The Clark Howard Podcast

People have issues with financing, builders, selling, and buying used homes. There are many confusing moving parts. Clark discusses 9 steps to buying a home involving credit, qualifying and shopping for loans, shopping homes, negotiating etc. Local communities have design rules that have crushed affordability for first time home buyers. In dense urban areas, the value of land drives the cost of homes. So out-of-date rules on land use create many inefficiencies, including affordability. The next wave of urban planning should take into account creating efficiencies that will allow more affordable, smaller single-family housing in metro corridors. Clark's 13-year-old son was all over getting a cell phone protection plan. We're so connected to our devices that when in a cell phone store, we're susceptible to the pitch to buy their junk insurance product. Don't do it. Cell phone insurance is horrible, trashy junk. Don't do it. It's overpriced, and you have a big deductible for what's usually a refurbished replacement phone. Have wide insurance in your life disability. Use a credit card hat provides free cell phone insurance when you use it to pay your monthly cell bill. There's one thing higher and trade education students can do to boost their chances of good-paying jobs after school - work while in school. ​Working in college makes for higher paid grads. Northeastern University grads tend to easily get good jobs after school because working is built into the curriculum. Students alternate semesters with working full-time. The degree takes an extra year, going year-round. New grads have years of experience in their field of study. Having work experience provides maturity so valuable to employers. Clark was a full-time working night student in college and grad school. That work experience served him well, allowing him to retire (the 1st time) at age 31. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back to school sales have begun in much of the country. Overwhelmingly, schools have migrated to Chromebooks as the computer of choice. Chromebooks are easier to manage and maintain and are less vulnerable to viruses. No frills Chromebooks are under $100. If your child is going to a Chromebook based school, your cost will for a really capable one will be around $150. If your child is going to a Windows school - a good Windows laptop will cost around $199. Yet another medical bill shock. In mid and large size communities hospital systems are expanding to gain market control, with generally 3 such systems dominating a metro. In addition to 'roll-ups' - the buying out of smaller independent hospitals, large hospital systems buy up individual doctor practices. If the doctors choose not to sell-out, they get no referrals. When your doctor's practice is purchased by a hospital, know that is a landmine for your wallet. Clark is not an athlete but is a self-motivated fitness nut. In order to sustain an exercise program, many find they do much better as part of organized group activities. That's a hot trend right now. Many traditional fitness centers are failing (so don't pay big money upfront for a gym membership). Experiential facilities offering group classes are the rage now. This is labor-intensive for a facility and therefore expensive for consumers. If you know you need group motivation, consider your local YMCA as an affordable alternative, where classes are offered for less. Also, all over the country, there are free exercise group activities to be found. Search a site like MeetUp.com to locate a free local meetup group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's much confusion surrounding life insurance - Who needs it? How much? How do you go about buying it? Only ultra-high income earners might be candidates for whole life. Avoid universal life and variable universal life - those are recipes for disaster. Most people should have level term life, wherein the premiums do not change for the term of the insurance. The purpose is the replacement of income to provide for loved ones. Term life only pays in case of death and is easy to comparison shop for and buy. In the midst of seaside nuptials, a distress call occurs. A teen surfer is being dragged out to sea, as 2 others attempt a rescue. Groom Zack Edwards, a Coast Guard member, springs into action. All make it safely back to shore. Link to the video at Clark.com. Often we only get the bad news. Zack Edwards made the decision to risk his life for others. What do you want to achieve? What's important to you? The FIRE movement is getting backlash today against people who've set the goal to retire early by saving maximum money to do what they want in early retirement. Have the goal. Track your spending. Paying with cash makes for more mindful spending. For those who can't get spending under control, living on a cash basis only drastically reduces spending. Make sure to automate savings into your retirement accounts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The cost of home broadband has gotten so expensive and more consumers are disconnecting home internet in favor of cell phone Wi-Fi. USA Today reports 40% are using cell phone internet exclusively now for service. They're finding that it works out fine. On cell phones, people don't have to worry about data overages. Some carriers may impose network management for those who've used a lot of data that month and find themselves in congested areas, by crawling service till the next billing cycle. But there's no overage. This is a great alternative to paying huge money to a cable monopoly for home internet service. The simple scam hitting millions of us is an easy rip-off to watch out for. Consumer warning: What you don't notice on your monthly bills can cost you. While a big bank looked the other way, criminals stole untold hundreds of millions from consumers. The bank had sold all the credit card numbers in their portfolio to crooks who put fake charges through monthly for 3 years. The bank played dumb and 93% of consumers never noticed fake charges hitting them every single month. The worst part is that the criminals are heavily targeting debit card users. If you don't notice immediately a fraudulent debit, you don't have the rights that come with credit cards. The money is gone forever even if your bank acknowledges the fraud. You're out the money. It's up to you every month to look through credit and debit charges. If something doesn't look right - dispute it. Much of the country has seen devastating flooding. Even outside federally designated flood zones there is risk. Facing that risk is vital. By FEMA's own admission, current flood maps are out of date and incomplete around the country. 3 additional factors: rising sea levels, development replacing ground cover with asphalt and increasingly severe weather patterns - are putting more properties at risk of flooding. The Midwest is suffering mightily from extreme flooding, devastating the lives and finances of many. The terms "1000, 500 and 100 year floods' refer to specific math formulas and are not to be taken literally. Be realistic. If you can see development above you, you could be a sitting duck for flooding, which regular insurance does not cover. Check prices at Floodsmart.gov. If you're in a low risk area, the premiums vs the coverage are reasonable - a few hundred a year in a low risk area for around $250,000 in coverage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The app Tinder has changed the way you pay for its services because Google Play charges apps a WAY too much money; Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Solar prices have plummeted. More consumers should strongly be considering purchasing whole-home solar; Almost 20% of kids carry a credit card. That is incredibly dangerous; You should strongly consider changing banks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The T-Mobile merger is likely to be approved very soon. And it's not all that bad as it turns out; Don't take "anonymous" surveys that your work sends you. You aren't really anonymous; Clark tells you when to call customer service to avoid waiting forever for help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Putting in fake grass could be better for the environment and for your wallet; The CFPB has created a co-branded card with H&R Block. The CFPB is siding with businesses now instead of consumers; It's really hard to find cheap contact lenses. Clark tells you where to shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark tells you what you need to know about the Equifax data-breach settlement; One school district threatens parents over unpaid lunch money; Consumer Reports rates the best (and worst) payment apps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google's Chrome browser is tracking you more than you realize. Clark gives thoughts on searching and browsing and not being tracked; Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Swedes are getting microchip implants to pay for things; Marriott has been sued over astronomically high and deceptive resort fees; Check out this prescription drug tool that could save you money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fidelity is taking their fees even lower; The viral Face app has some terrible terms and conditions that you need to know about before using it; Moving is full of potential pitfalls. Clark tells you what you need to know first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Credit card companies are torching the secondary benefits that they offer their customers; A lot of Ford Focus' and Fiesta's have major transmission issues; Consumer debt is at an all-time high...which is scary considering how good the economy has been. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google smart speakers are ALSO spying on you. Know what you are getting into before you buy; Clark tells you what to watch out for with this new credit card scam phone call; Texas makes a college education at UT free for some low income families. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Credit card companies are lowering the limits of their customers at random. Clark tells you how to protect yourself; Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What to do with the new (and confusing) W-4 income tax form; FDA warns about pricey blood transfusion company; The obesity rate is declining amongst American children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CVS is launching new "health hubs" in multiple cities which could change the way we folks receive healthcare; Wells Fargo is under fire again for having cheated their auto loan customers by signing them up for insurance that they didn't request; Fall travel deals are looking GOOD! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do if you own a car that is no longer being manufactured?; USB charging ports, especially in high traffic areas like airports, pose a new threat to your phone and personal information; How can you find a good side hustle? There's a new site to help you with that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dash cams are cheap insurance. They can provide invaluable evidence in the case of an accident; Clark talks about how you get compensated by airlines in the event of delay; Personal finance education is coming to Ivy League schools like Harvard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some folks in San Francisco are living on boats. Others are making difficult choices about where to live in certain expensive housing markets; Prisons have profited off of prisoner phone calls for too long. Some states and municipalities are starting to make it easier and cheaper for prisoners to stay in touch with their loved ones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How should you go about financing a car purchase - especially in this current interest rate environment?; Navigating the world of job hunting can be difficult, especially as you get further along in your career. Clark has some advice to consider. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3D printing replacement car parts is becoming a more common thing - and could lower the cost of car repairs in the future; Fake kidnapping scams are becoming more common. Clark tells you what to look out for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have to know where to go to complain when you have issues with a credit bureau; Brick and mortar stores are tracking you while you are shopping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon doesn't like people saying that its review system harbors many spam reviews. Clark tells you how to discern the review system as you shop; Backseats aren't as safe as they used to be. And your child might actually be safer in many front passenger seats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blue collar workers receiving better perks on many job sites these days; Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Non-compete clauses are really bad - yet they are still pervasive; SO many Americans are running a monthly credit card balance. That's not good!; 3-d printing is having wide-ranging impacts in the field of medicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark talks about how you too can become a 401k millionaire - and why a Roth 401k might be your best bet on the way; Watch out for crypto scams that are proliferating; Carry on bag rules are a nuisance. Clark tells you how to save money and get around most of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark discusses the Consumer Reports car buying service and whether or not you should check it out; Watch out for social security imposter scams; Debit cards are a major risk for college students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some apartment complexes are now lending money to young folks that can't afford rent; Some hospitals are billing insurance companies a LOT more than Medicare; Clark talks about new fintech tools that can help you keep up with what is actually going on with your elderly parents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Clark: "I get so many investing questions that I wanted to created a special episode where we can drill down to your specific questions about investing. That's why we created this special episode." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smart speakers seem to be losing some of their appeal to Americans - and this might be because of the privacy concerns associated with them. Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark talks with David Lazarus of the LA Times about a bogus credit card fee that Citi has been charging one customer for YEARS; Privacy policies are too long and too hard to read. That needs to end; Watch out for companies trying to sell you non-compliant health insurance plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark discusses what the new Facebook backed cryptocurrency means to consumers; Because of the astronomical prices of Insulin in the states, many are turning to Canada for their Insulin needs; Will the climate initiative rollbacks have negative consequences? Unlikely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover is eliminating all banking fees. Woo hoo!; Watch out for this Google Calendar scam. Clark discusses how you can change your settings to make it harder to get scammed; Walmart has just launched really inexpensive grocery delivery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Criminals are taking over your phone and stealing your information and money. Clark tells you what to do about this major new crime; Drug manufacturers are upset about the new up-front pricing rule; Car safety features are improving at a rapid clip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Booking.com is attempting to crack down on resort fees that have run amok. Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samsung is releasing a line of great phones at a price point that is incredibly affordable; There are many reasons to beware of timeshare exit companies; Reverse mortgages are not good. Clark tells you just how bad they can be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dollar Tree is having to raise prices in some of its stores because of tariffs; Beware when using the Zelle app because scams are proliferating which can use your Zelle login to raid your bank account; Facial recognition is growing in popularity - especially in China. But there are some massive privacy concerns happening here in the United States when it comes to using facial recognition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon is offering a secured credit card for its customers that don't have great credit; Burger King was selling Impossible Burgers in NY even though they hadn't launched Impossible Burgers in NY yet; Gas prices are dipping and have gone below the $2 threshold in the lowest cost states. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FCC has just made it easier for the major cell phone companies to curb robocalling; The private data of millions of Americans were just made public through a data breach; The SEC has just voted to allow misleading labels for brokers. Clark is not a fan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should you do about uninsured motorist coverage? Should you have more? Clark discusses; Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reverse mortgages are incredibly costly and are a poor choice for almost everyone; Teen credit card use is way up. That's not good; A basic blood test can cost $11 or $1000 depending on where you go. That's insane. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a charter school in a poor Philadelphia neighborhood that is changing the way personal finance is taught to youngsters; Wells Fargo employs a much higher swath of shady brokers than other companies do; Exercise is actually one of the highest predictors of happiness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are some new stats out on where the best jobs are; Watch out for this police donation scam. Your money doesn't actually go to help officers; Bad debts are increasing and many Americans are increasing their levels of credit card indebtedness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prices are now in constant flux. Clark discusses how to shop online in light of this new reality; Debt settlement firms promise a lot but deliver very little; Funerals are changing. Many are changing the focus to celebrations of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Tesla is actually cheaper to own than a Camry when you consider the total cost of ownership; Cable and satellite companies are losing lots of subscribers. Streaming for the win! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona is making it easier for people that move there to start a business in the state. Clark says that other states should follow suit; Are you actually covered by rental car insurance? Are there other ways to get insurance on a rental vehicle more inexpensively? Clark discusses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Small businesses are at high risk for ransomware attacks. Clark discusses the importance of protecting your small business on the digital front; How you can move forward after getting laid off? There are different paths you can take to succeed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lots of people are putting premium gas in their tank even though their car doesn't require it. Don't waste your money!; Very few college graduates can answer just a few basic questions about personal finance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cruise ship companies and airlines are starting to use facial recognition to speed up boarding in an attempt to provide better customer service. There are also privacy concerns; Annuities are bad. Really bad. Almost always. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices