The Clark Howard Podcast – October 13, 2025

Episode Theme:
This episode is dedicated to two pressing consumer finance topics:

1. The rising costs and evolving options in the streaming TV market—how to cut through the confusion and save money on your entertainment.
2. The truth behind Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles—can buyers really trust the CPO label, or has the industry lost its way?

Clark Howard and his producer Krista engage in lively discussion, answer listener questions, and break down how to spend smarter and avoid getting ripped off whether you’re paying for TV or buying your next car.

I. The Cost of Streaming TV: Are You Getting Entertainment or Being Taken for a Ride?

[00:36–11:51]

The Big Picture

• Streaming TV is now considered a "monthly essential" by many Americans, but costs have soared. According to both a Credit Karma survey and Clark’s own polling, people increasingly see services like Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix as necessary expenses (00:36–02:40).
• Major price hikes and the emergence of ad-supported vs. ad-free plans are confusing consumers and squeezing budgets. Disney, for example, has raised prices multiple times in recent years, with a 50% premium to avoid ads (02:40–04:50).

Key Discussion Points

• Clark’s View:
  Streaming is not an essential compared to food, shelter, health, or safety, but media companies have successfully created the perception that it is.

  "What's essential? Your health, food to eat, right? Roof over your head... Being able to watch Hulu, oh man. That's an essential thing, apparently." — Clark Howard [01:04]

• Price Comparisons:

  • Disney+ with ads: $11.99/month; without ads: $18.99/month—a 50% increase.
  • Bundles (e.g., Disney+ and Hulu): Same pattern—~50% more for no ads.
  • Netflix and others follow similar structures, with significantly cheaper ad-supported options (03:08–04:05).

• Consumer Preferences:

  • Clark’s own survey found two-thirds preferred cheaper, ad-supported streaming over higher-priced, ad-free versions (04:39).
  • Krista and teammate James emphasize their strong dislike for ads, even stating it would make them unsubscribe (05:05).

    "I tried the Hulu with ads for a long time... I wanted to really watch one show... I subscribed without ads... watched it so much faster, then I killed the subscription. It's brutal." — Krista [05:11]

• Finding Savings:

  • Clark uses ad breaks productively—walking, grabbing snacks, etc. [04:15]
  • Free, legal alternatives:
    • Free Ad Supported TV (FAST) services offer tons of content at no cost, sometimes including live channels.
    • Using a traditional antenna can unlock many live, free local channels, just "like it's 1970." [09:21]
    • Full guide to FAST available at Clark.com.

    "Don't feel that you are a prisoner to these giant monster media companies... There are alternatives." — Clark [10:33]

• Budget Advice and TV FOMO:

  • Krista purchases a one-month, no-ads subscription to binge a show quickly, then cancels—"I always weigh it—what is my entertainment budget for the month?" [11:28]
  • Clark admits sometimes he's "too cheap" and suffers consequences—like having several car break-ins because he refuses to pay for parking [11:51].

Memorable Moment

• Krista's Dog Injury Tangent (06:02–08:11):
  Briefly off-topic, Krista explains she’s receiving IV antibiotics at home due to a dog fight injury. In a financial twist, she pays cash because it’s much cheaper than using insurance—even at the cost of not applying to her deductible.

  "It's $50 a day without insurance and $150 a day with insurance... I'm doing it for many weeks." — Krista [08:36]

  • Clark’s advice: Always compare cash-pay vs. insurance prices on medical treatments.

II. Listener Q&A (Consumer Protections, Cars, and Travel)

[12:16–31:30]

1. Package Delivery Scam—How to Protect Yourself

• Issue: Smokey in New Hampshire fell for a fake UPS scam and gave out personal information.
• Clark's Guidance:
  • "Do not respond" to package delivery texts. Always check independently.
  • Most crucial: Freeze your credit at Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian for free.

    "Do credit freeze. It is completely free and easy to set up." — Clark [13:23]

  • Never pay for “credit lock” services.

2. Window Seat Wars—Who Controls the Shade?

• Tim’s Dilemma: Paid extra for a window seat and wanted to view Greenland, but flight crew and another passenger wanted the window closed ([14:26]).
• Clark’s Take:
  • It’s your right as the window passenger to enjoy the view, especially on a daytime flight.
  • Clark praises Tim’s consideration with his makeshift shade but disapproves of other passengers policing his blind.

    "It was disrespectful, actually, in my opinion of the passenger... Not their right." — Clark [16:12]

3. When Should You Say Goodbye to an Old Reliable Car?

• Ron’s 2001 Honda Civic with 274,000 miles needs a $3,000 clutch.
• Clark’s Advice:
  • The repair exceeds the value of the vehicle; time to buy a new (or newer) car.

    "To spend three grand on a repair on a vehicle that is worth maybe a thousand or so dollars, I would let it go." — Clark [18:59]

  • Prepare for a learning curve with modern cars’ tech features.

III. The Truth Behind Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicles

[21:53–26:42]

The CPO Illusion

• History: CPO started with luxury brands to maintain a stream of new-vehicle buyers through leases, then reselling those cars with refurbishing, inspections, and warranties (21:53–22:51).
• Current Risks:
  • Now, nearly every brand and price level offers a CPO program, but quality and trust have eroded.
  • Dealers—not manufacturers—often handle certification, leading to unchecked abuses and shortchanging customers (23:42).

    "The problem is in the details… The vehicles are supposed to be fully refurbished... but what keeps happening again and again... is people buy CPOs and… it turns out they bought something that has not been properly checked out, not properly reconditioned." — Clark [23:42]

  • Some CPO cars have serious, undisclosed damage. The promised inspection/warranty often proves hollow.

Clark’s Hard Rule:

• ALWAYS have any used or CPO car inspected by your own mechanic before purchase.
  • If the dealer resists, "You do not want that vehicle, you cannot trust that purchase." — Clark [25:34]
• Outcome: The CPO label no longer guarantees quality. Buyer vigilance is still required.

IV. More Listener Questions: Warranties, Subscriptions, & Costly Repairs

1. Are Tesla’s Extended Warranties Worth It?

• Brad in Ohio’s Dilemma: Should he pay $50/month for Tesla’s manufacturer-extended warranty on a Model 3?
• Clark’s Reasoning:
  • It’s more acceptable if purchased from the automaker—not a third-party—as Tesla repair costs can be high and options for independent repair are limited.

  "If the $50 a month gives you that peace of mind to keep it on the road, then I'd say in this case that would be worth doing." — Clark [28:01]

2. Car Wash Memberships—Worth It?

• Listener Pushback: Robert in Oklahoma argues he uses his car wash membership enough to justify the cost.
• Clark’s Response: You are the exception; most consumers don’t use it enough to offset the price.

  "You're being subsidized by all the people that don't benefit from it... For you, this works. Just know you are the exception to the rule." — Clark [29:44]

3. Costly Car Repairs on High-Depreciation Models

• Rick in Oregon’s Audi A6: $10,000 repair needed on a 2017 with 78k miles—what to do?
• Clark’s Considered View:
  • If the cost is less than the post-repair value and you plan to drive for a year or two, proceed.
  • Check Consumer Reports or similar resources for reliability data before deciding.

  "The tipping point is generally when the cost of a repair exceeds the [car’s] remaining value... You're not close to that down at like 50 cents on the dollar." — Clark [31:12]

V. Final Thought: Empowerment Through Knowledge

• Clark wraps up by reminding listeners about Team Clark’s free resources, including the Consumer Action Center for personalized financial help ([31:48]).

"Everything we do is about empowerment through knowledge... so you can save more, spend less, and never let anybody rip you off." — Clark [end]

Notable Quotes Quick Reference

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:04 | Clark | "What's essential? Your health, food...watch Hulu...That's an essential thing, apparently." | | 05:11 | Krista | "I just...I'd rather just not even have it and just, like, watch without ads sometimes." | | 08:36 | Krista | "It's $50 a day without insurance and $150 a day with insurance...I'm doing it for many weeks." | | 10:33 | Clark | "Don't feel that you are a prisoner to these giant monster media companies. There are alternatives." | | 13:23 | Clark | "Do credit freeze. It is completely free and easy to set up." | | 16:12 | Clark | "It was disrespectful, actually… Not their right." | | 18:59 | Clark | "To spend three grand on a repair on a vehicle that is worth maybe a thousand or so dollars, I would let it go." | | 23:42 | Clark | "The problem is in the details… people buy CPOs and… it turns out they bought something that has not been properly checked out..." | | 28:01 | Clark | "If the $50 a month gives you that peace of mind to keep it on the road, then I'd say in this case that would be worth doing." | | 29:44 | Clark | "You're being subsidized by all the people that don't benefit from it... Just know you are the exception to the rule." | | 31:12 | Clark | "The tipping point is generally when the cost of a repair exceeds the remaining value... You're not close to that..." | | [end] | Clark | "Everything we do is about empowerment through knowledge... save more, spend less, and never let anybody rip you off." |

For More:

• Visit Clark.com for guides on streaming TV, credit freezes, and more.
• Check out Clark's Consumer Action Center for one-on-one financial advice.

This summary captures the episode’s rich financial advice, witty banter, actionable consumer tips, and cautionary tales—ideal if you missed the show or want a fast reference for Clark’s latest insights.