Her boss told her to “take everything that’s yours.” So she did—and it wrecked the company.

When her boss fired her with one final request, she followed it word for word—and made him instantly regret it.

By

GOOD Staff

May 27, 2025

By GOOD Staff

May 27, 2025

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Photo credit: Canva – Employee about to leave work for final time

Getting fired is always tough, but getting fired after carrying a company on your back? That hits different. For u/everybodys-therapist, it was also the start of one of the most satisfying workplace stories the internet has seen in a while.

She wasn’t just a designer—she was the glue holding it all together

Originally hired as a professional media designer, she soon found herself wearing every hat imaginable. From running large-scale events to managing AV setups, she took on more than anyone should be expected to handle. And when the company refused to invest in proper gear, she brought her own.

“All of that equipment had my name on it to make sure that it wouldn’t get lost if I lent it out.”
— u/everybodys-therapist

That foresight would pay off in a big way.

The layoff came five years in, during what her boss described as a “downsizing.” Translation: she was being replaced by a fresh-out-of-college hire who’d be expected to do the jobs of multiple seasoned employees.

Before she could even process it, her boss gave her one final instruction:

“Take everything that is yours, as you won’t be coming back.”
— u/everybodys-therapist

Challenge accepted.

With help from a coworker, she loaded up her Ford Explorer with every piece of personal equipment she’d brought in over the years. Cameras, cables, mics, lights—if it was hers, it went.

“With every box we loaded, my boss grew increasingly panicked.”
— u/everybodys-therapist

Then came the best part: the AV booth.

She requested access to the AV area and catwalk, where much of her gear had been stored. The look on her boss’s face said it all.

“I still remember the fear in his eyes… I felt like the Grinch.”
— u/everybodys-therapist

She walked out with the tools that had powered the company’s biggest events—and walked right into Reddit legend status.

Reddit users cheered her on, many sharing their own satisfying endings.

u/AcmeCartoonVillian wrote: “Twenty years ago, I did almost exactly this… My colleague and I left to start our own sign company and copy center, taking a significant portion of legacy customers with us.”

Another, u/DracoDeVis, recalled: “When my mother’s theater company laid off its production team before going bankrupt, her costume team discreetly retrieved thousands of costumes they had crafted.”

These weren’t just petty victories—they were cautionary tales for employers who take their most loyal people for granted.

As for u/everybodys-therapist, the company didn’t last long after her departure.

“The company only lasted another year.”
— u/everybodys-therapist

They underestimated what she brought to the table. And when they told her to take everything that was hers, they didn’t realize she’d be taking everything that made their events run, their tech function, and their reputation stay intact.

Let this be a warning: if someone’s keeping your business running, maybe don’t treat them like they’re disposable. You might find out the hard way how much they really did.

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A sunrise view of a row of cherry blossom trees and the Rosslyn skyline reflected in the Tidal Basin in Virginia.

Everyday Economics, Money

The happiest cities in America in 2026, ranked across 11 factors

Arlington leads a data-driven look at where Americans may be happiest.

Good Partner

4/29/2026
Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP for SmartAsset

Happiness may not be easy to quantify, but some qualifiers may make a person more likely to feel satisfied in life. A reasonable degree of financial freedom can alleviate worry about day-to-day costs and the occasional unexpected expense. Similarly, good relationships, overall health and longevity, basic conveniences, and privacy can go a long way in keeping stress down and contentment up. While none of these things alone are the secret to happiness, they may all individually contribute to a life geared toward wants rather than needs — freeing up time and resources for individuals to explore and build a life on their own terms.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 85 of the largest U.S. cities with available data based on 11 happiness factors spanning personal finance, physical and mental well-being, and quality of life factors.

Key Findings
- Arlington, VA, ranks as the happiest city for 2026. Arlington ranks among the top five cities for a variety of happiness metrics, including life expectancy (83.9 years), household earnings over $100,000 (64.3%), mentally healthy days (84.9%), adults getting exercise (83%), and access to activity spaces (100%).
- Fremont, CA, households outearn their peers. Ranking second overall for happiest cities, 70.7% of Fremont households earn over $100,000, the most studywide. This pairs with the lowest poverty rate of 4.7%. However, 18.1% of households in Fremont end up spending 50% or more of their income on housing. In tandem, the population maintains the highest rate of health insurance coverage and marriage, at 98.1% and 63.8%, respectively.
- Austin, TX, has the least traffic. The traffic volume per meter in Austin, Texas — a practice ground for many autonomous vehicle companies — is lowest studywide at 42.1. This pales in comparison to Boston, which has over 40 times the traffic volume per meter at 1753.9. The average traffic volume per meter is 299.
- Residents have the most mentally healthy days in Honolulu. Ranking 16th happiest overall, Honolulu residents feel mentally healthy for 85.2% of days. San Jose, California, follows closely at 85% mentally healthy days. On the other end of the spectrum, the residents of Toledo, Ohio, have the worst mental health ranking, at 78.2% of days spent mentally healthy.
- These California cities have the most overcrowding in housing. Privacy and space can go a long way in making a person comfortable in their own space, and can be indicative of financial resources. In Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Fresno, just over 10% of households are home to more than one person per bedroom. Laredo, Texas, also falls into this category of high overcrowding. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has the lowest rate of overcrowding at 0.9%.
Top 25 Happiest Cities
1. Arlington, VA
- Households earning $100k+: 64.3%
- Poverty rate: 8.3%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.2%
- Poor mental health days: 15.1%
- Life expectancy (years): 83.9
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 83%
- Population with health insurance: 93.9%
- Marriage rate: 44.2%
- Traffic volume per meter: 540
- Access to activity space: 100%
- Overcrowded households: 3.4%
1. Fremont, CA
- Households earning $100k+: 70.7%
- Poverty rate: 4.7%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 18.1%
- Poor mental health days: 17.8%
- Life expectancy (years): 82
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.2%
- Population with health insurance: 98.1%
- Marriage rate: 63.8%
- Traffic volume per meter: 683
- Access to activity space: 99.6%
- Overcrowded households: 7.7%
1. San Jose, CA
- Households earning $100k+: 64.2%
- Poverty rate: 8.1%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 15.7%
- Poor mental health days: 15%
- Life expectancy (years): 83.8
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 80.9%
- Population with health insurance: 95.6%
- Marriage rate: 48.6%
- Traffic volume per meter: 626.4
- Access to activity space: 99.4%
- Overcrowded households: 7.9%
1. Seattle, WA
- Households earning $100k+: 57.1%
- Poverty rate: 9.4%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 15%
- Poor mental health days: 16.6%
- Life expectancy (years): 81.1
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 86.7%
- Population with health insurance: 96.3%
- Marriage rate: 39.5%
- Traffic volume per meter: 333
- Access to activity space: 97.9%
- Overcrowded households: 3.9%
1. Raleigh, NC
- Households earning $100k+: 43%
- Poverty rate: 13.3%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 12%
- Poor mental health days: 15.7%
- Life expectancy (years): 81
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 84.2%
- Population with health insurance: 92.9%
- Marriage rate: 38.8%
- Traffic volume per meter: 111.6
- Access to activity space: 98.6%
- Overcrowded households: 2%
1. Boise, ID
- Households earning $100k+: 39.9%
- Poverty rate: 12.9%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 10.9%
- Poor mental health days: 17.1%
- Life expectancy (years): 79.7
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 82.4%
- Population with health insurance: 93.1%
- Marriage rate: 44.2%
- Traffic volume per meter: 116.7
- Access to activity space: 91.6%
- Overcrowded households: 1.9%
1. Lincoln, NE
- Households earning $100k+: 33.5%
- Poverty rate: 13.4%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 12.6%
- Poor mental health days: 15.3%
- Life expectancy (years): 79.1
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 78.9%
- Population with health insurance: 93.4%
- Marriage rate: 47%
- Traffic volume per meter: 211.1
- Access to activity space: 95.4%
- Overcrowded households: 2.2%
1. Anchorage, AK
- Households earning $100k+: 53.9%
- Poverty rate: 8.3%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 13.2%
- Poor mental health days: 16.3%
- Life expectancy (years): 76.3
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 80.1%
- Population with health insurance: 90.6%
- Marriage rate: 48.7%
- Traffic volume per meter: 152.3
- Access to activity space: 93.9%
- Overcrowded households: 4.5%
1. San Francisco, CA
- Households earning $100k+: 61%
- Poverty rate: 11.3%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 16.9%
- Poor mental health days: 16.6%
- Life expectancy (years): 82.4
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 83.6%
- Population with health insurance: 97.2%
- Marriage rate: 39.1%
- Traffic volume per meter: 794
- Access to activity space: 100%
- Overcrowded households: 6.8%
1. Minneapolis, MN
- Households earning $100k+: 40.3%
- Poverty rate: 15.1%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 13.4%
- Poor mental health days: 16.1%
- Life expectancy (years): 79.5
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 83.3%
- Population with health insurance: 94.3%
- Marriage rate: 34%
- Traffic volume per meter: 304.6
- Access to activity space: 99.1%
- Overcrowded households: 2.7%
1. Colorado Springs, CO
- Households earning $100k+: 41.6%
