Tag: Business

• Shoppers are being more selective, leaning toward value spots like Walmart and T.J. Maxx.
• With the economy feeling shaky, even wealthier shoppers are hunting for deals.
• It's not just about price: Consumers want value in their purchases.

Americans are spending selectively.

That's the picture painted by this quarter's earnings season, and it's not surprising. Consumer sentiment is at its lowest level since 2022, job cuts are rising sharply, and tariffs are making shopping trips more expensive.

Lower-income shoppers aren't the only ones feeling the heat. Analysts say well-off consumers are also "trading down" on some purchases and switching up their shopping routines to get better deals.

But shoppers aren't just gravitating to the lowest-priced chains. While they are seeking value, it's not just about price, Neil Saunders of GlobalData Retail told Business Insider.

"The consumer does not have enough spending power to lift all retailers. What we're seeing is polarization: Some retailers are doing well, while others are failing," Saunders said.

"It is somewhat easier for those offering low prices to do well. But it's much wider than price — consumers want to feel they are buying well and getting bang for their buck," he said.

Here's a look at who's in and who's out this season.

What's in: Walmart, preppy luxury, fast-casual dining, and T.J. Maxx.

Americans can't get enough of off-price stores right now.

TJX, the parent of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, reported a 5% rise in same-store sales in its most recent quarterly earnings, while Ross Stores reported a 7% climb in the same metric compared to the same period the year before. These stores are offering shoppers the chance to treat themselves without breaking the bank.

Meanwhile, Walmart is solidifying its grip on American dollars. The retail giant reported strong sales for the third quarter, with total revenue increasing 5.8% year-over-year and US same-store sales rising 4.5% versus the same quarter in 2024. It also said it continues to benefit from gaining more upper and middle-income consumers.

Restaurants are seeing the same pull. Diners want affordability and value for money. Fast-casual chains like Applebee's and Chili's are thriving because they offer just this.

"These guys have figured out what that magic price point is," Phil Kafarakis, CEO of IFMA, The Food Away From Home Association, told Business Insider. It's enabling them to compete with fast-food chains, he said.

"They said we're going to make a bigger burger and you can sit in our place and be served, and it's not going to cost you $12 to get a Big Mac meal," he added. The price of this McDonald's meal varies by location and comes with fries and a drink.

When it comes to apparel, the all-American preppy brands are having a moment. Gap, Tapestry-owned Coach, and Ralph Lauren all saw year-over-year sales growth in the most recent quarter.

Ralph Lauren has positioned itself as an affordable luxury brand. Plus, it sells products that are good quality and have a classic design, which means they can be worn many times, Saunders said.

What's out: $15 salads, discretionary splurges, and mid-market retail.

Trendy "slop bowl chains" are cooling off right now.

Sweetgreen, Cava, and Chipotle all said in recent earnings that they are seeing fewer frequent visits from their younger consumers. And it's hitting their sales and stock prices. Sweetgreen's same-store sales dropped 9.5%, Cava slowed to 1.9% growth, and Chipotle barely eked out 0.3% in this quarter versus the same period the year before.

"We're not losing them to the competition. We're losing them to grocery and food at home," Chipotle's CEO, Scott Boatwright, said of young diners in the company's most recent earnings call.

When it comes to big-box retail, Target is losing out. Analysts say messy stores, long wait times, and locked-up products have put off consumers, and they are heading elsewhere.

What's mixed: Home improvement and fast food.

Many Americans seem to be putting home improvement projects on hold for now.

In their most recent earnings calls, the titans of the sector — Home Depot and Lowe's — said the era of big flashy makeovers is on pause right now, but the home improvement world isn't dead either. Contractors are still working — but the focus is on smaller projects, maintenance, and repairs.

It's just not big purchases that shoppers are more reluctant to make. Some of the more cash-strapped consumers are also turned off by rising prices in fast food.

Although McDonald's saw its sales grow in the most recent quarter, it's not an entirely rosy picture.

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said in its most recent earnings call that sales from lower-income diners are falling right now. At the same time, it's seeing more traffic from higher-income diners.

"I think sometimes there's this idea that value only matters to low income, but value matters to everybody, whether you're upper income, middle income, lower income," Kempczinski said on the call.

