Here’s how much your car is worth right now, 6 best places to buy hearing aids

November 05, 2024 | Read Online

The American Dream holds an expensive price tag. But is it more or less than you expected? Find out more later in this email.

💵 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 so quickly, but Clark has some good tips. Read more.

The Best Places To Buy Hearing Aids Under the Updated Law

You can buy hearing aids over the counter. The days of paying 30 times the price are over. Here are the best places to buy them. Read more.

Why Now Is the Time To Switch Your Cell Phone Service

With big players like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon raising prices, now is the time to switch your cell phone service to a much cheaper option. Here are the Clark-approved plans to consider. Read more.

Sling TV Partners With Max for New HBO Add-On Package

Sling TV now offers packages that bundle with HBO’s Max. Will you get a discount on Max if you go through Sling TV? And what content will you get if you say yes? Read more.

4 Signs You’re a Victim of Deed Theft (and How To Avoid It)

Someone can steal your home’s title and take legal action against your property for financial gain. It’s a scary crime. Here’s how to spot it (and how to avoid it in the first place). Read more.

🏠️ The American Dream Now Holds a $4.4 Million Price Tag

A house, a vehicle, two children and a comfortable retirement. That’s one definition of the American Dream. (Throw in the white picket fence if you want.)

It’s typically a quantitative idea. Something that lives in your head. But new analysis based on Investopedia data puts a number on it.

If $4.4 million seems expensive, it is: “These costs exceed typical lifetime earnings, with men averaging $3.3 million and women $2.4 million over their careers,” The Flyover wrote.

Here’s how Investopedia breaks it down from most to least expensive.

$1,599,995: Minimum savings for 20-year retirement.
$929,955: Single-family home with a 30-year mortgage.
$832,172: Raising two children to age 18 and paying for four years of public college.
$811,440: Total new car payments for adults.
$179,109: Annual vacation from 22 to 84 years old.
$44,300: Wedding expenses including engagement ring.
$36,626: Total expense of owning one dog and one cat.
$8,453: Funeral costs.

📊 Stat of the Day

🛢️13.4 million: Barrels of oil per day the United States produced in August. That’s an all-time record. Texas (5.8 million) and New Mexico (2.1 million) also set records. That’s despite a shrinking workforce and less than one-third the number of oil rigs compared to a decade ago.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

🎙️ Podcast

YouTube video by Clark Howard: Save More, Spend Less

Full Show: Clark’s Take on the Stock Market and Just Say No To Buy Now, Pay Later

The U.S. stock market has been on a roll over the last several years. Is it overvalued? Will we see a correction? Clark shares his thoughts. Also, Clark has long said that “buy now, pay later” plans are a trap for your wallet. As we head into the holiday shopping season, Clark warns us about two tricks retailers may use to get us to spend more – whether we can afford it or not.

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.