10 best new Costco products in January (1 10 24)

Signing up for a gym in 2024? Clark wants you to avoid gyms with contracts. Find out why later in this email.

šŸ’µ Todayā€™s Top Stories
Costco Wholesale warehouse

A pineapple cake, a 13-quart air fryer and a Valentineā€™s Day ā€œBoo Boxā€ are among the best new items at Costco in January. Read more.

Dealership cars

Cars.com released its 2023 American-Made Index (AMI) based on location of final assembly, U.S. factory employment and more. Hereā€™s the #1 most American car being built right now. Read more.

Internet Speed

You may be paying top dollar for fast internet. But are you actually getting those speeds? Find out by testing your internet and checking your bill. Read more.

Roth

Clark disagrees with this personā€™s advisor and believes she should contribute to a Roth plan instead. Do you agree with Clarkā€™s logic on this one? Read more.

Sling

Sling TV is offering a deal that could help you get the yearā€™s entertainment budget started on the right foot. Read more.

šŸ‹ļø Why You Should Avoid Prepaying for Gym Memberships Far Into the Future

If youā€™ve resolved to get fit in 2024, you may be looking at paying for a gym membership.

You should know that if you pay for six months, one year or more to get a discounted rate, youā€™re taking a risk.

Neil in Colorado told Clark on the Jan. 8 podcast that his gym, at which he prepaid for a year, went out of business. Now heā€™s having trouble recouping the money for the months he paid for but didnā€™t get any services.

ā€œAnd this thing with the gyms, Neil, has been a problem for my entire career where people will pay up front one, two or three years,ā€ Clark says. ā€œAnd then the gym ceases to exist.ā€

If youā€™re within 60 days of the initial charge, Clark says, and you paid for the membership via credit card, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company.

Otherwise, if the gym itself isnā€™t helping (there may be no remaining assets), Clark advises that you try to recover your money through the stateā€™s consumer affairs agency.

Still, the best thing to do is to avoid any gym membership offer that requires a contract.

ā€œIā€™m a big fan of no-contract gyms that you pay month-to-month,ā€ Clark says.

šŸ“Š Stat of the Day

šŸ’ø 36: Consecutive months of job growth in the United States. Thatā€™s in spite of the Fedā€™s long-running fight to bring inflation back to its stated 2.0% target. The monthly jobs number fell below 200,000 in June, August and October but has stayed on the positive side of the ledger.

šŸ’°ļø Deal Alert: Todayā€™s Top Deals
Meh-rathon
Columbia
šŸŽ™ļø Podcast

Prescriptions can be so expensive, but thereā€™s good news you need to know. Also, are you trying to maximize your savings? Clark shares essential CD tips for your cash, and one big ripoff warning to protect your wallet.ā€Œ

ā˜Žļø 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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