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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

What Is a Hard Inquiry?

A hard credit check can take a few points off your score temporarily, but a soft inquiry doesn't affect it.

Credit Score vs. Credit Report: What’s the Difference?

Credit reports are detailed histories of your credit use. Credit scores are calculated from your credit report info.

What is a credit score and why is it import?

What Is a Credit Score and Why Is It Important?

A credit score is a number between 300 and 850 that is calculated using information from your credit reports. Your credit score is used by lenders to determine the kinds of financial products and rates you are eligible for.

Use a Credit Score Simulator to Road-Test Financial Decisions

A credit score simulator can help you see which actions, like paying down a particular balance, can help most.

700 Credit Score: Is It Good or Bad?

A 700 credit score falls into the good range. Find out what you credit score can get you, and how to improve your credit.

How to Budget Money in 5 Steps

Divide your income among needs, wants, savings and debt repayment.

Does Checking My Credit Score Lower It?

Checking your own credit won’t hurt your score. It's safe and smart to check it often.

late-payment-affect-credit

Missed a Payment? Here’s How It Affects Your Credit and What to Do Next

Paying a bill 30 days or more past the due date could drop your score and stay on your credit reports for up to seven years. Here's what you can do to help limit the damage.

Gift Card Exchange Options For One You No Longer Want

Unwanted or partially used gift cards don’t have to go to waste. Learn how to exchange, sell, donate or repurpose them — plus tips to avoid scams.

7 Ways to Rebuild Credit

Financial missteps might harm your credit, but the damage doesn't have to last forever. Focus on paying on time, reducing credit balances, and explore credit-building products.

How to Protect Your Credit During a Divorce

A divorce is challenging, emotionally and financially. Learn how to safeguard your credit, handle joint debts and ease the transition.

Partial Payments: How They Affect Your Credit

Partial payments will help lower your balance, but you can still face late fees, growing interest and damage to your credit score.

Should You Use a Credit Repair Service?

Credit repair services address errors that could be hurting your score, but you can do the same things for free.

How to prevent identity theft

How to Prevent Identity Theft: Warning Signs, Protection Services and More

ID theft is when someone illegally poses as you, usually to get money. Know these warning signs and prevention tips.

Amazon Prime Membership: What It Costs and What You Get

Amazon Prime membership gives you free two-day shipping, plus perks like video and music streaming, for a standard $139 annual fee.