Tag: survey

The Average American Screws Up Four Major Decisions in Their Life

People say it’s a good idea to live without regrets… but if someone asked you how many wrong decisions you’ve made in your life, how many would you say?

And this is “major” wrong decisions… so not like “eating Taco Bell last night.” More like “my first marriage and my third child.”

According to new research, the average American estimates they have made four wrong major decisions in their life.  31% say they’ve made more.

71% say they wish they had more guidance when it comes to making large life decisions.  But honestly, mistakes are a normal part of life.

54% say they turn to their friends and family for advice when making major decisions. 

But 40% do their own research, usually online.  28% will seek out “industry professionals”… 26% will read informational books… and 25% will look for “informational videos and TV shows.”

Poll conducted by SWNS / OnePoll on behalf of AtomFinance with a panel of 2,000 Americans

The Best and Worst Airports in America

While flying still comes with plenty of headaches (hi, baggage fees), it looks like travelers are finally feeling a little better about airports themselves. According to the latest J.D. Power airport satisfaction survey, overall satisfaction is up across North America, with scores climbing 10 points on a 1,000-point scale.

(I don’t know about you, but my airport satisfaction is at an all-time low.)

The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. and Canadian travelers and ranked airports based on things like terminal design, ease of travel, baggage claim, food and retail options, and staff friendliness.

Here’s how U.S. airports performed in 2025, broken down by size. We’ve included only the Top 5 Best and Top 5 Worst in each category — so if you’re looking to avoid a travel meltdown, this is your cheat sheet.

Mega Airports

(More than 33 million passengers per year)

Top 5 Best:

  1. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (MSP)
  2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
  3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
  4. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
  5. Harry Reid International, Las Vegas (LAS)

Top 5 Worst:

  1. Newark Liberty International (EWR)
  2. San Francisco International (SFO)
  3. Miami International (MIA)
  4. Orlando International (MCO)
  5. John F. Kennedy International, New York (JFK)

Large Airports

(10 to 32.9 million passengers per year)

Top 5 Best:

  1. John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA)
  2. Tampa International (TPA)
  3. Dallas Love Field (DAL)
  4. Kansas City International (MCI)
  5. Raleigh-Durham International (RDU)

Top 5 Worst:

  1. Philadelphia International (PHL)
  2. Chicago Midway International (MDW)
  3. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL)
  4. LaGuardia Airport, New York (LGA)
  5. Seattle–Tacoma International (SEA)

Medium Airports

(4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year)

Top 5 Best:

  1. Indianapolis International (IND)
  2. Ontario International, California (ONT)
  3. Buffalo Niagara International (BUF)
  4. Jacksonville International (JAX)
  5. Palm Beach International (PBI)

Top 5 Worst:

  1. Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE)
  2. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
  3. St. Louis Lambert International (STL)
  4. San Jose Mineta International (SJC)
  5. Bradley International, Connecticut (BDL)

What Makes a Good Airport?

The airports that landed on top tend to have easier navigation, shorter security lines, better food and drink options, and friendlier staff. The bottom-ranked ones? Think long wait times, packed gates, and fewer services.

So if you’re deciding between layovers or booking a trip out of town, these rankings might save you a few headaches — or at least help you pack some extra patience.

20% of Americans Don’t Mind Having Crumbs in Their Bed?

Once upon a time, “breakfast in bed” was the ultimate romantic gesture. Now? For a lot of people, it’s just a one-way ticket to sleeping in a pile of toast shrapnel.

A while back, a bizarre survey found 80% of people say crumbs in bed ruin their sleep. Which sounds fine… but raises a disturbing follow-up: are the other 20% totally fine rolling around in bacon bits and scrambled egg fossils?

Still, plenty of people risk it. 35% admit to eating in bed, usually late-night snacks like cookies, chips, and popcorn. (Basically the three foods most-scientifically-designed to generate maximum crumbs.)

But here’s the kicker: 33% say eating in bed is a dating deal-breaker. And among Millennials, that number jumps to 38%… even though Millennials are also the most likely to sneak snacks under the covers. Talk about sleeping with the enemy.

So yeah, breakfast in bed might sound sweet… or satisfy sudden snack cravings you’ll regret later. But if you don’t want your sheets to double as a sandpaper exfoliator, be REAL CAREFUL about your execution.

Men Are Terrified of New Hairstyles, So They Stick with the Same Look for Years

Men: If your anxiety spikes today, maybe it’s not that big presentation at work. Maybe it’s just the thought of your barber asking, “So, what are we doing today?”

A new survey found that 21% of men actually get nervous asking for a new hairstyle. Yep… grown adults who can confidently order a triple-shot oat milk latte suddenly lose all courage when it comes to saying, “Uh, could you try a fade?”

Even worse, 23% admit they’ve been too afraid to ask for the haircut they really wanted. Which means plenty of men are stuck with “the usual,” while quietly longing for the mullet of their dreams.

On average, men get a trim about 10 times per year, and stick with the same look for a whopping seven years. Seven years! That’s longer than some marriages.

The survey also found that 84% of men feel “confident” with their current hairstyle, while 55% have never even considered changing it. The other 45% have thought about mixing it up.

So which styles do men think they could maybe pull off? Here are the top picks:

  1. Growing it out (28%)
  2. Going fully bald by choice (22%)
  3. The middle part with long hair (13%)
  4. A sharp side part (13%)
  5. Spiked hair (11%)
  6. Highlights (11%)
  7. The slick, greased-back look (10%)
  8. Mullet (8%)
  9. Mohawk (8%)
  10. The bleached buzzcut (7%)

So basically, most guys are confident with what they’ve got, terrified of changing it, and secretly fantasizing about looking like they’re in a boy band circa 2002.

Americans’ 10 Favorite Ice Cream Truck Orders

Sadly, ice cream trucks aren’t as common as they once were. In fact, there was a poll a while back that found that 17% of Americans had NEVER bought ice cream from an ice cream truck. But it’s summer… so let’s make it happen!

So what to order? A survey listed Americans’ favorite ice cream truck orders, and here are the Top 10:

1.  Crunch Ice Cream Bar

2.  Drumstick

3.  Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich

4.  Twist Soft-Serve Cone

5.  Klondike Bar

6.  Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Bar

7.  Vanilla Soft-Serve Cone

8.  Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich

9.  Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich

10.  Chocolate Drumstick

Overall, they ranked 29 items.  The PowerPuff popsicle came in last… just ahead of the SpongeBob popsicle.

You can find the full results, here. (And yes, the legendary Choco Taco is at #11, even though it was discontinued a few years ago. So you probably won’t be able to find that one right now… but that doesn’t mean it can’t live on in our frost-bitten hearts.)

Parents Feel Like “Bad Parents” 156 Times a Year, and Honestly, That Feels Low

If you’ve ever stood in the kitchen at 8:00 p.m. while your kid eats microwave mac & cheese off a frisbee and thought, “I am crushing this parenting thing,” congratulations… you’re delusional. But at least you’re in good company.

A new survey finds that the average parent feels like a “bad” parent three times a week. That’s 156 times a year where you genuinely question if letting your toddler watch six episodes of Paw Patrol in a row was character-building or just a cry for help.

And 45% of parents say this whole raising-humans gig is way more demanding than they expected.

Which is probably because nobody warned us that “sleep training” actually means “everyone cries and no one sleeps.”

On top of that, parents stumble into two situations a week they have absolutely no clue how to handle. Like, should you negotiate with a child who’s screaming because their banana broke in half? Or just light the kitchen on fire and start over?

Also, parents say they need a break from parenting twice a week.

That sounds reasonable… until you realize “a break” usually means hiding in the bathroom scrolling memes while someone shouts your name like you’re a customer service hotline.

But here’s the good news: Kids make their parents laugh 12 times a day. Which is beautiful, really. Between the existential dread and the juice-box explosions, these tiny chaos machines are apparently also hilarious. (Example: A four-year-old once called the cops on his mom for eating his ice cream. Case closed, Your Honor.)

Gen Z Thinks You’re “Old” at 35

If you’re over 35, brace yourself: Gen Z might already consider you a dinosaur.

