Why I’m skipping Black Friday for Small Business Saturday
This year, I want to be intentional about shopping small.
4 min read
Nov 13, 2023
Mariah Ackary
Former Editor, credit cards
EDUCATION
- University of South Carolina
About the author
Mariah Ackary is a personal finance writer specializing in small businesses and credit. Her work has been cited by media including Fortune, The New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Mariah is a lifelong writer. She hopes to make personal finance education easier and more approachable through her research and advice.
Education
Mariah earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in business administration from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina in 2019.
Media mentions
- Retailers Push Sales, and Normalcy, but Economic Uncertainty Looms — The New York Times
- Stressed-Out Americans Plan to Buy Fewer Christmas Gifts, Donate Less to Charity — The Wall Street Journal
- How marketers can win this holiday season — Forbes
- Should you wait until closer to Christmas to get shopping done? — TODAY Show
- Consumer Confidential: How to buy gifts while on a tight budget — TODAY Show
- Almost 79% of 2022 travelers experienced problems during a trip, survey finds — CBS News
- 4 out of 5 travelers say they've hit snags like soaring prices, long waits, and cancellations in 2022 — Business Insider
- Almost everything is getting more expensive, but these 3 things are getting cheaper — Fortune
- More Americans are relying on side-hustle money to make ends meet — Fortune
- Staycation, Again? — The New York Times
- How to Make Your Staycation Feel Like a Getaway — WebMD
- The pandemic ‘quickly eroded savings’ for Gen Z, millennials — CNBC
- As Americans spend, credit card debt is ticking back up — Reuters
- Small businesses using personal funds to stay afloat during coronavirus crisis, study finds — Fox Business
- It’s Now Easier To Get A Credit Card; Consumer Borrowing Is Soaring — Forbes
- 40% of Americans with credit card debt don’t know their interest rate, survey shows — CNBC
- This Week In Credit Card News: How Much Stimulus Money Will You Get? How To Earn 5% Cash Back On Groceries — Forbes
- Small businesses relying more on credit cards to survive — Bloomberg
- Consumers’ Debt Appears to Increase as Credit Purchases Grow — American Consumer Credit Counseling
- Your Money Briefing podcast — The Wall Street Journal
Mariah's latest articles
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What credit score is needed for Chase credit cards?
In most cases, your credit needs to fall in the “good” to “excellent” range.
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Survey: More Americans are carrying debt, and many of them don’t know their APRs
Over a third of U.S. adults carry credit card debt, up from 29 percent last year.
5 min read Jan 10, 2023 -
Balance transfer competition is heating up
Competition for credit card balance transfers is intensifying, which is good news for anyone looking to get out of credit card debt
4 min read Jan 06, 2023 -
How I earned $1,701 in credit card rewards in 2022 and what I’m planning for 2023
Here’s how I earned $1,701 in credit card rewards in 2022.
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Credit card debt and interest rates are both heading toward record highs
After plummeting in 2020, credit card balances and rates are moving sharply higher.
5 min read Jan 06, 2023 -
How to use credit card statements and tools to create a budget
Your credit card statement reveals a lot about your spending habits — and might help you change them.
5 min read Jan 03, 2023 -
5 store credit cards you can use anywhere
You can earn more store rewards if you can use your card at other shops too.
4 min read Dec 23, 2022 -
Northern states tend to have higher credit scores
Your credit score is a measure of financial responsibility. These states have the highest average credit scores.
4 min read Dec 23, 2022
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How to get cash from a credit card at the ATM
Taking money out of a credit card at the ATM is one way to get cash quickly — but it’s costly.
5 min read Dec 04, 2024 -
What is hotel status match and which hotels offer it?
Enjoy elite status perks from a competing hotel brand with status match.
5 min read Oct 22, 2024 -
Ink Business Preferred Card benefits guide
The Ink Business Preferred card is one of the best small-business cards on the market.
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What to do after a hit-and-run in Massachusetts
Will a hit-and-run claim raise your insurance? Bankrate has the answers.
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How insurance raises the total cost of a DUI
What’s the true cost of a DUI? Bankrate takes a look.
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What to state as income on a student credit card application
Unemployed students can still get a student credit card if they have other income.
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Should I use a HELOC to pay off credit card debt?
It’s a good way to get those balances off your back, but beware the risks.
6 min read Oct 01, 2024 -
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Although the Quicksilver Student doesn't offer the best cash back or APR rates among student cards, it's as rewarding and easy to use as the full card.
11 min read Aug 13, 2024