Clark Howard

Taking control of your finances

Sound rebound? Making smart financial decisions

Surging stock prices and home values show signs of recovery from the recession. HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard shares how you can take charge of your finances.

Robocall

Sick of telemarketers? Help's on the way

If you've become accustomed to the unwelcome ringing of the phone every night during dinner, you might think nothing can stop those pesky telemarketers. Now, the government is hoping innovation will succeed where the Do Not Call list has failed.

The Federal Trade Commission has announced the winners of its Robocall Challenge, in which it asked the public to come up with a system to stop illegal marketing calls. The contest drew nearly 800 submissions, which you can check out here.

Credit card

Should you give your zip code at checkout?

There are certain pieces of personal information you never want to give out unless it's absolutely necessary. Social Security number immediately comes to mind. But what about your zip code?

Bed Bath & Beyond is being sued in Massachusetts. What were they allegedly doing? Asking customers for their zip codes at checkout.

Gas prices

What's up with gas prices being down?

At a national average of $3.65 per gallon for regular unleaded, gas prices aren't low by any stretch of the imagination. But, they are lower, in a couple of significant ways.

First, prices are down from where they were a year ago. AAA says the national average on this date in 2012 was $3.90. So, today's price gives you a nice, shiny quarter back in your pocket for every gallon. For a car with a 12-gallon tank, that's $3 every time you fill up.

Home prices

Signs of recovery: Home prices & sales are up

Good news is building for the housing market, with home prices and sales well above where they were at this time last year.

According to the closely-watched S&P Case-Shiller index, home prices in January were 8.1% higher than they were 12 months earlier. That's the best year-over-year performance in nearly seven years. The index tracks prices in the 20 largest U.S. markets.

Payroll tax

Survey: Little impact from higher payroll tax

Remember all that fiscal cliff drama in Washington around the holidays? Three months later, Americans are starting to feel the impact of forced spending cuts. But one part of the deal apparently isn't causing much pain at all; the expiration of the payroll tax holiday.

Starting New Year's Day, the amount taken out of your paycheck to fund Social Security increased to 6.2% on the first $113,700 of wages. It had been 4.2% for the prior two years. For someone making the national average salary of $41,000, the increase means $32 less each pay period.

Hotel Savings

Hotel savings: New sites and apps

There are a growing number of sites and apps available to help you save money on your hotel room. HLN's money expert Clark Howard shares how you can cut costs -- even on a last-minute trip. 

Retirement saving

Retirement crisis? Workers not saving enough

As we learned during the economic downturn of the past several years, being able to retire when you want and with enough money to live comfortably is far from a sure thing. And a new survey shows Americans' expectations for retirement remain low.

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 28% of workers have no confidence they'll be able to afford a comfortable retirement. That's the highest level in the survey's 23-year history.

Take Charge, Your Career

Career challenge: Switching gears after 25 years

Changing jobs every few years may be the "new normal" for younger workers. But it can be more complicated for older people who’ve been doing the same thing for a long time.

In this week’s “Take charge, Your Career”, HLN money expert Clark Howard meets a woman who’s looking to make a change after 25 years.

This house in Rochester, New York is listed at $64,900.

Seven houses you can buy for the cost of a car

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