This New App Is Using Psychology to Make You a Happier Spender

Anyone who’s ever heard the phrase “retail therapy” (and we’re willing to bet you have) knows that money represents a lot more than just cash in the bank. Having money means having the flexibility to go to the store and grab that new Michael Kors bag you’ve had your eye on — and if you happen to subscribe to the idea that a shopping trip can, in fact, be therapeutic, it also means that you have easier access to a quick fix of happiness. Widely understood concepts such as retail therapy, as well as phrases like “money can’t buy you happiness,” play a significant role in the way we approach our finances, making it almost impossible to entirely separate emotions and psychology from your account balance. Most of the financial tools we’ve had at our disposal haven’t quite addressed this reality — but brushing our money-related feelings under the rug hasn’t done us any favors. Many of us are uncomfortable talking about money, and we’re not able to effectively integrate the more emotional aspects of financial decisions into our spending and other long-term decisions. Enter Joy (free on iOS), a recently launched money app that seeks to address the psychology of money.

Joy delivers personalized experiences by asking each user to complete in-app assessments that identify their financial personality. Based on that personality, one of four money coaches is assigned to the user, and is then available to help them develop strong financial habits and better manage their spending and saving. Like other financial apps, Joy also learns more about a user’s financial profile over time by tracking income, bills, housing payments, and available discretionary spending.

“There are a lot of apps out there designed to help people save money, [but] I think Joy makes savings feel fun,” says Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, author and scientific adviser to Joy. “Saving is like the unglamorous little sister of spending. But Joy elevates saving, offering the same pleasurable buzz we typically associate with spending.”

While your savings account might benefit from the app — Joy offers daily behavior-based savings suggestions, as well as a free FDIC-insured Joy Savings Account — spending is, of course, also addressed. Each day, users are prompted to reflect on the money they’ve spent by identifying their purchases as “happy spends” or “sad spends.” Dr. Dunn explores the principles of happy and sad spending in her book Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending($15). According to Dr. Dunn, research shows that purchasing experiences (like trips or special dinners out) tends to make people happier than purchasing material things (like new furniture or gadgets).

“Since writing this book, I can’t reach for my wallet without asking myself, ‘Is this a happy spend?'” Dr. Dunn tells us. “In other words, will this purchase really make me happy? Engaging in this tiny mental exercise has been really helpful for me in directing more of my income to happy spends and less to sad spends — those that drain my bank account without leaving me feeling any happier.”

To help you get a better handle on this idea of happy and sad spending, here are a few examples from the Joy team:

Top Five happy spends:

1. Spotify

2. Netflix

3. Trader Joe’s

4. Whole Foods

5. Joy Savings (investing money in savings)

Top five sad spends:

1. McDonald’s

2. Taco Bell

3. 7-Eleven

4. Lyft

5. Uber

No matter how you choose to categorize the various expenses that come up in your own life, Joy’s methodology is intended to help you pay more attention to how your money is making you feel day to day — because, clearly, money can make you feel something.

“Traditionally, financial advisers are there for the big moments in life,” Dr. Dunn says. “Joy is there for the little moments in between, when you’re heading off for a Friday night out with friends or standing in line at Starbucks the next morning. And these seemingly small moments can play a surprisingly big role in shaping our overall happiness and our financial futures.”

And as for whether or not money really can buy you happiness? Dr. Dunn — who calls herself a “Happiness Czar” — had this to say: “Money can buy happiness — if you spend it right. For so long, the focus has been getting more money, but I think Joy helps to shift the focus back to where it belongs. How can we get the most happiness out of our money, whether we have a little or a lot of it?”

What are your happiest and saddest spends? Tweet us @BritandCo!

It's no secret that groceries feel more expensive than ever right now, and compounded by the fact the average American home throws away 322 cups of food a year, I'm determined to use up every bit of the food, sauces, and other cooking basics I buy. That's how I found Carleigh Bodrug. Her PlantYou page, and her Scrappy Cooking series (plus her new cookbook!), makes creating delicious recipes easier, and more fun, than ever.

What is scrappy cooking?

Image via SB Creative Studio

"Scrappy Cooking is the concept of transforming the world’s most commonly wasted foods into delicious recipes — and starting is as easy as chopping up a broccoli stem into a stir-fry," she tells me over email. "Seriously, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Look at the plants you have that you bring into your home every week, and see if there are ways to repurpose them."

With the help of Carleigh's Instagram page, I turned some broccoli stems into French fries and used up the last of my peanut butter for a noodle salad sauce. If you want to turn your groceries into a one-of-a-kind meal but aren't sure where to start, Carleigh recommends looking at every single aspect of the plant.

"Whenever I bring a plant into my home, I think about what part of the plant is discarded, and then I research whether or not it’s safe to consume (this part is important)!" she says. "Once I identify it’s edible, that’s where the fun begins. A great example of this is something like celery, which I buy often. I was discarding the celery leaves for years, only to find out they taste almost exactly like parsley and make a great base for a tabouleh style salad."

Is PlantYou vegan?

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Yes, a lot of PlantYou's recipes are vegan, and they're all plant-based! Some of Carleigh's favorite recipes include mocha chocolate granola with spent coffee grounds, "chips" made out of beet greens, and pickle juice as a marinade (which is something I learned Chick-Fil-A does!). These recipes might sound intimidating or time-consuming, but that's exactly why Carleigh's PlantYou social media exists.

I can speak from experience that the videos are easy to both understand and put into practice. (Plus, the recipes are super versatile, because "when you’re cooking with just plants, if you screw something up, you can almost always fix it!"). But there are a few steps that always make these scrappy processes easier.

"The low hanging fruit to reducing food waste in your kitchen actually starts before you grocery shop," Carleigh says. "I always recommend people sit down for an hour one day a week, and make a really basic meal plan, outlining what they plan to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then, before they head to the store, shop their fridge and pantry to avoid duplicate buying. Now it’s time to compile a shopping list, and only buy what you have a plan for! Done right, this will take care of 80 percent of your food waste."

What can I buy to save money on food?

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In addition to meal prepping (check out our favorite apps to reduce food waste, too!), the PlantYou chef + author recommends having a few recipes that use up a bunch of ingredients in one go. "It’s really important to lean on staple recipes that allow you to 'clean out the fridge,' which is really what my new Scrappy cookbook is about," Carleigh Bodrug says. "I wanted to arm people with great base recipes (like stews, curries and stir fries), where they can interchange the vegetables and produce items they have on hand every week to reduce waste and save money."

"By using up leftovers, repurposing ingredients, and being more mindful about the food you’re bringing into your home, you'll notice a decrease in your grocery bill," she continues. "The average American family of four wastes over $1700 worth of groceries per year — which is like a phone bill every month! Not only does being Scrappy benefit your wallet, but it also feels great knowing you're making healthier choices and contributing to a more sustainable planet."

Okay, so you know what you want to eat, and you've budgeted for groceries, what now? "I look for ingredients that are versatile and can be used in multiple recipes to minimize waste," Carleigh says. "Quality, longevity, and sustainability are key factors in my purchasing decisions."

