Clark Howard's Show Notes

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:49:27 UTC

IRS.gov - Claim your first-time homebuyer credit now (Editor's note: This is a .pdf file.) ClarkHoward.com - Clark's gold buying guide TireRack.com - Price your tires online DealNews.com - Search for deals on HDTVs... (Read more)

Clark's tips for getting the best holiday travel fares

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:31:13 UTC

Many of you have asked for an update on getting the best travel deals for the holiday season. Unfortunately, there's a reason Clark's been mostly mum on this issue. This is not a normal travel year. While you can steal a deal on a hotel, car rent... (Read more)

Beware of contracts with technology companies

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:50:26 UTC

Technology companies love to hook customers into contracts (euphemistically called "agreements") because they're scared of competition. For example, both Clark and his executive producer Christa are Clear customers for high-speed Internet. Chris... (Read more)

Banks demolishing the credit scores of would-be bidders?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:32:38 UTC

Clark has a special tip for those who are interested in buying distressed real estate. Banks are demolishing the credit scores of would-be bidders on short sales and foreclosures by running credit checks to decide if they'll be allowed to bid. Fu... (Read more)

Fancy tires mean extra expenses when replacing

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:45:45 UTC

Have you gotten sticker shock when you needed replacement tires for your car? Chances are you may have expensive non-standard tires. Automakers create multiple lines of a single vehicle at different price points. One of the up-sells they add to t... (Read more)

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:50:22 UTC

AnnualCreditReport.com - The only legit site to get your free credit reports Quizzle.com - Get your free non-FICO credit score CreditKarma.com - Get your free non-FICO credit score Credit.com - Get your free non-FICO credit score NFCC.org - Assistanc... (Read more)

Consumer Reports names most reliable vehicles

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:57:18 UTC

The single most reliable car in America is a hybrid, according to the December issue of Consumer Reports -- though it's not the one you're probably thinking! Top reliability honors go to the new Honda Insight hybrid, which looks just like a Prius... (Read more)

AnnualCreditReport.com offers free credit reports

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:24:51 UTC

Have you seen those ads that push you to get a supposedly free credit report? The catch is that they also enroll you in a subscription service where you pay as much as $200/annually to have your credit monitored! Under federal law, you are allowe... (Read more)

Jobless benefits, homebuyer tax credit extended

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:15:23 UTC

CLARKONOMICS: The Senate has voted 98-0 to extend unemployment benefits between an additional 14 and 20 weeks for jobless Americans. The 20-week extension will be for residents of states where unemployment is higher than 8.5 percent. (Ed... (Read more)

Ford to introduce inflatable seat belt for backseat passengers

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:26:55 UTC

Ford is planning to roll out an inflatable seat belt for back seat passengers beginning with next year's vehicle models. The newly designed belt promises to save the lives of children who routinely sit in back seats. "Each belt's tubular air bag... (Read more)

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:34:33 UTC

EnergyStar.gov - Federal tax credits for energy efficiency CarsDirect.com - Get an instant price when shopping for a car Overstock.com - Get an instant price when shopping for a car... (Read more)

Best jobs in America named by CNNMoney.com

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:35:57 UTC

The unemployment rate continues to be just plain ugly across the country. The U6 level of unemployment is now at 17 percent. U6 is a broad-gauge measurement that takes into account those who are involuntarily working part-time because they c... (Read more)

Understanding how the weakening dollar impacts you

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:55:16 UTC

Curious about what the weakening dollar means to you? Clark is reminded of a 2005 Saturday Night Live clip that portrayed the dollar as a 98-pound weakling. Today, we're in the same situation with the dollar in steep decline. Some people are... (Read more)

Britain busts up its giant banks, America keeps the status quo

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:27:10 UTC

Britain is getting ready to bust up its giant banks, according to The Washington Post. This is a key step toward the United Kingdom preserving its national sovereignty. In the United States, however, the silence is deafening as we have made no effort... (Read more)

TABOR initiative shot down in two states

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:34:53 UTC

Clark's beloved TABOR initiative has been shot down on the ballot in two states. It's a signal that Americans may not yet be ready for reduced government spending. The idea behind TABOR (Taxpayers' Bill of Rights) is that state spending must be ... (Read more)

Reducing energy consumption to increase national security

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:47:24 UTC

Clark has been reading dispatches from the Tokyo Auto Show to get a sense for what ultra-efficient vehicles the Japanese have up their sleeves. Here in the United States, we have GM coming out with the Volt in about a year. The Volt will be ... (Read more)

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:47:55 UTC

ClarkHoward.com - Clark's investing guide... (Read more)

Apple offers paradigm of American ingenuity

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:59:12 UTC

At 54, Clark has been through a lot of history. Growing up in the South, he has faint recollections of the struggles of the Civil Rights Era. He remembers the Cold War and later the Berlin Wall coming down. And of course he's been through multipl... (Read more) <br /><div align="right">Sponsored by: <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/cxri.clarkhoward.text/shownotescat1;rr=1;pg=/shownotes/index.xml;mkt=Personalities;sz=120x30;tile=1;ord=1257631737?" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/cxri.clarkhoward.text/shownotescat1;rr=1;pg=/shownotes/index.xml;mkt=Personalities;sz=120x30;tile=1;ord=1257631737?" height=30 width=120 border=0></a> </div>

T-Mobile announces $49/month unlimited calling

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:17:21 UTC

MONEY-SAVING MOMENT: T-Mobile's Project Black marketing initiative will offer customers basic unlimited calling starting at $49/month. It's yet another nail in the coffin of the "bucket of minutes" model, where you pay for a set number of minutes eac... (Read more)

Minimize investing expenses with plain vanilla index funds

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:39:33 UTC

The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments about mutual fund expenses. But you shouldn't wait for the highest court in the land to rule on whether or not investors are getting ripped off on management fees. You can make choices today and have l... (Read more)

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:15:18 UTC

ClarkHoward.com - How to buy a new car OCC.gov - File a complaint against your bank CanningAcrossAmerica.com - Get info on canning your own food CouponMom.com - Get free coupon strategies... (Read more)

Auto-buyers showing unprecedented decline in brand loyalty

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:47:01 UTC

Auto-buyers have lost all brand loyalty when they go to purchase a new vehicle, according to CNW Research. Historically, it was almost a given that people would buy the brand they were already driving. Yet only one in five shoppers this p... (Read more)

Thefts at open houses make a return

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:54:09 UTC

An oldie but baddie scam has become active again in the home-selling market. During an open house, criminals may work in tandem with one distracting your realtor while the other rifles around the house looking for jewelry. The criminals may arri... (Read more) <br /><div align="right">Sponsored by: <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/cxri.clarkhoward.text/shownotescat6;rr=1;pg=/shownotes/index.xml;mkt=Personalities;sz=120x30;tile=1;ord=1257631737?" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/cxri.clarkhoward.text/shownotescat6;rr=1;pg=/shownotes/index.xml;mkt=Personalities;sz=120x30;tile=1;ord=1257631737?" height=30 width=120 border=0></a> </div>

Canning your own food reduces your grocery bill

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:13:57 UTC

Americans are more versatile and adaptable than we're given credit for. Some of us who have been forced to get by on less have even taken to planting and gardening to grow our own food! But what do you do if you have a bumper crop in your backya... (Read more)

Internet use makes you smarter no matter your age

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:30:15 UTC

Want to stay mentally sharp even in old age? Start surfing the Internet! A team of UCLA researchers presented that revealing finding during the Society for Neuroscience's recent annual meeting. The researchers looked at a group of subjects (with... (Read more)

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:36:33 UTC

UShip.com - The online shipping marketplace MakingHomeAffordable.gov - The government's official mortgage refinance program INGDirect.com - Easy Orange mortgage with minimal closing costs ChoiceTrust.com - Free C.L.U.E. report T-Mobile.com - Pay $100... (Read more)

