Clever Dude founded CleverDude.com in June 2006 while working as a technical analyst in the Washington, D.C. area. A Penn State graduate, he built the site as a side project alongside a white-collar career that included earning a master’s degree and multiple promotions.
In five years he wrote nearly 1,300 articles on personal finance and life lessons drawn from his own experience. The blog grew from a hobby into a recognized early voice in the personal-finance community and generated meaningful revenue. He sold the site in 2010, continued as a guest contributor through 2015, and returned in 2023 after further career advances, paying off his home, and extensive travel.
I got an email from a reader. Let's call him Bruce: Hey Mike! I’ve got one burning question for you, btw I thoroughly enjoy the down-to-earth style of the way you post news. I am currently 19 years old, but I am definitely already concerned … [Read more...] about Is hardcore budgeting at age 19 frugal, cheap, or SMART?
I've had my Pioneer stereo for about 12 years now, and the 6 CD changer for almost as long. The digital tuner knob would only tune downwards and the CD player sounded like a 747 taking flight. So when I saw the Sharper Image stereo my sister won … [Read more...] about Our FREE $300 Sharper Image Stereo Arrived
Earlier this week, I told you I got Comcast Digital Cable for 12 months for free. Plus they threw in 6 months of all the HBO and Starz channels and mailed me the self-install kit for free. They're giving it to us because we're basic cable subscribers … [Read more...] about Got my Free Comcast Digital Cable…It’s worthless
Today I got my first paid ReviewMe offer from a site I have not personally visited until this afternoon: Debt Consolidation News. DCN is another personal finance writer. I was hesitant to review this site for a few reasons: I couldn't find an … [Read more...] about Review: Debt Consolidation News
You've probably come to Clever Dude for the article on Getting Free Plasma TVs and Laptops You've brought down Clever Dude a few times in the last 2 hours, but I'm working with my hosting service to keep it up. The response times are already much … [Read more...] about Welcome Digg Visitors!
When browsing through my Google homepage "Financial" tab, I noticed that BankRate.com had an article whose title piqued my interest: "When is a freebie offer really free?" They mention the "Free product with referrals" and "Free product with … [Read more...] about What timing! Bankrate posted about “Free” offers too
How many of you get those spam emails with "Your $1000 Home Depot Gift Card is waiting for you" or "Click here to pick up your free 42" Plasma TV"? I did, and I got 2 Sony Vaio laptops and a $1000 Visa gift card out of it. You see, not all of … [Read more...] about How I Get Laptops and Plasma TVs for Free
I was informed a couple weeks ago about Comcast's deal for basic cable subscribers: Free Digital Cable for 12 months for Basic Cable Subscribers. Also, you get all HBO and Starz channels for 6 months free. Basic cable is the cheapest plan you can … [Read more...] about Deal with the devil: I got Comcast Digital Cable … FOR FREE
