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Meredith Dietz

Meredith Dietz is Lifehacker’s Senior Finance Writer. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Northeastern University, where she graduated as valedictorian of her college. She grew up waitressing in her family restaurant in Wilmington, DE and worked at Hasbro Games, where she wrote rules for new games. Previously, she worked in the non-profit space as a Leadership Resident with the Harpswell Foundation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; later, she was a travel coordinator for a study abroad program that traced the rise of fascist propaganda across Western Europe.

Since then, Meredith has been driven to make personal finance accessible and address taboos of talking openly about money, including debt, investing, and saving for retirement. Outside of finance writing, Meredith is a marathon runner and stand-up comedian who has been a regular contributor to The Onion and Reductress. Meredith lives in Brooklyn, NY.

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    • Lifehacker
      3 articles
    • Lifehacker
      1 article

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    • When You Need Different Shoes for Different Types of Runs (and When One Pair Is Fine)
      15 May—Lifehacker
      As a marathon runner, I've always taken a minimalist (read: cheap) approach to my gear. But when it comes to properly investing in—and maybe even splurging on—running gear, nothing is more important than your shoes. According to Jessica Lyons-Quirk, director of footwear merchandising at Road Runner Sports, wearing proper footwear is crucial for staying injury-free: "The biggest thing about injuries and foot health is that you need to be in the right shoe for your foot—every foot is...
    • What Today's Tariff Changes Mean for Your Online Shopping Habit
      2 May—Lifehacker
      Trump's tariffs mean the days of ultra-cheap online shopping from international retailers are coming to an end. Starting today, the long-standing exemption on import tariffs for packages valued under $800—known as the "de minimis" exemption—has been eliminated for shipments from China, a move that will dramatically impact consumers who have grown accustomed to suspiciously cheap e-commerce goods from sites like Shein and Temu. While the exemption remains in place for countries other than...
    • This Is the Best Day of the Week to Browse New Home Listings
      20 Feb—Lifehacker
      Don't let the perfect listing slip right past you. February 20, 2025 Anyone on the hunt for a new home knows how quick the turnaround can be on a listing. I’m currently looking to rent an apartment in New York City, and know well the pain of seeing a dream listing get posted in the morning and snagged by someone (presumably wealthier and faster than I) within a few hours. You might not be able to control the time of year you need to move, but you can control how you time your search for...
    • Is It Ever a Good Idea to Opt for an Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
      21 Jan—Lifehacker
      Prospective homeowners face a crucial decision when choosing between fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). While ARMs have a controversial reputation following the 2008 housing crisis, financial experts suggest there are specific scenarios where they might be the right choice for certain borrowers. Here's what you should know about how adjustable-rate mortgages work, and when they might be the right call for you. When an adjustable rate mortgage could make...