The Latest Breaking News from Clever Dude

The Stuff Men Keep “Because It Might Be Worth Something” — What’s Actually Valuable?

There is a particular kind of household box that never gets thrown away. It contains old coins, a watch that stopped working sometime during the previous administration, a stack of baseball cards, strange-looking tools and perhaps a belt buckle nobody remembers buying. The official reason for keeping all of it…

Clever Dude · Sep 9

The Dealer Wants to Talk Monthly Payment. Here’s the Number You Should Ask for Instead

The dealer asks, “What monthly payment are you looking for?” It sounds like a perfectly reasonable question, but that number can make a car deal look much better than it actually is. The better question comes first: “What is the out-the-door price?”

Clever Dude · Sep 9

NHTSA Expands GM Brake Investigation to More Than 1.1 Million Vehicles

Federal safety regulators have expanded an investigation into potential brake-assist failures to more than 1.1 million vehicles that use General Motors’ eBoost braking system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened Engineering Analysis EA26006 on August 21, 2026, after continuing to receive reports involving loss of brake assist. The investigation…

Clever Dude · Sep 8

7 Car Features That Sound Great at the Dealership but Can Get Expensive After the Warranty Ends

A new car can make a lot of things sound irresistible. A salesperson demonstrates the suspension lowering itself, the running boards glide out, the panoramic roof floods the cabin with sunlight, and suddenly that practical little SUV starts feeling like a rolling luxury hotel.

Clever Dude · Sep 8

Your Water Heater Is 10 Years Old. Replace It Now or Wait Until It Dies?

A 10-year-old water heater does not automatically belong in the trash, but it has entered the part of its life when waiting for failure can turn a routine home project into a soggy emergency. You should consider a replacement when a water heater reaches more than 10 years old, because…

Clever Dude · Sep 7

At What Mileage Does It Stop Making Sense to Keep Repairing an Old Car?

There is no magic mileage when a car suddenly becomes too old to repair, even when the odometer rolls past 150,000 or 200,000 miles. A well-maintained car with a healthy engine, solid transmission, and clean body can make more financial sense to repair than replacing it with another used vehicle…

Clever Dude · Sep 7

8 Warning Signs Your Auto Loan May Be Putting Too Much Pressure on Your Budget

A car loan can look perfectly manageable when the payment fits neatly into the monthly budget, but that single number does not tell the whole story. If the payment leaves little room for groceries, savings, repairs, or an unexpected bill, the loan may already be putting too much pressure on…

Clever Dude · Sep 7

9 States Where a Traffic Ticket Can Hit Your Wallet Hardest

A traffic ticket might feel like a minor annoyance…until the fine comes due. And some states make that annoyance surprisingly expensive. In 2026, a routine speeding citation can cost hundreds of dollars before a driver even considers what points or higher insurance premiums might do to the household budget.

Clever Dude · Sep 6

Your Credit App Says 740. The Car Dealer Says 695. Which Score Actually Determines Your Loan?

A credit app can flash a beautiful 740 while the dealership’s finance office produces a decidedly less glamorous 695. Neither number necessarily means someone made a mistake, and the dealer did not secretly invent a new scoring system just to ruin the mood before the test drive.

Clever Dude · Sep 6

You Bought the House — But These 7 Things on Your Property May Still Be Illegal

Buying a house gives you the keys, the mortgage, the yard, and all the mysterious stuff lurking behind the garage. It does not necessarily give you legal permission to keep every structure, feature, or property use exactly as you found it. Local governments can enforce zoning, building, safety, and land-use…

Clever Dude · Sep 6