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💵 Today’s Top Stories
Did you know that non-expired passports can still be invalid when you travel to other countries? Here’s what you need to do before you book travel. Read more.
You need a will. But did you know you might be able to use a free or cheap online tool instead of hiring an attorney? Here are Team Clark’s six favorite options. Read more.
Bilt offers credit card rewards on rent and mortgage payments. But it broke up with Wells Fargo in 2025. The company is re-releasing its card in February with three different tiers. Read more.
Mint Mobile is offering a 50% off unlimited promotion through Feb. 4. It works on T-Mobile’s network. Here are the rates once the promotional period ends as well as our qualitative analysis. Read more.
Does your child have a severe disability? If so, you may not realize there’s a special type of plan that allows you to save and spend money tax-free, like a 529 plan, for eligible expenses. Read more.
✈ When Should You Book Your Airline Tickets?
If you’re looking to save money on travel, Clark’s No. 1 rule is to look for the deal first – then figure out where you’re going and what to do there.
In other words, don’t target a specific location or date. Latch onto the very best deal(s) you come across.
You can also travel mid-week and use alternative airports to save $50-100+.
But if you’re not as flexible, and you’ve done all the possible comparison shopping, saving money on airline tickets often comes down to booking at the right time.
Dollar Flight Club recently released a guide based on its deal data with suggestions on when to book based on the nature of the trip.
Domestic: 1-3 months in advance
Competition on popular routes keeps prices stable until closer to departure. Booking too early or waiting until the last minute can hike fares.
International: 2-8 months
Europe: 5-8 months
Asia/South America: 3-5 months
Middle East/Africa: 3-6 months
Peak Time: 3-5 months (domestic); 4-10 months (international)
Winter holidays, long weekends and the peak weeks of summer are high-demand periods, as well as major events such as sports and festivals.
Holidays: 35-51 days
Flying on the actual holiday can save you $100 or more per ticket.
Here’s how airline ticket prices work, per Dollar Flight Club: “Airlines use advanced algorithms to adjust ticket prices based on demand, competition, and how many seats are still available. Once a certain number of seats sells at a lower price, fares jump to the next pricing tier. Prices also tend to spike 14-21 days before departure due to the ‘last-minute penalty.’”
📊 Stat of the Day
📈 4.4%: Annualized growth rate for the U.S. economy in Q3 of 2025. That topped estimates by economists (3.3% GDP growth) by a significant margin. It was the fastest growth rate in two years.
💰 Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
🎙 Podcast
The middle class is shrinking — but perhaps not for the reason you’ve been told. While headlines often paint a bleak picture of economic decline, the underlying data reveals a much more complex and surprising transformation. Wes Moss dives into the "missing" middle class, using recent data to uncover where those families have actually gone since 1979. Also, Wes pulls back the curtain on a hidden force in the stock market: the math of dividend durability. While many investors are distracted by flashy price targets, they are overlooking a component that has historically accounted for over a third of the market's total return. Wes breaks down why a company’s dividend policy is one of the most reliable signals of financial strength and how the "quiet persistence" of dividend growth has consistently outpaced inflation for over sixty years.
☎ 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.
