IT General

SAVE UP TO 45%: As of Oct. 21, several 2025 Samsung Neo QLED TVs are on sale for up to 45% off. Deals include the budget-friendly 65-inch QN1EF for $749.99 ($620 off) or the 85-inch QN90F with Vision AI for $2,699.99 ($1,800 off).

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung NEO QLED TVs Save up to 45% on the QN1EF, QN90D, QN90F, QN990F 8K, and more Shop Now

Samsung is having a major sale on its 2025 Neo QLED TVs more than a month before Black Friday. We don't know if it's moral support for the Galaxy XR headset event that's happening during the evening of Oct. 21, or if it's nothing more than such is the yearly cycle of TV deals — it's not uncommon for brands to start pushing its current year TVs in the fall to make room for the new ones coming around CES in January.

But honestly, the "why" isn't important. What is important is the extra few weeks of fall movies and football you'll get with your new TV, versus waiting for Black Friday TV deals.

SEE ALSO: The scariest horror movies on Shudder to keep you up at night

Before you choose your model and size, let's get one thing straight: What does Neo QLED mean, like actually? Neo QLED is really just Samsung's proprietary term for QLED paired with Mini LED. Regular QLED TVs feature a panel of brightness-enhancing, color-boosting quantum dots laying over a traditional LED panel, right? Neo QLED TVs do use those quantum dots, but instead of a regular old LED panel lighting the screen, the backlight is packed with a bunch tinier-than-usual LED bulbs. This gives each inch of the screen more customized control of brightening and dimming for a more accurate picture — the parts of the scene that need to be punchy and colorful will be, but they won't bleed over into the parts of the scene that need to be dark and detailed.

As for the difference between the Samsung Neo QLED TVs, the price difference could be attributed to number of dimming zones (clusters of mini LED bulbs that can control their own light), refresh rate, and glossy vs. glare-free screens.

Not every single size of every single Neo QLED model is on sale (or in stock), but there are still a ton of options. We've handpicked a few of the best deals below:

• Samsung 55-inch QN1EF Neo QLED 4K TV — $679.99 $1,299.99 (save $620)

• Samsung 65-inch QN1EF Neo QLED 4K TV — $749.99 $1,699.99 (save $950)

• Samsung 75-inch QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV — $1,099.99 $1,599.99 (save $500)

• Samsung 75-inch QN90D Neo QLED 4K TV — $1,799.99 $3,299.99 (save $1,500)

• Samsung 65-inch QN90F Neo QLED 4K TV — $1,599.99 $2,499.99 (save $900)

• Samsung 85-inch QN90F Neo QLED 4K TV — $2,699.99 $4,499.99 (save $1,800)

• Samsung 65-inch QN99F Neo QLED 8K TV — $4,299.99 $5,499.99 (save $1,200)

If you need to get rid of an old TV to make room for your new one, you can recycle old TVs at most Best Buy stores.

Most drivers probably don't realize they're missing out on some of the best features of Google Maps. Below that simple surface, though, is a lot of intuitive gestures and features designed to make driving safer, less stressful, and a lot smoother. These are simple, easily accessible interactions built right into the app's core to make your time behind the wheel secure and seamless.

Windows 11's recovery mode is there to help you whenever your main Windows interface is having problems. So when that's having problems, it's not ideal. This is what a few users sadly suffered after updating their OS, but thankfully, a fix is on the way.

SAVE $108.81: The DeWalt 20V Max Power Tool Combo Kit is on sale at Amazon for $699, down from the list price of $807.81. That's a 13% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt 20V MAX Power Tool Combo Kit $699 at Amazon
$807.81 Save $108.81   Get Deal

Winter is a great time for indoor home improvement projects. The weather has us indoors anyway, so why not make it just the way you like it? If you're searching a power tool kit that'll help get the job done, check out this Amazon deal.

As of Oct. 21, the DeWalt 20V Max Power Tool Combo Kit is $699 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $807.81. That's a 13% discount that shaves $108.81 off the normal price.

In the best way possible, this is a do-it-all tool combo kit. It's a nine-tool cordless power tool kit that comes with two batteries and chargers. It includes a circular saw, a right-angle drill, compact drill driver, impact driver, reciprocating saw, and plenty more. There's even a jobsite Bluetooth speaker in the kit. For easier portability, the DeWalt kit comes with two contractor bags.

