![Meredith Dietz](https://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.
![Credit card reader tap to pay](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HY15NC4PWV5TMPYM4RTCAFYW/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1715886331.png)
![Credit card reader tap to pay](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HY15NC4PWV5TMPYM4RTCAFYW/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1715886331.png)
![two male construction workers installing a roof of a house](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HXYXMJYSGGPPKMHJ0HZ8Z458/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1715871701.png)
![two male construction workers installing a roof of a house](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HXYXMJYSGGPPKMHJ0HZ8Z458/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1715871701.png)
![Front of car damaged by accident.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HXVR1Y2QTB3ZWX3WBHRHY3FS/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1715696891.png)
![Front of car damaged by accident.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HXVR1Y2QTB3ZWX3WBHRHY3FS/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1715696891.png)
![New home in neighborhood.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HXVQ1T56JBH88Y7BFRK4HX0H/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1715695839.png)
![New home in neighborhood.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HXVQ1T56JBH88Y7BFRK4HX0H/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1715695839.png)
![Hands signing important document.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXAQBPBES0YBG4J4S627BAR/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714676281.png)
![Hands signing important document.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXAQBPBES0YBG4J4S627BAR/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714676281.png)
![man working on a laptop in a coffee shop](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTRS19Y5V4FR3A4JF4WTXC4/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714672806.png)
![man working on a laptop in a coffee shop](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTRS19Y5V4FR3A4JF4WTXC4/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714672806.png)
![Smiling businessman](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTCPZFPJ51J4RHEFG7NK3X9/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714579896.png)
![Smiling businessman](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTCPZFPJ51J4RHEFG7NK3X9/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714579896.png)
![Couple shaking hands with lender.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWQNR260W7398X41ESP5SVP3/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714489545.png)
![Couple shaking hands with lender.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWQNR260W7398X41ESP5SVP3/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714489545.png)
![Man looking at phone and credit card.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNHHTC7XFY0QKY52DPVK7Z2/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714415004.png)
![Man looking at phone and credit card.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNHHTC7XFY0QKY52DPVK7Z2/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714415004.png)
![For sale sign outside home.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWN6H5M8CCF39CP5FRM64WG6/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714403448.png)
![For sale sign outside home.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWN6H5M8CCF39CP5FRM64WG6/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714403448.png)
![Cash stuffed under a mattress](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWBEWD1A229WPGSERHM4K6HZ/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714076660.png)
![Cash stuffed under a mattress](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWBEWD1A229WPGSERHM4K6HZ/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714076660.png)
![Woman choosing from spread of credit cards.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW644F8TAXS8MDPTHWFYE30F/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714073593.png)
![Woman choosing from spread of credit cards.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW644F8TAXS8MDPTHWFYE30F/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1714073593.png)
![Credit card inserted into chip reader.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW63KN77QPKW711KNDNRSSAC/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1713897067.png)
![Credit card inserted into chip reader.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW63KN77QPKW711KNDNRSSAC/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1713897067.png)
![Row of parked cars](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW3QYPBBXDTSN4WCZGWQX6FR/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1713817737.png)
![Row of parked cars](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW3QYPBBXDTSN4WCZGWQX6FR/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1713817737.png)
![Couple working on taxes at home](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW3QB0E0Z1JKY2TF9R8Y8TWY/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1713817092.png)
![Couple working on taxes at home](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW3QB0E0Z1JKY2TF9R8Y8TWY/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1713817092.png)
![Woman smiling at letter in front of laptop.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW1G31W3QE0GGR660ZM5QW15/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1713804526.png)
![Woman smiling at letter in front of laptop.](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW1G31W3QE0GGR660ZM5QW15/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1713804526.png)
![Bitcoin mining](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HRZ08KCR4QTYG4SB0Q865M43/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1710442412.png)
![Bitcoin mining](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HRZ08KCR4QTYG4SB0Q865M43/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1710442412.png)
![Student on bench reading letters](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HV6QFF2AJ4FEHPEC42RTWF15/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1712844160.png)
![Student on bench reading letters](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HV6QFF2AJ4FEHPEC42RTWF15/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1712844160.png)
![Bearded man at work](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HT30VBP9Y375HQPV4M1QTWMX/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1711650822.png)
![Bearded man at work](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HT30VBP9Y375HQPV4M1QTWMX/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1711650822.png)
![Person hiking up hill with money flying out of giant backpack; golden anchor dragging behind](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZ95Z56CNP743KDMY4QF5DM/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1712594287.jpg)
![Person hiking up hill with money flying out of giant backpack; golden anchor dragging behind](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZ95Z56CNP743KDMY4QF5DM/hero-image.fill.size_245x138.v1712594287.jpg)