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Long-term borrowing costs are reaching multi-decade highs as U.S. debt approaches $40 trillion and AI hyperscalers accelerate bond issuance.

The deal involves Metaplanet contributing 2,100 bitcoin and $2.5 million in cash, valuing the initial investment at $134.6 million.

Extended warranties, cell phone protection plans, single-item coverage — you already know how I feel about these. Most of the time, optional coverage is a cash cow for the companies selling it and a bad deal for your wallet.

So what happens when you’re standing at the post office counter looking at a $7 add-on to insure a package worth $500? Is postal insurance worth the extra cash, and does it actually pay out if your package vanishes?

Here is my rule of thumb for deciding when to insure a package — and when to walk away.

Does Postal Insurance Actually Pay Claims?

When it comes to third-party shipping insurance or private carrier coverage, we’ve heard plenty of complaints over the years from frustrated customers who had a nightmare of a time getting paid out after a loss.

However, looking at the United States Postal Service (USPS), I can’t recall ever receiving a complaint at our Consumer Action Center about someone failing to get a payout on a legitimately insured item sent through the postal service.

While no government agency is perfect, USPS postal insurance has a solid track record of honoring valid claims compared to many private competitors.

The Rule: Financial Hardship vs. “Major Bummer”

Even though USPS postal insurance generally pays out, that doesn’t mean you should automatically buy it every time you drop off a package.

When deciding whether to pay for optional, single-item coverage, ask yourself one crucial question: Would losing this item cause genuine financial hardship, or would it just be a major bummer?

Here is how I break it down:

If losing the item would cause a real financial hazard in your life: Pay for the insurance. Even if single-item insurance isn’t always a great “dollars-and-cents” statistical value, the peace of mind and protection against a setback you can’t afford make it worthwhile.

If losing the item would just be a bummer: Skip the insurance. If you can absorb the loss without putting yourself in a tough spot financially, you should self-insure by keeping that extra $7 in your pocket.

Over the course of your life, saving those extra add-on fees on package after package will easily outweigh the rare risk of a lost box.

Final Thoughts

If you are shipping an item worth $500, but losing that money wouldn’t create a major financial strain, I wouldn’t buy the insurance.

Only buy insurance when the potential loss represents a true hazard to your financial well-being. Save your money on the rest.
The post Should You Pay Extra for Postal Insurance When Mailing Valuable Items? appeared first on Clark Howard.

Hayden Panettiere has a history in a beloved video game franchise, Kingdom Hearts, and fans and cast members are honoring her there as well after her death.

I mentioned recently that the personal savings rate in the United States had fallen to around 4%. Well, the latest data from the federal government shows an even more alarming trend: The U.S. savings rate is down to just 2%.

That means for every dollar people earn, they are saving a meager two cents and spending the other 98 cents.

Let me tell you: This won’t work.

Understanding the Savings Reality

What should you actually be saving? If you ask Wall Street or big investment firms, they’ll tell you that you need to save 17% or more. Frankly, a lot of that talk is just investment houses trying to get conscientious savers to hand over more of their money to manage.

I’ve always advised a simple, solid baseline: A dime on every dollar (10%).

At its core, financial security comes down to one basic principle: living on less than what you make. But right now, as a culture, Americans just aren’t doing it. Historically, when I share comparisons on the show or during “Clark Stinks” about other countries, it’s clear that people elsewhere save at far higher rates than we do here in the U.S.

Now, let me make an important distinction. If you are going through a personal financial Armageddon, or if you are flat broke and struggling to pay for basic necessities like rent, groceries, and utilities, I am not talking to you. I know that when every dollar goes toward basic survival, saving money simply isn’t an option.

I am talking about our broader culture — and specifically about people who do have the margin to save, but don’t.

For so many people, it comes down to lifestyle creep and keeping up with the Joneses. It’s looking at a neighbor and thinking, “They have that, so I should have that,” or “Look at their cool new hot tub; I want a hot tub.”

Discretionary Spending and the Post-COVID Shift

In the U.S., saving money just hasn’t traditionally been “our thing.” The only time in recent memory when that changed was during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. When communities locked down, people were amazed by how much money they were suddenly saving. Outstanding credit card debt in America collapsed because people weren’t running around spending money everywhere.

That period taught us a powerful lesson: So much of our daily spending is purely discretionary.

Fast forward to today, and we’ve swung completely in the other direction. People are spending like maniacs. Yes, unrelenting inflation has made life more expensive, but for many, saving has become an afterthought or a burden.

Changing Your Mindset: Saving as Liberation

If you wait to save whatever money is left over at the end of the month, it will never happen. Saving isn’t something you “get around to” — it’s something you have to be intentional about.

More importantly, you need to change how you view saving money:

Don’t view saving as a burden.

View saving as liberation.

Saving money gives you control over your life. It reduces the constant anxiety of who you owe and what you owe. It is a lifelong habit that grants you freedom and peace of mind.

When the news reports that the national savings rate has dropped to 2%, I want you to be in a position to say: “I’m so glad I’m automatically putting 10% into my 401(k). I’m so glad I built my rainy-day emergency fund.”

How To Put Your Savings on Autopilot

Our Team Clark writers constantly review the best tools, low-cost financial institutions, and strategies to build your wealth — including why choosing a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) over traditional accounts is almost always the right move.

While those financial tools are crucial, the most important step starts in your head:

Change your mindset: Recognize that saving money is not about sacrificing today; it’s about buying your freedom tomorrow.

Automate everything: Set up automatic transfers to your savings account on payday, or set your 401(k) contributions to deduct automatically from your paycheck. When saving is automated, good financial habits happen without you having to think about them.

Pay yourself first: Save before you spend, rather than trying to save what’s left over.

By changing your intentions and making saving an automatic priority, you create true financial security — and that is what I want for you.
The post America’s Savings Rate Has Dropped to an Alarming Low appeared first on Clark Howard.

Vanguard founder Jack Bogle revolutionized investing by introducing simple index funds. These funds give investors instant portfolio diversification and come with low expense ratios.
Bogleheads, investors who swear by Bogle’s strategies, say that investors can reach their goals with a simple three-fund portfolio made up of index funds. Here’s what to know if you’re looking for a low-effort investing strategy to help you fund your retirement and other long-term goals.

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What is the three-fund portfolio?
The three-fund portfolio consists of the following funds:

A U.S.total stock market index fund, which offers broad exposure to the entire U.S. stock market
An international stock market index fund, which tracks the performance of non-U.S. stocks and can be a valuable diversifier
A U.S. bond index fund, which offers exposure to a wide variety of bonds across many sectors and maturities

Vanguard offers all three of these funds, with the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX), Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) and the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX). But you can also buy similar funds from other providers that offer mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab. Read Money’s best online stock trading platform picks here.
Why does the strategy work?
These funds are baskets of securities, which means that you’re not relying on the performance of a single stock or bond to generate returns. They offer diversification, which means that while one area of your portfolio is struggling, another should hold steady or even outperform.
These funds also tend to come with low expenses. Index funds often have fees below 0.05%, while many actively managed funds have fees above 0.50%. A 0.05% expense ratio on a $500,000 portfolio comes to just $250 in annual expenses. But a 0.50% expense ratio on the same amount results in $2,500 in fees per year.
Plus, the Bogleheads’ approach keeps things simple for investors.
How to set it up the portfolio
When using the three-fund portfolio, it’s important to allocate to the three funds based on your goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Someone with decades to retirement will likely have a higher allocation to the two equity funds than someone nearing retirement.
There is no hard and fast rule around allocation. Bogle said that investors’ bond allocation should roughly equal their age. For instance, a 60-year-old would allocate 60% of their portfolio in bonds. But not everyone agrees with this approach. Some investors opt for holding their age-minus-10 or their age-minus-20 in bonds.

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Once you set up the portfolio, your work isn’t over. It’s important to regularly review your asset allocation to ensure it’s aligned with your goals and risk tolerance. If it’s not, it’s time to rebalance, which entails selling assets that exceed the allocation you’ve assigned them, and buying assets that have fallen below their allocation threshold.
 

Did you know that there were more than 1,800 data breaches in the first six months of 2026 alone?

More than 471 million victim notices were issued between January and June, according to a recent report from the Identity Theft Resource Center. That is well above the 297.5 million that were issued in all of 2025.

The growing sophistication of artificial intelligence is helping thieves gain access to information at companies of all sizes.

We cite this data not to scare you, but to encourage you to take action.

Not every breach notice leads to fraud, but the volume and rise of AI-assisted attacks raise the baseline risk.

This is why money expert Clark Howard has been advising listeners to freeze their credit for years.

With cyberattacks increasingly a fact of life in 2026 and beyond, being proactive in protecting your credit is more important than ever.

In this article, I’ll walk you through actionable steps you can take to protect yourself.

How To Protect Yourself from the Impact of Data Breaches

So, we know that data breaches are up significantly in 2026. But what can you do about it?

You don’t have control over how your data is handled by companies that already have it, but there are actions you can take that will build a much stronger defense for your credit and finances if your data gets compromised in a breach.

1. Freeze Your Credit with Each Bureau

Requesting a credit freeze with each of the big three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) is the “Clark approved” first step to protecting yourself.

This is the best way to prevent “new account” fraud, which may result from bad actors using information gained from a breach to pose as you when applying for a line of credit.

The credit freeze process is free and can be completed online, in most cases. Team Clark has a full guide to freezing your credit with each credit bureau.

It’s important to note that a credit freeze will not prevent you from using the credit accounts that you’ve already opened. Instead, it will prevent a new credit account from being opened in your name without your permission.

And then when you’re ready to use your credit to apply for a new loan or credit card, you can simply contact the credit bureaus to request that they “thaw” your credit so that a legitimate credit inquiry can be completed.

Note: A credit freeze is stronger than a credit lock, which is often marketed as similar but is a different process altogether. Understand the differences between the two here.

2. Claim Your Free Credit Report and Regularly Monitor It

Did you know that in addition to the free credit freeze functionality, you also get access to your credit report for free?

Team Clark has instructions on how to get a free credit report.

Once you have access, review it thoroughly to ensure someone hasn’t used your information to open a line of credit you didn’t request. This can have serious long-term consequences if left unchecked, so set a reminder to review it regularly.

While you’re reviewing it, you should also check that your legitimate lines of credit are being recorded and reported properly.

3. Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication for All of Your Accounts

If a data breach exposes your username and password, hackers could try to log in to your account with the credentials they gained.

That’s why it’s important to set up “multi-factor” authentication for your accounts whenever possible. This requires you to take an “extra step” to prove you are the rightful owner of an account beyond simply entering the username and password.

Oftentimes this will include receiving a verification code via text message, phone call or email. But it can also be done via click-through verification on an app stored on your device.

These don’t completely eliminate your concern, especially if you’ve lost control of your email or phone, but they do add an extra layer of security that can buy you some time to take action if a bad actor gains your login credentials.

4. Use Unique Passwords for All of Your Accounts and Change Them Often

Speaking of log-in credentials, now is a good time to do a checkup to ensure you’re protecting yourself by observing good password practices.

When it comes to the increased occurrences of data breaches, one of the worst things you can do is use the same password to log in to multiple financial accounts. This gives thieves “the keys” to your accounts at more than just the institution that was hacked.

And with the help of AI, they now have the tools to use those stolen credentials in a widespread way as quickly as ever.

Remembering a laundry list of unique and tough-to-crack passwords can be a real chore. And at times, it borders on an annoyance. I get it. But I can’t emphasize enough how crucial it is in protecting your accounts.

One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re creating strong, unique passwords is to enlist the help of a password manager.

Clark says password managers are not perfect (they can be hacked, too, after all), but they are “vastly superior” to using the same low-security passwords over and over again.

5. Consider Using a Passkey When They’re Available

This one might sound confusing or complicated, but it’s actually a pretty simple step that can increase the security of your accounts.

Websites, apps and devices that are supported by passkey technology allow you to use unique identifiers, such as biometrics, to verify you are who you say you are in place of a traditional username and password.

In the simplest terms: Passkeys help protect your traditional password by … making them unnecessary.

Team Clark’s Dallas Cox has a full passkey guide to help you understand what they are, how they work, Clark’s opinion on them, and how to set one up.

Have you had a recent experience with a data breach? Did you freeze your credit? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the Clark.com community.
The post Data Breaches Are Explosive in 2026: Why You Must Freeze Your Credit Now appeared first on Clark Howard.

