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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

Between birthday gifts, school supplies, and a wishlist full of splurges, I set out to see how far $100 could stretch. Here’s my step-by-step game plan.

Prime Day Game Plan: How I’m Tackling the Sale on a $100 Budget

A step-by-step strategy for shopping Amazon Prime Day with limits, from pre-sale price research and wishlist planning to using AI tools, setting alerts, and deciding when a splurge is actually worth it.

AI tools like ChatGPT, Alexa, and browser plug-ins can help you shop smarter on Prime Day by organizing your list, tracking prices, and acting quickly on deals.

Use AI to Plan the Perfect Prime Day Haul

Tools like ChatGPT, Alexa, and browser plug-ins can help you shop smarter on Prime Day by organizing your list, tracking prices, and acting quickly on deals.

The dos and don'ts of grocery shopping even in a recession.

How to Recession-Proof Your Grocery Budget: Do’s and Don’ts

As you shop during tough times, challenge your money-saving instincts. Here’s how to build a resilient grocery routine.

How a Grocery List App Helped My Marriage

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

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.

A low-buy challenge can help you become intentional about spending.

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

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

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.

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.