Clark Howard

@ClarkHoward
Going on a cruise? Know your rights!

Going on a cruise? Know your rights!

By Dave Siff
updated 9:10 AM EST, Wed February 13, 2013
"Nightmare" doesn't begin to describe the experience passengers went through on the cruise ship Carnival Triumph. Disabled by an engine fire in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, the ship finally was towed back into port Thursday night. For several days, passengers had to deal with the stench from raw sewage flooding rooms and hallways, as well as long lines to get something to eat or drink.

Carnival's CEO apologized, saying the cruise line is "very sorry" about conditions aboard the ship. And Carnival is putting its money where its mouth is; all passengers will get a free flight home, a full refund for the cruise, a credit for a future cruise, and $500 in cash.

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How accurate is your credit report?

How accurate is your credit report?

By Dave Siff
updated 8:42 AM EST, Mon February 11, 2013
When it comes to your credit, what you don't know can hurt you. And according to a new report, millions of consumers have potentially damaging mistakes on their credit reports.

The report from the Federal Trade Commission looked at 3,000 credit reports. It concluded up to 42 million Americans, about one in five with a credit history, have errors on their reports. The study found that for 5% of consumers -- around 10 million people -- those mistakes are serious enough to result in higher costs for things like insurance and car loans.

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Fill 'er up, and up: Gas prices skyrocketing

Fill 'er up, and up: Gas prices skyrocketing

By Dave Siff
updated 9:16 AM EST, Tue February 05, 2013
If it feels like Groundhog Day when you go to fill up your car lately, you're not imagining things. Prices at the pump are rising, and it looks like we could be in for a repeat of last spring's run-up to near $4 a gallon. (And the groundhog says spring is coming early.)

According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.53. That's up 17 cents in just a week (the biggest seven-day spike in nearly two years) and 23 cents higher than a month ago. Why the increase? Crude oil prices are up, and refineries are preparing to go offline for maintenance and to begin making the transition to summer-blend gasoline, which will drive prices even higher.

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New TV for the Super Bowl? Read this first

New TV for the Super Bowl? Read this first

By Dave Siff
updated 8:44 AM EST, Fri February 01, 2013
For all the side items surrounding the Super Bowl -- the ads, the food, the betting -- in the end, it all comes down to the game. And while tickets are still available, most of us will be watching the action on TV.

There are lots of great deals on TVs right now, and there's always a frenzy in the days before the Super Bowl as armchair quarterbacks everywhere aim for the best viewing experience. According to the National Retail Federation, 7.5 million households will buy a new TV for this year's Super Bowl, up nearly 50% from last year.

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Two-year degree could mean a lucrative job

Two-year degree could mean a lucrative job

By Dave Siff
updated 11:38 AM EST, Thu January 31, 2013
With college costs on the rise and student loan debt threatening to become a full-blown crisis, a four-year college degree may be out of reach for many people. But that doesn't mean you have to settle for a small paycheck.

According to a new survey from CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists, there are numerous jobs that pay quite nicely and only require an associate's degree. An earlier study from Georgetown University on these so-called "middle jobs" pointed out that nearly 40% of them pay more than $50,000 a year. CareerBuilder's survey focuses on the top of the heap.

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Ready? Set? File! Tax season is finally here

Ready? Set? File! Tax season is finally here

By Dave Siff
updated 3:02 PM EST, Wed January 30, 2013
Filing taxes is right up there with getting a root canal. Even if you have a professional prepare your return, you still have to round up all the documents. And there always seems to be something missing. Shoebox full of receipts, anybody?

The good news is, the vast majority of us can go ahead and get it over with.

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Want to make good money? Be an engineer

Want to make good money? Be an engineer

By Dave Siff
updated 11:58 AM EST, Tue January 29, 2013
Attention, parents: if your kids still don't know what they want to do when they grow up, you might want to point them toward engineering. A new study finds that's the way to go for a fat paycheck right out of college.

Engineering dominates the top 10 highest-paid college majors, according to the study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Topping the list is computer engineering, with an average starting salary of $70,400. That's more than 50% above the average starting salary for all college graduates, which sits at $44,455. The good news is, that figure is up 3.4% from last year.

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Paying with credit could cost you extra

Paying with credit could cost you extra

By Dave Siff
updated 8:55 AM EST, Mon January 28, 2013
Paying by credit card may be easy and convenient, but now, it also could cost you more.

Terms of a multi-billion dollar settlement between credit card companies and merchants went into effect Sunday. Merchants can now charge you between 1.5% and 4% extra for using your credit card to make a purchase. Merchants pay a processing fee to the credit card companies for every transaction, and now, they have the right to pass that cost on to their customers.

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Avoid getting scammed over the phone

To hang on or hang up: Dodging the robocall

By Tiffany Bors
updated 2:30 PM EST, Tue January 22, 2013
Have you ever been frightened by a robocaller's automated message? HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard says simply hang up the phone. The real trouble begins when you start giving out your personal information.

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Amazon: Buy a CD, get the MP3s for free

Amazon: Buy a CD, get the MP3s for free

By Dave Siff
updated 9:00 AM EST, Fri January 11, 2013
If you've ever bought CDs from Amazon.com, you just got free digital copies of all of them.

Amazon has launched a service called AutoRip. Here's how it works; when you purchase an AutoRip-enabled CD from Amazon's music store, you'll automatically get the MP3s for free. They'll be stored in Amazon's Cloud Player, where you can go to stream or download them. It's similar to Apple's iTunes Match service.

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