Sarah Myers’ life as she knew it completely changed. She took her self from barely making ends meet to being successful and financially secure. In 2022, she purchased a three-bedroom, one-and-one-half-bathroom house in Colorado for less than $300,000. This purchase was an important milestone in her career path. This nomination is the culmination of years of effort, strategic education, and breaking through barriers over the course of her professional career.
Myers put a $65,000 down payment on her new digs. She cobbled that little fortune together by way of a combination of her own savings and an inheritance from—her father, no less! This smart financial decision has given her an opportunity to build equity and put down roots in the community she loves.
In her role as a forester since 2018, Myers helps to protect and manage Indiana’s forests. She protects and nurtures the future health and expansion of our nation’s forests. In addition, she oversees timber sales and serves as the lead during fire season, coordinating fire management activities.
Myers received a B.S. in natural resource management from Cornell University. He earned a master’s degree in geographic information science from Penn State. Together, these qualifications have provided her with the comprehensive expertise required to thrive in her field.
In January 2018, she found her first permanent position as a forester in Colorado. Having accomplished a great deal in her post, she was promoted to the supervisory forester position in September 2022. Myers’ yearly salary varies with her position and duties. She was able to do it when she was in federal land management at a pretty incredible $92,100 in 2024.
Her income structure includes an annual base salary of $77,390. She makes an additional $14,710 on average per year in overtime during the heavy fire season. Shared living under this financial arrangement has opened new doors for Christine and greatly improved her quality of life.
“My annual income gives me the flexibility to pursue my financial goals,” said Myers. “I have an emergency fund worth about $5,900 and a high-yield account with $15,880 in it.”
Myers deposits $1,200 per month into a joint savings account with her partner. Their disciplined saving strategy is a testament to their commitment to financial security and long-term planning.
In spite of these important advancements, Myers is up front about the difficulty inherent in seasonal work. Seasonal work is difficult because you lack stability anywhere. You’re basically living out of suitcases and things you can carry in your car,” she continued.
Along with the lessons learned from the precarity of her past income, Michael’s experiences have tempered her approach to long-term financial planning. We really, really, don’t,” she continued, highlighting the need to plan ahead and be fiscally prepared for unexpected events.
As Myers focuses on her current success, she remains committed to her ultimate financial goal: “The ultimate financial goal is to be able to retire earlier and then pursue a second career starting our own small business.” This hope speaks to her longing for autonomy and realization outside of her job as an artist.
“My wife and I aren’t being picky and we’re not pinching pennies either,” she said. It’s this mindset that gives them the freedom to have fun and enjoy their lives without neglecting their financial priorities.