Can a teacher family really live on one income and use the other to aggressively pay down debt?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Emily Guy Birken to talk about how she and her husband intentionally chose to live on a single salary so they could use her teacher income to eliminate debt and build financial flexibility.

If you’re a teacher wondering how to pay off debt faster, simplify your finances, or create more margin in your life, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

Emily shares how she and her husband made a strategic decision early in their marriage:

• Live on her husband’s income

• Use her teaching salary to aggressively pay down their HELOC

• Build equity and financial flexibility before their next move

This approach helped them gain control, reduce stress, and create long-term options.

We walk through a clear process teachers can follow:

• Track every expense

• Separate fixed vs. variable costs

• Determine whether one income can cover essential obligations

• Redirect the second income toward debt payoff or other financial goals

Even if you don’t fully transition to one income, this framework can accelerate your financial progress.

Emily offers a powerful mindset shift: viewing money as energy rather than just dollars.
We discuss how aligning your financial decisions with your values can reduce guilt, increase clarity, and help you use money intentionally instead of reactively.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Living on One Income to Pay Off Debt
• Practical Steps to Transition to One Income
• Money as “Energy,” Not Just Numbers
• Balancing Work, Family, and Finances
• Intentional budgeting creates flexibility
• Tracking spending is the first step to financial clarity
• A curious, growth-oriented mindset transforms both money and life

If you’re a teacher looking to pay off debt, simplify your finances, or create a richer wallet, classroom, and life, this episode is for you.

If you’d like help creating your own one-income plan or debt payoff strategy, visit teachermoneyshow.com/coaching to learn more about financial coaching.

🎙️ Subscribe for practical personal finance strategies designed specifically for teachers.
💬 Comment below: Could your household live on one income? What would need to change?

#TeacherMoneyShow #DebtPayoff #LiveOnOneIncome #TeacherFinance #FinancialFreedom #HELOC #PersonalFinanceForTeachers

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Jessica from Budget Bytes to talk about frugal eating—and not the “rice and beans forever” version people fear. We dig into how teachers can lower their grocery bills, reduce food waste, and still eat meals that are filling, enjoyable, and realistic for busy school weeks.

Jessica breaks down what frugal eating really means at Budget Bytes: being intentional with your food dollars, keeping an abundance mindset, lowering cost per serving, and planning meals that actually get eaten. This conversation is packed with practical ideas teachers can use immediately.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What frugal eating actually is (and what it isn’t)

• The biggest grocery shopping mistakes that blow up food budgets

• Why shopping without a plan leads to food waste and more takeout

• Simple meal planning strategies that don’t require perfection

• How to plan just 3–4 meals a week and reuse ingredients

• Budget-friendly ways to get enough protein without expensive meat

• Using pantry staples and frozen foods to save money

• Why being forgiving and flexible matters more than being “perfect”

Jessica also shares specific advice for teachers who are exhausted, short on time, and trying to feed themselves (and their families) without overspending. We talk about involving kids in meal planning, avoiding “aspirational groceries,” and building systems that actually work during the school year.

If you’re a teacher trying to save money on groceries, cut food waste, or stop feeling stressed every time you walk into a grocery store, this episode will help you rethink food spending in a way that’s sustainable and realistic.

Explore the show notes:⁠https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show113

Become a guest on the show:⁠https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guest

⁠Leave a voicemail question:⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshow⁠

Bring Shaun to your school to talk personal finance for teachers: ⁠https://www.shaunkmorgan.com⁠

🍽️ You don’t need extreme frugality—just intentional systems.

🔔 Subscribe to the Teacher Money Show for practical money strategies made specifically for teachers
💬 Comment below: What’s the hardest part of keeping your food budget under control?

#TeacherMoneyShow #FrugalEating #BudgetBytes #TeacherBudget #SaveMoneyOnGroceries #FoodBudget #FrugalLivingForTeachers #MealPlanning

What if traveling more could actually help teachers spend less?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Suzy from Suzy May Wander to explore slow travel—a powerful, budget-friendly way for teachers to travel longer, deeper, and more affordably.

Suzy is a nurse and public health educator who works in school-based health centers and has spent years leveraging the school calendar to travel internationally with her family. Together, Shaun and Suzy break down how teachers can use longer stays, creative housing options, and local living to dramatically reduce travel costs while increasing the quality of the experience.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What slow travel really means—and why it’s often cheaper than traditional vacations

• How teachers can use summer breaks and school schedules to travel for weeks or months at a time

• Affordable alternatives to hotels, including home exchanges, house sitting, and work-stay programs

• How slow travel reduces transportation and food costs by living like a local

• Why accepting that you “can’t see everything” leads to better (and cheaper) travel

• How world schooling and travel-based learning can enrich kids’ education without breaking the bank

Suzy also shares how slow travel makes space for deeper cultural immersion, language learning, community connection, and less burnout—especially for educators who need true rest during their breaks.

