The Teacher Money Show

Most people think frugality means deprivation. What if it actually creates more freedom, more peace, and a richer life? In this live episode of the Teacher Money Show, I reflect on everything I learned this season about frugal living for teachers , intentional spending, budgeting, and creating financial breathing room without sacrificing what matters most. This year, I challenged myself to stop se...

Can teachers build wealth—even on a teacher salary? Or are most educators trapped by a scarcity mindset? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I talk with Gabbi Cerezo, a former middle school teacher turned Certified Financial Planner, about teaching personal finance, financial literacy in schools, and why so many teachers struggle to believe financial freedom is possible. Gabbi shares her jo...

Most teachers treat May like a throwaway month. What if it became the most meaningful part of your year? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I break down how to create a richer classroom by applying the same principles we use in personal finance for teachers —discipline, intentionality, and focus on what actually matters. This isn’t about money directly. It’s about using what you already kn...

Most teachers assume real estate investing is out of reach—especially commercial deals. What if that’s not true? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I talk with Jonathan Hayek, a former special education teacher who turned his $54,000 salary into a pathway to financial freedom through real estate investing. We break down how he went from flipping houses to owning small multifamily propertie...

What does it actually mean to live a rich life —and is it really about money? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show , I sit down with Jordan Grumet (Doc G) from the Earn & Invest podcast to talk about purpose, burnout, financial independence, and what people regret most at the end of their lives . Jordan is a hospice doctor, which gives him a unique perspective: he’s had countless conversa...

What I need help with is finding guests, so if you want to come on the show, share your money story as a teacher, talk about personal finance, or you know a great guest, let me know! Ever wondered how to create extra income as a teacher—and what actually works in real life? In this solo episode of the Teacher Money Show , I pull back the curtain on a brand new side hustle I’ve started— reselling C...

Can teachers really build wealth on a teacher’s salary? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show , I sit down with Danny Kofke, author of The Wealthy Teacher , to break down what it actually means to build wealth as an educator—and why it’s more possible than most teachers think. If you’ve ever felt like financial success is out of reach in education, this conversation will challenge that belief...

Can teachers become financial coaches and get paid to help others with money? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show , I talk with Andi Wrenn about the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) certification —what it is, how it works, and why it might be one of the best opportunities for teachers who are passionate about personal finance. If you’ve ever thought about turning your interest in money...

Can AI actually save teachers hours of work every week? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show , I break down how teachers can use AI as a time-saving tool to automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and build systems that give you your time back. If you feel buried in grading, data entry, emails, and “one more thing” tasks, this episode will show you how to start using AI in a practica...

Can teachers really travel for free using credit card points? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show , I talk with Dan Miller from Points With a Crew about travel hacking —the strategy of using credit card rewards and sign-up bonuses to dramatically reduce the cost of flights, hotels, and vacations. If you’ve ever wondered how people fly for free or stay in luxury hotels using points, this conv...

Are credit cards good or bad? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show , I sit down with Marc to break down Credit Cards 101 — how they work, why people use them, and how teachers can use them responsibly without falling into debt. Credit cards are one of the most misunderstood tools in personal finance. Used incorrectly, they can trap people in high-interest debt. But used correctly, they can he...

In Episode 116 of the Teacher Money Show , I sit down with Ray to debate one of the biggest financial decisions educators face: renting vs. buying . If you’ve ever wondered whether homeownership is really the best path to wealth — or if renting might actually make more financial sense — this episode will challenge your assumptions. We cover: • The pros and cons of renting vs buying a home • Why re...

If you're a teacher trying to save money without sacrificing your quality of life, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Teacher Money Show , I break down what I call the “Little Three” expenses — cable/streaming, internet, and cell phone bills — and show you how these small monthly payments quietly eat away at your wealth. Most teachers focus on the “Big Three” (housing, food, transport...

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 fast...

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 Byt...

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 calenda...

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...

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...

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 share...

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 actuall...

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, Kris...

What if the secret to a wealth wasn’t a massive overhaul—but improving by just 1% at a time? I've experienced the power of 1% daily improvements and how small, intentional changes can compound into life-changing results—especially for teachers working with limited income and high demands. Tiny adjustments in spending, habits, and mindset can dramatically shift your financial trajectory over time....

Teachers often feel stuck between limited income and growing financial pressure—but this episode proves that intentional frugality and clear priorities can change everything. In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Justin Brown-Woods to unpack his journey of paying off $132,000 of debt in just 18 months—on teacher incomes—after facing over $220,000 in total debt. His story is ho...

In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Scott Fritz, elementary teacher and co-author of the TL;DR Pennsylvania Pension Series, to explore the behavioral side of personal finance—why we manage money the way we do, how our “money story” shapes our habits, and what teachers can do to build financial confidence. Scott brings a powerful mix of classroom experience, pension expertise...

Are student loans really the biggest financial trap of our generation? In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Jason Brown, author of Margin Matters and It Is Possible: How I Earned Two Debt-Free Degrees and How You Can Too, to talk about the skyrocketing cost of college—and what teachers, parents, and students can do to avoid student loan debt altogether. Jason breaks down the...