The $7,500 federal credit is gone, but automakers are slashing prices to move cars. I explain why this could be your moment to score a deal.
Freezing your credit isn’t enough anymore: It won’t stop thieves from opening bank accounts, filing fake taxes or stealing your identity. NordProtect goes steps further by monitoring the dark web, leaks and more. Protect what a freeze can’t. Try it now for 71% off.
September 30
The last day to take delivery and still score the $7,500 EV tax credit. Tick, tick, tax. Forget order dates. The feds only care when it hits your driveway. So if you’re waiting eight to 10 weeks for delivery, as is the case for most Teslas, you’re cutting it real close. Better hope your dream car is already on a lot somewhere.
No more credit card offers in the mail: Visit optoutprescreen.com to stop financial junk mail you’d have to shred. Choose to opt out for five years or forever. Opting out permanently? You’ll have to use snail mail, but it’s worth it. Print, sign and mail a confirmation form. I did it.
🥶 Freezing your credit isn’t enough anymore: It won’t stop thieves from opening bank accounts, filing fake taxes or stealing your identity. NordProtect goes steps further by monitoring the dark web, leaks and more. Protect what a freeze can’t. Try it now for 65% off.
⚠️ Are you protected? I don’t take chances with my identity. NordProtect monitors my info and credit, alerting me instantly if something’s off. It’s like a digital bodyguard, for just $5.22/month. That’s less than a fancy cup of coffee. It even includes ID theft recovery and fraud protection at no extra cost. Perfect.
⚠️ Scamming scammers: Some TikTokers claimed you could file a fake CFPB complaint and get a check from Zelle or Cash App. Millions watched. Some paid $77 for their “templates” and $24.99 for credit repair guides. It’s all bogus. “Just lie to the government” is not financial advice.
Credit bureaus are selling you out
Drowning in junk mail? Credit bureaus sell your info to banks and insurers, fueling all those “pre-approved” offers. Here’s how to stop them for good.
⚡ Hands off my wallet: The BBB says crooks are pulling a new move called “ghost tapping” (paywall link). They carry a legit-looking wireless card reader, like the ones you see at coffee shops, and only need to get a few feet from your tap-to-pay card or phone. Bump into you at a concert? Stand too close in a line? Boom, tiny “test” charge hits your account. The scam works best on debit cards since the money comes out instantly. Easiest defenses: Toss your cards in an RFID-blocking sleeve (they’re cheap), turn on instant bank alerts and always check the terminal screen before tapping your phone, debit or credit card. If something feels sketchy, swipe or insert instead. It’s pickpocketing, just upgraded for 2025. These scams are getting nuts.
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The airline nightmare can get worse
Scammers are lurking in airline DMs, pretending to help upset passengers. Here’s how to spot the fake messages and protect your bookings and credit cards.
🧨 Zuck-on-Zuck: A real Indiana lawyer named Mark Steven Zuckerberg is suing Meta and Mark Elliott Zuckerberg because Facebook keeps deleting his account for “impersonating a celebrity.” His personal and business profiles have been suspended multiple times over the past 15 years even though he submitted driver’s license, professional ID and credit card info to prove he’s legitimate. His legal practice lost $11,000 in ad funds, countless clients and precious credibility while Meta apologized four times for mistakenly disabling him. Now he’s asking for money, a formal apology and a free weeklong vacation on Zuck’s $300 million, 387-foot yacht. Heck yeah!
🚨 TransUnion hacked: We all have a record here, whether we want it or not. More than 4.4 million customers had their personal data swiped from the credit bureau. The company says “no credit info was accessed” but hasn’t shared what was stolen, who’s behind it or if demands were made. You have to know they took important details like your name, DOB, SSN and other goodies. So take this news as a need for you to change your TransUnion PIN and password. Never stops.
YouTube vs. Fox: If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, you might soon lose Fox News, Fox Sports and local Fox stations. The two are butting heads over money in their upcoming carriage renewal. No deal? The channels could get pulled. If that happens, YouTube TV says subscribers will get a $10 credit.
Protect your wallet by tapping
Still swiping your credit card? You’re putting your number on display. Contactless payments like Apple or Google Pay are faster, safer, and way smarter.
🛍️ Get $20 after your first purchase: Try Kudos. It’s a free tool I love that helps you rack up the best credit card rewards automatically, no guesswork. It shows you which card gets you the biggest perks. Use code KIM, and you’ll get $20 back after your first purchase. Free money? Yes, please.
🛰️ Scammers in low orbit: Facebook is crawling with phony ads offering “lifetime Starlink service” for as low as $127. Now real Starlink service starts at $120 per month, with no such thing as a lifetime package. These ads link to fake websites that mimic Starlink’s branding but have sketchy URLs, typos and unsecure payment pages. The only thing connecting here is your credit card to a scammer. Don’t fall for it.
🤑 I use the app Kudos to save money! It’s free, super smart and finds the best rewards and cash back at places like Walmart, Macy’s, AT&T, Verizon, Expedia and over 2 million stores. Use code KIM for $20 back. P.S. If you’re wondering what credit card is best for you, they’ll help with that, too!
Term life, whole life, compromised life: Allianz Life says a hacker tricked its way into a third‑party cloud CRM two weeks ago, compromising the addresses, birth dates and possibly SSNs of the majority of its 1.4 million U.S. customers, plus financial pros and some employees. You know the drill. They’ll send you a letter saying they’re sorry. You better freeze your credit and get ID theft coverage. I use NordProtect.*
7
That’s how many petroleum-based color dyes ice cream makers are ditching by 2028. Red 3, Blue 1, Yellow 5, basically the Crayola rejects of the dessert world, are being swapped for natural pigments. Your mint chip might soon look like actual mint. The average American downs 4 gallons of ice cream a year. Yea, we’re all just toddlers with credit cards and freezers.
Don’t miss rewards: From groceries to travel, Clark.com has a list of the best credit cards to help you maximize every dollar you spend. Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.