The Clark Howard Podcast

One major key to financial freedom is avoiding ruinous fraud. Recent reporting shows ponzi schemes up 70% over the year, so it’s vital to be aware of what’s coming at you through various channels. Clark’s primer on what to look out for includes incoming alerts and what NEVER to click on. Also, hotel brand consistency has given way to sales considerations in the industry overall, devaluing brands. Know what this means for you when booking a hotel.  Fraud Prevention: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 What’s In A Hotel Name? Nothing: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Barrons.com: Ponzi Schemes Surged in 2022. Many Involved Crypto. WPO - Friend or fraud: Seven ways to spot a Ponzi scheme, and other scams NYTimes: Retirees Are Losing Their Life Savings to Romance Scams. Here’s What to Know. ArsTechnica-Mysterious leak of Booking.com reservation data is being used to scam customers Worried about crypto exchange losses? Don’t pay money for “help” recovering money 5 Steps To Getting a Good Deal on a Hotel Room Scott's Cheap Flights | Save Up to 90% on Flights [The Washington Post] Expensive flights are here to stay, but there’s good news Top Travel Deals - Clark Howard Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also, Clark explains the difference between hard inquiries and soft hits to your credit report, and other factors that affect your credit report and score.  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Credit Report Inquiries: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Follow Clark Howard's #1 Rule To Travel Cheap Southwest Offers Companion Pass through Credit Card for Limited Time VENMO - Fees CBS-CreditKarma tricked customers into thinking they were pre-approved for credit cards-FTC Credit Karma Review: Free Credit Score and More at Your Fingertips Credit Karma vs. Credit Sesame: Is One Better Than the Other? The Difference Between a Hard Inquiry and a Soft Inquiry on Your Credit Report How To Get a Free Credit Report Best Investment Companies What the Great Netflix Password Crackdown Means for You Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown Will Affect 100 Million Users. Here’s What You Should Know Clark.com: Is Netflix Ending Password Sharing in the United States? What We Know So Far Clark.com - Streaming TV       /      Clark.com: Sling Freestream Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many took the wrong lesson from the speculative fever of 2020-21. As meme stock & crypto frenzy stoked message boards, people drove values up, and many ended up with heavy losses. Gambling & speculation should never be confused with investing. Understand the power of DULL and other lessons from a tortoise investor. Also, a booming scam area - FAKE search results and FAKE ads on social media with links to FAKE shopping sites. A few easy steps will help keep you safe from online scams. Clark gives you the rules of the road for shopping online.  Gambling Vs Investing: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Fake Shopping Sites: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show WSJ - The Retreat of the Amateur Investors 5 Sneaky Ways To Improve Your Credit Score NYTimes.com: With Many Retailers Offering Online Sales, Phony Sites Blend In Clark.com- How To Spot a Fake Online Store in 6 Easy Steps Virtual Credit Cards: An Online Security Measure Worth Taking? Fidelity Investments Review 2022: Pros & Cons Metro by T-Mobile: 6 Things To Know Before You Sign Up T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: 5 Things To Know Before You Sign Up Verizon Home Internet: Things To Know Before You Sign Up Clark Howard's 4 Travel Rules You Should Follow Right Now Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addressing the severe lack of affordable housing requires creativity and change around zoning, construction and serving seniors. Clark reports on some emerging options that can help ease housing cost pressures. Also, learn why current moves by manufacturers and retailers mean there’s added value to comparison shopping right now. Clark shares shopper savvy tips that can save you money.  Housing Rethink: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Shopping Strategy: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show NYTimes.com: The Next Retirement Communities Won’t Be Just for Seniors NYTimes.com: Senior Housing That Seniors Actually Like 3D-printed homes level up with a 2-story house in Houston What Is a 403(b) and How Does It Work? BBB - TicketSales.com When Is Grinding Out Savings Through Comparison Shopping Not Worth It? How You Can Use Unit Price To Save Money When Shopping 22 Ways To Save Money on Groceries ChexSystems.com Home Page How To Prevent, Report and Repair Identity Theft 5 Things You Should Repair Instead of Replace Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Got gift cards? Whether from individuals or employers, they’re a real target for fraudsters. If you received some over the holidays you still have - what you need to know now. Also, thinking of going on a cruise? Clark smart tricks of the trade include how and when to find a deal and what to watch out for.  