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Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a millionaire or have tens of thousands of followers to be able to travel the world. Sure, you may not get the comfort of a private jet or a five-star villa with butler service. But honestly, adventure is more memorable and thrilling than luxury anyway (at the very least, you’ll have better stories to tell when you get home — no one wants to hear your wealth-related humble brags).

So how does one go about jet-setting overseas without breaking the bank? There are actually more options out there than you might think. As a creative in my mid-20s, I know a thing or two about how to “ball on a budget.” In other words, I’m a broke bitch who doesn’t let my humble living stop me from seeing the world. Will I eat oatmeal and ramen for a week straight? Most likely. But will I also dance at a music festival, party on a boat, and fly to a foreign country alone? Absolutely.

Opportunities to save money and even get paid while traveling are out there, it’s just a matter of a little luck and seeking out the right options for you. Below, I’m sharing 10 ways you can start traveling on a budget today.

1. Join A Work Stay Program

If you’re down to do some labor in exchange for a free place to stay, then you’ll want to consider joining a work stay program. “Work stays” are travel opportunities in which you work for a family, farm, or organization for a certain period of time in exchange for a place to stay. Depending on the host, this may sometimes also include food (score!).

Work stay jobs often include tasks like building and painting houses, gardening, hosting tours, taking care of house pets, and farmwork — including the occasional shoveling goat shit (still worth the free trip, IMO). This option is obviously best if you plan on staying in any given destination for more than just a few days to a week, as you’ll need to use your off time and weekends to explore.

Some trusted work exchange programs include Workaway, WWOOF, HelpX, HelpStay, and Worldpackers.

2. Become An Airbnb Host

If you live in a well-frequented tourist destination, becoming an Airbnb host is a great way to make a buck while you’re away. People just like you are always looking for affordable places to stay on vacation. Upgrade your home with some dope decor, keep your space clean, and snap some high-quality images of your place. The good thing about Airbnb is that you can choose when and how often to rent it out.

List your home whenever you have upcoming travel plans. The funds you make from hosting can go directly to your own vacation accommodations and adventures.

Learn more about hosting on Airbnb here.

3. Stay Updated On Travel Deals

You don’t need to scour the internet on a daily basis to find the best travel deals available. Instead, subscribe to weekly newsletters dedicated to sharing what’s new in the travel world. There are tons of newsletters out there — Jack’s Flight Club, Scott’s Cheap Flights, Airfarewatchdog, and TravelPirates are a few notable ones — that ensure you’ll never miss the chance to snag discounted flight tickets.

It’s also worth following your favorite airlines, tourism boards, travel influencers, and travel agencies to stay in the loop on sales, discount codes, and updates regarding airfare, hotels, destination excursions, and more. Lastly, if you don’t follow Secret Flying across all social platforms, shame on you.

4. Take Advantage Of Airline Points

If you’re an avid traveler who’s not taking advantage of at least one airline’s reward system, you’re seriously missing out. When you join an airline membership, you can accrue miles over time that you can eventually use for free or majorly discounted flights. AKA, you can jet off to Paris or take a trip to Bali essentially for free.

Most airlines will also reward you with a few extra points just for signing up in the first place. Plus, you can earn additional perks like priority boarding, free seat upgrades, and early check-in.

Tip: Do your best to stick to a single airline when booking flights in order to rack up those miles quicker and gain more rewards. Personally, Southwest and American Airlines are my two favorite airline memberships.

5. Volunteer

There are incredible destinations all around the globe that are also in need of support. What better way to see the world than by giving back at the same time? Whether you choose to volunteer with a conservation group, work at an animal sanctuary, teach at underprivileged schools, or build shelters in local communities, the options to volunteer while traveling are abundant. And when you volunteer in a far-out destination, meals and housing are most likely included in your trip.

When searching for volunteer opportunities in other countries, it’s best to research a specific destination and the variety of non-profit groups in the area. For instance, you can apply to Conservation Volunteers in Australia, Kibbutz Volunteer in Israel, or Kaya Responsible Travel operating in Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America. Hell, you can even join the Peace Corps!

6. Start A Blog

Like to take pictures, write, and share your everyday experiences online? Then you might want to consider starting your own travel blog. While it’s a pretty saturated industry, literally anyone can start and grow their own digital audience. Whether you post solely on Instagram, create a travel-dedicated TikTok account, or launch a website with useful travel tips and hacks, there are opportunities waiting for you online.

Once you start to grow your audience, you can make an income with digital ads and sponsorships. You can also leverage your blog and social media to gain complimentary travel accommodations and trips. If you’re not sure where to start, it may be worth taking an online course and following other travel bloggers who inspire you.

7. Use Skyscanner

Skyscanner is an excellent source for finding cheap flights fast. You can search for flights anywhere in the world, and the database will pull the most affordable flight options from every available airline. It will even mix and match airlines on your departing and return flights to provide you with the most budget-friendly choices. Skyscanner also allows you to search for the most affordable hotels and car rentals in your chosen destination.

I’ve been using Skyscanner for years, and it never ceases to help a girl out. You can book through the Skyscanner platform itself, but I like to search and book the results directly through the airlines to reap the full benefits of the airline rewards mentioned above.

Search for cheap flights and book your next trip using Skyscanner here.

8. Teach English Abroad

Teaching English in a foreign country seems to have grown in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Most programs will provide housing in addition to a fixed salary. In other words, you’ll get paid to live abroad and hang out with kids — sounds like a win-win. Plus, you’ll be able to take advantage of school breaks and paid holidays by venturing out to other nearby cities and countries.

Some reliable programs include Teach Away, Go Overseas, and The TEFL Org.

9. Work In A Hostel

As a budget traveler, chances are you’ve stayed in a hostel or two. While shared bunk beds and bathrooms aren’t the most extravagant of accommodation amenities, hostels make for affordable lodging and an easy way to make like-minded friends on the road. If you’re in search of a long-term nomadic lifestyle, looking into different hostel jobs is your best bet. You’ll not only get a free place to stay, but you’ll gain an income that you can put towards your daily adventures.

When searching for jobs, it’s a good idea to reach out to specific hostels directly. There are also databases like Hostel Jobs and Worldpackers that can help narrow down your search.

10. Become a Travel Writer

This was my preferred method of acquiring free and paid travel opportunities, although it probably takes the most time and effort out of the bunch (mixed with a dose of passion and a hint of naive belief in one’s self). If you love writing and you’re interested in approaching tourism from a journalistic point of view — finding unique stories, sharing inside destination tips, highlighting must-visit sites and restaurants in detail — then you might want to give travel writing a try.

Of course, a journalism degree helps, but the truth is that anyone with a knack for words and adventure can do it. When you’re new to the journalism field, it’s a smart move to take a course, hire another experienced journalist for a coaching consultation, and read the work of writers in your desired beat.

Tip: Use your new blog as a way to showcase your talent and travel experiences to editors at publications you admire! That’s what I did, and here I am two years later, chasing my dream job at UPROXX.

Netflix just released the trailer for The Pentaverate starring Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, and Mike Meyers. According to a press release, Mike Myers will be playing eight new characters in the series including:

Ken Scarborough: An old-school Canadian news journalist who sets out to expose the Pentaverate and win his job back
Anthony Lansdowne: A New England conspiracy theorist, determined to expose the Pentaverate
Rex Smith: A far-right radio host and highly prominent conspiracy theorist
Lord Lordington: The Pentaverate’s oldest and highest-ranking member.
Bruce Baldwin: Former media mogul
Mishu Ivanov: Ex-Russian oligarch
Shep Gordon: Former Rock-N-Roll manager
Jason Eccleston: A tech genius who invented the Pentaverate’s supercomputer, MENTOR

The film marks Meyers’ first leading role since 2008’s The Love Guru. Following a small role in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds, Meyers took an eight-year hiatus from live-action acting, until he appeared in small roles in 2018 films Terminal and Bohemian Rhapsody. Here’s the show’s description, per Netflix:

What if a secret society of five men has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347? As this new series begins, one unlikely Canadian journalist finds himself embroiled in a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world himself. Remember, the Pentaverate must never be exposed!

The comedy also stars Ken Jeong, Keegan-Michael Key, Debi Mazar, Richard McCabe, Jennifer Saunders, and Lydia West. It will include special appearances from Rob Lowe and Maria Menounos. The Pentaverate drops on Netflix Thursday, May 5.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. It’s springtime, so if you didn’t spend the last two weeks anywhere near Coachella, it’s time to hit the beach, grab a milkshake, and maybe take a trip to the market to stock up for your Cinco De Mayo cookout — which means you’re going to need some cool kicks to rock while you do it!

(Look, we’ll take any excuse we can to buy new sneakers, it’s that SNX mentality. Give me any random season, holiday, or event, and I’ll find a way to justify why new sneakers are needed.)

This week the drops are back in full force after last week’s slump. We’ve got new AF-1s, some spring-centric footwear, a few restocks, and Nike’s 2022 Doernbecher Freestyle collection. Let’s dive into this week’s eight best sneaker drops.

Converse X Golf Wang By You Collection

For 24 hours beginning on April 28th, Converse will be giving Tyler the Creator’s Golf Wang label the By You treatment, allowing fans to customize a pair of Chuck 70s using iconography and patterns from the Golf Wang archive. The logos and customizable aspects can be built on six different color bases including black, gold, red, blue, green, and egret. If you’ve ever wanted your own custom Golf Wang sneakers, now is the time — make sure you hit this short window.

The converse By You x Golf Wang Chuck 70 will be customizable at the Converse webstore on April 28th at 10 am EST. The shoes will retail for $85.

Air Force 1 Mid University Red and Midnight Navy

Let’s be real, rocking red, white, and blue sneakers in 2022 is a bit like wearing a red baseball cap or writing “patriot” in your social media bio. If you do these things, people are going to make assumptions about you. But it’s time to take back this classic three-color combination because I mean, just look at this Air Force 1 Mid colorway!

University Red swooshes adorn a white leather upper with midnight blue paneling over a translucent outsole with a mid-rise collar, it’s an unbeatable combo! How are you not going to love these? Do they look like something Forrest Gump would wear? Absolutely, but we’d like to point out that they… look like something Forrest Gump would wear. Pretty cool.

The Air Force 1 Mid University Red and Midnight Navy is set to drop on April 28th for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Air Force 1 Mid Ale Brown

If you’re not feeling the red, white, and blue colorway of the mid-top AF-1 Nike is also dropping an Ale Brown version with metallic brown paneling over the same white leather upper with rusty orange Swooshes and a slightly off-white aged midsole.

On the one hand, it’s not red, white, and blue, but on the other hand, you don’t get that translucent outsole and super clean design. This pair is probably a bit more wearable as an everyday option thanks to its neutral colors. Compromises!

The Air Force 1 Mid Ale Brown is set to drop on April 28th for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Air Jordan 13 Navy

If you’re all about luxury and comfort then this week’s Air Jordan 13 Navy is a must-cop. Featuring a dimpled mesh Navy Upper, the Air Jordan 13 Navy looks supremely luxurious to the eye, but thanks to its lightweight and flexible mesh upper, it puts comfort at the forefront while still looking great.

The sneaker features a black nubuck mudguard, a tumbled leather toe box, and embroidered Jumpman details in University Blue. Another week, another great Jordan drop.

The Air Jordan 13 Navy is set to drop on April 29th for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app and aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Women’s Air Jordan 11 Low Pure Violet

Throughout SNX history we’ve been applauding Nike for finally paying attention to people who wear women’s size shoes by giving them the brand’s best silhouettes in some of the best colorways in recent memory. Good job Nike, but now it’s not really novel anymore so this is the last time we’re going to mention it, but someone should tell Adidas and pretty much every other sneaker brand to step it up.

This week’s Pure Violet is pure class. Featuring a white mesh upper with leather overlays in a soothing light lavender colorway, this spring sneaker sits atop an icy translucent outsole and has a certain calming aesthetic about it. We couldn’t think of a better sneaker to rock on a beautiful spring day.

The Women’s Air Jordan 11 Low Pure Violet is set to drop on April 28th for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like Flight Club.

Nike Doernbecher Freestyle Collection

Nike’s annual partnership with Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital, the Doernbecher Freestyle series, is dropping this week and truthfully, the entire collection is dope. If you can cop any of these this week, it’s a win, but we’d like to put a spotlight on our favorite of this year’s lineup, Michael’s Air Jordan 5 Retro Low.

A love for airplanes, sharks, and Mac ’n’ cheese combine for a sneaker that looks like something straight out of Kyrie Irving’s Nike output, it’s in step with modern sneaker design and the color combination along with details like the embroidered branding and the noodle graphics, work beautifully on top of that icy outsole.

The Doernbecher Freestyle collection is set to drop on April 30th. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Off-White Out Of Office

Off-White’s Out Of Office sneakers have received a re-stock! The Abloh-designed sneaker features a finished suede upper with a padded collar and off-white arrows in light blue. The sneaker comes in a worn pre-distressed style, with a dirty midsole and upper.

The Off-White Out Of Office sneakers is out now for a retail price of $513. Pick up a pair via Off-White retailers like HBX.

Patta x Mephisto Sam Sandal

It’s springtime, if you haven’t made your way to a beach you need to get on that ASAP. Even if you’re living in a landlocked state, take a road trip to your nearest sandy shore and soak in the sun. And while you do that, you’re going to need a good sandal, because there are few worse things you can do to a pair of Jordans than get sand in them.

Luckily Patta is coming through by linking up with Mephisto for the Sam Sandals. The sandals feature Patta branding over a leather build with a non-slip sole in a green, cream, and brown colorway. The sneaker sits on top of SOFT-AIR technology, which is designed to keep you comfortable in all types of terrain, from natural to urban.

The Patta x Mephisto Sam Sandal is set to drop on April 29th for an unannounced price. Pick up a pair exclusively at Patta and the Patta webstore.

New Balance MADE in USA 990v1-3 Collection

2022 marks the 40th anniversary of New Balance’s 990 and in celebration of one of the label’s best silhouettes, New Balance is dropping a special premium collection of versions one through three of the design. All three versions feature the same vintage grey, beige, and olive colorway and a premium pigskin suede and mesh upper.

If you’re wondering why these 990s look so damn good, it probably has to do with the fact that it’s the first collection by New Balance’s new creative director Teddy Santis, aka the founder of Aimé Leon Dore, a label that probably deserves at least 95% of the credit for why New Balance is so popular right now.

The New Balance MADE in USA 990v1-3 collection is set to drop on April 28th for a retail range of $189-$199. Pick up the V1 here, the V2 here, and the V3 here.

The creator of “gazpacho police” is at it again. CNN’s Jim Acosta’s out there, doing his job as chief domestic correspondent. Today, his duties involved approaching QAnon cheerleader Marjorie Taylor Greene, which likely wasn’t something he looked forward to doing because she’s so confrontational. Nonetheless, Acosta needed to ask her about that text message that could get her removed from the 2022 ballot for reelection. Under testimony, that is, Greene straight-up lie under oath while denying that she advocated for “marshall law.” Yet her text to Mark Meadows told a different tale:

“In our private chat with only Members, several are saying the only way to save our Republic is for Trump to call for Marshall law. I don’t know on those things. I just wanted you to tell him. They stole this election. We all know. They will destroy our country next. Please tell him to declassify as much as possible so we can go after Biden and anyone else!”

Acosta dutifully inquired about this text message, and he made sure to point out (two times!) how Greene misspelled “martial law.” She was pretty steamed and tweeted video of their discussion while writing, “I am repulsed that people gladly take a paycheck to lie and mischaracterize me like this guy, Jim @Acosta. I want to think good things about the press, but they behave like this and it makes me sick to my stomach.”

Acosta also asked her about her going full soulless ghoul about Satan and the Catholic Church, and Greene wasn’t having that either. More to the point, though, she simply doesn’t recall sending that text message, but if she did, she thinks that the “I don’t know on those things” line would absolve her of accusations that she wanted the military to take the place of law enforcement and overturn the election that Trump definitely lost.

The video’s less than four minutes, but it sure feels longer. After Acosta kept pressing her to answer a question, Greene exclaimed, “Stop harassing me!” Apparently, she feels much more at home while chatting with a sympathetic Laura Ingraham above a misspelled chyron on Fox News.

Scotch is a tricky whisky to get into. Below $50, you’re going to get a lot of swill that could put you off the stuff forever. You might have one sip and ask yourself why you aren’t buying two bottles of perfectly good bourbon instead? Still, great Scotch whisky is out there — even at low price points — and I’m here to make sure you find it.

For this list, I’m pulling all the top-ranked Scotch whiskies from our four-month-long journey through each price point, in which I named 130 scotches I dig. To make this list as diverse as possible, I’m not repeating bottles from the same brand (I tend to rank Talisker’s expressions pretty high across all price points). That way, I hope you’ll have a broader idea of all the great Scotch whisky out there.

The 13 Scotch whiskies below — both blended whisky and single malts — are some of the best of the best. Yes, even the bottle in the $20 to $30 bracket. Hopefully, this list can help you find a great bottle so that you’re not stuck with a shitty one. Let’s dive in!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months

• The 50 Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2021, Ranked
• The 100 Best Whiskeys Our Head Drinks Writer Tasted In 2021
• The Best Scotch Whiskies Under $50, Ranked
• Every Scotch Whisky Brand From Diageo’s Massive Portfolio, Ranked
• The Best Value-Per-Dollar Scotch Whiskies, Ranked

$20-$30 — Chivas Regal

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $29

The Whiskey:

Chivas Regal is one of the biggest whiskies in the world, but that’s mostly outside of the U.S. The juice is a classic blend that is specifically built to be in a glass filled with rocks and maybe a splash of water.

Tasting Notes:

Cedar with hints of citrus, anise, banana, and salted caramel greet you. Creamy vanilla marries mild nutty notes as the nose carries on through the palate with hints of black pepper and malt. The finish is mellow, spicy, and creamy, albeit short.

Bottom Line:

This is a lot of people’s entry point to scotch in general. Chivas is a stone-cold classic and one of the original “scotch on the rocks” whiskies. So, yeah, pour this over some rocks and enjoy the fruity ride.

$30-$40 — Compass Box Artist Blend Scotch Whisky

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $35

The Whiskey:

The lion’s share of this blend — 45 percent — comes from a single grain whisky aged in ex-bourbon from Cameronbridge Distillery. 22 percent is a single malt aged in ex-bourbon that comes from Linkwood Distillery. The rest is a mix of French oak and ex-bourbon single malts and blended malts from the Highlands, Clyneilish, Linkwood, and Balmenach. Those whiskies are vatted and then proofed down before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a very clear and concise note of apple candy with a hint of salted caramel ice cream cut with a touch of eggnog spices. There’s a nice maltiness that leans into a creamy vanilla, soft holiday spice mix, butter toffee, and a hint of milk chocolate near the end. The finish is warming with a whisper of tobacco next to a woody apple, spice candies (maybe ginger), and a final hint of cocoa and caramel.

Bottom Line:

Though Compass Box has been around for a couple of decades now, their releases always feel fresh. This blended whisky really has some great depth that makes it work over some rocks or layered into a great cocktail.

$40-$50 — Glenfiddich 12

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $47

The Whisky:

This is an entry whisky not only to Speyside but to single malts in general. The juice is aged in a combination of used American and European oak before it’s married, rested, proofed with Speyside’s iconic water, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

This dram is creamy like a vanilla pudding with a bright pear orchard vibe, some mild toffee, and hints of sweetgrass next to mild oak. That leads towards a very easy and soft woodiness with a touch of candied pear and more vanilla cream before hints of soft cinnamon spice poke up in the background with those soft malts. By the end, it’s clear how light and approachable this whisky is as that pear, vanilla cream, and milt spice slowly fade away, leaving you with a silken mouthfeel and just enough malts and toffee.

Bottom Line:

This is another easy landing for anyone looking to dip their toe in unpeated, or sweet, scotch. There’s a lovely fruitiness that’s clear and concise with a real creamy edge. Overall, this is a cocktail base more than a sipper but works either way.

$50-$60 — Johnnie Walker Green Label

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $55

The Whisky:

Johnnie Walker’s Green Label is a solidly crafted whisky that highlights Diageo’s fine stable of distilleries across Scotland. The juice is a pure malt or blended malt, meaning that only single malt whisky is in the mix (and no grain whisky). In this case, the primary whiskies are a minimum of 15-year-olds from Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, and Linkwood.

Tasting Notes:

Soft notes of cedar dance with hints of black pepper, vanilla pods, and bright fruit with a wisp of green grass in the background. The palate really delivers on that soft cedar woodiness while edging towards a spice-laden tropical fruit brightness. The finish is dialed in with hints of cedar, spice, and fruit leading towards a briny billow of smoke at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This tastes as good — if not better — than whiskies three, four times the price. Even though Johnnie Walker Blue is considered the mountaintop of the brand, this expression slaps. It’s a fantastic sipper (neat or on the rocks) that also makes a killer cocktail or highball. It’s versatile (and among my favorites on this list).

$60-$70 — The Macallan 12

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $62

The Whisky:

Where many scotches spend time in ex-bourbon and then ex-sherry casks or some combination therein, this expression spends all 12 years of its maturation just in sherry casks. The barrels are imported from Jerez, Spain, and hand-selected for their excellence to mature this much-beloved whisky.

Tasting Notes:

Apple cider with a cut of cinnamon and clove in the juice greets you with a clear sense of vanilla, nuts, and plums on the nose. On the taste, those plums turn into prunes as orange peels mingle with sweet oak and a hint of tobacco spice. The end is long, full of that sherry, dried fruit, and sweetness, and returns back to the chewy tobacco spice.

Bottom Line:

The Macallan 12 is another gateway scotch. This is one of those pours that hooks folk into that malty and fruity side of things when it comes to whisky. But it’s just that, a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

$70-$80 — Dalwhinnie 15

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $73

The Whisky:

This entry-point bottle to the wider world of Dalwhinnie is a hell of an easy drinker. The juice is aged in Scotland’s oldest distillery, making the maturation process a severe one. The juice spends 15 years hiding in those barrels as the temperatures dip well below freezing across all those winters.

Tasting Notes:

Imagine a bowl of pear and apple peels sitting next to an open jar of floral summer honey on the nose. Dots of citrus oils mingle with that honey as a smooth vanilla character arrives on the back of sweet brown bread bespeckled with smoked walnuts. The nuts, sweet bread, and floral honey all converge on the finish as it slowly fades towards a final billow of sweet smoke at the back of your mouth.

Bottom Line:

This is where things get really good. This is a peated malt whisky that’s far more of a sweet, fruity, and nutty whisky than an acrid “smoky” one. That makes this a great place to start with peated malt. You have to go easy before you go hard.

$80-$90 — Lagavulin 16

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $85

The Whisky:

This is the most recognizable Lagavulin out there. The malts are smoked just down the road from the distillery at Port Ellen and the juice is crafted expertly by the sea at Lagavulin. Then the whisky spends 16 long years mellowing in old American and Spanish oak.

Tasting Notes:

Imagine a beach fire that’s using dried seaweed as fuel next to mugs of honeyed black tea and a clump of wet moss on the nose. The taste of this dram meanders through dried pipe tobacco smoke laced with hints of vanilla and tart apple while notes of briny caramel lead towards an oyster shell minerality. The finish is pure silk as the seaweed grows wetter and the smoke sweetens towards that caramel, vanilla, and apple.

Bottom Line:

Speaking of going hard, Lagavulin 16 is a pretty spectacular whisky that bridges the worlds of peat monsters and fruity sweet whisky damn near perfectly. There’s going to be some seaside funk in this whisky, but that’s what so many folks fall in love with.

$90-$100 — Talisker Distillers Edition

ABV: 45.8%

Average Price: $99

The Whisky:

The 2021 Distillers Edition is a classic Talisker, aged by the sea, that’s finished for six months in Amoroso sherry casks. The whisky was distilled in 2011 and bottled at 10 years old. It was then finished in another Amoroso sherry cask, making it “double” matured.

Tasting Notes:

The nose runs deep on this whisky with mild hints of beachside campfire smoke whispering in the background as hints of red fruit, wet driftwood, and green peppercorns draw you in. The palate embraces the red berries with a slight tartness next to the sweetness as the peat remains dry and distant and tied to the brine of the sea with an almost oyster liquor softness. The finish lingers for just the right amount of time as sweet berries and dry peat lead towards soft dark cacao powder with a tiny note of vanilla and one last spray from the sea.

Bottom Line:

The refinement of this whisky is astounding. This is also one of those “ah-ha” whiskies that are either going to drive you deeper into the style or push you away for good. It’s also a perfect raw oyster or caviar pairing whisky.

$100-$125 — Laphroaig Càirdeas 2021 Pedro Ximénez Casks

ABV: 58.9%

Average Price: $124

The Whisky:

Laphroaig is always innovating its line. 2021’s Càirdeas is a triple-matured, cask-strength whisky. The whisky first mellowed in ex-bourbon casks before being moved to quarter casks and, finally, finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. That whisky was then bottled as is.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a lot going on with this nose from a starting point of fresh Band-Aids to rich marzipan with plenty of rose water to apples stewed in holiday spices with hazelnut and caramel to a light touch of bourbon vanilla and maybe a hint of cherry tobacco. The palate takes that Band-Aid and turns it toward a sharp but very fatty smoked bacon vibe while a medley of smoked apples, salted licorice, and eggnog spices mingle beneath that bacon. The mid-palate leans into a very dry cedar as notes of nori, fennel, and sharper brown spices, almost Red Hots, warm the back end of the finish.

