About Catherine Collins
Current Role
Personal finance writer and author
Expertise
- Budgeting
- Mortgages
- Home Equity
- Credit
- Debt
- Investing
- Personal Loans
- Small Business
- Entrepreneurship
- Student Loans
Achievements
- Plutus Award Winner For Best Freelance Contributor For Personal Finance
Degrees
- Bachelor’s degree in history from the College of William and Mary, Master's degree in history from Virginia Tech University
Personal Finance Experience
Catherine Collins is a nationally recognized writer, speaker, and author of the book Mom's Got Money: A millennial mom's guide to managing money like a boss. She is the go-to personal finance expert for educated, aspirational moms who want to recapture their life passions, earn more, reach their goals, and take on a more active financial role in their families.
Named the Best Freelance Contributor for Personal Finance by the Plutus Foundation, her writing and expertise have been featured in dozens of notable publications and in national media. She founded her award-winning personal finance blog in 2010 and since then has become a sought-after speaker and leading voice in the personal finance space.
As a self-employed entrepreneur and mother, she spends her days writing for numerous publications, co-hosting her podcast called Five Year You, and raising her boy/girl twins.
Latest from Catherine Collins
When to Apply for Student Loans
Knowing when to apply for student loans is integral to the financial aid process. Most educational institutions have specific deadlines for submitting the...
Forbearance vs. Deferment for Student Loans: How They Compare and Which One to Choose
Struggling to make student loan payments? You may have options like forbearance or deferment. Both...
Student Loans for Parents With Bad Credit
If you have bad credit (a FICO score of 579 or below), getting a parent student loan can be tough. Many lenders either...
Can Student Loans Be Used for Rent?
College tuition is rising, but room and board are expensive, too—students who live on campus at a public four-year institution pay an average...
Student Loans for Freshmen
If you are starting college for the first time or are the parent of a new college student, you likely need to know...
What Is the Start Date for Student Loan Repayment?
Knowing your student loan repayment start date is important because paying your bills on time...
Best HELOCs for Home Repairs With Fast Funding in 2025
Nothing is as stressful as an unexpected home repair. Whether it’s a broken HVAC system,...
How to Get a Home Improvement Loan
Home improvement loans are a type of personal loan that homeowners can use to complete renovations they can’t finance on their own. Unlike...
How to Get a $50,000 Personal Loan: 5 Best Lenders to Try
The 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Consumer Lending Satisfaction Study called personal loans a “financial lifeline,”...
Best Hardship Personal Loans in 2025
If you’re facing a financial emergency, a hardship personal loan can be a lifeline. Lenders that offer hardship personal loans tend to have...