How much you really need to retire, Clark’s new secret rental car strategy

November 12, 2024 | Read Online

Two shipping giants are being more aggressive with discounts for smaller customers. Learn more later in this email.

💵 Today’s Top Stories

How Much Do You Need To Retire?

What Americans THINK they need for retirement vs. how much they actually HAVE saved are drastically different. What’s the magic number? Clark’s answer may surprise you. Read more.

Clark’s Updated Way To Shop for Car Rental Deals

Clark told his podcast listeners his new secret strategy to get car rental deals. The deals have been rolling … and they can be for you also. Read more.

How to Get the Best Price Possible Shopping Online

Clark’s deal experts help you shop online like a pro. Get the lowest price on all your holiday shopping starting today. Read more.

9 Ways To Donate Old Cell Phones

Old cell phones can be toxic for the environment, so it’s not great to throw them away. You could sell them. But why not consider donating them to a good cause instead? Read more.

📦️ UPS, FedEx Offer Aggressive Discounts To Smaller Customers

UPS and FedEx are making an unprecedented move to offer big discounts to some of their smallest customers.

As the Wall Street Journal reported, the two major players in parcel shipping are completely shifting their modus operandi in the face of circumstantial pressure and increased competition from Amazon and others.

“UPS and FedEx, which began offering discounts to larger customers last year, are now aggressively chasing smaller customers, giving them breaks that are typically reserved for bulk shippers,” the WSJ wrote.

Check out the U.S. market share of parcel volume in 2023.

United States Postal Service: 31%
Amazon Logistics: 27%*
UPS: 21%^
FedEx: 18%
Others: 3%

^Passed FedEx in 2019 and UPS in 2022.
*Held close to 40% market share in 2014, more than USPS and every other option.

The WSJ also cited Walmart’s same-day delivery service as another competitive factor.

However, there are other reasons:

A later Thanksgiving cuts five days from the peak shipping period (Black Friday to Dec. 31).
The pinched pre-Christmas timeframe should lead to more in-store shopping.
Holiday-season packages peaked in 2021, leading to layoffs and factory closures.

📊 Stat of the Day

🪙 $87,000+: As of yesterday evening, the price of Bitcoin reached an all-time high of more than $87,000. That’s up more than 97% year to date. As a reminder, Clark calls buying any crypto “strictly speculative” and compares it to gambling in a casino.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

The best Black Friday & Cyber Week travel deals for 2024

Get this deal.

Walmart Black Friday: The best deals right now!

Get this deal.

See All of the Best Deals Today

🎙️ Podcast

YouTube video by Clark Howard: Save More, Spend Less

Full Show: Cheaper Alternative to a Financial Advisor and Why Rent Control Stinks

Can you manage your investments yourself? In many cases, yes. But if you want help, there is an alternative to financial advisors that may work for you – especially if you are younger. Clark goes back to basics on robo-advisors. Also, Clark hates rent control! That may make you mad, but he has supporting evidence that prices actually go down without it.

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.