SEE ALSO: One of my favorite portable power stations just dipped to a record-low price at Amazon

Before you get deep into the winter home improvement projects, make sure your tool are up for the task. If you could use some upgrades, consider today's sale price on the nine-piece DeWalt 20V Max Power Tool Combo Kit. It'll save a big headache of back and forth trips to the hardware store in the future.

Meta has announced the release of new, proactive anti-scam tools for WhatsApp and Messenger. These will be warnings and advanced scam detection that is specifically designed to protect particularly older adults, who tend to be frequently targeted.

TL;DR: Live stream Barcelona vs. Olympiacos in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back with another batch of games. Interested in watching some of the biggest of the bunch? Of course you are.

The good news for fans around the world is that you don't need to be subscribed to a streaming service to watch select Champions League fixtures. Instead, you can employ a quick and easy hack to access live streams of games like Barcelona vs. Olympiacos from anywhere in the world. Trust us, the process is simple.

If you want to watch Barcelona vs. Olympiacos in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Barcelona vs. Olympiacos?

Barcelona vs. Olympiacos in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Oct. 21. This fixture takes place at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.

How to watch Barcelona vs. Olympiacos for free

Barcelona vs. Olympiacos is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Olympiacos for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Barcelona vs. Olympiacos for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Barcelona vs. Olympiacos (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Barcelona vs. Olympiacos in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

In a world that's always moving on to the next big thing, it's easy for older gadgets like the PlayStation 3’s DualShock 3 controller to end up as nothing more than dust collectors in a drawer. This controller, which millions of us used as a gaming staple for years, doesn’t have to die with the PS3.

Whether you're looking for a new subscription service, or just trying to remember how much you're paying for HBO Max — and what you're getting for that price — you've come to the right place.

Below, you'll find a comprehensive breakdown of how much HBO Max costs per month, including what each plan gives you, and how these price points compare to those of other streaming services.

SEE ALSO: The best HBO Max deals and bundles in October 2025 How much does the HBO Max Basic with Ads plan cost?

HBO Max offers three subscription plans. First up is the Basic with Ads plan, which gives you access to the HBO Max catalog, with ads. It costs $10.99 per month, or $109.99 per year. If you choose to pay the annual price, that would save you almost $21.89 per year.

The Basic plan also gives you the ability to stream on two devices at once, with a video quality of full HD 1080p resolution.

How much does the HBO Max Standard plan cost?

HBO Max's Standard plan costs $18.49 per month, or $184.99 per year. The annual price saves you $36.89 per year.

With the Standard plan, you get access to HBO Max's catalog without ads, as well as select live sports like certain MLB and NHL games. Like with the Basic plan, you can also stream on two devices at once, with video quality of full HD 1080p resolution. You also get 30 downloads.

SEE ALSO: Should you sign up for Hulu? Our film critics weigh in. How much does the HBO Max Premium plan cost?

HBO Max Premium costs $22.99 per month, or $229.99 per year. The annual price saves you just under $45.89 per year.

With the Premium plan, you get access to HBO Max's catalog without ads, along with select live sports. Premium also upgrades the number of devices you can use and the video quality you get. You can stream on four devices at once, although only two can be used for sports at a time. You also get 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio, as available. Finally, you get 100 downloads.

How do HBO Max's prices compare to other streaming services?

When it comes to streaming services prices, HBO Max is on the more expensive side, cost-wise. However, it is not the most expensive. Here's how things shake out.

At $10.99 per month, HBO Max's Basic with ads tier is more expensive than the ad-supported tiers of Netflix ($7.99), Paramount+ ($7.99), Peacock ($7.99), and a Prime Video subscription by itself, without an Amazon Prime subscription ($8.99). However, HBO Max's Basic tier remains cheaper than both Disney+ and Hulu's ad-supported tiers, which cost $11.99 per month.

At $18.49 per month, HBO Max's Standard tier costs more than Peacock ($10.99), Prime Video ($11.98, the cost of a standalone Prime Video account plus $2.99 per month to go ad free), Paramount+'s ($12.99), and Netflix's ($17.99) ad-free tiers. Once again, it still costs less than Disney+ and Hulu's ad-free plans, both at $18.99.

