How to build credit fast
Know what steps to take to improve your credit score fast.
7 min read
Feb 21, 2022
EXPERTISE
- Personal finance
- Habit formation
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
Highlights
- Ten years of personal finance writing experience, with stories published on Vox, The Simple Dollar, The Penny Hoarder, Lifehacker and more
- Five years writing and editing The Billfold, a personal finance blog where people had honest conversations about money
- Author of Frugal and the Beast: And Other Financial Fairy Tales
Experience
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’s debut novel, The Biographies of Ordinary People, is a Millennial-era Little Women that follows three sisters from childhood to adulthood. Dieker is also 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.
"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
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How to use a credit card
Here’s how to choose and use your credit cards to hit your financial goals this year.
8 min read Feb 21, 2022 -
Guide to Chase’s Pay Yourself Back
Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature allows cardholders to increase the value of their Ultimate Rewards by redeeming points or cash back for statement credits toward popular spending categories like grocery [...]
3 min read Feb 15, 2022 -
Why I made my child an authorized user on my credit card
Learn the benefits of making your child an authorized user on your credit card.
5 min read Feb 11, 2022 -
How to build credit with a secured credit card
If you have a low credit score or a limited credit history, you can start building credit with a secured credit card. Here’s what you need to know.
5 min read Feb 10, 2022 -
How long should I wait between credit card applications?
Waiting between credit card applications is better for your credit history and can even improve your chances of getting accepted.
5 min read Feb 04, 2022 -
Debit vs. credit: What’s the best way to pay?
Both are plastic and make buying easy. Learn the differences.
8 min read Jan 27, 2022 -
How does credit card interest work?
Here’s what you need to know about credit card interest.
5 min read Jun 23, 2022