Melanie Lockert

Trigger warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide and suicidal thoughts.

I graduated from New York University in 2011 full of hope — and also with a good chunk of student loan debt. At the time, I owed $68,000 despite having made payments on my undergrad loans for the five years prior. A year later, that hope dissipated and I was in a full-fledged depressive episode. I ended up in Portland, Oregon, after my dreams of getting a full-time job in the arts in New York City didn’t pan out. ...

If you’ve looked at your 401(k) (or IRA, or any other investments) since Monday, you might feel really anxious—chances are, the money you've saved has taken a huge hit. Given all the turmoil in the stock market right now and people's general panic around coronavirus, the world is kind of a shitshow right now, and it’s impacting your money. If you’re just starting your career and, for the first time, have a full-time job with benefits like a 401(k), you might be freaking out about what to do t...

Shareholders can sue a corporation if there are wrongdoings from its directors that aren't in line with their fiduciary duty. JulieanneBirch/Getty Images
A shareholder is an individual or entity that holds shares or stocks in a company.
Owning shares or stocks of a company entitles investors to partial ownership of a specific company.
Shareholders may receive dividends and have limited liability if the company is in hot water.
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If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, you may have your eye on an electric vehicle (EV). Maybe you want to reduce your environmental impact or simply save money on gas — or you just like the look of the new Tesla and you’re sold. But then you hear that nagging voice, “Are electric cars worth it?” Before deciding on going fully electric or not, you want to understand the benefits of electric cars. Read on to review electric cars pros and cons to help make your decision easier.
Benefits of...

When it comes to women and money, there are some unique challenges to consider. Take the fact that women still earn 80 cents to every dollar that a man makes. Also consider the fact that 40% to 50% of marriages end in divorce.
Some women are opting out of the workforce to raise families, while other women are the primary breadwinners in their family. On top of all that, according to data from the Population Reference Bureau, women tend to outlive men — in every single country.
As you can see,...

While today marks the end of Mental Health Awareness Month, mental health is an ongoing, year-round priority that does not need to be limited to one month out of the year.
In fact, mental health is one of the key focuses for MusiCares: Our Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Program recognizes those issues unique to music professionals and offers support via financial assistance and resources for treatments and programs. Looking to support music people with mental health and addiction issues...

How long should you keep important documents? Find out.

From the Beach Boys to Nina Simone to Weezer, here is why this triptych of uplifting songs gives me hope during uncertain times

Music has always had the power to transcend reality to an ineffable place. That’s why we listen to music, go to live shows, find ourselves playing the same song over and over again. For a period of time, we are enraptured and forget about daily life. Though I’ve always loved music, quarantine and a global pandemic have given this old reliable source of transcendence ...

Swiping your credit card is likely something you do often, daily even, and likely without much thought. The action is often a passive precursor to the main event, whether that’s getting a cup of coffee or a book or a workout outfit. Or, it could land you something bigger that doesn’t necessarily involve a swipe, but still requires a history of having solid credit: buying a house, taking out loans, being granted lower interest rates.
But women and credit cards have a complicated history, given...

Written in collaboration with Melanie Lockert
Mortgage fraud isn’t new or going away soon. According to CoreLogic’s 2019 Mortgage Fraud Report, mortgage fraud risk stabilized and slightly decreased through the first quarter of 2019. However, the decrease may be temporary, due in part to a decrease in interest rates and an increase in lower-risk refinance transactions, according to CoreLogic. On top of that, the report found that one in 123 mortgage applications have indications of fraud, as o...

Some years are better than others. Some of the “others” you’ll never forget because they change the course of your life forever. Last year was that year for me, and I’m still paying the price for it.
The year started off hopeful, but quickly dissolved into worry as I dealt with some physical health issues that required tests, follow-ups, and more appointments. As soon as that issue seemed to be under control, my depression, anxiety and OCD — all of which I’ve battled for half of my life — fla...

Have you ever dreamed of earning more money from the comfort of your own home? Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, a student, or someone with chronic health issues that limit your work possibilities, the idea of making extra money without leaving the house is appealing.
Fortunately, technology makes possible numerous side hustles that you can do from the comfort of your couch or home office. Here are five that could be right for you.
If you’d like a flexible side hustle that can pay pretty ...

Are you feeling stuck and frustrated with your debt repayment? Let’s face it, paying off debt is no fun. You may think of paying off debt as just another minimum payment to make and treat it like a bill. But if you really want to make progress on your debt it’s all about having a strategy!
A strategy can get you out of just “going through the motions” and help you take action and stay inspired to actually get out of debt (which you probably wanted to do yesterday).
Here are 4 debt payoff stra...