I became a single mom and needed to rent a house in one of the most expensive zip codes in the US. My parents moved in to help.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Vanessa Gordon and family sitting a couch in the living room
Vanessa Gordon lives under one roof with her multigenerational family in East Hampton, an expensive neighborhood in New York.

Jeremy Garretson for BI

This essay is part of The New American Home, a series that examines multigenerational houses.

I grew up vacationing at the Jersey Shore. Now, as a parent, I'm not afraid of more adventurous trips.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author and her family pose while on a trip to Antarctica.
The author and her family have traveled all over the world, but she said a recent trip to Antarctica was one of their best vacations yet.

Courtesy of Jamie Davis Smith.

I became friends with a woman 40 years older than me. She taught me how to live.

Tech Insider : Business
Women at kitchen making tea

Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

I was tired of my kids having all the fun on sleepovers. I started planning all-nighters for us at home.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
mom and daughters sleepover

AleksandarNakic/Getty Images

I graduated from Stanford and couldn't find a job, so I created my own. I turned it into a six-figure business.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Ellen Yang in front of a book stand
The author started her own business after struggling to find a full-time job.

Courtesy of Dani Hamlett

I let my 8-year-old walk to school alone and taught her to cook at 7. I want her to be independent, like I was growing up.

Tech Insider : Business
José R. Mendoza waving goddbye to his daughter as she walks to school alone
The author lets his daughter walk to school on her own.

Courtesy of José R. Mendoza

I didn't think I was the type of person who would fall for a scam. A $15,000 charge on my credit card proves otherwise.

Tech Insider : Business
Two people touch smartphones to initiate a payment.
The author (not pictured) thought she was donating $20 to a worthy cause while walking her dog in a park. Later, she saw that the charges totaled $15,000 instead.

ZeynepKaya/Getty Images

I always dreamed of living in Paris. Once I actually moved to France, I realized another city was a way better fit.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
The writer standing on a bridge in Lyon, France.
I'm so glad I moved to Lyon, France, instead of Paris.

Audrey Bruno

Living in Germany for a year taught me that asking for help is a skill — and learning how to do it has really paid off

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Back of woman in Germany looking at buildings
I (not pictured) learned a valuable lesson about asking for help while studying abroad in Germany.

Old Town

I work with recent college grads to help them land their first jobs. These 4 often-overlooked skills get them hired.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
a young person sitting and facing a job interviewer
Recent college grads face an uncertain job market.

SDI Productions/Getty Images

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