Get this free account now to prep for retirement, Cell phone secret major carriers won’t tell you

December 19, 2024 | Read Online

This just in! The #1 app has been announced but it may (or may not) surprise you! Find out which one took the top spot later in this email.

💵 Today’s Top Stories

The Free Account Everyone Needs To Set Up Before Retirement

Most people won’t think about this until age 50, Clark says. But he wants you to set up this account if you’re at least 30. Here’s what it is, how to sign up and how it can help you financially. Read more.

The Best Places To Buy Unlocked Phones

A new phone can cost hundreds of dollars and might even lock you into a contract. Find out how to avoid that and save money with an unlocked phone. Read more.

12 Keys To Keeping Your Home Wi-Fi Network Safe and Secure

Leaving your home Wi-Fi unsecured could make your personal information and network vulnerable to illicit activity. Protect yourself with these changes. Read more.

Why Interest Rate Cuts Matter

The Fed sliced another quarter-point from the central bank’s interest rate yesterday. Why does that matter? How does it impact you? And what does it actually mean? Read more.

How Much Do You Need To Save a Month To Get $1,000,000?

Is becoming a millionaire a pipe dream or a real goal? Our savings goal calculator helps you find out. See how much you need to save each month to reach the million-dollar milestone. Read more.

💻️ Tech Tip From Kim Komando

You look fabulous, dahling: The flash on most cameras and phones makes harsh shadows. Bright idea: Diffuse the light through something like a white plastic shopping bag for a softer look. Just don’t cover the lens! Join 575K people who get tech smart with my friend Kim Komando’s free newsletter, The Current.

📱America’s #1 App in 2024: Searching for Discounted Products

Apple just released the top 10 most downloaded free apps in 2024. The No. 1 choice: Temu.

The China-based, extreme discount online marketplace sells items such as clothing, car accessories, outdoor furniture and electronics.

The company’s ironic (confusing?) tagline is “shop like a billionaire.” But Americans were looking for extreme savings more often than anything based on the iPhone free app download data.

Yet a summer survey found that 94% of respondents do not trust Temu. And the brand has dealt with several controversies despite its apparent popularity.

Here is the full top 10:

1. Temu
2. Threads (Instagram text conversion app)
3. TikTok
4. ChatGPT
5. Google
6. Instagram
7. WhatsApp
8. CapCut – Video Editor
9. YouTube
10. Gmail

📊 Stat of the Day

🛍️ +0.7%: Month-over-month retail sales in November. That’s a slightly faster pace of growth than Wall Street expected and indicates holiday shopping is off to a strong start. It also reflects “continued resilience in the American consumer,” Yahoo! Finance reports. Officials also revised retail sales in October from +0.4% to +0.5%.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

The best Amazon deals happening now!

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See All of the Best Deals Today

🎙️ Podcast

YouTube video by Clark Howard: Save More, Spend Less

Full Show: The Problem With Health Insurance in the U.S. and Finding a New Job Is Taking Longer

The death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson triggered a lot of reactions from Americans and really upset Clark. There is clearly a problem with healthcare and health insurance in the U.S., as Clark explains. Also, a recent statistic discovered that it takes almost six months to find a job if you’re unemployed. Clark shares steps you need to take to financially prepare now, just in case.

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.