Warning: Don’t use public charging stations (10 8 25)

Author

Jennifer Hutcheson
October 08, 2025

💵 Today’s Top Stories
Charging cell phone

You’re sitting at an airport or hotel when you spot a cell phone-charging USB port. Eureka! But the FBI issued a warning against using those due to this nasty scam. Read more.

Remote Work

You may feel surprised when you learn how much you can earn working from home as an accountant, social media manager and more. Read more.

Visible

Team Clark had a wonderful experience testing this prepaid cell phone provider on Verizon’s network. New customers can save $135 right now. Read more.

High credit score

There’s a hidden credit score that might be affecting your ability to get approved. Learn what SageStream is and how to check it. Read more.

🛍️ Nearly 4 in 5 American Adults Now Hold Amazon Prime Membership

Certainties in life: death, taxes – and Amazon taking over a larger portion of the lives of American consumers?

That number probably doesn’t illicit a deep emotional reaction, because a) you know Amazon is huge, and b) it’s hard to wrap your mind around a number so large that it’s hardly tangible.

Amazon Prime membership, 26 million in 2013, reached 194 million Americans in 2024. That’s more than 75% of American adults.

It has grown every year except 2022 after two COVID-inspired giant leaps in 2020 and ’21.

Amazon claims its Prime members saved almost $95 billion in free delivery charges, about $500 on average (multiples of the annual price of Prime membership).

Clark, a big fan of the cheaper Walmart+, always points out how important it is to comparison shop. He also espouses warehouse clubs as a way to save big on certain items.

Amazon Prime is so ubiquitous and convenient that we may have a tendency to auto-buy from the company. However, fighting for dollars on everyday purchases can have major long-term positive consequences.

📊 Stat of the Day

☂️ 0: Hurricanes that made landfall in the United States this year through September, the first time in 10 years. Here’s to hoping that will help slow down the soaring cost of insurance premiums, especially for home and auto.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
Sale deals
Clark Howard travel advice
🎙️ Podcast

The market loves a "Goldilocks" environment, but what is the magic number for inflation that delivers the highest stock returns? Wes dives into the data to show how inflation rates directly impact your portfolio. Also, Investopedia put a price tag on the American Dream, but Wes has a reality check. Find out what you need to earn over your working career to afford a home, raise kids, pay for college, and reach the "Green Zone" in retirement.

☎️ 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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