Clark Howard

@ClarkHoward
Hotel

Hotel no-tell: 6 things travelers should watch for

By Dave Siff
updated 10:45 AM EDT, Wed June 12, 2013
As we head into summer vacation season, hotels are expecting big business. Americans are projected to spend $84 billion on hotel stays this summer -- with the average traveler logging seven nights -- according to a survey by Room Key, a hotel search engine. Even though you may be trying to relax, hotels are definitely not places to let your guard down.

Here are six things to watch out for at your temporary home-away-from-home:

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Mowgli

Entrepreneur: 'Trial by fire' breeds success

By Dave Siff
updated 1:56 PM EDT, Fri June 07, 2013
Practicing law by day and fronting rock bands at night, Marshall Seese had a light-bulb moment that changed his career path, and his life.

A musician since childhood, Seese discovered a powerful feeling in sharing his music with audiences, and adopted "Create/Connect" as a personal mantra.

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Web Purchase Protection

Who's responsible for your web purchase?

By Aikeem Hunter
updated 1:52 PM EDT, Thu May 30, 2013
Third-party sellers may be less likely to assist you with product returns and exchanges. HLN's money expert Clark Howard has advice that can help you make better purchasing decisions when shopping online.

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Filed under:   Your money
529 plan

529 reasons to save for college

By Dave Siff
updated 1:33 PM EDT, Wed May 29, 2013
With college graduation season in full swing across the country, there's no time like the present to start thinking about saving for the future college student in your life. The present, as in, right now!

Today being 5/29, the College Savings Plans Network has declared it 529 College Savings Day. The idea is to raise awareness about 529 plans as a way to sock away money for college expenses. More than 30 states are marking the day with events, and several have ongoing contests for cash prizes.

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Sunscreen

How to buy sunscreen without getting burned!

By Dave Siff
updated 1:13 PM EDT, Fri May 24, 2013
This weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. And if you're going to the beach or just spending time outside, sunscreen is a must. But which brand offers the best protection? Here's a hint: don't let the price tag be your guide.

Consumer Reports put 12 sunscreens to the test and found the best ones were among the least expensive. The sunscreens were judged for their effectiveness at blocking UVA and UVB rays, both of which can cause skin cancer. This "broad spectrum" protection is among the requirements spelled out by new federal rules on sunscreen.

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Gas

Pain at the pump: Gas prices hammer Midwest

By Dave Siff
updated 9:03 AM EDT, Fri May 17, 2013
After a late-winter spike in gas prices across the country, things have largely settled down and we haven't seen a repeat of last spring's march toward a $4 per gallon national average. But with the start of summer driving season just a few days away, drivers in several states are getting hit hard at the pump.

GasBuddy.com reports a shrinking supply of gas exacerbated by refinery maintenance and outages, along with the switch to summer-blend gasoline, has led to prices soaring in the Plains states. Drivers in Minnesota are getting the worst of it. According to AAA, the average price per gallon in Minnesota has jumped to $4.27, a spike of 43 cents in a week, and a full 83 cents higher than a month ago. By way of comparison, the current national average per gallon is $3.65.

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Skechers

Three reasons to watch out for your wallet!

By Dave Siff
updated 8:52 AM EDT, Tue May 14, 2013
Hear that sound in the distance? That's a rip-off alert, and HLN money expert Clark Howard can't sound it loud enough right now. Here are three signs you need to look out for your wallet today.

  • Skechers "shapes up", will pay $40 million: A federal judge has approved the sneaker company's settlement (reached a year ago) of a class-action lawsuit which accused it of false advertising of its Shape-Ups line. The FTC said Skechers claimed wearing Shape-Ups could help people gain muscle tone and lose weight. It pointed to several commercials, including this one featuring Kim Kardashian. FTC says more than 500,000 customers are eligible for refunds of between $40 and $84. Skechers didn't admit wrongdoing, saying it settled the lawsuit to avoid legal fees. Clark's take? Be very wary of claims like this. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Are those headphones real?  A word of caution if you're a consumer of high-end electronics. There's a flood of counterfeits on the market, and it could cost you, reports the Financial Times. German company Sennheiser, well-known for its audio products, is leading the fight against fakes. The Times quotes Sennheiser as saying about one-third of headphones and other audio products branded with its name and sold online are counterfeit, and customers often don't know it until the product breaks and they send it to Sennheiser to be fixed. Clark says be careful when buying anything sight unseen. Make sure you're purchasing from a reputable seller.
  • New York steps up fight against "Apple picking": The state's attorney general sent letters to the chairmen of Apple, Samsung, Google and Microsoft, asking what steps the companies are taking to combat cell phone thefts. Eric Schneiderman calls the thefts "Apple picking" because most of the devices stolen in New York are from Apple. According to Schneiderman's office, there were 11,447 cases of stolen Apple products in the first nine months of 2012. Compare that to 3,280 for the same period in 2011. He says the big cell phone makers "have a responsibility to their customers to fulfill their promises to ensure safety and security," and asked why the companies can't develop technology to render stolen phones inoperable. Clark's advice is to password-protect your phone at the very least, and consider using an app that can remotely shut down your phone if it's lost or stolen.
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Tesla

Charge! Tesla aces Consumer Reports testing

By Dave Siff
updated 9:20 AM EDT, Fri May 10, 2013
HLN money expert Clark Howard has been an early adopter of hybrid and electric vehicle technology going back to the late 1970s. So, Clark was grinning ear to ear when he heard Tesla's Model S got the highest scores in the history of Consumer Reports auto testing.

Clark's current ride is the all-electric Nissan Leaf, but he's got a Tesla on the way. Electric and hybrid cars still make up a tiny fraction of overall vehicle sales. But Clark says while the Tesla's price may put it out of range for many buyers, the car's range on a single charge is a potential game-changer.

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Affordable European Hotel Chain

Ikea gets into hotel biz, joins Marriott with Moxy

By Aikeem Hunter
updated 12:51 PM EDT, Mon May 06, 2013
Marriott and Ikea plan to open up an affordable, modern hotel chain in Europe next year. It's called Moxy Hotels. HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard explains what's in it for you!

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Filed under:   Your money
Europe airfare

European vacation: Two ways to save big

By Dave Siff
updated 9:30 AM EDT, Mon May 06, 2013
Hard to believe, but we're just three weeks from the unofficial start of summer and six weeks from the real thing. Travel website Orbitz says 75% of Americans plan to take a summer vacation. Of the top 10 destinations, seven are in the continental U.S., two are in Hawaii, and the other one is Cancun, Mexico.

So, what about Europe? The costs of traveling across the pond, especially with a family, can be daunting. Airfares to Europe are up slightly this year, but that doesn't mean you can't score a deal with a little creativity.

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