Janet Siroto

About the Author

Janet Siroto is an NYC-based journalist, content strategist, and consumer-trend analyst who specializes in covering such topics as personal finance, lifestyle, travel, and wellness for a variety of titles, including The New York Times, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, and Next Avenue.

The latest articles from Janet Siroto

Budgeting & Goals

What Is Disposable Income?

Janet Siroto | August 25, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

19 Best Budget Categories & Top Expense Categories

Janet Siroto | August 25, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost, According to Data?

Janet Siroto | August 21, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How Many Bank Accounts Should I Have?

Janet Siroto | August 18, 2026

Going to College

Benefits of Using a 529 College Savings Plan

Janet Siroto | August 12, 2026

Debt Payoff

How to Refinance a Home Mortgage

Janet Siroto | August 11, 2026

Family Finances

What Is a Conventional Loan?

Janet Siroto | August 11, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

Envelope Budgeting Method

Janet Siroto | August 11, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

15 Low-Cost Valentine’s Day Gifts Your Sweetie Will Love

Janet Siroto | August 11, 2026

Building Your Career

How to Study for the MCATs

Janet Siroto | July 27, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

10 Smart Tips to Finance Expensive Dental Work

Janet Siroto | July 24, 2026

Home Ownership

The True Cost of Buying a Fixer-Upper: Essential Insights and Tips

Janet Siroto | July 24, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

Fintech Versus Banks: Similarities and Differences

Janet Siroto | July 02, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How to Automate Your Personal Finances: 7 Easy Steps

Janet Siroto | July 01, 2026

money

What Is Money Dysmorphia?

Janet Siroto | June 30, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

Second Chance Banking: What Is It and How Does It Work?

Janet Siroto | June 29, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How Much Money Should I Have Saved? The Rules of Thumb

Janet Siroto | June 23, 2026

Growing Wealth

A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in CDs

Janet Siroto | June 19, 2026

money

What Is Doom Spending?

Janet Siroto | June 15, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

Average Moving Costs and How to Cover Them

Janet Siroto | June 12, 2026

money

How Do Federal Reserve Banks Get Funded?

Janet Siroto | June 11, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

12 Things to Consider When Choosing a Bank

Janet Siroto | June 11, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

What Is the Benefit of Having a Checking Account?

Janet Siroto | June 11, 2026

Growing Wealth

What Is Compound Interest? Definition, Formula & Equation Explained

Janet Siroto | June 05, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

What Is an ABA Number & How Do You Use It?

Janet Siroto | June 01, 2026

Home Ownership

House or Condo: Which Is Right for You? Take the Quiz

Janet Siroto | May 25, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How Much Rent Can I Afford? Salary Spending Guidelines

Janet Siroto | May 15, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

The Importance of Saving Money

Janet Siroto | May 14, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

Guide to Buying a Duplex: Is It a Good Investment?

Janet Siroto | May 12, 2026

Home Ownership

What Is Tenants in Common?

Janet Siroto | May 06, 2026

Credit

What to Know About Credit Card Cash Advances

Janet Siroto | May 06, 2026

Home Ownership

Understanding Mortgage Basics

Janet Siroto | May 06, 2026

Credit

What Is a Bad Credit Score? Range, Impact, and How to Improve It

Janet Siroto | May 05, 2026

Home Ownership

What Do You Need to Buy a House?

Janet Siroto | May 05, 2026

Home Ownership

What Is an Escrow Holdback?

Janet Siroto | April 29, 2026

SMB

How to Budget For Recurring and Non-Recurring Expenses in 2026

Janet Siroto | April 28, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

7 Ways of Dealing With Financial Anxiety

Janet Siroto | April 28, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

What Is an ACH Payment? Definition, Process, and Fees

Janet Siroto | April 28, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How Much Cash Should I Have on Hand?

Janet Siroto | April 27, 2026

Family Finances

Home Equity Loans vs. Home Improvement Loans

Janet Siroto | April 15, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How Much Money Should You Keep in a Checking Account?

Janet Siroto | March 31, 2026

Home Ownership

Beginner’s Guide to Homeowners Associations (HOA)

Janet Siroto | March 17, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How to Budget for Buying a House

Janet Siroto | March 13, 2026

money

Breaking Down The 7 Biggest Financial Frauds in U.S. History

Janet Siroto | February 12, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

13 Steps to Prepare for Tax Season

Janet Siroto | February 11, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

How Does Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Work and When to Use It

Janet Siroto | February 11, 2026

student_loan

How Much Does a Bachelor’s Degree Cost?

Janet Siroto | February 05, 2026

Fresh Out of School

Student Loan Debt and Mortgage: How Much Can You Qualify For?

Janet Siroto | January 27, 2026

Debt Payoff

What Is the Average Credit Card Debt for a 30-Year-Old?

Janet Siroto | January 23, 2026

Credit

How Much Credit Card Debt Is Too Much?

Janet Siroto | January 21, 2026

money

What Is a Chip-Enabled (EMV) Debit Card?

Janet Siroto | January 12, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

What Is Mobile Deposit and How Does It Work?

Janet Siroto | January 09, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

7 New Parent Financial Tips

Janet Siroto | January 09, 2026

Budgeting & Goals

What is Online Banking? A Guide to Digital Banks

Janet Siroto | December 31, 2025

Building Your Career

What Is the Average Nurse Salary?

Janet Siroto | December 22, 2025

Building Your Career

How to Study for the LSAT

Janet Siroto | December 19, 2025

Student Loans

How Does My Student Loan Balance Compare with Others?

Janet Siroto | December 15, 2025

Student Loans

How Does Student Loan Interest Work While You’re in School?

Janet Siroto | December 14, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Money Personality Quiz

Janet Siroto | December 12, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Common Moving Costs: What You Need to Know

Janet Siroto | December 09, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

When Should You Make Big Purchases?

Janet Siroto | December 07, 2025

Credit

How Long Does It Take to Repair Credit?

Janet Siroto | December 07, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Get a Mortgage: From Saving to Closing

Janet Siroto | December 05, 2025

Building Your Career

What Is the Value of a College Internship?

Janet Siroto | December 05, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Test Your Financial Literacy

Janet Siroto | December 04, 2025

Home Ownership

Creative Transformations: Tiny House Remodel Ideas

Janet Siroto | November 28, 2025

Credit

Paying Off $10,000 of Credit Card Debt

Janet Siroto | November 28, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What Is the Average Debt by Age?

Janet Siroto | November 26, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Save for a House While You’re Still Renting

Janet Siroto | November 21, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How Much Should You Pay For a New Home?

Janet Siroto | November 20, 2025

Home Ownership

What Is a Rent-to-Own Home?

Janet Siroto | November 20, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Pay for Daycare

Janet Siroto | November 12, 2025

Credit

How Credit Card Payments Can Balloon When Interest Rates Rise

Janet Siroto | November 12, 2025

Credit

What Is the Prime Interest Rate?

Janet Siroto | November 12, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Three Ways to Help Pay Off Debt Faster

Janet Siroto | November 12, 2025

Building Your Career

Tips For Navigating Life After College

Janet Siroto | November 07, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Preparing for the Cost of a New Roof

Janet Siroto | November 07, 2025

Debt Payoff

How Exceeding Your Minimum Loan Payments Can Pay Off in the End

Janet Siroto | November 07, 2025

Building Your Career

What to Know About Short-Term Business Loans

Janet Siroto | November 07, 2025

Life & Career

Using a Personal Loan for Residency Relocation Costs

Janet Siroto | November 07, 2025

Credit

Credit Card Churning: How It Works

Janet Siroto | November 07, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

5 Ways to Pay for Car Repairs

Janet Siroto | November 07, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Automate Savings

Janet Siroto | November 02, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Joint vs. Separate Bank Accounts: What’s Best for Couples?

Janet Siroto | October 29, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

10 Ways to Save Money on Your Utility Bills

Janet Siroto | October 28, 2025

Insurance

How Much Auto Insurance Do I Really Need?

Janet Siroto | October 28, 2025

Cryptocurrency

Top 10 Crypto Scams to Watch Out For in 2026

Janet Siroto | October 27, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What Is a Hybrid Account?

Janet Siroto | October 23, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Benefits of Using a Health Savings Account (HSA)

Janet Siroto | October 23, 2025

Insurance

How Much Is Life Insurance? Average Cost in 2025

Janet Siroto | October 23, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Pros and Cons of Automatic Bill Payment

Janet Siroto | October 23, 2025

Insurance

What Is Life Insurance Coverage & How Does It Work?

Janet Siroto | October 15, 2025

Insurance

How to Buy Life Insurance Coverage

Janet Siroto | October 15, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Finding Unclaimed Money From the Government

Janet Siroto | October 15, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

6 Money Habits to Develop Financial Success

Janet Siroto | October 15, 2025

Financial Topics

What Is a Student Checking Account?

Janet Siroto | September 23, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Emergency Fund: What It Is and Why It’s Important

Janet Siroto | September 23, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Guide to How Much ATMs Charge

Janet Siroto | September 12, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Build an Emergency Fund in 6 Steps

Janet Siroto | September 11, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Set & Achieve Your Financial Goals (6 Examples)

Janet Siroto | August 27, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What Are Discretionary Expenses? A Complete Guide

Janet Siroto | August 16, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How Does Bill Pay Work?

Janet Siroto | August 15, 2025

Debt Payoff

Getting Out of Debt with No Money Saved

Janet Siroto | August 11, 2025

Debt Payoff

What to Know About Divorce and Debt

Janet Siroto | August 05, 2025

Family Finances

Is Buying a Home a Good Investment?

Janet Siroto | July 28, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What Is Buying In Bulk?

Janet Siroto | July 28, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Investing And Financial Literacy For Teens

Janet Siroto | July 24, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

The Difference Between an Investment Portfolio and a Savings Account

Janet Siroto | July 24, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

10 Ways To Save Money Fast

Janet Siroto | July 23, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

The Importance of Setting Your Long-Term Financial Goals

Janet Siroto | July 23, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Wire Transfer Money in 5 Steps

Janet Siroto | July 21, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Guide to Financial Therapy

Janet Siroto | July 21, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Why Is It Important to Review Your Bank Statements?

Janet Siroto | July 17, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

7 Examples of Unexpected Expenses & How to Handle Them

Janet Siroto | July 17, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

23 Ways to Make Quick Cash: Online and Offline Solutions

Janet Siroto | July 14, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Using the 30-Day Rule to Control Spending

Janet Siroto | July 11, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How Much Should I Spend on a Car?

Janet Siroto | July 09, 2025

Family Finances

Who Regulates My Bank?

Janet Siroto | July 08, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Calculating If It’s Cheaper To Drive Or Fly Somewhere

Janet Siroto | July 08, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What Is FOMO Spending?

Janet Siroto | July 08, 2025

SMB

25 Smart Things To Do With Your Graduation Money

Janet Siroto | July 08, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Guide To Static vs Flexible Budgets

Janet Siroto | July 08, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How Much of Your Paycheck Should Go to Savings?

Janet Siroto | July 01, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What Kitchen Style Do You Prefer? — Take the Quiz

Janet Siroto | June 10, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Comparing the Different Types of Deposit Accounts

Janet Siroto | June 03, 2025

Home Ownership

What Is Mortgage Amortization?

Janet Siroto | May 30, 2025

Home Ownership

Benefits of Buying vs Renting a Home

Janet Siroto | May 29, 2025

Debt Payoff

Should Parents Cosign on Student Loans?

Janet Siroto | May 06, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Save for a House

Janet Siroto | April 24, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Combine Bank Accounts

Janet Siroto | April 23, 2025

Financial Independence

Are You Ready to Buy a House? — Take The Quiz

Janet Siroto | April 23, 2025

Home Ownership

How Much Is My House Worth? — Take the Quiz

Janet Siroto | April 23, 2025

Home Ownership

LTV 101: Why Your Loan-to-Value Ratio Matters

Janet Siroto | April 23, 2025

Home Ownership

What Is Joint Tenancy?

Janet Siroto | April 21, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

8 Ways to Organize Your Bills

Janet Siroto | April 15, 2025

Home Ownership

How Much Is a Down Payment on a House?

Janet Siroto | April 14, 2025

Credit

Credit Card Payment Due Date: When Are Credit Card Payments Due?

Janet Siroto | April 11, 2025

Home Ownership

How Much Are Closing Costs on a New Home?

Janet Siroto | April 08, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Types of Budgeting Strategies and Methods

Janet Siroto | March 14, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How to Calculate Interest in a Savings Account

Janet Siroto | March 11, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Credit Unions vs. Banks

Janet Siroto | February 27, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What Is Zero-Based Budgeting?

Janet Siroto | February 26, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

15 Creative Ways to Save Money

Janet Siroto | February 25, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What is Lifestyle Creep and How Can I Avoid It?

Janet Siroto | February 25, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

What Are Round-Up Savings?

Janet Siroto | February 12, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Understanding and Avoiding Common Bank Fees

Janet Siroto | January 30, 2025

Family Finances

Can I Cash a Check at Any Bank? A Comprehensive Guide

Janet Siroto | January 26, 2025

Home Ownership

What to Look for When Buying a New House

Janet Siroto | January 21, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Should I Open a Backup Bank Account?

Janet Siroto | January 13, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How To Grow Your Savings Account

Janet Siroto | January 13, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

Costs of Owning a Home

Janet Siroto | January 09, 2025

Budgeting & Goals

How To Switch Banks: A Step-by-Step Guide

Janet Siroto | December 26, 2024

Budgeting & Goals

Where To Keep Your Travel Fund

Janet Siroto | March 20, 2024

How Much Is Life Insurance? Average Cost in 2023 (Ethos)

Janet Siroto | January 31, 2024

What Is Life Insurance Coverage & How Does It Work? (Ethos)

Janet Siroto | January 31, 2024

Fresh Out of School

Are Student Loans Making Borrowers Delay Life Decisions?

Janet Siroto | January 22, 2024

Budgeting & Goals

7 Online Financial Calculators to Power Your Personal Finances

Janet Siroto | December 26, 2023

Debt Payoff

How to Plan the Ultimate Debt Payoff Strategy

Janet Siroto | December 26, 2023

Credit

A How to-Guide on Avoiding the Most Common Credit Card Fees

Janet Siroto | December 17, 2023

Family Finances

5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home

Janet Siroto | December 17, 2023

Credit

A History of Credit (and How to Manage Yours Better)

Janet Siroto | December 17, 2023

Insurance

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

Janet Siroto | January 10, 2022

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