Whether you’re a teacher dreaming of international travel, a parent curious about world schooling, or someone looking to cut vacation costs without cutting joy, this episode will completely reframe how you think about travel.

🎒✈️ Travel slower. Spend less. Experience more.

🔔 Subscribe to the Teacher Money Show for practical money strategies made specifically for teachers
💬 Comment below: Would slow travel work with your school schedule?

#TeacherMoneyShow #SlowTravel #TeacherTravel #FrugalTravel #WorldSchooling #FinancialFreedomForTeachers #TravelOnABudget #EducatorLife

Vacations shouldn’t leave you feeling stressed, guilty, or broke when you get home—but for many teachers, they do.

In this episodeI explain how I saved for a vacation using a zero-based budget, to help you enjoy time away without money anxiety. This is something I've strggled with a lot, but this mindset shift and intentionality really made a difference.

Instead of worrying about every dollar spent on vacation, I'll walk you through how he saved ahead of time, create a dedicated vacation fund, and spend the money confidently—knowing it was already planned for.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why vacations often cause financial stress (even when you “can afford them”)

• How a zero-based budget works for discretionary spending like travel

• How to create and fund a vacation category months in advance

• How pre-planning eliminates guilt during the trip

• How to use this same system for other joy-bringing expenses

• Why money is a tool for fulfillment—not something to hoard or fear

This episode is perfect for teachers who:

• Want to travel without using credit cards

• Feel guilty spending money on themselves

• Struggle to balance saving with enjoying life

• Want a simple, repeatable system for big expenses

When your money has a job, you can enjoy it without regret.

🎧 Listen to more episodes and find show notes:
https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show111

💼 Interested in 1-on-1 financial coaching for teachers?
https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/coaching

🔔 Subscribe for practical money strategies to help teachers build a richer wallet, classroom, and life.

#TeacherMoneyShow #ZeroBasedBudget #VacationBudget #TeacherFinance #PersonalFinanceForTeachers #BudgetingForTeachers #MoneyMindset #IntentionalSpending

Medical bills are one of the biggest financial stressors for teachers and families—but many people don’t realize they have far more options and protections than they’ve been told.

In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Jared Walker, founder of DollarFor.org, to explain how teachers can reduce, negotiate, or even completely eliminate medical bills using hospital charity care programs and smart advocacy strategies.

Jared shares how Dollar For began by crowdfunding medical bills and evolved into a national nonprofit helping people access legally required hospital charity care—programs that many hospitals fail to clearly disclose. If you’ve ever received a medical bill that felt overwhelming or confusing, this episode is essential listening.

• What hospital charity care is and why most patients don’t know it exists

• How nonprofit hospitals are required by law to reduce or forgive medical bills

• The income guidelines that may qualify teachers for medical bill relief

• Step-by-step actions to take when you receive a large medical bill

• Why requesting an itemized bill can uncover errors and lower costs

• How and when to negotiate a medical bill with the hospital

• The 1-year window before medical debt can impact your credit

• How hardship letters can help—even if you don’t initially qualify

• Free tools and resources to get help with medical debt

Jared also explains how DollarFor.org helps people apply for charity care at no cost, removing the paperwork and confusion that keeps many families stuck paying bills they don’t actually owe.

If you’re a teacher, educator, or public servant dealing with medical expenses—or want to be prepared before a health emergency hits—this episode could save you thousands of dollars.

🎙️ Explore more episodes and show notes:
https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show110

💼 Interested in financial coaching for teachers?
https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/coaching

🔔 Subscribe for practical money strategies to build a richer wallet, classroom, and life.

#TeacherMoneyShow #MedicalDebt #MedicalBills #DollarFor #HealthcareCosts #TeacherFinance #FinancialLiteracy #MedicalDebtRelief #PersonalFinanceForTeachers

Personal finance is quickly becoming a required class in schools across the country—but many teachers feel unprepared to teach it. In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Jake Cousineau, high school educator and author of How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World, to talk about what it really takes to teach personal finance effectively to high school students.

Jake shares his journey from making every possible money mistake to launching successful personal finance programs at two different schools. He explains why students today are more interested than ever in money topics, how fear and uncertainty can actually drive engagement, and why traditional approaches like “balancing a checkbook” miss the point entirely.

This conversation dives deep into behavior, mindset, and relatability, showing how personal finance can become one of the most engaging and impactful classes a student ever takes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why high school students are increasingly interested in personal finance
• How Jake built a personal finance curriculum without a finance background
• The role emotions, fear, and personal stories play in teaching money
• Why most personal finance classes fail—and how to fix them
• How How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World was designed specifically for young adults
• Practical advice for teachers suddenly asked to teach personal finance
• How to avoid overwhelming students while still covering what matters most
• Why concepts like interest, investing, and retirement matter more than outdated skills

If you’re a teacher, administrator, or educator preparing to teach personal finance—or someone passionate about financial literacy for the next generation—this episode is a must-listen.

🎙️ Explore more episodes and show notes:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show109

💼 Interested in financial coaching for teachers?

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/coaching

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on money, mindset, and meaning—for teachers.

#TeacherMoneyShow #FinancialLiteracy #PersonalFinanceEducation #TeachingPersonalFinance #HighSchoolFinance #HowToAdult #TeacherFinance #FinancialEducation #JakeCousineau

Do you feel confused, frustrated, or even overwhelmed by your 403(b) options as a teacher? You’re not alone—and the system isn’t designed in your favor.

In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Chris Nye, teacher/administrator and former registered investment advisor serving educators, to explain why so many teachers are stuck with high-fee 403(b) plans—and what you can actually do about it.

Chris breaks down the key differences between 403(b) plans and 401(k)s, including the lack of fiduciary protections in many school districts. This loophole allows expensive, commission-based vendors to dominate teacher retirement plans, often costing educators hundreds of thousands of dollars over their careers.

More importantly, Chris shares a real-world playbook for how teachers can advocate for better 403(b) vendors in their own districts. He walks through how he successfully helped his district add low-cost providers like Vanguard and T. Rowe Price by working with unions, administrators, and making the process easy for decision-makers.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why many teacher 403(b) plans are filled with high fees and bad products

• The key warning signs of a poor 403(b), including variable annuities

• How teachers can advocate for better, low-cost 403(b) vendors in their district

• What to do if your district refuses to improve its 403(b) options

• How starting early—even with simple investments—can dramatically improve retirement outcomes

If you’re a teacher who wants to protect your retirement, lower fees, and take control of your financial future, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and actionable next steps.

👉 Subscribe for more teacher-focused personal finance conversations.

Explore the show notes:
https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show108

Become a guest on the show:
https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guest

Leave a voicemail question:
https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshow

Bring Shaun to your school to talk personal finance for teachers:
https://www.shaunkmorgan.com

#TeacherMoneyShow #403b #TeacherRetirement #403bPlans #TeacherFinance #PersonalFinanceForTeachers #ChrisNye #FinancialFreedomForTeachers

Most budgeting New Year’s resolutions fail—not because you are bad with money, but because you're using the wrong approach.

In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Kristin McGlothlin, financial coach at MyBudgetCoach, to talk about the right way for teachers to set a budgeting New Year’s resolution that actually sticks.

Instead of rigid rules and guilt-driven budgeting, Kristin and I reframe a budget as a flexible plan for your money—one that adapts to real life, busy schedules, and the emotional side of spending.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What a budget really is (and why it’s not about restriction or shame)

• The most common budgeting mistakes people make in January

• Why being too rigid causes budgets to fail

• How zero-based budgeting brings clarity and control on a teacher salary

• Why tracking spending first is more important than scorched Earth cutting expenses

• How accountability and coaching dramatically increase success

• Why teachers must prioritize their own financial well-being

This conversation is perfect for teachers who:

• Have tried budgeting before and “fallen off the wagon”

• Feel overwhelmed and don't know whereto start

• Want a sustainable system instead of another short-lived resolution

If your goal this year is to feel confident, calm, and in control of your money, this episode will help you build a budgeting resolution that works with your life—not against it.

👉 Subscribe for practical, teacher-focused personal finance

👉 Share this episode with a colleague starting over (again) this January

Explore show notes and resources:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show 107

Become a guest on the show:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guest

Leave a voicemail question:

https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshow

Bring Shaun to your school for personal finance PD:

https://www.shaunkmorgan.com

#TeacherMoneyShow #BudgetingForTeachers #NewYearsResolution #ZeroBasedBudget #MyBudgetCoach #PersonalFinanceForTeachers #MoneyMindset #TeacherLife