The Clark Howard Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode: September 12, 2025 — "Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / Our New Car Cost Calculator"
Host: Clark Howard

Overview

This episode of the Clark Howard Podcast features two major segments:

• Clark Stinks: Where listeners write in to challenge or correct Clark’s financial advice, and Clark responds with humor and humility.
• Announcement and Deep Dive on the New Car Cost Calculator: Clark and Team Clark introduce their latest online tool, designed to help listeners make better vehicle purchase decisions by taking all costs into account.

The episode also includes practical Q&A about personal car, insurance, and payment strategies, all focused on achieving financial freedom while avoiding common money traps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Clark Stinks: Clark Answers His Critics

(Starts ~[01:05])

• Zelle Payment App Issues ([02:36])

  • Listener (Mike from California) shares a story about being blocked by his bank from using Zelle, despite it being marketed in the bank’s app.
  • Clark explains the rift between a bank’s marketing and security departments, highlighting Zelle's widespread fraud problems and lawsuits (notably by the state of New York).
  • Clark: “The marketing department has embedded Zelle in the accounts, but see, the security department people know. They know real world all the problems…” ([03:18])

• Women in Trades ([03:52])

  • Amethyst from PA pushes back on Clark’s past comments about trades requiring upper body strength, providing empowering examples of women in male-dominated trades.
  • Amethyst: “Don’t sell yourself short in the trades… My pay is the same as the men. None of that crazy stuff white collar people have to deal with.” ([04:49])
  • Clark revisits the rise of women in trucking, citing better pay parity and job openness.

• SIM Card Lock Issues ([06:00])

  • After Clark’s advice to SIM-lock phones, multiple listeners report being locked out due to not knowing their PUK number (personal unblocking key).
  • Clark: “Wow… My god, that’s new for me.” ([06:41])

• 529 Plans & Tax Credit Overlap ([07:21])

  • Glenn from Texas warns that paying all college costs with 529 money may disqualify families from education tax credits like the American Opportunity Credit.
  • Glenn: “You stink like sour milk left in the sun” ([08:09]) for not pointing this out.
  • Clark acknowledges the need for better planning to optimize both 529 and tax credit use.

• Currency Conversion Abroad ([08:43])

  • Pete from Georgia misunderstood Clark’s advice about which currency to use for card payments abroad.
  • Clark: “You always want to clear in local currency, never in US dollars. This is a scam that is played on Americans all over the world…” ([09:18])

• Car Repair Costs & Dealer vs. Independent Mechanic ([10:21])

  • Richard, WV, flags high dealer repair bills and advocates for independent mechanics or learning DIY skills.

• Dollar Tree & Fraud ([11:01])

  • Richard again explains that large fraudulent charges at Dollar Tree are due to third-party gift cards, not merchandise.

• Nostalgia for Clark’s Old Sign-Off ([11:48])

  • Thomas, GA, misses Clark’s more energetic sign-off: “Save more, spend less, and don’t let anyone ever rip you off.”

2. Highlight: Launch of the Car Cost Calculator

(Starts ~[16:06])

• Clark reveals a new decision tool at the heart of the episode — the Car Cost Calculator at clark.com/car-cost-calculator.

  • Designed to compare new vs. used car costs based on purchase price, financing terms, and ownership period.
  • Encourages listeners to see the full picture of car-buying costs (depreciation, insurance, payment length, maintenance)—not just monthly payments.
  • Clark: “The numbers stare right at you because it’s a decision tree… It puts very quickly numbers there for you to stare at and what it’s actually going to take out of your life…” ([17:14])
  • The calculator also illustrates “how much money you’re going to save keeping your current car longer versus buying the new wheels you’re intending to buy…” ([18:59])

• Economic context: Average new car prices have hit $50,000 due to tariffs.

• Clark warns against long-term auto loans, which trap consumers in negative equity, and notes rising car loan delinquency and repossessions.

  • Clark: “People have been doing loans that are longer, longer and longer. And then you’re upside down in the vehicle for the entire life of the loan…” ([19:45])

• The tool is available and will be continually improved based on listener feedback.

3. Car-Buying & Ownership Listener Q&A

(Begins with car cost calculator segment and continues ~[21:11])

Highlighted Questions:

• When to Replace the Family Car? ([21:11])

  • Ken in Oregon: Debates replacing a paid-off, low-mileage Subaru Forester as his family grows.
  • Clark advises waiting until the need is real (after their third child arrives) to maximize vehicle value and avoid premature spending.
  • Clark: “It’s not the time yet to ditch the Subaru… keep driving it with the agreement with your wife that when the third child is born, then you get a larger vehicle…” ([22:00])

• Downgrading / Insuring Older Cars ([24:06])

  • John in Florida: Considers whether to keep, downgrade, or drop full insurance on an aging Infiniti.
  • Clark suggests dropping to liability-only insurance as the car ages to reduce costs, but warns the risk is up to the owner.
  • Clark: “You can look up the used value… If it’s as depreciated out as I think it is, you can… just go liability only.” ([24:35])

• Cash vs. Finance When Buying a Car ([26:23])

  • Lisa in Minnesota: Asks if it’s smart to finance a car (even with cash available) to secure a better price and then immediately pay off the loan.
  • Clark explains this is often a valuable tactic—if the lower price comes from manufacturer incentives and there are no prepayment penalties, take the deal and pay off right after to save a potentially substantial amount.
  • Clark: “If it… generates a lower price and the loan has no prepayment penalty… then go ahead and do it to get the savings.” ([26:32])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On bank's internal split over Zelle:

  • “That is a riot that the department doesn’t want you using it at a bank. That the marketing department has embedded Zelle in the accounts because see the security department people know…” — Clark ([03:18])

• Women in trades:

  • “My pay is the same as the men. None of that crazy stuff white collar people have to deal with… You don’t need to be a bodybuilder… you’re selling yourself short, brushing off the trades just because you’re a woman.” — Amethyst ([04:49])

• On old vehicles and insurance:

  • “…if you just go liability only on it, you may find you can have your cake and eat it too…” — Clark ([24:35])

• On new car pricing trend:

  • “Are you ready for this? $50,000. We were down about 47, but the tariffs have pushed things up.” — Clark ([16:45])

• On car buyer behavior:

  • “Most of us… we’re payment buyers, we’re just hearing what it’s going to cost per month. We’re not thinking about the overall cost, the depreciation, the maintenance, the insurance…” — Clark ([16:37])

• On sign-off nostalgia:

  • “Save more, spend less, and never, never, not ever get ripped off.” — Clark ([29:00])

Key Timestamps

| Time | Topic | |----------|-----------| | [01:05] | Episode intro and Clark Stinks segment begins | | [02:36] | Listener: Zelle security issues at banks | | [03:52] | Listener: Women in trades pushback | | [06:00] | Listener: SIM card lockout and PUK code confusion | | [07:21] | Listener: 529 plan vs. tax credit tradeoffs | | [08:43] | Listener: Currency conversion at foreign merchants clarification | | [10:21] | Listener: Car repair costs and independent mechanics | | [11:01] | Listener: Gift card theft at Dollar Tree explained | | [12:12] | Listener: Sign-off nostalgia request | | [16:06] | Main segment: Launch of the Car Cost Calculator | | [21:11] | Listener Q&A: Family car replacement timing | | [24:06] | Listener Q&A: Insuring older cars and “downgrade” decisions | | [26:23] | Listener Q&A: Financing vs. paying cash for car purchase | | [29:00] | Iconic sign-off: “Save more, spend less, and never, never, not ever get ripped off.” |

Episode Tone

The episode retains Clark’s hallmark down-to-earth, relatable, and humorous style; he admits mistakes gladly, jokes with his team and listeners, and delivers clear, actionable consumer advice. The show's interactive structure, with listeners calling Clark out and Clark responding candidly, creates a lively, trust-building atmosphere.

Useful Links

• Car Cost Calculator: clark.com/car-cost-calculator
• Submit a Clark Stinks or question: clark.com/askclark
• Consumer tools & hot deals: clark.com, clarkdeals.com

This episode is a must-listen for those who want to make savvier decisions not just when buying a car, but anytime financial wisdom and a dose of humility are needed.