"Feeling like you're getting good value for your dollar is important," he added.

• Incoming NYC Mayor Mamdani's embrace of socialism has some predicting the wealthy will flee
• In luxury hotspots like Miami, there's anticipation that this will unleash a buying spree.
• This comes after a banner year for ultra-luxury purchases in locales popular with ex-New-Yorkers.

Zohran Mamdani won a resounding mayoral victory by promising to make it cheaper to live in New York City.

However, his victory earlier this month may have the unintended effect of making it even more expensive for the ultrawealthy to afford their homes in favorite ex-New Yorker haunts like Greenwich, Palm Beach, and the Hamptons, top real estate agents told Business Insider. Real estate agents in these elite zip codes say that the "Mamdani effect" is already creeping into prices or causing some to pull the trigger to buy, as locals anticipate another migration wave.

2025 was already a "banner year" for Dina Goldentayer, a Miami-based real estate agent who, with more than $3 billion in sales since 2021, is the top earner at real estate firm Douglas Elliman. Even as prices are dropping in Miami at the median-home level, they're growing for ultra-luxury buyers. As of September, the median home price for Miami was down about 4% year-over-year, while it was up 8.4% for luxury homes in Miami, according to Redfin.

"Every year, our price points get higher and higher," she said. Referencing million-dollar listings, she added: "30 is the new 20."

This dynamic mimics a broader consumer dynamic, with wealthy Americans spending more while the rest cut back.

She has not had any New York to Miami transplant clients say they were moving because of Mamdani, but she said Miamians believe the "election results will flood the market with New Yorkers."

"I've had some sellers in Miami say, 'Let's raise my price,'" Goldentayer said, though she has cautioned them to wait until he actually rolls out policies before raising it.

Socialist Mamdani, who will take office in 2026, has proposed raising taxes on those making more than $1 million a year, and criticized the New York Police Department. His campaign left ultrawealthy New Yorkers concerned he's going to target their wealth and make the city less safe.

While sellers are salivating at steep price jumps, buyers are worried that New Yorkers will drive prices up, Goldentayer said.

"I had one client use the expression 'The Mamdani effect is being baked into the price,'" Goldentayer said.

Heading down to Florida

Nancy Batchelor, a top Miami real estate agent who heads her own group with Compass, wrote to BI that she's had "a handful of buyers mention the election," but that it's never the "sole reason."

"What we're seeing is more subtle; people who were on the fence are now exploring their options with more urgency," Bachelor wrote. "Many are waiting it out to see if anything changes in New York City before making a decision."

That might mean buying a second home in Miami for now, but not actually moving their family south in the middle of the school year, she said.

And in markets like Palm Beach, which has been a magnet for Manhattanites, what started as a pandemic trend is turning into a "full lifestyle shift," Samantha Curry, a top Palm Beach real estate agent, wrote to BI.

South Florida has attracted a number of billionaires like legendary investor Carl Icahn and Citadel's Ken Griffin, who moved his firm's Chicago headquarters to Miami. Steven Ross, former CEO of Related, which developed the upscale Hudson Yards neighborhood in NYC, spun out the firm's Palm Beach operations to form Related Ross.

Curry has heard from ex-New Yorkers who said the potential tax implications and safety concerns of Mamdani have been a reason for their searches. Right now, it's mostly "driving conversations," especially with the top tier of clients, but actual increases in taxes will really change things.

"If that happens, we expect to see another wave of buyers from the north heading to Palm Beach," she wrote.

A record year for Greenwich

While Miami and Palm Beach have become destinations for financial types, a more traditional post-Wall Street destination, Greenwich, CT, is actually seeing some post-election sales.

Ultra-luxury Greenwish home sales jumped after Mamdani's June primary victory, with more homes sold in a shorter period, and at higher prices, with an average of $19.7 million per home after the nomination compared to $14.9 million before, according to the mid-November analysis by Mark Pruner, a top Greenwich agent for Compass.

Pruner said the town has seen three large sales go into contract since the election, ranging from $14 million to $28 million. He has had some clients say that Mamdani is a factor behind their move, but that the evidence is "anecdotal."

What is certain is that Greenwich is having a record year, he said, saying that it's on track for more than 50 sales over $10 million, compared to a prior high of 19 in 2007.

"A significant portion of it is the concern about the stock market," Pruner said. "We're at record highs, people are sitting at lots of unrealized profits, and there are people who are taking money out of their stock investments and putting it into high-end real estate here in Greenwich."

If a Mamdani wave continues, home hunters will have slim pickings in Greenwich. Inventory is down 82% from where it was pre-COVID, according to Pruner, pushing prices higher before any Mamdani effect became part of the equation.

So far, the numbers don't match the chatter. Despite all the talk of wealthy fleeing, and that penthouses and brownstones would be going for bargain rates, luxury home sales surged in the city following the election. The week of the election saw 41 contracts signed at $4 million and above, the most in a single week since late May, according to the Olshan Luxury Market Report.

New York's continued strength is a result of "multi-market living," said Miami's Batchelor.

"Many aren't choosing between New York and Miami, they're choosing both," she said.

Now that's not to say there won't be some ultrawealthy people selling properties in New York, but many of the ultrawealthy will buy in Florida and change their domicile to shake off the tax man while keeping their pad on Billionaire's Row.

"The nice thing is, if you can afford an over $10 million house, you generally can afford two, or three, or four," said Pruner.

• After living in Philadelphia, I was worried that moving home would feel like a step backward.
• We've been back for four years, and it definitely was the best decision for my family.
• Sharing things I did as a child and places I loved with my daughter has been special.

When my husband and I got married in 2015, I moved from my suburban hometown in Delaware to Philadelphia. We loved the proximity to arts and culture events and museums, the access to public transportation, and the ability to walk to some of our favorite restaurants.

Living in a city also came with its negatives: noise and safety issues, as well as limited outdoor space. When we became parents, these issues became even more challenging. So, when we decided to move again four years ago, we made the choice not only to trade the city for the suburbs, but also to move back to my hometown.

I was conflicted at first about moving back to my hometown

After living in Philadelphia for over five years, I was concerned that moving back to my suburban hometown would feel like a step backward. Moving away from home to bigger and better things seems like a rite of passage during young adulthood. But the lockdowns and isolation of the pandemic took their toll.

The things that we had been struggling with about living in a city got worse, and I felt trapped at home with a toddler who couldn't wear a mask. Longing for a feeling of normality and safety, moving back to an area that was familiar and comfortable felt like the best choice for our family. We ended up purchasing a house that was not far from my childhood home.

My daughter has blossomed in the suburbs with more outdoor space

Over the past four years, we've taken numerous walks, tricycle rides, and scooter rides around our neighborhood. In the fall, we watch all the leaves change from green to gold and rust. In spring, my daughter puddle-hops along the streets, and in winter, she builds snowmen in the front yard, just like I did as a child. We've planted our own garden, growing tomatoes and strawberries, and have been slightly more successful than my siblings and I were.

Late last spring, my dad and husband worked together to construct a swing set in our backyard, while my daughter raced around, delivering screws and holding brackets. Years ago, my grandfather and dad also built a swing set in the backyard of my childhood home that my siblings and I used into our teenage years.

In our outdoor space, we have been able to enjoy a lot of the special memories I have from growing up: running through the sprinkler on hot summer days, kicking soccer balls around the yard, and watching the bunnies and cardinals that make our yard our home.

I've also enjoyed sharing the places I enjoyed as a child with my daughter

Our local nature and science museum has become one of my daughter's favorite places. While a lot has changed over the years, I still get to see her wonder at the same giant clam shell and stuffed animal specimens that I did and pretend to swim over the underfloor coral reef that I was always too scared to walk over.

Last year, she took another plunge into the past when she became the third generation to take swim lessons at a local pool. Ironically, it looks pretty much the same, but thankfully, neither my daughter nor I had to use loaner wool bathing suits like my mom did.

When we were in Philadelphia, we had access to a bigger zoo, multiple art museums, and a huge variety of restaurants. But our small state's little zoo, museums, and state parks have turned out to be perfect for my daughter because they aren't overwhelming or overstimulating. And rather than feeling trite, sharing things I did as a child and places I loved with my daughter has felt a bit magical.

• The retail sector has had a tough run this year, and business bankruptcies have been on the rise.
• Some companies have dissolved while others have negotiated a solution — or a buyer.
• Here are some of the more notable retail bankruptcy cases that took place in 2025.

This year has been a rough one for retailers.

Business bankruptcies across the country have been on the rise in recent years, according to an analysis from the Administrative Office of the US Courts, and 2025 has seen several prominent retail brands involved.

Some retail brands started the year already engaged in the bankruptcy process, while others filed for protection as the months went by.

Among them, several have found themselves in bankruptcy for the second time in just a few years, and a few have managed to find buyers interested in keeping their brands alive through an acquisition.

Here is a roundup of 14 of the more notable retail bankruptcy cases that unfolded in 2025.

• The Midwest leads in desirable metros with homes priced under $300,000, per Realtor.com.
• As home prices still remain high, affordability is a key factor for prospective homebuyers.
• Coastal cities tend to be more expensive while the Midwest is gaining appeal for its lower costs.

Home sale prices across the country have actually decreased since their peak in 2022, according to data from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, home prices still remain unaffordable for many.

During the second quarter of 2020, the median sales price for a home was $317,100. Fast forward to that same timeframe in 2023, and the price jumped to $418,500. As of 2025, the amount has decreased slightly to $410,800.

Some areas continue to see increases in price, like Miami Beach's Fisher Island neighborhood, where the median listing price for a home is $11,925,000. Other regions, like the Sun Belt, have cooled off as buyer demand has decreased.

One region that's becoming more desirable is the Midwest. With household incomes not far off from home listing prices, there are many affordable options available below the national median of $424,200. Realtor.com highlighted the 10 most desirable metros with homes under $300,000, and a large majority of them are Midwestern cities.

While not every city listed is considered Midwestern, the metros are concentrated toward the middle of the map. East- and West-Coast elitists may (or may not) be shocked to find that no coastal cities made the cut. The farthest east city is in northeast Pennsylvania, and the most western city is in Kansas.

Here are 10 desirable metros with homes under $300,000, according to Realtor.com. Metros are in descending order of median list price. Median household income numbers come from the US Census Bureau.

• Daily lunches with my grandmother eased my loneliness as a single mother at 26 years old.
• Her support and routine meals helped me adjust to new motherhood and postpartum challenges.
• When she moved away, I had to face single motherhood alone, but she prepared me.

When my son was born, I spent the first six months of his life away from work. I was so happy that I could stay home to take care of him, but I was also alone all day.

I was a single mother at 26 years old, and my other good friends, who lived out of the area, didn't have kids yet. I felt isolated in new motherhood, but I did have some family nearby.

My grandmother, who only lived 15 minutes away, began inviting me over for lunch nearly every day. Having a lunch date gave me something to put on my schedule. It gave me a place to be, a reason to get dressed, and leave the house.

Eating lunch with my grandmother was exactly what I needed

My grandmother always ate at the same time and ate well-balanced, healthy meals. Eating lunch with her held me accountable to a routine and a conscious diet.

Talking to her was what was really nourishing. I didn't even realize how much I needed to talk about adjusting to life with a child until I showed up for lunch. I was also starving, sometimes living off of crackers and apple sauce at home in between feedings.

I found myself lingering more and more during our visits, as we talked and took turns holding the baby. It was nice getting to do small things hands-free, like eat a sit-down meal, but I also experienced myself missing my son when my grandmother held him for a while. It was the first time that I finally got a break, but then I instantly missed my son like crazy.

I worried about losing my daily lunch dates

I'd end up staying until the late afternoon, taking my son for a walk after lunch or resting with my grandmother while he napped. I did this for months and knew it was coming to an end, because she was a snowbird. She would come down to Florida during the winter and head back up north for the summer.

I was already dreading her departure when another family member asked what I'd do without her.

I got the sense that maybe others found it odd that I had become so close to my grandmother, given that I was 26 and she was in her 70s. But I just felt lucky to have spent that time of my life with her. Since I lost my mother at a very young age, spending that time with my maternal grandmother was really valuable to me. I'll never get to ask my own mom for advice, but my son and I got to spend time with my mom's mom, and I think that's really special.

It was difficult for me after she left for the summer because that was when I really began to adjust to life as a single parent.

Connecting with my grandmother during postpartum helped me feel capable

I really missed spending time with my grandmother, and that's when I realized how much her support had kept me grounded during those first six months of postpartum.

I can see now that my grandmother was looking out for me and that the connection I experienced during those visits made my postpartum experience so much more manageable. Having her support during the beginning of my son's life and of my parenting journey gave me the strength to begin doing it all on my own that summer.

She didn't have to go out of her way to host all of those lunches, but I think in doing so, she was just doing her best to take care of me in her own way.

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Welcome back! One 93-year-old works out five days a week. She credits three essentials for feeling like she's in her 50s.

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On the agenda:

• If waking up has ever felt like a punishment, a BI reporter has good news.
• Gen Z's favorite vacation: wherever their boss sends them.
• Novak Djokovic is winning titles at 38. He credits his longevity to 3 simple changes.
• One of the most divisive dining trends of the 2010s is making a comeback.

But first: What's cooking?

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If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here.

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This week's dispatch

We're talkin' turkey

For many American families, there are five staples you're almost sure to see on their Thanksgiving dinner tables: turkey, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie.

And I know, I know, I'm leaving off a lot of yummy menu items. I can already hear you wondering, "Where's the green beans?"

Business Insider has been testing, tasting, and serving up recipes to help readers finalize their Thanksgiving menus based on the most popular dishes.

In case you were head down in Q4 and missed them (relatable), here's your cheat sheet to the ultimate Thanksgiving menu.

Turkey: There's still time to order your bird online. Here are the best places to buy one — from organic to fried to smoked.

Macaroni and cheese: We tried Ina Garten's overnight mac and cheese recipe, which features Gruyére and white cheddar. Yum!

Stuffing: One writer put four stuffing recipes to the test, and the favorite was the easiest to make. The recipe also called for fennel and apricot.

Sweet potatoes: Inside "Good Lookin' Cookin'," Dolly Parton's new cookbook with her sister, Rachel Parton George, is a sweet potato recipe with a nutty twist. One BI reporter brought it to a friendsgiving, and it was gone within minutes.

Pumpkin pie: A writer put three different pie recipes to the test, and Bobby Flay's came out on top thanks to a creamy, sweet topping.

Good luck in the kitchen! Or if all else fails, just order it up.

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Becoming a morning person

BI's Kim Schewitz has always struggled with waking up in the morning. She realized that starting her day in a constant fight or flight state left her feeling low energy, anxious, and a little disoriented.

Schewitz began her odyssey to become a morning person about a year ago. It wasn't until after a recent trip, when she got the good kind of jet lag — going to bed early and waking up early — that she really started to notice a difference.

Yoga and long walks before work.

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You better work (trip)

Some Gen Zers are turning bland work trips into vacations by tacking on extra days at nice hotels and taking advantage of corporate rates.

Done right, it's a nice way to earn extra credit card points, see a bucket-list destination, and maybe even get some quality time with a plus one. Done wrong, however, it's a sure way to upset your coworkers.

Business tripping with Gen Z.

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Long live the Djoker

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic is still at the top of his game at 38. The 24-time Grand Slam champion continues to beat players who are more than 10 years younger than him.

Djokovic told Business Insider the lifestyle choices he thinks have kept him on the court, from his famously disciplined diet to prioritizing emotional health.

Lessons from the GOAT.

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They ate with that

Shared tables and communal dining are so back, and young people are driving the trend.

The practice of seating different groups of people at the same long, banquet-style tables has some notable perks post-pandemic. For one, it makes it a lot easier to talk to strangers.

Let's feast.

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What we're watching this weekend

• "Good Boy": On Shudder, check out one of the most unique horror movies made in some time, as this haunted house story is told through the perspective of a dog.
• "The Bad Guys 2": Now available on Peacock, Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, and Zazie Beetz voice a group of crooks on one last heist.
• "Champagne Problems": It's that time of year when Netflix starts putting out its holiday movies. In this rom-com, Minka Kelly stars as a businesswoman who travels to France for some luxury Champagne and finds love in the process.

