Equifax data breach settlement: How to make a claim

Equifax says it will pay nearly $700 million for its role in a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of 148 million consumers.

When Equifax disclosed in September 2017 that hackers had exploited its website to steal consumer data, money expert Clark Howard was one of the most vocal proponents of reform. He also offered steps to take to protect yourself.

Equifax data breach settlement: How to claim your money

The agreement still has to be approved in court, but Equifax has set up a claims website at EquifaxBreachSettlement.com for consumers to use. File a claim online here.

If you are a class member, here’s what you’re entitled to:

In Money

In Services

• Up to $20,000, including:
• Up to 20 hours at $25 an hour for lost time
• Reimbursement of money spent buying credit/ID monitoring services
• Repayment for any costs associated with the data breach

• 10 years of free credit monitoring
• At least 7 years of free ID restoration services
• 6 free copies of your Equifax credit report beginning Dec. 31, 2019  and up to 7 years onward

If you don’t want to submit a claim electronically, you can download a claim form here, fill it out and mail it to:

Equifax Data Breach Settlement Administrator
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91318
Seattle, WA 98111-9418

You can also contact the settlement administrator to have a claim form mailed to you here.

If you choose to decline the free 10-year credit monitoring from Equifax, the agency says you can opt for a $125 cash payment instead. Clark says you should take the cash — not the credit monitoring.

Clark’s take: How do you prove identity theft via Equifax data breach?

As he looks back at the massive hack nearly two years ago, Clark says he has some key questions about the settlement:

“You’ll…be able to seek direct economic compensation from Equifax, but here’s the problem in the process: How do you prove that the identity theft problems you’re having are because of the Equifax data breach?”

“A lot of times there’s a lot of fuzziness, a lot of fog that surrounds identity theft,” he says. “I don’t know if you as an individual are going to be able to prove beyond hope that the actual data breach you’ve suffered is because of the Equifax data breach.”

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The Atlanta-based credit bureau says the $671 million settlement will resolve multiple federal and state investigations, including those by the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus, and attorneys general in 48 states.

More importantly, it could give millions of Americans a payoff for the stress and trouble the data breach caused.

Equifax also says it will fork over a quarter of the price consumers paid for credit and identity monitoring services up to a year before the data breach was announced.

As Clark always says: Freeze your credit

Clark says freezing your credit is the #1 way to protect your identity and financial information.

Before you freeze your credit, you should set up a way for you to monitor your credit. This is what he wants you to do:

Sign up for a Credit Karma or Credit Sesame account to get free credit monitoring and be notified when anyone tries to access your personal info. Here’s a step-by-step rundown of how to do it.

Ready to protect yourself? See Clark’s Credit Freeze Guide here!

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The best free and almost free things to do in New York City

It’s no secret that New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world, often landing in the top 10 priciest places on the planet. A three-night trip for two can easily top $2,000 once you factor in food, drinks, lodging, sightseeing and maybe a show or two.

Luckily, there are plenty of free things to do in the city. Based on my experiences as both a travel agent and a many-time visitor to Manhattan, here are the best can’t-miss things to do that won’t cost you a dime, in most cases.

Our picks for the top free things to do in NYC

Hit the streets

There’s no better way to experience the sights and sounds of one of the world’s best cities than on foot. Take a guided tour, a self-guided tour or an audio walking tour in one of the many unique neighborhoods. TripSavvy suggests the best hoods to explore.

Consider transporting yourself halfway around the world with a stroll through one of the oldest and most authentic Chinatowns in America. You can take a DIY tour or one that’s guided in locations across the city — and choose from a variety of special interests. Find one at Free Tours By Foot.

Explore from above

We love to ride the Roosevelt Island aerial tramway that spans the East River and connects Roosevelt Island to the Upper East Side. If you’re going via the tramway to the island or just want to get a bird’s eye view, the best time to go is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m. and until 2 a.m. It’s a fun thing to do at night!

Trams operate every 7 to 15 minutes from 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan to Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island. The fare for the 4-minute ride is $2.25 each way ($4 round-trip). This is a great way to escape the hustle bustle of Manhattan to a quiet and beautiful residential Island (it’s two miles long and about 800 feet wide), with its five spacious parks, a lighthouse, and historic landmarks dating from 1796. A red minibus meets the tram and takes visitors throughout the island for 25 cents a ride.

Take to the water

Through mid-October, enjoy free kayaking from the Hudson River Park on weekends, holidays, and Tuesday-Thursday evenings from the Pier 26 Boathouse. The Tribeca location is the first pier south of the Holland Tunnel Vent Towers and is the second pier north of Battery Park City. Kayaks are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Quench your thirst

Learn about beer-making at the Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg with free tours offered every half hour on the weekends. Arrive early to get a tour ticket and while you wait, sample beers in the tasting room at discounted prices.