What is the proper way to store food?

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After you've whipped up recipes like the Fiesta Fries below, it's important to store them properly to ensure they're fresh for as long as possible. "Use quality food storage and meal prep containers, and keep fruits and vegetables separate to prevent them from spoiling," Carleigh tells me. "Different types of food will require different conditions for optimum long-term storage. This applies to fresh produce, as well as dry and canned foods."

We all have days we don't want to cook (PlantYou's Carleigh Bodrug included), which is the perfect opportunity to support a local business. "On days when I don't feel like cooking, I usually rely on quick and easy options like smoothie bombs from my freezer, which are in my new cookbook," she says. "I also often have homemade soup ready to go that I’ve made in advance or have frozen in the freezer. Sometimes, my husband and I opt for ordering in from local restaurants in our small town in Ontario, especially on Friday nights after a long work week. It's a convenient way to support our favorite vegan small businesses while enjoying a hassle-free meal."

PlantYou's Fiesta Fries — Delicious Loaded Fries You Can Make Today!

Image via SB Creative Studio

Ingredients:

  • 6 medium-size Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced to desired size, around 1/2 to 3/4 inch recommended
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 cups Vegan Ground Beef or your favorite vegan ground beef substitute
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, pinto beans, or red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 yellow or red onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons water or extra-virgin olive oil

Suggested Toppings:

  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced Handful of fresh cilantro (optional)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/2 cup Sunflower Cream Sauce

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F, and line a baking sheet with a reusable baking mat or parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, combine the sliced potatoes with the garlic powder and salt and toss until coated.
  3. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and roast for 35 minutes, or until crispy, flipping halfway through.
  4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, combine the ground “beef” with the black beans, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and the water. Sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the onion starts to turn translucent.
  5. Assemble on a serving platter with the fries on the bottom, topped with the ground beef mixture and your desired toppings.

Excerpted from PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking: 140+ Plant-Based Zero-Waste Recipes That Are Good for You, Your Wallet, and the Planet by Carleigh Bodrug. Copyright © 2024. Available from Hachette Go, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Carleigh Bodrug is the CEO and Founder of PlantYou, a New York Times Bestselling cookbook author and self-taught plant-based chef, famous for her simple take on low-waste and vegan recipes. Boasting over ten million followers between her social channels, Carleigh has gripped social media with her simple and delicious low-waste recipes that make plants the star of the show.

Her latest book, PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking: 140+ Plant-Based Zero-Waste Recipes That Are Good for You, Your Wallet, and the Planet, is out NOW!

Check out our Weekend Scroll for more delicious recipes!

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Lead image via SB Creative Studio

Every year, like clockwork, I have a very clear aesthetic shift when we hit March 1. Even if it's still chilly, I'm totally ready to say goodbye to the winter blues and hello to pastels, bouquets, and my personal favorite spring color combo: purple and green. And just like our world IRL, our favorite movies *also* experience a bit of an aesthetic shift. Instead of the boldness of summer movies, the cozy yet edgy quality of fall movies, or the magic of winter movies, these 2024 moviesare as fresh as a bouquet of flowers.

While you're adding some new spring break swimsuits and spring Target dresses to your shopping cart, check out these spring movies! They're fresh, fun, and ready to shake off their winter layers ;). If you're wondering what movies will be in theaters in March 2024, which April movies are headed your way, and what May movies are coming in 2024, stick around and find out. Check out The Best New TV Shows Coming In 2024 too!

Challengers — In Theaters April 26, 2024

Image via Amazon MGM Studios

In Challengers, we see Zendaya play a whole new role as tennis pro-turned-coach Tashi, who is determined to turn her husband Art into a pro. But things get a little messy when Art's pitted against his former best friend Patrick, who's also Tashi's ex. No biggie! This movie looks emotional, sexy, and edgy, and I literally can't wait. It's definitely shaping up to be one of the best spring movies this year. Read our Challengers review after you see the movie!

Challengers hits theaters April 26 and stars Mike Faist, Josh O'Connor, and Zendaya.

Unsung Hero — In Theaters April 26, 2024

Image via Lionsgate

Inspired by the true story of the Smallbone family, this spring movie follows David (played by Joel Smallbone), who moves his wife and their six kids from Australia to the US after his music company falls apart. Forced to rebuild their lives from the ground up, mom Helen (Daisy Betts) helps the family hold on to their faith — leading to their daughter Rebecca and sons Luke and Joel to become international music artists.

Unsung Hero is in theaters April 26 and stars Daisy Betts, Kirrilee Berger, Diesel La Torraca, Jonathan Jackson, JJ Pantano, Joel Smallbone.

The Idea Of You — On Prime Video May 2, 2024

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In The Idea of You, Anne Hathaway stars as 40-year-old Solène, who chaperones her teen daughter's trip to Coachella. The music festival already promises to be an adventure, but the last thing Sophie expects is to strike up a romance with 24-year-old frontman Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine).

The Idea of You drops on Prime Video May 2 and stars Nicholas Galitzine, Anne Hathaway, Ella Rubin, and Reid Scott.

Turtles All The Way Down — On Max May 2, 2024

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John Green fans will love this adaptation of Turtles All The Way Down. The spring movie follows the very-anxious Aza, who's trying her best to be the best daughter, student, and friend possible. And when she reconnects with her childhood crush Davis, Aza has to come face-to-face with ideas of love, happiness, and hope that she's been running from.

Turtles All The Way Down hits Max May 2 and stars Isabela Merced, Cree, Felix Mallard, Maliq Johnson, Poorna Jagannathan, Judy Reyes, and J. Smith-Cameron.

Prom Dates — On Hulu May 3, 2024

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Jess and Hannah decided in middle school that they'd have the perfect senior prom. Everything's going according to plan...until 24 hours before the dance when they break up with their dates. Now, the best friends have to figure out what their dream prom will actually look like.

Prom Dates hits Hulu May 3 and stars Julia Lester, Antonia Gentry, Kenny Ridwan, JT Neal, Jordan Buhat, Zión Moreno, Terry Hu, John Michael Higgins, and Chelsea Handler.

The Fall Guy — In Theaters May 3, 2024

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Stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) left Hollywood to prioritize his mental and physical health. But when the star of his ex's (Emily Blunt) blockbuster goes missing, Colt has to use all his stuntman skills to find him. This spring movie looks like pure, adrenaline-filled fun and I can't wait to see Ryan Gosling back on my screen after Barbie!

The Fall Guy hits theaters May 3 and stars Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Ryan Gosling, Stephanie Hsu, Teresa Palmer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Hannah Waddingham.

Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story — On Netflix May 3, 2024

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It's 1963 and Kellogg's and Post are cereal archenemies. Both teams find themselves in a race to create a brand new breakfast pastry and the sugar, ambition, and betrayal that follow literally change the world.

Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story hits Netflix May 3 and has an all-star cast including Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, Hugh Grant, Max Greenfield, Christian Slater, and Bill Burr.

