I've been teaching public school for 20 plus years. Love it and wouldn't do anything else.
Yes, you get summers off, but I spend a lot of that time going to workshops and classes and rewriting curriculum, etc... so I couldn't hold down an extra job to cover expenses.
I do have a small online business now, but I don't make any profit. That's mainly so that I can raise money to support the animal charities I want to help.
My first few years teaching, my kids qualified for reduced-priced lunches. It was just a few years ago that I finally reached the $40,000 mark, and I still make less than $50,000. I am in a rural school (not Waco ISD). The inner city teachers make a few thousand more. If you are teaching in an area of need, special ed, math, science, foreign language, you can make more.
You also need to know that there are programs such as Teacher Next Door that have great programs to help you buy a home. The are HUD foreclosed homes, you have to be in a high risk district, and you have to live in the district and work there....but you can buy your house for half of what anyone else would pay. It's a GREAT program!
You can also take a deduction on your income taxes now for some of your teaching expenses and supplies, so check into that.
I also hit the business conventions and shows when they are in town and "surf" for supplies for my kids. You would be amazed at how many free pens, pencils, pads of paper, calendars you can walk away with.
(Bring a bag).
So, is it tough? yes. Can you make it work? yes!!