About Lindsay VanSomeren
Current Role
Personal finance writer
Expertise
- Mortgages
- Personal Loans
- Student Loans
- Auto Loans
- Banking
- Budgeting
- Debt
- Insurance
- Credit Cards
- Credit
Degrees
- Bachelor's and master's degree in wildlife biology and conservation from the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Personal Finance Experience
Lindsay doesn't come from a traditional personal finance background, having originally trained to be a wildlife biologist in Alaska. She changed course after being driven nearly to bankruptcy from a combination of poor money management skills, a low income, and buying a home that turned out to be a lemon.
Happily, she's turned her financial life around and recently purchased a new home (the right way) in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Today she dedicates her time to helping other people learn how to manage their money better, too, whether that's through explainers, guides, company reviews, and more. Her work appears widely around the internet, and she's written more than a thousand personal finance articles for over 60 different websites.
Latest from Lindsay VanSomeren
Should You Sell Your House to Pay Off Debt? How It Works and When It Makes Sense
Becoming a homeowner is usually a happy experience, but it can become bittersweet if you...
Is Debt Relief a Good Idea?
“Debt relief” is one of those quirky financial terms that can have several meanings. Government agencies sometimes use it to refer to debt...
Can I Use a HELOC to Buy Property?
You can use a HELOC for just about anything you want, including buying a second property. Many homeowners have leveraged their first home...
Year-End Tax Planning Guide [2024 Edition]
Year-end tax planning can turn an otherwise frustrating exercise for many people into a smooth sailing experience, with bright winds that can blow...
What Should You Do If You Can’t Pay Your Taxes?
If you can’t pay your taxes, you have options to help manage the situation and...
What Is an FHA Cash-out Refinance, and How Does It Work?
When you need to borrow a larger sum and have a fair amount of equity...
How to Use Home Equity to Build Wealth
Your home can be a powerful tool for building wealth. By tapping into your home equity—the portion of your home’s value you own...
Chime MyPay Review: A Closer Look at Early Paycheck Access
Chime MyPay is an optional feature for people who use Chime’s online checking account. It...
Credit Genie App Review
Credit Genie is a cash advance app that can lend you extra money if you’re struggling until your next payday. It sounds like...
Aspire Federal and Private Student Loan Servicing
Aspire is a student loan servicer that handles customer service for federal and private student...