when she appeared onstage in a textured gold dress with flower details everywhere and a sparkling bracelet and necklace to match.

    Natalie Glebova was only the second Canadian to hold the Miss Universe title.
    Natalie Glebova 2005
    Miss Universe Natalie Glebova

    For the 2005 Miss Universe competition, Natalie Glebova rocked a white gown with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit. 

    Zuleyka Rivera wore one of the most daring gowns of the 2006 Miss Universe competition.
    Zuleyka Rivera 2006
    Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera

    With a low-cut top, a high slit in the front, and dazzling beaded work, Zuleyka Rivera had one of the most memorable looks of the 2006 competition.

    Riyo Mori was the second Japanese woman to be crowned Miss Universe in 2007.
    Riyo Mori 2007
    Miss Universe Riyo Mori

    For her winning gown, Riyo Mori wore a kimono-inspired black and floral evening gown from the Spring/Summer 2007 Gucci collection. 

    Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Venezuela 2008 before winning Miss Universe.
    Dayana Mendoza 2008
    Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza

    For her crowning moment, Dayana Mendoza wore a strapless yellow gown covered in beads. The thigh-high slit and turquoise statement earrings add to the drama of the look. 

    Stefania Fernández's 2009 Miss Universe win was a milestone, as it was the first time a country had won back-to-back crowns.
    Stefania Fernandez 2009
    Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez

    Unlike her predecessor, Dayana Mendoza, Stefania Fernandez went with a more extravagant look, wearing a red floor-length gown. 

    After her Miss Universe win in 2010, Ximena Navarrete went on to star in Spanish soap operas.
    Ximena Navarrete 2010
    Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete

    Ximena Navarrete accepted her Miss Universe crown wearing a flowy, floor-length red gown. What you can't see under the sash is the one-shoulder strap adorned with red beads and the slit underneath her skirt. 

    Leila Lopes made history as the first woman from Angola to win the Miss Universe pageant in 2011.
    Leila Lopes 2011
    Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes being crowned by 2010 winner Ximena Navarrete

    Leila Lopes wowed the audience with her sleeveless white gown covered in white, silver, and blue beads and feathers. 

    After being crowned Miss USA, Olivia Culpo went on to win the title of Miss Universe in 2012.
    Olivia Culpo 2012
    Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo

    For her crowning moment, Olivia Culpo wore a red dress with long velvet sleeves and a plunging neckline.

    When Gabriela Isler was crowned Miss Universe 2013, she made history as the seventh woman from Venezuela to win.
    Gabriela Isler 2013
    Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler

    Gabriela Isler stepped onto the stage in a long-sleeved silver gown embellished with crystals and a striped pattern that resembled Jennifer Lopez's 2012 Zuhair Murad dress

    Paulina Vega won the title of Miss Universe in 2014.
    Paulina Vega 2014
    Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega

    The silver beaded and striped details on Paulina Vega's gown made for an elegant look.

    Pia Wurtzbach was the third woman from the Philippines to win the Miss Universe title in 2015.
    Pia Wurtzbach 2015
    Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach

    Pia Wurtzbach's royal-blue gown matched the gems on the Miss Universe crown. 

    When Iris Mittenaere won in 2016, she was the first Miss France to do so in 63 years.
    Iris Mittenaere 2016
    Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere

    Iris Mittenaere took home the Miss Universe crown in a long-sleeve sparkling gold gown with geometric details.

    Demi Nel-Peters was the second Miss Universe winner from South Africa.
    Demi Leigh Nel Peters 2017
    Miss Universe 2017 Demi Nel-Peters

    Demi Nel-Peters dazzled in this flesh-colored dress stitched with silver crystals in a geometrical pattern. 

    Catriona Gray was crowned Miss Universe in 2018.
    Catriona Gray 2018
    Miss Universe Catriona Gray

    Catriona Gray wore a red dress featuring a plunging, asymmetrical neckline and a thigh-high slit. 

    Zozibini Tunzi represented South Africa at the 2019 Miss Universe competition.
    miss universe 2019
    Zozibini Tunzi is the first black woman to be crowned Miss Universe since Angola’s Leila Lopes in 2011

    Zozibini Tunzi's silver, gold, and blue sequined evening gown stood out on the Miss Universe stage. The draped sleeves and high neckline balanced out the thigh-high slit and peekabo detail across the chest.

    Andrea Meza was only the third Miss Mexico to be crowned Miss Universe.
    Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe 2021.
    Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe 2021.

    Like many others, Andrea Meza wore a sparkly gown when she was crowned Miss Universe.

    The gown had a high neckline and a dramatic cutout on the bodice, as well as tiers of tassels on the skirt and a removable cape.

    Harnaaz Sandhu was also the third Miss India to be crowned Miss Universe.
    A side-by-side of Miss Universe 2021 in her evening gown look.

    Harnaaz Sandhu's look was one of the most daring dresses a Miss Universe has worn to be crowned.

    Her floor-length dress had a plunging neckline, offsetting the sparkly, see-through fabric that covered the dress in a geometric pattern. Tassels flowing down the center of the gown completed the look.

    Putstyle and Saisha Hinde designed Sandhu's gown, and Bharat Gupta was the fashion director for her look.

    R'Bonney Gabriel was the ninth Miss USA to be crowned Miss Universe.
    Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel wins Miss Universe
    Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel celebrates after winning the 71st Miss Universe competition at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 14, 2023.

    R'Bonney Gabriel is a Texas-based fashion designer with her own sustainable clothing line.

    According to the Manila Bulletin, Gabriel's blue dress was designed by Filipino designer Rian Fernandez.

    Sheynnis Palacios was the first Miss Nicaragua to win Miss Universe in the pageant's history.
    Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios is crowned Miss Universe in 2023.
    Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios is crowned Miss Universe in 2023.

    Sheynnis Palacios was 23 when she was crowned Miss Universe wearing a heavily beaded dress.

    Nidal Nouaihed designed the dress, which featured a sweetheart neckline and semi-sheer paneling on the bodice.

    The rest of the dress was completely covered in intricate beading, and a blue cape that honored Nicaragua's flag accented the look, as Nouaihed shared on Instagram.

    Likewise, Victoria Kjær Theilvig became the first Miss Denmark to be crowned Miss Universe in 2024.
    Miss Denmark 2024 wins Miss Universe 2024

    Victoria Kjær Theilvig popped in a pink gown when she was named Miss Universe 2024.

    The dress, which was covered head-to-toe in sparkles, featured off-the-shoulder sleeves made of strands of beads. Coordinating gloves completed her regal look.

    Fátima Bosch became the fourth Miss Mexico to win Miss Universe in November 2025.
    Victoria Kjær Theilvig crowning 74th Miss Universe Fátima Bosch in Bangkok in November 2025.

    Bosch, 25, was crowned Miss Universe in a red gown, as the other three Miss Mexicos who had won the top crown had done before her.

    The form-fitting gown had long sleeves and a high neckline, and it was covered in red sparkles. An intricate pattern of gold adorned the front and cuffs of the sleeves, and a sheer cape flowed out behind her.

    The look was regal even before Bosch added the Miss Universe tiara to it.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Harvey CEO explains why he interviews candidates in Google Docs: ‘There are folks that are really good at talking’

    Harvey CEO Winston Weinberg is pictured.
    Harvey CEO Winston Weinberg said a Google Doc interview was a "very good indicator of how well we'd work together."

    • Harvey CEO Winston Weinberg said that the company conducts interviews asynchronously via Google Docs.
    • "In my experience, this is the best way to separate good interviewers from good operators," he told Business Insider.
    • All recent executive hires have passed the Google Doc test, per the company.

    Job interviews have transitioned from in-person to Zoom — and now, at least at one AI company, to Google Docs.

    Interviewers are finding new and inventive ways to safeguard their candidate tests from online cheating, AI, or some plain old sweet-talking. Winston Weinberg, cofounder and CEO of the AI legal tech startup Harvey, told the "Access" podcast that he uses a shared document.

    "Very quick writing samples, doing a written project back and forth, is very, very helpful," Weinberg said.

    Weinberg said that he has interviewed candidates who are good at "presenting things," but that they "break down" when writing out responses to direct questions.

    Going back-and-forth on a problem set in Google Docs is a "very good indicator of how well we'd work together," he said.

    Since its founding in 2022, Harvey has raised over $500 million. Lawyers at eight of the 10 highest-grossing US law firms use the platform, and the company was last valued at $5 billion.

    The company has also grown to about 350 employees — many of whom have passed the Google Doc test. Harvey used the interview style for all recent executive hires, the company said.

    "In my experience, this is the best way to separate good interviewers from good operators," Weinberg wrote in a statement to Business Insider.

    "Talent density" is one of the tech industry's go-to phrases this year, as CEOs seek to make their teams smaller and more efficient. Identifying top talent may require employing some unconventional interview techniques. Stripe abandoned the whiteboard interview for a computer-based test and open-sourced interview questions from its staff, according to the company's former CTO.

    AI cheating tools have also disrupted the tech interview process, leading some tech companies to revert to in-person interviews to verify candidates' truthfulness.

    On the podcast, Weinberg said that a hiring problem for non-engineering roles was "folks that are really good at talking and terrible at doing.

    "To me, what that's going to turn into is that they ask for a billion one-on-one strategy questions," he said.

    Weinberg proposed starting the interview process asynchronously, because that's what most of the company's work looks like.

    "With the reports that I work best with, it's async," he said. "Otherwise, we're going to have 17 strategy meetings to do anything."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • We put a small home on my in-laws’ property. It’ll be nice to live mortgage-free, but it’s been tough.

    Composite of Author Shawn Lentz smiling next to photo of small home surrounded by construction in front of trees
    My family sold our home with plans to live in a trailer until we could finish setting up a manufactured house on my in-laws' property.

    • We sold our house with plans to put a mortgage-free manufactured home on my in-laws' property.
    • We'd planned to live in our trailer until the house was done, but we've faced many setbacks.
    • After many months, we're finally seeing progress on our new home.

    In April 2024, my wife and I sold our 4,000-square-foot home in the small town of Concrete, Washington.

    Then, we moved into the 23-foot trailer on my in-laws' property with our teenage son, three English bulldogs, and a territorial iguana named Rawr.

    This wasn't some dreamy escape into the minimalist #vanlife trend. In reality, we were desperate to be free from a mortgage, and we wanted to live closer to my in-laws so we could assist them as they age.

    Though our Concrete house once felt full of character and potential for endless renovations, it had become a burden, with ever-rising property taxes and insurance costs.

    So, we made a plan: Use the funds from selling our house to build a modest detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) on my in-laws' 5-acre property in Arlington, Washington.

    This way, we'd finally be able to live in a home mortgage-free.

    During construction, we'd simply stay in the Forest River Evo trailer we'd bought a few years ago to use for camping trips. It seemed like a perfectly fine setup for just a few months, maybe four maximum, we thought.

    However, this project began over 16 months ago, and we're still not in our house.

    The delays started piling up almost immediately

    Trailer attached to a truck
    Our plan was to live out of our 23-foot trailer until our home was finished.

    We purchased a manufactured home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms that falls within our county's 1,200-square-foot DADU limit.

    It turns out that buying the house was the easy part.

    From there, we still had a lot of work to do — applying for a permit, scheduling a wetland survey of where we planned to build, testing the nearby well for contaminants, designing a septic system, and more.

    Though we had some help from a contractor and other subcontractors, we felt like we got a lot of mixed messages about what needed to be done and in what order.

    Ultimately, we had a lot to figure out on our own. Throughout the process, we became very familiar with local rules and the approval process for building in our county.

    Power line in trench leading up to house
    We've faced so many delays throughout the process.

    Still, progress seemed to move at a glacial pace, from dealing with delays from our septic designer to waiting for inspections for electrical, water, and the septic system.

    However, the biggest hold-up to installing our manufactured home was the discovery of a new wetland on the property that became subject to regulation.

    We needed to make corrections and changes before re-filing our permit, which alone delayed our project by five months.

    Meanwhile, living in our trailer has been tougher than anticipated

    Three dogs sleeping in beds in trailer
    We've been sharing the space with our dogs.

    While all of this was happening, we've been living in a tin can.

    The small trailer has a slide-out for extra breathing room, but the space is still tight. Adding an extra-tall baby gate to keep our dogs from fighting only made it worse.

