Amanda Barroso

Lead Writer & Content Strategist | Credit scoring, Credit building, Budgeting

Amanda Barroso is a lead writer and content strategist covering credit at NerdWallet. Her work has been featured by the Associated Press, Washington Post and Yahoo Finance. Previously, she wrote about demographic trends at the Pew Research Center and earned a doctorate from The Ohio State University.

Education: Ph.D., The Ohio State University, M.A., University of Southern California, B.A., Presbyterian College
Awards: Mellon/ACLS Public Fellow (2017-2019)
Organizations: Online News Association
Previous experience: Writer at Pew Research Center, Policy Analyst at National Women's Law Center

Amanda's picks

Credit Score Ranges: What They Mean and How They Work

by Amanda Barroso, Lauren Schwahn

Credit scores estimate your likelihood of repaying new debt. Learn what range your score falls in and how to grow it.

Smart Money Podcast – Overcome Impulsive Shopping: Strategies to Resist Social Media Spending Triggers

by Sean Pyles, Amanda Barroso

Understand the urge to spend money while scrolling on social media and learn strategies to control impulsive purchases.

How to Freeze Your Credit with All 3 Bureaus

by Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. You can place a free freeze – or unfreeze your credit – with each bureau online, by phone or by mail.

Amanda has also nerded out in...

Other publications

The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Yahoo Finance

The latest from Amanda

How a Grocery List App Helped My Marriage

Keeping your household stocked and ready for the next meal is not an easy task, but grocery list apps can help you save money, and keep unwanted stress out of your relationships.

Best Grocery List Apps of 2025

Our top grocery list apps all offer robust free versions that can make sticking to a grocery budget easier. All are available for iOS and Android users.

Low Buy, Big Impact: How I Cut Spending and Stress

A low-buy or no-buy challenge can help you become intentional about spending.

Smart Money Podcast: The Price Isn’t Right: How to Stop Overspending and Stay Debt-Free

Break free from debt cycles and rethink your spending habits with tips on no-buy challenges and financial therapy.

Black Friday 2024 Streaming Deals

What Dynamic Pricing Means for Black Friday Shopping

Retailer strategies will make a difference in the deals you get. Here’s how to prepare for fluctuating prices.

When is Black Friday? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Shop

Mark your calendars for Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving, to take advantage of Black Friday sales this year.

We Tracked What to Buy (and Skip) During Amazon Prime Big Deal Days

Our Nerds did the research – some October deals are worth a look. Skip the lightning deals and look for bargains on things you already use and need.

What Is Revolving Credit?

Revolving credit allows borrowers to spend up to a credit limit determined by the lender and pay back the amount at once or over time.

July Prime Day 2024 Deals Are a Mixed Bag

Is Amazon Music Free With Prime, and What Do You Get?

Your Prime membership includes ad-free music, playlists and podcasts, but most music is shuffle-play only unless you upgrade to Unlimited.

Smart Money Podcast – Overcome Impulsive Shopping: Strategies to Resist Social Media Spending Triggers

Understand the urge to spend money while scrolling on social media and learn strategies to control impulsive purchases.

5 Financial Steps for New College Grads in Their First Jobs

A solid financial foundation starts with creating a budget, saving for emergencies and retirement, being proactive about student loan bills and building credit.

What Is Amazon Prime Reading and How Does It Compare to Kindle Unlimited?

Prime Reading offers Prime members access to a rotating library of e-books, audiobooks and magazines through the free Kindle app.

Best Things to Buy at Trader Joe’s