- Poverty rate: 8.8%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.4%
- Poor mental health days: 18.4%
- Life expectancy (years): 76.2
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.5%
- Population with health insurance: 91.5%
- Marriage rate: 52.6%
- Traffic volume per meter: 140.9
- Access to activity space: 89.8%
- Overcrowded households: 2.5%
1. Aurora, CO
- Households earning $100k+: 46.4%
- Poverty rate: 10.7%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 15.6%
- Poor mental health days: 17.1%
- Life expectancy (years): 79.1
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 82.4%
- Population with health insurance: 85.6%
- Marriage rate: 44.9%
- Traffic volume per meter: 215.2
- Access to activity space: 97.5%
- Overcrowded households: 3%
1. Charlotte, NC
- Households earning $100k+: 43.7%
- Poverty rate: 11.9%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.3%
- Poor mental health days: 16.3%
- Life expectancy (years): 78.8
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.1%
- Population with health insurance: 87.9%
- Marriage rate: 40.4%
- Traffic volume per meter: 165.5
- Access to activity space: 88.7%
- Overcrowded households: 2.3%
1. Omaha, NE
- Households earning $100k+: 35.5%
- Poverty rate: 14.2%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 13.1%
- Poor mental health days: 15.9%
- Life expectancy (years): 77.7
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 75.7%
- Population with health insurance: 91.2%
- Marriage rate: 44.3%
- Traffic volume per meter: 214.9
- Access to activity space: 97.4%
- Overcrowded households: 2.1%
1. Chula Vista, CA
- Households earning $100k+: 52%
- Poverty rate: 9.6%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 20.8%
- Poor mental health days: 17.3%
- Life expectancy (years): 80.3
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.7%
- Population with health insurance: 94.8%
- Marriage rate: 50.2%
- Traffic volume per meter: 440.1
- Access to activity space: 97.5%
- Overcrowded households: 6.9%
1. Honolulu, HI
- Households earning $100k+: 44.5%
- Poverty rate: 10.5%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 19.4%
- Poor mental health days: 14.8%
- Life expectancy (years): 81.7
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 77.8%
- Population with health insurance: 96.8%
- Marriage rate: 45.1%
- Traffic volume per meter: 536.2
- Access to activity space: 96.6%
- Overcrowded households: 8.7%
1. San Diego, CA
- Households earning $100k+: 55.3%
- Poverty rate: 10.4%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 20.8%
- Poor mental health days: 17.3%
- Life expectancy (years): 80.3
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.7%
- Population with health insurance: 94.3%
- Marriage rate: 43.9%
- Traffic volume per meter: 440.1
- Access to activity space: 97.5%
- Overcrowded households: 6.9%
1. Lexington, KY
- Households earning $100k+: 34.2%
- Poverty rate: 12.1%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.7%
- Poor mental health days: 17.4%
- Life expectancy (years): 76.7
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 77.1%
- Population with health insurance: 91.9%
- Marriage rate: 42.5%
- Traffic volume per meter: 163.7
- Access to activity space: 97.4%
- Overcrowded households: 2.2%
1. Mesa, AZ
- Households earning $100k+: 41.9%
- Poverty rate: 10.8%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.2%
- Poor mental health days: 18.2%
- Life expectancy (years): 77.5
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 78%
- Population with health insurance: 89%
- Marriage rate: 48.5%
- Traffic volume per meter: 244.2
- Access to activity space: 92.8%
- Overcrowded households: 4.4%
1. Pittsburgh, PA
- Households earning $100k+: 33.2%
- Poverty rate: 20.1%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 11.9%
- Poor mental health days: 17.9%
- Life expectancy (years): 76.9
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 79%
- Population with health insurance: 96%
- Marriage rate: 33.6%
- Traffic volume per meter: 202.3
- Access to activity space: 93.3%
- Overcrowded households: 0.9%
1. Denver, CO
- Households earning $100k+: 46.8%
- Poverty rate: 12.1%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 16.3%
- Poor mental health days: 18.3%
- Life expectancy (years): 77.4
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 78.8%
- Population with health insurance: 90.7%
- Marriage rate: 40.5%
- Traffic volume per meter: 415.7
- Access to activity space: 99.1%
- Overcrowded households: 3.1%
1. Oakland, CA
- Households earning $100k+: 51.2%
- Poverty rate: 11.9%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 18.1%
- Poor mental health days: 17.8%
- Life expectancy (years): 82
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.2%
- Population with health insurance: 94.1%
- Marriage rate: 38.3%
- Traffic volume per meter: 683
- Access to activity space: 99.6%
- Overcrowded households: 7.7%
1. Spokane, WA
- Households earning $100k+: 38.4%
- Poverty rate: 12.7%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 13.9%
- Poor mental health days: 19.9%
- Life expectancy (years): 76.9
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 79.6%
- Population with health insurance: 93.7%
- Marriage rate: 41.9%
- Traffic volume per meter: 150.4
- Access to activity space: 87.6%
- Overcrowded households: 2.1%
1. Atlanta, GA
- Households earning $100k+: 45.4%
- Poverty rate: 15.8%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 17.3%
- Poor mental health days: 15.9%
- Life expectancy (years): 77.5
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 80%
- Population with health insurance: 91.4%
- Marriage rate: 31.8%
- Traffic volume per meter: 384
- Access to activity space: 93.8%
- Overcrowded households: 2%
1. Henderson, NV
- Households earning $100k+: 48.3%
- Poverty rate: 8.8%
- Households spending >50% of income on housing: 18.5%
- Poor mental health days: 18.4%
- Life expectancy (years): 76.6
- Percent of adults getting exercise: 73%
- Population with health insurance: 94.2%
- Marriage rate: 48%
- Traffic volume per meter: 196.6
- Access to activity space: 95.7%
- Overcrowded households: 4.4%
Data and Methodology