    We have to basically pole vault back and forth over the things to move around the trailer.

    Outdoor table, chairs next to EVO trailer
    We try to spread out when we can.

    Our son's "room" is the casket-sized bottom bunk, while Rawr enjoys the upper tier with a view. The dining nook doubles as my writing workspace, but is now mostly taken up by our son's gaming computer.

    Dog with toys sitting in dinette
    The dining nook is sometimes shared by us and our pets.

    My poor wife has been relegated to the bed for everything from dinner to downtime.

    Cooking gets interesting. We choose between microwaving, air-frying, or using the crockpot.

    Appliances set up on small counterspace with microewave above
    Our cooking space is also quite compact.

    Precariously balancing plates on tiny counter edges or on top of the coffee pot makes for fun little wagers. Will our dinner hit the ground? How long will it take for the dogs to gobble it up? Many times it's easier to just go out.

    Regardless, we've adapted to never-ending trailer chores, glitchy WiFi, mentally defeated dogs, and all the rest.

    We're finally starting to see progress on the house — and we've learned so much

    Small house with construction equipment around it
    Despite the challenges, we're still chasing the dream of a simpler life.

    Our house was delivered in late June. Its two halves are now married together and stabilized with concrete blocks.

    Septic, electrical, and interior work are underway, and the water line will soon be run to the existing well.

    There's still a lot of work to be done before it's completely move-in-ready. However, over $275,000 later, we can finally see the shape of what's ahead.

    And what's a few more months in the trailer? This extended camping experience has tested our marriage more than anything else in our 12 years together.

    We've screamed at the Gods. We've shouted at each other. We've nearly become the Torrance family in "The Shining."

    If we had to do it again (never in a million years), we'd give ourselves a timeline of a year or two. We'd also be prepared to cover additional, unknown costs, like county recording fees and septic-system monitoring, beyond the general estimate provided by our contractor.

    Still, we're holding on to the dream of simplifying our lives and owning our home outright.

    Staring across the property at our unfinished house is torture. But, we're hopeful that when it's complete, this nightmare we've been through will have been worth it.

    Time will tell if we'll ever be able to go camping again, though.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Google’s new Android update is great news for iPhone owners

    Apple's AirDrop feature
    Google says its Quick Share feature is now able to work with Apple's AirDrop sharing feature, starting with the Pixel 10 lineup.

    • A new Google update enabled AirDrop and Quick Share interoperability between iPhone and Android devices.
    • Apple and Pixel 10 users can now transfer files directly.
    • Google plans to expand this secure, peer-to-peer sharing feature to more Android devices.

    Another wall between iPhones and Androids just went down.

    Starting this week, sharing files and photos between devices is getting a lot easier for iPhone and Android owners.

    AirDrop and Quick Share are wireless file-sharing features that have been available on iPhones and Androids, respectively. Thanks to an update from Google, the two features can now talk to each other for the first time.

    As part of a Thursday update, iPhone and Pixel 10 owners can now transfer files using Quick Share and AirDrop. It works with iPad, macOS devices, and the entire Google Pixel 10 series of devices.

    two phones
    File-sharing between iPhones and Androids is getting a lot easier.

    The change is the latest example of increased feature compatibility between the two major smartphone operating systems. After a yearslong marketing campaign from Google aimed at Apple, the iPhone maker in 2024 adopted the RCS communication standard, which improved the messaging experience between iPhones and Androids — even if the much-maligned green text bubbles didn't go anywhere.

    To take advantage of the interoperability between AirDrop and Quick Share, Apple device owners must set their device to be discoverable by everyone, which will allow their device to show up on the Pixel 10 owner's Quick Share options. On an iPhone, the request should be received like any other AirDrop interaction that can be accepted or denied. It works the same way the other way around.

    Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider.

    Google said the compatibility feature was designed with security in mind, and there are plans to expand it to more Android devices.

    "This feature does not use a workaround; the connection is direct and peer-to-peer, meaning your data is never routed through a server, shared content is never logged, and no extra data is shared," the tech giant said in a blog post.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • We moved across an ocean last year. Creating community as a young queer family has been hard work, but so worthwhile.