I Saw The TV Glow — In Select Theaters May 3, 2024

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Like so many of us, Owen is literally just trying to survive his teenage years in the suburbs. When his classmate introduces him to a strange late-night TV show that's basically a look into the supernatural world beneath ours, Owen's view of life — and reality — slowly begins to splinter.

I Saw The TV Glow hits select theaters May 3 and stars Justice Smith, Brigitte Lundy-Paine, and Ian Foreman.

Cuckoo — In Theaters May 3, 2024

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Gretchen (played by Euphoria's Hunter Schafer) is staying in a resort in the German Alps with her dad and stepmom when she begins to see visions of a woman chasing her. The more she learns about the visions, the more she learns about the strange experiments the resort has been hiding.

Cuckoo hits theaters May 3 and stars Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick, Marton Csókás, Jan Bluthardt.

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes — In Theaters May 8, 2024

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This new 2024 spring movie opens 300 years after the reign of Caesar ends. Now, it's up to a young ape to go on a life-changing journey that will define the future for both apes and humans.

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes hits theaters May 8 and stars Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy.

Mother of the Bride — On Netflix May 9, 2024

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Lana's excited to see her daughter Emma after her time abroad, but when Emma announces she's getting married (in Thailand, in a month), Lana is less than thrilled. But what's even worse? Emma's future father-in-law is the man who broke her heart.

Mother of the Bride hits Netflix May 9 and stars Brooke Shields, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Rachael Harris, Sean Teale, and Chad Michael Murray.

Poolman — In Theaters May 10, 2024

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Darren (played by Chris Pine, who's also directing!) is your average poolman, and he's constantly fighting to make LA a better place to live. When he's suddenly tasked with uncovering the secrets behind a sketchy business deal, Darren gets his friends in on a mission that could change everything.

Poolman hits theaters May 10 and stars Chris Pine, Annette Being, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz, and Ray Wise.

The Image of You — In Theaters May 10, 2024

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Based on Adele Parks' bestselling thriller, this spring movie follows identical twins Anna and Zoe, who find their bond tested in a new way when Anna falls in love with Nick. Zoe isn't as trusting as her sister, and the deeper she goes to find the truth, the more danger both sisters encounter.

The Image of You hits select theaters and digital May 10 and stars Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Nestor Carbonell, and Mira Sorvino.

Back To Black — In Theaters May 17, 2024

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Starring Marisa Abela in the lead role, this biopic offers a look into Amy Winehouse's life — and her rise to fame — as she creates her iconic Back to Black record. This movie is *sure* to have an incredible soundtrack and I already can't wait!

Back to Black hits theaters May 17 and stars Marisa Abela, Juliet Cowan, Lesley Manville, Eddie Marsan, and Jack O'Connell.

The Strangers — Chapter 1 — In Theaters May 17, 2024

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Maya and Ryan aren't expecting to spend the night in the middle of nowhere, but then again, they weren't expecting their car to break down, either. What starts off as a low-stakes accident spirals out of control when three masked strangers begin targeting the couple.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 hits theaters May 17 and stars Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Gabriel Basso, and Ema Horvath.

Imaginary Friends — In Theaters May 17, 2024

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Imaginary Friends (IF) follows Bea (Cailey Fleming), who starts to see everyone's forgotten imaginary friends and decides to reconnect them with their kids. This superstar cast features Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Steve Carell, plus John Krasinski as director! We got a sneak peek at CinemaCon 2023 and cannot wait.

Imaginary Friends hits theaters May 17 and stars Steve Carell, Louis Gossett Jr., Cailey Fleming, John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds, Fiona Shaw, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga — In Theaters May 24, 2024

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Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, this 2024 spring movie follows the titular warrior (played by Anya) on her journey across the Wasteland with biker warlord Dementus and his gang. Furiosa's journey quickly becomes a fight for survival when they cross paths with the Immortan Joe.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga premieres May 24 and stars Alyla Browne, Tom Burke, Chris Hemsworth, and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Atlas — On Netflix May 24, 2024

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Jennifer Lopez stars as Atlas, a brilliant data analyst who doesn't trust AI at all. But when she's sent on a mission to capture a robot who's gone MIA, she finds that AI might be her only hope of returning home successfully. With so much going on in our own technological advancements, this movie couldn't come out at a better time!

Atlas hits Netflix May 24 and stars Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Abraham Popoola, Lana Parrilla, Mark Strong.

The Garfield Movie — In Theaters May 24, 2024

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I will never say no to a film that brings my favorite cartoons to life, and this spring movie is no exception. This is sure to be a hilarious and heartfelt story that that doesn't take itself too seriously. If you ask me, this is the *perfect* early summer movie night.

The Garfield Movie hits theaters May 24 and stars Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Ving Rhames, Cecily Strong, and Hannah Waddingham.

Young Woman and the Sea — In Select Theaters May 31, 2024

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This spring movie, based on the book of the same name, stars follows Trudy Ederle, who became the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel on August 6, 1926. "What she accomplished was not only a personal achievement, but ground breaking for women in sport," lead actress Daisy Ridley tells PEOPLE. "I’m excited for people to see this film in all its beauty and experience this journey, with all its difficulty and hope and ultimately joy"

Young Woman and the Sea hits select theaters May 31 and stars Daisy Ridley, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Christopher Eccleston, and Jeanette Hain.

​Dune: Part 2 — In Theaters Now

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I have not been able to stop talking about this franchise since I saw the first installment, and this spring movie looks like it's going to be even better than the original. Dune 2 follows Timothée Chalamet's Paul as he pairs up with the Fremen, confronts his enemies, and learns more about his destiny after his father's murder. Once again I say: I will never stop talking about this new spring movie!!

Dune 2 hits theaters March 1 and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Josh Brolin, and Rebecca Ferguson.

Spaceman — On Netflix Now

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In this sci-fi drama, Adam Sandler plays Jakub, an astronaut who is desperate to return to earth so he can fix his marriage with Lenka (Carey Mulligan). Jakub isn't sure where to begin, until he finds an ancient creature hiding in his ship (voiced by Paul Dano) ready to help.

Spaceman hits Netflix March 1. The movie stars Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano, and Kunal Nayyar.

Ricky Stanicky — On Prime Video Now

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20 years after they created Ricky Stanicky, an imaginary friend, three childhood friends still use him as an alibi when they need a quick exit. But when their significant others demand to meet the infamous Ricky, the trio decides to hire actor Rod to play him — and end up regretting creating Ricky in the first place.

Ricky Stanicky premieres March 7 on Prime Video and in theaters. The movie stars Zac Efron, John Cena, Jermaine Fowler, and Andrew Santino.

Kung Fu Panda 4 — In Theaters Now

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Jack Black returns to our screens as Po, who has to find a new Dragon Warrior after he's chosen to be the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. But the quest in this new spring movie gets more difficult when an evil sorceress plans to gather all the villain's Po's already defeated.

You can watch Kung Fu Panda 4 starting March 8. The film stars Jack Black, Awkwafina, James Hong, Dustin Hoffman, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, and Ke Huy Quan.

