![Meredith Dietz](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/authors/01HF2FBE4ASBWE2SZPMN349CSQ/image.fill.size_204x204.v1699834410.jpg)
Meredith Dietz is Lifehacker’s Senior Finance Writer. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Northeastern University, where she graduated as valedictorian of her college. She grew up waitressing in her family restaurant in Wilmington, DE and worked at Hasbro Games, where she wrote rules for new games. Previously, she worked in the non-profit space as a Leadership Resident with the Harpswell Foundation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; later, she was a travel coordinator for a study abroad program that traced the rise of fascist propaganda across Western Europe.
Since then, Meredith has been driven to make personal finance accessible and address taboos of talking openly about money, including debt, investing, and saving for retirement. Outside of finance writing, Meredith is a marathon runner and stand-up comedian who has been a regular contributor to The Onion and Reductress. Meredith lives in Brooklyn, NY.
![Zombies breaking into a house, one of them holding a mortgage document.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J2F2GQT3YZ2ZVZR528Q1BJ4K/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720713659.jpg)
![Zombies breaking into a house, one of them holding a mortgage document.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J2F2GQT3YZ2ZVZR528Q1BJ4K/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720713659.jpg)
![view looking up a ladder against a house](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J33JT80TVC4T2FMXAQA9BDP4/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721395723.png)
![view looking up a ladder against a house](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J33JT80TVC4T2FMXAQA9BDP4/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721395723.png)
![Claire, Meredith, and an inflatable hot tub,](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J30YXRQGJFTGV8Q2036BV99W/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721250812.png)
![Claire, Meredith, and an inflatable hot tub,](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J30YXRQGJFTGV8Q2036BV99W/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721250812.png)
![Bar cart, French press, record player.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J30TV1F16APQK586MBC69H7X/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721236293.png)
![Bar cart, French press, record player.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J30TV1F16APQK586MBC69H7X/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721236293.png)
![Headphones holder, standing desk, and webcam.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H27ZZD3HZK71D5V9GZQRE/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721167659.png)
![Headphones holder, standing desk, and webcam.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H27ZZD3HZK71D5V9GZQRE/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721167659.png)
![Featured suitcase, duffel bag, and portable charger.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HEQSG0YQSE99STD60DWRN/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721153668.png)
![Featured suitcase, duffel bag, and portable charger.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HEQSG0YQSE99STD60DWRN/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1721153668.png)
![Row of houses in sunny neighborhood.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J2HBTD348BC6QJBK60P4X0E3/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720725568.png)
![Row of houses in sunny neighborhood.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J2HBTD348BC6QJBK60P4X0E3/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720725568.png)
![Closeup of hands cutting credit card](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J2C793XVZ8RX6D75FRBRCJB1/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720544694.png)
![Closeup of hands cutting credit card](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J2C793XVZ8RX6D75FRBRCJB1/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720544694.png)
![Man signing document](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1WWX971AFA5TKAP8R06WMKN/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720192868.jpg)
![Man signing document](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1WWX971AFA5TKAP8R06WMKN/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720192868.jpg)
![A couple with expensive looking vacation clothes and suitcases standing in front of a big house with fancy cars.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J29KRH15T1WFMFESEWR8Q5GR/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720457118.jpg)
![A couple with expensive looking vacation clothes and suitcases standing in front of a big house with fancy cars.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J29KRH15T1WFMFESEWR8Q5GR/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720457118.jpg)
![woman holding a credit card and smartphone](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J29FYY8W3439BEY69MDMWZQF/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720454268.png)
![woman holding a credit card and smartphone](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J29FYY8W3439BEY69MDMWZQF/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720454268.png)
![Seesaw showing how the cost of goods has increased dramatically.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1QXVBBCX8E93ZZQ0723J4X3/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720026536.jpg)
![Seesaw showing how the cost of goods has increased dramatically.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1QXVBBCX8E93ZZQ0723J4X3/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1720026536.jpg)
![Young professional focusing on laptop.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1QYDE9YX2HW64Z6V0QCRH07/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719864310.png)
![Young professional focusing on laptop.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1QYDE9YX2HW64Z6V0QCRH07/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719864310.png)
![Sunny, manicured lawn of a nice neighborhood home.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1QDZACNMWC23GYSGXM47QSB/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719847070.png)
![Sunny, manicured lawn of a nice neighborhood home.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1QDZACNMWC23GYSGXM47QSB/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719847070.png)
![Close up of man holding cell phone and credit card](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1FQKJSQS3YEQ2N19ZRKTD3E/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719589799.png)
![Close up of man holding cell phone and credit card](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1FQKJSQS3YEQ2N19ZRKTD3E/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719589799.png)
![Close up of woman using tap-to-pay at grocery store](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1DEV91DWM2F6K5PS6RFSSZK/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719515988.png)
![Close up of woman using tap-to-pay at grocery store](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1DEV91DWM2F6K5PS6RFSSZK/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719515988.png)
![A pile of mail on a table](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1ANX78JR3NXCH7HYR9QBHH7/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719433379.png)
![A pile of mail on a table](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J1ANX78JR3NXCH7HYR9QBHH7/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719433379.png)
![woman looking at a credit card and using phone to make a call](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J15B7SYMKJDS03X9MXZ75GS1/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719249049.png)
![woman looking at a credit card and using phone to make a call](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J15B7SYMKJDS03X9MXZ75GS1/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1719249049.png)
![Closeup image of a woman holding and choosing credit card to use](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J0XXNCP3N09MKDBA8CB3D2KZ/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1718991106.png)
![Closeup image of a woman holding and choosing credit card to use](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01J0XXNCP3N09MKDBA8CB3D2KZ/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1718991106.png)
![Hand holding ice cream cone](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GG2N4RBTBBQY1X467WCM5/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1718974804.png)
![Hand holding ice cream cone](https://cdn.statically.io/img/lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GG2N4RBTBBQY1X467WCM5/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1718974804.png)