World News
Allo is a new app that aims to help people create positive habits with their finances through mindfulness on August 1, 2023 at 5:00 pm

Allo, a new financial app that can be described as Headspace for personal finance, is aiming to help users meaningfully engage with their finances without becoming overwhelmed with numbers and spending. The idea behind Allo is to help users create a mindful money practice that allows them to approach their earnings, spending, saving, investing and giving with a sense of fulfillment.
Founded in 2021, Allo helps users focus on gratitude and the importance of being aware of not only your numbers, but also your values and priorities when it comes to personal finance.
Allo was founded by Will Choi and Paul Montoy-Wilson, who both previously founded Aviate, an intelligent homescreen startup that was acquired by TechCrunch parent company Yahoo in 2014. With over 15 years of experience in software, the duo wanted to build a company that helps people create positive habits with their finances.
Unlike budgeting apps that only focus on spending categories like bills, insurance and transportation, Allo includes categories like nature, family, giving, working out and healthy eating. Users can choose to have a daily, weekly or monthly check-in with the app in order to become aware of their finances.
Image Credits: Allo
“There are plenty of apps out there that will help optimize your net worth or help you save an extra dollar per month and tell you you overspent on a coffee,” Montoy-Wilson told TechCrunch in an interview. “If there’s a budgeting app out there that works for you, that’s great. We’re not trying to take users from budgeting apps that they love. But, the reality is that those budgeting apps don’t work for most people.”
Montoy-Wilson says budgeting apps can make people feel guilty, which can lead them to avoiding their finances altogether. He believes simply being aware of your finances is an important practice, which is why Allo makes it easier to do so in bite-sized chunks.
To get started with the app, users complete Allo’s introductory course and learn from experts on how to feel more peaceful, confident and grateful when it comes to money. The app will ask you to select a few values that you want to focus on, such as health, being generous, exercise and kids. You can then use the values to tag different transactions during your daily, weekly or monthly check-ins.
Once you have set up a check-in, the app focuses on two things when encouraging you to be aware of your transactions. First, the app will encourage you to look at the things you appreciate. You can reflect on the transactions that made you happy, such as the money you spent on your family or well-being.
Next, the app will encourage you to reflect on the transactions that you don’t feel great about and may want to follow up on. For instance, you may see a transaction for a subscription that you intended on canceling beforehand and make a note to do so. Or, you may come across a transaction where you spent a lot of money going out, and don’t see it as a good use of your earnings. By reflecting on this transaction, you could make a note about wanting to instead spend more money on something you actually care about, like your health.
Image Credits: Allo
After you have finished looking through your transactions, the app will ask you to check in on your values and select which ones you want to focus on for your next batch of transactions. Say you want to focus on health, you can either decide to just pay more attention to your health-related transactions or actually spend more money in that area by doing things like eating healthier or working out more.
“A core principle of Allo is being aware of your numbers, but also being aware of your emotions,” Montoy-Wilson said. “What we’re trying to do with Allo is make it easier through bite-sized chunks to engage with your finances and start changing your relationship with money. And then making it easier to keep that practice going over and over again.”
Once you have completed your check-in, the app won’t surface anything else until your next one. Allo sees this as an “inbox zero” mentality that will help users set down their phone and not have to focus on their finances until their next check-in.
Over the past year, around 500 people across the United States have been testing Allo. The app is now available to download on the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. The app offers a free 14-day trial and costs $6.99 per month. The company currently does not have any plans to expand beyond the United States.
Allo is self-funded and Montoy-Wilson says the goal to keep it independent. The company currently does not have any plans to raise funding.
Allo, a new financial app that can be described as Headspace for personal finance, is aiming to help users meaningfully engage with their finances without becoming overwhelmed with numbers and spending. The idea behind Allo is to help users create a mindful money practice that allows them to approach their earnings, spending, saving, investing and
Business
Trump’s New Tax Bill: Major Breaks and Big Changes Ahead

The newly passed Trump tax bill is making headlines for introducing some of the most significant tax breaks and policy changes in years. Whether you’re a worker, parent, homeowner, or business owner, there’s a good chance something in this bill will impact your finances. Here’s a clear, detailed breakdown of what’s inside, who benefits, and what you need to know.
1. No Tax on Tips (With Restrictions)
Who Benefits: Workers in industries where tipping is customary (servers, bartenders, hair stylists, taxi drivers).

Key Details:
- Eligibility: Must work in a tipping industry, earn less than $150,000/year, and tips must be paid voluntarily (not as a service charge).
- Cash Only: Only cash tips are eligible (though there’s some debate if credit card tips count).
- Cap: Maximum of $25,000 in tax-free tips per year.
Fine Print:
This change won’t apply to office workers or high earners. For many, the main benefit is being able to report cash tips for things like loan approval, without paying extra tax.
2. No Tax on Overtime Pay
Who Benefits: Employees earning less than $150,000/year who work more than 40 hours a week.
Key Details:
- Deduction: You can deduct the full amount of your overtime pay from your taxable income, making it effectively tax-free.
- Time Frame: Applies to income earned from 2025 to 2028.
- Note: Only a small percentage of workers regularly receive overtime, but for those who do, the savings could be substantial.
3. $40,000 State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction
Who Benefits: Taxpayers in high-tax states who itemize deductions.
Key Details:
- New Cap: Raises the SALT deduction limit from $10,000 to $40,000.
- Income Limit: Only for those with adjusted gross income under $500,000.
- Must Itemize: You’ll need to itemize deductions instead of taking the standard deduction ($30,000 for most).
Fine Print:
This mostly helps people in states like California, New York, and New Jersey. If your state/local/property taxes are high, this could mean thousands in savings.

4. Deduct Interest on Personal Car Loans
Who Benefits: Buyers of American-made vehicles with loans.
Key Details:
- Deduction: Up to $10,000 in interest paid on a personal car loan can be deducted each year (2025–2028).
- Income Phase-Out: Deduction phases out for singles earning over $100,000 and married couples over $200,000, disappearing entirely at $150,000/$300,000.
- Car Must Be Made in the USA.
Caution:
Don’t take out a bigger loan just for the deduction—only buy what you can afford!
5. $1,000 “Trump Account” for Newborns
Who Benefits: Children born in the U.S. from 2025–2028.
Key Details:
- One-Time Credit: $1,000 per eligible child, deposited into a special account.
- Investment Growth: Money can be invested and used for education, a first home, or starting a business—taxed at favorable rates.
- Unused Funds: If not used by age 31, the account is cashed out and taxed as regular income.

6. Clean Vehicle and Energy Credits Ending
Key Details:
- The $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit and other clean energy incentives will end by 2026.
- If you want these rebates, act fast before they’re gone!
7. Extension of 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Who Benefits: Business owners, high earners, and estates.
Key Details:
- Top Tax Bracket: Remains at 37% (was set to rise).
- Business Deductions: 20% pass-through deduction and 100% bonus depreciation for business investments extended.
- Estate Tax: Higher exemption amount continues.
8. Social Security Income Relief
Who Benefits: Retirees collecting Social Security.
Key Details:
- Extra Deduction: $4,000 added to the standard deduction for those on Social Security (phases out above $75,000 single/$150,000 married).
- Not All Income Tax-Free: This shields some, but not all, Social Security income from taxes.
What Does This Mean for You?
- Workers: More take-home pay if you earn tips or overtime.
- Families: $1,000 for each new child, plus potential savings if you itemize deductions.
- Car Buyers: Big deduction if you buy American-made and finance your car.
- Homeowners in High-Tax States: Major relief on state/local taxes.
- Business Owners: Continued access to significant tax breaks.
- Retirees: Extra deduction for Social Security recipients.
Share This!
If you found this breakdown helpful, share it with friends and family—these changes could mean thousands of dollars in savings for millions of Americans. Stay tuned for updates as the bill is implemented and more details emerge!
Have questions about how these changes affect you? Ask below!
News
French President Dismisses Face Push as Playful Moment with Wife Amid Media Storm

French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed the uproar surrounding a viral video showing his wife, Brigitte Macron, pushing his face as they arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, calling the moment a playful exchange between the couple amid a media storm.
The incident occurred on May 25, 2025, as the Macrons landed in Hanoi to begin a tour of Southeast Asia. Video footage captured Brigitte Macron, dressed in red, reaching out from the doorway of the presidential plane and placing both hands on her husband’s face, giving it a noticeable shove. President Macron appeared briefly startled before quickly regaining his composure, smiling, and waving to those outside the aircraft. The couple then descended the stairs together, with Brigitte notably declining her husband’s offered arm.
The footage rapidly spread online, fueling speculation and debate in France and beyond. Some social media users and commentators questioned the nature of the gesture, while others interpreted it as a lighthearted moment. The French media widely covered the story, with headlines pondering whether it was a “slap” or simply a “squabble”.

Addressing reporters, Macron insisted that the incident was being blown out of proportion: “We are teasing and having fun with my wife, and a video turns into a sort of global disaster,” he said. “Everyone needs to calm down.” Macron further described the exchange as playful, stating, “We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife,” and dismissed any suggestion of a serious disagreement as “absurd”.
The Élysée Palace echoed the president’s remarks, describing the moment as a private instance of “decompressing one last time before the start of the trip by horsing around” and a “moment of complicity” between the couple. Officials noted that the incident was quickly seized upon by critics and conspiracy theorists who are habitually hostile to the French leader.

Despite the viral attention, the Macrons continued their official engagements in Vietnam as planned, with the president focusing on diplomatic meetings and efforts to strengthen France’s presence in Southeast Asia. The couple, married since 2007, appeared together at all subsequent events, signaling that the incident had no impact on their public duties.
News
What’s Happening With Harvard and Trump? Here’s What You Need to Know

Recently, Harvard University and former President Donald Trump have been in the news because of a big disagreement. Let’s break down what’s going on in a way that’s easy to understand.

Why Are Harvard and Trump Fighting?
The Trump administration tried to make a rule that would stop Harvard from letting students from other countries (international students) go to school there. Harvard didn’t think this was fair, so they asked a judge to help them.
What Did the Judge Do?
On May 23, 2025, a judge said, “Wait! Stop!” The judge told the Trump administration they can’t make Harvard follow the new rule right now. This is called a “temporary restraining order.” It means things stay the same for a little while, until everyone has a chance to talk about it more in court.
What Happens Next?
There will be two important meetings in court soon. These are called “hearings.” At these hearings, the judge will listen to both sides and decide what should happen next.
Here are the dates to remember:
- May 27, 2025: First court meeting
- May 29, 2025: Second court meeting
What Does This Mean for Now?
For now, Harvard can still let international students go to school there. The judge will decide if this can keep happening after the court meetings.
In Short
- Harvard and Trump are fighting about international students.
- A judge said to pause the new rule for now.
- The next big decisions will be made after the court meetings on May 27 and May 29, 2025.
We’ll know more after those dates!

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