Melanie Allen

Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.  In 2017, Melanie founded Partners in Fire, a media company dedicated to helping people find fulfillment by igniting their passions, promoting their welfare, and guiding them toward financial security. 

Melanie’s Experience

Melanie learns by doing and dabbles in all the unique activities and experiences that give life pleasure to bring you the most up-to-date and comprehensive resources for discovering your own passions.  Here’s a snippet of Melanie’s vast wealth of experience from the top categories she covers. 

Travel

Melanie has traveled to 19 countries spanning four continents. She also regularly travels throughout the US, both via weekend trips from the many hubs she’s called home (California, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Texas) and on longer trips to more distant parts of the country. She’s visited 24 states and counting.  She prioritizes ancient ruins, notable artworks, and cultural experiences but is always open to embarking on a new adventure and trying something different. 

Finance

Melanie is a self-taught money expert. Through years of research, trial, and error, she’s developed a unique method of financial planning called the Triangle Approach, which helps users individualize their financial plans to meet their unique goals.  She’s well past the Coast Fire benchmark on her personal journey to financial independence and is currently pursuing Passion Fire - a unique spin on financial freedom focusing on happiness.  Melanie is not a financial advisor but has extensive experience in stock investing, index funds, real estate, side hustles, navigating complex financial topics in relationships, personal budgeting, and finding innovative ways to make and save more money. 

Gaming

Melanie grew up during the golden age of gaming. She had every Nintendo console from the original NES through the Switch and loves the “old school” franchises like Super Mario Bros and Legend of Zelda.  She’s experimented with numerous streaming platforms and became a Twitch Affiliate in less than 30 days while managing a robust Discord community dedicated to helping small streamers.  Though she no longer streams, she still enjoys game nights and checking out the latest releases. 

The Arts/Hobbies

Melanie is passionate about the arts. She’s dabbled in a wide range of creative endeavors, such as painting, acting, crochet, scrapbooking, indoor gardening, creative writing, and video editing, but typically prefers experimenting with new things over sticking with just one.  She fell in love with fine art in 7th grade after a transformative lesson on the Impressionist Movement. While still in high school, she regularly visited the Art Institute of Chicago to view some of these magnificent works in person, a passion she’s carried with her into adulthood and in all her journeys. 

Happiness

Melanie believes in an individual and holistic approach to happiness. She covers all aspects of happiness, from cultivating a healthy body and mind and developing positive social relationships to exploring spirituality and seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in through studies of history, anthropology, sociology, and psychology.  To help others find and pursue their passions, Melanie developed an extensive printable guidebook with prompts and action plans available on the Partners in Fire Etsy shop.  As an avid supporter of human rights, Melanie is also aware that numerous societal, cultural, and political systems prevent people from pursuing their version of happiness, and she doesn’t shy away from covering difficult topics to spread awareness about how society must change to allow everyone to live the life their dream life. 

Education

Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.  She’s taken numerous leadership and self-development courses on topics such as mentorship, coaching, emotional intelligence, and collaborative team building.