Can a teacher family really live on one income and use the other to aggressively pay down debt?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Emily Guy Birken to talk about how she and her husband intentionally chose to live on a single salary so they could use her teacher income to eliminate debt and build financial flexibility.

If you’re a teacher wondering how to pay off debt faster, simplify your finances, or create more margin in your life, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

Emily shares how she and her husband made a strategic decision early in their marriage:

• Live on her husband’s income

• Use her teaching salary to aggressively pay down their HELOC

• Build equity and financial flexibility before their next move

This approach helped them gain control, reduce stress, and create long-term options.

We walk through a clear process teachers can follow:

• Track every expense

• Separate fixed vs. variable costs

• Determine whether one income can cover essential obligations

• Redirect the second income toward debt payoff or other financial goals

Even if you don’t fully transition to one income, this framework can accelerate your financial progress.

Emily offers a powerful mindset shift: viewing money as energy rather than just dollars.
We discuss how aligning your financial decisions with your values can reduce guilt, increase clarity, and help you use money intentionally instead of reactively.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Living on One Income to Pay Off Debt
• Practical Steps to Transition to One Income
• Money as “Energy,” Not Just Numbers
• Balancing Work, Family, and Finances
• Intentional budgeting creates flexibility
• Tracking spending is the first step to financial clarity
• A curious, growth-oriented mindset transforms both money and life

If you’re a teacher looking to pay off debt, simplify your finances, or create a richer wallet, classroom, and life, this episode is for you.

If you’d like help creating your own one-income plan or debt payoff strategy, visit teachermoneyshow.com/coaching to learn more about financial coaching.

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💬 Comment below: Could your household live on one income? What would need to change?

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