diff --git a/helpers/authenticationHelpers.go b/helpers/authenticationHelpers.go
index 8852dbb..311978d 100644
--- a/helpers/authenticationHelpers.go
+++ b/helpers/authenticationHelpers.go
@@ -15,19 +15,19 @@ func RegisterUser(db *sqlx.DB, username string, password string, password2 strin
 		return model.User{}, errors.New("you have to enter a value")
 	}
 
-	if !checkUserPasswords(password, password2) {
+	if !CheckUserPasswords(password, password2) {
 		return model.User{}, errors.New("the two passwords do not match")
 	}
 
-	if !checkUserEmail(email) {
+	if !CheckUserEmail(email) {
 		return model.User{}, errors.New("you have to enter a valid email address")
 	}
 
-	if checkUsernameExists(db, username) {
+	if CheckUsernameExists(db, username) {
 		return model.User{}, errors.New("the username is already taken")
 	}
 
-	pw_hash, err := hashPassword(password)
+	pw_hash, err := HashPassword(password)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic("password hashing failed")
 	}
@@ -38,20 +38,20 @@ func RegisterUser(db *sqlx.DB, username string, password string, password2 strin
 	return model.User{Username: username, UserId: id, Email: email, PwHash: pw_hash}, err
 }
 
-func checkUserPasswords(password, password2 string) bool {
+func CheckUserPasswords(password, password2 string) bool {
 	return password == password2
 }
 
-func checkUsernameExists(db *sqlx.DB, username string) bool {
+func CheckUsernameExists(db *sqlx.DB, username string) bool {
 	_, err := GetUserId(db, username)
 	return err == nil
 }
 
-func checkUserEmail(email string) bool {
+func CheckUserEmail(email string) bool {
 	return strings.Contains(email, "@")
 }
 
-func hashPassword(password string) (string, error) {
-	bytes, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword([]byte(password), 14)
+func HashPassword(password string) (string, error) {
+	bytes, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword([]byte(password), 10)
 	return string(bytes), err
 }
diff --git a/helpers/helpers.go b/helpers/helpers.go
index 6f22afc..d0b6dc6 100644
--- a/helpers/helpers.go
+++ b/helpers/helpers.go
@@ -13,11 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
 )
 
-func HashPassword(password string) (string, error) {
-	bytes, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword([]byte(password), 14)
-	return string(bytes), err
-}
-
 func CheckPasswordHash(password, hash string) bool {
 	err := bcrypt.CompareHashAndPassword([]byte(hash), []byte(password))
 	return err == nil
@@ -31,15 +26,6 @@ func EmptyUserPass(username, password string) bool {
 	return strings.Trim(username, " ") == "" || strings.Trim(password, " ") == ""
 }
 
-func CheckUserPasswords(password, password2 string) bool {
-	return password == password2
-}
-
-func CheckUsernameExists(db *sqlx.DB, username string) bool {
-	_, err := GetUserId(db, username)
-	return err == nil
-}
-
 func ValidatePassword(db *sqlx.DB, username, password string) bool {
 	var pw_hash string
 	err := db.QueryRow("select pw_hash from user where username = ?", username).Scan(&pw_hash)
@@ -50,10 +36,6 @@ func ValidatePassword(db *sqlx.DB, username, password string) bool {
 	return CheckPasswordHash(password, pw_hash)
 }
 
-func CheckUserEmail(email string) bool {
-	return strings.Contains(email, "@")
-}
-
 func GetTypedDb(c *gin.Context) *sqlx.DB {
 	db := c.MustGet("db").(*sqlx.DB)
 	return db