    The writer, his husband, and their daughter in Bristol.
    caption

    • We made a transatlantic move from San Francisco to Bristol, a port city in the UK.
    • Missing familiar faces and a network of fellow parents, we've worked hard to build community here.
    • An LGBTQ+ family coffee morning, improv classes, and fitness groups helped us meet people fast.

    As former San Franciscans, my husband, toddler, and I quickly felt at home in Bristol.

    The progressive UK port city boasts an iconic suspension bridge, heaps of counterculture, and — not least because it's the birthplace of Banksy — a vibrant creative scene.

    We've found comfort in these parallels, but we've faced challenges, too. One of the hardest parts was leaving behind my loving in-laws and the robust community of friends I'd met during my decade living in America.

    What's more, I grew up on the opposite side of England, which means Bristol is a new place for all of us.

    Since arriving in the South West last year, we've worked tirelessly to find a new circle of friendly faces and allies who embrace and understand us as a queer family. Sadly, it's not something we can ever assume will automatically be the case.

    Bristolians welcomed us with open arms and open minds — once we bribed them with tea and biscuits

    Upon arrival, we moved into a cozy Victorian terraced house on a densely populated street. We'd heard again and again that in big cities, people don't really know their neighbors, but we wanted to challenge that stereotype.

    A few weeks after moving in, we sent notes — and cookies — to people in the neighborhood, inviting folks to share a Saturday morning cuppa on our front doorstep.

    The response was overwhelmingly positive. People were eager to meet and chat, and we found that sometimes all it takes is a little boldness (or shamelessness) to make the first move.

    We also found a monthly coffee morning for LGBTQ+ families in our area, which became an instant support network for us, and joined a citywide WhatsApp group for queer parents.

    As a queer family, sometimes it can feel disheartening when we feel like the odd ones out in the playground, at parenting groups, or during drop-off, but discovering other families that look like ours is always affirming.

    By taking turns as 'babysitter,' we salvaged our social lives and explored our new city

    The writer and his daughter by the water in Bristol.
    caption

    It can be challenging to maintain a social life as young parents, and even harder to meet new people.

    Because building community was so important to us, we came up with a game plan. By taking turns staying at home with our sleeping toddler, we've both been able to regularly spend social time with other adults multiple times a week.

    From board-game nights and volunteering to trying out improv classes, we've pushed ourselves to leave our comfort zones and meet new people. Improv, in particular, has given me a lot of newfound confidence, along with friends.

    It's time away from my spouse, but I ultimately find that it nourishes our marriage and family life because I come home recharged and energized.

    We learned that recurring outdoor activities help us build friendships

    As we've settled in, our family's mental and physical well-being has been boosted by time together outdoors. Beyond the health benefits, the best part has been the continuity of meeting the same people and parents in the same place, week after week.

    Every weekend, we attend a kid-friendly, 2-kilometer "race" in a nearby park. Dozens of families gather to complete the leafy circuit and cheer each other on. You can't beat fresh air and the splash of muddy puddles in the rain.

    Meanwhile, I've joined an outdoor fitness boot camp. My husband heads to a running club at dusk once a week. Both groups provide plenty of opportunity for conversation and camaraderie, which have helped us get to know others over time.

    Seasonal festivities create opportunities for us to bond with other families

    The writer and his daughter going for a walk in Bristol, UK.
    caption

    As the seasons change, it's clear that Bristol has so much going on year-round. We're especially looking forward to Pride and the city's famous hot-air-balloon festival each summer, when around 100 colorful balloons ascend over the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.

    Festive occasions, such as our recent Halloween party, have been the perfect excuse to invite new friends to gather together. Surrounded by spooky decorations, I loved seeing our daughter laugh and play with her new pals.

    These moments reassured me that our efforts have paid off, and we're building the kind of life we hoped for.

    With each passing day in this city, I realize there's much more to Bristol than Banksy and its famous bridge. I am grateful to have found a community of warm, welcoming people where our transatlantic queer family can truly thrive.

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  • See what passengers can expect on Boeing’s long-delayed 777X as Emirates gives it a major boost

    Two people sitting in a 10-seat-wide Boeing 777X cabin mockup.
    The Boeing 777X cabin mockup on display at Aircraft Interiors Expo in 2022.

    • Boeing's delayed 777X picked up a 65-strong order from Emirates at the Dubai Airshow in November.
    • The jet hosts a suite of cabin perks, such as bigger windows and turbulence reduction.
    • Airlines can customize the mood lighting to show unique scenes, like the northern lights.

    Boeing just got a much-needed win for its long-overdue 777X.

    UAE-based Emirates placed an order for 65 additional 777X widebody planes in a deal worth $38 billion at list prices during the Dubai Airshow in November.

    That brings its order total to 270 for both variants, including the 777-9 and the smaller but longer-ranged 777-8. It also ups Boeing's 777X total order book to over 600 units.

    The 777X is the largest passenger jet in production, featuring revolutionary folding wingtips and improved range, capacity, and efficiency compared to its predecessors.

    The order comes despite Emirates' President Tim Clark having long criticized Boeing's ability to deliver the jets after years of waiting.

    Clark told Business Insider in February that Emirates has spent $4.5 billion "gutting all the old 777s and retrofitting them" while waiting for the 777Xs. He said in October 2024 that it's also expensive to continue flying old, less fuel-efficient airplanes.

    Still, he said at an industry conference in June that he was happy with the new Boeing CEO, Kelly Ortberg, and was "cautiously optimistic" about the plane's updated delivery timeline.

    The 777X, initially expected to enter service in 2020, has been delayed until at least 2027 due to mechanical, certification, and pandemic-related setbacks. The delays have already cost Boeing at least $4.9 billion in charges.

    But the fresh vote of confidence from Emirates gives Boeing's most important jet some much-needed runway. And what will ultimately matter to passengers is what's inside.

    The 777X's immense size — particularly its wider frame — is one of its most notable characteristics, providing operators with flexibility regarding the cabin layout and travelers with a lot more space.

    In July 2024 at the Farnborough Airshow outside London, Boeing showed what passengers could expect on board — including mood lighting that resembles the northern lights.

    The 777X can accommodate up to 10 seats per row in economy.
    The 777X cabin on display at the dubai airshow.
    The 777X cabin on display at the 2025 Dubai Airshow.

    Airlines favor the 777-9 for its huge capacity. The aircraft can carry up to 426 people, with a majority spread across 10-abreast rows in the economy section.

    This isn't new to the 777 family. Previous models offer the same feature. The A350's build was modified in late 2022 to also offer 10-abreast seats.

    But the 777X's larger cabin, which is 4 inches wider than the 777-300ER, the plane it is derived from, means those seats can offer more width than its predecessors and its competition.

    The customizable economy cabin mockup on display featured 18-inch seats.
    The interior of a cabin mockup with a row of empty seats.
    Inside Boeing's demonstration 777X cabin, with an example of how economy seats could look. Airlines can custom-fit the cabin with their own seats as well.

    The 777X's 18-inch-wide seats improve on the 17.2 inches of seat width previously achievable, Boeing's regional director of cabin marketing, Stephanie Werner, told media at the airshow near London.

    The customizable seats also offer more seat width than the up to 17-inch seats Airbus can provide on its 10-abreast A350.

    "Airlines have total flexibility and choice in how to configure the planes, so they can do anything in between," she said. "So if they want to get more aisle width or seat width, that's up to them."

    Up front, airlines can install their unique business- and first-class seats.
    A first-class suite on an Emirates Boeing 777, with an air hostess in the corridor outside.
    An interior view of the First Class Suite inside an Emirates' Boeing 777 during it's presentation at Hamburg's airport, in Hamburg, Germany, 11 April 2018. Emirates airline is presenting their newly designed interior spaces of the aircraft.

    Qatar Airways, for example, has said its future 777X planes will have a new first-class cabin, though details are still limited.

    Emirates, for its part, plans to install its new "Game Changer" first class on its 777X fleet. The cabin, which features a floor-to-ceiling door and "virtual windows" in the center seats that replicate the view outside the plane, is already operational on Emirates' 777-300ERs.

    Coach can include regular and premium economy.
    Lufthansa's Allegris economy cabin.
    Lufthansa will fit its Allegris cabin onto its 777X fleet.

    The 777X launch customer, Lufthansa, will feature its new Allegris cabin on its future 777Xs.