Gripe song about United Airlines becomes web phenomenon

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:37:49 UTC

An enterprising musician who had his guitar broken by United Airlines has created a protest song that's become a runaway web sensation. Dave Carroll's $3,500 Taylor guitar was broken by United baggage handlers at Chicago's O'Hare Airport in the ... (Read more)

More Americans adopting voluntary simplicity as a way of life

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:38:56 UTC

Have you heard of the voluntary simplicity movement? This began as a small movement of people who were revolted by consumption and encouraged others to really analyze their needs vs. their wants. Years ago, Clark interviewed two proponents of th... (Read more)

Costco settles lawsuit over membership renewal practices

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:37:48 UTC

Costco has settled a lawsuit over its membership renewal policies. Clark's favorite warehouse club admits to back-dating renewals to the date of expiration. that means they were essentially cheating customers out of time on their memberships! Und... (Read more)

Airlines involved in price-fixing of fuel surcharges

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:38:28 UTC

The price-fixing of fuel surcharges is something that really burns Clark up. When the cost of a barrel of oil dropped, the surcharges did not go away. Anyone smell a rat here? The Wall Street Journal reports that this rat may be bigger than previ... (Read more)

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:17:08 UTC

SleepEducation.com - Free tips on getting a better night of rest AnnualCreditReport.com - The only legit free way to get your credit reports InsureMyTrip.com - Travel insurance comparison site Today's show featured Best Of segments from recent br... (Read more)

Clark's tips for getting a better night of sleep

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:24:55 UTC

Are you getting enough sleep? The Dallas Morning News reports that only one in four of us get the recommended full eight hours of sleep every night. In addition, one-third of workers say that lack of sleep has affected them on more than 10 worki... (Read more)

Your credit report may keep you from getting a job offer

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:28:43 UTC

A bad credit reputation may keep you from getting a job in a tough market. The best guess is that between 40 percent and 50 percent of employers are running credit checks on "would be" employees. And we're not just talking about for jobs in the finan... (Read more)

California experimenting with pay-as-you-drive insurance

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:43:32 UTC

More auto insurers are experimenting with pay-as-you-drive insurance. Progressive Insurance has been one of the pioneers in this field. They have a system where they can equip your car with a smart device -- almost like a black box in an airplan... (Read more)

Buy trip insurance from someone other than your trip provider

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:47:28 UTC

Trip insurance policies should always be purchased when you are taking a cruise, a tour or traveling on a trip that requires pre-payment of thousands of dollars. Such policies are designed to protect consumers by giving them refunds in the eve... (Read more)

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:21:08 UTC

KBB.com - Determine the value of your vehicle Edmunds.com - Determine the value of your vehicle Nada.com - Determine the value of your vehicle Chegg.com - Cheap textbook rentals Vanguard.com - Research mutual funds that allow you to own Treasury Infl... (Read more)

Employees not eligible for a 401(k) should do a Roth

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:57:11 UTC

The world of retirement savings highlights the stark contrast between between the haves and the have nots on the employment front. Somewhere around half of us work for employers that offer a 401(k) plan, while the other half of us don't have ... (Read more)

Apply for new credit before your existing limits get cut

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:12:05 UTC

The slashing of credit card limits has been a hot topic here on the show. Recent news reports suggested that many travelers were caught unaware while on the road and had their credit cards shut down without any advance warning. This reportedly affect... (Read more)

Look to community colleges to keep tuition expenses down

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:43:41 UTC

College tuition is spiraling out of control. While the economy experienced deflation in 2009, tuition is up an average of about five percent! The problem is that there's too much loan money floating around. If people had to pay upfront for their... (Read more)

Oakland's experiment with extended parking meter hours fails

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:55:50 UTC

CLARKONOMICS: If you're a business struggling to make a profit selling your widgets at $5, the solution must be to raise the price to $10, right? Wrong, as students of economics and now local government are finding out! Classic economics posits t... (Read more)