Clark Biweekly 12 19 24

Author

Anthony Hazzard
December 19, 2024

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
Never wallet

Do you carry every credit and debit card you own in your wallet? How about your health insurance card? You may want to rethink those items and more. Read more.

Watch movies

Our customized chart helps you watch free movies on legal, trustworthy sites. We give you options based on your favorite genre and also let you know the ad frequency. Read more.

CD

CDs offer higher interest rates than savings accounts. A CD ladder is a good way to stay somewhat liquid with your money. Here’s who should consider it and when. Read more.

Gas

Squeezing the most out of your gas budget can make a real financial difference. Here are some ways to save on gas that you probably haven’t considered. Read more.

Internet

Leaving your home Wi-Fi unsecured could make your personal information and network vulnerable to illicit activity. Protect yourself with these changes. 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
Amazon
Greece
🎙️ Podcast

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.

☎️ 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.

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