Melanie Lockert

Melanie Lockert

Writer

Writer

  • 10+ years covering personal finance
  • Author of “Dear Debt”
  • Bylines at MSN, USA TODAY Blueprint, Business Insider, and Newsweek

Experience

Melanie Lockert has spent more than 10 years in personal finance. She is the author of, “Dear Debt,” and was featured by The New York Times and MarketWatch. The book details how Melanie paid off $81,000 in student loan debt. In addition to working as a blogger for DearDebt.com, Lockert has been a contributing writer for Buy Side from WSJ, MSN, AOL, Fortune, USA TODAY Blueprint, Business Insider, Newsweek, CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Fortune Recommends, Student Loan Planner, and Yahoo Finance.

She is also the co-founder of the Lola Retreat and host of the “Mental Health and Wealth” podcast.

Expertise

  • Student loans
  • Personal loans
  • Mortgages
  • Credit cards
  • Debt
  • Money markets
  • Insurance
  • Banking

Education

Lockert has a bachelor's in theater from California State University of Long Beach and a master's in performance studies from New York University.

Melanie’s Latest Articles

Best student loans for international students in 2024
Student LoansBest student loans for international students in 2024

The number of international students attending college in the U.S. surged by 12% in 2022-23, according to The Institute of International Education (IIE). If you're planning to study in the U.S., finding the right financial supp...

By Melanie Lockert

August 28, 2024

Best small student loans: Options and tips for managing minimal debt
Student LoansBest small student loans: Options and tips for managing minimal debt

As of March 2023, 32% of borrowers owed less than $10,000 in federal student loans, according to the College Board. Whether you receive a significant scholarship or get help from your family, you might have most of your educati...

By Melanie Lockert

August 27, 2024

How to manage and pay off past-due tuition
Student LoansHow to manage and pay off past-due tuition

If you have past-due tuition, you're not alone. According to a survey by ECSI and Higher Ed Dive, 52% of higher education officers stated there were more delinquencies in 2023 than previous years. In fact, 39% of institutions m...

By Melanie Lockert

August 20, 2024

How to find graduate school scholarships
Student LoansHow to find graduate school scholarships

Getting a master’s or doctoral degree can be a smart move for your career. Advanced degrees often lead to higher earnings and lower unemployment rates, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the cost of grad scho...

By Melanie Lockert

July 31, 2024

Personal loan pros and cons
Personal LoansPersonal loan pros and cons

Rising inflation can make it difficult to pay cash for large purchases or even stay on top of everyday expenses. And with the average credit card interest rate sitting at 22.59% APR, carrying credit card debt can be costly.A pe...

By Melanie Lockert

May 2, 2024

How to pay for grad school: 5 strategies
Student LoansHow to pay for grad school: 5 strategies

Employees with advanced degrees tend to earn more. As of 2021, the median earnings for people who obtained a master’s degree or higher were 21% more than those of people with only a bachelor’s degree, according to data from the...

By Melanie Lockert

April 29, 2024

4 personal loan requirements
Personal Loans4 personal loan requirements

According to a January 2024 survey of senior loan officers, lending standards have tightened for personal loans and are likely to tighten further this year. This means getting a personal loan from a bank, credit union or online...

By Melanie Lockert

September 26, 2024

What is the SAVE Plan?
Student Loan RefinanceWhat is the SAVE Plan?

Are you looking to save on your student loan payments? If you’re a federal student loan borrower, the new Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan may help. Under this income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, you may qualify for l...

By Melanie Lockert

September 3, 2024

PAYE vs. SAVE: Compare repayment plans
Student Loan RefinancePAYE vs. SAVE: Compare repayment plans

As of April 2024, the Biden administration approved $7.4 billion in student loan forgiveness for over 270,000 borrowers through the SAVE income-driven repayment plan. However, recent legal challenges have thrown the future...

By Melanie Lockert

August 28, 2024

How does capitalized interest work on student loans?
Student Loan RefinanceHow does capitalized interest work on student loans?

When you take out student loans, you pay back more than you borrow because of the interest charged on the loan balance. But sometimes, unpaid interest gets added to the balance, which is called interest capitalization. When thi...

By Melanie Lockert

August 30, 2024

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Fox Money is a property of Credible Operations, Inc., which is majority-owned indirectly by Fox Corporation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All rights reserved. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of Fox's Terms of Use and Updated Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices.