• youtube.com - complaints about customer service recorded
• dressforsuccess.org - donate for those needing interview clothes
• myrichuncle.com - shop around for student loans
• yelpie.com - fight off beach thieves

The long-time boom in real estate across the country has caused some disloations in the market place today. One of those is that apartment rents are rising while home values are going down. Even people living in supposedly desirable areas are seeing values decrease and are having a tough time selling their homes. It’s happening because of several different factors that are all coming to a head now. First of all, when the boom hit, people who would normally be renters decided to buy. Also, developers started buying up apartment complexes and turning them into condominiums so the apartment industry stopped building apartments. At the same time, people stopped buying up houses with equal frequency. It has all came together at one time and now landlords are calling the shots. Clark is a landlord and he will probably be able to raise rents. Renters will also have an opportunity. Owners of condominiums in particular cannot sell their homes, so they’re willing to offer lower rents, especially if he or she is an “involuntary landlord.” That is someone who had to leave and doesn’t really want to be a landlord. You won’t get great service or response, but you’ll get a great deal. If you’re trying to rent out your condo, you want to list it as “apartment for rent,” as opposed to “condo for rent.” People think they can take advantage of condo owners.

Clark doesn’t want you to waste money, especially when it involves money you’re saving for your future. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re being charged to have a mutual fund or 401k plan. Sometimes, in smaller businesses, employers and therefore the employees can get taken in fee-heavy retirement plans because they don’t know any better. And, companies can charge people pretty much whatever they want in fees. Well, except when it comes to members of Congress but that’s another story in itself. But the bottom line is that you have to know what you’re being charged. There are administration fees, list fees and management fees. In most small business plans, employees are paying three percent and that is entirely too much. It’s more likely if you’re in a plan involving an insurance company. And, if you are paying that much, you’re better off setting up a Roth IRA. In any case, you need to ask what you’re paying in fees – the total percentage. Only about one-quarter of people ask, according to recent surveys. Clark has a list of low-cost investments that he recommends listed here. So, be smart and choose well.

You’ve probably hear about the new federal law boosted student loan rates for parents and kids. Parents’ rates went up about 80 percent, and that won’t be coming back down. The good news is that the rates – 6.8% for students and 8.5% for parents – are the maximum rates. In other words, people in the lending business can undercut those rates. And one site - myrichuncle.com - is offering discounted rates. So, check it out.

You may have seen the TV reports about all of the thefts going on at beaches these days. People leave their valuables on the beach when they go off for a walk or for a dip in the ocean. They come back and their money, their keys and maybe their car are all gone. Criminals are watching people from distances and following their movements from moment they park your car. One man got fed up and created “The Yelpie.” It is a locking mechanism that holds your valuables and makes an incapacitating, ear-piercing sound when someone tries to grab it.

When you hear Clark talk about saving money, he’s serious about the lengths he’ll go to in order to save. People get annoyed with him about it sometimes, but it’s just his nature. But there is a line he will not cross. There are people out there who dive in dumpsters or take discarded produce from the back of supermarkets. They are called “freegans” and they hate waste. It’s become such a large movement that some stores have to secure their trash bins to keep Freegans out. Some people can’t comprehend it, but Clark thinks it’s fine as long as they don’t harm others.