Clark Howard, Consumer Advocate

I have learned a lot from Dave Ramsey and Jim Cramer, as mentioned in my other posts. Another interesting person I have discovered is author, TV and radio host Clark Howard. He is the person to follow when it comes to personal finance. Recently I saw him on Anderson Cooper's show and he has lots of down to earth tips that can save a person a lot of money. One thing he said that is you go shoppng at a grocery store, the items to avoid buying are the non-food items such as health and beauty aids like toilet paper and toothpaste. He said that the stores have their largest markup on these items. It is a better bet to buy them at warehouse stores like Sam's Club, or even Wal Mart. He recommends buying a car online, rather than from a dealer. Buying a car is usually the second biggest purchase a person makes besides a home, so doing homework and researching different options makes sense.

Here is Clark's bio from his website:

Clark Howard is a nationally syndicated consumer expert who advises consumers how to save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped off. His radio show is heard every day on more than 200 radio stations throughout North America. His HLN show runs every Saturday and Sunday at 6am, noon and 4pm ET, and he is a frequent guest on many other talk, variety and news programs.

"Save more and spend less" is more than just a motto for Clark; it's a way of life. As a successful lifelong entrepreneur, media star and best-selling author, the Atlanta-based "consumer champion" is dedicated to helping Americans of all means get ahead in life.

Clark 's career included stints in both government and private sectors. He was a civilian employee working for the U.S. Air Force at the end of the Vietnam War. He launched a travel agency in 1981 that grew into a chain with locations across metro Atlanta. In 1987, he sold the company at 31 and retired.

Clark found his way into the public eye almost by accident. While enjoying life on the pristine beaches of Florida, he was asked to be a guest on a radio show about travel. The response was so positive that he was given his own program, The Clark Howard Show. The show originates from Atlanta's AM 750 and NOW 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB and is syndicated by Dial Global.

In early 2009, The Clark Howard Show was expanded to HLN (formerly the Headline News channel) in a weekend program. Viewers can watch the penny-pincher answer the best calls from his daily national radio show on Saturdays and Sundays at 6 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. ET. He also appears on HLN 16 times each day during the week with minute-long consumer tips.

He is also a TV reporter on Atlanta's ABC affiliate WSB-TV and writes a weekly column in The Atlanta Journal-Constituion that appears each Thursday in the Deal Spotter section.

The consumer champ's most recent book, 2011's Clark Howard's Living Large in Lean Times: 250+ Ways to Buy Smarter, Spend Smarter, and Save Money (due Aug. 2), covers everything from cell phones to student loans, coupon websites to mortgages, investing to saving on electric bills, and beyond.

Clark has published nine books in total -- with 2002's Get Clark Smart and 2003's Clark's Big Book of Bargains both charting on The New York Times' "Best Sellers" list (No. 6 and No. 7, respectively). Clark's books are available through GetClarkSmart.com.

As an Atlanta native, Clark has always been very involved in improving his community. He started several civic programs, including Atlanta Volunteer Action, Volunteer Action, Inc., The Big Buddy Program and Career Action. With the help of his listeners, he has built 43 homes over 16 years throughout metro Atlanta for Habitat for Humanity.

In 1993, he opened the Consumer Action Center as an extension of his radio show to provide free off-air advice on consumer issues. The CAC is now staffed by more than 140 volunteers.

He's also a member of the Georgia State Defense Force. Clark joined after the terrorist attacks of 2001 to do his part in helping to prepare and assist our military. He attends monthly training workshops around the state as part of his service, and has performed medical evacuation work in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Check out his website here:

http://www.clarkhoward.com/