💸 Starlink’s surprise fee: If you’re in Washington or Oregon, you might get hit with a $500 “demand surcharge” just to sign up. That’s more than the dish itself, which costs $349! Why the extra charge? Apparently, it’s to avoid overloading the network in areas like Seattle and Portland with limited capacity. Ouch.
Might be owed money? Here’s how to find it (for free)
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I’ll never forget helping Robert from Virginia find $24,578 sitting in a bank account he didn’t know existed. He heard me talk about how to find hidden money on my national radio show.
Every year, I shout about this from the rooftops (and my national radio show). Lost money isn’t a myth. It’s trillions just chilling in government vaults and banker spreadsheets, waiting for someone like you to claim it.
Unless you’ve kept flawless records since the womb, it could absolutely be yours. And no, this isn’t a scam, it’s your money.
We’re talking about forgotten paychecks, closed bank accounts, unused refund checks, overpaid bills, life insurance payouts, security deposits, retirement accounts like 401(k)s, and even savings bonds.
If you’ve ever moved, changed jobs or had a relative pass away, sit up and pay attention. Look up your name and others you know. This tip is mint.
Start with the big one
Go to MissingMoney.com, a free site backed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Type in your name and any states you’ve lived in.
If there’s a match, you can usually file a claim right then and there. Just be ready to upload proof of identity. A driver’s license or utility bill will do.
If your state isn’t listed there, check Unclaimed.org. It links you directly to every state’s own unclaimed property site.
Your 401(k)
At least $1.7 trillion languishes in lost or forgotten 401(k) accounts. That’s enough to buy several billion avocados or one small California studio apartment. The average unclaimed balance is $56,616!
Check the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits to see if your money’s ghosting you. If you left a job and forgot to roll over your 401(k), your money might be sitting in a holding account.
99.999%
That’s how much of Earth’s gold is locked in the core. It’s basically a global treasure chest we’ll probably never open. There’s enough down there to coat the entire planet in 1.5 feet of gold. It’s staying put unless you’ve got a plan to drill through 1,800 miles of molten iron. Somehow, Bitcoin mining sounds less complicated now.
Cancel what you’re not using: I use Rocket Money, an app that finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel anything you don’t want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $435!
Cash in on your old cell phone: This tip will show you how to get the most money out of your old phone by selling it to reputable companies. Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter to receive smart money tips every day.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Set up price alerts on Amazon with CamelCamelCamel to avoid paying full price.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
$38 billion
That’s how much Saudi Arabia is pouring into gaming. Basically the Thanos of gaming via Savvy Games Group, the kingdom controls 40% of the global esports industry and big chunks of ESL, Scopely, Nintendo, EA and more. When your gaming strategy includes Red Bull partnerships and a sovereign wealth fund, you’re not playing games when it comes to games.
$1.3 billion
That’s how much Lucy Guo is worth, dethroning Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made female billionaire. She cofounded Scale AI at 21, got fired, kept her stake, which grew to $1.2 billion, and casually launched another startup that raised $40M. Way to go!
40%
That’s how much cooling costs can drop with an ice battery. Yes, actual ice. Buildings like Eleven Madison in NYC are freezing water at night, then using that ice to chill the place by day. It’s like time-shifting your AC to happy hour prices, potentially lowering cooling costs by up to 40%. Peak grid demand? Never heard of her.
562,000
That’s how many new millionaires popped up in the U.S. in 2024. It’s more than any other country. A lot of them are also stashing their money in things like crypto and private equity, which now make up 15% of their portfolios. BRB, pitching to Shark Tank.
💸 Avoid PayPal fees: Transferring money to friends or family? Pick Sending to a friend instead of Goods and Services to skip the fee. It works if you’re using a linked bank account or PayPal balance. FYI: There’s no buyer protection, so only use it with people you trust.
$10.8 billion
That’s how much Steve Jobs left behind, and his kids didn’t inherit. The Apple founder’s estate went almost entirely to his wife, Laurene, who made it clear: The dynasty dies with her. So while Eve Jobs models, Reed invests in cancer research, and Lisa Brennan-Jobs writes about her dad’s icy legacy, none of them are cashing in.
$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.
💸 PayPal is leaving Google Wallet: Starting June 13, you won’t be able to use your PayPal account to pay through Google Wallet anymore. If you’ve got any recurring payments set up, switch your payment method ASAP. The good news? PayPal-branded Debit Mastercards still work just fine.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Bookmark your bank’s login page. Hackers create look-alike sites to trick you. Using a saved, official bookmark sidesteps typos that lead to phishing traps.
500,000
That’s how many more home sellers there are than buyers right now. It’s the biggest seller surplus Redfin has ever recorded, including 2020 when no one was even sure if open houses were legal. Florida’s feeling the heat with six of the top 10 buyer’s markets, but sellers everywhere might want to start adjusting expectations and maybe listing prices.