Catherine Collins

Contributor

Cat Alford, Personal Finance ExpertWith over a decade of experience, Catherine Collins is a nationally recognized personal finance expert and the author of Mom’s Got Money: A Millennial Mom’s Guide to Managing Money Like a Boss. Her writing and expertise have been featured in major outlets such as Good Morning America, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, and Kiplinger.

Catherine is the co-founder of two companies: Millennial Homeowner, a platform dedicated to helping new homeowners navigate their finances, and Five Year You, a personal development company and podcast aimed at helping people achieve their goals over five years. She was honored with the Plutus Award for Best Freelance Contributor for Personal Finance, recognizing her contributions to the industry. Catherine is also a sought-after speaker on topics such as money, motherhood, and entrepreneurship.

Catherine lives in Detroit, Michigan, where she balances her work with raising her boy-girl twins and spending time with her rescue dog, Julep.

Education

  • Virginia Tech: MA in History
  • The College of William and Mary: BA in History

Media Mentions

Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn to learn more or check out her latest articles on DollarSprout.

5 Cheery Ways to Enjoy Christmas on a Budget

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also be a time of immense financial stress. Americans report gearing up to spend $923 on Christmas gifts this holiday season — just $19 below the all-time high of $942 reported in pre-pandemic 2019 — despite the fact that their spending power has been…

Catherine Collins 06 Dec

8 Best Places to Sell Makeup Online (Even If It’s Used)

Have you ever purchased a really expensive eyeshadow palette, tried it out, and then realized you actually hate it? To make things worse, you waited too long and now you can’t return it for a refund. But it’s not too late to get your money back. You can sell makeup online, even if it’s used….

Catherine Collins 14 Jun

How to Save $1,000 in a Year or Less

Life is full of unexpected expenses. You get a flat tire, have to take your child to the emergency room, or need to replace a broken washing machine. No matter what life throws at you, having at least $1,000 in savings can help curb those financial surprises. Unfortunately, nearly a quarter of Americans have no savings…

Catherine Collins 01 Mar

How to Make a Zero-Based Budget in 7 Simple Steps (with Example)

With so many different budgeting methods out there, it can be hard to get started. Do you choose a 50/30/20 method? Should you use cash envelopes? The range of options can make it harder for beginners who don’t know which method will work best for them. One of the most common types of budgeting is…

Catherine Collins 03 Feb

16 Ways to Get Free Magazines Online (or in the Mail)

Thanks to smartphones and tablets, reading books, surfing websites, and even keeping up with the latest news is easier than ever. But what about magazines? How do they fit in now that so much of our content is digital? According to a survey by Mequoda, two-thirds of Americans still read magazines. In fact, of the…

Catherine Collins 02 Feb

How to Become a Influencer and Make Money (2024 Guide)

Getting paid just for posting on social media is a dream job for many people. But for others, it’s their full-time job. They get paid to test drive a car, stay in a hotel, or get free clothes. To be a paid social media influencer, you’ll need a social media following. Some people, like celebrities,…

Catherine Collins 30 Jan

How to Start an Online Thrift Store in 7 Simple Steps

Most of us love the idea of making money at home. Starting an online thrift or consignment store can be a good way to accomplish the goal of making some extra money online. This type of side hustle or small business might not be as hard as you think. All you need is some basic…

Catherine Collins 22 Jan

How to Become a Freelance Web Designer in 7 Simple Steps

According to Blue Corona, 38% of website visitors leave if they don’t like the layout or navigation.[1] We’ve all clicked off of a website if the menu is hard to read or the content is impossible to find. I know I’ve done it. People also evaluate a business’s credibility on the website’s appearance, and they…

Catherine Collins 20 Jan

Survey Voices Review 2024: Legit, but a Giant Waste of Time

Taking online surveys for money is a great way to earn cash from home, but it can be difficult to figure out which sites pay the most. Survey Voices is a site that aggregates different paid survey opportunities on the internet. It’s free to sign up for Survey Voices, and you’ll be instantly connected to…

Catherine Collins 10 Jan

16 Online Chat Jobs You Can Do from Home

More employees work from home than ever before, and the trend isn’t going away anytime soon. According to the 2017 State of Telecommuting in the U.S. Employee Workforce Report[1], nearly 4 million U.S. employees work from home at least half the time. There’s so much more flexibility that comes with working from home. When you…

Catherine Collins 08 Jan