Some would say this is cheating, others would consider it “bluffing.” Where do you stand? Credit: TikTok – finalroundai
Uber drove off with her kid
Her 5-year-old fell asleep in the backseat, and the driver left with her still inside. Uber refused to help until police stepped in. Their apology? A $7 credit. Plus, what’s up with Instagram Edits, Meta’s AI glasses now transcribe your convos, and chatbots place bets on the next pope.
Major data breach at HR firm: A cyberattack at Kelly Benefits exposed personal info from over 400,000 people. Hackers got basically everything needed for identity theft. The company says there’s no sign of misuse yet, but they’re offering 12 months of free credit monitoring. Never stops.
$100,000
The lifetime wealth boost from just one high school personal finance class. According to a new study, that’s the ROI for teaching teens how money works: budgeting, investing, credit scores, the whole shebang except how to set up a joint account.
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.
No Apple Pay? Try 'palm pay'
If you forget your credit card or don’t want to carry anything, this would be pretty dang handy.
2 bags
That’s how many you used to check for free on Southwest. Now? That’ll be $80, unless you’ve got status or a branded credit card (paywall link). The “bags fly free” era has been unceremoniously grounded. I’ll never forget when I was on a Southwest Airlines flight. A hard landing was quite jarring. As we pulled up to the gate, our flight attendant announced, “Well, folks, that wasn’t my fault, and it wasn’t the captain’s fault, but it was definitely the asphalt.”
15
That’s how many Centurion Lounges American Express runs across the U.S., and they just got crowned world’s best. Yelp’s 2025 rankings say these credit-card-access-only lounges are worth the swipe, thanks to their chef-curated menus, comfy vibes and enough Wi-Fi to download every season of Succession before boarding. Bonus: There are 10 more hangouts overseas.
Watch TV for $0: You can watch shows and movies for free — no credit card required. Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.
Kiddos under 13? Here’s how to create an Apple ID for them. Apple may ask for your credit card or state ID to confirm you’re an adult. Head to Settings > Family > Add Member > Create Child Account > Continue. Double-check their name and birthday. Changing it later is tricky.
Tariff relief? More like tariff thief. If you spot ads on Facebook for things like a $750 “tariff relief credit,” don’t click on them (paywall link). These bogus posts trick you into filling out forms or calling a number that steals your info. Everywhere you turn, there’s another scam.
🚗 A parent’s worst nightmare: An Uber driver recently took off with a sleeping 5-year-old daughter still in the back. The mom, Julia, called 911, but Uber refused to call the driver without paperwork. It took Toronto cops over an hour to find the girl safe. Uber’s apology? A $10 future ride credit, because nothing says “sorry, we misplaced your child” like one free quarter-ride to Chili’s.
Buy Now, Pay Later? Credit bureaus are catching up
Those interest-free installment plans used to be invisible. Even if you missed a payment. Not anymore.
💸 $8.2 million in crypto seized: Give the DOJ a hand for cracking down on romance baiting. You know, scammers promise to love you forever, help you invest in bogus platforms and vanish with your money. One woman lost over $660,000 (her life savings), and the scammer still asked for another $300,000 to “improve her credit score.” Wondering if you’re getting scammed? Ask me here.
⚠️ Sam’s Club data breach: We don’t know a lot, yet. The Clop ransomware gang listed Sam’s Club on its leak site. All Sam’s Club says is that they’re investigating the matter. Better to be proactive. Watch your credit card statements for fraud.
Is it time to ditch your wallet?
Using your phone instead of a credit card might seem less secure, but it’s actually safer. Here’s why.
7 credit card commandments: Credit cards are a great way to build your credit history and improve your credit score, but they come with some pitfalls. Clark Howard has seven rules (like paying your balance in full each month) for using credit cards. Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter for more must-have money tips.
🚨 Still waiting on that data breach notice? UnitedHealth’s massive hack hit one in every two Americans, and some of us still haven’t been notified. Change Healthcare is offering two years of free credit monitoring if you were affected. Odds are your data was breached, so sign up now at changecybersupport.com.
Lock your credit files immediately
Another huge data breach — 2.9 billion records exposed, including Social Security numbers. Here are the quick steps you need to take right now to protect yourself.
Don't cancel this after a loved one dies
It’s typical to cancel credit cards, utilities, and subscriptions after someone passes. But a common mistake is pulling the plug on this too soon.