
Emma Patch
Emma is a staff writer for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. She covers a broad range of topics spanning saving, spending, travel, charitable giving, building wealth and financial products. She frequently writes the magazine’s Basics column and is one of several Millennial and Gen Z writers who pen the Millennial Money column. Emma also has a keen interest in the finances of entrepreneurship and education, including student loans.
During the pandemic, Emma wrote a series of profiles called “Making It Work,” mainly featuring small business owners and other entrepreneurs, about the impact of the pandemic on their work and lives. She now profiles individuals whose work involves notable examples of altruism for the magazine’s “Paying it Forward” feature.
Before joining Kiplinger in 2020, Emma interned for Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, writing and editing retirement-related content. Prior to that, she interned for an investment firm in New York City, supporting brokers, analyzing data and earning her Bloomberg Market Concepts certification.
Emma graduated from Middlebury College with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature with French literature as her primary focus and Russian literature as her secondary, culminating in a semester of study in Moscow and a thesis on the reception of French Symbolism in Russia. She’s fluent in three languages and is slowly mastering Russian.
While at Middlebury, she served as editor-at-large and features editor for the student newspaper. In the warmer months, she also worked at Middlebury’s organic garden, learning about sustainable agricultural practices and food systems. In winter, she was a part-time ski instructor at the Middlebury Snow Bowl.
Latest articles by Emma Patch
-
Reliving a Harlem Renaissance
Business Costs & Regulation After a tough winter, two sisters look forward to reviving their restaurant’s business.
By Emma Patch Published
Business Costs & Regulation -
The Hazards of Buy Now, Pay Later
Smart Buying Breaking up payments can make a big purchase seem cheaper, which can tempt you to overspend.
By Emma Patch Published
Smart Buying -
Add a VPN to Surf the Internet Safely
Technology To help you fight identity theft, consider adding a VPN.
By Emma Patch Published
Technology -
Forgiven Student Loan Debt Will Be Tax-Free
Coronavirus and Your Money President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package lays the groundwork to forgive some student loan debt.
By Emma Patch Published
Coronavirus and Your Money -
Flying This Summer? What to Expect
Travel Depending on your destination, you may need to show a negative COVID test or even prove you’ve been vaccinated.
By Emma Patch Published
Travel -
New Challenges for a Church
Empty Nesters With Sunday services online, this minister’s congregation is finding ways to stay connected.
By Emma Patch Published
Empty Nesters -
A New Chapter for This Bookstore
Coronavirus and Your Money Katrina and COVID haven’t deterred the owner of a used bookstore from catering to his clientele.
By Emma Patch Published
Coronavirus and Your Money -
What to Expect if You're Flying in 2021
Travel Policies enacted by the airlines in 2020 may change air travel for the long haul.
By Emma Patch Published
Travel -
Rapper Moves From Music to Merchandise
Making Your Money Last This rapper has pivoted from putting on live shows to selling T-shirts and tote bags.
By Emma Patch Published
Making Your Money Last -
How to Stay Safe on the Slopes
Coronavirus and Your Money Ski resorts have made changes to deal with COVID. Here’s what to expect.
By Emma Patch Published
Coronavirus and Your Money -
$300 Weekly Unemployment Benefits Included in Stimulus Bill
Coronavirus and Your Money The bill provides temporary expanded relief to the unemployed in the form of additional payments, longer benefit periods, and help for the self-employed.
By Emma Patch Published
Coronavirus and Your Money -
Kids and Money: Boost Your Child's Future Credit Score
Raising Money-Smart Kids Naming your child as an authorized user on your credit card can be a great way to set them up with a healthy credit report.
By Emma Patch Published
Raising Money-Smart Kids -
Analyst: Housing Market Will Stay Strong in 2021
Markets But the pace of home sales could slow by the end of the year.
By Emma Patch Published
Markets -
How to Safely Socialize (and Work) at Home During the Pandemic
home Tips for transforming your backyard area into a social distancing hang out, as well as creating a work-from-home haven.
By Emma Patch Published
home -
Growing the Family Business
Business Costs & Regulation This Alabama farmer navigates the uncertainties of tariffs, COVID and unpredictable weather.
By Emma Patch Published
Business Costs & Regulation -
Dear Mom and Dad: Thanks
Making Your Money Last Ideally, living at home should provide a way to improve your financial well-being and lay the groundwork for future success.
By Emma Patch Published
Making Your Money Last -
COVID Clipped This Pilot's Wings
Coronavirus and Your Money American Airlines furloughed him on November 1. Now his career track is cloudy.
By Emma Patch Published
Coronavirus and Your Money -
File the FAFSA Now: Urgent Reasons for Families to File Early in 2020 for College Aid
college If you have a college-bound student at home, don't procrastinate on securing financial aid for the 2021-22 school year.
By Emma Patch Published
college -
Watch Out for COVID Cons
Scams Isolated seniors are particularly vulnerable to pandemic-related scams.
By Emma Patch Published
Scams -
Airlines Nix Change Fees
Travel You may still pay a change fee for tickets in basic economy, though.
By Emma Patch Published
Travel -
A Tasty Break From the Pandemic
Business Costs & Regulation This Ohio bakery has found creative ways to stay in business—and even thrive.
By Emma Patch Published
Business Costs & Regulation -
Even in a Pandemic, Some Employers Are Hiring
Coronavirus and Your Money During COVID-19, you may have to use different strategies to find the job you want.
By Emma Patch Published
Coronavirus and Your Money -
Back to School, Ready or Not
Technology This Florida teacher’s school let families choose distance learning or in-person classes.
By Emma Patch Published
Technology -
Emergency Funds: How to Get Started
Making Your Money Last There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for how much you’ll need.
By Emma Patch Published
Making Your Money Last