The Latest Breaking News from Clever Dude

A 72-Month Car Loan Makes the Payment Look Better. Here’s What It Does to the Total Cost

A 72-month car loan can make an expensive vehicle look surprisingly affordable because stretching repayment across six years lowers the monthly bill. The catch is sitting quietly in the background: a longer loan usually means paying interest for more time and potentially spending considerably more for the same car.

Clever Dude · Sep 16

Keeping a Car for 15 Years Sounds Frugal — Until These Costs Start Showing Up

Keeping a car for 15 years sounds like the ultimate money-saving move. Once the loan disappears and the monthly payment drops to zero, every trip can feel like a tiny financial victory, but an aging vehicle can start collecting bills in other places.

Clever Dude · Sep 16

NHTSA Reviews Complaint of Engine Coolant Intrusion and Power Loss in 500,000 Ford Edge SUVs

Federal auto safety regulators are reviewing a petition involving approximately 500,000 Ford Edge SUVs over allegations that engine coolant intrusion can cause significant power loss. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation opened Defect Petition DP26008 on September 3, 2026. The petition covers model-year 2015 through 2018…

Clever Dude · Sep 15

Ford Recalls More Than 223,000 F-150 Trucks Over Fuel Tank That Could Leak or Detach

Ford is recalling more than 223,000 F-150 pickup trucks because a problem securing the fuel tank could potentially cause it to leak or separate from the vehicle.

Clever Dude · Sep 14

EPA Approves New Vehicle Pollution Limits for Transportation Planning in California’s San Joaquin Valley

Federal regulators have approved new vehicle-emissions limits that transportation planners across California’s San Joaquin Valley will have to consider when evaluating future transportation plans and projects.

Clever Dude · Sep 14

Bought Every Tool for a DIY Project? Hiring Someone May Have Been Cheaper

A DIY project can start with a simple thought: How hard could it be? Then the shopping list grows from a drill to a saw, level, specialty bit, clamps, safety gear and a mysterious tool that seems necessary because three YouTube videos insisted on it. By the time the project…

Clever Dude · Sep 14

Should a Couple Combine Bank Accounts Before Getting Married? Run Through These 7 Questions First

Marriage can turn “my checking account” and “your checking account” into a much bigger conversation about our money. Some couples happily toss everything into one joint account, while others keep separate accounts and create a shared account for household expenses. Neither approach automatically makes a marriage more financially successful, but…

Clever Dude · Sep 14

The Paid-Off Car vs. New Car Decision Gets Easier When You Run These 5 Numbers

A paid-off car can feel like a financial superhero until the repair bill arrives, while a shiny new car can look like the hero until the monthly payment starts eating the budget. The decision gets much easier when you stop comparing an old car with a new car and start…

Clever Dude · Sep 14

The Car Is Paid Off but Insurance Is Still $200 a Month. Is Full Coverage Still Worth It?

Paying off a car feels like reaching the finish line, only to discover the insurance bill is still sitting there waving from the sidelines. At $200 a month, that insurance costs $2,400 a year, so it makes sense to question whether full coverage still earns its keep once the lender…

Clever Dude · Sep 13

Working Overtime for Extra Money? Calculate What an Hour Is Actually Worth First

Overtime can look awfully tempting when the paycheck needs a little boost. An extra hour at work can mean extra money, but the amount added to a bank account does not always tell the whole story. Taxes, commuting costs, meals, childcare, parking, and even the time spent getting ready for…

Clever Dude · Sep 13