Save $30 on Internet & Avoid Scams: Clark Howard's Guide

Cheaper Home Internet Options

• 💡 Competition in home internet is increasing, offering opportunities to save money.
• 🚀 Fixed wireless internet is a viable alternative for most users, except perhaps dedicated gamers, offering speeds sufficient for streaming and web surfing.
• 💰 Mint Mobile offers home internet for $30-$40 per month, with a $30 rate for existing mobile customers.
• 🤝 You can use these new offers as a negotiating lever with your current provider to get a lower rate, often 30-50% off your current bill.
• 🏠 If you have an unlimited mobile hotspot, you might not need a separate home internet connection at all.

Navigating Pharmacy Access and Retailers

• ⚠️ The closure of Rite Aid stores has impacted pharmacy access, but independent pharmacies are reemerging.
• 🛒 Warehouse clubs like Costco and Walmart are becoming significant players in providing same-day prescriptions at lower costs.
• 🛍️ For those considering warehouse clubs, Costco is highlighted as a preferred choice due to its brand loyalty (Kirkland Signature) and improving user experience, despite long lines.

Avoiding Common Scams

• 🚨 Scamsters are evolving their tactics, targeting people of all income levels and sophistication, often operating from outside the U.S.
• ⚖️ A common scam involves impersonating law enforcement or court officials, threatening arrest for failure to appear for jury duty, and demanding immediate payment.
• 🏛️ Scammers use official-looking letterhead (e.g., U.S. Supreme Court) and exploit knowledge of personal information to create a false sense of credibility.
• 💸 Crypto ATMs are identified as a significant, untraceable gateway for criminals to steal money.
• ⚠️ Be wary of any request to pay via payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, PayPal), wire transfers, or crypto ATMs, especially when coupled with a sense of urgency.

Retirement and Healthcare Abroad

• 🌍 For Americans retiring abroad, like in Panama, traditional Medicare is not usable, but local insurance policies or hospital-specific prepaid plans are options.
• ✈️ Expat communities on platforms like Reddit can provide valuable guidance for relocating internationally.

Student Loan and Autopay Issues

• 🚫 MOHELA is cited as an example of a loan servicer that continued to debit payments after a loan was forgiven, creating a credit balance that is difficult to reclaim.
• 🛑 It is crucial to discontinue autopay a couple of months before a loan or lease ends to avoid issues with getting money back from financial institutions.
• 🏛️ If you encounter such issues, contact the Student Loan Advocate Office at the U.S. Department of Education for assistance.