The Clark Howard Podcast

Happy Holidays! Please enjoy this Best Of episode. Clark returns January 3rd. The membership subscription business model has overtaken retailers large and small. Clark compares offerings from Target, Walmart, Amazon and 2 warehouse clubs, with a directive for consumers. Also, as if timeshares aren’t bad enough, organized crime is now getting into the resale scam game. Retail Memberships: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Cartels Target Timeshares: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Barrons: Delivery Is Retail’s New Game. How the Players Stack Up. Target Is Rebranding Its Credit Card Program: What You Should Know Costco vs. Sam's Club vs. BJ's Wholesale: Which Is Best? How To Manage Your Monthly Subscriptions To Save Money Parent PLUS loans can be a debt trap. Here's a loophole Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) Income-Driven Repayment Plans What Are the Tax Consequences of Debt Settlement? NYTimes: A Mexican Drug Cartel’s New Target? Seniors and Their Timeshares Clark.com - Timeshares How To Sell, Cancel or Get Rid of Your Timeshare 5 Steps To Getting a Good Deal on a Hotel Room How To Plan a Trip: Clark's Best Travel Tips To Save Money Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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

Today, our last show of the year, Clark looks ahead to where home prices are likely to go in 2025. Also in this episode, Clark shares data on the average 401(k) balance. There’s room for improvement to get better prepared for retirement moving forward. 2025 Home Prices: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 401(k) Balances: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Why You Should Never Store Your Payment Information Online Virtual Credit Cards: An Online Security Measure Worth Taking? Top 7 Ways To Shop Safely Online This Device Can Help You Avoid an Annoying Car Rental Fee Is a HELOC a Good Idea? The Simple Answer HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan: Similarities and Differences USA TODAY: The average 401(k) balance for ages 55 to 64 may surprise you Invest & Retire - Clark.com Should You Make Your Child an Authorized User on Your Credit Card? What Is Umbrella Insurance and Do You Need It? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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 today, Clark is truly concerned about the chaotic state of the United States Postal Service right now. In many regions of the country, people are dealing with serious consequences of delayed or undelivered mail. Know what you can do to protect yourself Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Unreliable Mail Delivery - Action Required: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Google Fi Review: My Experience as a Five-Year Customer (Pros and Cons) Government Executive: GOP senator to DeJoy: I will 'kill' your plan to reform USPS What Should I Do With My 401(k) at My Old Company? 401(k) Rollover: How To Roll Over a 401(k) What to Do if You're Facing Car Repossession Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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

One way you may be able to save money is through home Internet service. Do you really need the highest speeds? So many of us overbuy for what we actually need. Also, train travel in the U.S. has lagged behind other developed countries, but that is starting to change. More Internet Speed Than You Need: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 American Rail: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Clark’s Tips To Save Money on Home Internet in 2025 T-Mobile Rolls Out New Pricing for Home Internet Plans Verizon Home Internet: Things To Know Before You Sign Up 1099 Income: Why Prepaying Your Taxes Is More Important Than Ever if You Have a Side Hustle Net Worth Calculator - Clark.com More people are riding Amtrak than ever before, and improvements are on the way Where To Put Your Cash When You’re Saving for a Purchase in Less Than 5 Years 17 of the Best High-Yield Online Savings Accounts in December 2024 Best Online Banks: Free Checking and High-Interest Savings Accounts High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA) Calculator What's the Best Savings Account for a Teenager? Warning: Why You Should Never Buy Visa Gift Cards Clark's Christmas Kids 2024 Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices