09.23.26 How To Shop Home Internet / College Savings Strategies
- 33m
- Transcript
Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode covers strategies for shopping for home internet to avoid rising monopoly rates, navigating credit card issuers and airline ticket booking for sports travel, and finding ways to reduce college expenses. The host explains that cable and local phone monopolies steadily hike rates on complacent customers, while independent fiber providers and wireless home internet offer alternatives that can cut bills in half. Listeners also get advice on three-year undergraduate degree options to slash college costs, paying off modest federal student loans, and dealing with large student loan burdens.
- Shop around for home internet providers to avoid automatic price hikes from traditional monopoly cable and phone companies. 3:08
- Cancel technology services a few days before your next billing cycle to avoid paying for days you do not use. 9:26
- Consider state colleges that offer accelerated three-year undergraduate degree programs to significantly lower total housing and tuition costs. 22:41
- Keep your financial life simple by paying off small federal student loan balances with available cash instead of complex investment schemes. 27:43
Chapters
- 0:00Podcast Introduction and Sponsorship
The episode opens with the sponsor message from Indeed and a brief welcome to listeners.
- 0:53Clark Howard Announces Topics
Clark Howard introduces the episode’s main subjects: shopping for home internet and saving on college costs.
- 1:39History of Home Phone and Internet Pricing
Howard explains how home phone services once dominated the market and how consumers were overcharged, setting the stage for similar issues with internet.
- 3:00Modern Home Internet Pricing Tactics
Howard details how cable and monopoly providers lure customers with low introductory rates before hiking prices, and how competition is emerging.
- 5:31Alternative Internet Options and Savings
He discusses cheaper wireless and fiber alternatives, including Mint Mobile and other providers, and how they can cut bills by half or more.
- 7:46Practical Internet Shopping Advice
Howard shares tips on monitoring bills, timing cancellations, and comparing offers to avoid overpaying for internet services.
- 20:50Three-Year College Degree Trend
Howard explains the rise of three-year undergraduate programs and how they can reduce tuition costs and accelerate graduation.
- 29:05Student Loan Management and College Savings
He advises on simplifying student loan repayment, using 529 plans, and considering home equity loans for debt consolidation.
Highlights
- 1:44
Home Internet Price Gouginginsight
The host compares current home internet pricing tactics to the decline of landline phones, warning that monopolies steadily raise rates on loyal customers who fail to switch providers.
- 4:17
Rise of Overwires and Wirelessstrategy
Independent fiber providers and wireless home internet options from companies like T-Mobile and Mint Mobile are entering neighborhoods, often cutting internet bills by half or more.
- 10:58
Consolidated Credit Card Issuersdata
The credit card market has consolidated heavily, with Chase, Citibank, Capital One, and American Express capturing the vast majority of market share.
- 14:50
Cheapest NFL Game Timesstrategy
To find cheap NFL tickets to see the Raiders in Las Vegas, the host suggests looking at games against teams with smaller traveling fan bases during off-peak holiday travel days like Christmas Day.
- 22:13
Three-Year Degree Trendinsight
Declining college enrollments have pushed more state and private universities to offer three-year undergraduate degrees, saving a full year of living expenses and tuition.
- 26:56
Student Loan Repayment Strategystrategy
The host advises a listener with thirteen thousand dollars in student loans to simply pay them off in full using available cash rather than investing it in a 529 plan for a tax deduction.
- 29:44
Refinancing Huge Student Loansdebate
A listener asks about using home equity to pay off large nine-percent student loans; the host cautions against it due to short loan cycles and prefers keeping the debt in its fixed state.
Quotes
“History is repeating itself and it's crazy.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:39 “They push the rate up higher and higher and higher and higher because they know that now there's more competition for home internet.”
Unnamed speaker · 3:30 “So you can look and see when your billing cycle ends.”
Unnamed speaker · 9:26 “I got four years of education in three years for three years' worth of cost.”
Unnamed speaker · 21:59
Sponsored segments
- Indeed 0:00–0:27
- Indeed 18:37–19:07
- Gatorade 19:23–19:45
- Modafinil 19:52–20:22
- Simplisafe 20:24–20:53
- Clark.com 33:05–34:19
About this episode
Is Your Internet Provider Ripping You Off? & How Clark Finished College Fast To Save Money Are you still paying the "inertia tax" on your home internet? As giant cable megamergers reshape the market, big providers are steadily jacking up prices on customers who stay on autopilot – just like old landline companies did decades ago. Clark reveals how to break free from the cable monster. Plus, with student loan interest rates soaring and college costs out of control, Clark breaks down the growing trend of 3-year bachelor's degree programs. Drawing on his personal experience of rushing through undergrad to save cash, Clark explains how accelerated and reduced-credit degree options are helping students bypass massive debt, slash room-and-board expenses, and keep their financial futures on track. Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the September 23, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark. Clark Smart Home Internet: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Save On College: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Clark Howard's Tips To Save Money on Home Internet in 2026 Report: The #1 Internet Provider in America - Clark Howard Fixed Wireless Internet: Using Your Cellular Service Provider for Home Internet Internet Archives - Clark Howard Mint Mobile Deal: Unlimited Plan & Home Internet for $45/Mo. Your Discover Card Is Migrating to Capital One: What to Expect What's Going on With Federal Student Loans? | NEA The number of colleges getting rid of student debt is growing Home Equity Loan Calculator - Clark Howard When You Should (and Shouldn't) Use a 529 Plan - Clark Howard Best 529 College Savings Plans By State Clark.com resources: Episode transcripts Community. Clark.com / Ask Clark Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcript
5,365 words · 8 speakers
Topics
- Capital One
- home internet
- Discover
- T-Mobile
- fiber
- Verizon
- Bank of America
- McDonald's
- cable monster
- American Express
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