Another Brooklyn craft distillery opens for free gin and whiskey history tours and tastings on Saturdays and Sundays (2:30, 3:30 and 5:00 p.m.). The New York Distilling Co. also offers upgraded tours with drinking involved.

Get cultured

The annual Summerstage series features top musical acts and big names in jazz, indie, rock, hip-hop and more to city parks located in the five boroughs. Bring a picnic and arrive early!

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Cast members from leading Broadway productions take to the stage each week in Bryant Park. The concert series features song, dance and performance highlights from popular musicals.

Find hundreds of free musical events at Club Free Time and at NYC Free Concerts. Find year-round listings for genres like classical, jazz, pop, rock, opera, soul, and more.

Find your view

Take a ride on the free Staten Island Ferry, a 5.2 mile trip across New York Harbor! By day or night, you’ll see the best of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Operating since 1905, the ferry carries about 22 million people each year.

For the most incredible skyline views (and to enjoy one of New York’s most iconic walks), walk across the Brooklyn Bridge on a 1.13-mile elevated pathway just for pedestrians and cyclists. You’ll have fab skyline views of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Lady Liberty.

The best time to go for lighter crowds is at sunrise! Once on the Brooklyn side, walk a few blocks further to Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), a revitalized neighborhood with trendy cafes, restaurants, galleries and a waterfront park with gardens and rolling hills.

Take to the High Line in the city’s Meatpacking District. Opened in 2009, the 1.45 mile-long park (with 10 entrance points) was created on an abandoned elevated train above West Side neighborhoods. Millions walk through the park for the views of the Hudson River and the downtown skyline.

At dusk every Tuesday, the Amateur Astronomers Association sets up telescopes on the section between West 15th and West 16th Streets for stargazing. Other special events include Latin dance nights and art performances. A warning: Some sections have a 30-feet drop on either side.

For the kids

Located in Prospect Park, the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a wonderful place to frolic. Go on free Friday mornings (8 a.m.–noon) from March to November. Free admission is also offered on weekdays from December through February. Closed Mondays.

The impressive 265-acre Bronx Zoo is home to more than 6,000 animals. Every Wednesday, admission is pay-what-you-wish.

Urban Park Rangers in Central Park offer ranger-led events for families year-round. Programs touch on history, astronomy, animals, plants, and more.

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Visit New York City’s official visitors bureau — NYC & Company offers numerous other things to do with the kids.

Get your art on

The Museum of Modern Art offers free admission (regularly $25) every Friday evening from 4-8 p.m. The museums’ sculpture garden is also free to visit every morning from 9:30-10 a.m.

On Thursday evenings, stroll the galleries in the Chelsea neighborhood, located in the 20s streets between 10th and 11th Avenues. Galleries are free to enter (no pressure to buy) and many offer complimentary wine and cheese Thursday nights.

As you head toward the Statue of Liberty, don’t miss the often overlooked National Museum of the American Indian, located in the spectacular former U.S. Customs House (1907) in Lower Manhattan. It has one of the country’s finest collections of Native American art and over a million items. In addition to free admission, public tours for families are given daily.

NYC-Arts offers a full listing of free museums and pay-what-you-wish locations.

For the book lovers

Two marble lions, Patience and Fortitude grace the entrance to the famous Beaux-Arts style New York Public Library. Take a walk through the reading room (which sits 500) to see patrons viewing their selections under original Carrère and Hastings lamps. Join a free tour Mondays-Saturdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or 2 p.m. Sundays (closed Sundays in the summer). The library offers over 100,000 free programs, serving everyone from toddlers to teens to seniors.

Get a history lesson (with shopping & dining)

Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the South Street Seaport has seen a massive reconstruction and revitalization effort. Now called the Seaport District NYC, the area neighboring the Financial District, is an ideal spot to stroll and shop in a cluster of restored wharfside buildings, many from the early 1800s.

Get free food

Ryan Maguire’s Restaurant & Bar, a classic Irish pub, offers a free buffet from 5-7 p.m. Monday-Friday. Offerings can vary from penne pasta, beef stew, sausages. All day happy hour: $4 drafts, $5 bottled beer, $6 well drinks and $7 house wines. The food menu offers comfort food at affordable prices.

More free tours

Learn about the role of the New York Fed and the Federal Reserve System in setting monetary policy, and money creation and destruction at the Federal Reserve Bank (tour registration opens 30 days prior to the requested date); Mondays-Fridays, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm, except bank holidays. Tours include a trip to the gold vault. Tip: reservations for the free tour are booked out in just a minute or less!

Take a free 90-minute tour of Grand Central Terminal at 12:30 pm every Friday. Discover the architecture and social history of Midtown East. Meet directly across from the station at 12:30 pm in the atrium at 120 Park Avenue (southwest corner of East 42nd Street and Park Avenue). No reservations are necessary.

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Final thought

Just because New York City is generally expensive doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a great trip and not go broke! Check out the suggestions above and you may find that your trip to The Big Apple is way less stressful on your wallet than you might have expected.

For more of the best free things to do in New York City, visit the Official Guide to NYC at NYC & Company.

More stories you might enjoy from Clark.com:

Where to watch free movies online

There’s never been a time when there have been so many ways to watch free movies. With so many streaming options at our disposal, of course, we’re not talking about free flicks at the movie theater.

All you need today is a smartphone, tablet or laptop and you can watch movies for free all day and night. But where are the best places to find them?

In this article, we’ll cover how to watch movies for free.

Grab the popcorn: Here’s how to watch movies for free online

When it comes to streaming TV and movie services, everyone from Netflix to Hulu to HBO Now offers free trials that range from seven to 30 days, but after that you pay for a monthly subscription. That’s not the case with these sites!

(While all of these options offer free movies, in many cases, you have to register or put up with ads to watch them.)

Classic movies in black and white are the specialty of Big Five Glories, which features films from back in the day. The site uses a YouTube video player to host scores of old-time films, including some featuring some old Hollywood greats like Charlie Chaplin.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: No

Crackle is a free streaming service owned by Sony. The platform has plenty of older films (Fight Club, for example), but they all come with ads.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: No

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If you’re looking for oldies but goodies on the big screen, Classic Cinema Online has it all for free. The site uses a YouTube player to host everything from to silent films to John Wayne Westerns.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: No

Free Movies Cinema has a number of independent and short films mainly curated from sites like Vimeo. What’s different about this site is that users can upload movies, playlists and other content.

If you’re really looking to deep dive, Free Movies Cinema has fan-made films that you can enjoy.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: No

If international films are your thing, this is a place for you. GoMovies lets you watch movies from nearly 60 countries. Its menu lists films under such categories as Top Watched, Top IMDB and Genre, to name a few.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: No

IMDb-TV is a free movie platform that is owned by Amazon and works with your Amazon Fire TV stick. After you watch a movie, you can rate it and contribute to IMDb.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: Yes

Kanopy, a site with lots of classic cinema and kids movies, works with your library card. You can stream up to 10 movies a month before a paid plan kicks in.

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• Subscription: No
• Signup: Yes

PopcornFlix features free movies, TV shows and viral videos culled from the web. Looking for a classic film? There’s a good chance PopcornFlix has it.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: No

Pluto TV is a free movie site and app owned by Viacom. It works on a number of different platforms like Apple TV, Roku, Playstation, Amazon Fire TV and others.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: Yes

Featuring scores of free movies and TV shows, from comedy series to sci-fi flicks to Popeye, Retrovision brings the nostalgia. The site features a durable video player and is organized well.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: No

If you’ve got a Roku device, the Roku Channel features a mixture of free movies and TV shows from different channels. Of course, the Roku device costs money, but  you can sign up for a free account and still enjoy the “Featured Free” section.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: Yes

Snagfilms specializes in full-length documentaries that focus on everything from animals to Amish life — and it’s all free. Be sure to check out the Cult Classics category.

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• Subscription: No
• Signup: Yes

Tubi TV has been growing in popularity as one of the best free movie websites and apps. Not only does Tubi load quickly, but its movie library is larger than the one at Netflix.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: Yes

Vudu has a simple interface that offers you free movies and TV shows. The ad-supported platform categorizes titles by genre and more.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: Yes

The largest video site on the internet, YouTube features tons of free movies. Of course, they’ve also adopted a play-for-a-fee option, you can find older full-length films on the site, usually interspersed with ads.

• Subscription: No
• Signup: No

What you need to know before you watch free movies online

Not every free movie site is legit or legal. We purposely didn’t list several popular pirate sites because of security concerns.

With that being said, here are three tips to stay safe when watching free movies online:

• Be aware of privacy & security risks: Many sites are operated by hackers in foreign countries who have made sport out of infesting people’s computers with malware. Along with recording your computer’s IP address, they may try to steal personal info as well.
• Avoid downloading movies from the web: Because many movie sites (torrent sites) host films that they don’t own the copyright to, downloading flicks from them is illegal. Don’t do it.
• Watch out for other stuff: It really can’t be stressed enough: Along with that free movie may come other stuff you hadn’t bargained for, like pop-ups.

If you want to know another dependable resource where you can watch movies online for a small fee, the Motion Picture Association of America has a Watch it Legally page that lists paid and free film sites.

What is Groupon Select and is it worth it?

If you love using Groupon for deals on local events, products, tickets and travel, you may have seen the ads for Groupon Select while shopping online.

Groupon Select is a subscription membership service that provides access to additional discounts, exclusive deals and more for $4.99 each month. But what is Groupon Select and is it worth it?

Team Clark signed up just to find out! In this article, we’ll cover all the benefits, drawbacks and fine print.

Benefits of Groupon Select

Groupon Select members enjoy additional discounts that are automatically applied during checkout with no coupons or promo codes required. Here are the specific perks of joining Groupon Select:

• 10% added savings on tickets and events

• 10% added savings on travel

• Free shipping with no minimum price exclusions

• 25% more off local 

We found that sometimes you can get even more than 20% off local deals.

For example, this 1-hour Rocky Mountain Paddleboard deal was available for only $1.40 after Groupon Select savings. That’s a total of 90% off.

There are no restrictions on the number of deals you can buy each day, and you’ll also occasionally receive emails regarding access to exclusive deals.

Groupon Select exclusions and fine print

The Groupon Select discounts can only be applied to one product or service per transaction, but there’s no limit on how many orders you can place each day.

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If you’re purchasing eligible products, you’ll receive free shipping anyway, so you’ll want to note that actually splitting up your orders is the best way to save with this service.

You can see an example of the free shipping discount with Groupon Select on this 7-bulb LED light, which almost pays for the monthly membership: 

Be sure to check the discounts on your checkout page as some sellers have specifically requested not to participate in Groupon Select savings. 

These deals aren’t eligible for discounts: Groupon+, Goods Marketplace and Getaways Market Pick.

How to get the best deal using Groupon Select

You’ll see how much you’ve saved with Groupon Select on each purchase under the subtotal in the order summary section.

If you’re a Groupon Select member and don’t see your discount during checkout, make sure it’s eligible for additional savings by checking out the troubleshooting FAQ page.

To make sure you’re getting the best deal with Groupon Select, be sure to read customer reviews on both products and services. Read all of the details provided, and familiarize yourself with the Groupon return policy:

Local deals can be refunded within 3 days of purchase, Groupon Getaway deals can be refunded until the “book by” date has passed and most Groupon Goods may be returned within 30 days of delivery.

You’ll also want to compare prices of the item you’re considering to ensure it really is the best deal using a tool like Google Shopping.

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How to become a Groupon Select member

To become a Groupon Select member, follow these steps:

• Visit

  this section of Groupon’s website

• Click “sign up” to check your eligibility. Note: you must create or log into your free Groupon account in order to register for Groupon Select.

• If prompted, click “enroll” 

• Link an existing credit card or select “add” to choose a new card

• You’ll receive a notification that your enrollment was successful

According to the fine print, you’ll be signing up for a 6-month membership followed by a monthly plan. The first month is free, but keep in mind that you are committing to pay the $4.99 monthly fee beginning on the first day of the second month through the end of your 6-month membership.

Once the first six months have passed, your membership will automatically update to a monthly plan at the same price that can be cancelled at any time.

In addition to getting the first month free, we’ve also seen offers for a $5 Starbucks gift card upon signup or $30 in Groupon Bucks. 

Once you’re signed up, you can visit the Groupon Select Account page to track your account status, payment method and billing history. This is also the same page you’ll visit if you want to cancel your membership. You can cancel your membership at any time after the initial six months.

In our experience, signing up was a little confusing, as Groupon Select offers and membership options appeared to change regularly.

Final thought

Groupon is a great way to branch out and try something new, and Groupon Select makes it cheaper than ever. The service is probably best for regular Groupon shoppers who are confident that their savings will offset the $4.99 monthly fee. 

Groupon Select membership benefits:

• Additional savings on travel and entertainment 

• Free shipping

• Access to exclusive deals

• $4.99/month 

• Sign-up offer may be available

• Membership can only be canceled within 30 days of auto-renewal

If you try Groupon Select and decide that it’s not worth it, just remember to cancel to avoid being charged in the future. You can still access Groupon’s other deals without being a Groupon Select member!  

Best online banks: Free checking and high-interest savings accounts

Several online banks including Ally Bank, CIT Bank and Marcus by Goldman Sachs have recently lowered the yield on their high-interest savings accounts. 

CIT Bank’s Savings Builder account dropped to 2.30% APY in late June 2019. Despite the change, its rate and other online-only banks pay more interest compared to traditional banks. 

The average rate on savings accounts nationwide is only 0.10%, according to the FDIC.

Some Clark.com readers tell us they’ve moved their savings to Wealthfront’s FDIC-insured cash account, which offered 2.57% APY as of July 2019. Wealthfront is a robo-advisor investment service.

If you want to earn more interest and grow your savings, now is a great time to switch from a traditional bank to an online bank.

Many online-only banks are growing in popularity because they have lower fees and higher interest rates compared to the big banks — and they’re still a safe place to keep your money.

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Depositing a check is easy with your bank’s mobile app, but there’s no way to deposit cash with most online banks.

Best online banks: Team Clark’s picks 

If you’re someone who never needs to walk into a bank or credit union, you may be able to bank 100% online like Clark.com senior writer Michael Timmermann who has accounts with Discover Bank and CIT Bank.

Discover’s cash back checking account has 1% debit card rewards, while CIT Bank’s savings interest rate is now well above 2%.

Best online banks: Table of contents 

Not ready to leave your bank or credit union completely? You can keep your checking with them and open just an online savings account. After all, that’s where you’ll be earning the most interest anyway.

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Look at it this way: Some online banks pay a full 2% APY (annual percentage yield) more than big banks.

Here’s the difference over five years if you open up a savings account at a traditional bank and deposit $5,000, then fund an online savings account with $5,000:

Savings rates comparison

Traditional bank: 0.01% APY

Online bank: 2.05% APY

Year Total Year Total 1 $5,000.50 1 $5,102.50 2 $5,001.00 2 $5,207.10 3 $5,001.50 3 $5,313.85 4 $5,002.00 4 $5,422.78 5 $5,002.50 5 $5,533.95

Team Clark has identified some of the best online banks. All of them are FDIC-insured, which means that your deposits (like checking and savings) are protected up to the FDIC insurance limit.

Each depositor is insured to at least $250,000 per insured bank. Read more at FDIC.gov.

The banks on our list don’t nickel and dime their customers. They offer free checking with perks, top rates for online savings accounts, mobile banking tools and great customer service.

Read on for Team Clark’s picks and let us know about your favorite online bank in the comments below…

Best online banks: Team Clark’s picks 

Ally Bank 

Ally Bank offers 2.10% APY on savings for all balance tiers, interest checking with no monthly fees and 24/7 customer service. 

Checking

• 0.60% APY on balances $15,000 and more, 0.10% below that
• No monthly maintenance fees
• Use Allpoint ATMs for free, plus $10 reimbursement per statement cycle for other ATM fees
• Free standard checks

Savings

• Online Savings Account: 2.10% APY on all savings tiers
• High Yield Certificate of Deposit (CD): 2.55% APY for 12 months, no minimum balance

Discover Bank 

You probably associate Discover with cash back credit cards, but it also has a checking account with cash back rewards for debit card purchases. 

Checking

• Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month
• No monthly fees or monthly balance requirements
• Access more than 60,000 surcharge-free ATMs (Allpoint or MoneyPass networks)
• No fees for insufficient funds, excessive withdrawals, falling below minimum balances and stop-payment requests
• Free checks upon request

Savings 

• Online Savings Account: 2.05% APY, no minimum deposit or monthly fees
• 12-month CD: 2.40% APY, $2,500 minimum initial deposit

Capital One 

Online banking customers can deposit cash at select Capital One-branded ATMs and Capital One Cafes. 

Checking 

• Earn 0.20% APY on 360 Checking account balances under $50,000
• $0 minimum deposit and no monthly fees
• Access to 39,000 fee-free Capital One and Allpoint ATMs

Savings 

• 360 Money Market: 2.00% APY for balances of $10,000 or more, 0.85% APY for balances below $10,000
• 360 Savings: 1.00% APY for any savings balance

Simple 

Simple is fee-free banking! There are no minimum balance requirements, and no maintenance, overdraft or monthly fees.

Checking 

• Built-in budgeting tool with the Simple app
• Fee-free online checking account, including no overdraft fees
• Free access to Allpoint ATMs
• Protected Goal Accounts with a $2,000+ balance earn interest

CIT Bank 

CIT Bank offers some of the nation’s highest interest rates on its savings accounts, but you must keep a $25,000 balance or deposit $100 a month to earn the best rate. 

Savings

• Savings Builder: 2.30% APY if you maintain a $25,000 balance or deposit $100 per month
• Money Market: 1.85% APY, $100 minimum opening deposit
• No-Penalty, 11-Month CD: 2.05% APY, $1,000 minimum opening deposit

Marcus by Goldman Sachs 

Marcus by Goldman Sachs has a competitive rate on its savings account and no monthly maintenance fees. 

Savings 

• Online Savings Account: 2.15% APY, $1 minimum deposit to earn interest
• No-Penalty, 13-Month CD: 2.35% APY, 

  $

  500 minimum deposit 

Charles Schwab Bank 

Schwab Bank checking and savings customers get unlimited fee rebates from any ATM worldwide, but the checking account must be linked to a Schwab One brokerage account.

Checking 

• High Yield Investor Checking: 0.40% APY
• Unlimited ATM rebates worldwide
• No service fees or account minimums
• Linked to a Schwab One brokerage account

Savings 

• High Yield Investor Savings: 0.50% APY for all clients
• Unlimited ATM rebates worldwide
• No service fees or account minimums

Once you’ve identified an online bank that meets your needs, follow Team Clark’s step-by-step guide to help you make the transition process as easy as possible.

More Clark.com stories you may like: 

How to get college textbooks for free (or nearly free)

Higher education is getting more and more expensive, and the cost of college textbooks is no small part of that equation.

The average price of college textbooks for a full year of school now exceeds $1,200, according to the latest figures. A recent survey indicates that because of the steep prices, as many as 65% of college students are choosing not to pay for course books, potentially hindering their grades. Thankfully, there are ways to get college course books for free or very close to it.

A recent discussion on Reddit.com about how to get cheap college textbooks yielded some very good tips. Here are some of those suggestions, along with others.

Here are some ways to get college textbooks for free (or nearly free)

Ask for alternatives to buying the books

Many college teachers remember when they, too, were cash-strapped college kids. Ask if there is a free hard copy or online version of the textbook that you can use for the semester.

Buy them used

Project Gutenberg

The Project Gutenberg initiative has nearly 50,000 electronic books available online. The textbook you need just might be there.

Textbook Nova

This website finds college and high school textbooks for sale on Amazon for you. All you have to do is enter the title, keyword, author or ISBN.

Rent them

There are also sites that let you rent your college textbooks at a discount and return them when you’re done. In addition to some of the sites listed already, check out Valorebooks.com and Slugbooks.com.

Try the city library

Take a look inside your city library. If they don’t have the book you need, ask the librarian if they can find it among their network of library branches. There’s a good chance they can get it through the inter-library loan program. The beautiful part about this is that it will cost you absolutely nothing!

The top 10 things Clark Howard does to save money

His name is synonymous with being cheap. But do you really know all the ways Clark Howard stretches a buck in his everyday life?

Here are 10 things you can start doing right now that will have your wallet thanking you…

RELATED: Clark’s Cash Challenge: 5 steps to save more money in 30 days

Shop the dollar stores

When everything is $1, how can you go wrong? Clark has been a fan of dollar stores for a long time.

That means buying everything from toiletries to greeting cards to $1 steaks at true dollar stores like Dollar Tree and 99 Cents Only stores.

“My poor wife has not gotten a card from me that was more than a dollar in all the time I think we’ve been together,” Clark admits.

See a list of Clark’s favorite dollar store buys here.

Be willing to accept lower quality for a lower price

Clark’s longtime mantra is that he’s always willing to accept lower quality for a lower price. Hence his deep appreciation for dollar stores!

Just about the only instance where he won’t accept lower quality for a lower price is with both home insurance and auto insurance.

“While [a cheaper] premium might be tempting, you want to be sure your insurer is there for you when the chips are down,” the money expert says.

Look for the 97s at Costco Wholesale

Another one of Clark’s favorite stores is the warehouse club Costco. When he’s walking the concrete floors, he looks for anything that ends in 97 cents — as in $3.97 or $199.97.

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The 97 is like a secret code at Costco. Whenever you see a price that ends in 97 cents, it means the item is being sold below cost. Now that’s a real deal!

See a list of secret codes at other retailers here.

Extend the manufacturer’s original warranty on electronics for free

Clark never pays for extended warranties. Instead, he gets the same protection they offer and more for free!

How does he do it?

Many credit card issuers will double the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year if you use their card to make your purchase. Check with your card issuer to see if this is among the benefits your card or cards have.

Beware of fast food ‘deals’ that actually cost you more money

Here’s a funny story: Not too long ago, Clark was at the regional hamburger chain Krystal which was running a ‘5 for $5′ menu special. But if a menu item is regularly less than a buck, bundling it into this deal is actually no deal at all.

Such was the case with the mini Krystal burger that normally sold for 79 cents. So Clark just asked the cashier to ring his five burgers up at the standard price of 79 cents each, not the ”˜deal price’ of five for $5.

He wound up paying only $3.95 plus tax, not the $5.40 he normally would have paid if he was rung up with the ‘5 for $5’ pricing.

Shop thrift stores for men’s clothes

Clark loves snatching up the savings of 75% to 90% at thrift stores, particularly on men’s formal clothing.

“I’m fond of picking up dress clothes at secondhand shops and have bought a few pieces of used formal men’s wear for between $1 and $7 a piece. They’re usually in great shape because few men dress up for work anymore,” the money expert says.

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Buy the deal first, then figure out why you want to go there

Clark’s #1 rule of cheap travel is something a lot of people aren’t willing to do. But for him, it’s a no-brainer.

“It’s really pretty simple: I don’t pick a destination that I have to go to. I wait for a deal somewhere, buy the deal and then figure out why I want to go there,” he says.

“By following that simple rule, I’ve been able to visit every continent except Antarctica and every state except North Dakota. And I’ve done it all on a dime.”

If you want to be like Clark, you can use Kayak Explore. You select how much you’re willing to pay, and then available destinations in your price range pop up on a world map.

Re-shop your car rental rate a week before your trip

Clark’s secret for getting the cheapest rental car rates start with booking a vehicle at the time he books air travel. Then one week before the trip, he checks the rates again to see if he can grab a better deal at a lower price.

Car rental fees are completely refundable, so he doesn’t lose anything if he cancels the original booking.

“You can end up cutting the cost of a rental car by half or more by re-shopping it the week of your trip,” Clark says.

Find more of Clark’s advice on saving money and avoiding rental car ripoffs here.

