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
Share confidential news tips with The Post
Latest from Michelle Singletary

    Need to file your tax return? We answer your last-minute questions.

    The Post’s personal finance columnist, Michelle Singletary, will answer your questions on Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern.

    April 15, 2022

    Inflation is another reason you shouldn’t aim for a big tax refund

    With inflation rising, you may want to reconsider your love of getting a big fat tax refund.

    April 15, 2022

    Last-minute tips as the April 18 tax deadline looms

    Are you still working on your tax return? Here are some things to keep in mind as the April 18 deadline looms.

    April 13, 2022

    The student loan pause won’t last forever. Get ready for repayment.

    The Biden administration is extending the pause on eligible federal loans again. The announcement includes new relief for borrowers who were in default. When the pause ends they won't go back into collections.

    April 8, 2022

    The IRS is rejecting some e-file tax returns. Here’s a simple fix.

    This year, more than ever, the IRS wants people to file electronically. But a big processing glitch is preventing some taxpayers from filing. Here's the quick fix for the problem.

    April 6, 2022

    The real reason the IRS is behind in processing tax returns

    The IRS has an unprecedented backlog of tax returns, and it's partly due to its failure to adopt widespread scanning technology, leaving workers to type in data from millions of paper returns.

    April 1, 2022

    What I’ve learned from writing a personal finance column for 25 years

    On March 30, 1997, the first Color of Money column appeared in the business section of The Washington Post. It was the start of a 25-year journey of helping people figure out the world of personal finance.

    March 30, 2022

      Here’s why your tax refund may be late

      Every year, millions of people look for a tax refund windfall. When it doesn't come as expected, people get concerned. Here's why your refund may be late.

      March 25, 2022

        How to find the right financial advisor for you

        The Washington Post’s personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary describes what to look for in hiring a financial advisor and when you should use one.

        March 24, 2022

        Gas and go. Pay later. How some drivers are dealing with higher fuel costs.

        Consumers are looking for ways to deal with rising gas prices. One buy now, pay later company says, "Fill up now. Pay later."

        March 23, 2022