Neat credit card trick to maximize rewards (12 18 25)

Author

Sally McDonald
December 18, 2025

💵 Today’s Top Stories
Credit card spending rewards

Clark picked up this brilliant credit card rewards trick by talking to a shopper at Costco. Read our story to decide if you want to start using it too. Read more.

umbrella insurance

The idea of umbrella insurance is nice, especially if you have money. “Protect yourself against anything your other policies don’t cover.” But what do you actually get? And does Clark like these? Read more.

Grocery Delivery

Order your groceries online and you’ll avoid crowds and save time. Team Clark studied the most popular services to gift you this list of the best options. Read more.

Smartphone on cash

Team Clark tested browser extension and app Ibotta to find out if the cash-back rewards are worth it. Here are some tips that make it a great way to get cash back – if you remember. Read more.

Cell phone in hand pink jacket

For a limited time, new customers can snag six months of unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon’s 5G network for just $22.50 a month. There are a few "bring your own phone" rules to know before you switch. Read more.

💵 Today’s Top Savings Rates

Check out our updated list of Clark.com-approved high-yield savings accounts with the highest rates. Here are the top five APYs on our list as of December 17, 2025.

Savings Rates 120425
🌭 Sam’s Club Cloning Parts of Costco

If you love Costco like Clark does, chances are you’re loving certain elements of Sam’s Club these days as well.

Sam’s Club scores points over Costco in the areas of membership cost (slightly cheaper) and convenience (curbside pickup).

Now Sam’s Club is trying to replicate some elements of the famous Costco food court. No, you can’t get a $1.50 hot dog and soda from the Walmart offshoot.

But Costco recently added a salted caramel brownie sundae (soft-serve vanilla ice cream with brownie bits and caramel sauce). It’s popular. And what do you know, Sam’s Club just added a “Jingle Cookie Crunch Sundae” (soft-serve vanilla ice cream with chocolate cookie crumbles and Member’s Mark mini candy cookies).

Sam’s Club undercut Costco’s version on price, $1.58 to $2.99.

Unlike Costco, Sam’s Club also allows anyone, not just members, to eat in its food court.

One isn’t necessarily better than the other. But it’s interesting to see Sam’s Club replicating some of Costco’s strengths.

📊 Stat of the Day

✈️ $11 million: The amount that the federal administration just forgave Southwest Airlines. That was the last of the $140 million fine stemming from the disastrous 2022 holiday season due to tech and systems failures that stranded more than 2 million customers. Southwest has since spent $1 billion upgrading its tech.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
Gifts
Sale deals
🎙️ Podcast

Americans are getting fiercely frugal. From watering down liquid soap to tearing dryer sheets in half, people are finding creative ways to stretch every dollar. Clark and Christa discuss the responses from our poll of the extreme things your fellow Clarkies are doing to save! Also, is owning a home still the American dream to building wealth? Clark breaks down the factors you need to consider before buying a home.

☎️ 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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