Money Diaries: Living On $59k As A Yoga Teacher In NYC
Money Diaries is a new series focused on how the wellness community makes and spends money. We believe money is one of the last taboos in the wellness world: Why is it that we can talk about our sex lives and not our salaries? With an underlying drive to empower, we’re aiming to give you a peek into the diverse day-to-day lives, decisions, priorities, and lifestyles of the wellness world.
Keep it simple: That's the mantra of this yoga teacher, who makes about $60,000 annually teaching yoga and participating in yoga-related events. This city dweller loves dining out, invests in body work, and splurges on a pair of jeans in the weeklong diary below.
Occupation: Yoga Teacher
- Annual salary: approximately $58,800
- Income per month: $4,900 before taxes
- Location: New York, NY
Money philosophy
"Financial success is not everything. It’s about the quest of what makes you feel great, things that are beyond anything money can buy. A lot of the practice encourages that you don’t need too much. I don’t want to be hustling my whole life teaching yoga…and I’m human: we live in material world. That said, I don’t love money, and I’m quick to spend it. Some weeks, like this one, I spend more, and then some I pull back. It's about staying balanced with what's coming in. "
Income sources
- Group classes: 20 percent
- Teacher trainings: 17 percent
- Mentorships: 12 percent
- Privates: 28 percent
Recurring monthly bills
- Rent: $1,795
- Insurance for teaching yoga: $13/month
- Bills: $150 to $270 (this includes heat, electricity, and water)
- Spotify: $9.99
- Phone: $140
- Internet, cable, etc.: $40
Total: $2,147.99 to $2,267.99 per month in bills
Regular self-care
- Therapy: $150/week
- Bodywork: $250/every other week
- Monthly supplements and herbs: $100
Total: $1,200 per month on self-care
Monthly savings contributions: [401(k), vacation fund, etc.]
- Roth IRA: $100 to $150
- Personal savings: $150
- Any projects, events, extra/odd jobs that come up (additional to income)
Total: $300+ per month in savings
Debt payments
None, I’m fortunate enough to have paid off my credit card debt and student loans a few years ago.
Here's what I bought in a week.
Day 1
- $4 cappuccino from the local cafe before I taught a very large class—I need a rush of energy as I take on a packed room.
- $12 vegi-talian sandwich and ginger ale from the corner grocer. I'm between privates and on the go, so need some fuel to keep me going
- $40 drinks at a local bar for a friend's birthday!
- $50 dinner trying a new neighborhood restaurant post birthday drinks with some fellow teachers
Total: $106
Day 2
- $50 late lunch at the Dutch
- Breakfast and dinner at home :)
Today is my pseudo day off (only teach one class at night), so I treated myself to a nice meal with my girlfriend and took a stroll through SoHo.
Total: $50
Day 3
- $4 cappuccino from THINK before an early morning private
- $6 bought a yogurt parfait to go to eat during a studio meeting
- $50 groceries from Whole Foods for the week!
- Lunch at home: I made a spinach salad with avocado.
- Dinner at home was quinoa, soft-boiled egg, sautéed kale, and chickpeas :)
Total: $60
Day 4
- $6 coffee and egg wrap from a coffee shop between privates in the a.m.
- $10 Sweetgreen salad :)
- Dinner at home was pasta with olive oil, anchovy, capers, and a little parm.
Total: $16
Day 5
- Free (sponsored!) lunch at a cute downtown restaurant
- $250 Rolfing session…expensive but totally worth it for my self-care
- I did a photoshoot this month, which will net me about $1,000 extra give or take. Love it when that happens. $120 new jeans after my Rolfing treat
- $100 double date at Buvette
Total: $350
Day 6
- $150 weekly therapy...also totally worth it for my own sanity!
- $30 night out with my best friend…free event, but spent $$ on cabs that night to get us around the town!
Total: $180
Day 7
- $6 Moon Juice Maca Activated walnuts
- $20 lunch out with friends after free SoulCycle class
Maybe a fun sample sale splurge in my future…friend just came in with some CUTE things!
Total: $29
Weekly Total: $821
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