There are nearly two million apps on the iOS App Store, and a lot of them aren’t worth your time. That’s why many of us, when considering a new app, turn to reviews: You want to see what other users’ experiences were like with the app—whether they loved it, liked it, or loathed it.

Personally, the current review system works fine for me. I scan some reviews, and generally get a sense of whether the app is right for me. If I’m feeling particularly analytical, I’ll even adjust the filters, perhaps to see which reviews are most critical (so it’s not just a bunch of fluff) or ones that are most recent, to see what customers thought of the latest version of the app.

But it’s 2025, which means one thing: AI. We can’t continue to live in the past. We must embrace the future of artificial intelligence, so say the tech companies. Why do 30 seconds of scanning, when the AI can cut that work down to 20 seconds? Perhaps even 15?

Apple’s AI App Store review summaries

With iOS 18.4, currently in beta, Apple is testing AI-generated summaries for reviews in the App Store. According to Apple, these summaries pull from “highlights and key information” from reviews for apps and games and are updated at least once a week, if the app or game has enough reviews to support it. These summaries will appear directly beneath the rating for the app or game, under the heading “Reviews Summary.”

Apple says review summaries are currently only available in English for a “limited number of apps and games” in the United States. The company plans to expand the feature to more countries and languages over the year.

Here’s the thing about features like this: they’re largely ignorable. If you love them, great! You can take a peek at the AI-generated summary and decide for yourself whether you’d like to read the reviews further. If you don’t like them, also great! Scroll right past to the reviews.

That latter approach is likely the one I’d take. For one, I don’t trust AI to get the gist right, even if the situation is relatively low-stakes. But, like I alluded to earlier, I also don’t think it saves that much time to read an AI summary versus scanning the reviews yourself. You might even miss some interesting insights the AI thought wasn’t important enough to make the review, or see some nuance that went over the AI’s, uh, “head.”

Apple is far from the only company to summarize reviews with AI. Google, Amazon, even NewEgg have all dabbled in this practice, so it’s not like Apple is breaking the mold here. But it does slightly rub me the wrong way—if we start relying on AI to summarize content like this, who is the original content being written for? Hundreds if not thousands of people are writing reviews of their experience, but if you only read the summary, those people are really writing their reviews for the AI—not other human beings.

iOS 18.4 is due out sometime in April. You can experience these summaries now if you install the beta, but if you’d prefer not to risk running temperamental software on your iPhone, you can simply wait until next month.

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When my wife and I bought our house two decades ago, one of the most exciting things about the process was finally having in-house laundry after spending our whole lives (almost literally) sitting in laundromats. The laundry center in the house wasn’t fancy—and it was small—but it represented freedom and we were excited.

Of course, upon moving in, the laundry machine was instantly non-functional, so we had to scrape out the bottom of our bank account and buy a new one. And that machine has been humming along for 20 years, and might still be running when the sun swells into a red giant and destroys the planet. Considering that most washers and dryers last 10-14 years on average, that’s pretty good.

This wasn’t pure luck, however—I’ve been single-handedly keeping our laundry center going with a combination of regular maintenance and some light repairs. What I’ve learned is that you can keep your washer and dryer operational much longer if you do some pretty basic stuff.

Make sure the machines are level

Your washer and dryer are pretty active appliances—they generate a lot of motion and momentum while spinning heavy, wet clothes around. It’s essential that they be properly balanced and level, otherwise the drums will be off-kilter, causing increased wear and tear on the whole machine.

When the machines are installed, their feet should be adjusted to ensure they’re sitting level and don’t rock from side to side. But you should also be checking your machines on a regular basis with a level—if the appliances aren’t level, it’s time to adjust them until they are. This only takes a few minutes and can really add to the lifespan of the machines.

Read the maintenance instructions

Your washer and dryer came with a user’s manual, and your clothes generally come with basic cleaning instructions. You should read through both to know stuff like

• Detergent amounts. Using too much detergent can damage your washer over time as residue builds up inside the machine, leading to mold and other damage. Your user manual will give you a guide on how much detergent to use.

• Detergent type. Check if your washer is a high-efficiency model. If so, you’ll want to use a high-efficiency detergent. Otherwise your washer will struggle to clear out all those suds and the extra wear and tear will shorten its lifespan.

• The location of all the filters, drains, and dispensers—the stuff you’re going to need to clean and inspect going forward.

• Error codes and other maintenance and troubleshooting information that can go a long way to keeping your appliance functioning longer, because you’ll have some clue as to how to resolve basic problems.

