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.”
The guy in the article is very open to sharing his financial struggles and asking for help, so I’m confident that his feelings wouldn’t be hurt if he reads what I wrote.
My goal was for someone else to read my comment and have it kick them into gear to get their finances straight. Maybe someone out there is researching how to budget right now after reading it, and that’s a good thing.
So yes, it’s valuable to speculate and discuss hypothetical financial struggles so that we can learn ways to avoid getting into a similar situation.
I know the point of the article is “teachers didn’t make enough money” which is true, but the point of my comment is “people don’t become unhoused while holding a steady job unless some mistakes were made along the way”.
I’m sure that’ll happen. Keep on preaching the good word of if you’re houseless it’s your own fault. Thanks bud!
Did I touch some sort of nerve? Why is taking about budgeting getting such a harsh reaction? Lemmy is really disappointing, sometimes.
A person can experience homelessness for a variety of reasons. This teacher is without a place to live because he is being turned down for having bad credit. Don’t get mad at me for there being credit bureaus in the US, I can’t change that.
Atkinson, who is currently teaching at NYOS Charter School, said even after applying for places that he could afford, his application was denied due to bad credit.
You didn’t touch a nerve you took a very complicated situation and boiled it down to this man must not be budgeting properly. The real issue at play was the last thing you mentioned. You addressed it but it was one sentence. I’m not saying budgeting isn’t important I’m saying you’re not focusing on the issue. Sorry I was a dick but you’re missing the point entirely.
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.
Everyone should have a budget, it’s like tracking anything else in your life. I always say to look for extra money, so you can get some sort of emergency fund saved up, because life is gonna life. I sold a few things online, did pet sitting and some phase 4 clinical trials. I have to be vaccinated for COVID, so I made over $1,000 taking part in the flu and COVID combo shot study. This allowed me to buy my usual stuff in bulk, furthering my money. Budgeting is super important and super helpful in getting out of the paycheck to paycheck loop. It’s like dieting and exercise for your finances to get them in shape.
Because budgeting isn’t super helpful when it comes up with a negative number and there isn’t much you can do about it other than start cutting basic necessities
