Clark Howard’s #1 travel rule (1 7 26)

Author

Jennifer Hutcheson
January 07, 2026

💵 Today’s Top Stories
Airplane in sky

Clark founded a travel agency when he was younger and has visited almost every corner of the globe. Read his one simple rule to save on travel. Read more.

Mail

Did you know you can get rid of most of those credit card and insurance offers, catalogs, direct mail marketing and even junk mail? Read more.

Emergency fund

Building an emergency fund is a foundational part of a healthy financial life. Here’s how much you need to save and where to keep it, according to Clark. Read more.

Destroy credit card

Do you have a credit card with a high interest rate, an annual fee or one that you just don’t use? Canceling may seem smart. But that’s not always the case, as we explain. Read more.

🛫 American Airlines Experiments With Customer-Friendly Connecting Flights

We’ve all been there: Your first flight is taxiing to the gate. And you’re checking your watch, wondering if you’ve got time to sprint, carry-on in hand, to your next gate to make your connecting flight.

Even minimal delays can wreak havoc on tight connections.

Many airlines end boarding 15 minutes before departure. That makes American Airlines’ new experiment very interesting.

According to Afar: “This summer, American Airlines began holding select tight connections and texting and emailing passengers to let them know how long the flight would be held.”

American Airlines is reportedly using AI in combination with on-the-ground staff to determine which flights to hold.

On average, American held flights for 10 minutes to help connecting customers. Perhaps a mix of stretching the pre-flight time when the doors close and making up a few minutes in the air can help more people avoid the depressing “sorry, you just missed it” talk, as the plane is still sitting at the gate.

Afar notes that United has also experimented with holding flights for connecting passengers at times.

📊 Stat of the Day

💸 $11,577: The average annual expense of owning and operating a new vehicle in 2025. That’s $964.78 per month. This is down $719 per year ($59.92 per month) vs. 2024. Depreciation decreased by $300 on average. Financing, gas and insurance all fell vs. 2024 as well.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
Eddie Bauer

Hawaii
🎙️ Podcast

Are you curious how your net worth compares to the rest of the country? Wes Moss dives into the latest data from the Federal Reserve’s Study of Consumer Finances and top financial institutions to paint a clear picture of wealth in America today. Also, Wes helps to draw the roadmap for the next generation of millionaires. Inspired by the wisdom of the Clark Howard community, Wes outlines a simple, repeatable blueprint for financial freedom. By focusing on patience and the power of consistent contributions, reaching a seven-figure nest egg is more achievable than ever. Whether you are starting with $1,000 a month or aiming to max out your 401(k), we show you how a few decades of discipline can transform your financial future and put you on the path to becoming a "financial force of nature."

☎️ 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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