• svdpusa.org - donate your car
• autosafety.org - lemon law info
• priceline.com - rental car comparisons
• hotwire.com - rental car help
• expedia.com - rental car help
• breezenet.com - rental car help

Clark has gotten a few calls over the years from people who believe that American money is fake. They think paper money is not worth anything and gold coins are the only real currency. Along those lines, Clark recently read a story in USA Today about people using what are called “Liberty Dollars” to pay for things. A company called “Norfed” manufacturers the coins and claims to have the backing of silver and gold kept in a vault in Idaho. Well, the government disagrees, and the U.S. Justice Department has issued a warning to the public. If you try to use these coins, you will be arrested and could go to jail. So, don’t try it.

When Clark was in graduate school, he worked for IBM. One of the great perks of the company was that there was an on-site doctor at the office. It was very convenient and affordable, not to mention that it kept Clark “on-the-clock” for longer each day. That was more than a decade ago, and other companies are finally catching on. In-house clinics save companies a ton of money because referrals are reduced and emergency hospital visits drop dramatically. Companies are taking more money out of our pocketbooks and paychecks because companies cannot keep up with medical care and its costs. So, getting more creative with medical care is a necessity. Companies aren’t doing it to be nice but you both can benefit.

In the homebuying market, the balance of power has shifted to buyers. Sellers have become more desperate. So, what tactic can you use to help you sell your home? Well, agents are being offered huge bonuses to sell certain homes these days. So, they’re doing what’s called “steering” to show buyers homes that may not fit their needs. In return, the agents are getting such goodies as $15,000 bonuses and free vacations. Now, there is nothing wrong with this as long as it’s disclosed. But often it is not. If you are a seller, you can use this tactic to your advantage. Offer agents a carrot to show your home of condo more frequently. As buyers, you should know this is going on and ask if you suspect that it's happening. But sellers need any kind of edge these days, and getting agents on your side is not a bad move.

The oversupply of big SUVs is huge these days. So, if you are into SUVs, you have a great opportunity in your reach. Also, November is supposed to be the best month to buy an SUV. Why? Well, the cost of SUVs spikes in December because people tend to buy them as they head into heavy winter. So, you’ll find better deals in November.

---

In other car news, car rental rates have been very cheap recently. That’s because GM, Ford and Chrysler have been pumping out cars that no one would buy. Car rental companies have been able to get cars extra cheap and the savings has been passed onto consumers. The tide is about to turn, though. Detroit automakers are closing factories and plants, so there will be fewer cars for sale and higher costs for rentals. To get better deals, Clark follows three steps. First, Clark visits a multi-company shopping site like Expedia or Breezenet. Look several pages in. Then, he goes to Hotwire and compares prices. If Hotwire is cheaper, you already have a better option. But before he books, he goes to Priceline and enters a standard bid of $10. He moves up in $2 segments if he gets turned down. Then, he adds a higher-level car with each rejection. And the highest he goes is $16 a day for a mid-sized car. Try it out sometime!