When 25-year-old traveler Sarah Margaret opened the windows of her Italian apartment, she didn’t expect them to open both sideways and inward. “I thought I broke the window at first,” she quipped in a TikTok video that’s now racked up over a million views. That small moment of confusion kicked off what became a charming tour through all the little details of Italian daily life her "American mind couldn't comprehend."In an interview with Newsweek, she said that she had spent a month in northern Italy, splitting her time between vacation and work. Her final stop was an apartment in Turin, a picturesque city near Milan. From there, she decided to document the things that made her stop and say, “Wait, what?”The first mystery: those ingenious tilting windows. Turn the handle one way, they crack open from the top; another way, they swing open like a door. “Wild to me,” she said, equal parts baffled and impressed. @probablyhangry Would these also blow your mind?? Or are these things normal to you? I’d love to hear from others too!! #italy?? #travelitaly #travelvlog #americanmind #walkablecities ♬ original sound - Sarah ?? | Living Abroad Then came the washer-dryer combo that didn’t exactly…dry. “It spins the clothes and gets a lot of water out, but it’s not like a dryer I’ve ever seen before," she explained. Instead, she found herself air-drying her laundry for an entire month, something she quickly learned is just part of Italian life.Down in the comments, folks confirmed that yes, while there might be machine settings to remove some water from freshly washed clothes, air-drying was still a way of life. “These options on the washing machines are ‘centrifuga.’ It takes a lot of water off so that they’re gonna air dry faster,” one viewer explained. She also noticed the air conditioning felt, shall we say, gentler than in the United States, something she did come to appreciate after a few weeks of acclimating. Continuing into the kitchen, she showed off a sleek induction stove. “I struggled at first, but once I figured it out, it felt very fancy," she admitted. Other surprises included tiny trash bins—barely big enough for a few scraps—implying how serious Italians are about recycling and composting, along with equally tiny elevators. She even filmed herself in one, which was barely wide enough to fit her outstretched arms. “It blows my mind every single time,” she said. And let’s not forget the bidet next to the toilet. “I’m not elaborating on this one, but it’s definitely been an experience," she teased. But her favorite “quirk” really sums up what’s so magical about Italy to Americans in the first place. “I can smell pizza cooking from my window,” she said, grinning. “There are hundreds of restaurants within walking distance and a grocery store right next door. I’ve never lived anywhere this walkable. It’s one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve ever had.”Between that and being able to look out a window—albeit a confusing one—and see gorgeous city architecture…seems like Italy’s got life figured out. A view of gorgeous Italy. Photo credit: CanvaAfter her month abroad, she told Newsweek that she left Italy with a deeper appreciation for the slower, friendlier, and more intentional rhythm of everyday life there. Shopkeepers remembered her. Neighbors said hello. “Traveling alone can be peaceful but also very lonely, so I was extra thankful for those little interactions," she shared. Having grown up in the Midwest and now working remotely while traveling, she has made it her goal to see as many corners of the world as possible—25 countries so far. As far as Italy’s concerned, Turin has stayed with her most.“It’s not crowded with tourists the same way other Italian cities are in the summer," she said. "It was peaceful."Whether you are in a touristy area or in a lesser-known hidden gem, staying in a new place and learning about different ways of life also feels like a mini-adventure.

Money is getting tighter and tighter for all of us, it seems. Though people can't seem to agree on what makes the American economy "good" or "bad" (especially since people's perceptions being heavily influenced by who sits in the White House at any given time), there's no question that economic uncertainty is on many people's minds. Middle-agers who lived through the Great Recession of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic of the early 2020s know how fast economic stability can falter, and youngsters have started their adult lives with unaffordable housing and education as well as post-COVID inflation driving up the cost of everyday living.Thankfully, we can learn a thing or two from our elders who lived through the money struggles of two world wars and the Great Depression. Frugality was a way of life for our grandparents and great-grandparents, and though times have changed—a lot—many of those wise ways to save money still stand. And the good news is that many of them are good for the environment and our health as well as our wallet. Here are some of the easiest, most hard-hitting frugal living habits we can take from previous generations:Cook from scratchEven with the cost of groceries being higher than they were, it's almost always significantly cheaper to eat at home than it is to eat out. Learning to cook is a useful and enjoyable (for many) hobby that can also save you money, as long as you're not trying to cook something overly fancy. Cooking doesn't have to be complicated, and it's never been easier to find simple recipes. There are even sites that will come up with a menu and recipes for you based on what you already have in your pantry. Stock up on basic ingredients, keep it simple, and find some favorite meals that you can whip up quickly and easily. A young couple enjoying cooking in their kitchenPhoto credit: CanvaLess meat, more beansMeat is pricey—especially good quality meat—and with animal-borne diseases becoming more of a concern, animal products in general are getting more expensive. Perhaps now would be a good time to transition to more of a plant-based lifestyle, making more use of cheaper protein sources like beans. Canned beans are generally quite affordable, but dried beans are even cheaper if you don't mind taking the time to soak and cook them. If you have an Instant Pot, it's super easy to batch cook dry beans, which you can then store cooked in the freezer for quick reheating.Buy herbs and spices in bulkSpices in jars are stupidly expensive sometimes, and you might assume that's just what they cost. But if you've never shopped in the bulk spice section at a store—even at an expensive health food store—you might be surprised by how much cheaper it is. Leafy herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, and sage weigh almost nothing, so even if they cost $20/lb, a jar's worth is often pennies to the dollar cheaper than buying them already packaged. Just beware heavier spices, as sometimes those can be just as expensive as jarred. Definitely worth comparing, though. Herbs and spices in bulk bagsPhoto credit: CanvaBorrow and barterWhen times are tough, getting by becomes a community effort, but there's no reason we have to wait for an actual economic depression to help one another out or scratch one another's backs. We all have things that sit around not being used much of the time that others might like to borrow, from tools to books. Trading services can be an excellent way to save money in a win-win way.Grow a gardenDuring the pandemic, many people started growing WWII-style "victory gardens" simply because they could, but gardening can be a great way to save on produce and herbs. If you can start early in the spring and grow from seed, even better. Though learning to keep a garden thriving can be a little trickier than it looks, the savings can be impressive. For instance, one tomato plant can harvest 10 to 20 pounds of tomatoes, so even if you spend $5 on a starter plant, you can save a ton compared to produce section prices at the store. No yard? Gardening in containers works, too. Hands holding fresh radishes plucked from a gardenPhoto credit: CanvaClean with vinegar and baking sodaIt may seem like a small thing, but lots of small things like cleaning products add up. Buying vinegar in bulk and diluting it 50/50 with water makes a great basic cleaner, and baking soda in bulk can help you scour surfaces as well. Vinegar smell doesn't last long, but you can always add a little essential oil to the mix to add some scent. You might need a stronger disinfectant for certain cleaning jobs, but for a basic cleanser, vinegar gets the job done.Reuse or reutilize containersSo many foods we buy come in jars or containers, most which get tossed or recycled. Then we go out and buy containers for storing leftovers or other things. Aesthetically, I get it. But practically and financially, reusing or reutilizing containers makes more sense, even if you just use them once or twice and then toss or recycle. Plus, if you reuse jars or containers you're not planning to keep, you can write on them with a Sharpie without feeling like you ruined it.Drive lessAmericans love to drive and many of us do it far more often than we need to, spending more on gas than necessary. And even though gas prices have come down most places, it still isn't cheap. Combining trips or making a once a week "errand day" can help us cut down on driving. So can carpooling or biking or walking more. A person walking on steps outsidePhoto credit: CanvaBuy usedThrift store shopping can save a ton of money, especially if you shop around to various thrift shops to find the ones that actually have good stuff at low prices. Clothes especially can be a much better deal used than new, and no one will ever know the difference. Furniture is also a fraction of the cost used vs. new, and often older furniture is better quality anyway. Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and other online markets for used items before running to the store or buying something new online.Utilize your public libraryPublic libraries are treasure troves of free stuff, and not enough people take full advantage of them. Not only can you get books, but many libraries have huge collections of movies or other entertainment. Some have art collections you can check out, others have tools and household items you can borrow. There are also free book clubs, lectures, classes and other activities that can add to your social calendar without spending anything. Two people enjoying the libraryPhoto credit: CanvaMake do with what you haveThis might sound like a no-brainer, but many of us have gotten into the habit of buying whatever we think we need simply because it's convenient. Amazon has created some habitual buying habits that we might want to rethink if we're trying to save money. Do you really need a new jacket or is the one you have still perfectly usable? Is there still some life left in that pair of shoes? Even holding off on buying things for a month or two and making do with what you have can help you save money and see that you don't need as much as you might think.Lots of small savings can add up, so don't assume that a few cents or a dollar here and there don't matter. Once you get into these habits, you may even find that frugal living to be a preferred way of life, regardless of your financial situation. It certainly can't hurt to try it.This article originally appeared in March. It has been updated.

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He only appeared on screen once.

The “No Kings” protest drew 700,000 participants and raised over $3 million, but what exactly were they protesting? This viral movement turned into a cultural spectacle, complete with government shutdown theatrics and a Trump parody video that stole the spotlight. It is a boomer hippie revival, as the same generation that once protested against authority now rallies under the banner of “No Kings.” We look at how political theater, internet advertising, and nostalgia have collided in America’s latest round of radicalized rebellion. (RELATED: The Ridiculous No Kings Protest) On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay dive into the so-called “No Kings” protest and unpack how the government shutdown fueled Democratic participation, why Scott calls the protestors “old farts,” and how America’s original counterculture generation has become today’s radical establishment. (READ MORE: America’s Progressive Descent Into Psychosis) Tune in to hear their discussion! Listen to The Spectacle with Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay on Spotify. Watch The Spectacle with Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay on Rumble.