Clark Stinks! & How Changing Your Car Buying Habits Could Add $250,000 to Retirement

It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Lane reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, a shocking 81% of consumers admit to routinely making impulse buys. But while small impulse buys hurt your weekly budget, there is one major lifestyle purchase that is absolutely sabotaging your long-term wealth: your vehicle. The data shows that the average cost of a vehicle has climbed to a whopping $50,000, yet we still get tired of our rides and cycle through them too quickly. By making a single change to how you buy, what you buy, and how often you buy a vehicle over your working lifetime—and investing those savings into the stock market instead—you could easily put an extra $250,000 directly into your pocket by the time you retire. Use our Wealth Impact Calculator to turbocharge your retirement savings today: https://clark.com/wealth-impact-of-bu... All this and more on the May 29, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your opinions or questions: https://clark.com/clarkstinks/ https://clark.com/ask/ https://clark.com/about-consumer-acti... 00:00 - Intro 01:57 - Clark Stinks - What Are the Most Overlooked Ways to Save Money on Everyday Items? (Kelli, Wisconsin) 05:33 - Clark Stinks - Can a Boat Ever Be Financially Smart if It Creates Income or Memories? (Paul, Virginia) 06:59 - Clark Stinks - Should You Use HSA Reimbursements to Boost Roth Contributions Instead? (Mike, Utah) 08:37 - Clark Stinks - Are 401(k) Loans Taxed Twice When You Pay Them Back? (Tom, Texas) 10:49 - Clark Stinks - Should You Ask Your Utility Company for Energy-Saving Advice and Rebates? (Kirkland, Washington) 12:15 - Clark Stinks - Can You Access Consumer Reports for Free Through Your Local Library? (Chiara, Michigan) 15:16 - Clark Stinks - Is Using a Locked Credit Card a Smart Way to Protect Online Payments? (Michael, Michigan) 16:55 - Clark Stinks - What’s the Safest Way to Pay Gyms That Require Debit or Bank Accounts? (Yemi, Florida) 20:42 - This Car Choice Could Cost You $250K in Retirement 27:18 - Ask Clark - Are Carvana and CarMax Making Used Cars More Expensive Than Private Sales? (Mark, Georgia) 31:37 - Ask Clark - How Close Are We to Fully Self-Driving Cars for Everyday Use? (Kitty, California) 31:14 - Ask Clark - How Can Pet Owners Save Money on Expensive Prescription Medications? (Adelyn, North Carolina) Clark.com: Advice You Can Trust: SUBSCRIBE:    / clark   Listen To The Clark Howard Podcast: https://clark.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lrwhe2... iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/8-the-... Follow Us for More Money Tips: Website: https://clark.com/ Podcast: https://clark.com/podcasts/ Newsletter: https://clark.com/newsletters/ Instagram:   / theclarkdotcom   Facebook:   / clarkhoward   Need Consumer Advice? The Consumer Action Center is a free resource for advice on money and consumer issues. Call 636-49C-LARK (636-492-5275) and a member of Team Clark will assist you as soon as possible. The Consumer Action Center is available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. If you found this video valuable, give it a like. If you know someone who needs to see it, share it. Leave a comment below with your thoughts. Add it to a playlist if you want to watch it later. Our Promise to You: At Clark.com and ClarkDeals.com, we do not get paid for endorsements or reviews of any product or service, nor do we allow advertisers to place paid content on our sites. More information: https://clark.com/ad-disclosure/