A teacher who launched a GoFundMe to help him afford a place to live has put a spotlight on teacher salaries as the new school year begins.
Bill Atkinson, a fourth grade teacher in Austin, Texas, said he began living in his car this summer when his previous living situation fell through and he could not afford rent on his $54,000 annual salary.
“No matter how much I borrowed or scraped, there was no catching up, because I just did not make enough to cover rent – because I was so used to living paycheck to paycheck, I didn’t have anything in savings to try to cover rent for a couple months,” he told “Good Morning America.” “So I tried to get a place, [but I] was having a hard time finding a place I could afford on my own.”
Just wanted to chime in and say that you aren’t wrong despite comments to the contrary. People haven’t been taught budgeting, let alone sticking to one.
I work with professionals that make 6 figures and even some of them can’t afford the place they’re renting, when I make less and own my own home. I finally got one to start a budget and it’s already started changing the way he thinks about planning for vacations and such. I’ve been thanked already about being positive about it and not making him feel like he’s stupid.
The public school system flat out failed to teach this in this country. I’ve been saying this since I was in high school, where the only place a budget was taught was in the remedial math class of all places.
I’m not surprised many people are pissed that they “can’t afford to live” in this day and age. Prices are higher than ever (welcome to accelerated inflation) and now it’s harder to start one. However, it is 100% possible for most people. Not all, but most.
I’m not burning money going out to eat daily for lunch or even buying freaking coffee. People don’t realize how much they spend on little things every day/month/year. That’s how I got my peer to budget. Break things down to the ridiculous like daily coffee and extract it to the year level. That’s a SHIT LOAD of money we’re literally pissing down the toilet. Figure out how to make great coffee at home, and even with expensive beans, it’s cheaper by a mile.
Now, that’s just 1 example. If you can’t live without your double frappe latte or whatever then look at reducing cost in other things you don’t need or can do cheaper yourself.
Thanks. I feel like the people responding negatively might be immature and maybe frustrated with their own personal finances. Budgeting changed my life and allowed me to take a career risk that really paid off, so there’s no scenario where I can see budgeting as a bad thing.