Breath tester
Have you ever wondered if you are taking a chance to get behind a wheel and drive after having an adult beverage? The convenience retailer, 7-11, is now selling a $1.39 item called the Guardian Angel Personal Alcohol Test that can slip inside of a handbag or wallet. Have one on hand and use it when in doubt.

Job Status
Employed workers can be just as affected emotionally by terminations going on at the workplace than the one actually being dismissed. Some become jealous of the co-worker leaving and think that they may have a better opportunity. It's called 'survivor syndrome' and other emotions can creep out. Staying employees can tend to distrust employers or the plan of the company and become less productive and lose pride. Benefits don't matter to those feeling insecure in their positions.
Employers must communicate, communicate, communicate with employees. The boss and/or managers should be frequent with pep talks and share the company goals and plans with workers.
Employers need to become compassionate and fair in the layoff process. This is important for the staying employees to witness. Ill will may arise if they see outgoing employees being denied the right to clean out their own desks, or are shown the door with a security guard.
Clark advises employees witnessing these treatments to prepare a resume and to get out.
The job market is still strong and workers shouldn't stay with companies that cannot treat employees fairly.

Fake Visa/Mastercard
Clark constantly warns consumers against using 'fake' credit cards issued by Visa and Mastercard. These popular cards are often automatically sent to bank customers to use in place of standard checking accounts, ATM's or traditional credit cards. Checking accounts are debited with each use.
Clark and Team Clark Howard constantly hear from consumers that encounter enormous problems when these debit cards are stolen and their checking accounts are wiped out. In a majority of cases, banks are completely non-cooperative in restoring the money to accounts. This is the opposite of what would happen if a thief steals a traditional credit card and charges up a storm. Under federal banking laws, a consumer's liability is zero for these fraudulent charges. With the debit card bank have often refused to pay overdraft charges or other penalties incurred by the account holder.
The vice-president of Visa International spoke with Clark on-air today and told listeners that member banks issuing Visa debit cards must cooperate with consumers and restore checking balances within 5 days. He claims that no one should have to pay a penny in penalties and that debit card holders have the same rights and protections that traditional credit card holders have.
There is no one hot-line to call if your Visa debit card is stolen. Instead it is suggested that you work with your bank and merchants to resolve the fraudulent charges.
Clark does admit that a debit card is a good budgeting tool. Yet he is still mystified why debit cards don't have PIN number security to keep these frequent occurrences of fraud from happening in the first place.

Infant formula
A federal judge has ordered an executive of Enfamil, the maker of baby formula, to remove literature from doctor offices that state the product is better than generic or store brand infant formulas. The representative of Enfamil testified in court that the Enfamil product is identical to generic formula and that the only difference is in the price.
Don't throw your money away on this brand name. Your baby will be perfectly fine if given a lesser priced product. To prove the point, take a moment and compare ingredient labels of Enfamil and a cheaper brand. Infant formula must have certain ingredients regardless of the label name. You'll see that contents are the same. So, start saving money now.

Retirement plans
The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed new laws that affect retirement savings plans. Starting in 2002, maximum permitted IRA contributions will be increased to $3,000. In 2003 that max contribution amount will go to $4,000 and $5,000 the following year. Those amounts will automatically adjust each year based on the rate of inflation.
The bill also calls for a 'catch-up' plan for those 50 years and older. Those people will have an opportunity to stash more money away for retirement.
Americans are just not saving enough for retirement years. It's up to you to fund your own account and not the responsibility of your children.
Only 4% of eligible workers contribute the maximum permitted amounts into 401K plans. Only 4% of us contribute $2,000 to our Roth or traditional IRA plans.
The government is giving us something valuable. But, it's worthless unless you use it.

Free press
The printed newspaper industry is up in arms over an ad-supported and completely free newspaper publication available in Philadelphia. The free press is also now available in Boston.
Clark wonders why USA Today would object and file suit against this free publication since they have nationwide agreements to give the paper free at hotels, motels, car rental agencies and airport shuttle services.