Damsel — On Now

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In Damsel, powerhouse actress and entrepreneur Millie Bobby Brown stars as Princess Elodie, who agrees to marry the handsome Prince Henry. But after she's already agreed to the union, and realizes the entire set-up was a trap, Elodie finds herself trapped in a cave with a fire-breathing dragon.

You can watch Damsel on Netflix March 8. The movie stars Angela Bassett, Millie Bobby Brown, Nick Robinson, Ray Winstone, and Robin Wright.

Cabrini — In Theaters Now

Image via Angel Studios

In honor of International Women's Day, Angel Studios is releasing Cabrini, which follows the unbelievably inspiring true story of Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini. When she arrives in the US in 1889, Francesca, dealing with severe health problems, has to gather up all the strength she has in a mission to secure housing for orphans living on the streets of New York City.

Cabrini hits theaters March 8 and stars Virginia Bocelli, Cristiana Dell'Anna, John Lithgow, Romana Maggiora, and David Morse.

Love Lies Bleeding — In Select Theaters Now

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Lou (Kristen Stewart) is an introverted gym manager who falls hard for bodybuilder Jackie's (Katy O'Brian) ambition and drive. Jackie intends to pop in and out of town on her way to Vegas — that is, until the pair gets pulled into the violence of Lou's criminal family.

Love Lies Bleeding hits theaters March 8 and stars Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Katy O'Brian, and Kristen Stewart.

Accidental Texan — In Theaters Now

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Outer Banks star Rudy Pankow plays Erwin, an actor who's stranded in Texas after getting kicked off a movie. When he's taken in by oil driller Merle, he joins the family's quest to outwit their corrupt oil company.

Accidental Texan hits theaters March 8 and stars Rudy Pankow, Thomas Haden Church, Carrie-Anne Moss, Bruce Dern, and AnnaClare Hicks.

Little Wing — On Paramount+ Now

Image via Paramount+

Not only is Kaitlyn grieving her parents' divorce, but now she has to deal with the upcoming loss of her home. In an effort to solve her mom's money problems, Kaitlyn and her best friend decide to steal a valuable bird, but wind up becoming friends with its owner instead.

Little Wing drops on Paramount+ March 13. The movie stars Brian Cox, Kelly Reilly, Brooklynn Prince, and Che Tafari.

Frida — On Prime Video Now

Image via Lucienne Bloch, Courtesy Old Stage Studios

Get a brand new look into the life and art of Frida Kahlo with this movie that includes entries from her diary, letters, and essays. The film covers more than 40 years of her life, and the coolest part is that Kahlo's own words are brought to life by colorful and lyrical animation inspired by her work!

Frida hits Prime Video March 15.

Irish Wish — On Netflix Now

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In Irish Wish, Maddie's in Ireland for her best friend's wedding, but it's not all rainbows and pots of gold — because Maddie's BFF is marrying Paul, the man *she's* in love with. When Maddie wishes that she was the bride instead, she wakes up to her dream relationship with Paul. But the more time passes, the more Maddie wonders whether Paul's actually the one she's supposed to end up with. Check out our interviews with Lindsay Lohan and Ayesha Curry, and Ed Speleers!

Irish Wish hits Netflix March 15 and stars Lindsay Lohan, Jane Seymour, Elizabeth Tan, Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos, and Ayesha Curry.

Snack Shack — In Theaters Now

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It's the summer of 1991 in Nebraska City, and best friends AJ and Moose decide to turn the rundown pool snack shack into the hottest place in town. But when they meet lifeguard Brooke, their summer plans to strike it rich — and their friendship — get put to the test.

Snack Shack hits theaters March 15 and stars Conor Sherry, Gabriel LaBelle, Mika Abdalla, Nick Robinson, and David Costabile.

Arthur The King — In Theaters Now

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Mikael Lindnord (Mark Wahlberg) is the captain of a Swedish adventure racing team in this spring movie, which which is based on a true story! When he meets a stray dog during his treacherous 400-mile race, he has to figure out how to get them both out of the jungles of Ecuador.

Arthur The King premieres March 15 and stars Nathalie Emmanuel, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, and Mark Wahlberg.

French Girl — In Theaters Now

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Gordon plans to propose to his girlfriend — until a job offer from her ex gets her to move to Quebec. Determined to strengthen their relationship, Gordon follows her to Canada and winds up having to impress her entire family. Check out our interview with Zach Braff, Évelyne Brochu, and Vanessa Hudgens!

French Girl hits theaters March 15 and stars Zach Braff, Evelyne Brochu, Luc Picard, Antoine Olivier Pilon, Isabelle Vincent, Charlotte Aubin, Muriel Dutil, William Fichtner, and Vanessa Hudgens.

Road House — On Prime Video Now

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An 80s classic gets a modern, action-packed update with Road House, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an ex-UFC fighter named Dalton. When he takes a job as a Florida Keys roadhouse bouncer, he realizes this dreamy new life isn't exactly paradise.

Roadhouse hits Prime Video March 21 and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Post Malone, Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, and Hannah Love Lanier.

Shirley — On Netflix Now

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Take a step back in time to follow Shirley Chisholm's presidential campaign in 1972. Chisholm became the first Black congresswoman and a political icon, and this is one movie you cannot miss. Check out our interview with Shirley star Christina Jackson!

Shirley drops on Netflix March 22 and stars Regina King, Christina Jackson, Lucas Hedges, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown, André Holland, and Terrence Howard.

Immaculate — In Theaters Now

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Cecilia is over the moon to join a convent in the beautiful Italian countryside. She welcomes the adventure with open arms, but things take a turn for the sinister when she begins to discover that the convent is hiding much more than they let on in the beginning. Check out our interview with Sydney Sweeney to hear more!

Immaculate hits theaters March 22 and stars Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, Benedetta Porcaroli, and Dora Romano.

Luca — In Theaters Now

Image via Disney/Pixar

This coming-of-age film is great for anyone who's dreaming of a summer adventure. Luca's enjoying the most magical summer in Italy. While all the gelato and scooter rides are fun, Luca's favorite part is spending every day with his new best friend. But Luca also has a secret that could threaten everything: he's actually a sea monster who's not supposed to be on land.

Luca is being rereleased in theaters on March 22. The film stars Emma Berman, Jim Gaffigan, Giacomo Gianniotti, Jack Dylan Grazer, Maya Rudolph, and Jacob Tremblay.

Problemista — In Theaters Now

Image via A24

Aspiring toy designer Alejandro is having a hard time bringing his unique and unconventional ideas into the real world. But when time begins to run out on his work visa, he becomes the assistant for a strange and passionate figure in the art world — a job that just might help save his dream.

Problemista is in theaters now and stars Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, Greta Lee, James Scully, and RZA.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire — In Theaters Now

Image via Columbia Pictures/Sony

This spring movie is more nostalgic than ever because the Spenglers are headed back to the New York City firehouse. When they accidentally release an evil force thanks to an ancient artifact, they have to team up to prevent a second Ice Age from taking over the world.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire premieres March 29 and stars Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Emily Alyn Lind, Paul Rudd, and Finn Wolfhard.

La Chimera — On Apple TV Now

Image via Neon

The Chimera means something different to everyone. To find his Chimera — the woman he's lost — Arthur will go to the ends of the earth to find the door to the afterlife. This spring movie holds a tension between life and death in a way you won't be able to let go of.

La Chimera hits Apple TV March 29 and stars Josh O'Connor, Carol Duarte, Vincenzo Nemolato, Alba Rohrwacher, Isabella Rossellini, and Lou Roy-Lecollinet.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire — In Theaters Now

Image via Warner Bros. Entertainment

Godzilla and King Kong are two of the most iconic creatures in cinema, and they're back for another battle. But this time, it's a battle against a dangerous force hidden within the planet. Now, they have to team up to protect themselves — and everyone on earth.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire premieres March 29 and stars Fala Chen, Alex Ferns, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Rachel House, and Dan Stevens.

The Beautiful Game — On Netflix Now

Image via Netflix

Bill Nighy stars in this spring movie as Mal, manager for England’s homeless football team. When he decides to add Vinny as a striker ahead of the team's Homeless World Cup in Rome, they might have a chance at winning, but only if Vinny can learn to let go of the past.

The Beautiful Game hits Netflix March 29 and stars Bill Nighy, Micheal Ward, Callum Scott Howells, Sheyi Cole, Robin Nazari, Kit Young, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Valeria Golino.

Someone Like You — In Theaters Now

Image via Karen Kingsbury Productions

Dawson (played by Jake Allyn) is mourning the sudden death of his best friend London (Sarah Fisher). When he learns that London has a secret twin sister, Andi, he sets out to find her. Turns out, Andi's looking for her biological parents — and it doesn't take long for Dawson and Andi's paths to cross in a way that changes everything.

Someone Like You hits theaters April 2 and stars Jake Allyn, Lynn Collins, Sarah Fisher, Bart Johnson, and Robyn Lively.

Música — On Prime Video Now

Image via Prime Video

Calling all rom-com lovers! Once you finish rewatching Camila Mendes' Upgraded (one of the best winter movies, IMO), check out Música. This spring movie follows Rudy, a street performer living with his mom in Newark. Rudy's feeling stuck between his passion for music and the idea of settling down. But everything changes when he meets Isabella (Camila). My favorite part about this movie is that IRL couple Camila Mendes and Rudy Mancuso met while filming!

Música is available to stream on Prime Video April 4. The movie stars Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale, Maria Mancuso, and J.B. Smoove.

How to Date Billy Walsh — On Prime Video Now

Image via Prime Video

Amelia and Archie have been best friends since they were kids, but Archie's keeping a huge secret: he's been in love with Amelia their entire lives. When he's finally ready to tell Amelia how he feels, she falls for the new American transfer student Billy Walsh. And the more Archie tries to keep them apart, the more he risks losing Amelia forever.

How to Date Billy Walsh premieres on Prime Video April 5 and stars Sebastian Croft, Charithra Chandran, and Tanner Buchanan.

Monkey Man — In Theaters Now

Image via Universal Pictures

Dev Patel directs and stars in this spring movie, which follows an anonymous young man in a quest to bring down a group of corrupt leaders. Using a somewhat unhinged campaign against these men who continually and systemically victimize the powerless, Patel's character sets out to avenge his mother. Filmmaking icon Jordan Peele serves as producer.

Monkey Man hits theaters April 5 and stars Sharlto Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar, and Dev Patel.

The Absence Of Eden — In Theaters Now

Image via Roadside Attractions/Vertical Entertainment

In this spring movie, Zoe Saldaña stars as an undocumented woman trying to escape a cartel opposite an ICE agent (played by Garrett Hedlund) who's struggling with his role as a security agent at the border. When their paths cross, everything changes.

The Absence Of Eden hits theaters April 12 and stars Zoe Saldaña, Garrett Hedlund, Adria Arjona, and Tom Waits.

Civil War — In Theaters Now

Image via A24

In this star-studded film, which features Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemmons, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, and Stephen McKinley, a group of journalists travel across an alternate version of the United States where a new civil war has ripped the country apart.

Civil War premieres April 12 and stars Kirsten Dunst, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Wagner Moura, Jesse Plemmons, Cailee Spaeny.

The Greatest Hits — On Hulu Now

Image via Searchlight Pictures

In this spring movie, Harriet knows music like the back of her hand. However, the last thing she expects is for certain songs to literally pull her back in time. As she starts reliving the past through her ex's memories, she's also finding new love in the present, and all this back and forth leaves her wondering if she can change the past — and if she even wants to. Check out our interview with Lucy Boynton on YouTube!

The Greatest Hits is available to stream on Hulu starting April 12. The film stars Lucy Boynton, Justin H. Min, Austin Crute, and David Corenswet.

Abigail — In Theaters Now

Image via Universal Pictures

The mission was simple: kidnap the 12-year-old daughter of an underworld mastermind, watch her overnight, and collect the $50 million ransom. But as the night wears on, the criminals begin to disappear. Mystery turns to horror when they realize this is no ordinary little girl.

Abigail premieres April 19 and stars Melissa Barrera, William Catlett, Angus Cloud, Kevin Durand, Giancarlo Esposito, Kathryn Newton, Dan Stevens, and Alisha Weir.

Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver — On Netflix Now

Image via Netflix

Kora and the people of Veldt are ready to sacrifice everything to defend their home against the Motherworld. But the night before their battle, they must come together to reveal what they're fighting for — a night that will form unbreakable relationships and change everything.

Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver hits Netflix April 19 and stars Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Michiel Huisman, Staz Nair, Donna Bae, E Duffy, and Cleopatra Coleman.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare — In Theaters Now

Image via Lionsgate

As someone who was obsessed with spies as a kid, I'm all about this new spring movie, which focuses on a secret Nazi-fighting organization founded by Winston Churchill. They use lots of unconventional (and apparently, ungentlemanly) methods.

You can see The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare on April 19. The movie stars Henry Cavill, Cary Elwes, Eiza González, Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer, Alan Ritchson, and Til Schweiger.

Sasquatch Sunset — In Theaters Now

Image via Bleecker Street

Sasquatch Sunset stars Daisy Jones lead Riley Keough and follows the last family of Sasquatches as they fight for survival in the midst of an ever-changing world. It's hilarious, it's ridiculous, and it's surprisingly human. FYI — this spring movie might seem fantastical, but it's not for kids!

Sasquatch Sunset hits theaters April 19 and stars Riley Keough, Jesse Eisenberg, Nathan Zellner, and Christophe Zajac-Denek.

Check back here for the latest news on your favorite spring movies! And don't forget to check all of the best winter movies off your watchlist before you press play on this year's summer movies.

Lead image viaNetflix

This post has been updated.