Somewhere in the last few months, the oil going into your engine may have quietly changed. Not the brand on the shelf, but the actual chemistry inside it, swapped by automakers without much explanation to the person paying for the oil change.Stellantis (STLA) and Volkswagen (VLKAF), two of the world’s largest carmakers, have both confirmed they are now using different lubricant blends than the ones originally specified for their vehicles, according to Financial Times.Toyota and Nissan have made similar moves. The reason traces back to a war more than 7,000 miles away, and a chemical most drivers have never heard of.A missile strike reached your garageIn March, an Iranian strike hit Shell’s Pearl gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar, one of the world’s largest sources of Group III base oil, according to CNBC. Group III oil is the highly refined stock that makes up most of today’s full synthetic motor oil, the kind required by nearly every car built in the last decade.The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association says roughly 44% of the Group III base oil used in the United States normally comes from just three Persian Gulf refineries.Related: Luxury auto giant cuts 5,000 more jobs in major resetThe Strait of Hormuz, the shipping route those refineries depend on, has been disrupted since the war began in late February, cutting off a huge share of that supply at once.South Korea normally fills part of the gap when Middle East supply tightens, but its refiners depend on the same crude routes now snarled by the war, according to Axios.The result showed up fast in prices. Group III costs have climbed toward $10 a gallon in some markets, a historic high, Argus Media’s Gabriella Twining told CNBC.Your car’s oil isn’t just oil; it’s a formulaHere is what most drivers do not realize: The oil in a modern engine is not interchangeable. Automakers certify specific formulas, like General Motors’ dexos1 or Volkswagen’s 508 00 specification, and warranty coverage depends on using an approved one.That certification process normally moves slowly, often taking months of testing before an automaker puts its name on a new formula. A supply shock does not offer that kind of time.More Automotive:Toyota doubles down on EVs while rivals retreatMazda just made a big change under tariff pressureKey auto parts maker closes factory, lays off 325 workersStellantis told the Financial Times it evaluated reformulated lubricants and secured alternative products that meet industry standards.Volkswagen said it secured supplies meeting its technical specifications, and Toyota confirmed similar sourcing changes. Suzuki’s CEO told shareholders the company is diversifying its base oil suppliers entirely.Notice the careful wording. Each company says the replacement meets standard. None says it is identical to what came before. That distinction matters. Many newer vehicles were engineered around extended oil change intervals, built on the assumption of one specific formula. Swap the chemistry mid-cycle, and the margin behind those intervals gets tested in ways owners will not notice until later.

Iran’s strike on Shell’s Pearl GTL plant in Qatar has cut roughly 44% of the U.S. Group III base oil supply automakers need for synthetic motor oil.Scharfsinn86 / Getty Images

Carmakers are managing this without headlinesNissan’s approach shows how quietly this has unfolded. The automaker drafted a bulletin warning dealers of a possible cut of more than 40% in genuine oil allocation, The Drive reported, but never actually sent it to the dealer network.That restraint is telling. A public notice risks alarming customers before a company has to. Even so, warning signs kept surfacing anyway:Group III prices have nearly tripled from pre-war levels, reaching roughly $4,000 per ton in Europe and the U.S., according to the Financial Times.Retail motor oil prices are up roughly 35% industry wide, and some independent mechanics report increases closer to 60%, Fortune and NPR reported.The trade group does not expect the market to normalize before mid-2027, even in a best-case scenario for the war.The next motor oil shortage may not come with a warningThe 2021 chip shortage taught automakers that a single component could halt an assembly line for months. This crisis is teaching a quieter version of that lesson. A single refinery, thousands of miles away, can reach into something as routine as an oil change.For daily drivers, the practical advice from industry groups is simple: Stay current on maintenance, confirm the correct specification before buying oil, and expect to pay more at the next appointment. Harder to plan for is the precedent being set.Automakers spent years marketing longer oil change intervals and thinner, more efficient synthetic formulas as a fuel-economy win. That same engineering choice tied millions of vehicles to a narrow, geopolitically fragile supply chain most owners never thought to ask about.The next disruption to reach your garage may not announce itself with a headline. It may just show up quietly, in the fine print of your next oil change.Related: Lamborghini’s most extreme car just sold out its future

Given that investors are sitting on unrealized gains and there few short positions remain open, the markets are more vulnerable to a downturn in economic news flow.

“We are hurt and confused, but we have also tried to respect the boundaries they have established.”