Tag: News

• A consulting firm that recruits engineers provides detailed feedback to job applicants it rejects.
• Applicants receive information on how many people applied and what made résumés stand out.
• Forward founder Peter Berg said the aim is to improve the applicant experience in a challenging job market.

The job-hunting process can be brutal — applicants are told to tailor each résumé and often end up with radio silence from the dozens of companies they spend hours applying to.

Peter Berg, founder of Forward, a consulting firm that hires globally remote engineers for startups, wants to change that. About a month ago, Berg announced that Forward would provide data and context to every applicant once a role is closed.

The company now shares details like how many people applied and interviewed, what made résumés stand out, and any numerical data it collected from the application.

Berg told Business Insider that Forward does its best not to waste people's time during the application or interview process through lengthy exams or assignments. As a company that frequently recruits candidates for short-term roles, he said it's important for the experience to be positive and to keep in touch with applicants.

"What's good for candidates is ultimately good for you," Berg wrote in a post on LinkedIn. "Here's to a better tomorrow."

The cofounder said he decided to implement this new protocol because the company started posting roles on LinkedIn and saw a major uptick in volume of applications received. Each role now receives between 200 and 2,000 applications and the company usually sends two vetted candidates to the employers within a week of the original post.

While sending 2,000 rejection letters with detailed feedback sounds time-consuming, Berg said it's not. The company already keeps track of applicant data while scoring résumés and the email takes 10 or 15 minutes to write and is sent in bulk to applicants.

Berg told BI it's an easy addition for employers and he thinks it could make a "huge" difference for applicants — and for some, it already has.

Since implementing this new method, Berg said the company has received about 200 responses from applicants, with many writing back paragraphs about how positive the experience was and how it made them feel human.

One woman posted on LinkedIn about the experience and said Forward offered her the "BEST" rejection letter. The applicant, Melissa Bashur, said the rejection email included the number of applicants, the number of applicants with specific industry experience, top locations of applications, and median hourly rate.

She also said it provided context about what the company was looking for, how their criteria shifted, and how many people they spoke with. Bashur said they even summarized the experience of the person they hired.

Melissa Bashur told BI that the insight she received allowed her to better understand the current job market. It also helped inform her about which jobs she should apply to moving forward.

"I heard it was getting 'better,' but in the tech space, it still seems to be pretty flooded with available talent," Bashur said. "It helped me shift to more positive and productive efforts and be more selective with the jobs I apply to."

Berg said the new protocol helps give people a sense of what's going on in a job market that's tough right now. He said the tech industry is still reeling from pandemic-era overhiring and decreased venture capital funding.

"We know a lot of senior leaders looking for roles and they're having a really hard time finding one. They're looking for nine months, 10 months," the founder said.

He also said individual contributors who don't have experience with hiring tend to be more in the dark about the process.

"We want to provide feedback for that reason," Berg said. "Just to help people figure out why didn't I get picked for this."

• I get my nails done every three or four weeks with extensions, gel, or intricate designs.
• This time, I paid $160 for a Japanese gel manicure at Tokyo Nails in Chicago.
• The manicures are supposed to last longer and be better for your overall nail health.

When I worked in retail after graduating from university, I found that having well-manicured nails caught customers' eyes and made all the difference in making a sale.

What started as something to do for a special occasion, like birthdays and music festivals, became a part of my monthly self-care routine. But as someone who gets my nails done every few weeks, I'm always looking for ways to improve my nail health and manicure longevity.

Although I'd love to find a budget-friendly way to do my nails at home, there's a higher risk of developing or triggering skin allergies when you try to use gel polishes and UV lights yourself. In other words, you get what you pay for — and some things should be left to the experts.

I tend to spend a base price of $100 to $150 with my usual nail technician. After hearing about the potential benefits of Japanese manicures, I paid a little more ($160) for my most recent appointment to see if it was worth the hype and extra investment.

Here's how it went.

I found Tokyo Nails in Chicago.

While trying out multiple salons and independent nail technicians throughout Chicago, I came across Tokyo Nails on Instagram. The West Loop salon saw a boom in online attention after Drake got his nails done during his tour in 2023.

Owners and sisters Nomin and Nomundari Uuganbayar opened their salon in 2018 and have over 10 years of experience in the nail industry.

It's appointment-only and specializes in Japanese gel and Gel-X services.

The owners source their gel directly from Japan.

The sisters prefer using Japanese polish and even worked to formulate their own brand of polish directly manufactured in Japan.

Standard gel polishes have a thinner consistency, as other ingredients tend to be added to make the product stretch further. But Tokyo Nails' Japanese polish is made of 100% gel, according to Nomin, meaning it's a bit thicker than many people in the US may be used to.

It also comes in a pot rather than a bottle, so technicians can scoop it out with any desired brush.

I had to say goodbye to my old set, which featured my typical manicure.

My appointment was at 8 a.m. and lasted until around 10:20 a.m.

The technician started by removing my current nail set, which included gel extensions, gel texture, and many charms.

As much as I enjoy my monthly manicures with the works, the occasional broken or lifted nail with extensions can be painful and unsightly.

I decided to start over with my natural nails and have them cut a bit shorter.

I enjoyed the manicure process.

I opted for the Japanese gel overlay on short natural nails with a simple design add-on.

I specifically asked for this manicure because the description recommended it for damaged, fragile, and brittle nails.

Once my nails were prepped, the technician applied a base coat, the color polish, and a topcoat. If nails are particularly damaged, she told me they'll add an extra overlay coat between the base and color for additional support.

Japanese gel is supposed to have major benefits.

One of the biggest benefits of Japanese gel is that it's supposed to last longer than traditional American versions — three to four weeks as opposed to two the three. It's also supposed to hold up quite well and resist chipping.

"When my clients come back after four or five weeks, their nails were still on perfectly, no chip, just growth," Nomin told Business Insider.