Talking money doesn't have to feel monstrous — especially if you make it fun by setting a money date. No matter your current relationship to money, this should be a time that you set aside to demystify the basics, build a healthy relationship with money, and learn ways to grow your wealth. This intentional time together allows you to give your full attention to how you relate to money and how to create the habits and lay down a healthy foundation to create financial wellness. Hopefully, you'll walk away from your money date with a confident, stress-free relationship to money.

What is a money date?

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko / PEXELS

A money date can take on many forms, but it should always align with where you are in life. If you're single — or choose to keep money separate in your relationship — then a money date can be carving out time for yourself to create a comfortable space and review your priorities, values, and overall financial goals and hopefully actually set a plan in motion to achieve those. If you're in a relationship with combined finances, a money date can also be a way for you and your significant other to come together to talk about money and what matters most to each of you in a way that makes you comfortable and makes finances more approachable. TBH, even a group of friends can also get together with the purpose of focusing on money and topics that can help each of you gain better insights and strategies into reducing financial stress and building financial wellness and wealth.

How do you plan a money date?

Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA / PEXELS

A good starting point is to simply just...begin. One step leads into the next and before you know it, you've built life-long healthy money habits. But what does "beginning" actually look like? If you have a S.O., it's important to quickly chat with each other and establish the importance of money dates. Let them know that you want to work together to build healthy conversations around your goals and values with an emphasis on money and how that plays into your financial success. If you want to create a group of friends to have more structured conversations together, then think of 5-7 people that you think would be interested in the topic, add value to the conversation, and benefit from the discussion. And yes, even if you decide you want to focus on your money individually, you still need to structure it just like you structure time for your workouts!

No matter who you have your money date with, my best advice is to keep it consistent and have some guidelines. Being consistent means that you plan accordingly and you do the work if you want to enjoy the benefits. Set a time for individual or couple conversations — once a week for an hour is reasonable. For a group, once a month is more realistic. It will be more productive if you have the conversation in a place where you don't get distracted and where you have privacy as money can be a sensitive topic. Over a cup of coffee on the deck or a glass of wine on the couch, whatever works best for you.

What should you talk about on a money date?

Photo by Karolina Grabowska / PEXELS

There are a number of topics you should cover during a money date, which is why I suggest scheduling yours for one hour a week, same day, same time, and same place. You're establishing a habit and this is the best way for you to be consistent and reach your goal of financial health and wellness. The topics will be broad and then there should be opportunities for you to dig further down. My favorite break the ice question to get things started? Ask someone what's important to them about money.

Starting with this question will bring down some barriers and take the focus off how much money you have (quantitative) to what is important to you (qualitative). There will be plenty of time to go over numbers, but the first money date should be focused on dreams, goals, and values.

It's also critical to avoid money shaming during your conversation. Think about your relationship with money. How did you grow up learning about money? Did your parents fight about it? Was it a taboo subject that nobody spoke about? Or was there a scarcity of money? Think about it — these memories we have about money and our first introduction to money can have a negative affect on us that we don't even realize until we start to ask these questions. By starting conversations with qualitative questions first, you will quickly find out what your differences are and what the pain points are and help you identify the areas that you will need to discuss and work through more carefully.

After that, the first step in any of the following topics is to gather the information. Bring all the details with you to the date. There will be time to dig in deeper, have discussions around it, and make a decision or two — although don't worry about solving it all in one date. The point here is to make process based on the information you have at hand. The areas that you should address include the following:

  • Cash Flow: What's coming in (salary, income) and what's going out (expenses). There's no way around it — your expenses must be less than your income to be financially successful. Budgeting is usually the first place to start, but can also be the most difficult. It's okay to skip this one for now and come back to it if needed. Think of this as taking charge of your money one step at a time!
  • Debt: Credit cards, car loans, mortgages, student loans... no matter what type you have, debt can be challenging and ultimately set you back years financially if you don't address it the right way. There's definitely a difference between good debt and bad debt, and knowing which one is which is important to help you understand the best way to tackle this.
  • Retirement: It can be hard to think about retirement when you're in your earning or accumulation years. The key is to set up an automatic process where the money goes into your retirement accounts before it ever hits your bank account. You won't miss it if you don't see it.
  • Insurance/Protection: There are many reasons to transfer risk away from you onto an insurance company. Start with the basics — life, auto, home, and consider your company's benefits here as well.
  • Investing: The time value of money and compound interest are your best friends. Automating monthly deposits into your investment account is a great way to build wealth over time.
  • Estate Planning: Nobody likes to think of this one, but it's important to address. Retirement accounts and insurance falls outside of the will so be sure to update your beneficiaries annually(who you want to get your money if something were to happen to you). You will need at least the three basic documents as well - will, (who gets your money, assets and personal items) power of attorney (who can make financial decisions for you if you are unable to do so) and health care proxy (who can make medical decisions on your behalf)
  • Education: If you have kids and want to plan for the growing costs of college, 529s custodial accounts and other investments are available to help do so.
  • Philanthropy: Are you charitably inclined? Do you have causes that are important to you? Did you know that there are other ways to donate other than writing a check? You can also donate stock (Most who donate stock will donate appreciated stock, or stock that has gone up in value).

What happens after your money date?

Photo by Thirdman / PEXELS

Having an easy way to approach your money and having a system to manage your money will help you reduce stress around money and build confidence to move forward successfully. With the above plan, you can address both the quantitative side of your life as well as your qualitative side of your life to build wealth well. It's critical to explore the emotional side of money and what it means to you so you can better understand the best way for you to approach the dollars and sense of it.

If you're single and are thinking about when to start a money date — the best time to start is now. You're not too young and you're not too old. If you start today, you're one step closer to reaching financial peace of mind. Step one is set up time for your first date.

If you're in a relationship, the best time to start a money date is when you're beginning to discuss building a future together. When you have an SO, it takes the complications of money one step further as you each have a history with money that you bring to the table and to the relationship. Unchecked, it can cause challenges when it may be too late. Building habits early on and normalizing conversations about money will help you to implement the steps and actions that are needed to realize your goals together.

Having money dates on a regular basis will keep you consistent, disciplined, and focused financially. The benefits to a money date (and a lifelong process of money dates) is financial confidence — knowing where you stand, having the choice to do what you want with your time and money, and building a healthier, wealthier you. Money touches every aspect of your life, but money dates help you feel less stress, more in control, communicate better, and make better decisions in all of those aspects. By addressing this now, you're navigating complicated but important differences that you will want to work through together and start setting up healthy money habits now for your future.

Looking for more tools to help you jump start your road to financial freedom? Look for courses, classes, podcasts, books, spreadsheets, websites, instagram accounts that focus on to help address all things money. Check out my blogs on http://www.themoneydatebox.com where I share strategies and tools to help you get smarter about your money.

We are now two for two on expecting Taylor Swift to announce Reputation (Taylor's Version) during an acceptance speech and getting an album announcement instead. After showing up to the 2022 VMAs in a "Look What You Made Me Do"-inspired outfit and announcing Midnights, Taylor Swift wore a black and white ensemble on the 2024 Grammys red carpet before telling the world her new album The Tortured Poets Department was on its way!

