Michelle Singletary

Washington, D.C.

Personal finance columnist

Education: University of Maryland; Johns Hopkins University

Michelle Singletary writes the nationally syndicated personal finance column “The Color of Money,” which appears in The Washington Post on Wednesdays and Sundays. If you have a personal finance question for Singletary, please call 1-855-ASK-POST (1-855-275-7678). Her award-winning column is syndicated by The Washington Post News Service and Syndicate and is carried in dozens of newspapers nationwide. In 2021, she won the Gerald Loeb award for commentary. She has written four personal finance books, including, “What to Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide” and “The 21-Day Finan
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Latest from Michelle Singletary

Whether it’s mama’s money or Powerball, here’s how to manage a windfall

A sudden windfall can be a welcome financial relief. Here are six tips to manage sudden wealth, whether it's from lotto winnings, inheritance, or insurance payouts.

July 12, 2023

Seat pricing on airplanes is the perfect analogy for the wealth gap

People up front are treated royally while those in the middle and in the back are often getting squeezed with little room to maneuver.

July 7, 2023

This borrower didn’t wait for student debt forgiveness

A Maryland mom who paid off her daughter’s education loans just before the Biden plan was announced says she’s grateful to have benefited from previous programs.

June 30, 2023

4 things you need to focus on as student loan payments resume

If you choose to avoid the consequences of failing to address your loans, things could get ugly.

June 30, 2023

7 tips for a low-cost, work-free staycation

Relaxation and fun is a state of mind that doesn’t require a lot of money or a beach destination.

June 23, 2023

5 tips on financially helping your parents in your 20s and 30s

A substantial percentage of adults in their 20s are living at home not just to save money for themselves but to help out their parents.

June 21, 2023

Michelle Singletary’s money milestones for every age

Advice for every decade of your financial life, from 20-somethings just starting out to retirees enjoying the fruits of planning and smart choices.

June 20, 2023

4 takeaways for your wallet following the Fed rate pause

With the Federal Reserve signaling more rate increases to come, you might want to go ahead and make that major purchase.

June 16, 2023

I read your financial advice. Here’s why it doesn’t work.

Even when advice is meant well, it often doesn't apply in my experience working with real people and their budgets.

June 9, 2023

More Americans own stocks. This is great for their financial future.

Stock ownership rates are now back to where they were in 2008, according to Gallup.

June 6, 2023