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💵 Today’s Top Stories
Even if you’re not using a specific credit card, don’t stash it in a drawer and forget it (or cancel the card). Do this instead and keep your credit score as high as possible. Read more.
Homeowners insurance is designed to protect against catastrophic loss. But home prices skyrocketed in the late 2010s and early 2020s. You could be “frightfully underinsured,” Clark explains. Read more.
Amazon inserted ads into Prime Video in 2024, forcing customers to pay $2.99 a month for an ad-free version. Now, Amazon plans to squeeze even more dollars out of the product starting April 10. Read more.
You may get offered a warranty on a laptop, cell phone, wireless ear buds, air fryer and even tennis shoes. Does Clark think any of them are worth the price? Read more.
💸 Do You Live in a Cheapskate State?
It’s a debate as old as dirt: how much should you tip?
Of course, in recent years, it’s become much more aggressive and in-your-face, with point-of-sale iPads suggesting tipping percentages for things that you never used to tip for.
Often we turn to the wisdom of the crowds to determine when we should tip and what’s an acceptable amount.
A recent Reader’s Digest story looked at point-of-sale data from all 50 states in 2025 to determine which states feature notoriously strong and weak tippers. The average ranged from 13.1% to 20.7%, so there’s quite a lot of variety depending on where you live.
Here are the five states with the most generous tippers:
1. South Carolina: 20.7%
2. Wisconsin: 19.2%
3. Connecticut: 18.4%
4. Maryland: 18.4%
5. Nevada: 16.9%
And here are the five most cheapskate states when it comes to tipping:
50. Oregon: 13.1%
49. Virginia: 13.6%
48. New York: 13.7%
47. Alaska: 14.1%
46. Illinois: 14.4%
📊 Stat of the Day
💵 83%: Share of Americans who think automatic tipping should be banned. Americans are “fed up with increased tipping obligations” according to a WalletHub analyst.
💰 Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
🎙 Podcast
After years of record-high premiums, many insurers have shifted from struggling for profitability to seeing massive gains, leading to a renewed sense of competition for customers. Clark emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the brands with the biggest advertising budgets to find companies that actually offer the best customer service and value. Also, Clark explores why thrift-centered businesses like Goodwill and Dollar Tree are thriving across all demographics. He admits he was initially wrong about Dollar Tree’s decision to move past its signature $1 price point, explaining that the transition to a multi-price model (ranging from $1.25 to $7) has actually turned the brand into a sought-after tenant in shopping centers across the country.
☎ 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.
