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.”

  • TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    Ok.

    A plan doesn’t help when you don’t have any options but to start cutting basic necessities

    Still doesn’t sound great

    • leauxhigh@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      why is it cutting things out, and no options? increase your income with creative means, every little bit helps. So, no options means, no way whatsoever to increase your income and gradually cutting out necessities is it?

      • TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        “Literally just get another job bro”

        That’s what you’re saying and it isn’t that simple.

        • leauxhigh@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          it’s not simple, life is not simple, but what I’m saying is think differently, outside of the box and take some sort of action to increase your income, doesn’t have to be an hourly job. Go to yard sales and look for items that you might be able to flip, etc. Look for small opportunities and then use the additional income to get ahead, or set it aside to save up to buy something you can make more money with over time. Force yourself to get creative.

            • leauxhigh@lemmy.world
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              3 months ago

              Stay stuck with no plan and a closed mind, focus on doom and gloom with zero options at all. lmk how it works out for you, peace ✌️

                • leauxhigh@lemmy.world
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                  3 months ago

                  you’re completely out of options and can only cut necessities, so any budget or planning is worthless - you in a nutshell when I suggested that having a budget is a necessity to help overcome the paycheck to paycheck loop. So now you’re not stuck and have options? Good for you 😊