Not every streaming service has a third, Premium tier like HBO Max. Several streaming services call their equivalent of HBO Max's Standard plan "Premium." However, of those that do, HBO Max is once again in the middle of the pack. At $22.99 per month, it is more expensive than Peacock's Premium Plus tier ($16.99), but still cheaper than Netflix's Premium tier ($24.99).

UPDATE: Oct. 21, 2025, 10:50 a.m. EDT This article was originally published on Oct. 3, 2025. It has been updated to reflect HBO Max's Oct. 21, 2025 price increases.

HBO MAX BUNDLES: HBO Max is offering a few different bundle deals so you can stream from its library without making a massive dent in your wallet.

The best HBO Max deals and bundles in October 2025: Best Disney+ Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Hulu Bundle Deal Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $9.99/month Get Deal Best Student Deal HBO Max Student Save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads Get Deal

It's happened: Max has rebranded back to its old name of HBO Max. Forget the name change, though, because the service still has plenty of exciting films and shows to watch. From The Last of Us, to Sinners, to the second season of Peacemaker, and so much more, HBO Max is worth the investment for those looking to dive into the most talked about pieces of entertainment. Even horror movie Weapons is dropping soon on the platform, just in time for Halloween.

The good news is that HBO Max has a couple of different bundles available at the moment that are worth checking out, including a big bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. With streaming prices on the rise, a bundle like this can be a great way to save some cash while getting access to your favorite services.

SEE ALSO: HBO Max raises its prices today. Here's how much it costs now.

Alongside bundles, we've also broken down HBO Max's standard plans in case you're just interested in its service on its own.

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

The HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu bundle is a top-tier choice for those looking to have access to some of the biggest streaming services around. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for them on their own. If you've already got Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, this bundle is worth every cent. If you're interested, there are two plan options to choose from:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 41%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 39%)

Best Hulu bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $9.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not interested in the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max mega bundle, you can just get Hulu and HBO Max together if you already have a Hulu base plan, which starts at $11.99 per month. HBO Max Basic with Ads can be added onto your plan for $9.99 per month, or you can splash out on the HBO Max Standard plan for $16.99 per month.

• Hulu with HBO Max add-on — from $9.99 per month

Best student deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student Discount Students save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads Get Deal Why we like it

It's always nice when streaming services have a deal for students, and HBO Max's offer is definitely worth taking advantage of. Students who can verify their status with UNiDAYS are eligible to get the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan for just $5.49 per month. That's a 50% discount off its $10.99 monthly price. After verifying your status, you'll receive a unique code that can be used to redeem the discounted plan on HBO Max.

• HBO Max Student Discount — $5.49 per month (save 50%)

HBO Max's monthly plans

HBO Max offers a few different subscription plans. If you don't mind having to sit through ads, HBO Max's Basic With Ads plan starts at $10.99 per month or the annual plan runs for $109.99 per year. If you can't stand ads and don't mind throwing down a bit more cash, the Standard plan will cost you $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year. If you really want to go big on an HBO Max plan, you can spring for the fancy Premium plan, which costs $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year.

Below we've broken down what comes with each of these plans, per HBO Max's website, so you can know a bit more before you buy.

Basic With Ads — $10.99 per month, $109.99 per year

• Stream on two devices at once

• Full HD 1080p resolution

Standard (Ad-free) — $18.49 per month, $184.99 per year

• Stream on two devices at once

• Full HD 1080p resolution

• 30 downloads to watch on the go

Premium (Ad-free) — $22.99 per month, $229.99 per year

• Stream on four devices at once

• 4K Ultra HD video quality (as available)

• Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available)

• 100 downloads to watch on the go

If you're wondering where to start once you've set yourself up with a HBO Max subscription, we've got an excellent selection of recommendations to point you in the right direction. Looking for a great TV show to kickstart your next binge-watching session? Have a look through our roundup of the 20 best TV shows streaming on HBO Max. Or if you prefer movies, we narrowed down the 25 best movies on HBO Max to make your next movie night a spectacular one.

