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
Brazos Student Loans 2025 Review: Low Rates for Texans
Everything’s bigger in Texas, except for the interest rates on Brazos student loans. If you’re...
How to Consolidate Student Loans [Federal and Private]
Most students end up taking out many different loans over the course of their college...
How to Access HELOC Funds: 5 Ways to Withdraw
One of the defining features of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) is their versatility. You can borrow money, repay it, and borrow...
What Is Debt Relief, and How Does It Work?
Sometimes it seems like you’ll be stuck in debt forever, no matter how hard you try. But it is possible to get out...
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...
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? 12 Strategies to Explore
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...