The Clark Howard Podcast

Hertz is selling off cars. But should you buy one? Clark tells you what to watch out for and what is important when buying a used car. Certain activities are riskier right now. Clark talks about how to weigh the pros and cons of partaking in some activities as Covid-19 is still a real issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With many payments being deferred right now some creditors are making inaccurate reports to the credit bureaus. So watch your credit score closely! Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stock market took a big dip today. There are a few reasons for this and Clark explains. Amazon and Goldman Sachs have joined together to offer small business lines of credit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clarkdeals.com has been busy because deals currently abound. Clark talks about the best deals he's currently seeing. Small investors are buying incredibly risky stocks right now. There's a strong chance that will come back to bite them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Used car prices had fallen a good bit recently because of the pandemic. But the time for used car deals is over as demand has skyrocketed. Some people have accidentally thrown away their stimulus money. That's because it came in the form of a debit card in an unmarked envelope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some economists are saying that we aren't in a recession any longer. That's hard to understand when unemployment is still off the charts. Clark discusses the current situation of our economy. Ticketmaster has a new refund policy. Clark explains the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark talks about the great dilemma of whether or not schools should open in the Fall. Rates for taking on student loans in the Fall have plummeted. And CD's might be better than a savings account right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The CARES Act allows employers to make a decision on whether or not you can change the healthcare plan you are currently enrolled in. There are more scams floating around right now. Clark tells you what scams are popular right now and how to avoid getting taken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Store brands and generics are doing incredibly well right now. But they have always been a good money saving idea. A lot of people are having a tough time right now. But almost 9 out of 10 people have been able to pay rent on time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon has solid tablets at really great prices. And they have just released a new version. PayPal's older credit card offering just wasn't that great. But the new one is definitely worth considering! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark discusses how you should go about job hunting in today's environment. People are starting to drive again in larger numbers. Gas prices are lower than they were before the lockdown began so that's a silver lining. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Delivery services cost small businesses money. So many are opting to ditch the delivery services and Clark discusses how you can continue to support them. Using app like Venmo and Cash app are great for paying people that you know. But scammers are using these apps to swindle people out of their money. Clark tells you what to watch out for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark goes over a survey that shows what the average monthly expenses are for Americans. Some of the big food products, especially snack foods, are coming back in vogue these days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you are traveling this Summer, if you are staying in a hotel, it's important to stay safe. Clark tells you how to do that. An awkward and opaque letter will be coming to investors in the coming weeks. Clark bring some clarity to what this fiduciary disclosure means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cobra benefits are going to be offered to you if you lose your job in many cases. But those benefits can be EXPENSIVE. Clark discusses what the decision to get Cobra should entail. Should you go back to school in the Fall? That's a very real question. You might not be getting what you are paying for if Zoom calls are the likely classroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walmart just launched Walmart Express which promises 2-hour delivery. Many people assumed that home prices would fall as a result of the pandemic and increased unemployment. But home prices have actually gone up. Clark explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some restaurants have come under fire for charging Covid-related surcharges. But the revenue is down and expenses are up for most local restaurants. Clark Stinks makes a return to the show this week! If you have a Clark Stinks to share go to Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At-home exams for life insurance are starting to become the norm instead of being the exception to the rule. Buy life insurance on the internet in order to avoid the hassle. A lot of hiring isn't going to take place on the giant career websites. Look to horizontal job platforms for sector-specific job opportunities during the recovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The phone lines could be tied up at your bank or lender as MANY people are seeking relief. Clark tells you what to do. Second home communities will likely have a tough time for a while. Prices will likely go down for homes in these locations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walmart has been one of the biggest quarantine winners as earnings have gone up substantially. Cyber insurance is becoming an even bigger necessity as more people are working from home. But it's also getting more expensive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New mortgage forbearance rules are great for people who are having a hard time paying their mortgage right now. The stock market is doing well today thanks to progress on a potential vaccine for Covid. This shows how much we all want good news right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retail sales were even worse in April than economists expected. Clark Stinks is back! You can contribute to this segment by sharing the ways you think Clark Stinks at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some really helpful guidance on the PPP loans just came out. In particular, the SBA is providing safe harbor for PPP loans under $2 million. Your credit should not be negatively affected if you can't pay your bill right now. If you've seen your credit score take a hit, stand up for your rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark talks about how consumer purchasing has changed...and groceries have quickly gotten more expensive. Misinformation about the virus is rampant - in particular on social media sites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Airlines and airports are instituting safety requirements if you plan to travel in the near future. Student loan forbearance has been great for people with student loans. But some people are having their credit negatively affected. Not good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unemployment has climbed and is worse than the headline number shows. Clark also discusses how manufacturing is opening back up. Some Americans are being turned away from buying life insurance. Overall, life insurance is harder to get than it was just last month. The ClarkRave today mentioned Rhonda Roland Shearer's GoFundMe to cut red tape for heroes. You can find that here. Clark also mentions how to return an economic income payment on this episode. Check out FAQ #41 on IRS.gov in order to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Planning ahead for how to handle the end of mortgage forbearance is smart. Clark tells you how to talk to your mortgage provider if you need more time too. Clark Stinks makes a return to the show this week! If you have a Clark Stinks to share go to Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Consumer spending has been different since the pandemic hit. In particular, home workout equipment and bicycles are incredibly popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of people are covered by a multi-state agreement that will allow individuals with private student loans to put a pause on payments for 90 days. Google and Apple are helping in a big way with their contact tracing app. Clark discusses what they've done and the potential privacy issues you could encounter. Many businesses are now requiring that customers wear masks in order to shop there. This has created a really strong backlash in some cases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Costco and some grocery stores are limiting meat purchases as we're experiencing a meat shortage in the country. Humana is waiving copays for members right now. Travel reward credit cards are having a hard time getting customers to renew. So they are having to offer additional benefits to keep customers around. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spending habits have changed during the coronavirus outbreak. But it appears that everyone has cut spending no matter what your state's approach has been to locking things down. Age discrimination could become an even bigger issue post-Covid. Americans are saving a much bigger chunk of their money right now. This is good! How can you keep your car in good running order if you aren't driving it!? Clark discusses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Employers fear liability from as they bring employees back into the office. Virtual volunteering might be a great use of your time right now. Warren Buffet has sold all shares in the major airlines. Their stocks are getting hit hard. Clark talks about the long-term projections for air travel. Micro businesses are helping keep people afloat in difficult financial times. Starting a super-small side hustle might make sense for you. Should you take cash out of your home or out of your retirement account? Neither is best. But if those are your choices be sure to listen to what Clark has to say. Clark mentioned this link to Ticketmaster's blog with their refund terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark talks about what his life looks like right now and how his family is handling being cooped up together. There have been some positive benefits! People are avoiding doctors or going to the hospital right now. That is not safe! Truck drivers have done a great job keeping the supply chain going but it hasn't been without a lot of hardships and obstacles. Taking money from your 403b is a particularly terrible idea. You could face massive surrender charges in addition to the taxes you'll have to pay. If you enjoyed this episode of the Clark Howard Show please hit the subscribe button. And also consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps others see the value that this show is providing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should you still go on Summer vacation? That's the question on a lot of people's minds. Clark talks about how you should think about your upcoming Summer travel. Costco is making all customers wear face masks if they want to shop in the store. This is making some customers upset. But we're going to have to get used to more and more safety rules being implemented by private businesses. Some people are trying to time the market right now and are getting burned - in particular by sectors they don't understand very well before they start investing cash. People are starting to hop back on airplanes. Clark discusses what he thinks a resurgence of air travel should look like. If you enjoyed this episode of the Clark Howard Show please hit the subscribe button. And also consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps others see the value that this show is providing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Florida is doing a terrible job getting unemployment payments to citizens who have applied. California is having a tough time funds to independent contractors, gig workers, and the self employed who are eligible. Consumer spending has fallen off a cliff. Clark talks about some of the numbers that are coming in and where the American economy stands right now. Walmart and Paypal are two of the best places to cash your physical stimulus check in order to avoid exorbitant fees. CVS & Walgreens are ramping up free Covid testing outside stores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beef and pork prices are likely to rise soon because of the shortage due to Covid. Also, paper goods are making a reappearance on store shelves...finally. Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast aren't terminating anyone who can't pay through the month of June. They won't charge late fees either. If you have to take on more debt right now in order to put food on the table, make sure you do it wisely. Clark gives recommendations for where to go to avoid predatory loans that will make your financial situation even worse. Covid is rapidly changing our economy. The virus is accelerating the decline of businesses that were already having a tough time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People are getting ripped off buying physical gold right now. Buy a precious metals ETF instead! The car market has changed rapidly. Clark tells you when the ideal car buying window is. Has Covid-19 killed the FIRE movement? Lots of headlines suggest that it has, but Clark disagrees. If you lose or leave your job, what should you do with that old 401k? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the states are handling unemployment claims incredibly poorly. Clark talks about how Florida and Texas are having major issues disbursing those funds to people who have lost their jobs. Google is verifying ad buyers to prevent Covid scams. Credit card issuers are cutting limits on consumer credit cards. This could make getting through this pandemic even more difficult for many people. Banks are being stingy when it comes to forbearance terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The SBA has issued a press release clarifying that bigger companies should not be filing to receive PPP funds. This is good news for small businesses who desperately need the money. Scam artists have figured out how to steal stimulus checks. Clark tells you how they are doing it and what can be done about it. It's important to be prepared with your financial information now. Make sure your loved ones know how to access necessary financial documents in the case of emergency. The housing market is going through an interesting time. Clark discusses that and the increased requests for mortgage forbearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is on the verge of passing a bill to provide more funding for small businesses. Clark also talks about how many bigger companies took a large chunk of the first round of PPP loans. The big three U.S. Credit reporting agencies help Americans with more frequent access to credit histories for one year. Great news for consumers! Americans are poisoning themselves as they attempt to fight the virus through increased cleaning efforts. Google searches have changed in a big way since a year ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oil prices are cratering. Clark talks about why this is happening and what it means for consumers. Some states are making the decision to re-open parts of the economy. But how quickly things will actually recover will be up to individuals and how safe they feel. Dealerships aren't taking leased cars back. They are flat out refusing. How busy is the grocery store? Google has a way to help you find out when the store has fewer people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PPP money ran out towards the end of last week. But a deal is close to secure more funding for loans to help small businesses. Ticketmaster will be giving refunds for rescheduled or cancelled shows...finally. College graduates will be entering the toughest job environment since The Great Depression. Clark has some thoughts. Why pro-rated unemployment is something worth considering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People have not altered their approach to 401k investing. This is good news! Also, here's the link for non-filers to submit stimulus payment info. Clark talks about how we are going through this together - you are not alone right now. The headline writers are predicting doom and gloom. But this is unrealistic and it's creating anxiety for no reason. Apple is releasing a new cheaper SE phone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PPP and EIDL are complete failures. Clark talks about why these programs went so horribly wrong. Germany is attempting a soft reopening of its economy. Clark thinks they are approaching it well. A lot more of us are working from home now. But will you get a tax break for it? Clark discusses - and this article is worth reading on the subject. Robots are improving. And some cleaning robots could save lives and prevent humans from having slowly clean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark discusses the specifics of the airline bailout. Telemedicine is becoming more and more important. Make sure to not forego necessary medical visits right now...just have them remotely! Customer no service is a regular problem in the age of Covid-19. Government agencies and many companies are responding in a much less timely manner. We're all streaming more TV these days. Clark tells you where you can go to stream for FREE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google & Apple are working together on a contact tracing app. This could help as we seek to remain safe as businesses reopen around the country. We will still need to up our abilities to test people for the virus. Grocery store workers find themselves at higher risk right now just by going to work. Clark talks about how these workers are being treated. As they put their health at risk, we should be particularly appreciative of their work. Car buying is undergoing a massive shift as buyers want to avoid face to face negotiations at local dealerships. Lending standards are starting to tighten. We saw this in the aftermath of the Great Recession and we'll see tighter standards implemented by many lending institutions in the coming months. Also, you can apply for a PPP loan with Paypal now via this link. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stimulus checks are starting to hit bank accounts. But how should you handle the money you receive? Clark gives his thoughts. Car insurance companies are sending rebates to customers. Clark gives the specifics on which companies are doling out these refunds. Ticketmaster and StubHub are not treating their customers well right now. How should you be investing right now? The market is volatile. Clark discusses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When will people be able to go back to work? Clark talks about a potential timeline and what it will look like as the economy attempts to rebound. The PPP and EIDL loan programs are failing small businesses. And the goalposts keep moving on lending amounts. Also, the big banks need to do a better job at getting this money into the hands of local small business owners. How can you stay safe at the grocery store? Clark discusses what it should look like the next time you go shopping. It's pretty hard to watch scams proliferate right now. But that is exactly what's happening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unemployment numbers are up big today. Clark talks about when the increased unemployment checks will arrive. Also, fintechs are starting to lend to small businesses as part of the PPP program. Online lender Kabbage is taking applications and has a great guide to the PPP for business owners. The Federal Reserve unveiled a program to offer support to mid-size businesses just this morning. Exercising during quarantine is so important. It's good for your mental and physical health. Working from home is standard for many people now. Clark tells you how to do it well - and where to buy new equipment that might help you work better from home for the long-term. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark tells you how to handle a scenario in which you can't pay rent. The key is communication. The SBA lending progress is still tied up. Clark talks about what is happening on the ground and the changes he would like to see implemented. The housing market is experiencing a bit of turmoil right now. Many buyers are putting off their search right now. But Clark doesn't think that the housing market will experience a prolonged downturn. Some private student loan lenders are extending forbearance to borrowers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark interviews Ashley Bell from the SBA in order to find out more on the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The DOL has issued guidelines to states on unemployment relief. States will now have to write new code on their sites in order to handle the requests There are great free resources out there for people suffering mental health consequences due to Covid-19. Clark discusses how to reach out for mortgage relief. If you have a loan with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and have lost your job or faced reduced income because of Covid-19 you qualify for loan forbearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices