Welcome to TeacHer Finance! I started this blog in the fall of 2008 because I was drowning in debt. I realized that my financial situation was so serious that I would either have to leave the profession I love in order to make more money, or radically change my financial habits. I chose the latter, but quickly discovered that I needed a like-minded community to help support me through the difficult process of paying off a lot of debt. Since the birth of my blog, I’ve had my financial ups and downs but am finally, finally less indebted. Now I’m ready to get serious about saving and building wealth.
More about the author: I’m a high school teacher in my twenties living in the D.C. metro area, so I know what it means for money to be tight. But I also love travel, fashion, food, and collecting vintage handbags. So at the same time that I’m trying to provide a solid financial future for myself, I’m also busy enjoying my life in the present. I write about all of this on TeacHer Finance – I hope you’ll stick around and engage with the community!
Feel free to send me an email at teacherfinance@gmail.com if you want to ask me a question or learn more about me. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Hi. I’m a teacher as well in NYC. I just stumbled upon your blog so I haven’t read a lot of it. But, I see you still have a student loan. If you do, you may be eligible for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program. The requirements include working in a Title 1 school (or school on a list of high percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch) for five years in a shortage area (math, science, special ed). I had $17,500 forgiven last year and I only have $1,000 left and then I am completely debt free.
Anyhow, good luck. Also, I just started budgeting using a software called YNAB (you need a budget). It’s changed how I view my money and how i spend it.