Charlotte Cowles Author Archive
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Charlotte Cowles

Columnist, the Cut
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@charlottecowles
@charlottecowles

Charlotte Cowles is the Cut’s financial-advice columnist. In addition to “My Two Cents,” which she has written since 2016, she writes about work and parenting for the site. Previously, she was the senior features editor at Harper’s Bazaar and a senior editor at the Cut. She was also the editorial director for MM.LaFleur. Her work has been published in Glamour, Art in America, Politico, and other places.

  1. my two cents
    ‘Help! My Friend Wants Me To Pitch in $400 For a Baby Shower’That might fly in some circles, but the important thing is that it doesn’t work for you.
  2. my two cents
    ‘I’m Worried About My Mom’s Finances!’ You’re right to be concerned, and the best thing you can do is bring it up with her.
  3. my two cents
    ‘I’m Never Going to Be Financially Secure, So Why Try?’It won’t serve you to take an all-or-nothing approach to caring about money.
  4. my two cents
    ‘What I Learned About the Cost of Giving Birth’Having a baby in the U.S. is astronomically expensive. Here’s how five women dealt with it.
  5. my two cents
    ‘Can I Ask to Be Paid for the Work I’m Doing for a Job Interview?’You’re unlikely to get compensation, but you can try setting some boundaries.
  6. my two cents
    ‘My Building Is Offering Free Rent — But Not to Me!’There may not be much you can do, but there are plenty of things you can try.
  7. my two cents
    ‘It’s Been a Year Since I Lost My Job’Three women on looking for work during the pandemic.
  8. money talks
    What It Costs to Reopen a BusinessThree business owners on making a comeback after they closed because of COVID-19.
  9. my two cents
    ‘My Husband Won’t Stop Overspending on Worthless Crap!’This might be a normal reaction to stress, but you need to address it with him.
  10. my two cents
    ‘How I’m Spending My Stimulus Check’Six women on what they plan to do with their money, from taking maternity leave to helping out family members.
  11. my two cents
    ‘My Sister Is Mad I Didn’t Buy Her Rich Husband a Gift!’She can’t demand you spend money on him, but I think there might be more going on here.
  12. second acts
    The Moment I Realized My Second Act Could WorkNasim Alikhani opened her first restaurant to rave reviews at the age of 59.
  13. my two cents
    ‘I’m Behind on Rent and Don’t Know What To Do’There are a few different things you can try to get out of your lease.
  14. how i get it done
    Peloton’s Top Instructor Isn’t Above a 10-Minute WorkoutRobin Arzón on the sanctity of workouts, and how to say “no,” guilt-free.
  15. my two cents
    ‘I’m Moving In With My Girlfriend. How Should We Split Rent?’Just by communicating about how to share expenses equitably, the two of you are already a step ahead.
  16. my two cents
    I Already Blew My Budget. How Can I Get Back on Track?Don’t freak out. Focus on taking small, concrete steps to meet your goals.
  17. my two cents
    ‘My Sister Is So Cheap and It’s Driving Me Nuts!’She might not know better, or she could just be a jerk. You won’t really know unless you talk to her.
  18. my two cents
    ‘How Can I Afford the Therapy I Need?’You shouldn’t have to choose between your mental health and your financial future.
  19. my two cents
    How Do I Save Up an Emergency Fund?Saving money isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be so hard, either.
  20. outerwear
    One Way to Make This Winter TolerableIt involves vintage snowsuits.
  21. my two cents
    ‘I Actually Saved Money in 2020. What Should I Do With It?’Don’t just focus on an emergency fund — figure out what you actually want to save for.
  22. my two cents
    Money Lessons From a Truly Terrible YearWhat personal finance experts learned from 2020.
  23. my two cents
    ‘I Lost My Job and My Husband Keeps Criticizing My Spending’How to communicate about money when your income gets cut in half.
  24. my two cents
    ‘I Have to Make Money Somehow’Five people on finding creative ways to make money during the economic downturn.
  25. my two cents
    ‘Many of These Women Don’t Even Know They’re Being Abused’Economic abuse was insidious before the pandemic, but COVID has made it worse.
  26. my two cents
    What Does Biden’s Student Loan Plan Mean for You?Breaking down what the president-elect can and can’t do without control of Congress.
  27. money talks
    ‘I Had a Life in New York. Then I Lost My Job and My Visa.’Now I’m job-hunting in multiple countries and handing over thousands to my immigration lawyer.
  28. my two cents
    ‘I Love My Boyfriend, But I Can’t Trust Him With Money’You can’t force him to get his act together, but you can put your foot down if he doesn’t.
  29. money talks
    ‘I Left So Quickly I Didn’t Have Time to Pack My Things’What it costs to lose your job and move back home in the middle of a pandemic.
  30. how i get it done
    How a Death Doula Gets It DoneAlua Arthur is a leader in the field of death work, and has guided thousands of people and their loved ones through the end-of-life process.
  31. my two cents
    How to Invest Your 401(K) in Causes You Care AboutOr, at least, divest it from the ones you don’t.
  32. my two cents
    How Can I Get a Job That Pays More Than $40,000 a Year?You need to work on monetizing your skills and your interests.
  33. my two cents
    ‘It Feels Pointless to Save for Retirement Now’Your best option is to stay the course and make a contingency plan in case things go sideways.
  34. money talks
    ‘None of Us Know When We’re Going Back to Work’Three yoga and fitness instructors on trying to make ends meet during the last six months.
  35. how i get it done
    What It’s Like to Be a Firefighter in California Right NowTalking to a Los Angeles firefighter about this year’s unprecedented wildfires.
  36. money talks
    3 Women on Life After Losing Their Jobs“I wake up every morning and I’m like, Okay, what can I get paid for today?”
  37. my two cents
    ‘My Credit Card Just Got Canceled and I Don’t Know Why’Being subject to the whims of credit card companies doesn’t feel good, but there are some best practices that can help.
  38. my two cents
    My Friend Asked for a Discount. Should I Give It to Her?Try offering a specific amount of your time at a reduced rate, and stick to those limits.
  39. my two cents
    How Can I Make a Will Without Spending a Fortune?The process can be much simpler and cheaper than you might expect.
  40. money talks
    ‘My Divorce Is Cheap. But Self-Care Is Costing Me Thousands.’What it costs to end your marriage in a pandemic.
  41. my two cents
    Do I Need to Declare Bankruptcy?You may be able to pay off your debt on your own, but it’s good you’re considering your options.
  42. money talks
    What It’s Like to Teach Yoga Over Zoom“I’ve got all my stuff from Brooklyn in my childhood bedroom, and I’ve transformed the whole family room into a yoga space.”
  43. my two cents
    ‘My Boyfriend’s Roommate Is Asking Me for Rent Money’He didn’t sign up to have you there all the time, so it’s reasonable to ask. Here’s why you should say no.
  44. my two cents
    ‘Self Care Shouldn’t Be the End Goal’For Alisha Ramos, the founder of Girls Night In, recent success has been “a little bit uncomfortable.”
  45. my two cents
    How Do I Get My Landlord to Lower My Rent?We’re barreling toward a national housing crisis. Get ready to negotiate.
  46. my two cents
    How to Recover From Losing EverythingTiffany “the Budgetnista” Aliche on digging yourself out of debt.
  47. my two cents
    ‘I’m Sick of Living With My Boyfriend’s Parents to Save Money’You have to separate your financial quandary from your relationship quandary.
  48. my two cents
    ‘I Lost My Job, and My Debt Is Spiraling Out of Control’Start looking for new work. Pretty much anything will be better than trying to live off of $250 a week in New York.
  49. money talks
    ‘I Was Forced to Close My Business, and I Don’t Miss It at All’But at the same time, I’m totally broke and facing financial doom.
  50. money talks
    ‘We Know How To Make a Little Go a Long Way’The owners of Crown Heights bar Ode to Babel on being denied for loans, getting into survival mode, and their concerns about reopening.
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