Eighty-five of the largest U.S. cities for which data was available were evaluated across three categories: personal finance, well-being, and quality of life. Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024 and the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps for 2025.

Personal finance metrics included:
- Percent of individuals earning $100,000 or more.
- Percent of households that spend 50% or more of their income on housing.
- Percent of residents below the poverty level.
Well-being metrics include:
- Average percentage of days spent with poor mental health
- Life expectancy in years.
- Percentage of residents getting exercise.
- Percentage of residents who have health insurance.
Quality of life metrics include:
- Marriage rate.
- Average traffic volume per meter of major roadways in the county.
- Percentage of population with adequate access to locations for physical activity.
- Percentage of households with overcrowding, defined as more than one person living in a room.
This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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Photo credit: Canva – Depressed man looks at his laptop.

Everyday Economics, Money

A millionaire swapped lives with a struggling family for a week on a $230 budget. The money wasn’t what broke him.

“I feel guilty — no one should live like this.”

Adam Albright-Hanna

GOOD Staff

4/23/2026

Matt Fiddes runs a multi-million dollar martial arts franchise in Britain. His family’s weekly budget runs around $2,058. He’d never really looked at a price tag before buying something.

For a social experiment documented by the YouTube channel Only Human, the Fiddes family swapped lives with the Leamons (Andy, Kim, their two kids, and two dogs) who get by on $230 a week. Kim had a life-saving surgery after an accident and now lives with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. They lost their savings. Andy works alone to support the family.

On day one of the swap, Matt learned his weekly budget was $230. “That basically fills up the fuel tank of my car,” he said.

A man calculating his budget on his laptop. Photo credit: Canva

What followed was a week of grocery bills he had to think about, a neighborhood with nothing much in it, and night shifts, something he’d never worked in his life. His wife Moniqe cried when she heard about Kim’s condition from the Leamons’ friends.

