How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary
According to a 2006 study done by the National Education Association, 50% of teachers leave the profession within five years because of poor working conditions and low salaries. Yet, according to the 2006 General Social Survey, teaching ranks among the Top 10 most gratifying jobs with 69% of teachers reporting they were very satisfied with their jobs. A low salary should not be the reason stop molding young minds and influencing lives for the betterment of our society. Learn to: Retire wi
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(out of 7 reviews)
List Price: $ 9.99
Price: $ 4.99
Review by Daniel O. Mangrum for How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary
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Don’t buy this book for the simple reason that the author doesn’t “survive on a teacher’s salary”, according to his own narrative.
Most of the time period covered in this short book, the author “survives” on two teachers’ salaries because his wife also works. In addition to their two-teacher income, they earn money on the side by tutoring and working for relatives. In a few brief periods when one of them was not teaching full-time, they received money for teaching part time, keeping someone’s child in their home and collecting disability. There are loans from grandma and a home improvement loan to supplement their income. The fact of the matter is that Danny and his wife are rarely without additional streams of income. At one point, Danny leaves teaching altogether for a more lucrative job selling flooring. At the end of the book, Danny goes back to teaching.
So what does Danny teach us about surviving on a teacher’s salary? Never rely on a teacher’s salary. Have two…and then tutor on the side. Work for relatives and friends as well. Sell a house. Borrow money from grandma. Collect disability. Work part-time. Publish and sell a book. This is how Danny does it.
To end on a slightly more favorable note, Danny does some smart things with his money which are worth emulating but you don’t have to buy his book to learn how to do them. Danny suggests his readers check out books by David Bach. I would add that you look to Dave Ramsey and Larry Burkett.
Review by Benjamin Easley for How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary
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Despite my initial reservations, I chose to purchase this quick read in pursuit of practical advice to achieve my personal goals of supporting my future family on a teacher’s salary.
Unfortunately, I must admit that Mr. Mangrum is spot-on is his assessment of this ten-dollar waste.
Over the course of eighty-four pages, Mr. Kofke writes with poor precision, abandons his own commitment to “survive (and perhaps thrive)” on such a salary, and offers the occasional money-saving suggestion of an ethically questionable nature:
In one such example, the author and his wife manipulate their disability insurance to escape $2,293.33 of a $2,318.50 hospital bill following the birth of their first daughter.
The book’s greatest worth lies in the author’s references to financial literature by David Bach. Personally, I would recommend investing $9.99 in Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness ($17.99 on this site). Dave offers direct, biblical, effective, “proven” (as the book states) financial advice that would serve a working man well in any profession.
For the record, I do appreciate Mr. Kofke’s contribution to the understaffed field of special education…
…but I beg you to refrain from adding his book to your cart. Tate Publishing should be ashamed for endorsing such literature.
Review by Old Teacher for How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary
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This book was not worth the money I spent on it. It was a narrative of the author’s experience. It was misleading. There were times when it was about 2 teacher’s salaries and 3 times his grandma lent him money. I think he will do well in sales because of the title but will disappoint many buyers. The author will add to his savings but poor teachers will be conned out of $13.00 for a book that has no practical use for them.
Review by M. Pierce for How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary
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I am so disappointed after reading this short ebook. The things that the other reviewers mentioned are spot on. Danny did NOT live on a single teachers salary. He always had rich ole grandma around to bank roll him. For most people starting out is the hard part but when you get rich family members to loan you money for free that makes your starting out significantly easier. Him and his wife almost always had multiple sources of income which made their meager life work which I found disappointing. Also I was SHOCKED that Danny left teaching for the almighty dollar! What a sellout. While this “book” does give some basic good financial information is DOES NOT tell you how to survive on a single teachers salary.
Review by George for How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary
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Suffice it to say that I read the reviews and what I could read of the book on Google Books. I wanted to see if I should give this book, How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary.” to my daughter who is a third year math teacher in a middle school. First, anyone I tell that to is astonished since they know what middle school kids are like and how difficult it is to teach math.
I agree with the earlier reviewers and am not going to buy the book for my daughter. There is no way she would be able to follow the author’s advice now. Early in her college life, away from home, she began sinking deeper and deeper into debt. That hardly mattered to the state run university that only encouraged her to take out more student loans from their favorite banks. Nor did it stop numerous credit card companies from giving her ample credit to hang her financial future.
After graduation she defaulted on the high repayments of her $50,000 in student loans and has continually had difficulties with all kinds of loans and the debt collectors trying to get her to pay off various loans.
Daddy bailed her out time and time again and finally ended up with giving her $10,000 last year and she is still in debt, but the “Daddy Bank.” is now very old and has serious problems of its own and is not providing more money.
If any future or current teacher wants to have a secure future they need to look toward becoming educated in personal finance. The earlier the better.
Try books (and the TV show) of Suze Orman, for a starter, although there are plenty of good books on personal finance. One caveat is that you need to avoid those titles that seem too good to be true, such as the currently under review book. There isn’t any magic to personal finance that someone can tell you about.
For parents, my specific advice is to see what profitable sport your child, future teacher or not, should study. From an early age, invest as much as possible, in sports – play, lessons, training, camps and clinics for your child. Make sure they play on highly competitive teams or compete in elite events. What this might do is to pave the way for your child to be a professional athelete and make millions for themselves and you, the parent. Or, at least they will stand a chance at receiving scholarships to college.
Secondly, although just as important, make sure your child studies personal finance. Tell them it is a requirement for any help you can give them in college. If you cannot find courses for them to take, give the course yourself. I’m tempted to add a few more need to know subjects, but will only mention one – ethical behavior.
As for current teachers – perhaps you have options. Get a different job?