Find out your car’s current value, Best time to buy a Chromebook

October 27, 2023 | Read Online

🎃 Halloween Defined By “Cha-Ching” As Much As “Booo”

One year after Americans spent a record-breaking $10.6 billion on the holiday, we’re expected to shell out $12.2 billion this year(!).

That includes $4.1 billion on costumes, $3.9 billion on decorations and $3.6 billion on candy. (Not sure if that’s a nightmare or a dream come true for dentists.)

Here are some more spooky Halloween numbers:

$700 million: Spent on pet costumes alone this year.
73%: Share of Americans that plan to take part in Halloween, a new record.
5.8 million: Adult witch costumes, more than the second, third and fourth-most popular choices combined. (Spiderman leads for kids.)
$180: Cost of Target’s 8-foot jack-o’-lantern named Lewis that went viral on social media.
$108.24: The average per-person spend on Halloween.
71%: Share of Americans who would buy a “haunted” home to save money.
63%: Share of Americans who would only offer a below-market number on those houses.
93%: Percentage of people more afraid of home repairs than of ghosts.

💵 Today’s Top Stories

How Much Is My Car Worth?

You should know what your car is worth even if you’re not planning to sell. It has become tougher to figure out with valuations changing fast, but Clark has some good tips. Read more.

The Best Time and Place To Buy a Chromebook

The best window to buy is approaching quickly. Our team of deal experts has posted more than 150 of the top Chromebook deals, and here’s what the data shows about when and where to find a deal. Read more.

Why You Need To Check Your PayPal Account for Automatic Payments

You may be granting businesses the ability to take auto-recurring payments from you via PayPal. Here’s how to check for and remove unwanted automatic payments. Read more.

Why Are Retailers Adding an Additional $1 Charge on My Credit Card?

Have you ever noticed unexplained small charges on your credit card? These “preauthorization” charges aren’t a scam and don’t cost you anything. Here’s what they are and how they work. Read more.

Southwest Credit Cards Offer Limited-Time Welcome Bonus Boost

Have you been considering adding a Southwest Airlines co-branded credit card to your wallet? Now might be the time for action. Read more.

📊 Stat of the Day

🍪 $6: The new cost for a box of Girl Scout cookies in many parts of the country. The price didn’t hit $4 until 2012. It also represents a 20% jump. But according to NPR, “store-bought cookies [have] risen 23% in the last two years.” And you thought Halloween candy was expensive.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

Sam’s Club clearance from $5

Get this deal.

Butcher Box: Get a FREE turkey with your first box

Get this deal.

See All of the Best Deals Today

🎙️ Podcast

YouTube video by Clark Howard: Save More, Spend Less

Full Show: Holiday Shopping Warning and ARMs, HELOCs, ADUs

Holiday shopping is in full swing. The next five weeks are the core weeks to find deals, but there’s something you need to know to protect your wallet. Also, the housing market and mortgage rates have been crazy lately. Some alternatives exist, but are they safe for your wallet long term?

Watch the Full Episode

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.