Fly with only a carry-on to avoid bag fees

Rather than paying baggage fees, Clark travels only with what an airline permits free as a single carry-on. With bag fees topping $75 on some airlines under certain circumstances, following this advice can be a huge money-saver.

“Another plus is that I never worry about the airline losing my baggage,” Clark says.

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Find free street parking

The penny-pincher abhors paying for parking. But you follow his lead on this advice at your own risk; his insistence on finding free street parking has backfired on him more than a few times.

“I often park in questionable areas where I can find free parking. My reward for being that cheap? Five smash-and-grabs through the years that have required me to replace the car window each time. I could have paid for a lot of parking at that rate. In fact, I’ve had vehicles broken into in four countries — Holland, Spain, Canada and here at home — because of my insistence on free parking.”

Clark says he once refused to pay $1 for parking in Appleton, Wisconsin, and went looking for free parking instead. Well, he wound up getting a $25 parking ticket when he violated an ordinance that didn’t allow parking from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. in the whole city of Appleton!

Another time, his parked rental car was crushed by falling debris when he opted for free street parking in Manhattan!

So, feel free to ignore this last tip if you are so inclined…

Here are some more Clark Howard ways to save:

8 things you need to know before you fly Southwest Airlines

THE LATEST: 

• In July 2019, Southwest Airlines announced that it will extend the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft until January 5, 2020.
• The airline says that customers who have already booked are being notified so that they can be re-accommodated.
• Citing the 737 Max issue, the airline says it will cease operations at Newark Liberty International Airport effective November 3, 2019.

You can’t mistake those flying colors: “Bold Blue,” “Warm Red,” “Sunrise Yellow” and “Summit Silver”. That’s the color scheme of one of the most recognizable aviation brands in the world: Southwest Airlines.

If you’ve never flown Southwest or you’re thinking of booking a ticket again in the near future, here are some important things to know about the Dallas, Texas-based carrier:

Southwest Airlines: What you need to know before you book a flight

Incorporated in 1967, Southwest (then known as Southwest Air) has operated for more than four decades and become known as the world’s largest low-cost airline.

While not as big as Delta, United or American, Southwest has carved a niche for itself, cultivating a fiercely loyal customer base namely because of two things: The company is the only major U.S. airline that offers up to two checked bags for free (depending on weight and size) and it doesn’t charge for changes to flight reservations.

1. Where does Southwest fly? 

Southwest currently serves 100 domestic destinations and 10 international cities. The airline launched service to several new destinations in 2019, including Hawaii. The airline also began international service to a number of resort destinations Belize; Cancun, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and San Jose, Costa Rica.

2. How are Southwest’s airfares structured?

Southwest offers three different airfare categories: “Wanna Get Away,” “Anytime,” and “Business Select.” All of them include two free checked bags and no fees for flight changes (customers may be charged the difference in airfares). The airline also offers refundable Senior Fares, which are discounts that ticket agents share with older travelers. Here’s how the fare categories break down:

• Wanna Get Away: These nonrefundable fares are typically the lowest priced, as long as they’re purchased in advance
• Anytime: These are refundable fares (in most cases) and offer a higher frequent flyer point payoff under the airline’s Rapid Rewards program
• Business Select: As its name implies, this fare caters to business travelers and offers the highest frequent flyer payoff. Business Select travelers also get priority seating known as “Group A boarding,” a complimentary alcoholic drink (you’ve gotta be at least 21, of course) and priority security and/or ticket counter access at participating airports.

3. What should I expect on a Southwest flight?

Southwest may offer some affordable fares, but as passengers have come to find out, they don’t skimp on the amenities. Each flight has complimentary soft drinks and snacks. They also provide Wi-Fi and free live and on-demand TV (on international flights, licensing restrictions may apply) including movies and popular series. You don’t have to purchase Wi-Fi to take advantage of its iMessage options and other pre-downloaded apps.

4. How do Southwest boarding groups work?

Uniquely, Southwest boards passengers by group. There are no seat assignments! Instead, you are assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) when you check-in for your flight.

Tip: Check-in for your flight as soon as possible (you can check-in 24 hours before your flight time)! The earlier you check-in, the better chance you have to get in an A group. That means you’ll have more seating options and overhead space to store your carry-on.

In October 2018, the airline began testing a quicker boarding and de-boarding procedure at select airports in California. Travelers will be able to board and deplane out of two doors instead of one — the front of the plane or a rear door, according to the Los Angeles Biz

5. How do you check-in with Southwest?

Southwest recently upgraded its reservations platform, allowing for at least six ways passengers can check-in. Here are the different options:

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• Curbside check-in with the skycap at the airport
• EarlyBird check-in ($15 one-way) is available up to 36 hours before the flight
• Mobile check-in (via digital boarding pass)
• Online check-in (via Southwest.com)
• Self-service kiosk check-in at the airport
• Ticket counter check-in (30 minutes to three hours before flight)

RELATED: Southwest Airlines EarlyBird Check-In: Should you buy it?

