How to back up your photos for free (12 24 25)

Author

Sally McDonald
December 24, 2025

šŸ’µ Todayā€™s Top Stories
holiday phone photos

Since Google shuttered its unlimited photo storage program, people have scrambled to find free or cheap ways to store their images. The best option may not be what youā€™d anticipate. Read more.

Costco clothing

Which warehouse club sold $10 billion in clothing in 2024? Itā€™s Clarkā€™s favorite store! Hereā€™s what Costco carries in stock, why itā€™s dirt cheap and whether itā€™s right for you. Read more.

Thermostat heat

How much are you paying to heat your home this winter? Use these simple tricks when temperatures drop to keep your energy costs down. Read more.

Clark Howard travel advice

We all know Clark is a meticulous planner and shopper when it comes to booking travel. But when he gets there, he prefers more spontaneous activities and exploring. Read more.

šŸ¢ Wildest TSA Airport Confiscations in 2025

Most of us view TSA as a hassle, something that increases stress at airports and takes up precious time.

But in the spirit of Christmas, perhaps itā€™s time we show a little appreciation to the Transportation Security Administration.

After all, a record 122.4 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles this holiday season (Dec. 20 to Jan. 1). That includes more than 8 million people expected to fly.

Itā€™s easy to forget thereā€™s a big safety component to the work TSA does ā€“ until you read a partial list of the items that TSA was able to stop at airport security setups across the United States in 2025.

A sampling:

  • A replica mortar.

  • Sharp objects hidden inside peanut butter jars, lotion bottles, coffee containers, bags of chips and cereal boxes.

  • 300 liquid-filled vape pens, 20 containers of marijuana wax and a quarter-pound bag of weed in a single checked bag.

  • A knife hidden in a childā€™s booster seat and another sewn into the lining of a purse.

  • A shotgun camouflaged inside of a golf bag, complete with a golf club headcover.

  • 64 hollow-point bullets buried in a tub of strawberry Nesquik.

  • In the non-dangerous category (we think), a live turtle hidden in a manā€™s pants.

If youā€™re flying this holiday season, make sure to thank a TSA agent.

šŸ“Š Stat of the Day

šŸ” 54%: Share of primary mortgage holders with rates at or below 4%. Thirty-year fixed mortgages recently fell to 6.21% on average. But ā€œrates are unlikely to fall far enough [in 2026] to persuade many of those homeowners who want to sell to take on a far more expensive loan.ā€

šŸ’°ļø Deal Alert: Todayā€™s Top Deals
Airplane in sky
Clark Howard deal cash money
šŸŽ™ļø Podcast

Wes Moss reveals a critical, little-known healthcare secret that can save early retirees, job-leavers, and other Americans thousands of dollars a month on medical coverage before age 65. Hear the incredible story of Rebecca, who thought she was stuck paying $2,500/month for COBRA but discovered a way to slash her premium to less than $200 through the ACA, thanks to enhanced subsidies. Wes walks through how to use free resources to save big. Also, Wes breaks down the latest Fed rate cut and explains why it may not mean cheaper mortgages.

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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