    Cathay Pacific is expected to equip its 777X fleet with the upgraded premium economy and business-class seats already featured on its 777-300ER fleet.

    The airline also plans to introduce a new first-class cabin, exclusive to the 777X.

    Beyond seating, Werner said the 777X's design also includes two ceiling options for operators.
    A business-class array displayed on the screen in a 777X cabin mockup

    These can exist on the same plane but differ in curvature, providing operators with "architectural flexibility."

    The "A" option removes the overhead bins in the center section to increase the cabin's height. Werner said this would benefit premium cabins where less luggage storage is needed and seat space is highly valued.

    The "B" option flips that 180 degrees to create a downward arch with overhead bins. Werner mentioned this would probably be preferred in coach, as it creates a greater sense of width.

    The ceiling complements the 777X's interior lines with curves that Boeing has added to create a sense of spaciousness.
    The interior of a mock airplane cabin with a screen on a wall showing an illustration of a plane's galley.
    Boeing designed the plane to be comfortable for the eyes, with arched ceilings.

    Werner pointed to the entry arch that opens into the cabin.

    "We do that intentionally so that passengers, as they enter the space, can begin to mentally reset and reframe and start to relax a little bit as they get to their seats," she said.

    Boeing has created bigger windows that are higher on the fuselage.
    Plane windows, one with a sticker on it the size of a smaller Airbus A350 window.
    The size difference between the 777X and A350 windows.

    BI has toured the experimental 777X at several airshows. Boeing consistently includes a side-by-side comparison with the A350's windows to show Boeing's higher placement and 29% larger size.

    "Whether you're seated at a window seat or seated in the center of economy, your line of sight will see the sky from your seat," Werner said.

    The windows can be dimmable.
    Windows on a plane, one with a shade pulled half over it.

    Boeing has added the 787 Dreamliner's staple dimmable windows as an option on the 777X. The 777X's dimmer is turned on with a switch above the window that changes how much light passes through the window.

    "This is something that gives passengers more autonomy on how much light they want," Werner said.

    Travelers shouldn't have an issue finding overhead bin space, even if they are last to board.
    Suitcases in the luggage bins in a Boeing 777X cabin mockup

    Werner said the 777X's overhead bins can hold up to four bags each, and added that Boeing has reduced the closing force by 40% to make them easier for passengers and crew.

    "If anyone has ever had anxiety before, hoping you don't have to gate check your bag, this can help relieve some of that bin anxiety," she said.

    Considering the 777X is set to be a long-haul workhorse, mood lighting was a point of focus.
    A mockup of a Boeing 777X cabin display with lights dotted on the ceiling and a green light stretching across the cabin.
    The northern lights and starry sky.

    Mood lighting serves several purposes, including calming travelers and combating jet lag. The 777X offers new customizable color hues and scenes to amplify that effect.

    "Instead of having the pressure on the cabin crew to select the custom lighting scenes, we want to make it easier for them overall to select ones that are predetermined by the airline brand," she said.

    We saw several different scenes, including a starry night sky, a sunset, and the northern lights.
    Red and pink ambient lighting in a Boeing 777X cabin mockup

    Werner said airlines can choose lighting schemes that change over the course of the flight, from boarding to food to sleep.

    "It gives a little bit more comfort for passengers as you have this dynamic lighting instead of switching from one light to another," she said. "We want them to have a gradual change of light."

    Several passenger enhancements on the 777X aren't visible to the human eye.
    Boeing 777X Flight Test 1 aircraft at the Farnborough International Air Show 2022.
    Boeing 777X Flight Test 1 aircraft at the Farnborough International Air Show 2022.

    Improvements include better cabin humidity and altitude, with the latter at 6,000 feet on the 777X. Werner said these conditions would help passengers feel refreshed upon landing.

    Thanks to the plane's enhanced engines and aerodynamics, there's also less noise on board. Werner also said passengers would experience less turbulence because of the jet's "lateral and vertical gust suppression."

    "When there is more turbulence, which we are seeing more of these days, and passengers are white-knuckling in their seat because they're nervous, the [system] can smooth it out," she said.

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in July 2024 and has been updated.

    Read the original article on Business Insider