A new survey tackled the age-old question… literally… of when someone officially becomes “old.” The answer? It depends entirely on who you ask. For Gen Z, the cutoff comes alarmingly early: 22% of them say “old” starts at 35. That even includes a bold 3% who think you’re washed up at 27. Yes, 27.

Gen Z, born between the mid-to-late ’90s and early 2010s, is just now rounding the bend into adulthood. The oldest are only around 28, so it’s possible this opinion is less about wisdom and more about the shock of finding their first gray hair. Millennials, on the other hand… many of whom are in their 30s and 40s… are far more forgiving: just 15% believe 35 counts as “old.”

The survey didn’t ask Gen X or Boomers, but it’s safe to assume none of them would be caught calling 35 “elderly”… at least not with a straight face.

The survey also uncovered some deeper anxieties about aging among young adults:

  • Fear of decline: 51% of Gen Z and 62% of Millennials say their top age-related worry is declining health.
  • Second-biggest fear? Gen Z is haunted by the idea of not achieving enough. Millennials, meanwhile, are stressed about financial insecurity.
  • Judgy vibes: Nearly half of Gen Z disapprove of people who still party in their 30s, while 49% of Millennials look sideways at 30-somethings who live with their parents.
  • Peaked too soon? Around 30% of both groups feel like their best years are already behind them… though 73% say they’re still hopeful that the future holds better days.

The fame game also looms large: 63% of Gen Z and half of Millennials admit to comparing their lives to celebrities. And while nearly 4 in 10 Gen Z’ers have already let go of the dream of becoming famous, a third of Millennials say they think it’s too late to change careers.

Also: 9% of Gen Z think people stop having sex at 40. (Spoiler alert: they don’t.)

So, what age is “old”? Apparently, it’s not a number… it’s a vibe. And depending on your generation, that vibe kicks in anywhere from 27 to never.

All We Need from Dad Is: 👍

If you’ve ever gotten a silent nod, a half-smile, or the ever-reliable thumbs up from your dad, congratulations: you speak Dad. Or at least, you’re fluent in “Dad Speak,” the understated emotional language many fathers abide by.

A new poll dropped just after the emotional rollercoaster of Father’s Day, and it highlights just how much dads say without really saying anything.

According to the survey, more than a third of people say that a simple thumbs up from their dad is a solid sign of both love and support. No hugs, no tears… just one digit raised in solemn approval.

And honestly? That checks out.

Nearly half of respondents (49%) say their dad would probably describe himself as “not good at emotional stuff.” Unsurprisingly, women were more likely than men to hear “I love you” from their fathers. But the love is there… it’s just usually wrapped in acts of service or sarcastic jokes about thermostat settings.

That’s where “Dad Speak” comes in. It’s not about what he says… it’s what he does.

Here are the top 20 ways dads show their affection, according to the poll:

  1. Showing up when you need him.
  2. Buying you a meal (bonus points if it’s your favorite).
  3. Teaching you a practical skill, whether it’s grilling or how to unclog a sink.
  4. Fixing stuff around the house, with or without being asked.
  5. Offering you a ride.
  6. Lending you tools. (Or at least telling you where they used to be.)
  7. Helping out with your kids or pets.
  8. Helping you move. (Again.)
  9. Making you a hot drink. (Or cracking open a cold one.)
  10. Forwarding links he thinks you’ll find “useful.” Even if they aren’t.
  11. Checking your tires or topping up your oil.
  12. Giving you a thumbs up.
  13. Cooking your favorite meal without fanfare.
  14. Sorting out directions like a human GPS.
  15. Giving you a thumbs up: The emoji version.
  16. Mowing your lawn or tidying your yard while “just stopping by.”
  17. Reminding you to bring a coat (even if it’s 65 and sunny).
  18. Helping with your school work like he remembers algebra.
  19. Packing snacks or sandwiches for a road trip.
  20. Filling up your gas tank.

So next time Dad sends you a text that just says “ok” or forwards you an article about car maintenance “for no reason,” know this: he probably loves you a lot. He’s just saying it in his own language.

And if he adds a thumbs up emoji? That’s basically a sonnet.

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