08.26.26 Food Tossed Is Money Lost / Couples Currency: Best Practices

August 26, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

A 13-month-old yogurt served on a business-class flight, so congealed a spoon couldn't break through it, is the kind of image that sticks. Clark Howard uses it to launch a broader point: Americans throw away roughly 40% of the food they buy, and much of that waste is driven by misunderstanding the dates printed on packages. That segment anchors one half of a two-part episode, with the second half devoted to a quieter but equally costly problem—the financial secrets couples keep from each other.

The Marketing Date vs. The Spoilage Date

The core mechanism Clark explains is the difference between two kinds of date labels. The most common ones—"best by," "use by," "enjoy by," "sell by"—are marketing labels designed by manufacturers to guarantee peak quality, not safety. Clark calls them "a marketing date that basically is to try to get you to prematurely throw things out." The only dates that truly matter for safety are on perishable dairy and fresh meats. For everything else, the shelf life is far longer than people assume.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:04) **The 40% Food Waste Problem** - Clark introduces the staggering statistic that Americans throw away nearly 40% of the food they buy, setting up a segment on how to stop wasting money on uneaten groceries.
2 (04:39) **Which Food Dates Actually Matter** - Clark distinguishes between marketing dates and genuine safety concerns, explaining which pantry staples can be kept safely for years past their printed date.
3 (08:00) **Roof Warranty After Contractor Goes Out of Business** - Todd from Washington asks how to secure a manufacturer's roof warranty after his roofer told him to "go pound sand" and closed up shop.
4 (10:04) **Booking Alaskan Cruise Excursions: Cruise Line vs. Third Party** - John from Wisconsin asks about the best way to book shore excursions for a 2027 Alaskan cruise, comparing cruise line prices to outside vendors.
5 (12:32) **Preferred Payment Method Amid Credit Card Fees** - Justin from Illinois asks what Clark's preferred form of payment is now that more merchants are charging credit card surcharges, calling Visa and MasterCard "cartels."
6 (18:27) **The "Couples Currency" Assignment: Financial Transparency** - Clark pivots to the second major topic, assigning couples a critical task: ensuring both partners have complete knowledge of all family finances.
7 (21:15) **How to Maintain Financial Transparency** - Clark provides a practical system for keeping the financial document updated so it remains useful in an emergency.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Clark Howard

Show Notes

With food prices sky high, food waste is an area of real concern - and potential savings. Clark breaks down the truth behind confusing expiration dates like "Best By" versus "Use By" as marketing tactics designed to get you to buy more often.

Also, Clark tackles a critical and all too common relationship issue: one partner completely in the dark about household money. A household culture of "he handles it" or "she takes care of that" is a pathway to financial stress, hidden debt, and complete chaos if the unexpected occurs. Clark discusses how couples can maintain financial independence without secrets, and outlines a simple seasonal document routine to ensure both partners always know where all accounts, debts, and assets are located.
Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the August 26, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark.

Waste Not: Segment 1
Ask Clark: Segment 2
Couples’ Financials: Segment 3
Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show: