Rebecca Lake, CEPF® Profile Photo

Rebecca Lake, CEPF®

Rebecca Lake is a certified educator in personal finance (CEPF®) and freelance writer specializing in finance.

About Rebecca Lake, CEPF®

Current Role

Personal Finance Writer

Expertise

  • Student Loans
  • Mortgages
  • Home-buying
  • Credit
  • Debt
  • Personal Loans
  • Education Planning
  • Insurance
  • Investing
  • Small Business

Certifications & Degrees

  • Certified Educator in Personal Finance
  • Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of South Carolina

Personal Finance Experience

Rebecca began writing about personal finance in 2013 after finding herself nearly $100,000 in debt with credit cards, student loans, and a car loan. As she learned about finance and paid down the debt, she became interested in teaching others how to manage money, save, and build wealth.

Over the past decade, she's written for a number of top publications in the personal finance space, covering a wide range of topics. In 2019, she founded Boss Single Mama, a personal finance blog for moms who are interested in earning and saving more while spending less. In 2022, she became a CEPF® and continues to share her passion for finance with others.

Latest from Rebecca Lake, CEPF®

How to Pay for Emergency Pet Care

There are a number of ways to pay for emergency pet care including personal loans, credit cards, welfare organizations, and veterinary schools.

Can a Grandparent Cosign a Student Loan?

Grandparents are perfectly acceptable cosigners for student loans if they have a good credit score and meet the other eligibility requirements.

Can You Refinance Student Loans More Than Once?

There are no limits on how many times you can refinance student loans, but these...

How to Pay for College If You Don’t Qualify for Federal Financial Aid

Federal loans aren't the only option for covering college costs. Scholarships, grants, and private loans...

Can You Use a Home Equity Loan to Start a Business?

Homeowners may be able to use a home equity loan or HELOC to start a...

How Do Student Loans Work?

Understanding how student loans work is important for determining whether they're the best option for covering education costs.

Can You Get Financial Aid as a Part-Time Student?

Even if you’re attending college part-time, you still have access to financial aid. We'll review...

Can You Refinance Student Loans Before You Graduate?

You may be able to refinance your student loans while you're still enrolled in school,...

Parent PLUS Loan vs. Private Student Loan

Parent PLUS loans and private student loans can fill funding gaps when you’ve exhausted other loan options. We researched the differences between the...

Student Loans for Immigrants

While it may be difficult for immigrants to qualify for federal student loans, there are multiple private lenders that can help.