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

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

41% of back-to-school shoppers will change how they shop due to inflation

Middle-income households are most likely to say inflation will change how they shop.

4 min read Aug 16, 2024
As gas prices surge, here are the best gas rewards credit cards

You can earn rewards at the gas pump with a gas rewards credit card. We’ve picked some card options that offer impressive rewards rates and that could help you save money, especially with current gas [...]

4 min read Aug 11, 2023
Guide to American AAdvantage dining program

You can earn additional points at participating establishments through the American AAdvantage dining program.

5 min read Jun 30, 2023
Should you downgrade your credit card?

If your credit card has a high annual fee, downgrading may be an option to save money and your credit score.

5 min read Jun 30, 2023
Can you buy stocks with a credit card — and should you?

The risk of buying stocks with a credit card often outweighs the reward, but there are other ways to invest using your card.

3 min read Jan 24, 2023
A guide to credit card return protection

Return protection can be beneficial for consumers who are having second thoughts about a purchase.

2 min read Jan 24, 2023
More people are carrying credit card debt, and it costs more than ever

A trio of concerns are affecting credit card borrowers: More people are carrying debt, rates are at record highs and balances are way up, too.

3 min read Jan 20, 2023
How credit cards can help you beat inflation

With inflation running hot, everyone is looking for ways to save, and credit cards can help.

4 min read Jan 13, 2023

What happens if you don’t pay HOA fees?

Here are some scenarios that might happen to you if you fail to pay your HOA fees.

4 min read Jun 28, 2022
Buying a house in San Diego

Sunny San Diego is a popular — and expensive — place to call home.

6 min read Jun 28, 2022
What’s new in kitchen stoves?

These ranges in ranges are all the rage. But is novelty worth the money?

4 min read Jun 28, 2022
Homes that can withstand hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters

In a sobering trend for homeowners, natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires are becoming more frequent.

5 min read Jun 28, 2022
Investing in Alzheimer’s research in 2023

Here’s how a number of promising Alzheimer’s treatments could pay off for investors.

5 min read Jun 28, 2022
How to stay financially healthy when you’re physically sick

Here’s how to avoid a financial crisis while you’re recovering from serious illness.

5 min read Jun 24, 2022
How Gen Z consumers are using their credit cards

Here’s how younger consumers, part of the Gen Z generation, feel about credit cards and how they’re using them compared to older generations.

3 min read Jun 02, 2022
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Ideal for traveling students

Whether you’re an international student, like to travel a lot, or have plans to complete that semester abroad, here are key features of the Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards card you should know abou [...]

3 min read May 25, 2022