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• Taylor Mitchell turned her frugal Walmart shopping habit into a seven-figure income.
• The 29-year-old mom of three recommends products at Walmart and other retailers through a virtual storefront.
• She discussed overcoming struggles, balancing social media’s demands, and switching marital roles.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Taylor Mitchell of Greenville, SC, who turned her financial life around by driving affiliate sales for Walmart and other retailers. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I was a young mom when I started a link-in-bio online storefront selling products for Walmart and other retailers. I’d been a paralegal and stopped working after my daughter was born. We made it work, but my husband had to sell his truck. For so long, we could barely keep $1,000 in our savings account.

I was already buying Walmart clothes constantly because it was all I could afford. I started to fall in love with the things they had, and I wanted to share that information with others. We all want to look really cute, but we all need to stick to a budget. So any time I needed to go to Walmart, I started to take pictures and share things, and it just started doing well. I don’t limit myself to Walmart, but that’s what works best for me income-wise and what I enjoy the most.

I started earning money in 2020. It was very minimal income for several years, but it was enough to help with diapers and groceries. Then things exploded in 2025 when I started pushing affiliate marketing through the Later platform.

It’s been beyond my wildest dreams. We were always living paycheck to paycheck. Now I’m doing around $100,000 a month, give or take. My husband and I are always pinching ourselves.

Developing a signature style

I love wearing bright colors and fun statement pieces. My style came out of my postpartum journey. I’d been posting on social media for eight years, sharing pictures and outfits. I went through a big weight loss — I used to be over 250 pounds — and shared that online as well. After my third child three years ago, I went on this health journey and took everybody along with me. I wanted to feel good, be healthy, and be able to shop for clothes and feel confident in them.

I’d been in the mom culture world for so many years, I think I have a really good eye for what would sell well. I posted about a hot-pink glider lawn chair I saw in Walmart the other day that was super cute, but for moms, it’s a justifiable purchase. Places like Walmart or Target are very justifiable for people to order from because they probably already have other things in their cart.

Switching roles at home

As my business grew, my husband left his job as a manager in the distribution center at Walmart to be my assistant and full-time dad. It got to the point where we thought his job was losing us money because there was so much he could be helping me with if he were home. Things really felt real when he left because we had been using his income as a security blanket. I was so scared I’d wake up one morning, and it would all go away.

Becoming the main breadwinner wasn’t uncomfortable for us because my husband and I have always been on the same page with money. We always had a joint account, and we were always just paying our bills and figuring out what we needed. I’d worried about not being able to provide things like karate, dance, and sports for my children.

The biggest thing that happened for us once we started seeing this money come in was that our stress melted away. His mental health has also improved, being able to be with our family so much. I feel like there are so many men out there who would excel in that role that’s traditionally more for women, but they don’t have the same opportunity to.

Dealing with social media’s pitfalls

Not everyone is nice online — I realized that when I started sharing my health journey. There’s the pressure of keeping up. And sometimes things will fail, and it has nothing to do with anything I did: It’s the algorithm. That stuff that is so frustrating when you’ve worked really hard on something. And with social media, when you don’t post as many times, you almost get put out of the algorithm. So it’s hard for me at times to slow down because I want to make sure that I’m not hurting my ability to reach people. I definitely have to keep reminding myself I need to chill out.

Long term, our hope is to do different things like invest and potentially take on rental properties, so we don’t have to rely solely on me posting. But right now, I’m loving every second of posting.

• Emily Blunt refused to use AI in Steven Spielberg’s new film, “Disclosure Day.”
• Blunt created the alien language used in the film by experimenting in her bathroom.
• Some actors have pushed back against AI in the entertainment industry.

Emily Blunt took a very human approach to creating the alien language in Steven Spielberg’s new film “Disclosure Day.”

During her press tour for the film, Blunt said she refused Spielberg’s offer to use AI to perfect the clicking noises her character makes in the film.

“He said, ‘You know, we could do it with AI, or you could do it,'” Blunt told Entertainment Tonight earlier this month. “And I was like, ‘I feel confident I can make some weird noises.'”

Blunt said she experimented with sounds alone in her bathroom and would send different versions to Spielberg.

“Clicking, humming, doing weird Barry White sort of low singing mixed with clicking with Morse code sounds,” Blunt said. “I just tried everything. We sort of threw the kitchen sink at it, and I think he wanted it to sound mathematical and not too terrifying.”

She said the final version audiences hear in “Disclosure Day” is an accumulation of layered noises she recorded in a sound booth.

Spielberg’s extraterrestrial thriller, which debuted on Friday, also stars Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson.

Although parts of Hollywood have embraced AI as a way to speed up production and save money, others have derided and protested the technology. Critics are concerned AI could displace human workers, use their likeness or voice without consent, and devalue art.

Blunt has, so far, been unimpressed by AI.

She was dismayed during a Variety interview in September 2025 when she learned about AI actor Tilly Norwood.

“That is really, really scary. Come on, agencies, don’t do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection,” Blunt told Variety.

In April, Blunt also said AI is a “very scary bubble to poke your head inside” while speaking to USA Today.

“My children don’t go online, and they’re young still. You’re kind of holding on to them by their ankles as they get older and want more independence,” Blunt said. “At some point, I’m sure they’ll want a phone — they’d probably like one now, and they’re not going to get one. It’s like having a drug dealer in your house that doesn’t pay rent or actually give you any of the good stuff.”

Blunt isn’t the only actor to criticize AI, and some have even taken legal action to protect their brand. Matthew McConaughey, for example, has secured several trademarks meant to protect his likeness and certain iconic phrases. Singers Taylor Swift and Lionel Richie have also filed trademark applications for their likenesses.

• The Knicks won their first championship in 53 years on Saturday.
• The electric playoff run inspired the entire city — even non-sports fans like me.
• Here are some takeaways from a non-sports fan watching history unfold.

One of the things that makes sports so special is the room it has for people like me — outsiders who don’t follow every number and player but who love a close contest in the end. Especially one in her own hometown.

So here are some thoughts, not from a sports writer but from a not-sports writer, on the history that just happened.

• Human achievement is still far and away the greatest joy.
• Human achievement as a team is a special joy.
• Human achievement as an individual is a special joy.
• The ability to mess up and keep delivering at your best is hard — but essential.
• In the face of inevitably great competition, resilience and determination are essential.
• Dusting off life’s bum calls against you is essential.
• Youth is great, but so is experience.
• Hard work and preparation set you free.

• People want to unite in celebration.
• People want to embrace their commonalities.
• Social media can still be fun and amplify wonder.
• Partaking in something bigger helps make life worth living.

• Testosterone-maxxing is a hot trend in fitness and longevity, but too much can have side effects.
• New research suggests a majority of men are getting testosterone therapy without the right safeguards.
• A urologist explains who can benefit from testosterone and who should avoid it to prevent risks.

America is reaching peak testosterone.

In 2026, interest in the hormone is everywhere, from T-maxxing trends on social media to the US government’s MAHA campaign. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) use has quadrupled in the past three decades, up to as many as 11 million Americans.

For some of them, the treatment may be doing more harm than good, new research suggests.

A majority of men who are prescribed testosterone don’t meet the current guidelines for safe, effective treatment, according to a study from the University of Michigan.

That could worsen the risk of serious side effects, including infertility, heart attack, and stroke, and long-term dependence on TRT, which can dampen the body’s natural production of testosterone.

While testosterone is an essential hormone for health, finding the right balance is complex because there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment. A urologist explains what to know about the risks and benefits of testosterone, and how hormone trends are changing the landscape of men’s health.

Who can benefit from testosterone therapy?

Healthy testosterone levels are crucial for energy, sex drive, muscle, and metabolism.

T-maxxing influencers might promise that it can get you a six-pack and supercharge your focus and performance, but doctors say the benefits are much more modest — if you need a boost at all.

A blood test can check if you have low testosterone and could benefit from TRT. It’s typically taken first thing in the morning, and confirmed with a follow-up blood test on a different day.

Low testosterone is anything below 300 nanograms per deciliter for most healthy adult men.

You should also rule out conditions like sleep apnea, which are linked to low testosterone but can worsen with testosterone therapy.

Men who could benefit from testosterone might experience symptoms ranging from brain fog and low energy to reduced libido and erectile dysfunction. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for TRT to make a difference, depending on the symptoms.

When T backfires

In the latest research, endocrinologists looked at data from 200 men who were prescribed testosterone at the university clinic.

They found that only 12% of the men met the criteria for treating low testosterone, confirmed by two blood tests.

That means the other 88% — 176 men — may have been inappropriately given TRT, including some who had sleep apnea or prostate cancer.

On average, the men studied were in their 50s, but some as young as 18 were also prescribed testosterone.

If they don’t need it, young men on testosterone could be putting their long-term health at risk, since taking TRT can make it harder for the body to produce its own supply of the hormone over time.

High testosterone levels can also increase the body’s volume of red blood cells, a risk factor for high blood pressure that, in extreme cases, may lead to a heart attack or stroke. It can also impair fertility by temporarily reducing sperm count.

And taking T can potentially exacerbate serious health conditions like prostate cancer, potentially fueling tumor growth, per the Mayo Clinic.

The findings are concerning, given how popular testosterone has become in the wellness industry and the potential for misuse without clear guidelines, said study authors Dr. Maria Papaleontiou and Dr. Sophia Sinha, both professors at the University of Michigan.

“Testosterone has been coined as the ‘fountain of youth’ to optimize performance through enhancing muscle and improving energy levels in social media,” they told Business Insider in a joint email interview. “Testosterone therapy can help some people who truly have low testosterone, but it is not risk-free.”

Major update coming soon for testosterone therapy guidelines

Doctors understand that this is not a black-and-white issue.

While testosterone treatment can have side effects, low testosterone is also a health concern, Dr. Justin Dubin, director of men’s sexual health at Baptist Health Medical Group, told Business Insider.

Dubin, who was not involved in the study, said prescribing TRT outside the guidelines may not always be harmful. Yes, TRT can be overprescribed to men who don’t need it, but it is also underprescribed to men who could benefit, Dubin said.

“Guidelines are guidelines, they’re not law,” Dubin said. “There are gray areas, and we need to give care in the gray. That’s where most doctors live and where most patients live.”

The benchmark for healthy testosterone is so nuanced, Dubin said, that the American Urological Association has gathered a panel to discuss a major update to its guidelines on treating testosterone deficiency in the coming year or two.

For now, Dubin said the growing popularity of testosterone is a good thing, as it’s prompting a more proactive approach to medical care for men, who are notorious for avoiding the doctor’s office until there’s an emergency. As long as guys are going about it the right way by speaking to their doctor instead of just buying stuff online, he’s all for it.

“I think that’s a wonderful thing because this is a gateway to men’s health. This is how we can access a lot of guys, get them in to learn about their blood pressure, whether they have diabetes, heart disease,” he said. “I’m actually excited and hopeful.”

• Weekly dinners with neighbors became a support system for both families.
• My children gained trusted adults outside of school and family.
• What started as convenience slowly turned into a real community.

When I first suggested a “kids’ dinner” with our upstairs neighbor, I was mainly thinking about getting a night off.

Feeding my three kids (ages 4, 6, and 10) can feel endless — just when I think I’ve found a meal that works, one of them suddenly refuses to eat pasta, or rice, or chicken. Getting even one night off every other week sounded like a dream.

Thankfully, our upstairs neighbors had two kids who got along with mine, and the parents were just as eager for a break.

The logistics are simple

Every Tuesday night, one family hosts a kids’ dinner. We switch off weeks, and the parents simply walk the kids to the other family’s apartment door. Parents are welcome to stay, but are encouraged to take an hour for themselves.

We also made a key rule: no cleaning before dinner. This arrangement is supposed to make our lives easy, not harder.

I became a go-to adult for someone else’s child

A couple of months into these dinners, my 6-year-old neighbor walked in, took my hand, her eyes welling with tears, and pulled me aside. We sat on the blue couch in my office — a room that’s otherwise off-limits — and she told me about a fight she’d had with her mom. It was a big deal to her. And the fact that she wanted to tell me about it felt big to me, too.

Since that night, we’ve had more of these heart-to-hearts, and I’ve been surprised by how much they mean to me.