6. How does Southwest keep fares so low?

One of the things many fliers want to know is how Southwest is able to offer such competitive fares compared to what the major airlines are charging. Southwest’s service philosophy is quite different from the “hub-and-spoke” system most big U.S. airlines use.

Airlines like Delta and United base their operations on a number of central “hub” cities and serve other cities mostly via one-stop service. But Southwest employs a “point-to-point” service, which allows for more nonstop routes to smaller cities.

7. How does Southwest’s international service stack up?

Southwest offers international service to 14 destinations from 16 cities within the 48 contiguous United States.

The airline says it will resume daily flights from Austin to Cancun in November 2019. It is also beginning Saturday-only service out of Houston and Dallas to Caribbean countries.

8. How do Southwest customers view the airline?

Southwest customers continue to be pretty high on the airline. In addition to the free checked bags, the company allows each ticketed passenger to check one stroller and one car seat free of charge, which is a boon for families.

When it comes to customer satisfaction, Southwest is consistently one of the best in the American Customer Satisfaction Index report:

Company 2018 2019 Change Southwest 80 79 -1% Alaska 79 80 1% JetBlue 79 79 0%

Have you flown Southwest Airlines? Tell Team Clark about your flying experience on Facebook, Twitter or below in the comments section!

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7 easy steps to free up storage space on your iPhone

If you’re like me, it seems that your iPhone always runs out of space at the most inopportune times. If your iPhone storage is full or nearly full, you’re going to quickly need a way to clear up space on your device.

I’ve had at least four generations of the iPhone, so I know a thing or two about how to free up storage space. In this article, I’m going to go over some steps you can take to clear space on your iPhone.

How to free up storage space on your iPhone

You may be wondering why your iPhone keeps running out of space in the first place. The short answer is that you may have too many videos, photos, apps and other files stored on your device.

How do you find out what’s using up space on your iPhone?

The first thing you need to do before you just start deleting files is to find out exactly what’s taking up most of your storage.

To find out, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and you should see a bar graph that shows how much space you have, like so:

From the screenshot above, you can see that apps take up the majority of the space on my iPhone, followed by messages and photos.

Here are 7 steps to free up storage space on your iPhone

Here are some recommendations Apple’s iPhone Storage screen shows you to free up storage space:

1. Auto delete old conversations

Under that graphic in Settings, Apple tells you how much data you can save if you automatically remove messages and attachments sent and received more than a year ago.

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2. Review large attachments

It will also show you how to see large files that you have sent or received so you can see determine whether to delete them.

3. Uninstall unused apps

Many of us have apps that we seldom use. They’re literally just taking up space that we need for other things.

If you scroll down, you can also see the last time you opened an app.

Just find the “Last Used” line under the app’s name and that should help you decide whether you should keep it or delete it to save space.

If you click on the app, the iPhone also gives you the option to “Offload” the app, which will delete it from your device but restore all of the documents and data you had if you choose to re-install it.

4. Back up your files with a cloud storage service

The obvious choice here for an iPhone user is to use iCloud, which comes with 5GB of free storage space. Aside from iCloud, here are some of the most popular cloud storage services:

• Dropbox — Free account comes with 2GB of free space
• Google Drive — Free account comes with 15GB of free space (including your other Google accounts)
• OneDrive — First tier with 5GB of free storage

5. Back up your iPhone files to your computer

You can also choose to back up your iPhone to a desktop computer or tablet. You can do this either with a cord or via iCloud.

The good news is that your iPhone will no longer be the sole database for some of your most important files and data.

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The not-so-good news is that this option may take up quite a bit of space on your computer. Here’s how to transfer photos from your iPhone.

6. Manage photos

Speaking of iCloud, if you go to Settings > Apple ID, ICloud, iTunes & App Store > iCloud > Photos, you can see several options to save space on your phone by managing your photos. They include the ability to:

• Automatically upload photos to iCloud: Once you opt in, you won’t have to remember whether the photos you take are going to the cloud. This can also be a great data-reducing measure for your phone.
• Remove photos and videos: Confirming that you want to “Remove from iPhone” will wipe the selected photos and videos from your device.
• Turn off Photo Stream: Turning this feature off will delete all Photo Stream photos from your iPhone and save space.
• Optimize iPhone storage: This will automatically downsize full resolution photos and replace them with smaller versions that take up less space.

7. Buy more mobile data

Aside from those options, you may decide that you want to simply buy more storage space, which can be done by going to any of the cloud services listed above.

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In conclusion, here are the best ways to free up storage space on your iPhone:

• Delete old emails and attachments
• Review old attachments and other files
• Uninstall apps you don’t use
• Back up your files to the Cloud
• Transfer files to a computer
• Manage photos
• Buy more data

If you find that your issue is more due to the way you use your phone, check out some ways to conserve your mobile data on an iPhone or Android device.

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