Bottom Line:

Heavy peat and sherry casks really marry well. This whisky is bold with a capital “B” but retains some real nuance. That PX sherry cask adds this beautiful layer of dried fruits and nuts that works with the big peaty flavors of the spirit. This is a big swing if you’re new to peated malt, so think about working your way up to it.

$125-$150 — Oban Aged 12 The Tale of Twin Foxes

ABV: 56.2%

Average Price: $135

The Whisky:

Oban’s location on the Scottish coast, next to both the Inner Hebrides and Highlands, allows it to harness the best of both regions when making its whisky. This year’s 12-year release is built on the backs of both ex-bourbon casks and refill bourbon casks, allowing the stronger notes of those new bourbon casks to get a light mellowing from the refill wood. The results are bottled at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Briny — that’s the draw here. The nose has this mellow mix of spicy nori crackers that lead towards an old wooden cutting board that’s slick with olive juice, fish oils, salt, and black pepper that you then take a heel of bread to mop up while a slight note of smoked whitefish lingers on the very backend. On the palate, a burst of citrus oils arrives to cut through all that umami, oil, and brine as a light malty fruitiness adds a little tart and sweet to the mix, with a sense of cedar chips soaked in mild chili oil driving a sense of warmth. The finish lets that spice build towards a dry pepperiness thanks to the wood as the fruit ties itself to a very mild tobacco leaf and another note of that smoked fish sneaks in at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is another massively distinct whisky with serious depth. The beauty of this bottle is in how exact the flavor notes are. You really feel every nuance as you take your time sipping this one.

$150-$200 — Ardbeg Fermutation

ABV: 49.4%

Average Price: $200

The Whisky:

Ardbeg’s boilers breaking down led to this whisky. Instead of throwing out the mash until the boilers were fixed, Dr. Bill Lumsden (the mad-scientist distiller behind Ardbeg) decided to see what would happen if they let it be. The washback lids were opened and the mash was allowed to ferment with the sea-kissed Islay air for three more weeks. To put that in perspective, Ardbeg (and most whiskies) usually ferment for 72 hours before distillation. Once the boilers were back up and running, the whisky was distilled and then barreled in first-fill and re-fill bourbon casks. 13 years later, Dr. Bill decided it was ready.

Tasting Notes:

The nose starts off with this burst of fresh green grass just after the rain that melts into a summer herb garden (mint heavy), grapefruit seeds, and smoked butter with sweet lemon candy and orange trees that are underpinned with a dark and rich soil that’s been turned with manure. Going deeper on the nose, you get fresh tires, mossy fir bark, and maybe a hint of fennel-heavy focaccia. The palate starts off incredibly soft with a toffee note before veering into burnt scones, hints of absinthe, turmeric, and finally Marlboro Red cigarette ash. That ashiness builds on the palate as a slight Windex note pops in next to a hint of mint candy and some more mild toffee. The finish lets that sweetness stay while the cigarette ash builds towards a crescendo and leaves your senses feeling like you’ve licked an ashtray with a hint of minty toffee candies.

Bottom Line:

There should be a warning on this bottle: “This might blow your mind.” There’s a lot going on here that somehow just works. Yes, even the ashtray vibes. In the end, if you’re looking at spending nearly $200 on a limited edition peaty from Islay, you’re probably already on the road to loving these types of whisky. If not, maybe try a Dalwhinnie first.

$200-$250 — The GlenDronach Parliament Aged 21 Years

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $249

The Whisky:

Don’t let the name fool you. The “parliament” in this case is the collective noun for rooks — a type of European crow that nests above the distillery. That dark essence is rendered in the whisky through 21 long years of maturation in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks exclusively.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a lot going on with this nose, starting with blackberry brambles hanging heavy with ripe fruit leading towards a well-spiced oatmeal cookie vibe and cut with hints of orange zest and vanilla. A sticky toffee pudding sweetness arrives (heavy on the dates) with flourishes of bitter dark chocolate notes and a sharp holiday spice matrix. The end is very long but very velvety with hints of dark fruits and spices warming your body as it fades away.

Bottom Line:

Taking a sip of this is like seeing the clouds part and the sun shine through for the first time. This is perfect malt whisky with a succinct flavor profile. Everything is so clear and makes sense as you sip it. You kind of don’t want this one to end because it’s like a silken flow of all your holidays, nostalgia, and hopes rolled into one glass of whisky.

$250-$500 — Springbank 21

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $473

The Whisky:

This 21-year-old whisky, released in 2021, was crafted with help from old Port, sherry, and bourbon barrels. The peated whisky from the tiny Campbeltown region is built to highlight the unique and very fruity notes of the style while having its own vibe.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is all about the malt that’s a mix of oatmeal cookie and a Graham cracker with rich vanilla pudding notes, a touch of buttery toffee, and a final burst of deep red strawberries. The fruitiness takes on a savory note that’s kind of like smoked watermelon before heading back towards those cookies with plenty of cinnamon warmth and nutty depth on the palate. The finish arrives slowly with a nod towards peat as a passing fancy that’s buried beneath a vanilla cream laced with cinnamon, oats, raisins, and bitter over-roasted coffee beans.

The Bottom Line:

This bottle is very “go big or go home.” It’s super rare, very delicious, and just unique enough that you really need to dig in to find all of those deep flavor notes. Overall, this is a bit of a show-off bottle, sure, but it’s also just really goddamn good.

New bottles of whiskeys drop pretty much every day. That means that we’re all neck-deep in the latest whisk(e)y boom, whether we know it or not. One of the most interesting sections of that boom is rye whiskey. New and interesting rye whiskeys arrive left and right these days and it can be pretty hard to keep track of them all (it’s tough even if you’re in the industry and it’s your job to do exactly that). One way to separate the wheat from the chaff is to taste through and see what actually rules (and is thereby worth spending your hard-earned cash on).

That’s where I come in. Luckily, I get a fair few whiskeys to taste. For this blind tasting, though, I’m going hard. I’m going to taste ten new rye whiskeys that were released over the last year. The ripple is that I’ll be tasting these “double-blind.” That means I won’t have an inkling of what’s in those Glencairns besides that they’re “rye whiskey” and “newer.” No price tags, no branding, and no PR emails are going to sway my mind and palate during this taste test.

Since this is a “double-blind” taste test, I’m going to jump right in and see what rises to the top. My guess is that the “good stuff” will win out but a cheaper ringer might steal the whole show. Let’s see what happens!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Blind Taste Test Posts Of The Last Six Months

• Every Winning Bourbon From Our 2021 Taste Tests, Blind Tasted And Re-Ranked
• Celebrity-Owned Tequila Brands, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The Best Ten-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskeys, Tasted Blind And Ranked
• We Tasted Bourbon Whiskeys ‘Double-Blind’ And Tried To Guess Each Bottle
• We Blind Tasted A Whole Bunch Of $30-60 Bourbons To See If Any Could Beat Weller

Part 1: The Taste

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a mix of wicker, old leather, caramel, and vanilla with a hint of dried potpourri. The palate hits pretty sweet with sugar candy on the front of the tongue as more wicker leads to dry spice and soft vanilla cream. The finish circles back to that sweetness with a rock candy vibe with a hint more of that wicker and vanilla.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

A lot of citruses (orange, grapefruit, pomelo) are rolling around on this nose with floral honey, grainy malts, almonds, and rum-raisin. The taste builds on those raisins with an apple crumble vibe next to dried roses and black pepper with a honeyed mid-palate. The spice kicks up with some fresh ginger, more black pepper, and dark chocolate powder that leads to a spiced, gingery tobacco finish.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

This is completely different with a nose of fresh dill, rosemary sprigs, fennel, and mustard seeds with a hint of leather, moss, butter pads, espresso-infused tobacco, and dried bamboo. The palate builds on that nose with peanut butter cookies dipped into an oat milk latte with a hint of Almond Joy. The mid-palate bursts with oolong tea, olive brine, grapefruit peels, and cherry cough drops. The finish circles back and lets that oolong really shines with old leather gloves and a bitter tobacco leaf.

This is clearly in a different league than the first two.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Another 180! This opens with a gentle note of what feels like cold leather layered on dry straw, sour candies, and a distant hint of pine boxes full of apple tobacco. The taste opens with a hint of wet wicker next to freshly presses apple cider that feels hazy and a chewy apple tree bark. The mid-palate veers away from the apple toward vanilla candies with a little chew to them, soft winter spice (think nutmeg and clove), and a whisper of quince jam on a buttery brioche.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

The nose starts with a familiar old leather vibe that leads to dried roses and a hint of beef bouillon cube. The palate starts with a dried apple chip dipped in salted and buttery toffee with vanilla cookies in the background. The mid-palate works away from the sweet vanilla toward soft notes of nutmeg, almond, and apple blossoms.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Old leather and vanilla pods mingle with Cinnamon Toast Crunch, streusel, and cellar beams on the nose. Rum-raisin kicks off the palate with good doses of nutmeg, clove, and anise leading to a peppery spice matrix. The sip then leans into dry tobacco leaves in an old cedar box and cherry cream soda straight off the fountain as the anise, clove, and nutmeg fuse with tobacco on the slow finish.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Bright notes of cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon, and even leather dominate the nose. The palate leans into vanilla extract wth a spicy cherry cough syrup vibe. Granny Smith apple cores punctuate the mid-palate as the finish mixes up brown sugar, winter spice, wet wicker, and vanilla tobacco with cherry.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Wet grains and leather mingle on the nose as dried flowers, lemon marmalade, and cherry pie lurk in the background. Creamy vanilla sauce and eggnog drive the palate with nutmeg and allspice making appearances until caramel corn pops on the mid-palate. That’s countered by fresh ginger spice and black-tea-soaked dates drive the finish toward a woody tobacco end.

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

Winter spice and orange zest lead the way on the nose with candied almonds (those red ones) and the slightest echo of tomato paste. The palate leans into dried orange peels next to nutmeg and clove with more of those candied nuts. The finish arrives with plenty of vanilla and brown sugar but the umami promised on the nose doesn’t quite come back.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

Wet straw, sticky oatmeal, raisins, and apple blossoms make for an interesting nose. The palate leans into vanilla cream countered by chili extract with soft oak and caramel rounding out the sip. The finish has a sweet touch of vanilla candy but then just kind of disappears.

Part 2: The Ranking

10. Elvis “The King” Rye — Taste 10

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $50

The Whiskey:

This drop from fall 2021 is all about Elvis in the branding. The actual juice in the bottle is a 95 percent rye (with five percent malted barley) from an “undisclosed” distillery. Those barrels are sent down to Grain & Barrel Spirits in Tennessee where they’re blended, proofed, and bottled.

Bottom Line:

This had a lot of promise on the nose but then just petered out. It felt like a $15… maybe. I’ll put it this way, there was no hesitation in putting this last.

9. Traverse City North Coast Rye — Taste 8

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $45

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Michigan is a blend of Traverse City’s own-make (a 100 percent rye) and MGP’s 95 percent rye. The whiskeys are aged for about two years before they’re vatted and proofed down with that clear Michigan water.

Bottom Line:

This is the part of the ranking where “it’s fine” rules the roost. This was just fine but not all that memorable, especially compared to the bangers in the bottom half of this list.

8. Sagamore Spirit Rye — Taste 9

ABV: 41.5%

Average Price: $43

The Whiskey:

This Maryland whiskey (though part of it is still sourced from Indiana) is two rye mash bills that are put together for maximum ryeness. The low and high rye whiskeys are aged four to six years before vatting. The juice is then proofed with limestone water from a Maryland ahead of the bottling.

Bottom Line:

Again, this was fine but I felt a little let down that the umami on the nose never came back on the palate. That said, this feels like a perfectly workable cocktail whiskey.

7. Frey Ranch Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye — Taste 2

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Nevada is a single estate spirit. That means it’s made with 100 percent rye in the mash bill and that rye (Winter Rye specifically) came from the Frey Ranch farmland. The spirit was then aged a few years before only a few thousand bottles were filled.

Bottom Line:

This is definitely where things started getting better. This had real depth and felt like a decent sipper over some rocks. It wasn’t quite as nuanced as the next couple of picks, but there’s more than enough to enjoy here.

6. Broken Barrel Heresy Rye — Taste 1

ABV: 52.5%

Average Price: $36

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Owensboro Distilling Co. in Kentucky is another 95 percent rye. In this case, the rye is aged at least two years before blending, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

I had no idea what this was, but it tasted pretty good today. And when I say that, I meant middle of the road. There were classic rye notes, it was well built, but there was nothing that grabbed or held my attention.

5. Redwood Rocket Top Bottled-in-Bond Rye — Taste 5

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

This new release from Redwood Empire Distilling out in California is a unique whiskey. The mash bill is not a 95 percent rye. I know, shocking. Instead, we have five-year-old rye made from a mash bill of 87 percent rye, seven percent malted barley, and six percent wheat.

Bottom Line:

This was a pretty good sip all around. I could see drinking this over a rock or two at the end of the day and being pretty happy about it. Still, it was more classic than anything else, which is not a diss.

