Tag: Entrepreneur

Why starting over is the perfect time to get your money right!

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Long story short, my web page has to start over again. Not only is it starting over but it will have to rebuild what it once had. With that being said, I am okay with it. Just like everything else, sometimes it is best to just start anew.

I run this page

This is the accompanying website to my one-woman operation podcast. I also have a Facebook page and a very private Facebook group that is by invite only. I help women who have gotten a late start get a hold of their finances and take control so that they don’t end up old bitter hags who are still working even though they are well past the age of retirement.

Kidding . . . kinda . . .

Seriously though, take control now so that you can do what you want to later. I know it is hard. We all want to have that . . . .

Well maybe not all of us, but I do!

I am Cecily White aka Teacher Ces. I have a podcast that you can find here:

What I Learned Planning My Father's Funeral + The Reality of AI in the Classroom – Teacher Ces Podcast

In Episode 42 of Season 4 of The Teacher CES Podcast, Sess shares a deeply personal experience about planning her father's funeral and the unexpected lessons that came with it. After navigating grief and the responsibility of organizing a funeral for the first time, Sess walks through what she learned about the process, the surprising costs involved, and practical ways families can reduce expenses when planning a funeral. She also shifts into a reflection on teaching during the AI era—discussing how tools like ChatGPT are affecting student work, academic integrity, and the modern classroom. This episode blends personal storytelling, practical life advice, and real talk about education, boundaries, and navigating adulthood. Topics covered include: Planning a funeral for a loved one Hidden funeral expenses and ways to save money Grief and responsibility after losing a parent AI and cheating in the classroom Reflections on 25 years in education Investing and financial lessons learned along the way If you're navigating loss, teaching in the age of AI, or simply trying to make smarter life decisions, this episode offers honest insight and perspective.
  1. What I Learned Planning My Father's Funeral + The Reality of AI in the Classroom
  2. I'm Back: Where I've Been, What Changed, and Why 2026 Is Different
  3. Find Out Which Rules to Break and Which to Follow!
  4. Let's Talk Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
  5. What NOT to do with your Stimmy

Teacher Cecily White (Teacher Ces) is all about financially empowering teachers in a matter-of-fact and supportive way. I have obtained a master’s degree in education and an undergraduate degree in communications. I also hold advanced university certification in teaching English as a Second language. When I am not teaching at home online, I can be found working in the public school system as an English as a second language teacher fight outside of Washington DC. Since I haven’t done it enough already, I want to plug my podcast. I am the host of Teacher Ces Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. My schedule is always busy as the divorced mother of fraternal preteen boy/girl twins.

How to Fly Frugally

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A few positive financial changes in our household have allowed me to travel more frequently.  While still frugal, I have a few hacks that I have found that have really helped me to save money, time, and my sanity when it is time to fly the (not always so) friendly skies.

1.  Be nice.

Yes, seriously.  Being naturally easy-going, being laid back and nice is not too difficult for me.  My husband is 6’8.  He usually has a very uncomfortable time flying.  Being frugal, we don’t want to pay to upgrade his seat.  So when we travel together, I ask for a seat with more leg room for him.  I greet the ticket agent with a smile, show them my husband, and explain that we don’t need to sit together.  This works about 80% of the time.  The other 20% of the time, they don’t have the room to accommodate this request.  Unfortunately if this happens I’m not going to walk away upset.

2.  Join your airlines frequent flier club.

The past few years, I’d be lucky if I found myself needed air travel at least once a year.  Now that I’ve vowed to travel more often, I have joined the frequent flier club to every airline I use.  I keep an open mind to airlines and although I do have a favorite, I will fly almost any airline with a good rate.  I live near three major airports, which is a huge advantage when it is time to travel.  I do have a preferential airport but that’s due to the proximity to my home.  I’ll go to another airport if I feel that it makes my air travel less stressful (i.e. no layover) or if it really is a great deal.

3.  Tweet, Facebook, Yelp, or any other type of review your POSITIVE as well as your negative experience.

We’re quick to review something when we’re pissed off but how about when you are satisfied?  I enjoy writing reviews.  Most of my reviews are positive.  I’m usually a pretty easy person to please so it takes the moons being aligned just right, to piss me off.

Do you have any hacks you’d like to share?  Comment below and don‘t forget to subscribe!

Tips for the Side Hustling Entrepreneurs

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Image of male entrepreneur walking on the road while carrying suitcase

We are all given the same twenty-four hours in one day.  If you ever found yourself saying that in a perfect world you would be a full-time entrepreneur, you are not alone.  Truthfully, I enjoy my full-time job yet I also find it fulfilling to work for myself as well.  Here’s another truth bomb, my full-time position offers great benefits so at this point in time I do not wish to leave my full-time job.

That being shared, I simply don’t have the time or know how to fulfill everything that I want to get done.  I have admitted to myself that DIY is a bad idea when it comes to building your website and brand.  I have bit the bullet and have become an advocate of hiring people to outsource the technical side of my entrepreneurial endeavors.

In the past, I would watch YouTube tutorials and try to emulate what I saw.  I have no IT background, so the result was usually, for a lack of a better word, a hot mess.  Fast forward to today.  I have a full-time job, husband, kids, and household to maintain.  So, I do not have the time nor the patients to work on something that will not get me the desired results.

I proudly admit to outsourcing.  I think that outsourcing should not be a dirty little secret.  I currently use onlinejobs.ph but in the past I have used Upwork, Fiveer, and (here’s a secret) eBay.  Yes, you can outsource on eBay too.  I will say that eBay isn’t as well known as the other websites listed so tread with caution, but it can be done.

What are some great outsourcing websites that are missing here?  Subscribe and comment below.

Online Teaching vs. a Brick and Mortar School, Which is Really Better?

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paper-iconIf given the choice, would you rather teach online or in a traditional school?  After teaching online for over a year and in a traditional school for over seventeen years, I realize I do have a preference.  I feel like online is more of a hit em and quit em style while brick and mortar is a classic style of teaching where the teacher is the authoritarian and students maintain a routine.  
I think it takes a certain discipline to be able to learn online.  I have two children and I know that one child has the attention span to sit 25 minutes in front of the computer to learn something while the other one does not.  In terms of pay, B&M wins hands down and also offers benefits packages while online usually does not in most cases.  
I do believe that everyone can learn in a classroom setting but it takes a great deal of discipline to learn online.  Where do you think the future lies regarding online teaching and B&M schools?

Behind the Scenes of Cryptocurrency. Is this the best investment for your future?

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What do you think of the long-term investment opportunities with Bitcoin and Altcoin? Right now, the market is looking shaky and when I really do my research I question the long-term possibilities with this whole thing. Yes, I’ve read stories and heard about people losing their life saving with Cryptocurrency but just about all the investments gurus I’ve read and watched advise that you don’t put in more money than you can afford to lose.

Since this is an venture of the blind leading the blind, if you would like to get started with Bitcoin use my link here:

Coinbase

Once you buy or sell $100 of digital currency or more, you and I will both get $10 of free Bitcoin.

As an educator, do you feel that cryptocurrency is a good investment? Right now I’m watching my initial invest seriously dwindle. What do you think of the long-term possibilities with cryptocurrency? Do you think we will still be investing in ten years or will we be on to the next big thing? What coins do you invest in if you are an investor and why?