At Clarkhoward.com, there is a message board known as “Clark Stinks,” where people can gripe about something Clark has said or done. He thinks it important that he never has the last word. That’s why some people come on the air who disagree. Clark just asks that you respect each other on the message boards. You can pick on Clark all you want, but only him. Speaking of the Internet, last month more people were hooked up to high speed Internet connections than were connected to dial-up connections. Obviously, the benefits outweigh the negatives because people are willing to pay the outrageous prices phone and cable companies charge.
Ten years ago, about 80 percent of people used a travel agent to make travel arrangements. The agents had a computer tied into the airlines and they shopped for a ticket for you. That started changing in 1999, when people began booking flights on their own. First airlines created their own Web sites. But these were pretty difficult to use, so people started the habit of using Travelocity, Expedia and other booking engines. Airlines then countered by making their sites easier to use. Today, it’s hard to say if any one site is the best because none of them will give you the best fare every time. Each one uses different architectures and shopping techniques. That’s why Clark likes Sidestep, an alternative to all of the “regulars” that searches deals alongside regular engines. In addition, more booking sites are coming on the market that are in “beta” stage but still work great. The first is Mobissimo. Clark has found it decent for domestic deals, although it takes a while to search. But it’s great at finding international travel deals. One launching next month is Kayak.com, and another good one is farechase.com.
When you owe money, you are in a weaker position. When you save money, you are in the driver’s seat. That is a core belief that Clark has had for years. He would like more young people to adopt that belief because teens and college age students are getting into debt at a very early age these days. In fact, the second largest group of people filing for bankruptcy today is between 25 and 34. Young people are being called “Generation Broke” these days because they owe so much. Well, there may be help on the way. A program is spreading across the country that helps young people handle money better. It’s called CARE – Credit Abuse Resistance Education - and it was created by a judge in New York who was concerned about the number of young people who were appearing before him to file for bankruptcy. There are programs in 30 cities, including Anchorage, Atlanta, Miami, Baltimore, Houston, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas and Detroit. Instead of having to deal with the aftermath of the problem, the judge is now stopping the problems before they start. If you work at a high school or college, you can bring the program to your campus. Learn more at careprogram.us.
A new survey out from Hewitt & Associates, an employee benefits firm, shows that only about one in three employees will get a holiday bonus this year. That’s a tiny fraction of the number of companies that used to give bonuses. The interesting thing is that the average bonus has risen significantly over the years. For those companies giving bonuses, the typical amount is about $550. So, employers who give are generous. But most companies give nothing. Clark thinks that the way companies think of their employees is crazy. Employers should be earning the loyalty of their employees instead of disregarding it. If you earn an employee’s loyalty, you will be rewarded in return with the good work. People work harder and are more productive when they feel appreciated. So, consider giving your employees a treat at Christmas. It’s enlightened self interest.
Do you have flood insurance? Statistics from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, show that only one in three people who live in flood zones have insurance. You might think your regular homeowner’s insurance will cover you in the event of a flood, but it doesn’t. Long ago, insurers established that they were not paying for flood damage. Clark hears it from both sides of the fence on this topic. But much too often, people who need flood insurance don’t have it. Seniors and retirees are some of the most susceptible. They often sell the home where they were living for a decent price and they buy their new, coastal home for cash. No one will remind you that you need to buy insurance if you don’t have a mortgage. If you are wondering whether you need flood insurance, go to floodsmart.gov.
Kids meals at restaurants are not the healthiest these days, you may have noticed. The menu items usually include hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken fingers. And the meal always comes with french fries. So what can you do to instill better eating habits in your children? Eat at home more often! Research from the Journal of Adolescent Health found that the more meals kids eat at home each week, the better their eating habits will be. In addition, they will be less likely as teens to have eating disorders, the journal states. If you eat just 1 to 2 family meals a week, one in five girls will manifest some kind of eating disorder. When the number jumps to three meals a week, one in 10 girls are at risk. Eating at home five times a week or more result in almost no chance of an eating disorder. Of course, we need more statistics on this, but the sample was very large and the results were extreme. On a positive note, teens and tweens are working out a lot more these days. According to Fox News, the number of teens going to a health club is up about 25 percent in the past few years. About five million kids are working out routinely at fitness centers. That is great news. Kids not only need to work on their physical fitness, but they also simply need to blow off some steam.
