I spent $50,000 on my kitchen remodel. These 5 splurges were totally worth it — but I have one expensive regret.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Author Jill Schildhouse smiling in her kitchen with black lower cabinets, white countertops, and white upper cabinets and a geometric. black and white backdrop
I'm really happy with how my kitchen remodel turned out.

Jill Schildhouse

I spent $36,000 renovating my bathroom. It's gorgeous, but there are 5 mistakes I wish I'd avoided.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Bathroom with narrow black window next to toilet and fluted floating vanity with two sinks and two arched mirrors above it
My bathroom renovation cost me thousands of dollars and I'm still not 100% happy with how everything went down.

Chris Deacon

I ate every frozen appetizer I could find at Trader Joe's. Here's what is and isn't worth buying for a crowd.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
The writer sits at a table filled with Trader Joe's appetizers
I compared 19 different frozen appetizers from Trader Joe's.

Lucien Formichella

I took a 16-hour Amtrak ride in a roomette. Here are 4 things I wish I packed and 7 I'm glad I brought.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The writer journals on Amtrak while train passes by trees
I'm happy with the items I packed for my 16-hour Amtrak trip but I wish I had brought a few more things.

Molly Allen

I worked on cruises for 3 years and now frequently sail as a passenger. Here are the 10 things I do on every trip.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author Tammy Barr in a hot tub on a cruise ship
I worked on cruises for years and now I just enjoy going on them as a passenger.

Tammy Barr

12 ways to trick people into thinking your store-bought pie is homemade

Tech Insider : Business
pumpkin pie lede image
Pie is a holiday staple, but it's not always worth making it from scratch.

Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The first person on every season of 'Dancing With the Stars' to get a perfect score

Tech Insider : Business
dancing with the stars judges holding up
It's not easy to get a perfect score on "Dancing With the Stars."

Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

I made stuffing using 4 recipes from celebrity chefs — the best used a boxed mix and beat Ina Garten's

Tech Insider : Business, Style
The writer holding a glass tray of Paula Deen's stuffing
I followed four stuffing recipes from famous chefs and compared the results.

Paige Bennett

When I moved from England to Florida 12 years ago, these 5 things seemed uniquely American to me. Now I can't live without them.

Tech Insider : Business
Waves crash on the Miami coast, with buildings and palm trees lining the beach.
I moved from England to Florida 12 years ago.

Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

When I was 30, my mom gave me $15,000 to spend on a gap year in Italy instead of a house or wedding. I have no regrets.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Rooftops and cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, with mountains and bright-blue sky in the background
With my mom's help, I lived in Florence, Italy, at the end of 2023 and early 2024.

xbrchx/Getty Images

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