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Amanda Barroso’s Author Page

Amanda Barroso

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

Amanda Barroso, Ph.D., is a writer and content strategist helping consumers navigate budgeting, credit building and credit scoring. Before joining NerdWallet, Amanda wrote about demographic trends at the Pew Research Center and got her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.

Her work has been featured by the Associated Press, Washington Post and Yahoo Finance.

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 are grouped into ranges between 300 to 850. The ranges are used by lenders to determine your creditworthiness.

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 and Unfreeze Your Credit with All 3 Bureaus

by Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea

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

Amanda has also nerded out in...

Other publications

The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Yahoo Finance

The latest from Amanda

How Long Does Bankruptcy Stay on Your Credit Reports?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your credit reports for 10 years. Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays on your credit reports for seven years.

What Is Credit and Why Is It Useful?

Credit has two definitions: an agreement with a lender to borrow money and pay it back later, and a record of your borrowing history, found in your credit reports. Establish good credit by repaying what you owe on time.

What Is a Credit Limit and What Does Available Credit Mean?

Credit limit is the total amount you can charge, while available credit is the unused amount within your limit.

What Is a FICO Score? Here’s What You Need to Know

FICO scores are one brand of credit score. Your FICO score is calculated using the data in your credit reports.

How Much Should You Budget For Groceries Each Month?

The average cost of groceries is about $504 per month for a household, but that number might not align with your supermarket receipts.

How to Protect Your Finances and Credit in Tough Times

Set yourself up to ride out setbacks by proactively managing your cash flow, credit and bills.

Free Identity Theft Protection You May Already Have

You may have identity theft protection as an existing benefit — and some insurers offer free or low-cost coverage.

Does Paying Bills Build Credit?

Accounts that don't report to the credit bureaus can't help your credit — but failing to pay them on time can hurt it.

A SIM swap is when criminals take over phone numbers, which can unlock financial, email and social media accounts.

SIM Swap: What It Is and How to Protect Yourself

SIM swapping is a cell phone scam where criminals take over phone numbers, which can unlock financial, email and social media accounts.

Is My Credit Frozen? What to Do If You're Not Sure

Is My Credit Frozen? What to Do If You’re Not Sure

A credit freeze will block approval of a new loan or credit card until you lift it. Here's how to find out whether you have a security freeze in place and how to manage it at each bureau.

Looking For An Apartment With No Credit Check? Here Are 7 Tips

Try offering references, getting a roommate, paying a larger deposit or working with an individual landlord.

5 Tips for Lowering Your Credit Utilization

Track spending, seek higher limits and refrain from closing existing cards to keep your credit utilization under 30%.

How to Build Credit Fast: 9 Strategies to Try

You could elevate your credit score with tips such as making on-time payments, paying credit card bills more than once a month, becoming an authorized user and fixing credit report errors.

How to Get Your Free Credit Reports From the Major Credit Bureaus

Use AnnualCreditReport.com to request your credit reports — you have free weekly access.