Recognizing the Wealth of the Teaching Lifestyle

Valuing meaning beyond money.

Personal finance is full of frameworks to help shape how we think about money and life. The 4% Rule, zero-based budgeting, FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), and even my own idea of The Teaching Lifestyle all offer ways to understand our opportunities and choices. One reason I’m an avid consumer of personal finance podcasts, books, and research is because each helps me see something new in my own financial journey.

Lately, I’ve been drawn to one idea in particular: the dimensions of wealth. This framework has helped me recognize the richness of the teaching profession beyond financial compensation. I believe that teaching cultivates wealth across many dimensions, often in quiet or unexpected ways. 

If you’d like to hear more on this idea, I highly recommend Risk Parity Radio, Episode 436: Your Fear of Running Out of Money May Be Something Else. Frank Vasquez (“Uncle Frank”) captures the truth that wealth goes far beyond numbers on a balance sheet.

Defining Dimensions of Wealth

If I asked, “What does it mean to be wealthy?” what would you say? Many people immediately think of money, assets, or investments. But the concept of dimensions of wealth invites us to look through a wider lens. Wealth is not one-dimensional. It’s a combination of capacities that help us live well.

For me, wealth has six dimensions: time, relationships, experiences, physical well-being, spiritual/mindset, and material. Being “wealthy,” in the holistic sense, means having enough in each of these areas to support happiness, meaning, and well-being.

Six Dimensions of Wealth

It’s tempting to overemphasize one dimension — most commonly, material wealth. But chasing any single dimension too hard can undermine the others. I sometimes call this the dragon philosophy: building a hoard for its own sake. Impressive, maybe. Fulfilling? Probably not. Extreme pursuit in one area can leave the rest undernourished. Dragons are certainly fearsome, powerful creatures, but I'd argue they don't necessarily live rich, fulfilling lives. Moreover, taken to an extreme, excessive wealth within one dimension can be hollow and actively diminish other dimensions of wealth in your life. 

What strikes me about teaching is that the profession naturally supports multiple dimensions of wealth. It isn’t perfect, and the challenges are real, but teaching offers a unique foundation for a well-rounded, meaningful life.

Below are the six dimensions and how the teaching lifestyle contributes to each.

1. Time: Enough Space to Experiment, Relax, and Reflect

Time wealth isn’t about having nothing to do. Instead, it is about having enough control over your time that you can choose what to do with it. The profession of teaching is demanding, no question. The early years of teaching involve an unreasonable workload. But with experience, your evenings open up and your weekends become more predictable. You stop reinventing everything from scratch. You begin to reclaim time, and with that comes choice and space for family, hobbies, reflection, or rest.

Then there’s summer. It is a kind of mini-sabbatical that is built into the profession. As I noted in The Power of Predictability, you can do (and should!) do whatever you want with this time. Rest, think, pursue side projects, or just slow down. Having this kind of time every year is something many people spend decades trying to build into their life.

2. Relationships: Enough Connection to Feel Grounded

Teaching is fundamentally relational. As I discussed in Embracing the Teaching Lifestyle, relationships, community, and growth sit at the center of our work. You collaborate with colleagues who share purpose. You form meaningful connections with students and families. You witness growth, resilience, and humor. These relationships often extend beyond the school walls; many educators build friendships that become lifelong supports.

In a world where loneliness is on the rise, being in community every day is a kind of wealth. You build it naturally as part of the lifestyle. 

3. Experiences: Enough Meaning and Curiosity

Teaching is an engaging experience in a constant state of change and renewal. You’re always learning, adjusting, and thinking through new challenges. You get to reflect on what matters, communicate ideas, and grow alongside students.

Your job provide experiences that many others don’t offer. Perhaps the most profound experiences involve watching students grow and mature. There's also so many experiences through things like coaching, field trips, mentoring, club advising, etc. Throughout these experiences you make memories and have the privilege of being a part of other people's journey through life. All these experiences bring richness and a sense of purpose to your daily life.

4. Physical Well-Being: Enough Movement and Margin

Teaching requires light physical activity throughout the day. You walk, stand, move, circulate. It’s not strenuous exercise, but it prevents the full-day sedentary experience that many other professions demand. 

Just as important, the teaching calendar builds in seasonal opportunities to reset. Longer breaks allow time for rest, appointments, healthier routines, and sleep which are all essential components of physical well-being.

5. Spiritual/Mindset Wealth: Enough Purpose to Stay Grounded

This isn’t a spiritual blog, but teaching naturally cultivates reflection, empathy, patience, and purpose.

You spend your days engaging in work that matters. You see the impact of your actions on real people. You practice hope — believing students can grow, improve, and become themselves. These experiences shape your mindset in steady, quiet ways that anchor the rest of life.

Whether or not you frame it spiritually, teaching supports internal wealth.

6. Material Wealth: Stability and Long-Term Planning

Teaching isn’t the path to fast financial wealth. But it provides stability.

A predictable salary. Health care options. A pension system that reduces uncertainty. Time off that allows for rest, budgeting, side work, or professional development. Many educators can build a version of financial enough that supports a secure, meaningful life.

As I explored in Pension at 55: A Starting Point, a pension can dramatically reduce long-term financial fear. You don’t need extreme income or savings to feel secure; you need clarity on your version of enough and a plan to support it.

Closing Thoughts: How Wealthy Are You?

Wealth isn’t one thing. It’s many things. The teaching lifestyle has helped me understand that the life I want is built on time, connection, purpose, stability, and growth — not just numbers in an account. Although it’s true that teaching isn’t the highest-paid profession in dollars, we should recognize the other types of wealth it helps us build.

If you are just starting to unpack the idea of dimensions of wealth, I invite you to reflect on a few questions:

• Where in your life do you already feel wealthy?
• Where are you chasing more than you truly need?
• How would your choices change if you defined your “enough” clearly?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or reach out. These are conversations worth having.

First posted November 11, 2025.