Nicole Dieker

Contributor, Personal Finance

EXPERTISE

Personal finance
Credit cards
Banking
Consumer loans

EDUCATION

BA in Music, Theatre Minor, Miami University
MFA in Theatre, Illinois State University

"The more you know about credit cards, the better equipped you'll be to make choices that work out in your favor – whether you're taking advantage of your credit card grace period to avoid interest charges, using a 0% intro APR credit card to fund a vacation or redeeming your credit card rewards at their maximum value. Credit is a powerful tool, when used wisely – and as a person who's been writing about personal finance for a decade, I hope to provide you with the tools to make as many wise decisions as possible."
— Nicole Dieker

Nicole Dieker has been a full-time freelance writer since 2012 — and a personal finance enthusiast since 2004, when she graduated from college and, looking for financial guidance, found a battered copy of Your Money or Your Life at the public library.

In addition to writing for Bankrate, her work has appeared on CreditCards.com, Vox, Lifehacker, Popular Science, The Penny Hoarder, The Simple Dollar and NBC News. Dieker spent five years as writer and editor for The Billfold, a personal finance blog where people had honest conversations about money. Dieker also teaches writing, freelancing and publishing classes and works one-on-one with authors as a developmental editor and copyeditor.

Nicole Dieker is the author of Frugal and the Beast: And Other Financial Fairy Tales, in which she reworks classic fairy tales to highlight their hidden financial lessons. She also writes the Larkin Day Mystery series.

"The more you know about credit cards, the better equipped you'll be to make choices that work out in your favor – whether you're taking advantage of your credit card grace period to avoid interest charges, using a 0% intro APR credit card to fund a vacation or redeeming your credit card rewards at their maximum value. Credit is a powerful tool, when used wisely – and as a person who's been writing about personal finance for a decade, I hope to provide you with the tools to make as many wise decisions as possible."
— Nicole Dieker

Nicole's latest articles

Card locks: What they are and how they work

You can use card locks to prevent purchases on your credit card.

4 min read Jun 08, 2022
How new parents can be smart about money

Home equity sharing agreements, like the ones offered by Unlock, are one way to manage growing family expenses.

5 min read May 26, 2022
Save on your phone plan as inflation skyrockets

As inflation hikes, here’s a phone plan that can help you save.

4 min read Apr 06, 2022
What to do when you get sued for credit card debt

What to do when you’re sued for credit card debt, including how to settle credit card debt before going to court.

5 min read Mar 31, 2022
Can credit card companies garnish wages?

Wage garnishment is one of the final steps in the debt collection process.

4 min read Mar 18, 2022
How to contact your credit card issuer

When contacting your credit card issuer, preparing for the call means you’re more likely to get you what you need. Here’s how to get ready.

4 min read Mar 17, 2022
How to make home maintenance projects finally happen

Home improvement projects you tackle today may increase your home’s value tomorrow.

4 min read Feb 24, 2022
What to do when you’re not immediately approved for a credit card

Everything you need to know about the credit card approval process.

5 min read Dec 16, 2021