Gift Card Fraud: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Save On Cruises: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show WCVB Boston: Receive a gift card over the holidays? Check the balance Clark.com - How Do I Use All the Funds on My Virtual Gift Card? What Is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor and Do I Need One? How To Find and Choose a Financial Advisor 3 Places You Should Never Invest Your Money IRS delays implementation of $600 reporting threshold for third-party payment platforms’ Forms 1099-K [The Washington Post] Love that cheap cruise price? Don’t forget the boatload of fees. Clark.com - Where Should I Look for a Great Deal on a Cruise in 2023? Clark.com - Cruise Information As new owner picks up pieces of custom-furniture e-tailer Interior Define, thousands of customers remain in limbo (msn.com) Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark recently talked about getting the best rate on your savings through online banks and credit unions. Today, he follows up with what brokerage houses are offering, and how you may be missing out on big yields by being with the wrong one. Clark’s call to action: Put your money to work for you. Meanwhile, healthcare is hitting Americans hard in the wallet. An overview of the industry underscores the shortage of primary care physicians and the cost shifting hitting patients. Despite such marketplace obstacles, there is something Clark strongly urges you to do.   Higher Savings Yields: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Healthcare Direction: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show WSJ.com: Some Investors Are Missing Out on Higher Yields—and Don’t Know It 6 Best Grocery Pickup Services  /  18 Ways To Save at Walmart Best 529 College Savings Plans By State Why urgent care centers are popping up everywhere NYTimes: Emailing Your Doctor May Carry a Fee Should I Invest Instead of Paying Extra on My Low-Interest Mortgage? SideHusl - Find the Best Money Making Option for You Clark.com How to Make Extra Money: 23 Easy Ways Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also, the latest jobs report has even the experts confused. Clark discusses the ongoing forces shaping our economy moving forward to foster informed decisions in your life. Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Clarkonomics & You: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show SIM Card Swapping: The Dangerous Cell Phone Scam Everyone Needs To Know 5 Steps To Getting a Good Deal on a Hotel Room New Report: The 9 Best Cruise Lines for the Money How To Use 'Vacations To Go' To Find Bargain Cruises NYTimes.com: Pace of U.S. Hiring Surges Unexpectedly Why did we get a monster jobs report if the economy is slowing? 4 key takeaways from the jaw-dropping January jobs report Automatic Bill Pay: How It Works and How To Do It Safely Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark warns about an old scam now active again - fake parking tickets! Learn who is targeted, how the scam works, and how to verify a parking ticket. Also, If you need a new mattress, what to know about the industry and why now is the time to buy.  Scam Alert: Fake Parking Tickets: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Primo Time To Buy A Mattress: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show BBB Scam Alert: How to spot a parking ticket scam Shopping around for MRIs, CT scans, mammograms and blood work can save big bucks Wills versus Trust - Clark Howard Community Mattress Buying - Clark Howard Community Niagara Falls Tourism Fee: How to avoid the charge (CBC Marketplace) Your Guide to Vehicle Subscriptions, the Alternative to Leases and Loans SIXT rent a car | Premium Car Rental & Top Deals Worldwide Turo: 5 Things To Know About the Cheap Car Rental Service Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark waxes poetic on the topic of neighbors. What’s this got to do with money? Plenty. Also in this episode, consumers are borrowing more and credit card debt is up along with interest rates on that debt. Clark reviews the unprecedented difficulties that got us here, and offers strategies for cutting expenses and getting credit card debt under control.  Know Thy Neighbor: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Credit Card Debt Control: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Sue Thy Neighbor: Homeowner Spats Over Fences, Trees and Additions Get Nastier - WSJ Clark.com - Timeshares The #1 Bill You Should Make Sure You Get by Mail No more paper statements only electronic - Clark Howard Community US consumers increased their borrowing by $28 billion in November Your Passport Could Be Useless -- Even if It's Not Expired 22 Ways To Save Money on Groceries How to Budget With a Cash Envelope System Why You Should Keep Old Credit Card Accounts Open Should You Get a Store Credit Card? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With some big pharmacies now cutting their hours due to labor shortages, Clark revisits your best options, covering employer Pharmacy Benefits Managers, and a new pharmacy option from Amazon. Also, Clark reacts to stories of corporate treatment of employees emerging from massive tech layoffs, and has key advice if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of losing your job. Rx Saving Strategy: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Layoffs: Conduct On Both Sides: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: WSJ.com: CVS, Walmart to Cut Pharmacy Hours as Staffing Squeeze Continues Amazon Launches $5-a-Month Prescription Drug Plan - The Wall Street Journal. Amazon Pharmacy: RxPass Report: The Best Pharmacies for Customer Satisfaction How To Buy Term Life Insurance in 7 Easy Steps BBB-File a Complaint Submit a complaint | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau NYTimes.com: Layoffs by Email Show What Employers Really Think of Their Workers The massive wave of layoffs is giving tech workers a brutal wake-up call about the reality of work NYTimes.com: Tech Layoffs Shock Young Workers. The Older People? Not So Much.  5 steps to take if you get laid off NYTimes.com: How to Cope When You’re Shown the Door How To Open a Bank Account in 6 Easy Steps Fidelity Youth Account - Any Good? - Clark Howard Community Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices