Clark Howard with Mark Meltzer and Theo Thimou, Avery; $18 (paperback)
Fans of Clark Howard’s radio and television programs will be familiar with many of the tips on making smarter purchases and saving money. But whether or not you’ve ever heard him on the air, there’s a good chance you’ll pick up a few ideas that can make the cost of the book worthwhile.
Howard’s advice is broken down into 10 chapters that cover the main areas of spending and shopping, homes and real estate, insurance and travel. His tips span the gamut from the tried-and-true to some innovative suggestions such as how to shop for a new apartment. He also offers advice for filing complaints against banks, fixing credit-report errors, dealing with insurance issues and handling other money-related problems. The way “Living Large” is organized and the detailed index make it a good reference to keep around and check from time to time, or when a customer-service problem pops up. Eileen AJ Connelly, The Associated Press
