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
Can You Use Student Loans for a Car?
You can’t use federal student loans to buy a car, but private student loan lenders may allow it depending on your contract. Even...
Income-Based Student Loans
Income-based repayment has only been available for federal loans—until now. Find out how private income-based student loans work, and if they're a better...
College Ave vs. Discover: Student Loan Comparison
There are several different factors to consider when deciding between College Ave and Discover. Find...
Upgrade Personal Loans Review
Upgrade's personal loans are geared towards borrowers with fair credit. This review will explain how to apply for an Upgrade personal loan as...
ATV Loans & Other UTV Financing Options
ATV loans can help you afford the cost of an all-terrain vehicle. If you decide to get an ATV loan, it's important to...
Best Personal Loans in Washington State: 2025 Roundup
You have plenty of options for personal loans in Washington state through local or national...
Online Loans: Borrow Over the Internet
Online loans make borrowing cash easy and convenient. Here’s our list of some well-known online loan lenders for each credit category.
Can You Refinance Sallie Mae Loans? Yes—Here’s How, With Another Lender
Refinance Sallie Mae student loans to save money, pay it off faster, or release a...
Can’t Pay Student Loans? Here Are Your Options
If you cannot repay your student loans, you have five options to consider. You can...
Important FAFSA Deadlines for Financial Aid
The deadline to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the 2022 to 2023 school year is June 30,...