25+ Educators Writing About Personal Finance

“Educators are not doomed to poverty” is one of the key principles behind this site. There are real systemic issues that make it harder for educators to make financial progress, but it is not impossible.

Helping educators overcome the financial, career, and mindset hurdles to building wealth is why I write. It’s also why I’m thrilled to share this comprehensive list of other educators who write about personal finance, career growth, and financial independence.

“Do you know any other teachers doing this?”

Yes I do! On this list you’ll find more than 20 current or former educators writing about all kinds of topics related to money and life. They’re proving we can make progress while working in education – and that it’s okay for us to talk about money.

We’ve got US, expat, and international educators. Their jobs span many education roles – teacher, administrator, academic intervention, librarian, and counselor to name a few. Whatever you’re looking forward, this list probably has you covered.

In addition to links, each educator describes their site and offers a personal finance tip. If they’ve participated in one of the Educator on FIOR interviews, I’ve included that link as well. If I missed you, drop me an email or leave your information in the comments below – I’d love to see the list grow.

Enjoy this list of educators writing about money. I hope you find exactly what you need.

The Millionaire Educator

One of the original educator financial independence voices, Gerry Born is a high school Spanish teacher and basketball coach.

What The Millionaire Educator Is About

The Millionaire Educator blog focuses on wealth building on a teacher’s salary. Points of emphasis are debt avoidance, hardcore savings (in tax-advantaged accounts), income maximization, tax planning, prudent investing, and frugal living.

Gerry’s personal finance advice for educators:

Learn how to use your tax-advantaged accounts to grow your net worth. By saving aggressively in 457, 403b, IRA, and HSA accounts can greatly accelerate the wealth-building process and, consequently, avail yourself to more life options. The sooner you learn how to build wealth, the sooner you can live YOUR life.

She Picks Up Pennies

Penny is a middle school teacher who writes about the personal in educator personal finance.

What She Picks Up Pennies Is About

My site chronicles the story of a millennial mom and teacher who is trying to live a more purposeful life one cent at a time.

Penny’s personal finance advice for educators:

If you love what you do, you’re on the right path. Just make sure that you also get your money right along the way. It can be a slow journey at the start, but education can be incredibly rewarding and well paying.

Burning Desire for FIRE

Frogdancer Jones (Yes, that’s an alias) is a secondary teacher in Australia who reached early retirement!

What The Site Is About

I’m a very late starter to FIRE, a single parent to 4 boys and an English and Drama teacher in my 50’s. By utilising frugality, domestic geoarbitrage and a long-term view on life, I reached financial independence and 2020 is my last year of working!

Frogdancer’s personal finance advice for educators:

People always say that teachers earn little money. That’s not quite true. Become a valuist – spend on the things you value and ruthlessly scrimp on the boring things. Your money ends up being able to go a long way.

You can read more about Frogdancer’s financial journey in Educator on FIOR #4

Quick note: Millionaire Educator, Frogdancer, and I were on a podcast episode together about educators and financial independence. You can find that episode here at Earn and Invest. (formerly What’s Up Next?)

Mr. Jamie Griffin

Jamie Griffin is a teacher who started as a paraprofessional.

What Mr. Jamie Griffin Is About

Helping families save money, spend money on what matters, and live a debt free life.

Jamie’s personal finance advice for educators:

Prioritize paying off debt before going back to school for your masters. You don’t have to be debt free before you enroll, but it can be defeating to add more debt with a masters program, especially if you already feel like you’re floundering to make payments. And if possible, make a plan for how you’re going to pay for your masters degree to avoid taking out a bunch more loans. Can you pay cash? Great! Can you save up for a year before you start the program? Consider your options before enrolling. You don’t want to still be paying off your student loans when you’re nearing retirement.

Savvy History

Michelle is a teacher and musician, currently teaching middle school reading.

What The Site Is About

Musician and teacher Michelle VanCura writes about the odd intersection of creativity and money from a historical perspective. She has formally and informally studied the creative process along with the mental health needs of individuals with high potential. She believes independent musicians, content creators, and small business owners can be empowered by such knowledge and discusses creative psychology frequently on her blog Savvy History.

Michelle’s personal finance advice for educators:

Keep an open mind about what is possible for you, especially if you establish a decent foundation to launch an ideal life from. Educators can have happy careers and have stable finances with careful planning and navigation.

You can also read more about Michelle’s financial journey in Educator on Fire #5

Teach Save Invest Retire

Jay is a senior leader in an international school.

What Teach Save Invest Retire Is About

A personal finance blog for teachers, expats and anyone else who is interested.

Jay’s personal finance advice for educators:

Read The Millionaire Teacher by Andrew Hallam and stay away from financial advisors who don’t charge by the hour.

Metalhead Money

Jessie May works as a school librarian.

What Metalhead Money Is About

Personal finance for metalheads…. And everyone else!

Jessie May’s personal finance advice for educators:

Open a 403b; if you belong to a union, check if that membership can get you a discount on any services, insurance, etc; build your skills continually so you have work options within education and outside the field

Simply Know Money

Shaun Morgan is a former social studies teacher who now works as an academic interventionist at a junior high school .

What Simply Know Money Is About

The goal of Simply Know Money is to help low income earners know that the way out of their financial trouble is understanding basic money principles. The site focuses on teaching money basics, giving helpful hints, and helping people increase their income through education and effort.

Shaun’s personal finance advice for educators:

Grow your income by building a seasonal side business. As educators we have the incredible gift of time off during the summer, and even given time off for holidays. Building a business that operates during this time, or that you can easily ramp up during your off times allows you to still have the flexibility to take time off as you see fit (since you own the business) and leverage that time off to rocket to financial independence. It will let you keep being an educator without worrying about finances and without the added stress of a second W2 during the school year.

Money Saved is Money Earned

Tawnya is one half of the Money Saved team. She works as an elementary special education teacher.

What Money Saved is Money Earned Is About

We are dedicated to providing financial education and helping people improve their financial literacy. We help you save more, earn more, and live more.

Tawnya’s personal finance advice for educators:

Learn your contract and your benefits, then seek to maximize them. Take advantage of retirement accounts afforded to teachers (403(b) for example) as well as continuing education funds. Understand your salary schedule and what you can do to increase your income.

You can read more about Tawnya’s financial journey in Educator on FIOR #19

403bwise

Dan Otter is a veteran teacher and the executive director of 403bwise.

What 403bwise Is About

K-12 403(b) education and advocacy.

Dan’s personal finance advice for educators:

Get wise to the myriad of retirement plans available (pension, 403(b) and 457(b) plans) plus the Roth IRA.

The Dragons on FIRE

Dragon Gal is a former elementary school teacher who retired early.

What The Dragons on FIRE Is About

Dragon Gal was an educator for 18 years and early retired in 2017 at 40. Her husband quit full-time work at 43, and they write primarily about what they are doing in their early retirements on their blog: The Dragons on FIRE.

Dragon Gal’s personal finance advice for educators:

Educators are always creative with their resources when school budget money is tight–we’ve always stretched those school budget dollars to the max. Use that same skill and apply it to your personal finances! Please take good care of yourself mentally and physically–your health is also your wealth.

You can also read more about Dragon Gal’s financial journey in Educator on FIOR #11

Problems and Projects

Mrs. P&P is a teacher.

What Problems and Projects Is About

I write about conquering challenges in the home and budget. Topics include budgeting, debt payoff, home projects, DIYs, money saving tips, family life… anything that might help you work through the problems and projects that pop up in your home and wallet

Mrs. P&P’s personal finance advice for educators:

Start living on last month’s income! Most of us are paid monthly and one month behind, so this helps you build a 2 month cushion right off the bat. You’re going to spend money in your classroom. Budget for it! Remember that your time is also valuable. You don’t have to make everything from scratch to save a buck. Get the pricier TPT bundle if it’s going to save you 10 hours of time. It’s worth it, and you’ve got enough to do.

The Simple StartUp

Rob Phelan is a high school personal finance and math teacher.

What The Simple StartUp Is About

The Simple StartUp is dedicated to helping kids and adults start their first business. The focus is on starting for free or cheap, and then build a business that solves a problem for your customers. The ‘Business Bulletin’ provides tips and information, on our site and newsletter, focused on helping you to build that successful business.

Rob’s personal finance advice for educators:

Now is a great time to start a business and educators have excellent skills that are suited towards running a business. Just start!

You can also read more about Rob’s financial journey in Educator on FIOR #23

Teachers Talk Money

Rachel Scott is a high school English teacher.

What Teachers Talk Money Is About

Where I share my personal numbers (monthly budget and net worth updates) and all my favorite actionable tips for teachers looking to get good with money.

Rachel’s personal finance advice for educators:

Simply being frugal won’t cut it– to be in control of your money, you need to have a plan (AKA a budget). When you do this, you can slowly learn to enjoy spending money on the things that matter to you without guilt.

You can read more about Rachel’s financial journey in Educator on FIOR #15

The Frugal Expat

Steve Cummings is an expat teacher living in Taiwan teaching English and personal finance.

What The Frugal Expat Is About

The Frugal Expat is about trying to help people to create a financial plan for their future. It is to help teach people about finances, saving, and investing.

Steve’s personal finance advice for educators:

Life can get busy. If you can automate your finances this can help with keeping your financial goals in line, and you will be able to save more, invest more, and do more for your financial future. This can also help you to pay yourself first by setting aside money for your retirement before you pay your other bills.

Millennial Educator

Keelan is a public school music teacher.

What Millennial Educator Is About

Millennial Educator is a personal finance and financial independence blog for teachers in their 20’s and 30’s. This is the right place for you if you’re feeling financially “stuck”, living paycheck to paycheck, or simply want to better manage your money. This blog provides information on how teachers can earn more, save more, pay off debt, and create a path toward financial freedom.

Keelan’s personal finance advice for educators:

Investing is not as confusing as the rest of the world makes it out to be. By understanding a few simple concepts you can build a sizable net worth and completely change the trajectory of your life.

Small Budget Retirement

The author of small budget retirement is an ESL teacher.

What Small Budget Retirement is About

I am an immigrant with less than 20 years in the U.S. Father of 4 with an amazing wife who gave up her career to care of our family. We are 9 years away from retirement.

SBR’s personal finance advice for educators:

Earn the necessary credits to max out in your District’s pay scale. Avoid car debt. Live in a modest home; you don’t need all that. House hack. Invest in your 403B. Stay away from annuities. Don’t let the job burn you out.

You can also read more about SBR’s financial journey in Educator on FIOR #14

Late Bloomer Wealth

Steve Schullo is a retired Los Angeles teacher and published author.

What Late Bloomer Wealth Is About

I share my expe­ri­ences with finances as an ordi­nary con­sumer. Because of my negative experiences with unethical financial professionals and their terrible and costly retirement products, I have been a 403(b) reform advocate and author of two free books.

Steve’s personal finance advice for educators:

Take care of your financial life and you will be able to help your students with theirs.

Let’s Build This Thing!

Thomas currently works as an IT Director supporting schools.

What Let’s Build This Thing! Is About

My goal is to help entrepreneurs get unstuck, get focussed and take the next step in their business growth. I provide coaching and accountability for small or tiny businesses.

Thomas’ personal finance advice for educators:

If you have to choose one, choose #3.
1. Start saving immediately despite low salary. Set the automatic transfer of at least $10 a week, if not more, to your retirement fund and slowly increase it. Transfer any raises you get as well. You lived off your initial salary so although you make little, saving more will make retirement sweeter.
2. Take care of the secretary/office admin and the janitor. They are the key to your ability to get things done. More than you know!
3. Get outside of your little classroom world. Try to see the bigger picture and work to the success of the school as a whole and not just your own class. Learn how it all works. Participate. You’ll be able to do more for your own classroom by helping the school to move forward.

TeachMoneyLife

Lance is a middle school social studies teacher.

What TeachMoneyLife Is About

TeachMoneyLife is about helping others to build a better financial, professional and family life one step at a time. It seeks to guide other teachers and professionals on how to reach their goals and make sense of personal finance.

Lance’s personal finance advice for educators:

Pay yourself first to ensure your hard earned money gets to work for you. Then look to increase your cash flow to supercharge your finances.

You can read more about Lance’s journey in Educator on FIOR 32.

Other Sites Written by Educators

Here are even more money sites written by educators. I didn’t have a chance to get their input before I published. They’re great, too!

• Free Fun Family – Diana is a district administrator. She was featured in Educator on FIOR #8.
• The Three Year Experiment – Laurie is an ESL teacher. You can also learn more in Educator on FIOR #10.
• Women Who Money – A fabulous team of women, including several educators. Vicki Cook (retired administrator and current substitute teacher) writes here, along with Penny and Laurie (mentioned earlier.)
• Method to Your Money – Matt is a teacher and assistant principal.
• My Economics Education – EconTeacher is, well, an economics and sociology teacher (among other things.). You can read more about her in Educator on FIOR 3.
• Minimalism and Your Money – Dave (a teacher) appears to have gone quiet, but the site is still up – so here it is! He was featured in Educator on FIOR 9.
• Money Savvy Teacher – Emma is a teacher in the UK. She was also Educator on FIOR 31.
• Teacher Double – An upper elementary teacher writing about Financial Independence and flexibility!

Counting this site you’re on right now, that’s over 25 different sources written by current or former educators! Something for everyone.

Twitter users can also follow my list of Financial Independence Educators.

If you’re an educator producing financial content and I missed you, comment below, email me, or DM me on Twitter and I’d be glad to add you.

You can check out more interviews with educators in the Educators on FIOR section. It includes many of the writers above, but also dozens of teachers, school principals and paraprofessionals that aren’t publishing online. If you’d like to be featured in an interview, just let me know. I’m always thrilled to feature stories of educators taking charge of their finances!