By the end of the week, Matt had something to say that was harder to shrug off than the budget: “I feel guilty; no one should live like this.”

He also said the week brought his family closer together. The Fiddes left a gift behind for the Leamons when they returned home: a mobility scooter for Kim, so she could get around on her own.

The Leamons, meanwhile, spent the week in the Fiddes’ house taking their kids to a theme park and doing a little shopping experiencing, briefly, what it feels like when money isn’t a constant calculation.

One YouTube commenter put it plainly: “I feel this was a much-needed vacation for the poor family and a grounding experience for the rich family.” That’s about right.

You can watch the full documentary here:

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Photo credit: Canva – There's a way to stay motivated while continuing to enjoy your hobby.

Everyday Economics, Money

Illustrator says the best way to stay motivated when learning a new hobby is to spend money

Investing in hobbies invests in yourself.

Erik Barnes

4/21/2026

Starting a hobby and keeping at it can be difficult. A person might feel discouraged because they aren’t good at it from the get-go. Another person might enjoy it fully but think their time and/or money could be put to better use. Embroidery illustrator and author Sara Barnes offers a tip that can help people stay motivated in their pastime: investing in professional resources and equipment.

Barnes argues that, while experimenting with a new hobby on your own can be fulfilling, putting money towards classes taught by professionals can help a hobbyist stay motivated to grow and further enjoy it. Depending on your hobby, purchasing professional-grade equipment can keep you interested and invested. The thought process behind it is that, if a person spends money on a hobby, they’re more likely to stick with it to justify the cost.

@artist.mackenzie
Always buy the best art materials ❤️ Top tips for artists. Buy the best you can afford. Like all things in life there are levels and I truly believe that the better quality of tools can help in no end. There are times when I look at the colours I’m able to make with my pastels and think ‘how is that possible’ it amazes me. ❤️ Same goes for my paper, sculptures etc etc. ❤️ This if from a list in the book of top tips for artists ❤️ Art for all ❤️
♬ original sound – Artist Mackenzie

Spending money literally makes you more invested

A painting class taught by a pro means person-to-person input and lessons. These advantages expand your knowledge and skill, encouraging you to play around with more techniques as you learn and grow. After all, it’s hard to keep a hobby without a sense of growth or accomplishment attached to it.

Signing up for professional boxing training forces you to get off the couch and grab your gloves. In return, you’ll learn more about boxing, get quality exercise, and have fun incorporated into your schedule. Also, investing in quality gloves will similarly motivate you to be intentional about your training.

Purchasing expensive gear and supplies for a simple hobby you might not maintain may sound risky or foolish, especially given the current state of the US economy. On the contrary, it can be a quality investment of both money and time. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic uncertainty, hobbies were necessary investments to promote good physical, mental, and social health.

@edwina.co
JUNE 2025: hobby costs + me realising why I still need to work my corporate job 🫠 Money can’t buy happiness, but it can fund all your interests and hobbies #hobby #hobbies #corporatemillennial #adultmoney #corporategirlies #hobbygirlsummer
♬ Bossa Nova jazz that seems to fit in a cafe(1433079) – TAKANORI ONDA

Pricier classes and equipment might actually save money on hobbies

Even financial experts recommend investing in your hobbies as long as you’re not taking on debt to pursue them. They say it might even improve your budget.

After all, budgeting for an expensive pair of high-quality running shoes only once will end up being less expensive than paying for monthly streaming services you barely watch. Getting a pricier but sturdier table saw for woodworking will save money compared to frequently buying replacement parts when cheaper models break. Taking a cooking class can encourage you to cook more at home and eat out less in the long term.

On the surface, it may look silly to spend money on a weird color of paint, professional-grade ice skates, or a Thai recipe cooking class, but what you’re really spending money on is your well-being. Hobbies not only provide mental breaks from the stress in life, they offer opportunities to socialize with and befriend others who share your interests.

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With time and experience, the initial investment in your hobby will become cheaper. You’ll either already own the equipment needed to do the hobby, have enough expertise to pursue it without attending a class, or both. It depends on what hobbies you pursue and enjoy, but this philosophy can apply to almost anything.

So, while figuring out where to invest your money, consider making your hobby a priority. It not only keeps you motivated, but can provide a positive impact on your body, mind, and long-term finances, too.

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