And while accepting the 2024 iHeart Radio Music Award for Artist of the Year, Taylor also promises the rest of 2024 will be just as exciting as 2023. "We have so many exciting things ahead of us," the 1989 (Taylor's Version)singer says after thanking iHeart and the fans. "Most importantly, I have a brand new album called The Tortured Poets Department, which comes out on April 19. I cannot wait to share it with you...I just can't wait to keep having fun with you guys because we have a lot of exciting things coming up."

One of those exciting things includes a music video, which Taylor revealed in a "TTPD Timetable" Instagram video. This first music video premieres April 19 at 8PM EST for "Fortnight." Here's everything else we know about the new Taylor Swift album, and all its pop culture references.(And everything you need to know about Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version) too ;)).

Is The Tortured Poets Department going to be in the Eras Tour?

Image via Taylor Swift/YouTube Shorts

Yes, it looks like TTPD will be added into The Eras Tour! While I originally wondered if Taylor would just use the album during the surprise song segment of her concerts, a recent video from Taylor herself show off two clips that, in my opinion, prove we're getting an additional set. We can see Taylor leaning against what's undeniably the "TTPD" logo (while wearing shoes that could totally be in the "Fortnight" video?!) and an unfamiliar number with her background dancers using canes and top hats.

Considering "Fortnight" is the lead single, we'll probably see that song on tour. Based on the circus-themed lyrics in "Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me?" I'm wondering if we'll see that as well. I would also get DOWN to "Guilty As Sin?"

What has Donna Kelce said about TTPD?

Image via David Eulitt/Getty Images

It looks like Donna Kelce has been listening to Taylor Swift's new album as much as we have! "I listened to the whole album, and I listened to it all morning long when it was released," she tells People. "I was just very impressed. She is a very talented woman, and I think it is probably her best work."

Donna also says that, rather than giving Taylor Swift life advice, she's hoping Taylor can offer her some guidance! "She doesn’t need my advice on anything. In fact, I hope she will give me advice," she continues.

Is there a Tortured Poets Department cardigan?

Image via UMG Store/Taylor Swift

Yes, you can order a Tortured Poets Department cardigan on Taylor Swift's website now (or at least, while supplies last!). The gray button down is in the same cable knit style as all her previous cardigans, which makes it the perfect collector's item! Plus, it's got that iconic "The Tortured Poets Department" patch on the bottom left of the sweater.

What is TTPD the Anthology?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift released the full version of TTPD with The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. After all those 2 references, some fans thought we'd get a Taylor Swift book, while others wondered if it was part of the TS12 countdown. Instead, it was a double album that features 31 songs instead of the initial 17! Some tracks the internet is already obsessed with are "So High School,""thanK you aIMee," and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived."

How many songs will be on The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift dropped The Tortured Poets Department 's first song list February 5. "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" is totally referencing Taylor Swift's Eras Tour performances following her split from Joe Alwyn (you can see her crying during the set), while "Florida!!!" is all about using the southern state as an escape. Taylor Swift's dad Scott Swift recently told fans he's most excited for Swifties to hear the title track and "Florida!!!"

While we were excited for these tracks, Taylor surprised us with even more at 2AM! The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology has all the songs from the original album, plus 15 more. Here's the full tracklist for TS11:

  1. Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)
  2. The Tortured Poets Department
  3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
  4. Down Bad
  5. So Long, London
  6. But Daddy I Love Him
  7. Fresh Out the Slammer
  8. Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)
  9. Guilty as Sin?
  10. Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?
  11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
  12. loml
  13. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
  14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
  15. The Alchemy
  16. Clara Bow
  17. The Black Dog
  18. imgonnagetyouback
  19. The Albatross
  20. Chloe or Sam or Sophie or Marcus
  21. How Did It End?
  22. So High School
  23. I Hate It Here
  24. thanK you aIMee
  25. I Look in People's Windows
  26. The Porphecy
  27. Cassandra
  28. Peter
  29. The Bolter
  30. Robin
  31. The Manuscript

What is a tortured poets department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift has spent years talking about her anxiety, her sleepless nights, and her emotions. "My muses, acquired like bruises / My talismans and charms / The tick, tick, tick of love bombs / My veins of pitch black ink," she writes in her official Instagram post. "All's fair in love and poetry."

As far as the name, it looks like The Tortured Poets Department could be referencing her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn's group chat name — "The Tortured Man Club" with Paul Mescal (who starred in Normal People while Joe starred Conversations With Friends. Both series are based on Sally Rooney books).

Taylor Swift is also making major connections to the "poetry" aspect of TTPD because ahead of the album release, she gave us a limited library installation pop-upfull of Easter eggs and references!

When is The Tortured Poets Department release date?

Image via Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The Tortured Poets Department dropped on April 19, 2024. Ahead of the release, Taylor Swift sent fans on a scavenger hunt to gather clues about the album. @eurosweetheart on TikTok points out that on Apple Music, certain song lyrics from Taylor's discography featured random capital letters. But when the letters were strung together, they formed words! The final message was “We hereby conduct this post mortem.”

At the Eras Tour shows in Tokyo, Taylor Swift explained when she started working on TTPD. “I’ve been working on Tortured Poets since right after I turned in Midnights,” she said onstage. “So, you turn in an album months in advance…and I’ve been working on it for about two years. I kept working on it throughout the U.S. tour and when it was perfect, in my opinion, when it was good enough for you, I finished it.”

"Soon you'll get to hear it, soon we'll get to experience it together," she continued. "I'm over the moon about the fact that you guys care about my music...Everyone’s like, ‘Why do you make so many albums?’ And I’m like, ‘Man, because I love it! I love it so much! I’m having fun, leave me alone.'”

The brand new album follows Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version). When Midnights was announced after Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version), I wondered whether she'd have a two rerecordings, one new album pattern and it looks like that's what we're getting!

What is Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift's new album (which is also referred to as TS11) is called The Tortured Poets Department. Taylor Swift announced the album while accepting the award for Best Pop Album at the 2024 Grammys. Just like "Daylight" at the end of Lover sets up Midnights, I think "Dear Reader" sets up The Tortured Poets Department.

In honor of the eclipse on April 8, Taylor Swift posted the first lyrics from TS11! "Crowd goes wild at her fingertips // Half moonshine // Full eclipse," the lyric post (which ended up being from "Clara Bow") reads. "The first line makes you think of someone who’s famous (Clara Bow was an actress) and...moonshine was a type of alcohol that was popular during prohibition during the 1920s which is when Clara Bow was famous," one comment reads.

Taylor's official announcement features even more beautiful language that evokes the same emotion "The Lakes" does, and TTPD is very similar to Folklore and Evermore in terms of lyrics, but the sound reminds me of 1989. It also has ties to Reputation.

"I think the two albums are sisters albums, but in like an opposite way," one Reddit user says. "Reputation is all black, this one is going to be all white and softly coded." Another agrees: "Reputation is presented as a dark album but is truly a love album...This one is presented as soft and white but I bet the lyrics will be devastating."

TS11 has the same lyrical prowess as songs like "Would've, Should've, Could've," The National's "The Alcott" (on which Taylor's a featured artist), and "You're Losing Me." Taylor is all about looking past appearances and telling a complex story, and The Tortured Poets Department will be no different. Just like Reputation is an edgy, glittery, emotionally-charged version of the beginning of her relationship with ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, I totally agree that TTPD looks grounded, airbrushed, and dreamy from the outside, but the lyrics are SAD.

During her Eras Tour show in Sydney, Australia, Taylor played another round of suspicious surprise songs. While sitting at the piano, Taylor Swift takes her earpiece out and calls attention to the keyboard. "Do you hear that?" she says (via TikTok). "My damn keyboard's playing a synth sound." She then does what she almost always does when dropping an Easter egg: she smirks.

"That sound is how the album starts, mark my words," one comment reads. Another says, "That smirk tells me everything I need to know."

Will The Tortured Poets Department be explicit?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

There are 7 explicit songs on the original The Tortured Poets Department: "The Tortured Poets Department," "Down Bad," "But Daddy I Love Him," "Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)," "loml," "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart," and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived."

On The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, "The Black Dog," "thanK you aIMee," "Cassandra," and "The Bolter" are also explicit.

What is The Albatross about?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

During one of her Eras Tour shows in Sydney, Australia, Taylor Swift announced a new version of The Tortured Poets Department featuring exclusive bonus track "The Albatross." This new album already has some crazy track titles — all with pretty noteworthy meanings.

According to Collins Dictionary, if you call someone an Albatross, "they cause you great problems from which you cannot escape, or they prevent you from doing what you want to do," while a Bolter could refer to someone bolting out of a relationship (or bolting from a restaurant to a car like in this viral clip 🤨).

Meanwhile "The Alchemy" refers to the continual process of trying to turn something into gold — remember how Taylor Swift spent 6 years saying her relationship with Joe Alwyn was golden? Buckle up Swifties, TS11 is one wild ride.

What does loml mean?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

At first glance, the twelfth song on The Tortured Poets Department, "loml," means "love of my life." Some fans were wondering if the song was a nod to Harry Styles since his Harry's House finale track is "Love of My Life" (the album also features a track named "Daylight" which is another funny connection to Taylor Swift). But Taylor ends the song saying he's the "loss of my life" and I will never be the same.

How can I buy The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift store

You can order a bunch of different versions of The Tortured Poets Department on Taylor Swift's website right now, includingThe Tortured Poets Department CD + Bonus Track "The Manuscript" and The Tortured Poets Department CD + Bonus Track "The Manuscript".

Will The Tortured Poets Department have any featured artists?

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Yes, The Tortured Poets Department will feature Florence + The Machine on the song "Florida!!!" and Post Malone on the song "Fortnight." And after Taylor Swift teased a variety of collaborations by posting handwritten lyrics from artists like Harry Styles and Lorde, Swifties wondered if The Tortured Poets Department will be the "collab album" we never got.

Another clue that leads me to believe this is true is the fact that the title of this album is so much longer than her other titles — and she refers to herself as "Chairman" of the department. Who are all the constituents?! Are they all the same artists who left Scooter Braun's management last year? Only time will tell, because as far as I'm concerned, surprises aren't out of the question until the TS11 era is over!👀

What is the theory of Taylor Swift's double album?

Image via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Throughout her stay in Sydney, Australia for the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift dropped lots — and I mean lots — of twos. @v_swiftie_ points out that in addition to holding up the number two while announcing The Tortured Poets Department, she's been playing more surprise song mashups than normal, and Taylor Nation has been posting Instagram stories featuring the number 2 instead of the number 13. And it turns out, we were right about this leading to a double album! Taylor dropped the second half of TTPD — The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology — at 2AM EST.

Are you excited for The Tortured Poets Department? What kinds of collabs or songs are you hoping for? Let us know in the comments and check out these Taylor Swift Disney Movie Posters Inspired By Her Songs for more fun content!

Lead image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

This post has been updated.

We can't take all of the sweet baby news we've been hearing about! From Hilary Duff to Vanessa Hudgens, our beloved Disney stars are glowing mamas-to-be! The latest to join the list of growing families is High School Musical Alum Ashley Tisdale and her husband Christopher French! They've been a happy family of three for a while, but they're expanding with the announcement of Ashley's second pregnancy!

When did Ashley Tisdale announce her pregnancy?

Image via Frenshe

Yesterday Ashley Tisdale shared a mini carousel post on Instagram where she announced her second pregnancy in the most touching way! Pictured in a classic white button-up and slightly unzipped jeans, her cute baby bump is on full display! Her husband Christopher French and their daughter Jupiter also make a loving appearance in the post.

Has Ashley Tisdale shared her due date?

Image via Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Anastasia Beverly Hills

Since she just shared she's expecting baby no. 2, Ashley Tisdale hasn't disclosed her due date just yet.

What have Ashley Tisdale's friends said about her second pregnancy?

Image via Michael Buckner/Getty Images For Chrysalis

Several celebrities left sweet messages on Ashley Tisdale's Instagram post. Glee star Lea Michele wrote, "So happy for your beautiful family!!! 💓💓💓" while fellow High School Musical alum Corbin Bleu wrote, "Congratulations! ❤❤."

How do fans feel about Ashley Tisdale's second pregnancy?

Image via Noam Galai/Getty Images for goodnest

Fans are also ecstatic about Ashley Tisdale's pregnancy announcement. Instagram user @jsantam_20h, "So you mean to tell me that Sharpay and Gabriella are both preggars?? 😲🙌❤" in reference to Vanessa Hudgens also being pregnant right now. We highly doubt it was planned, but the timing couldn't be more perfect!

What has Ashley Tisdale's husband Christopher French said about their expanding family?

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Christoper French shared a heartwarming image of himself, Ashley Tisdale, and their daughter on Instagramto share his excitement about their growing family. His caption says, "Beyond grateful. Thank you my beautiful love @ashleytisdale for another baby French 💘."

Ashley wrote, "I love you!!! Juju is just too cute we had to have another!!" in the comments and we couldn't agree more! The sweetness of it all is making us have baby fever.

How old is Ashley Tisdale's first child?

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Speaking of Ashley Tisdale and Christopher French's daughter Jupiter, she recently turned 3 on March 23! People announced her birth in 2021 and shared that the happy couple were doing well. We can only imagine how excited she is to be a big sister.

Has Ashley Tisdale shared baby bump updates since announcing her pregnancy?

Image via Ashley Tisdale/Instagram

Ashley Tisdale posted this cute pregnancy update on Instagram yesterday and she she wore a casual outfit that we want to replicate. Although she appears to be wearing straight leg jeans, she wrote a relatable caption about them. "the only jeans that will fit me right now," it reads.

Maternity jeans do exist, but it's possible she's not interested in wearing them right now and we don't blame her!

How do you feel about Ashley Tisdale expecting baby no. 2?

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This post has been updated.

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