It’s Personal is an anonymous blog series about the personal lives and finances of women.
How old are you?
34
Where do you live? City and State (or Country if outside the U.S.)
St. Paul, MN
Do you like where you currently live? Why or why not?
Yes. I like living in the city (for now). I’m right by a lake, park, and golf course. There’s also some good restaurants nearby.
Do you have any hobbies?
I enjoy walking or being outside, reading, puzzling.
What is your highest level of education?
Master’s
If you went to university/college, what school did you attend? What did you study?
Texas Christian University-secondary English Language Arts for bachelors, University of Minnesota-Mankato for masters in Teaching a English to Speakers of Other Languages
What is your current occupation? If not currently employed, please say “Not Employed”
Teacher
If you are currently employed, do you like your job? Why or why not?
There are many aspects of it that I love about my job. But teaching gets harder every year. We are always expected to do more with less. It certainly doesn’t feel sustainable.
If you are currently employed, what is your yearly salary (or approximate yearly compensation)? Feel free to include any bonuses or other compensation perks you may receive this year.
83,000 + 2-3,000 in stipends
Have you ever been promoted at work? Please elaborate if so.
No. I’ve taken on leadership positions, which can come with stipends, but you don’t really get promoted as a teacher
Have you ever negotiated your salary? Please elaborate if so.
No, our salary schedule is laid out so there’s no negotiating. You’re paid based on your years of experience and education level
Do you have a second job or side hustle? If Yes, please explain.
No, not anymore. But for my first 7 years of teaching I taught adult classes at night and summer school
If you have a second job or side hustle, about how much money do you make monthly from your second job / side hustle?
N/A
Are you single / in a relationship / married?
Married
If you are in a relationship / married, do you and your partner have joint or separate finances?
Joint
Do you have any children / dependents?
1 precious 6 month old
Do you have any pets?
2 precious dogs
What is your monthly rent / mortgage for your household?
1500
About how much do you spend on groceries each week?
350-400
Are you debt-free?
No
If you are debt free, how much debt have you paid off and how long did it take you to pay it all off?
N/A
If you have debt, what kinds of debt (i.e. credit cards, student loans, car) and how much debt do you have?
Student loans ($26,000) and car ($25,000)
Are you currently investing/saving for your retirement?
Yes
If yes, about how much do you have invested/saved for retirement? Are you satisfied with this number?
$136,000. No, I definitely wish I could contribute more to my 403b.
What’s been your favorite purchase of 2023 so far?
Probably my car or a week-long vacation up north
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self? (Doesn’t have to be money-related)
Pay off your student loans right away! And pay toward the principal, not interest.
Do you have any current goals you want to accomplish? (Health, Fitness, Financial, Travel, etc.)
Health-commit to a regular exercise routine. Financial-pay off student loans.
What are you struggling with in life at the moment, if anything?
Oscillating between hating my job so much that I want to quit and trying to figure out a way to continue in this career.
What accomplishments of yours are you most proud of?
Getting my masters degree, paying off credit card debt + maxing out Roth IRA the last few years
What makes you imperfect?
So many things. Letting emotions get the best of me is top of mind right now.
Any final thoughts you want to add?
This is cool-thanks for doing this & sharing with others!
Want to share this post with a friend?
Just copy and paste this link: https://imperfecttaylor.com/its-personal-162/
It’s Personal is an anonymous blog series about the personal lives and finances of women.