4. Angel’s Envy Ice Cider Cask Finish Rye — Taste 4

ABV: 53.5%

Average Price: $900

The Whiskey:

This rye is an outlier thanks to a very unique finish. The juice is standard, contract-distilled 95 percent rye that spent seven years in the barrel. That whiskey was then transferred into ice cider casks (from Eden Specialty Ciders in Vermont) where it rested for another 364 days. The ice cider casks, which held a dessert hard cider with a lot of sweetness built into the French oak, are then emptied and the whiskey is bottled with a touch of water as-is.

Bottom Line:

There was a lot of apple-ness on this one that could have made it one note. But this really felt dialed into something a bit more than just a spicy apple bomb. There was a delicate interplay here that was very enticing but, in the end, this felt…quiet. And I just was wowed a little more by the next three.

3. Nashville Single Barrel Rye — Taste 6

ABV: 57.5%

Average Price: $115

The Whiskey:

Nashville Barrel is all about the barrel picks for retailers, bars, and whoever comes along (within reason). The juice in this case is 95 percent MGP rye that’s around eight years old. The whiskey went into the bottle at barrel strength without any additional fussing.

Bottom Line:

This felt like everything I could ever want in a classic rye whiskey. It was so tightly dialed into rye whiskey vibes that I just wanted to pour another and not think about anything else. That’s a powerful pull.

2. Pursuit United Blended Straight Rye — Taste 7

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $65

The Whiskey:

This release is a blend of whiskeys from Kentucky and Maryland (which is the source of America’s rye whiskey heritage). The Kentucky rye is from Bardstown Bourbon Company (a 95-percent rye), which is contract distilling and aging whiskey for Pursuit United. The other rye is from Maryland’s famed and beloved Sagamore Spirits (a 52-percent rye), which makes some of the best ryes in the country. Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil took barrels from each warehouse and masterfully married them to create this expression with a touch of water to bring the proof down a notch.

Bottom Line:

This beat out the above by being both classic and also having something more happening on the palate that elevated this sip. Overall, this felt the most “rye” on the list while also feeling fresh.

1. Barrell Seagrass 16-Year Rye — Taste 3

ABV: 65.41%

Average Price: $250

The Whiskey:

Last year’s Barrell Seagrass Rye was beloved across the whiskey world. This year, Barrell upped the ante by releasing a special edition that’s a 16-year-old version of that same whiskey. This whiskey is made from a 100 percent Canadian rye that’s finished in Martinique rhum, Madeira, and apricot brandy casks. Those casks are vatted at Barrell’s warehouse and bottled as-is at a very high ABV.

Bottom Line:

This was number one from the moment it hit my lips. This is so bold, new, fascinating, and kind of weird in the best way possible. I loved this sip. That said, if you’re looking for classic rye with some spice, check numbers two and three because this ain’t it. This is a wild ride that has no end.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

This was a fun ride. The only disappointment was the Elvis whiskey. The rest were all pretty good overall with the top four each bringing the heat.

As for the number one spot, I can’t deny that I’m always looking for the weird and new and am drawn to it like a fly to a buzzing light. Still, it’s a whiskey that is unique that excites me. I love the classics as much as the next whiskey drinker, but sometimes something comes along that reshapes how you look at a style of whiskey and that’s it, that’s all you want from there on out. Barrell’s Seagrass 16 was that rye for me. It’s spectacular.

In the end, though, you really can’t go wrong with six through two either. They each have their own charms. But if you want something a little otherworldly, Barrell is the pick.

The offensive line is where football games are won and lost in college football, but despite strong offensive line play being crucial to success, plenty elite athletes who line up in the trenches don’t get recognized. That’s because the average person really only pays attention to the line when a quarterback is being sacked. Evan Neal, a stud lineman out of Alabama, didn’t spend too much time watching his QBs lay on the ground in college.

Since arriving in Tuscaloosa, Neal protected elite signal callers like Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young. Neal started during his freshman year, and while that’s a situation that would overwhelm some, the soon-to-be first-round pick viewed it as an opportunity to grow and quickly mature.

“The thing that I’m most proud of is being a young guy coming in and playing early and having to mature. Being a freshman, being in the situation where you have to perform to the level of a veteran, it kind of forces you to just grow up, and I’m definitely thankful for that experience,” Neal tells UPROXX.

It can be stressful playing at Alabama, as every player thinks he will play on Sundays some day. On top of trying to stay on top of his game, Neal quickly found himself a leader in the locker room. And in his downtime, he found the best way to relax was to chill out and play some Call of Duty.

“For me, [playing Call of Duty and playing football] are two different mindsets,” Neal says. “I like to play video games just for leisure. Even though Call of Duty can be a stressful game, don’t get me wrong, the mindset is definitely different. The competitive fire is still there, I don’t wanna lose, I don’t wanna get killed, but mentally I approach it differently.”

It is interesting listening to him talk about his approach to the game. His overall goal, keep his K/D ratio up and not be a negative to the team, sounds a lot like how a lineman approaches their job: keep the quarterback up, don’t chase highlights, and above all else, do not hurt your team.

“I just try to kill and not be killed,” Neal says. “I’m not the biggest gamer in the world, but I do my best. I don’t really have a strategy, but I just try to keep my K/D ratio up and that’s all I try to do.”

Even if it doesn’t always change the game, a good K/D ration helps the team immensely. Being okay with that is something that is a surprisingly rare trait among the average Call of Duty player. All of this could be unrelated, but it’s hard to not think about how that team-first attitude has helped Neal become the leader he was at Alabama.

Nothing — not football, Call of Duty, nor draft prep — seems to phase Neal. Maybe it’s his personality, or maybe everything is just easier once you’ve gone through the grind of the Alabama football program.

“It definitely helped harden my steel and sharpen my iron, just being in such a competitive environment forces the best out of you,” he says. “So I’m definitely fortunate for Alabama and coach [Nick] Saban for helping me develop my skills as a football player, and not only that, but as a man as well.”

It’s hard imagine a scenario where Neal isn’t spending the next decade-plus playing in the NFL. And when the games are done and he heads back home, he knows he’ll have his favorite game waiting for him, as he told me, “I’m never going to stop playing [Call of Duty]. I go through phases where I just want to play the game, and if it’s there, I’m gonna play it.”

Ava Max is back, and teasing the follow up to her debut album, Heaven And Hell. After popping up in late 2021 with the dark and rebellious banger, “The Motto,” a collab with Tiësto, Ava is back out on her own and thinks “Maybe You’re The Problem.” In the lead single for her second album, Ava takes on the old adage that “it’s not you, it’s me,” and turns it on its head.

