Bill Atkinson was sleeping in his car after falling behind on rent.

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
    2·
    2 months ago

    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

    • leauxhigh@lemmy.world
      2·
      2 months ago

      a budget is a plan, so say this again but change the wording from a budget to a plan and hear how it sounds.

      • TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee
        1·
        2 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
          1·
          2 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
            1·
            2 months ago

            “Literally just get another job bro”

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

            • leauxhigh@lemmy.world
              1·
              2 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.