Unlike acrylic nails, Japanese gel is softer and bends more easily, giving a similar feel to natural nails. It's also supposed to work with your nails to strengthen rather than strip them — which is why it can be particularly beneficial for those who put their nails through the wringer like me.

But ultimately, the owner stressed that nail health heavily relies on how clients remove their manicures. Ripping or pulling off polish can damage nails, even if it's a nice formula like Japanese gel.

The manicure was worth it, but I can't afford to do it every month.

Off the bat, the manicure was more expensive than I typically pay, and it didn't even include the extensions, hand-drawn intricate designs, or charms I usually get.

But since I was only getting polish and a simple design on my natural nails, the appointment was much shorter than I'm used to, saving me some time.

Considering how often I like to get my nails done, Japanese gel isn't a sustainable option for my current budget. But I thoroughly enjoyed it as a once-in-a-while splurge.

After four weeks, my manicure held strong.

My manicure ended up lasting the entire month of June without any natural chipping or breakage (I'm sometimes guilty of picking at polish out of habit).

This was especially impressive, as I frequently clean, build furniture, and create art, all of which usually negatively impact my nails at some point.

Overall, my nails also seem stronger — it felt like a healthier alternative to what I usually do. I saw it as a good compromise because my nails got to heal and strengthen a bit, but I still got to have a manicure.

With the rise in popularity of Russian manicures and other online platforms, I think it's time Japanese gel had a bigger space in the spotlight.

• Netflix's "The Man with 1000 Kids" is about a prolific Danish sperm donor, Jonathan Jacob Meijer.
• In April 2023, Meijer was banned by a Dutch court from being a sperm donor.
• Subjects in the docuseries claim that he has donated to fertility clinics worldwide.

Netflix's latest docuseries, "The Man with 1000 Kids," raises questions about the ethics of sperm donation by telling the story of a man who claims to have fathered 550 children. Some mothers who have used Jonathan Jacob Meijer's sperm claim the number is much higher.

Released on July 3, it features five couples who used Meijer as a sperm donor to start families after finding him on a website called "Longing for a Child." They each claim in the documentary that he told them they were the third or fourth couple that he had helped.

But in 2017, Meijer was banned from donating sperm by the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology after it was found that he had donated to 11 different fertility clinics in the country, per The Telegraph. This included the global sperm bank, Cryos International, which sent samples across the world.

It's not the first time Netflix has covered the ethics of sperm donation. The 2022 documentary, "Our Father," examined an American fertility doctor who misled couples by using his own sperm to help them conceive.

It was watched for 42.60 million hours within the first three weeks of release, according to What's On Netflix. The streamer, which has found great success with docuseries and true crime shows, will want to top that figure.

A woman identified only as Natalie, who is one half of a Dutch couple who used Meijer's sperm in 2012, described the situation to The Independent as a "public health hazard." She highlighted the possible ramifications for future generations because of the number of children Meijer has fathered.

Her partner Suzanne said: "They can never just date somebody or have intercourse with somebody, they will always need to take care and even then they might not be aware that they're a donor child. It's a very dangerous and unhealthy situation for these children and for their children and grandchildren."

In April 2023, Meijer was ordered by The Hague District Court to stop donating sperm, and he will face fines of €100,000 for every future violation, Dutch News reported.

But Meijer has a YouTube channel where he documents his travels around the world, and the docuseries claims that he has donated to clinics globally.

"That's why we're still raising awareness, and hoping that there is a government that wants to put up legislation because that needs to happen," Natalie said. "Not just in individual countries, but globally. He is not stopping at borders, and he's not the only one. There are more out there."

When asked about the claims that he has donated globally, Meijer told Business Insider: "As a bank donor doing regular visits, I only was active in the Netherlands for Cryos. Outside of them, I have been to a few clinics to donate one time and privately for a couple."

Responding to Meijer's decision not to appear in the documentary, Natalie said: "He was given a right to respond. His comments are always: 'This is untrue and the women are just angry mothers.' We're not angry. We just want him to stop."

On Wednesday, Meijer appeared on BBC's "Woman's Hour" to discuss the Netflix series and confirmed that, according to his records, he has had 550 children. Meijer also criticized the streamer for depicting him negatively.

"I think Netflix did a great job of selecting the five families out of the 225 families that I've helped, and they will definitely tell you something else. If someone calls this journalism or an official documentary I don't really see where's the value," he said.

Meijer told BI he stopped donating sperm in 2019 and also threatened to take legal action against Netflix over the allegation made in the docuseries that he mixed his sperm sample with another donor's to see who the child would look like.

"I will take legal action for slander, this is really insane!" he said.

Netflix did not immediately respond to BI's request for comment regarding his threats.

• As a chef, I've picked up a few tips for making a perfectly cooked, juicy burger with great flavor.
• Look for ground beef with an 80% meat to 20% fat ratio for optimal taste and texture.
• Only salt your patties right before grilling, and pay attention to their temperature as they cook.

As a chef, I strongly believe the best way to feed a crowd is to have all of your party foods prepped and ready to go — and that includes your burger patties.

When I worked as a line cook a few years ago, I learned the subtle art of working with ground meat and making the perfect, juicy burger. 

As you prepare to make those burger dreams a reality, remember these eight tips to help get you out the door and grilling.

Thaw your meat completely

Whether you ordered good-quality ground meat from your local farmer or stocked up at the grocery store during a sale, the most important thing to do is fully defrost it before cooking.

There are three main ways to defrost ground beef: in the refrigerator, in the microwave, or in cool water.

I recommend the refrigerator method, which is great if you're planning a day or two in advance. Simply place your frozen meat into a bowl or container, leave it on the bottom shelf of the fridge, and your meat should be fully thawed the next day.

If you're using a microwave, use the defrost setting and thaw the meat in three- to four-minute increments, remembering to turn it over. Microwave for as long as 12 minutes or until the meat is thawed.

For the cool-water method, place the sealed package of meat in a large bowl and weigh it down. Fill the bowl with cold, running water, turning it on and off. Refill the bowl with fresh water every 20 to 30 minutes until the meat completely softens.

Pay attention to the grind

If possible, ask your grocery-store butcher if they'll grind some fresh beef chuck to medium-coarse to coarse, about ¼ inch, for you on the spot.

This grind allows the fat to appropriately integrate with the meat and retain a beefy texture and moisture, even when it's dripping juice on a hot grill.

You can also ask your butcher if they suggest any other meat combination or if they can throw in some fancy scraps at a lower cost. 

If you can, try grinding the meat at home

You can try at-home grinding with a stand-alone, hand-crank meat grinder or use an attachment like the kinds KitchenAid offers.

Simply dice cold meat into 1-inch chunks, freeze on a sheet pan for about 10 minutes, and then grind. I suggest experimenting with the flavor differences of a ⅜-inch and ¼-inch grind. 

You can also make ground meat in the food processor. Pulse 1-inch thick cold meat and fat for about 10 seconds at a time until everything looks nice and uniform, working in small batches so the beef doesn't get warm.

Pay attention to the fat percentage

Good beef just tastes better, and the best butchers know how to balance tender or sinewy meat with fat to enhance its potential.

If you can, try to find a local farm that sells whole cuts or its own frozen ground meat. The most common burger cut is chuck steak, which has 80% meat and 20% fat.

In a pinch, 85% ground meat will do just fine, but be very cautious about overcooking, and don't go higher than a medium-level temperature to retain moisture and flavor.

Remember that the shape of the patties matters

The center of burgers that are 6 ounces or more can bulge before they're done cooking, but there's a quick fix to keep your patties from looking like meatballs.

Don't overwork the meat when forming your patty since this can lead to a dense, tough burger.

Gently shape your burgers into evenly round, 1-inch thick, flat discs. Once those patties are formed, press your thumb in the center to make a dimple to help it cook evenly.

Only use salt right before cooking

Once you've got your formed burger disks, it's time to add some salt.

Adding salt to ground meat changes the consistency. For example, a breakfast sausage is a far cry from a fresh burger — all thanks to salt and its molecule-changing capabilities.

Right before placing on the grill, take a large pinch of kosher salt and gently cover the outside of the patty with a thin layer. Add the burger salt-side down to the grill and sprinkle some on the other side.

This shouldn't make the burger taste overly salty but will create a perfect ratio of seasoned meat to each bite. 

Cook everything to the right temperature, or just below

Keep in mind that a big burger, just like a steak, will go up a few degrees after cooking.

Medium-rare burgers are cooked to 130 degrees Fahrenheit and have a cool, pink center with a charred exterior and a beefy taste with tons of juices.

A medium-well burger is cooked to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and has a hot pink center. However, this can quickly lean toward tasting dry, especially if the fat content is low.

Finally, feel free to enjoy that well-done burger, but don't expect it to be the juiciest of the bunch. You can also experiment with different quality meat and see the difference for yourself.

There's no need to add lots of extra ingredients

Of course, the truth remains that good meat, treated well, should be more than enough for a perfect, juicy burger. Additional ingredients like onions, bread crumbs, and eggs can be just fine in other dishes but can make a burger taste like meatloaf.

Keep the extra flavorings like spicy mayo, crisp lettuce, and sliced tomatoes as add-ons. Go fancy with aged cheddar or Gruyere, top with some caramelized onions (a personal favorite), or mix chile crunch into aioli for a little kick.

However it works out, the best burgers are the ones you end up craving again.

This story was originally published on July 1, 2022, and most recently updated on July 3, 2024.

• Hailey Welch, who went viral for saying "hawk tuah," says she wants to pursue her viral fame.
• But it's unclear exactly what that means.
• Because the path for a Viral Human in 2024 is very different than it was in the 2010s.

The "Hawk Tuah Girl," Hailey Welch, has quit her day job in a Tennessee spring factory and announced plans to ride out her viral fame.

But what does cashing in on viral fame look like in 2024, and how is that different from the other kinds of Viral Humans who have come before?

Welch, 21, hasn't said exactly what her plans are for the future, but she has signed with a management and publicity team. Her new management team told me their first priority is to stop any unlicensed merchandise, fake social media accounts, or other content being made without her permission.

"We are here to protect 'the Hawk' from the vultures," Jonnie Forster of The Penthouse management told Business Insider.

She also plans to launch her own website and merchandise line later this week, Forster said.

You've become a meme. Now, monetize it.

"Hawk Tuah Girl" may discover that viral fame alone is not an instant windfall — capitalizing on social media popularity requires hard work.

Accidental memedom is very different from social media stars who can make their (sometimes lucrative) living by grinding out content for years and studying platform mechanics. Someone like Jake Paul doesn't stumble into it; he hustles. As he famously rapped, "It's every day, bro."

Luckily (or not), there are nearly two decades of internet history of Viral Humans, and it's worth examining some of those past examples to see what we might glean for Welch's future.

Let's focus on other versions of people who, like Welch, accidentally go viral by appearing on the news or by being filmed by someone else.

Antoine Dodson of the 2010 "Bedroom Intruder" song. Sweet Brown of the 2012 "Ain't nobody got time for that" line. "I like turtles" boy. These people all appeared as man-on-the-street interviews on local news, not unlike the way Welch ended up going viral.

Being thrust into the spotlight isn't always a happy story in the long run. It wasn't always clear how to profit from early viral fame, and sometimes the people who went viral watched as unrelated companies and people made money off them without giving them a cut. (That's what Welch's new management says they're trying to stamp out.)

Dodson recently posted on TikTok about his frustration with how his image had been exploited for gain by others, like an unlicensed Halloween costume.

The "Damn, Daniel" teens got a lifetime supply of Vans but have mostly retreated from public life. Alex from Target, another unsuspecting meme, told People Magazine this spring that he had attempted being a social media personality for a little while after turning 18, but didn't enjoy it and now works for UPS.

And in early 2021, as NFTs were taking off, a handful of people who had been early internet memes took the opportunity to finally cash in — sometimes for quite a lucrative sum. ("Disaster Girl" sold her image as an NFT for around $500,000 at the time; "Bad Luck Brian" netted only $36,000.) Sadly, I don't imagine NFTs are going to be a viable strategy today.

'Hawk Tuah' more than a meme?

Welch's viral fame exists largely inside a space on the internet that didn't really exist 10 years ago — best described by Max Read as "the Zynternet":

Over the last ten years or so, a broad community of fratty, horndog, boorishly provocative 20- and sometimes (embarrassingly) 30-somethings — mostly but by no means entirely male — has emerged to form a newly prominent online subculture. This network is adjacent to the "sports internet" of 40something dads and the "hustle internet" of Miami crypto bullshit and the "reactionary internet" of trad influencers, but is its own distinct community with its own distinct cultural referents —college sports, gambling, light domestic beers, Zyn nicotine pouches …

Perhaps the Zynternet allows for a new path for someone like Welch — a path that is quite different from the previous iterations of viral fame where an appearance on the family-friendly "Ellen DeGeneres Show" was the end goal.

The Zynternet, which helped propel Welch to fame, may already have a good spot waiting for her.

An attractive young woman with a big personality who talks candidly? That's already a winning formula for podcast hosts like Alex Cooper of Call Her Daddy, Tana Mongeau, Bobbi Althoff, or even Brianna LaPaglia.

In fact, Welch's first public interview (she didn't have any public social media accounts before — a fact that led to lots of false speculation about her) was on one of these podcasts: "Plan Bri Uncut" with LaPaglia, who also has a podcast called "BFFs" with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.

LaPaglia also dates country star Zach Bryan, and Welch appeared onstage at Bryan's recent concert. Welch's management said this was a happy coincidence: She'd had tickets to Bryan's concert, and LaPaglia was able to interview her for her podcast after the show.

So what's Welch want to do now? She gives us a hint on LaPaglia's podcast. She wants it all: "I think we're doing to do, like, a show, and then being on a bunch of podcasts and everything in between."

LaPaglia is happy to cheer her on.

"You're so much more than just the 'Hawk Tuah Girl.' I'm excited for your future," LaPaglia says. "I have no fucking idea where you're going to pivot or how you're going to pivot from this, but I'm excited to see what you do."

I don't think we've seen a Viral Human quite like Hailey Welch before — I'm also very curious to see what she does next.

• Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey says the grocery chain isn't so expensive anymore.
• He credits Amazon and Jeff Bezos for making changes to Whole Foods over the last several years.
• I compared Whole Foods with another grocer and found that it is cheaper under certain circumstances.

Whole Foods has long had a reputation as a pricey place to buy groceries.

No more, according to cofounder John Mackey.

Since Amazon acquired the grocery chain in 2017, it has cut prices several times. The reductions appeared to take aim at Whole Foods' higher-than-average prices — something that had long led critics to refer to the chain as "Whole Paycheck."

"Amazon let us drop our prices four times," Mackey said in an interview last month with Fortune. "I hardly ever hear the 'whole paycheck' narrative any longer—that's due to Amazon."

Mackey said former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos deserves credit for the price cuts. He called Bezos "a genius," saying he believed in a long-term strategy to make Whole Foods more competitive.

Seven years after the acquisition, shoppers can find evidence that Whole Foods is trying to appear more budget-friendly. Shelves at many stores are full of yellow tags pointing to discounted items and signs on endcaps that read "Sale."

And this year, Whole Foods has cut prices on more items, such as oysters and rotisserie chicken, CEO Jason Buechel recently told Fortune.

To see if Whole Foods has truly shed its expensive reputation, I visited one of the supermarket's stores in Fairfax, Virginia — a suburb of Washington, DC.

I then compared the prices I found there with those at a nearby Safeway, a middle-market grocery chain owned by Albertsons.

I put a couple of conditions on my shopping trips. Since I was focused on affordability, I looked mostly at store-brand products. I also used loyalty programs to get discounts at both stores — including Amazon Prime at Whole Foods.

And while I compared prices on some of the most commonly purchased grocery items, like milk, I also decided to shop for ingredients for a specific dinner recipe — spaghetti with a side of green beans.

Here's what I found.

I started my comparison by going to this Whole Foods Market store in Fairfax, Virginia.

I visited this store around noon on a Monday when it wasn't very busy.

Despite the price cuts, Whole Foods still has higher standards than most other grocery chains.

Whole Foods has a variety of quality standards, from animal welfare requirements for meat to bans on certain artificial ingredients.

First up was the produce section, where I found this pack of basil for my spaghetti.

This 1.25-ounce container of basil was $2.99 with my Prime discount. Nearby, I picked up a 12-ounce package of trimmed green beans for $3.99.

Next, I headed to the butcher counter to get some ground beef.

At $6.99 a pound, these pre-portioned packs of ground beef were the best option. Slightly larger packs were $7.99 a pound.

I also picked up grated cheese.

Five ounces of grated parmesan cheese was $4.49.

I was surprised to see how cheap many of Whole Foods' store-brand products were.

Many of Whole Foods' store-brand products were close in price to store brands at other supermarkets I've been to. These packs of spaghetti, for instance, were $1.39 each.

Whole Foods is also planning to open some smaller stores later this year that focus on 365 products.

I also bought pasta sauce.

This Marinara sauce was $2.69 for a 25-ounce jar. I also picked up some dried, ground oregano for $2.29. Both were 365-brand products.

Basic groceries, such as milk and bread, seemed slightly more expensive than other stores.

A gallon of whole milk at this Whole Foods was $4.59, about a dollar more than at the grocery store where I do most of my shopping in Washington, DC.

Many supermarkets use items like milk as "loss-leaders," or products they sell cheaply — or even take a loss on — to attract customers and get them to buy other things. Perhaps Whole Foods is relying more on Prime members trying to get value for the membership to get people in the door.

Specialty foods, like these chocolate bars from Hawaii, were cheaper than I'd seen elsewhere.

These Manoa Chocolate bars were $8.99 each — by far the cheapest price for them I'd seen anywhere, including in Hawaii, where they usually sell for around $12.

I noticed similar low prices on other specialty and organic products.

At Whole Foods, my spaghetti ingredients cost $20.62 including tax.

I got a total of seven items. It would've been eight if I had picked up the ground beef. In that case, my total would've been roughly $28.

Next, I headed to a Safeway store located just five minutes from the Whole Foods store.

I chose Safeway since it's a well-known chain in the Washington, DC area that has middle-market prices. This one was also located a few minutes from the Whole Foods store I visited.

This poster for cheap chicken led me to believe I'd be getting some good deals.

I was visiting on a Monday. While fried chicken wasn't on my shopping list, I thought it was notable that Safeway is trying to court shoppers who are still dealing with the effects of food inflation.

A number of items were the same price as Whole Foods, such as basil.

A pack of store-brand basil leaves at Safeway was the same price (and the same size) as the one I bought at Whole Foods ($2.99), while the organic version was $1 more.

Other ingredients cost less at Safeway than Whole Foods.

These packages of green beans were about 70 cents less than at Whole Foods.

Pasta sauce was also cheaper by 70 cents a jar.

Ground beef was the same price as at Whole Foods.

Per pound, 90% lean ground beef at Safeway was $6.99 a pound — the same price I saw at Whole Foods. I didn't see any single-pound packs at Safeway, though, so you would've had to buy this one-and-a-half-pound pack and spend a little more.

Grated parmesan was cheaper at Safeway, though only because of a sale.

I had to use my Safeway loyalty card to get $1 off.

Milk was only 20 cents less expensive at this Safeway than at Whole Foods.

Basic grocery items at Safeway varied from similarly priced to Whole Foods to much cheaper.

The sale items seemed cheaper than Whole Foods.

It's peach season here in the mid-Atlantic, so I expected to find deals on the stone fruit at both grocery stores.

With a digital coupon, these non-organic peaches were 99 cents a pound at Safeway. Whole Foods' peaches were organic and went for $3.49 a pound for Prime members.

At Safeway, my spaghetti ingredients cost $21.10 including tax.

Yes, you read that right: This basket of items was more expensive at Safeway by 48 cents.

Admittedly, 10 cents of that was the cost of two plastic bags at checkout. But I was surprised that the result was essentially a tie price-wise.

Most discounts at Whole Foods require a Prime membership, which costs money.

I used a Prime account to shop at Whole Foods, which costs money. At Safeway, I used a Safeway for U account, which is free, to get many of the discounts.

A Prime account comes to $14.99 a month or $139 a year. If you get certain kinds of government assistance, such as SNAP or Medicaid, you can pay $6.99 a month.

That added cost could well be worth it, especially if you do most of your shopping at Whole Foods or use other Amazon Prime benefits. But most grocery stores don't require a paid membership for customers to get the best deals.

Without the Prime discounts, my Whole Foods purchases would've been slightly more expensive than the Safeway equivalents — though by less than a dollar.

There are also even cheaper chains in the area that would've likely underpriced Whole Foods.

Earlier this year, I visited a store run by hard-discount grocer Aldi in Maryland. Based on my experience there, I could've probably saved more money by shopping for my spaghetti ingredients there.

There would have been fewer organic and specialty options at Aldi, as well as fewer choices for each product, though.

Ultimately, Whole Foods is cheaper than it used to be.

Five years ago, Business Insider found that Whole Foods was clearly more expensive, based on an analysis of commonly bought grocery items. The fact that many items are now similarly priced to conventional grocery stores shows that the cuts made under Amazon's ownership have made a difference — even if you have to pay admission in the form of a Prime membership to get the best prices.

I guess John Mackey had a point.

Do you work at Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, or another part of Amazon's retail business and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

• I tried beef hot dogs from Nathan's, Sabrett, Applegate, and Ball Park.
• Ball Park had the thickest frank, but I thought Applegate's organic hot dogs packed the most flavor.
• I didn't think Sabrett's less-than-flavorful hot dogs warranted their higher price tag.

Ahead of the Fourth of July, I decided to try four different kinds of hot dogs to see which one I would choose for my own cookout.

The months between Memorial Day and Labor Day are recognized as "hot dog season" by the sausage industry. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans consume roughly 7 billion hot dogs during this time and produce roughly $614 million in hot-dog sales. Intent on contributing to that number this summer, I wanted to see which store-bought brand was most worth my money.

I opted for beef hot dogs from Applegate, Sabrett, Nathan's, and Ball Park. The Sabrett, Nathan's, and Ball Park packages each included eight beef franks, while the Applegate package included six.

I cooked each type of hot dog the same way. Then I tried each one on a Martin's long potato roll, topped with Heinz ketchup and French's classic yellow mustard.

Here's how all four hot-dog brands ranked, from worst to best.

My least favorite brand that I tried was the Sabrett skinless beef frankfurters.

This was the second-most expensive brand I tried. A pack of eight hot dogs cost $8.49, excluding taxes and fees. Since it's a New York brand — and I live in the city — I half-expected to pay a little less for a local product.

The hot dog was about the same thickness as the Nathan's hot dog, which I ultimately ranked higher.

The Sabrett hot dog fit perfectly inside the potato roll bun without hanging too much off either end.

I felt like the flavor in the Sabrett hot dog was lacking.

The only flavors that came through were from the ketchup and mustard — a distinct no-no in my book as far as hot dogs go. While the texture wasn't overly chewy, I thought it didn't have the distinct snap I often look for in a hot dog. 

While it wasn't bad by any means, I didn't think this brand was worth the higher price tag.

I also tried a New York staple: Nathan's skinless beef franks.

Nathan's is a New York institution famous for its annual Coney Island hot-dog-eating contest on July 4. I managed to snag an eight-pack of these hot dogs on sale at my local Key Food. The original price was $9.79, but I managed to get them for just $4.49, excluding tax.

I thought the Nathan's hot dogs were a perfect size.

It looked like a really classic hot dog you would eat on the pier in summertime: crispy on the outside, while still retaining that classic red hot-dog color.

The hot dog from Nathan's tasted slightly saltier than the other varieties.

I needed water after just a few bites of this hot dog, and I definitely couldn't imagine consuming dozens of them to win a contest. Overall, it was a flavorful hot dog with a slightly snappy texture, but the salty aftertaste made it nothing to call home about.

My second-favorite brand was Ball Park's beef hot dogs.

The Ball Park pack of eight hot dogs cost me $8.69, excluding taxes and fees. It was the most expensive brand I tried.

The Ball Park hot dogs were the thickest and shortest ones on my list.

I also noticed they cooked a lot faster than the other brands. While the other brands retained their red, crispy consistency in the pan, the Ball Park dogs quickly began to char and crisp up after only a minute or two of cooking.

I personally like really well-done, almost charred hot dogs, but it's something to keep in mind if you have different preferences. 

The Ball Park dog was well done on the outside, but the inside was still slightly chewy.

I thought the hot dog had a nice, smoky flavor that was complemented by the bun and condiments. The flavor came through, even though I wasn't crazy about what I thought was a slightly more rubbery texture.

My favorite hot-dog brand was Applegate's organic uncured-beef hot dogs.

The pack of six franks cost me $7.39 at my local Key Food grocery store, excluding taxes and fees.

The pack came with six hot dogs, two less than the other packs.

This smaller package count is definitely something to consider if you're planning for a large cookout.

When the Applegate hot dog was done cooking, I noticed it was skinnier than the other brands.

I wondered whether it would be less filling, or how the slightly thinner shape would affect the eating experience. 

Right away, I noticed that the hot dog had a lot of flavor and the frank had a satisfying snap.

The ketchup and mustard definitely came through but didn't overpower the hot dog's distinctly savory, beefy taste. 

Despite being the thinnest dog, it also didn't taste like an unbalanced hot-dog-to-bun ratio. Every ingredient was perfectly complementary. 

In the end, I had to give the win to Applegate.

I was surprised that this brand won. Even though I call New York City home, neither of the local brands, Nathan's or Sabrett, deserved the win in my book. 

I thought Applegate's hot dog, though thinner than the others, had the best flavor and texture. It was also a great value, despite the pack being two dogs short. If I had to choose which hot dog brand to eat at my cookout, it would be Applegate hot dogs all the way.

• The CFPB found student-loan servicers put up "excessive barriers" when it came to helping borrowers.
• Long hold times and inaccurate information about debt relief harmed borrowers, the report said.
• The CFPB and Education Department have enforced oversight over private and federal servicers.

Many student-loan borrowers aren't getting the help they need from their servicers, according to a new report.

On Tuesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released the latest edition of its supervisory findings covering the auto and student loan servicing industries from April 2023 to December 2023.

Over the past few years, borrowers with both federal and private student loans have reported challenges with their servicers, from an inability to get the information they need to make their payments to inaccurate information. The CFPB's latest report detailed its findings that many of those companies did not operate in borrowers' best interests.

"Loan servicers and debt collectors harm borrowers when they fail to provide required information, create barriers to customer assistance, or harass people about their debts," CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement. "The CFPB is working to ensure servicers, debt collectors, and other financial service providers follow the law to protect consumers."

According to the report, servicers put up "excessive barriers" for borrowers when they needed help — specifically with hourslong hold times with customer service that lead to many borrowers dropping their calls without actually speaking to anyone. This was representative of an "unfair and abusive" act because servicers didn't give borrowers an avenue to resolve issues in a timely manner, the CFPB said, and since borrowers cannot choose their servicer, they had no other option but to continue waiting on the phone for help.

The hold times were not just inconvenient; the report also said it caused injury to borrowers because they were sometimes unable to make payments on time due to the lack of assistance from their servicer, resulting in late fees. The CFPB said that in response to its findings, servicers "developed plans to reduce hold times and drop rates."

Additionally, the report found servicers provided inaccurate information to borrowers regarding forms needed to qualify for certain program benefits or debt relief, like forbearance, delaying borrowers' abilities to access those benefits.

Federal servicers have previously said they do not have the funding they need to fully assist borrowers, which is a factor for the long hold times and errors borrowers have faced. Business Insider has also previously reported on the administrative difficulties some borrowers with private loans are facing to get debt relief — an issue the CFPB said it would be monitoring, as well.

Both President Joe Biden's administration and the CFPB have taken action against student-loan servicers for failing their contractual obligations. The Education Department withheld pay from all four major federal servicers for failing to deliver on-time billing statements to borrowers, and the CFPB recently filed a lawsuit against PHEAA, a servicer that facilitates private student loan programs, accusing it of illegally collecting discharged payments.

• After growing up in the US, I decided to move to Dublin, Ireland after graduating from college.
• I've experienced affordable healthcare, better work-life balance, and a greater sense of safety.
• Traveling to nearby cities is cheap and easy, but the cost of living in Ireland isn't super low. 

I first fell in love with the idea of moving abroad five years ago after spending a semester in England.

I met incredible people, tried new things, and focused on what I wanted most out of life while temporarily letting go of everything stressing me out at home. But after I returned to the US, the stress came back, and I realized I'd do anything to make my dream of living abroad a reality.

Picking up and moving to Ireland rather spontaneously a few years later has presented many challenges, but I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. 

Here are some of the things that surprised me when I first got to Ireland. 

It took me a minute to train my ear to the sounds of the Irish language

From the Irish names that no one outside of Ireland can ever seem to pronounce to the varied accents that I need live subtitles to understand, it's been a real personal journey getting where I am today with Irishisms.

I thought a lot of the phrases in Ireland would be similar to what I heard in the UK. But the Irish have their own national language, and it tends to bleed into everyday conversational English.

For instance, the national police force is called An Garda Síochána, which translates to "Guardians of the Peace," and officers are referred to as the Gardaí. 

To better explain the complexities of Irish slang, here's an actual conversation that occurred in my group chat when I first moved:

Person 1: "Are you coming out with us tonight or not?"

Person 2: "Sure look, put me down, I'll pop along. And I better not get the vid of anyone. Scooops! Also shurrup, Person 1, ya bleedin' tick."

They had me in the first sentence. After that, I was frantically and unsuccessfully searching through Irish pages on Urban Dictionary.

But I knew I finally adapted to the language when I found the words "thanks a million" (or "thanks a mil") and "bye bye bye … bye bye bye bye" after any phone call slipping off my tongue.

Day trips and weekend getaways are abundant and encouraged here

Ireland is home to RyanAir, meaning we have cheap flights to nearly any European destination at our fingertips. This results in the urge to take a weekend abroad as often as possible.

Ireland itself is also packed to the brim with stunning natural landscapes.

Although the Republic of Ireland is pretty small — it's a little smaller than the state of Indiana — its 26 counties all vary greatly from each other, leaving many wonders to explore. 

Trek the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher in County Clare; explore the Neolithic monument, Newgrange, in County Meath; and spend a week (or a lifetime) in my favorite part of the country, County Kerry, while driving through the spectacular Dingle Peninsula.

The slower pace of life in Ireland means nothing ever runs on time

The Irish pride themselves on being "great craic" (fun), but, unfortunately, this way of life often leads to losing track of time.

If you find yourself perpetually late to everything, you'll feel right at home in Ireland. If not, prepare to spend long stretches of time staring at your phone while waiting for your mates.

Although it's been an adjustment, unpredictability is what makes Ireland feel like things are still run by people, not by algorithms and advancement.

It's precisely what makes a tremendous difference in the overall work-life balance here compared to the US, where my life constantly revolved around work schedules, promotions, and little time off.

Alcohol is a big part of the culture

In Ireland, pubs are more than just places to have a pint of Guinness. They're more like a community center where people go to meet and catch up with old friends, have a hearty meal, sing along to live traditional music, and catch an Irish jig. 

At a pub, friends are also usually more likely to rotate buying rounds for each other instead of opening up individual tabs. Sharing is caring here in Ireland.

I've never considered myself much of a drinker. In the US, I would go out maybe once or twice a month. But my alcohol consumption has definitely increased since living in Ireland because socializing here often happens exclusively at the pub.  

Although Dublin is the capital city, it has more of a small-town feel

Despite being the capital city of Ireland and housing a lot of the country's population, Dublin has a small-town atmosphere.

I'll never forget the first day I moved into my house. I was waiting outside in the rain with my luggage for my landlady, and my next-door neighbors ushered me in and carried my luggage into their house. After offering me several cups of tea (which I naively declined), we chatted in their sitting room until my landlady arrived.

With the charming small-town feel also comes the harsh reality that shops don't stay open as late.

Most businesses close at 6 p.m., with some, like post offices, often closing for lunch as well. On Sundays, most businesses close even earlier — if they're open at all.

Coming from the US, where one-stop supermarkets stay open 24 hours, it was a huge adjustment. But now I find the giant stores and selections a bit overwhelming during visits home.

I finally understand that tea is the elixir of life

I'll never forget my first few weeks in Ireland when I was constantly offered tea by my coworkers and housemates. After politely declining and declaring that I'm not much of a tea drinker, they'd exclaim, "But then what do you drink?"

I soon realized that they were right about how incredible tea is. 

Once you accept your cuppa in Ireland, there's an even more important question: "Barry's or Lyons?"

Everyone has their opinions about which of the two major brands is best.

I've never felt safer than I do living in Dublin 

Crime doesn't typically permeate the nightly news here.

Ireland has pretty strict gun laws, so the rates of gun violence, and violent crime in general, are low. 

My Irish friends are always shocked when I explain past crime or violence I've been through in the US because it's something they've only experienced through Hollywood films.

If you visit or move here, get ready to talk about the weather all the time

Small talk with strangers is the norm in Ireland, and crowd-favorite topics include the traffic, how one is keeping, how one's brother is keeping, and, the favorite of all favorites, the weather.

The country is well-known for being windy, dreary, and rainy almost year-round. Although the summers are much milder, it's commonly overcast, and rain can start pouring out of a perfectly blue sky at any time.

The unpredictable weather prompted the age-old Irish saying, "You can see every season in a day." 

Although housing and other costs of living are pricier, affordable healthcare is a plus

Dublin is one of the most expensive cities in Europe, with most one-bedroom apartments going for close to $2,000 a month. There's also a lack of housing throughout the country that's forced rent prices to skyrocket.

Because of the high cost of living and low wages, it's the cultural norm for many young people to live with their families until their 30s. 

Although housing is cheaper if you move outside of Dublin, public transportation throughout the country is also one of the most expensive in Europe. 

But I'm grateful for affordable healthcare. Since moving, I've found myself prioritizing my health in ways I never could've afforded to in the US. I used to go years without scheduling appointments, but now I'm able to easily and cheaply see a doctor, dentist, therapist, massage therapist, or chiropractor — even without health insurance.

There are so many unique traditions to discover in Ireland

Leprechauns may not exist, but Irish superstitions do.

Whatever you do, don't cut down a lone tree standing in the middle of a field — especially if there are ribbons tied to the branches or a formation of rocks around the base. In Celtic folklore, those are fairy trees, which serve as the gateway between our world and that of the wee fellas. 

Alas, these Irish creatures are closer to the spiteful pixies in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" than Tinker Bell. Damaging the tree is said to result in a lifetime of bad luck.

The Irish take this cultural tradition very seriously, even today. An entire motorway was once built around an existing fairy tree in County Clare.

Ireland also celebrates several unique rituals.

For example, for more than 400 years in Killorglin, County Kerry, locals have held the Puck Fair where a wild goat is captured in the mountains, brought back to the town square, and crowned King Puck by a local schoolgirl (chosen as Queen Puck).

King Puck's subjects celebrate this coronation during a festival that spans three days before he's released back into the mountains.

I was glad I was living in Ireland during the pandemic lockdown

Ireland takes public health very seriously, so the country remained under strict lockdown restrictions for nearly two whole years of the coronavirus pandemic.

One of these restrictions meant that, for a period of time, I couldn't travel 2 kilometers, then 5 kilometers, then 20 kilometers from my home.

But Dublin is sandwiched right between the sea and the mountains, meaning I was never short on beautiful scenery to explore. And because Ireland is a country steeped in ancient history, there's something to discover around every corner.

This story was originally published in February 2022 and most recently updated on July 3, 2024.

• Interior designers shared their best affordable tips for making an outdoor space feel larger.
• Hanging light fixtures and tall, colorful plants can distract the eye and draw it upward.
• Dividing your space into distinct areas can make it feel more complete and roomy.

Choose a focal point, like a gallery wall or faux fireplace.

Michelle Harrison-McAllister, interior designer and owner of Michelle Harrison Design, told Business Insider that adding a focal point can make your outdoor space immediately feel larger.

She suggested repurposing a console table to add to your outside wall as a makeshift fire feature. 

"Simply add flameless candles to the bottom shelf inside the console to give it a faux-fireplace focal point," Harrison-McAllister said. 

You can also layer thrifted art or a mirror against the wall to give the illusion of an additional room or extension of your home. 

Colorful plants can add visual interest to your outdoor space.

Greenery can lend style to just about any room, but Harrison-McAllister said you can get a bit more creative with landscaping in an outdoor space.

"Colorful plants not only liven up the outdoors but also allow the eye to dance around with visual joy," Harrison-McAllister told BI. 

She added that with some strategic plant placement, you can trick the eye into following different seating and dining areas to make the space feel larger. 

Look for pieces that work double-duty, like multipurpose seating or tables with storage.

Jessica Harris, interior designer at Living Spaces, told BI you can use multipurpose seating and furniture to save space. 

"A table with a hidden compartment makes it easy to stash tabletop accessories and hide them away when you need to clear the tabletop in a jiffy," Harris said. 

She added that a bright-colored stool can serve as an accent piece, additional seating, or a surface to set down a cocktail. 

Tall plants and accent pieces bring the eye upward.

Although a small outdoor space may not provide you with a lot of decorating freedom, you can often look upward for extra room.

"Tall outdoor pieces that branch out, such as outdoor umbrellas, will add height and keep the point of focus upward," Harris said. They added that decor like hanging greenery in trendy macrame planters can also open up surface space and lift the eye line.

Harrison-McAllister added that layering plants of various heights can also give your space an artistic feel and redirect focus from the ground. 

Place your patio furniture near your plants and trees.

Harris recommended positioning your patio dining set against your greenery so that it complements the natural scenery. 

"By placing your table next to your planted flowers or trees, you save the space you would have used for planters," Harris told BI. 

You can continue the look by adding some greenery or flowers to the table as decor.

Opt for smaller furniture pieces instead of one bulky item.

Harris recommended buying several smaller pieces to serve the same function as a single, bulky one so you can easily arrange the furniture in a way that makes the most sense for your space.

"Play to the cozy effect of a small backyard by grouping the furniture in small circles," she told BI. "The tighter the circle, the cozier the feel, making it easier for guests to relax and engage in conversation."

Plus, you can easily reconfigure the pieces when you need more room for other events or activities.

Mirrors can open up natural spaces.

Barrett Oswald, principal designer at Barrett Oswald Designs, told BI that mirrors can make just about any small space seem larger, including outdoor ones. 

Oswald added that you can opt for a standing mirror to lean against a wall or piece of furniture, so there's no hanging necessary.

Opt for light colors and woods for outdoor furniture.

Oswald recommends avoiding dark wood and dark furniture when shopping and choosing the color palette for your space.

The designer recommended focusing on lighter woods and materials for your outdoor furniture and opting for white or neutral cushions and accents to keep the space light and bright.

Dividing the space into distinct sections can give the illusion of more room.

Harrison-McAllister said that dividing your outdoor space can make it feel much larger, so consider designating one section as a dining area and another as a lounge. 

Harris added that you can easily do this with outdoor rugs. 

"You can layer an outdoor rug under your furniture to help create a visual point of focus and designate one area of your backyard from another," she told BI. 

Greenery and light fixtures are also accessible ways to divide your space.

Fill in awkward corners with attention-grabbing pieces.

Awkward corners or hard-to-access pathways often go overlooked, so make use of those spaces by adding statement pieces or decor. 

"Train the eye to look beyond the usual limits of your backyard by placing an attention-grabbing accent piece in those spaces," Harris said. "For example, an outdoor egg chair is a great statement piece for a corner."

You can also opt for a colorful art piece or a beautiful plant.

Brighten up the area with string or accent lights.

Oswald said adding more light fixtures or string lights can visually enlarge an area and create a cozy vibe. 

Harrison-McAllister added that more lighting also draws the eye upward to make the space feel roomier. 

This story was originally published on June 24, 2021, and most recently updated on July 3, 2024.