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.

How to Become a Graphic Designer in 8 Simple Steps

If you’ve ever seen a company logo, a pamphlet, or a book cover, you’ve seen the work of a graphic designer. Graphic design is everywhere, and there’s always a need for people who can design creative and interesting visuals. Even if you can’t draw or paint, you can turn your artistic talents into infographics, websites,…

Catherine Collins 02 Jan

17 Legit Ways You Can Get Paid to Shop in Your Free Time

If you’re like most Americans, you probably spend hours each week grocery shopping[1]. At this point, you’re familiar with your local stores and could find anything you need with your eyes closed. So why not get paid to shop? Mystery shopping or working as a grocery food delivery driver is a viable side hustle that…

Catherine Collins 29 Dec

6 Common Work-from-Home Scams to Look Out For

More than 5% of Americans work from home, and that number is growing every year.[1] With the average commute now 26 minutes each way, it’s no wonder that workers want to work from home.[2] I’ve worked from home for years, and I love the convenience of going straight from breakfast to my desk. It’s easy…

Catherine Collins 28 Dec

13 Best Places to Sell Video Games for Cash

Do you have an old copy of Street Fighter II or Sonic the Hedgehog lying around collecting dust? What about the OG versions of Call of Duty or Halo? If they’ve been shamefully neglected and you’re thinking of tossing them, you may want to see if they’re still worth anything before kicking them to the…

Catherine Collins 04 Oct

20 Best Places to Find Small Task or Micro Jobs

If you’ve ever found yourself short on cash, you know how frustrating it is to need extra money and have no viable way of earning it. Fortunately, things have changed a lot in the past decade. The gig economy has exploded, and now millions of people can complete “micro jobs” to earn extra money on…

Catherine Collins 15 Sep

Should Kids Get Paid to Do Chores? Experts Say Not So Fast

Few people enjoy household chores. Washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, and taking out the garbage are no one’s favorite pastimes. But most would agree that these types of chores serve an important function in families: teaching children responsibility. Many parents also use chores to introduce money concepts to their children. Complete all your chores for the…

Catherine Collins 16 Aug

How to Become a Social Media Manager (Step-by-Step)

If you spend a lot of time on social media, you might be able to turn that into a career as a social media manager. Social media managers are responsible for managing the social media accounts of businesses, celebrities, and other entrepreneurs. In most cases, large businesses hire full-time social media managers to work in-house….

Catherine Collins 07 Jul

What Is a Sinking Fund? Definition, Categories & Examples

Sinking funds are one of the most useful additions to a budget, and yet not many people know what they are. Many first-time budgeters are confused about sinking funds, asking questions like “What is a sinking fund?” or “What’s the best way to set them up, and are they really necessary?” These mini savings funds…

Catherine Collins 25 Mar

How to Track Expenses in 3 Simple Steps

If you’ve tried budgeting before and failed, you’re in good company. In fact, I’d argue it takes most people 3-6 months to learn how to track expenses, stick to a budget, and plan achievable goals for the future. In other words, no one is born knowing how to track expenses and budget. It’s something that…

Catherine Collins 31 Jan

How to Get Rich: The 4-Step Process Anyone Can Follow

Many people dream of having lots of money and think about what they would buy and where they would go if they did get rich. Yet, so many don’t actually know how to become rich. After all, don’t you have to come from a wealthy family or inherit a boatload of money to be rich?…

Catherine Collins 27 Jan