Meghan Alard

Meghan Alard is a senior copywriter and associate content director for Consolidated Credit. She’s been writing in personal finance for over 4 years and has received certification as a credit counselor. Prior to diving into finance, Meghan wrote extensively in the consumer products industry for brands like George Foreman and Black & Decker, as well as writing for both commercial and residential real estate companies in the always active market of South Florida. Meghan received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami in Philosophy and English. Her favorite financial topics include using credit strategically, housing and real estate, and retirement investing.

Posts by Meghan Alard:

Learn how to earn cash back without using a credit card
Cash Back Debit Cards: You Don’t Need Credit Cards for Cash Back Rewards
You don't need a credit card to earn cash back rewards! Learn how to get cash back without using a credit card by taking advantage of the same offers on your debit card.
Worried couple reading a letter
Americans are Already Strapped for Cash Ahead the Holidays
Holiday spending often turns into credit card debt. These tips can help you minimize debt if you’re already strapped for cash ahead of the holidays.
Mother Teaches Daughter to Save
What’s Your Personal Saving Rate?
The personal saving rate hit 6.8% in June, but are Americans saving equally? We look at personal savings and offer tips on improving your saving strategy.
Swiping credit card
Reducing the High Cost of Credit Card Debt
Consumers pay over $100 billion every year on credit card interest charges and fees. We explain how to minimize the high cost of credit card debt.
Planning a Personal Budget
Are You Afraid of Outliving Your Retirement Savings?
Many Americans fear they won’t have enough money to live comfortably during retirement. We explain how avoid outliving your retirement savings.
Always consider cost before opening credit cards with annual fees
Are Gas Cards Still a Good Value in 2018?
As gas prices increase and interest rates on gas cards rise, is it still wise to use a co-branded gas credit card to fill up? Some experts say no.
10 Money-Saving Summer Budget Tips
It’s the official start of summer 2018, which makes it the perfect time to set a summer budget so you can avoid credit card debt and achieve your goals. Consolidated Credit offers 10 money-saving tips.
Social Security cards
4 Good Reasons to Sign Up for my Social Security during National Social Security Month
April is National Social Security Month. The Social Security Administration offers a tool called my Social Security. Even if you’re not getting benefits yet, there’s good reason to have an account.
Don’t Loan Credit Cards!
If you thought lending money to family was a bad idea, consider that 36 million Americans admit they’ve run into trouble when they decided to loan credit cards to friends and family. Learn why it’s a bad idea and what you can do instead to help someone out.
Taking expensive trips for good location tags is a recipe for financial distress
Going into Debt to Be Internet Famous
People always find new ways to go into deep debt, but wasting your money (or your parents money) to become Internet Famous isn't a recipe for success; it's a recipe for financial distress! We offer the top five dumb ways that seeking online fame can lead to credit card debt.
10 Tips for Financial Spring Cleaning
We offer 10 financial spring cleaning tips so you can adjust your budget, find ways to cut costs and get your finances ready for summer and the two biggest shopping seasons at the end of the year. Are your finances ready?
These 10 financial tips help female breadwinners rest easy
10 Financial Tips for Female Breadwinners
Financial stress can be high for female breadwinners as you juggle family, a relationship and being the primary income earner. We offer 10 cost saving financial tips can that help you keep your sanity.
Should you file a joint loan application to hold a debt jointly?
Is a Joint Loan Application Better than Single?
As a married couple taking out a personal loan, you have an important choice to make: Do you go for a joint loan application or are you better off single? We explain how to weigh the benefits of each, so you can secure the right financing at a good interest rate.
Learn how to reconsolidate debt if you have a previous consolidation loan and new credit card balances
Can You Reconsolidate Debt?
If you have a debt consolidation loan that you haven’t finished paying off and new credit card balances that you need to pay, you can reconsolidate debt to get lower monthly payments and to help you save money on interest charges. Here’s how…
We try to put a finger on the costly new importance of brand loyalty
The Costly New Importance of Brand Loyalty
As Apple admits to throttling old iPhones, loyal customers consider leaving them behind. But the importance of brand loyalty as a costly new angle.
Always consider cost before opening credit cards with annual fees
Are Credit Cards with Annual Fees Worth It?
Credit cards with annual fees can offer some valuable incentives, but you have to assess the cost of using the card and the credit card rewards you earn carefully.
Time to Start Planning for Christmas 2018! (No, We’re Not Kidding)
Now that the holidays are over, take these steps to start budgeting and saving for Christmas 2018. Start now to avoid the dreaded holiday debt hangover!
Smart Identity Theft Protection Tips
Use Consolidated Credit’s Identity Theft Protection infographic to learn how to protect your personal data and information from ID theft and credit fraud.
You can have a sunny outlook if you start Christmas Budgeting in July
Christmas Budgeting in July
Celebrating Christmas in July in just another dumb excuse to spend money, but starting Christmas Budgeting in July can be a smart way to holiday debt.
Millennials look in all the wrong places for home renovation
Attention Millennial Homeowners: You’re Probably Doing Home Renovation Projects Wrong
A Hearth.com survey finds Millennials are gun-shy about traditional options for financing home renovation projects. But the alternatives are costly.