About the Author

Melanie Lockert
Melanie Lockert is the founder of the blog and author of the book, Dear Debt. Through her blog, she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. Her work has appeared on Business Insider, Time, Huffington Post and more. She is also the co-founder of the Lola Retreat, which helps bold women face their fears, own their dreams and figure out a plan to be in control of their finances.

In This ArticleWhat is a credit score? What is a good credit score? Average credit […]

November 4, 2022

In This ArticleWhat is credit utilization Why your credit card utilization percentage matters What is […]

October 26, 2022

If you’re an hourly worker, you probably know the pros and cons of getting paid […]

September 28, 2022

In March, we celebrated Women’s History Month and now that it’s April, we’re bringing awareness […]

August 25, 2022

You’re out on a first date and the check arrives. The awkward dance begins of […]

August 24, 2022

In This ArticleWhat is a collection agency and why are debt collectors calling? How to […]

August 22, 2022

  In This ArticleWhat is a payday loan? Payday loan alternatives Chime's best alternatives to […]

August 17, 2022

In This ArticleAwkward scenario #1: Splitting a restaurant check Awkward scenario #2: When your friend […]

April 1, 2022

In This ArticleReddit’s Best Advice for Financial Independence 20 Personal Finance Tips We Love Other […]

December 15, 2021

In This ArticleWhat Type of Bank Should I Use? What Qualities Should I Look for […]

September 22, 2021

If you’re like me, any mention of the holidays in September is likely to make […]

September 16, 2021

You had a good start and all was going well. Then there were overdraft fees, monthly fees, minimum balances fees, scandals, and shady practices. It's time to switch banks. Here's how to close a bank account and move on to better banking options.

June 11, 2021

In This ArticleFirst Things First: Pick Your Account Gather Everything You Need to Open Your […]

May 19, 2021

Come up with a holiday budget Score deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday Use […]

November 16, 2020

Check the username carefully 🔎 Look for the checkmark 👀 Analyze the message 🤔 Review […]

October 6, 2020

What does it mean to refinance a loan? How to refinance a loan Refinancing student […]

April 15, 2020

In This ArticleHow to open a Chime online bank account in 3 simple steps Manage […]

April 2, 2020

Review Your Minimum Payments Call Your Lender/Loan Service Use the $1,200 Check to Your Advantage […]

March 29, 2020

One of the most essential things you need as an adult is an emergency fund.  […]

March 20, 2020

What is an emergency fund? How much should my emergency fund be? How many months […]

March 17, 2020

If you’re in the market for a credit card or loan, you’ll likely see a […]

February 22, 2020

In This Article1. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) 2. Federal Student Aid website 3. […]

January 29, 2020

A new year is a great time to start fresh and get your financial priorities […]

January 28, 2020

We are living in the Golden Era of podcasts.  There are podcasts on nearly every […]

November 7, 2019

“Is grad school worth it?” This might be a question you’d ask if you are […]

October 9, 2019

Whether you’re the bride-to-be or a BFF planning a bachelorette party, there’s one major concern […]

October 2, 2019

Have you ever wondered how much money you should have in your checking account?  You’re […]

September 23, 2019

You’ve moved into a new home and love your space. There’s just one problem. It’s […]

September 12, 2019

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s this: Everyone loves pay day.  […]

September 5, 2019

In This ArticleMyth #1: Credit cards a direct path to debt Myth #2: Checking your […]

August 5, 2019

As you start your journey into personal finance, you’ll be looking at your numbers and […]

July 11, 2019

About a month ago, I was going through my credit card statement and saw a […]

July 2, 2019

When you’re a young adult, there’s nothing quite like living on your own to give […]

June 13, 2019

You likely spent your 20s growing a lot, making mistakes, and discovering yourself. Your 30s, […]

May 22, 2019

Sometimes the best way to learn about money is through experience. How do you get […]

April 3, 2019

Have you ever swiped your debit card and held your breath, hoping you have enough […]

March 28, 2019

Looking for savings tips but don’t know where to start? Well, you’re in luck. We’ve […]

March 18, 2019

When you think of investing, you might think of wealthy finance types or people straight […]

February 22, 2019

If there’s one musical artist that has taken the world by storm, it’s Cardi B. […]

February 7, 2019

If you’ve seen the recent headlines, it seems that the next stock market crash could […]

January 29, 2019

You’ve scored an interview for your ideal job with the dream salary you want to […]

January 21, 2019

When it comes to your bank, you are basically entrusting a financial institution with your […]

January 14, 2019

Do you always have the Sunday Scaries before the work week starts? Do you dread […]

January 9, 2019

We all prefer to give and receive love in different ways. However, this isn’t always […]

December 3, 2018

When it comes to saving money on purchases, Black Friday is like a national holiday. […]

November 13, 2018

The holiday shopping season is rapidly approaching and this may leave you feeling just a tad […]

November 7, 2018

Diving into the waters of personal finance can be exciting, but also overwhelming. There are […]

October 15, 2018

So, you’re ready to start saving some money but you’re not sure where to begin. […]

October 3, 2018

In today’s technology-driven world, apps are all about making your life easier. Need dinner but […]

October 3, 2018

You work hard. You want to do the right thing and save money. But you […]

September 5, 2018

Let’s face it — managing your money isn’t something that you’re taught in school (but […]

September 2, 2018

It’s nice to feel like your financial institution has your back. After all, you entrust […]

August 22, 2018

Do you ever dream of spending your days doing what you want? Do you visualize […]

August 15, 2018

Ever have one of those weeks where nothing seems to be going right? You get […]

April 12, 2018

If you spend hours a week commuting to work in your car, you probably know […]

April 1, 2018

You get your first real adult job — and finally, have a salary with benefits. Score! […]

March 31, 2018

Do you cringe each month when you get your utility bills? When you see a […]

March 26, 2018

When you open a bank account, you’re taking a positive first step to managing your […]

January 12, 2018

If you want to get a better handle on your money, you need a savings plan. […]

December 22, 2017

Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck and feeling constantly stressed about money? You’re […]

December 9, 2017

If you’re interested in opening a new online bank account, you may be left wondering […]

December 2, 2017

The holidays are often a time of celebration with your family and friends. But let’s […]

November 11, 2017

In This ArticleThere are protections out there How to protect yourself with debit cards Why […]

August 8, 2017

Do you ever feel kind of down and stressed about your money sitch? If you […]

July 27, 2017

Wedding invitations are piling up on your desk and all you can think is: “How […]

June 25, 2017

Speaking on behalf of the millennial generation, it seems like we’re always defending two things […]

May 3, 2017

“I wish I could save less! ” said no one ever. Everyone wants to save more, […]

April 29, 2017

Like it or not, you have a particular relationship with money. This relationship was formed […]

April 8, 2017

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