Paulette Perhach Paulette Perhach, a freelance writer, wrote a globally viral essay on personal finance and has studied the topic ever since. Her writing has been in the New York Times, Vox, Elle, Slate, Marie Claire, and Yoga Journal. She's helped readers around the world think in new ways about personal finance. About Real Simple Real Simple, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning, trusted online resource for smart, authentic solutions to simplify your life. We reach 11 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact-checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.