Living with credit (246)  |  New, interesting products (69)  |  Research, regulation, industry reports (176)  |  Rewards (23)  |  Protecting yourself (113)  |  The fine print (36)  |  Credit card miscellany (278)

Daniel P. Ray

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I'm Daniel P. Ray, CreditCard.com's editor in chief, and I've been writing and editing consumer-oriented stories about personal finance -- especially debt-related issues -- for about 10 years. Before joining CreditCards.com in July, 2007, I was an editor at Bankrate.com, including six years as editor in chief. During my tenure there, I was fortunate enough to win some nice plaques for my wall, including three "Best in Business" awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW).

I also had 10 years in various reporting and editing roles at the Miami Herald, and five years as an editor for the music magazine, Country Weekly, where I learned to love Merle but failed miserably at the Electric Slide.

My first credit card came at the University of Missouri, where it was at first just a piece of plastic that came with a free hat. The debt that I eventually racked up with it lasted far longer than the hat. Now, except for occasional splurges on music, I handle them much more responsibly, though I have not yet worked up the guts to try credit card arbitrage.

Emily Starbuck Gerson

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I'm the former editorial assistant at CreditCards.com, and no, I don't like coffee (it's a family name). Upon finishing college, I was horrified to learn how little my friends and I knew about credit and personal finance. It seems our dear parents forgot to mention a few things, so I have made it my mission to help those in the dark understand the ins and outs of credit, debt, identity theft and other vital issues.

I graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Radio-TV-Film, and with what I like to call "an unofficial major in journalism." I convinced the J-school to let me take a news writing and editing course, I interned at two magazines, was the editor of a student newspaper for over a year and have done lots of freelance writing and editing. Before joining the CreditCards.com team, I had a brief stint in public relations and marketing.

I am also a published photographer and classical and rock cellist. I reside in Austin, Texas, the live music capitol of the world, with a mischievous Min Pin and a jerk of a cat.

Jeremy Simon

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Looking for stories about credit scoring, economic data or card crime? Then keep an eye out for my articles and blogs, which frequently focus on those topics.

I've been with CreditCards.com since June 2006, working as a staff reporter and steadily increasing my knowledge of payment cards and personal debt. I've learned a lot and continue to do so, having only gotten myself a credit card a few years back.

A Texas transplant enjoying live music, barbecue and everything else Austin has to offer, I spent most of my formative years in the Northeast. I graduated with an English degree from Vassar College, before taking a job with Thomson Financial in New York City, where I wrote about stock markets from the same building where Bud Fox worked in "Wall Street" (he strolled through the lobby, that is). Since moving to Austin, my writing career has included an internship in the editorial department of Texas Monthly and the chance to tackle freelance assignments for several local publications.

Writing for a consumer audience is key to what I do -- so don't hesitate to offer any suggestions or thoughts you may have!

Connie Prater

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My official title is senior writer at CreditCards.com. In fact, I consider myself a savvy consumer, a mom, a penny-pincher/tightwad and an above average Scrabble player.

I have been a reporter and editor for print and online news organizations for more than 22 years. I was on the team of Miami Herald journalists that won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in a series of articles on voter fraud in the Miami city elections.

As a journalist, I have written about consumer affairs, social services for the working poor and health and medicine. Over the years, I've developed a knack for explaining complex topics in simple terms "that my mother can understand."

I found out firsthand what identity theft victims go through in protecting their good names and credit ratings when my purse was stolen a few years ago. I can share my tips on protecting your privacy and what not to haul around in those big purses and handbags.

I have bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a master's in business administration from Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. In addition to the Miami Herald, I have been fortunate enough to work at the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News and iVillage.com.

What's in my wallet? A Visa credit card is on the top of the pile as the most frequently used plastic in my wallet.

Julie Sherrier

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I clearly remember my first credit card purchase. I was a fresh-faced editorial assistant for HOUSING magazine at McGraw-Hill in New York with a hand-me-down wardrobe from my stepmother who worked on Wall Street. The problem? Our mismatched shoe sizes. So I applied for an American Express card and went shopping up and down 34th Street, happily lugging multiple shoe boxes home. Thus began my relationship with credit and debt (and shoes) and the ensuing lessons learned about managing both.

I am the assistant managing editor at CreditCards.com. I've worked as a writer and editor for trade publications, both print and online, in New York and Austin, Texas. In New York, I was managing editor of The Hudson Review and an editor for CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and HOUSING magazine. In Austin, I've worked for three trade associations as communications director and editor, covering the banking, retail and hospitality industries. In my free time, I've done freelance work for PC World, edited numerous books and taught journalism to students at the University of Texas. I'm a graduate of the journalism program at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The number of credit cards in my wallet has been on the decline over the years as I got smarter. I am now down to one Visa, a Home Depot card, a Sears card for emergency appliance purchases and a Best Buy card in case of electronic meltdowns.

Matt Schulz

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I'm an Assistant Managing Editor at CreditCards.com, and as I neared my first day on the job, it dawned on me just how massive an impact credit cards have had on my life since I began college.

First, there were the ignorance-is-bliss years of overspending on things like bootleg CDs and Italian dinners. Those good times led to the shocked-into-sobriety years of using every spare cent I had to pay off my debt. That difficult but necessary time eventually gave way to the making-them-work-for-me years during which we financed several trips by paying for virtually everything with a credit card just to get the miles and then -- usually -- paying the balance off at the end of each month. I'm still in that phase, though having a young son means the trips are much less frequent and much less exotic.

I have a journalism degree from the mighty University of Texas and have reported or edited for such publications as American Banker and the Houston Chronicle. Most recently, I've focused on the web, helping lead news sites like KXAN.com and Austin360.com and helping clients' businesses while at a high-tech marketing agency.

Most of my spare time is devoted to my son, though I still make time for date nights with my wife and obsessing about everything from politics and movies to writing and fantasy sports.

Tyler Metzger

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One note. That's all it takes. One note. One note and my plastic is running fast, smooth through the machine and one moment later I have the record in my hand and one moment later it is blasting and one moment later nothing matters.

Like that my credit card use began. I am kind of a music junkie and live to have funk and jazz replace the silent spaces in my life. Consequently I can do nothing but burn money in a music store. So I do, when I have it, and when I don't, I charge it.

I arrived in Austin in September 2008 with my music, my debt and a journalism degree from the University of Missouri. During my college "episode," as some family members put it, I worked as a reporter and later as a graphic designer for the "Columbia Missourian." I then traveled to Argentina where I reported for "The Argentimes" in Buenos Aires. I returned sunburnt and jet-lagged and completed my studies while working as a music editor for "Vox Magazine."

vAs an editorial assistant for CreditCards.com, I wear a lot of hats. Some just because I like to wear hats, and others because I enjoy creating stories that provide our readers the information they need to function in society, which is the purpose of journalism. I use words, images, video and caffeine in various forms to keep our visitors informed, engaged and entertained about credit cards. I hope you like it.

Anna Bleker

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I'm Anna Bleker, the multimedia intern at CreditCards.com. I help create illustrations and interactive features to accompany editorial stories. I also hog all of the Monster energy drinks in the break room. I'm physically dependent.

As a junior rhetoric major at the University of Texas at Austin, I've interned at a lifestyle magazine and small marketing company and freelanced countless design gigs over weak coffee and Ruffles. I’m also an avid painter: I show my work at a couple of Austin galleries and paint commissions for extra cash (mostly, to buy textbooks-well, hair dye, keyboarding equipment and cheesesteaks).

I plan to get sunburned purple at Austin City Limits 2009.

In my wallet there are a couple student IDs, about 40 business cards and the creepy Hawaii State Quarter, but no credit card: I just use debit for now. In a few months I’ll get a credit card, once I'm sure I won't forfeit my credit score for chai lattes and puggle calendars.

Cara Henis

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Hi! My name is Cara and I’m working as CreditCards.com’s editorial intern. This job entails a bit of reporting, a bit of writing and a bit of etcetera.

Outside of work, I do have some other hobbies. I am sucker for an interesting story, medium-length walks on the beach and Britney Spears' new album. I also spend a lot of time in class at UT Austin. But, if you were to judge me by my credit card bills, you’d have to note that I’m also an avid tea drinker and frequent patron of Express. I’d say 80 percent of my income is handed over to Starbucks. They have this green tea latte that I just love. Did you know it's possible to spend $150 per month on green tea lattes? Well, it is. The rest of my expenditures take place in the women’s section of Express. A sales associate once tried to help me pick out a cute outfit. Unfortunately for him, I already owned everything he suggested.

That said, I also have to tell you that I am debtless. When I acquired my first credit card (a Discover card), my mom sat me down before ever letting me enter the retail jungle. She then proceeded to inform me about the good (shopping power), the bad (debt) and the ugly (interest fees) of credit cards. Since then, I’ve paid off my balances in a timely fashion and have given numerous other cards a permanent home in my wallet. I have a Visa, an Express retail card, a Macy's and a debit card.