HBO Max is going up in price once again. Not long after its rebrand from just "Max," the service is increasing monthly plans by $1-2 per month, and annual plans by $10-20 per year. The price change is already in effect.

SAVE $350: As of Oct. 21, get the Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop for $349.99 at Amazon when you clip the on-page coupon. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop $349.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $350 Clip on-page coupon to save $30 Get Deal

If you spend a lot of your time vacuuming and mopping your floors, know that there's a better way. You don't have to reduce yourself to a lifetime of scrubbing and sweeping when there's an efficient (and affordable) robot that can do it all. In fact, you can pick up a robot vacuum and mop combo right now that'll speed up your cleaning process significantly at Amazon.

As of Oct. 21, get the Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop for $349.99 at Amazon when you clip the on-page coupon. That's $350 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness

This robot boasts up to 7,000 Pa of suction and can tackle a wide variety of messes, including hair that's been ground down into the carpet, crumbs, dirt, and other debris thanks to a rolling brush and side brush. Plus, on the mopping side, its Mop Master tech offers up to 180 rotations per minute as well as 6N of pressure to really get in there and scrub just about any mess clean with water and suction.

It can handle its own pathways through your home as well, so it's easily maneuverable and capable of navigating your space so you don't have to program a way around your dwelling. And at just 3.35 inches tall, it's compact enough that it can handle cleaning smaller, harder to reach places without your intervention.

If you're ready to stop messing with vacuuming and mopping your whole day away, think about grabbing this vacuum. You'll be delighted about all the things you don't have to handle anymore as part of your cleaning routine.

On Oct. 21, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that HBO Max would be raising its prices across all three of its plans, effective immediately. The announcement comes on the same day that Disney+ increases its prices, highlighting the seemingly annual tradition of streamers growing more expensive.

SEE ALSO: The best HBO Max deals and bundles in October 2025

Here's what every HBO Max plan will cost going forward, and how its new prices compare to those of other streaming services.

How much will HBO Max plans cost after the price increase?

HBO Max's ad-supported tier, HBO Max Basic with Ads, is getting $1 more expensive per month, going from $9.99 per month to $10.99 per month. Annually, it costs $109.99, a $10 increase from the old price of $99.99. Opting to pay for the annual plan will save you $21.89 per year.

HBO Max Standard, which comes without ads, used to cost $16.99 per month. As of Oct. 21, it costs $18.49, meaning subscribers will be paying an extra $1.50 per month. The annual plan now costs $184.99 per year. Choosing to pay for that upfront will save you $36.89 per year.

SEE ALSO: How much does HBO Max cost per month?

HBO Max Premium gets the steepest price hike, going from $20.99 per month to $22.99 per month. The annual plan costs $229.99, $20 more than the former yearly price of $209.99. Still, choosing the yearly plan will save subscribers $45.89 per year.

How do HBO Max's new prices compare to other streaming services?

HBO Max has always been on the more expensive end of the major streaming services, but even after these price hikes, it isn't the most expensive.

At $10.99 per month, the Basic with Ads tier remains more expensive than the ad-supported tiers of Netflix ($7.99), Paramount+ ($7.99), Peacock ($7.99), and a Prime Video subscription by itself, without an Amazon Prime subscription ($8.99). However, Disney+ and Hulu's ad-supported tiers remain $1 more expensive, at $11.99 per month.

HBO Max Standard, now at $18.49 per month, surpasses Peacock ($10.99), Prime Video ($11.98), and Paramount+'s ($12.99) ad-free tiers. With the new price increase, it now also costs more than Netflix's ($17.99) ad-free tier. Once again, it's less expensive than both Disney+ and Hulu's equivalent tiers ($18.99 each).

Not all the major streaming services have third Premium tiers like Max. (Many services refer to their ad-free tiers as "Premium.") But among those that do, it's squarely in the middle, price-wise. At $22.99 per month, it's far more expensive than Peacock's Premium Plus plan ($16.99), but just $2 cheaper than Netflix's Premium tier ($24.99).

Crunchyroll has become one of the most dominant anime streaming platforms because of its extensive coverage of the medium. It not only holds the streaming rights to most new and classic anime but has also absorbed other anime distributors. Their acquisitions include the former video distributor and streaming service FUNimation and the online anime store Right Stuf.

When people think Audi SUVs, the Q5 usually steals the spotlight—it’s stylish, practical, and one of Audi’s top sellers worldwide.

KDE announced the full release of Plasma 6.5 on Monday night. This major update to the desktop environment for Linux distributions and BSDs comes with several new features and improvements, including fuzzy search functions and programmable theme transitions.

There are AIs that can call into a restaurant for you and take an order. But have you thought about AIs picking up your calls? Our world is getting increasingly more cursed every day, and Yelp now wants to be a part of that worsening.

I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit diagnosing stubborn Windows problems: sluggish laptops, desktop crashes, weird startup behavior, you name it. Over the years, I’ve used plenty of different tools, from flashy “PC optimizers” that promise too much, to hidden system utilities that actually deliver. What I’ve learned is that many of the best ones are lightweight, reliable, and give you a clear view of what’s really happening under the hood, so to speak.

If you're on dating apps or social media, you're probably familiar with "ENM," or ethical non-monogamy, aka consensual non-monogamy (CNM), aka plain ol' non-monogamy. The umbrella term — meaning, anything other than monogamy — has seemingly taken over the online dating sphere as of late. The term "ethical non-monogamy" has seen a 213 percent spike in searches in the last year alone.

But what actually is consensual non-monogamy, and what are the pluses and minuses of the relationship style? Mashable spoke to three experts in the space to find out.

SEE ALSO: How to get started with non-monogamy What is an 'ENM' relationship?

"ENM" stands for "ethical non-monogamy," and those in an ENM relationship are non-monogamous. What flavor of non-monogamy they practice, however, isn't really explained by the term. And while the term "ethical non-monogamy" has entered our cultural lexicon, experts tend to favor the terms "consensual non-monogamy" or simply "non-monogamy."

"What counts as ethical for one person may not count as ethical for the other person," explained relationship coach Dedeker Winston, co-host of the Multiamory podcast and co-author of Multiamory: Essential Tools for Modern Relationships. The term she uses is consensual non-monogamy, as that's the standardized research term.

"Ideally, if we're saying non-monogamy, it should be ethical and consensual, built into it," said marriage and family therapist and host of the Sluts & Scholars podcast, Nicoletta Heidegger. "Otherwise, it would be cheating."

"The practice of having multiple relationships that may either be sexual or romantic." What is consensual non-monogamy?

Consensual non-monogamy is, in itself, an umbrella term. It's "the practice of having multiple relationships that may either be sexual or romantic," Winston said, "having those relationships concurrently and with the full knowledge and consent of everyone involved." 

For relationship coach and co-host of the Curious Fox podcast, Effy Blue, it's essentially the opposite of monogamy. 

SEE ALSO: How growing up in purity culture impacts sex What is a polyamorous relationship?

Within the broadness of non-monogamy are the variations in which people practice it. They may be polyamorous, literally meaning "many love," and have romantic and sexual connections with multiple people. Polyamory can also be seen as an umbrella term, with many ways of operating underneath it.

What is an open relationship?

Non-monogamous people may be into swinging — usually couples swapping partners — or cuckolding, which is watching your partner getting it on with someone else. They may have an open relationship, which is also a pretty broad term but usually means a primary romantic connection and other sexual connections.

SEE ALSO: Want to try swinging? Here's a beginner's guide.

"Everything from 'we're mostly monogamous 364 days out of the year, but then once a year we have this like wild drunken threesome'" can fall under non-monogamy, said Winston. That may fall under "monogamish," a term coined by sex writer and podcaster Dan Savage, to mean mostly monogamous.

In terms of non-monogamy's rising popularity, Winston felt a shift in 2016, the year Trump was elected president. "A lot of structures were being questioned in that year," she said, including monogamy. She started noticing more people coming out that they practice non-monogamy, or putting such in their Instagram bios. 

Then, several years later, COVID forced us into a literal or figurative existential crisis. People may have felt a sense that if there's a part of themselves they're repressing, now's the time to express it, Winston continued. 

Not to mention that pop culture has also upped its representation of non-monogamy — such as Netflix's Easy and celebrities (like Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) opening up about it, too. Dating apps have taken notice, too, with Hinge and Tinder adding non-monogamous label options.

Obstacles in non-monogamous relationships 

As with any style of relationships, there are struggles to overcome. With non-monogamy, these struggles can have added layers of complexity, as more than one person is in the mix. 

Jealousy may be at the top of people's minds when considering non-monogamy. It's an emotion that comes up in different facets of our lives — like with our career, and certainly in relationships. How we're socialized around this emotion is funny, Winston said, because in contexts aside from romantic relationships, jealousy is seen as good. For example: If you're jealous of a co-worker for receiving a promotion, that jealousy is supposed to motivate you.

"But when it comes to romantic jealousy, the story is more like [jealousy is] a completely unacceptable emotion to feel," Winston said, and if you're in a situation where you feel jealousy, it's a major red flag.

Before jumping into non-monogamy, ask yourself (and your partner if you're already coupled): how do we deal with tough feelings when they come up?

It's not that people who prefer non-monogamy don't get jealous — it's that they recognize it's a typical feeling to experience and work through it by looking inward and being honest with their partner(s).

"There needs to be a willingness and…support tools and systems in place," Heidegger said. Before jumping into non-monogamy, ask yourself (and your partner if you're already coupled): how do we deal with tough feelings when they come up?

SEE ALSO: Want to try swinging? Here's a beginner's guide.

Communication, then, is paramount in non-monogamous relationships (just like it is in monogamous ones). But beyond communication, you need to be willing to be vulnerable and honest, Winston said, and if that's not there, communication won't be successful.

Blue warned that there is such a thing as too much communication. One pitfall she sees is one partner in a couple becoming hyper-focused on non-monogamy, so much so that it becomes the only thing they want to talk about. Don't let this happen; remember to nurture other aspects of your relationship.

Bandwidth and time management are other issues Blue sees. Couples who are looking to open for the first time may have lots of commitments — like work and children — and they need to fit in their new, other relationships within their already busy lives. Be honest with yourself about how much time you have to dedicate to new connections, and be direct with these people about your availability to your new partner. 

Relational traumas and attachment issues may rise to the surface as well. It is possible for relationships — monogamous or non-monogamous — to be healing and corrective, but if it's not done in an intentional way, they can actually be unintentionally harmful, Heidegger said. If you have a history of relational trauma, seek a therapist to work through these issues with you.

Then there's the exhaustive obstacle of going against the grain. Society is so geared towards cis, heterosexual monogamy that there's pressure to conform to these ideals. "We're all swimming against the current," said Winston. When we have community and feel supported, it's easier to live in a non-normative way, but it can still be tiring.

Non-monogamy "can be hard, and there's an extra layer of difficulty layered on top of it, because of the fact that the water that we swim in doesn't really support us inherently," Winston said.

Benefits of non-monogamous relationships

Given the above, Heidegger said non-monogamy has the potential to help you work through relational issues and be healing in ways you didn't think were possible. It's also an opportunity to tune into what you want and explore your desires more openly. "It allows people to have more expansive love, more expansive pleasure, [and] to maybe have less shame about their needs and desires," she said. 

Non-monogamy also encourages autonomy. You can get clear about what you really want, instead of what society deems acceptable for you to want. 

"One major upside that I see is that… non-monogamy can give us a chance to be partnered with one partner or multiple partners, and yet also still maintain a sense of independent identity and independent interests," Winston said. 

Blue sees the primary benefit as finding a relationship design that you can thrive in. If you found something that works for you more than monogamy, that's a plus. Another she mentioned is the infusion of new relationship energy — even in longtime connections. You're embarking on a new adventure with your partner, and it can be exciting for both of you.

Heidegger echoed this. Since non-monogamy leads to people experiencing something new, it can bring about a freshness and sense of adventure to your relationships. 

If you're interested in becoming non-monogamous, you're already starting off on the right foot: research. Next, take a look at our guide on how to get started with non-monogamy to learn more about how to open your relationship gently and intentionally.

This article was originally published in 2023 and updated in 2025.

Whether you want to replace invasive, closed-source apps with more privacy-friendly ones, or simply want to support open-source devs, here's a list of some awesome alternatives to everyday apps.

Watching the showcase of impulsive and absolutely illegal decisions made in the film Bad Apples, I couldn't get the words of a doomed galactic senator out of my head: "If you lead your thoughts through to conclusion, it will lead you to a place we cannot go."

It's exactly this place of no return that the Saiorse Ronan-led dark comedy thriller relentlessly cannonballs into, with director Jonatan Etzler putting his protagonist down a dubious, desperate path. With Ronan's always-impeccable talents supported by a sublime young cast, Bad Apples leans into unethical impulses, all the while exposing home truths about the under-resourced education system and social disdain toward children with behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties. Plus, it's really funny.

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Teachers, parents, you're going to want to watch this film (and I want to know what you think of it).

Bad Apples sees Saiorse Ronan as a teacher who meets her edge

Written by Jess O'Kane as an adaptation of Rasmus Andersson's novel De Oönskade, Bad Apples enrols you with Somerset-based primary school teacher Maria (Ronan), who has thought of nothing but a teaching career since childhood. Alas, the reality of an underfunded education system wears down her Miss Honey-drenched dreams and raises the stakes with a "difficult" student.

Beyond overwhelmed, Maria's all-too-real lack of institutional support comes to a head accommodating the needs of disruptive student Danny (excellent newcomer Eddie Waller). A boy with the shortest of fuses, he swears at his classmates, destroys their belongings, ruins excursions, and generally gives Maria hell. Here, young Waller delivers in spades, with O'Kane's script heaped with unapologetic expletives and violent threats. Despite her frazzled attempts to control the situation and the attempted assistance of teacher's pet Pauline (an outstanding Nia Brown), Maria is held accountable by concerned parents, denied professional support by the equally stressed principal (Rakie Ayola), and facing the school's dreaded regular Ofsted inspection. Suddenly, a moment of violence occurs.

With her job genuinely on the line, Maria takes action. How do you solve a problem like Danny? Reader, she locks this kid in her own basement. 

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With full knowledge of the kidnapped child playing video games in her home, Maria keeps the ruse up — and Ronan plays the audience entirely with her inner insistence on her actions being justified. Practicing such deadpan statements aloud as "I've got your son in my basement" and lazily searching "how to control a large pet" online land with comedic finesse, as Maria digs herself deeper and deeper into a proverbial hole.

Notably, a large part of Bad Apples gives us an insight into Maria's real sense of loneliness. She retreats into her nightly sense of control in her cosy farming simulator game and never socialises outside of school. Adding stress to an already tempestuous working environment, Maria works with her ex, the man she moved to Somerset for, who then left her for another woman — an especially brutal move in a small town. So, with Danny kept in the basement, Maria not only controls a newfound peace in her classroom, but enjoys a warped sense of company in her primary-aged prisoner.

This sense of messed up perspective extends to Danny, who screams to go home to his absent father (Robert Emms) as much as he enjoys a Stockholm Syndrome-like existence learning his ABCs from Maria and being actually cared for (albeit while being incarcerated in a basement and shitting in a bucket). Over the course of the film, Maria and Danny develop a deeply strange, playful, and volatile bond. But is this genuine camaraderie, or is Danny merely trying to get the hell out of here? It's a dark dance of ethics, and one that draws wonderful moments of pure comedy from both Ronan and Waller. 

Bad Apples plays out a micro decision with macro implications

Maria's actions in Bad Apples aren't just unhinged, they're criminal. However, the film plays out the scenario anyway, just to see what might happen if you, say, shut a disruptive student in a basement the day of your school's Ofsted inspection, the day after he attacked a fellow student.

Beginning as a trope of a Difficult Student, Waller's Danny finds superb moments of vulnerability and humanity, especially through moving scenes with Ronan's Maria. In contrast, Brown's Pauline, the straight-A student, the ultimate teacher's sycophant, becomes the film's real power player.

Through the film's diabolical set-up, Etzler and O'Kane are able to pose ethical questions about overworked teachers and the lack of resources educators have to work with children with behavioural difficulties, as well as assumptions we make of "difficult" kids. Here, communities would rather sweep troubled kids like Danny under the rug (or into a basement) than begin to try to understand him. I honestly want to know what teachers and parents think of this film, as I'm neither myself.

Ultimately, who in this situation is actually the bad apple?

Bad Apples was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival.