It’s real: FREE cell phone service, Funeral scam targets grieving families

February 21, 2024 | Read Online

Later in this email, find out why fast food prices are finally starting to slow down.

💵 Today’s Top Stories

This Cell Phone Service Is Completely Free

Imagine what paying $0 per month for your cell phone could do to your finances. This cell phone service allows you to text and call for free – with one twist. Read more.

Alert: Funeral Home Scam Targets Grieving Families

Shameless criminals are preying on grieving families with this dastardly scam that involves impersonating funeral homes. Read more.

Are Airline Miles Worth It for You?

Airline miles are not worth it for most people, Clark says. Here are the exceptions as well as the best airline miles programs on the market. Read more.

Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees

Traveling abroad means digging into your wallet and whipping out the plastic (or metal, but still). Leaving the U.S. is expensive enough, so you’ll want to avoid foreign transaction fees. Read more.

💸 Today’s Top Savings Rates

Check out our updated list of Clark.com-approved high-yield savings accounts with the highest rates. Here are the top five APYs on our list as of February 21, 2024.

See All Rates | High Yield Savings Accounts Calculator

🍟 Fast Food Prices Finally Moderating As Consumers Have Had Enough

The multi-year cycle of inflation has impacted different sectors at different rates and times.

Overall, inflation now sits at 3.1%. That’s well below the peak of 9.1% in June 2022. But it’s stubbornly above the Fed’s stated goal of 2.0%.

It has taken time for customers to speak with their wallets as far as fast food prices. But we’re finally reaching that point.

According to Business Insider’s reporting, industry prices rose 8% in 2021, 6.7% in 2022 and 5.8% in 2023. McDonald’s hiked prices by about 10% in ’22 and ’23. Reports of $18 Big Mac combo meals and $3 hash browns have made headlines.

However, CEO Chris Kempczinski told analysts earlier this month after underwhelming Q4 earnings that especially people earning $45,000 or less are turning from McDonald’s to cheaper groceries.

Wendy’s, Shake Shack, McDonald’s and Taco Bell are just a few fast food restaurants stating publicly that this year’s price hikes will be much more modest.

One franchise that has seemed to defy the recent trend? Chipotle, with an 8.4% increase in sales in Q4.

📊 Stat of the Day

💸 $610 million: Minimum amount that Jeff Bezos is expected to save in taxes by moving from Seattle to Miami. Bezos will sell 50 million Amazon shares before Jan. 31, 2025. The move will help him avoid a 7% capital gains sales take in Washington while unloading close to $9 billion in stock.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

16 of Clark Howard’s favorite deals

Get this deal.

Refurbished Hunter ceiling fans from $63

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See All of the Best Deals Today

🎙️ Podcast

YouTube video by Clark Howard: Save More, Spend Less

Full Show: Venmo Privacy Alert and Exciting Entrepreneur News

Do you pay others through Venmo? You may be sharing your transactions with more people than you think! Clark has the steps to help you maintain your privacy. Also, there’s an exciting record that was just set by entrepreneurs last year. Clark explains why this makes him so optimistic about our country.

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.