I’ve become a go-to adult in her life — a role I didn’t expect to play for someone else’s child, especially since living in Germany means I’m an ocean away from my nieces and nephews. When she gets especially mad with her parents, she threatens to run away. To me. It’s the best-case scenario for her parents, who know she’d be two flights downstairs with a trusted adult.

And my neighbors fill this same role for my three children. On Tuesdays, after my kids drop off their backpacks in our apartment, they run upstairs, bursting to tell Laura what happened that day on the playground or try to stump Michael with a riddle they just learned.

Without grandparents or aunts and uncles around, weekly dinners have provided my children another set of adults — outside teachers — who know to ask about ballet practice, speech therapy, and report cards.

The kids built something of their own

Around the table, the kids have built something of their own. They plan what toys to bring for each other, negotiate over seating, and sometimes show up with handwritten notes.

They sit at the table by themselves, so their conversations aren’t dominated by adults. The talk is about Pokémon cards or about whose birthday party is coming up this weekend.

After dinner, while I clean the kitchen, the five of them have free rein to play. Sometimes I find my 4-year-old daughter and my 3-year-old neighbor huddled in her room, “reading” side by side or listening to “Frozen” on her Tonie box. Other times, my ten-year-old reads to the younger kids or makes up games that everyone can play.

What started as a break became something more

Cooking for five kids instead of three has turned out to be surprisingly fun. Having two extra mouths to feed doesn’t require much more food, and with a party-like atmosphere, I think about what could be fun (like I did in my pre-children dinner party days).

But dinners are still relatively simple. Chicken nuggets and fries. A charcuterie board of sliced meats and cut-up veggies. Breakfast for dinner. If I’ve got a bit of extra time, we’ll make avocado sushi together.

When everyone is back in their own home, I get messages about how my children ate — whether my daughter, who tends to bulk up on preschool snacks and skip dinner almost entirely, touched anything, or whether my oldest son ate an entire pack of hot dogs on his own.

I was looking for a break from endless meal prep, but instead, my kids gained a second set of adults just two flights away.

One dinner at a time, it feels like we’re building a community.

• Mayor Zohran Mamdani released New York City-themed World Cup jerseys on Friday.
• The $50 jerseys were meant to be an affordable alternative to the pricey FIFA version.
• People are now reselling the jerseys online at far less affordable rates.

Missed your chance to snag one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s affordable World Cup jerseys? You might now have to pay resellers a very unaffordable price.

The New York City-themed jerseys popped up on sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace hours after they went on sale, going for at least $400. Some sellers are asking as much as $999. That’s a considerable upcharge from the $50 that residents paid for the same jerseys on Friday.

Mamdani unveiled the apparel earlier this week. In an Instagram post, he said they were “made by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers.” Only 1,500 jerseys were available for purchase, making them a hot ticket item among his supporters and ardent soccer fans. People stood in line for hours outside the City of New York’s official store to get their hands on one.

By comparison, official FIFA jerseys are noticeably pricier. The most expensive team gear costs $375, while the cheapest alternative costs $70.

Mamdani’s administration has broadly pushed for affordability initiatives. In May, the mayor outlined a plan to expand affordable housing. A month earlier, he and New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a new pied-à-terre tax targeting wealthy people who own a secondary property in the city but live elsewhere.

Mamdani has also sought to make events affordable for New Yorkers.

Last September, he launched a petition urging FIFA to ditch its dynamic pricing model and lower ticket prices for New Yorkers. He also criticized the decision to allow ticket reselling on FIFA’s official platform without a price cap.

Dynamic pricing — when businesses adjust ticket prices in real time based on factors such as demand and market conditions — has become a point of contention for ticket buyers expecting a fixed price. The resale market can also be volatile because vendors often upcharge tickets by hundreds of dollars.

Following negotiations with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Mamdani secured 1,000 World Cup tickets for New Yorkers at $50 each in May.

“Last year we said we’d fight for cheaper tickets for New Yorkers, and today I’m proud to announce, just like Arsenal, we got it done,” Mamdani, a lifelong fan of the London soccer club, said in a video posted to X in May.

New York City and New Jersey are among the host cities for this year’s tournament. The first local match, held at MetLife Stadium, takes place on Saturday evening between Brazil and Morocco.