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💵 Today’s Top Stories
Laptops, streaming and travel are just a few areas with big discounts on offer this month. Team Clark gives you details on what bargains are available. Read more.
The K-shaped economy bleeds into airline prices. Avoid the front of the airline, target dates early in the school year, add a little patience and flexibility, and you can score a deal even in this economy. Read more.
Did you know there are two types of CDs? For one type, your bank will restart a new CD term if you don’t pull your money out. And it could stick you with a lousy interest rate. Read more.
The popular $895 a year travel rewards card includes up to $300 per year in statement credits for digital entertainment. But it just started excluding versions of this popular streaming platform. Read more.
🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates
According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.66% and 15-year rates are 6.04% as of July 30, 2026. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.
📱 How Much Could You Save on Your Cell Phone Bill?
Two recent studies show just how much Americans are spending on cell phone service:
According to Reviews.org, the average customer with one of the Big Three carriers pays $57.96 per month for a single line.
According to J.D. Power, the average monthly cell phone bill is $141 per month, accounting for households with multiple lines on the same account.
Switching to a lower-cost carrier could lead to significant savings. Based on Review.org’s estimate, moving from a Big Three carrier to an MVNO could save about $17 per month, $199 per year, and nearly $12,000 over a 60-year lifetime.
For a household with multiple lines, those savings could potentially add up to tens of thousands of dollars over time.
Many top providers, including US Mobile, Visible and Mint Mobile, can dramatically reduce your cell phone bill. These companies are known as MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), and they typically operate on the networks of the Big Three while charging much less.
For example, US Mobile offers a single-line plan with 2GB of data for $10 per month. For someone who doesn’t need unlimited data, that could mean savings of more than $47 per month compared with the average single-line Big Three plan.
With inflation remaining above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target for years, finding ways to lower recurring expenses can make a meaningful difference.
And if you invest those savings in a diversified, low-cost portfolio over time, a small monthly decision could potentially grow into a much larger sum for retirement.
📊 Stat of the Day
💰 15.7%: America's biggest companies are keeping more of every dollar they earn than they have in nearly two decades. The S&P 500's net profit margin is on track to reach 15.7% in the second quarter — the highest since 2009 — and would mark the 10th straight quarter of improving profitability.
💰 Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
🎙 Podcast
It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, with real estate values skyrocketing past the rate of inflation, homeowners across the country are facing massive property tax hikes—and in some cases, people are literally being priced out of their homes. The core idea should be simple: no one should be forced out of their home due to runaway tax bills. You can appeal on your own, hire a specialized company, or bring in an attorney for larger commercial properties. The key is to act fast: pay close attention to your assessment, check the math, and fight for your money!
☎ 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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