"I am a teacher, and I can barely afford to pay rent with my salary," Firment said in her video. "My salary biweekly is basically my rent minus $500." She broke down her expenses, explaining that her car payment is $400 a month, with insurance adding another $100. "Oh yeah, that's right! You do the math; I am left owing money at the end of the month. That's not even including groceries," she said. In that moment, it hit her—she wasn’t just living paycheck to paycheck, she was actively losing money. "I realized that every single month, I am transferring money out of my savings into my checking." And then came the gut-punching realization: "I am actually going to go into debt if I continue being a teacher."
American teacher struggling to make rent says it's impossible to live on a her salary
The woman explained that she had no money for rent that month, and she described how that happened.
The life of a teacher is anything but easy. Beyond the daily challenges of the job, educators often find themselves undervalued and underpaid, struggling to make ends meet. For many, their salaries simply don’t keep up with the cost of living, making it difficult to survive in today’s economy. One teacher, Lexie Firment—who goes by @lexiefirment on TikTok—had a shocking realization: instead of earning a livable wage, she was actually losing money by working. When she shared that she could no longer afford rent, her story struck a nerve online.
"I am literally having a crisis right now. I am going to have a panic attack; I can't do this," she continued. "Knowing that every single month, most of my money is literally...like, I don't have money." Firment pointed out, "I don't know how I am going to pay off my credit card this month. I just don't know." She concluded the video with, "Alright, well. Peace and blessings, and I hope you can afford your rent today...and groceries, and your car, and insurance, and life." The caption for the post read, "This is the sad truth of teaching in 2023. It's impossible to do it all." The video garnered nearly 3 million views, and people took to the comments section to share their thoughts on the matter.
The nationwide average teacher salary for the 2023-24 school year was reported to be $71,699 per the National Education Association estimates, reported Education Week. Teachers have been calling for improved salaries in the profession. A survey by RAND Corporation found that 66% of American teachers said their base salary was inadequate and demanded a $17,000 increase in base pay.
@Bethany0206 wrote, "In a weird way, it is comforting to know that others are struggling with financial stability and job security as well. I have been so stressed." @kay_jane7 commented, "I wait for payday with a knot in my stomach and then cry because I have $30 left after getting my salary." @daniiimcccalip remarked, "Not to mention that it is impossible to take up a second job because of all the work I have to do outside of the contract hours and because of the exhaustion after school."
@lexieharbstreit shared, "I moved out with hefty savings and moved back in with my parents a year later and no savings left. I lived just the way you described through this video." @tylersnead expressed, "You literally made me cry when you said that you were about to have a panic attack. Things will work itself out, and you are not alone. Trust me." @amandajeanne pointed out, "I am a teacher too and it's rough at first, but it is possible. Honestly, I recommend any form of private special education; it pays way more than public."
@lexiefirment Hey rats, I am a teacher, and I can barely afford rent and groceries. This is the sad truth of teaching in 2023. Impossible to do it all. #teachertruth #teachersalary #brokteacher #teachersalaries #teachersalarydoesntpaybills #broketeachers #payteachersmore #payteacherslikeproffessionals #payteachersmoremoney #teachertired #teachermentalhealth #cantaffordit ♬ original sound - Lexie Firment
You can follow Lexie Firment (@lexiefirment) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.
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