Welcome back! + The power of consistency

​I hope your holiday break was everything you wanted/needed it to be! I know your batteries have recharged and you are ready to take on the second semester.

In my previous email I requested for people to send in their money wins from 2025. I was overwhelmed by the responses! 

Just kidding - I didn't get a single one. But that is okay! This allows me to brag about my wife and talk about our new (to us) van instead.

1. The impact of climbing the payscale: My amazing wife, Maggie, finished enough credits to max out the payscale. She reached Masters + 40 hours! This is the culmination of years of work and countless hours. The result? She now earns almost $15,000 PER YEAR more than if she only had her Bachelors degree. This extra income is a blessing to us and she is a testament to what someone can do with dedication and consistency. 

Maxing out the payscale might seem impossible at first, and it won't happen overnight. But you will never get there unless you get started. I am so thankful Maggie took the first step many years ago. 

2. Using money as a tool: We bought a used van in April and took out a loan to do so. While I am not a fan of the interest rate or having a monthly payment, it was the right move for our family of 6 (plus a dog).  I am glad we made the decision to get the van as it makes our day to day lives significantly easier.

Buying a van is a money win because it makes our lives better. Learning about budgets, retirement accounts, pensions, etc. is important, but we always must remember that money is a tool to help us live our best lives. If we try to save all our money, we certainly are not living our best lives and are missing the point of financial literacy.

What about you? I would still love to hear about your money wins - big or small! Otherwise, keep an eye out for the February newsletter that will feature putting money systems into place that are great for teachers.

Best,
Eric Teacher Money Coach
EricTMC.com

PS. If you know someone who would be interested in receiving this newsletter, please send it their way! This simple act could be the beginning of transforming their financial future.