Swapping out her short/long blonde hair for some fiery red locks, Ava finds herself agreeing with a former partner’s ex-girlfriends opinions on this breakup anthem. “Everyone always says ‘it’s not you it’s me’ but sometimes the problem really isn’t me, it’s you!!” Ava said of the song. “’Maybe You’re The Problem’ was so much fun to create. This new music I’ve been working on is the most personal music I have ever made. I can’t wait to share it with you very soon.”

In the Joseph Kahn-directed clip, Ava sunbathes in the snow, gets inserted into a video game, and reflects on a relationship she couldn’t be happier to be out of. Check out the new video up top and keep an ear out for more news about her upcoming new album.

Taking on college-related debt is something that most Americans now expect when graduating high school, especially if their parents are middle class or working poor. There are only so many scholarships to go around and so much you can earn from work study. In fact, the average millennial has just under $40,000 in student loan debt and Americans owe around $1.7 trillion in student loans. Taking on large amounts of debt fresh out of high school has become the norm, but that may be changing soon.

Some states are already offering two free years of college for graduating high school students, and now the 30th state is ready to sign on to do the same. Some states are taking it further than two years of free college and extending it to four years with the option to use the program for trade and technical schools as well. In New Mexico, the Opportunity Scholarship provides free college to its residents and expands that even further to include adult learners, returning students and immigrants regardless of immigration status. That last provision is unheard of, because, contrary to popular belief, undocumented immigrants are not typically able to participate in any sort of government funding or programs due to their lack of social security number and other documentation needed for participation.

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The long-term effects of free college could be massive for the average American. It would open up the door for other opportunities that may have otherwise been hindered by holding so much college debt. Homeownership would be easier to come by for graduates due to an inherently lower debt-to-income ratio. It could also allow college graduates to save more money for retirement, a down payment on a house or to open their own business because they wouldn’t have to spend a large portion of their earnings on student loan payments. This could help bridge some of the wealth gap between higher earners and people that went into a lower paying profession such as teaching or social work.

Thirty states signing on to this type of initiative would bring us much closer to having universal college. And this would help give a fighting chance to those who may feel like they started life on the lowest rung. New Mexico’s Higher Education Department Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez told CNBC, “We want to be the national example of how you create a higher education ecosystem system that’s inclusive and accessible, so nobody is turned away from the opportunity to go to college.”

Maine would be state number 30 to allow for free college if the bill passes. Governor Janet Mills has proposed a plan that would make two years of community college free. When speaking to CNBC, Morley Winograd, president and CEO of the Campaign for Free College Tuition, said “If we get to 50, it’s mission accomplished.” Most are “last dollar” scholarships, which essentially means that any federal aid and private scholarships would be applied first, and the state-funded scholarships would cover the remaining balance.

If all 50 states signed bills similar to the ones in the other 29 states, it would make free college a reality and many families struggling with how to afford to send their children to college would rejoice.

The age of 13 is a turning point in a lot of people’s lives. It’s right before you enter high school and begin to be exposed to a whole new world of temptation in the form of drugs, alcohol, dating, sex, smoking and gangs, to name a few.

When you’re a kid you can make a mistake that doesn’t follow you forever. But once the teen years hit, your decisions can have lifelong repercussions.

Imagine if you could go back in time and tell your 13-year-old self what pitfalls to avoid and which decisions to make? A Reddit user by the name kiwipangolin asked the online forum an intriguing question about how they’d handle such a meeting: “You meet your 13-year-old self, but you can only tell them three words. What do you say and why?”

Three words aren’t much, but they’re easy to remember.

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A lot of the people who responded wished they could tell themselves to avoid a lifetime of addiction, mostly cigarettes and drugs. Some wished they would have let loved ones who passed away know how much they cared. While others would have let their past selves know their friends or family members were in danger.

There are a lot of people in the Reddit thread who have some serious regrets. While some of their stories are tragic, they also serve as powerful reminders for the rest of us to watch out for our health, look out for those who may be in trouble and to let our loved ones know how much they matter.

Here are 20 of the best responses to the question: “You meet your 13-year-old self, but you can only tell them 3 words. What do you say and why?”

1.

“Don’t fucking smoke.” — whateverathrowaway00

2. 

“Love dad more.” — RealLifeHaxor

3.

“Yes Kimmy California. My sister wanted to move to California near where I was living. My life was really complicated at the time and I really discouraged it. My marriage was a mess and I was afraid it would make it worse. She stayed where she was. About a year later she was killed by a drunk driver. My marriage ended. I would do literally anything to still have my sister here.” — purplecrazypants

4.

“Stay off ATVs. Rolled a 4-wheeler when I was 16. Left leg has never been the same.” — Cloudkicker91

A healthcare worker chimed in with more information.

“I work in a pediatric operating room in an area where ATVs are popular. Anytime the weather is nice and the kids are out of school, the number of add-on surgeries we have for atv injuries is mind-boggling. 4 year old, shattered femur, ATV rollover. 8-year-old, broken left arm, ATV roll over. 13 year old, ATV ejection, emergency crani. Shattered pelvis, degloving of the leg, brain bleeds, punctured lungs… On and on and on. So much agony. So many kids. It’s easily the number one cause of emergent surgery we do.

In my book, putting a kid on an atv is about the same as giving an infant a loaded gun for a pacifier.” — YamGroundbreaking953

5.

“Keep making music.” — douglas_yancie

6.

“Stop copying others.” — Kyndron

7.

“Evie needs help. Maybe then I’ll still have my big sister.” — Space GeneralAmerica

8.

“Drugs ruined you.” — GizmoTheLion

9.

“Brush your teeth.” — mynameisusama

10.

“You are autistic. That’s my three words. That would’ve solved so many god damn problems, knowing who I am.” — kelcamer

11.

“Go to therapy.” — cornygiraffe

12.

“Stay in school.” — Julie-Andrews

13.

“Don’t trade Charizard.” — facepwnage

14.

“No student loans.” — TravelingGleeman87

15.

“Wear a condom.” — NicksterPro

16.

“Treat her better.” — VinFamous

17.

“Never start gambling.” — elegantBullfrog2417

18.

“Exercise, socialize, study.” — LesbianStan

19.

“Happiness isn’t linear. Everyone needs to know this at any stage of life but I wish I was told that back at 13, so I would know earlier that life is full of ups and downs, the downs will go back up, tho the ups don’t always last long.” — Evangelion-02

20.

“You’ll be ok.” — Pretenderrender