A teacher has revealed that he was forced to live out of his car without a permanent license despite making $54,000 a year. Bill Atkinson from Austin, Texas, took to TikTok to share his struggles as he battled huge amounts of debt due to 'mistakes and bad luck.' The fourth-year educator at NYOS Charter School launched a GoFundMe last month as students and teachers prepared for a new school year.

'I got a ton of debts to pay,' he admitted in his first TikTok video about his desperate situation. 'No matter how much I borrowed or scraped, there was no catching up, because I just did not make enough to cover rent -- because I was so used to living paycheck to paycheck, I didn't have anything in savings to try to cover rent for a couple of months,' he told 'Good Morning America.' 'I had to make a choice and I decided I'm going to live in my car,' he said on TikTok.

The 33-year-old explained how the debt accumulated after a period of 'bad choices' in his twenties and being hit by 'some bad luck.' By living in his car, Atkinson estimated that within a year he could be mostly debt-free, although this did not include car or student loans. To keep fit and have a break from work and the car, the TikToker revealed he had a gym membership, which also served as a way for him to maintain personal hygiene.

Addressing concerns of viewers regarding his safety, Atkinson revealed he had a safe place to park his vehicle for the majority of the time, as well as 24-hour access to his workplace. When others suggested he find somewhere with cheaper rent such as a spare room, he explained that such a move would keep him in a debt loop. 'The problem with even cheap rent, if I don't address my debt it puts me in the same position when I need to move again,' he said. Additionally, many places he could afford rejected his applications due to his poor credit score.

While living in his car, Atkinson took on house-sitting gigs and got a second job working at a haunted house for the Halloween season to bring in more cash. However, he was hit by more bad luck after discovering his A/C was broken in the same month that temperatures exceeded 100F in Austin, and his driver's license had expired. He had plans to fix the A/C, but they fell through, and he was left on a temporary driving license while waiting for the permanent one.

Average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade. On average, teachers make 5% less than they did 10 years ago, according to the National Education Association. Teachers earn 26% more, on average, in states with collective bargaining, showcasing the power and advantage of unions. The national average starting salary for a first-year teacher in the US is $44,530, with the average salary being $69,544. States with the highest-paid teacher salaries include California ($95,160), New York ($92,696), and Massachusetts ($92,307). Meanwhile, states with the lowest-paid teacher salaries include West Virginia ($52,870), Florida ($53,098), and South Dakota ($53,153). In Texas, the starting salary for teachers averages $47,195, with the overall average salary being $60,716.

Despite his efforts and positivity, viewers were left heartbroken at his story. 'Our teachers deserve so much more... I’m so sorry that you had to sacrifice your living situation to stay afloat. Your resilience will take you far!' one said. 'I wish you the best and I’m so sorry that we live in a time where an education and a job don’t get you far. Hang in there,' another wrote. 'Teachers shouldn't go through this!!,' a third added as others offered their help if needed.

Since his story went viral, Atkinson set up a GoFundMe page to 'support his journey to stability,' with a goal of $13,600, the amount of debt impacting his credit. 'I don’t know a single teacher that wants a mansion. We want to be able to pay our bills,' he wrote on the page. In just a month, he managed to exceed the target and raised $18,760, paying off all his debts. Thanks to the generosity of strangers, he hopes to pay off other debts that have not yet hit his credit, such as medical bills, rent arrears, and over $2,600 for his undergraduate degree.

Despite clearing significant debt, Atkinson has said his story is not finished as he hopes to raise awareness for the struggles of fellow teachers. Generous donors are also keen to hear updates from him. 'Keep us posted - we’re not done helping! Governments have to do better for us teachers,' a fellow educator wrote. 'I'm not the only teacher living paycheck to paycheck and struggling; it's a systemic issue,' Atkinson told viewers. 'A lot of teachers are one paycheck away from having my story.'

Atkinson now has a roof over his head in a temporary home for six months. In the meantime, as well as working multiple jobs, he plans to continue posting videos to raise awareness of the financial challenges teachers face across the country. 'I don’t know a single teacher that wants a mansion,' he told GMA. 'We want to be able to pay our bills, have a decent place to live, and if we’re in our 30s and single, a place to live without a roommate and be able to buy food.'