Clean the insides

A disturbing number of people I’ve spoken to believe your washer and dryer are self-cleaning because they are appliances used to clean things. While it might seem reasonable that a machine like your washer—which regularly soaks itself in soapy water—doesn’t need to be cleaned, this isn’t true. Cleaning your washer and dryer regularly will greatly increase both their effectiveness and their lifespan:

• For your washer, you can simply use some vinegar and baking soda in an empty load to clean it. You can also purchase cleaning products if the DIY approach doesn’t seem to be working. You should also clean out the filter and agitator and give the whole machine a good scrub, inside and out.

• For your dryer, you should clean the lint screen, the exterior vent and duct (you can buy drill-powered duct cleaners for this), and wipe down the interior drum.

Clear the drain hoses

The hoses that drain out of your washer can become clogged with what scientists call gunk over the years. Believe me, the first time I took a look inside my washer’s drain hose my life changed, and not for the better. You can usually remove the drain hose without needing to open up the machine—it’s probably just clamped in place. Take it off and use your garden hose to blast clogs out of it with some water pressure, and your washer will have an easier time draining—resulting in dryer clothes and less wear and tear on the machine.

Check your pockets

Everyone occasionally washes something they forgot in their pockets, and it might seem harmless (unless it’s your phone or something else allergic to water). But metal objects like coins, keys, or screws left over from your last DIY project can scratch drums, break stuff, and clog up your filters and drains. As a result, one of the easiest ways to keep your old washer and dryer humming is to always, always check your pockets before dumping stuff in the wash.

And while we’re discussing metal objects, you should also probably not wash clothing with metal in it, like underwires—or even zippers. If you have to wash something with a zipper, you can minimize the danger by making sure it’s fully zipped-up.

Don’t over- or under-do it

Washers and dryers are designed for specific amounts of laundry, and overloading or under-loading can cause damage to the machine:

• Washers should be run with full loads, but not overloaded. You can weigh your laundry and compare it to your washer’s capacity, which would be very accurate—but you’re probably OK just eye-balling things. Generally speaking, if you fill the washer up three-fourths of the way, you’re not overloading it. Anything less than half full is under-loading it, and both scenarios can cause damage and wear-and-tear to the machine.

• Dryers, on the other hand, are usually best run lighter. Keeping your dryer loads to about half the capacity of the dryer is a good practice—it’ll ensure your clothes dry more evenly and more quickly, and won’t stress the dryer as much (overloading a modern dryer can also mess with the sensors it uses to tell when clothes are dry).

As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, it’s important to separate fact from fiction when it comes to preparing your returns. “Tax laws are often summarized for [the] sake of quickly explaining a potential benefit—or conflict,” says Andy Phillips, Vice President of H&R Block’s Tax Institute. “When details are omitted, it’s easy to misinterpret law or consider the advice of a trusted friend versus taking time to do firsthand research.” Blindly following someone else’s bad tax advice could cost you precious time and money.

“I can file my tax return with the details from my last paycheck stub.”  

The figures listed on your last paycheck stub may be close to what will be released on your W-2, but it’s not guaranteed that the numbers are always right. Plus, as Phillips explains, this is technically not allowed. “Your last pay stub is not considered an IRS-recognized document for filing. It’s common for calculations to be slightly off throughout the year and not be accounted for until end of year. Payments such as bonuses and commissions can easily be forgotten, and no one enjoys the process of filing an amended return.”

Phillips’ advice: Wait for your employer-prepared W-2. He adds that you should “be wary of return preparers who advertise paystub filing, which is against the rules.” The employer should have issued your W-2 by Jan. 31 at the latest.

“Being unemployed means I don’t have to pay taxes.”  

If you receive any form of unemployment benefits either from the city, state, or federal level, then that’s considered income. All income should be reported on your tax return. Unemployment benefits paid are typically reported with a Form 1099-G. This form functions similarly as a W-2, outlining how much you were paid and if taxes were withheld. 

“Any money that I give counts as a charitable contribution.”  

Of course, giving without the expectation of repayment is an admirable gesture. However, Phillips notes that only charitable gifts and donations made to IRS-qualified tax-exempt institutions are tax-deductible. Typically, a receipt is provided when a tax-deductible gift is received. If you recently made a donation and are unsure if your donation was made to a qualifying organization, use the Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool located on the IRS website. Furthermore, you must itemize to deduct charitable contributions, meaning those claiming the standard deduction are not able to deduct those donations even if made to a qualified organization.

“If I work from home I can take a deduction for my home office.”

With the rise of remote work in the last few years those that work from home may think they can claim the home office deduction. Unfortunately, as Phillips explains, if you are an employee, you cannot claim the deduction—the deduction for employee business expenses was suspended beginning in 2018. On the other hand, if you are self-employed and have a home office it is likely that you can claim the home office deduction.

“This social media post told me that I can claim …”

As I wrote last week, certain tax “loopholes” may go viral, but that doesn’t mean they’re good for your specific tax situation. All across social media, I see creators telling people they can claim tax benefits that are either nonexistent or that they’re not eligible for. Philips concurs: Taxpayers should exercise caution when relying on claims made on social media and should ensure they only use reliable sources when making tax decisions.

“A tax filing extension gives me more time to pay my balance due.”  

Unfortunately, an extension of time to file does not give you more time to pay. Phillips says that “you should try your best to pay your estimated balance due when you request an extension.” If you can’t pay, filing a tax return is the first crucial step to determine your eligibility to enroll in an IRS-approved installment payment plan.

As Phillips explains, neglecting to file on time subjects you to a failure-to-file penalty, which starts at 5% of your unpaid taxes per month, up to five months. If the return is more than 60 days late, a minimum penalty applies. For this year, the minimum penalty is the lesser of 100% of the unpaid tax or $510.

On the other hand, the penalty for just failing to pay is only 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month the tax remains unpaid.

“This is why it’s so important to file a return, even if you cannot pay the full amount due,” Phillips urges. As long as you file, these penalties combined won’t exceed 25% of your unpaid taxes. Phillips also notes that interest also begins to accrue after the due date on the amount you owe IRS.

By steering clear of these common tax myths, you can avoid costly mistakes and headaches this filing season. As always, it’s best to consult a qualified tax professional who can look at your specific situation and give you legitimate, tailored advice.

With tax season in full swing, it’s prime time for married couples to maximize all the tax breaks available to them. One strategy that you don’t want to leave on the table: making spousal IRA contributions.

If one spouse isn’t employed, they might be missing out on putting retirement assets in their name—not to mention reducing the tax-deferred growth possibilities as a couple.

Spousal IRA contributions can double your retirement tax breaks

The IRA contribution limits for 2024 are $7,000 for those under age 50, and $8,000 for those age 50 or older. To clarify: You can make 2024 IRA contributions until the tax deadline on April 15, 2025. Generally, you can only contribute up to these limits for your own IRA, meaning you must have an income that will allow you to do so. And as always, you can and should max out these limits, if possible. However, with a spousal IRA, your spouse can also contribute up to the limit in an IRA under your name.

That effectively doubles the amount your household can sock away in IRAs (pre-tax or Roth) each year. The only requirement is that the spouse who owns the IRA must have enough earned income to cover both contributions.

For example, let’s say Alex earns $100,000 per year and her husband Kevin is a stay-at-home dad with no income. Alex can contribute $7,000 to her own IRA. She can also contribute $7,000 to an IRA that is under Kevin’s name. That’s $14,000 total that the household can now save in IRAs, rather than just Alex’s $7,000 limit.

How spousal IRAs work

A spousal IRA isn’t actually a separate type of IRA account—rather, it’s just a traditional IRA or Roth IRA set up in the name of a spouse who has little to no income. This may include those who are caregivers for children or other family members, workers who have returned to school, or people who have left the workforce for another reason.

To be eligible for a spousal IRA, you have to meet a few requirements:

• You must file taxes as “married filing jointly.”

• The earning/contributing spouse must make enough to cover the contributions to both their own IRA and the spousal account.

• There are income-based contribution limits for Roth IRAs and tax deduction limits for traditional IRAs based on your tax filing status. These may affect which type of account you select.

One key to a spousal IRA is that ownership stays with the person named on the account, no matter which spouse is contributing the funds. This also means that an existing IRA—funded while the owner of the account was in the workforce—can function as a spousal IRA if that person is no longer earning income and their partner simply contributes to the account on their behalf.

The bottom line

Eligible couples can use a spousal IRA to double their contributions to traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) even if only one partner has an income, and deduct a total of $14,000 (rather than $7,000 for the individual income earner) for 2024, as long as they do so by April 15. So there is still time for married couples to make spousal IRA contributions and double their tax-advantaged retirement savings—just be sure to specify which spouse the contribution is for when sending funds to your IRA provider.

With a little planning, a spousal IRA strategy can significantly boost your households’ retirement funds. And you can get an immediate tax deduction on your taxes if you make the contributions prior to tax day—so don’t leave this tax break on the table.