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What to shop

• Black Friday streaming deals: From annual plans under $3 to live TV bundles, this season's top streaming deals deliver serious savings without cutting any of the good stuff.
• Rare discount alert: SKIMS has put a ton of styles on sale ahead of Black Friday. Popular pieces, like the viral Soft Lounge Slip Dress and core cotton tees, are already up to 50% off, but sizes are selling quickly.
• Backpack today, tote tomorrow: We found the best convertible backpack-totes for commuting, traveling, and everything in between.

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The status symbol hoodie for teen girls

Gen Z and Gen Alpha girls are obsessed with a $90 pastel sweatshirt from Pink Palm Puff. For Katie Notopoulos's "Well Spent" podcast, she spoke to Lily Balaisis, the clothing brand's 17-year-old founder.

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More of this week's top reads:

• "Wicked: For Good" tries too hard to make Ariana Grande the star.
• I'm the founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills. My day starts with TikTok and ends with red light therapy.
• A dietitian shares how the "80/20 rule" helps her eat enough protein, fiber — and pastries.
• I tried making a French omelette. This surprisingly easy breakfast dish is my new favorite way to eat eggs.
• We paid over $14,000 for the cheapest room on an ultra-luxury cruise. Take a look inside our ship and 350-square-foot suite.
• My husband and I were on "House Hunters International." Here are five things that surprised me most about being on the show.

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The BI Today team: Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York.

• Grip strength is associated with greater longevity and lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Grip strength is also linked to strength training, such as pulling or carrying heavy weights.
• Exercises like farmer's carries and dead hangs can boost grip strength.

Easily popping the lid off a jar can mean you'll live longer — but not for the reasons you think.

Great grip strength is regarded as a key indicator of longevity, with one 2019 study linking stronger grip strength with lower rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive impairment.

The iron-gripped among us also experience day-to-day health benefits. "Those same people tend to have just better metabolism as well," Sarah Crawford, a physical therapist and owner of Anchor Wellness in Cincinnati, told Business Insider. "So better blood sugar regulation, better hormonal balance, reduced inflammation."

What do these people all have in common (besides giving firm handshakes)? Staying very active, she said. Grip strength is formed by building small muscles in the hands and forearms, which is harder to do than building larger muscles like your hamstrings or quadriceps.

"So if you're keeping smaller, deeper muscles strong, you have to be keeping bigger muscles strong, too," she said.

This is why squeezing a stress ball throughout an otherwise sedentary day won't do anything for grip strength.

"Grip strength is really a by-product of living an active lifestyle," W. Zach Smith, a physical therapist and owner of HIDEF Physical Therapy in Seattle, told Business Insider. He compared it to a person's walking speed, another sign of longevity: "It's based on all of the things they do in their life to stay healthy."

Try farmer's carries and dead hangs

The relationship to grip strength and strength training is fairly simple: grip strength is vital to progressing in pull-ups or heavy deadlifts, Crawford said. As you challenge yourself in those exercises, your grip strength improves over time.

Smith said popular exercises like bent-over rows, kettlebell swings, or sled pulls (where you hold a handle instead of tying the sled around your waist) all naturally build your grip strength because they involve pulling or carrying motions.

"Even rowing on a machine is going to take quite a bit of grip strength, having to pull," he said.

Crawford said farmer's carries — holding a heavy kettlebell in each hand and walking — "build grip endurance, shoulder stability, and core control all at once."

Similar exercises, such as a suitcase carry (holding only one weight) or using a trap bar (a hexagonal barbell that you can grip on its sides), also boost grip strength, Smith said.

"Even a simple dead hang from a bar is a great grip-builder," he said, which involves simply holding on to a pull-up bar for as long as you can.

If weight-training isn't your thing, Smith said other workouts, like bouldering or gymnastics, also build your strength — including your grip.

Desk accessories can work — on one condition

Because of the grip strength longevity buzz over the past few years, Smith has seen devices like hand grippers and squeeze balls become trendier.

With his own clients, he's seen little success when using them without additional strength training in the mix. "Building grip strength for the sake of grip strength using grip trainers rarely works, and we have had many clients try," he said.

However, if you're already strength training, Crawford said it doesn't hurt to do a few desk exercises in between Zoom meetings. The hand gripper "targets the primary muscles of the hand and forearm and can be used just about anywhere," she said. She also recommended therapy putty, which comes in different resistance levels and "helps strengthen the smaller, intrinsic muscles of the hand that we often neglect."

Sneak in grip exercises throughout your day

You can also get creative in challenging your grip strength throughout the day. "If you're parking further away in the grocery store parking lot and carrying your groceries out of the store instead of pushing them in a cart, that in and of itself will have an impact," Crawford said.

Even fine motor tasks, like coloring with a pencil, add up over time. "Daily practices that are pretty easy to implement will positively impact grip strength," she said — as long as you're still hitting the gym.

• I let my 14-year-old son skip school to attend the opening of a new Lego store together.
• It was a special bonding experience, and I don't regret it.
• While in line, I realized he's interested in Legos again for the same reason I wanted to take him.

Two weeks ago, I let my 14-year-old son take a day off from school so we could go to the grand opening of our new Lego store.

I know it sounds frivolous. And I'm not the kind of parent who encourages blowing off school for a trip to the mall. But for us, it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment — one of those small, strange, wonderful opportunities to make a memory I know we'll both hold onto.

Going to the new Lego store was a good chance to spend time together

My son was big into Lego blocks when he was little, but like many kids, his interest tapered off as video games became more appealing. And then, out of nowhere, it roared back with teenage intensity. He started following new releases, quoting "price per piece" statistics, and making regular visits to our local secondhand Lego shop for a "quick look."

Until two weeks ago, the closest official Lego store was over two hours away, so the idea that one was opening practically in our backyard felt big. When he told me the date for the grand opening, I half-jokingly asked if he wanted to go. His eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning.

So we went.

We stood in line for almost two hours just to get in the door — surrounded by a huge, good-natured crowd of mostly adults, some with young kids — but it honestly didn't feel that long to me. My son and I spent the time chatting about everything from what he was hoping to buy to what we were looking forward to doing on the upcoming holiday break.

I realized in line why he was into Legos again — and why the day felt so special

It struck me as we waited in line: he's clinging to Lego for the same reason I wanted to take him to the store opening that day. We're both holding on to something that feels simple and uncomplicated in a world where everything seems to be accelerating for him.

At 14, he's in this place between childhood and adulthood. He's mature and focused, and more self-aware than I ever was at his age. He earns good grades, is on the student council and the Model UN team at his school, volunteers at the library every week, and has recently told me he feels like he has a lot on his plate. He's busy in a new, adult way, and Lego is his way of decompressing, something that lets his brain (and emotions) take a break.

Seeing the little kids waiting with their parents, I was reminded of just how quickly time passes. My son and I often talk about the future and his college and career aspirations. He's forming his own opinions and priorities, and I'm grateful that he still wants to talk about (almost) everything with me. But I'm also aware that the window for spontaneous weekday adventures is rapidly narrowing.

Taking him out of school for the day was about showing him that, as he grows up, there's still room for joy and silliness. He got to experience the child-like excitement of being a kid with no responsibilities for a few hours — and I got to match his excitement just by watching him be completely in his element.

When we finally made it into the store, he took his time wandering around to see all of the displays and make his choices. He didn't get the Gingerbread AT-AT Walker Lego set he really wanted — we would've had to have been closer to the front of the line for that coveted purchase — but he found a couple of other sets he liked, as well as one for his brother, and even one for me.

More than the stuff, we came home with a shared new memory. One that we'll pull out at holiday meals and visits home from college — "Remember that time we waited in line for hours at the new Lego store? That was wild!"

I don't regret taking him out of school for a day. In fact, I imagine I'll do it again a few more times before he graduates. Grades matter. Attendance matters. Preparing for the future matters. But so does carving out space to connect with my kid before the time slips away.

• Donald Trump signed a bill that will release the DOJ's files on Jeffrey Epstein.
• It's the latest in a long line of Epstein documents that have been released.
• But this one stands to be different. Here's how.

More than six years after his death in jail, Jeffrey Epstein is still alive and well in the public discourse.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act after months of pressure from members of Congress, including some in his own party.

The law requires one of the most radical acts of transparency in the Justice Department's history, requiring it to make public its records related to Epstein, the notorious and well-connected pedophile financier who killed himself while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

The department has 30 days to comply, setting a deadline of Saturday, December 19.

Epstein counted Trump, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and other titans of finance, law, politics, and science among his acquaintances. His alleged victims and other members of the public hope the files will shed light on those relationships and law enforcement's handling of the case.

Here's what sets this release apart:

Haven't we already seen a whole lot of 'Epstein files'?

In recent months, the House Oversight Committee has made public Epstein-related documents it obtained through subpoenas, including emails provided by his estate.

Other documents have been made public through the federal prosecution of Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who was found guilty of sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Civil lawsuits involving Epstein, Maxwell, banks affiliated with Epstein, and the US Virgin Islands government have shaken loose even more records about his life. Various drips and drabs have also entered the public domain through Freedom of Information Act requests, government reports, and an inquiry from the Senate Finance Committee.

All of that may pale in comparison to what the Justice Department has in its possession.

OK, so what's new here?

The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the Justice Department to publish "all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" about Epstein and Maxwell.

Those could include more emails and text messages, as well as internal prosecutorial records. The Justice Department has overseen two different criminal investigations into Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls. The first took place in Florida and led to a widely criticized deal where Epstein pleaded guilty to a single sex offense in 2008. The second was the Manhattan-based investigation, which led to Epstein's 2019 arrest and Maxwell's prosecution.

During Epstein's 2019 arrest, the FBI searched his Manhattan townhouse and his home in the US Virgin Islands. In the process, they obtained more than 70 computers, iPads, and hard drives, along with financial documents and binders full of CDs.

Those seized materials form the heart of the "Epstein files," which could shed even more light on the deepest, darkest secrets of the notorious pedophile. According to The New York Times, the FBI had already prepared 100,000 pages for public release before the Justice Department decided to keep them secret earlier this year.

That's pretty wild. Is there anything else the Justice Department might release?

Yes! A whole bunch of stuff, including:

• Any deals between the government and Epstein associates, including non-prosecution agreements and sealed settlements.
• Records tied to Epstein's death in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, such as transcripts of interviews with people in neighboring cells the night he died.
• Records into what has widely been criticized as a "sweetheart deal" for Epstein by Southern District of Florida prosecutors.
• Material surrounding calls victims say they made to the FBI as early as the 1990s about Epstein's conduct, which did not lead to any known law enforcement investigation.
• Additional flight records from Epstein's private jets.

That's a lot? Is there anything the government isn't releasing?

While the law requires the Justice Department to make its records publicly available, other federal agencies are off the hook.

The Treasury Department, for example, is in possession of more exhaustive records related to Epstein's finances, including Suspicious Activity Reports some banks filed about his fund transfers. A separate bill proposed by Sen. Ron Wyden would force more transparency there.

The Federal Aviation Administration possesses flight records that it has so far kept from the public. And to the degree that intelligence agencies like the CIA or National Security Agency have anything, the bill doesn't cover them.

Doesn't the DOJ have loopholes to keep this stuff secret?

The Epstein Files Transparency Act permits the Justice Department to redact or withhold documents for victim privacy and for national security purposes.

'National security'? That sounds fuzzy.

Well, sure, but there are limits.

Four people who have had access to the seized material previously told Business Insider that nothing in them indicated Epstein had any kind of domestic or foreign intelligence role. Nothing in the discovery process or court proceedings for Maxwell's criminal case, which involved those records, indicated that there was anything of national security importance.

Furthermore, the Epstein Files Transparency Act requires all redactions to be accompanied by a written justification submitted to Congress.

The law specifically prohibits the Justice Department from withholding, delaying, or redacting any documents "on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary." It also requires the department to produce material "concerning the destruction, deletion, alteration, misplacement, or concealment" of Epstein-related records — meaning Congress wants to know if there are signs of a cover-up.

What about that new investigation I heard about?

A provision in the law allows the Justice Department to withhold records that "would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution."

Days before the bill's passage, Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation into the links between Epstein and JPMorgan Chase, as well as a slew of perceived political enemies. Bondi handed the investigation over to the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York.

But even if the Justice Department withholds any of those records from the public, it's still required to hand them over to the House Oversight Committee, which subpoenaed them.

Any perceived attempts by the Justice Department to use this investigation as a shield could lead to backlash from both Congress and members of the public. A number of Epstein's victims have pushed for the release of the files, seeking to understand more about the circumstances of their own abuse and the Justice Department's handling of the case.