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?
No, debt relief isn’t a good idea for most people. Several other ways to handle debt are less risky, less expensive, and offer...
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...
Chime MyPay 2025 Review: How It Works and Who’s Eligible
MyPay® is an optional feature for people who use the Chime® online checking account. It...
Credit Genie Review 2025: High Fees and Low Advances—Better Alternatives Available
We don’t recommend Credit Genie because of its high fees, low advance amounts, and negative...
Aspire Servicing Center for Student Loans: Full Guide and FAQs for Borrowers in 2025
Seeing Aspire Servicing Center on your student loan statement can raise questions—especially if you’ve never...