Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also today, If you love cruising, good news. An old way to get really cheap cruise prices at the last minute is making a comeback.  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Cruise Deals: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: The Best Place To Buy a Mattress The Platinum Card® from American Express Review: Is It Worth It? Target Is Rebranding Its Credit Card Program: What You Should Know NYTimes: Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers Kyte Review: Why a Tr ..read more

Right now in the U.S. we have record credit card debt, a huge stressor on so many.  To add insult to injury, supposed credit repair companies make things worse for those struggling to get back on their feet. What you need to know.  Also, Clark translates the scare stories out now about the stock market and offers direction for investors.    Debt Relief Scams: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Investing & Dollar-Cost Averaging: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Americans’ credit scores are falling. That hasn’t happened in a decade Maxed Out: Ins ..read more

Today - How the recent credit-card settlement affects merchants and your future transactions.  Also, do you need the latest greatest television? Clark explains why buying the latest TV technology is a waste of money. New Credit Card Rules: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Cheap TVs Are Clark Smart: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: NYTimes: Credit Card Swipe Fees Are Going Down. Are Points Going With Them? Visa, Mastercard credit-card settlement could save businesses billions Visa, Mastercard settle long-running antitrust suit over swipe fees with merchants Is an HSA ..read more

Clark recommends renting in a new city or state before you buy there, and has a great example of why to share with you. Also, Clark is very happy to report that the used clothing market is growing 7 times faster in the U.S. than the new market. Buying used is a great way to Spend Less! Rent Before Buying In New Locale: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Secondhand Clothing A WIN: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: New York Post: Florida transplants fleeing in droves over relentless heat, damaging hurricanes The home insurance market is crumbling. These owners are paying the ..read more

Clark recently talked about GM selling off driving data to auto insurers, and 2 of his predictions about this have now come true. That update plus - another invasion of privacy by the insurance industry has come to light, this time impacting homeowners. Also today, college costs continue to skyrocket. Clark explains how this has come about, and what today’s students can do about it. Insurance Spies: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 College Costs: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: GM faces 2nd lawsuit over driver data collection without consent - from Detroit Free Pre ..read more

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Speaking of Fridays - working hard or hardly working? There’s a trend of workers cutting out early on Fridays, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing.  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Flexible Fridays!: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Clark.com - TIRES The Basics of Municipal Bonds Travel Archives - Clark Howard /  Travel Archives - Clark Deals We’re Working Less on Fridays, and That’s OK - The Wall Street Journal. Guide to 529 Plans, Saving fo ..read more

Dollar stores and other discounters are reconfiguring. Clark clears media confusion surrounding closures and discusses what makes some discount retail operations more successful than others. Also - If you want job stability with a pension, this job sector wants you! Dollar Store Closures: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Who Offers A Pension?: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Dollar stores are shutting down across America. They did this to themselves 99 Cents Only Stores to close all 371 spots in 'extremely difficult decision,' CEO says - USA TODAY Dollar Tree Raises Max ..read more

Clark updates EV deals with Tesla now in the mix. Also, what to know about digital wallet options including Paze, a new entry from the big banks. Tesla Deals: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Digital Wallets: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: What’s wrong with Tesla? [The Washington Post] Ready or not, self-driving semi-trucks are coming to America’s highways Should You Take Your Pension in a Lump Sum or Monthly Payments? Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: Home Page Best Secured Credit Cards for 2024: Top Picks for Building or Repairing Credit The Family Digital W ..read more

Often at checkouts, we’re asked to donate to a cause by rounding up our payment or contributing one dollar. How do you decide when to give? Also, as a result of giant hospital systems buying up practices, you may be charged a significant “facility fee” at doctors appointments. Be ready by asking the right question in advance. Plus, out-of-network charges are being manipulated by private equity, costing patients more. Checkout Charity: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Medical Facility Fees: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: How To Choose the Best Charities for Your Donatio ..read more

Clark discusses filing an extension and what to do if you don’t have the money to pay income taxes. Also, many of us are dealing with sky-high valuations of our property, and Clark has a personal story to tell. Filing A Tax Extension: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Property Tax Appeals: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Tax return extensions: Why you should (or shouldn't) do it and how to request one When Are Taxes Due? Important Tax Dates in 2024 The IRS has 940,000 unclaimed tax refunds from 2020 that are about to expire. Is one of them yours? Advice | IRS has $1 bill ..read more