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A recent survey of teenagers of all intelligence levels shows that young people know very little about budgeting and finances. Clark tells you how to get your kids up to speed. Listen now!

Clark never thought he'd be telling you this, but there are a couple very rare circumstances when it is okay to lease a car. Click here to get the scoop!

One of the reasons Southwest Airlines has remained so profitable is because the company hedged its bets and pre-purchased fuel several years ago through futures contracts. As a result, the company is paying the gas prices of 2003 and 2004 instead of 2006. It’s a great idea, if you’re willing to take a risk. A company in Minnesota is allowing people to do this. It’s called “First Fuel Banks,” and it’s only open to people in Minnesota right now. But this could be a great idea for business all over the country. If you are able to fix the price of what you’re paying for gasoline, you’re sitting pretty when gas prices go up. For example, many people in Minnesota are still paying about $1 for a gallon of gas. Of course, the downside is that you’re stuck if prices go down. But it’s all about hedging your bets. In Clark’s opinion, it’s better to let the rate float. But sometimes it works. What if you could commute at zero dollars per gallon of gasoline? Commuting by bike is the answer. Safety is a concern, of course. But cities all over the country are adding bike lanes to their roads, so it’s more of a possibility than you may think.

Clark was in a mall this weekend! Yes, that’s right. He needed a new suit, so he went to the mall. But, it’s not what you’re thinking. This is a very different kind of suit. It never has to be dry cleaned! The suites are 50 percent wool and 50 percent polyester, and are available exclusively at J.C. Penney. After you wash the suit, you just hang them out to dry. It’s for the guy who must wear a suit but doesn’t want to deal with cleaning them. That’s Clark. Now, you may be wondering how they’ll look after a few washes. Well, we’re going to show you. Clark will show you before and after pictures on the site soon. So what do they cost? The jacket costs $109; the pants are $44.

Consumer Reports is a phenomenal organization that does a great service to the consumer without any outside influence. The company buys everything it tests and doesn’t accept any freebies that could taint the company’s reputation or decision making. Clark trusts the company so much that he reads it each month cover to cover. Other companies despise CR, especially car companies. Every April, the car dependability issue comes out and people rely on it to make purchases. So, if a car gets the “not recommended” mark, it could be death for that car and possibly company. The company is both hated and loved by consumers as well. Young women, for instance, don’t buy the magazine because it’s not interesting or graphically-pleasing to them. That’s why the company is creating a new product geared toward 30-something women called “Shop Smart.” It’s going to have a much more modern look and breezy format. Look for short, sweet more colorful stories.

The number of people getting degrees online is growing by leaps and bounds with about two-thirds of universities now offer some type of degree online. And statistics predict that one in 10 students will complete an online degree in the next few years. Online degrees are fine, but Clark wants you to know the risks. There are rogue outfits out there, claiming to offer degrees that are really just out to steal your money. They run the gamut from non-accredited schools that will earn you a useless diploma to criminal organizations that could be out to steal your identity. Congress legalized these “diploma mills” when it passed a provision allowing them to tap into the federal student loan program. So, you could enroll in what you think is a university and take classes online. When you try to transfer credits, they don’t count and you have lost your money. It was done entirely because of corruption in Washington involving for-profit schools. There are about a half a dozen accreditation bodies, so check with them before you enroll at a school. Just because a “school” can lend you money doesn’t mean they are accredited.