It's Not About Money

Project Ideas to Generate Cash They discuss how these experiences can help foster responsibility, financial independence, and a solid work ethic, all while equipping young people with valuable life skills. Sponsored by CTCMath.com Key Points Discussed: – No Paying for Chores: Charla shares why she’s firmly against paying children for chores, explaining that chores are […] The post Proj...

Back to School Contract:  The No Argument Approach sponsored by CTCMath.com In this episode, Matt and Charla McKinley welcome their son Jack McKinley back to the studio. They discuss Jack’s summer experiences, his work, friendships, and financial management. The focus then shifts to the concept of a back-to-school contract, a tool that has helped their […] The post Back to School Contr...

🎙️ INAM 25-24 Summary Teaching Teens the Value of Hard Work In this episode, Matt and Charla bust the myth that teens will “just get” a work ethic. Spoiler alert: They won’t. Work ethic is taught, modeled, and experienced—it takes intentional parenting, not crossed fingers and good vibes. 🔎 What We Dig Into: 1. Hard work isn’t […] The post Teaching Teens the Value of Hard Work appeared firs...

🎙️ INAM 25-23: You Can’t Cram for Adulthood Listen to all of the It’s Not About Money Podcast episodes here. In this sentimental (and slightly hilarious) episode, Charla welcomes a very special guest—her daughter Kate. As Kate prepares to launch into college life, the two reflect on the long runway of life lessons that shaped […] The post You Can’t Cram for Adulthood appeared fir...

3 Things You Should Stop Doing for Your Kids (Right Now) Welcome back to It’s Not About Money—the podcast where parenting gets intentional and the laughs are free. In this episode, Matt and Charla pull no punches as they dive into a fiery topic that might just make your mornings quieter and your kids more […] The post 3 Things You Need To Stop Doing For Your Kids appeared first on Ultimate H...

INAM 25-20 Summary – Your Child is More Capable Than You Know (Part 2) Welcome back to It’s Not About Money, the money podcast for intentional parents! In this episode, Charla and Matt dive into the second part of their series, exploring how you can help your child take on more responsibility as they grow from […] The post Your Child is More Capable Than You Know (Part 2) appeared first on U...

INAM 25-19 Summary: Your Kids Are More Capable Than You Think (Part One) In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla kick off a two-part series on chores, focusing this week on kids ages 2 to 10. Spoiler alert: your kids are far more capable than you might think—and starting early makes […] The post Your Kids Are More Capable Than You Think- Part One appeared first on Ultimate H...

INAM 25-18 Summary: Adulting Is Not Optional – How to Raise Capable, Confident Kids In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla tackle a growing parenting challenge—how to raise kids who are prepared for adulthood before they leave the house. From household chores to job interviews, this episode unpacks what it really takes […] The post Adulting Is Not Optional – How to Raise Ca...

INAM 25-17 Summary: Building Resilience Through Quality Time (and Movies That Matter) In this special mother-daughter episode of It’s Not About Money, Charla is joined by her daughter Kate to explore how families can use storytelling—especially movies—to build resilience and connection. With Matt out this week, the ladies dive into one of their favorite family […] The post Building Resilienc...

INAM 25-16 Summary: Is It a Dream or Just a Fantasy? Helping Kids Discern Their Future In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla explore a common parenting challenge: how to help your child tell the difference between a dream worth pursuing and a fantasy. While we all want to encourage our […] The post Is It a Dream or Just a Fantasy? Helping Kids Discern Their Future appeared...

Top 5 Personal Finance Books Every Parent Should ReadFinancial Literacy Month In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla celebrate Financial Literacy Month by spotlighting five game-changing personal finance books for adults who want to improve their own money skills in order to better teach their kids. If you’ve ever felt underqualified […] The post Top 5 Personal Finance Book...

Should you show your kids your finances? In today’s episode, Charla and Matt dive into this question and discuss why they believe the answer is no. While financial transparency is important in some areas, sharing exact numbers with kids can often do more harm than good. Should You Show Your Kids Your Finances?  Charla explains […] The post Should You Show Your Kids Your Finances? appeared fi...

7 Things Your Teen Should Pay For In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla dive into a key topic for parents of teens—helping kids develop financial responsibility by contributing to their own expenses. While some parents might hesitate at the idea, Charla explains how strategic financial contributions help teens learn valuable […] The post 7 Things Your Teen Should Pay For a...

The #1 Predictor of Money Problems: Why Self-Control Matters In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla discuss the powerful connection between self-control and financial success. Research shows that a lack of self-control is a significant predictor of future money problems, and as parents, we have the opportunity to help our kids […] The post The 1 Predictor of Money Problems...

You Don’t Get To Keep All You Make-  How to Calculate a Paycheck In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla introduce a special session designed to help teens understand the reality of paychecks. Charla recently taught a virtual one-hour lesson to students across the country, and today, she shares that session […] The post You Don’t Get To Keep All You Make appeared...

Small Steps, Big Confidence: 18 Year Old Kate Shares Her Journey  In this episode of *It’s Not About Money*, Charla is once again joined by her daughter, Kate, to dive into an important topic—confidence. As a high school senior preparing for college, Kate shares her perspective on how she built confidence over time and how […] The post Small Steps, Big Confidence appeared first on Ultimate H...

28 Skills Every Teen Should Master  In this episode, Charla is joined by a special guest—her daughter, Kate! As Kate prepares to head off to college, they discuss the essential life skills every teen should master before leaving home. From money management to car maintenance, Kate shares her experiences, successes, and challenges in becoming independent. […] The post 28 Skills Every Teen Sho...

3 Keys to Making an Allowance Count Part 2 In this episode, Matt and Charla dive into listener questions about allowance, covering everything from when to start giving one, how to handle unwise spending choices, and whether all kids should receive an allowance at the same time. Charla provides expert insights on structuring allowance to […] The post Making An Allowance Count appeared first o...

3 Keys to Making an Allowance Count In this episode, Matt and Charla break down the topic of allowance and how parents can use it as a tool to teach kids financial responsibility. They explore the dos and don’ts of giving an allowance, the importance of consistency, and why it should never be tied to […] The post 3 Ways to Make an Allowance Count appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast...

Traditions with Heart- Raising Grateful Kids on Valentine’s Day and Beyond In this heartwarming episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla explore the power of intentional family traditions and how they can shape kids’ values, foster gratitude, and create lasting memories. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Charla shares some of the […] The post Traditions with Heart ap...

The $1 burrito that transformed how I teach In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Charla shares a pivotal parenting story featuring her son, Jack, and a $1 burrito that sparked a deeper understanding of financial responsibility. Jack joins Charla to reflect on the lessons he learned from managing his own budget as a […] The post The $1 Burrito appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast...

Distracted to Disciplined- 22 year old Jack shares his journey In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Charla takes the hosting chair and welcomes her son, Jack, as a special guest. Together, they reflect on Jack’s inspiring transformation from a distracted teen to a disciplined and motivated young adult. This conversation offers parents hope […] The post Distracted to Disciplined appeared...

Future Focused:  Unlock Your Kids’ Imagination About the Bright Future Ahead In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla dive into the importance of helping kids imagine their future and the benefits of incorporating fun, future-focused conversations at the dinner table. They share tips on how to encourage kids to dream about […] The post Future Focused appeared firs...

7 Ways Self-Confidence Shapes the Future (Part Two) In this second installment of the confidence series, Matt and Charla dive into the final three ways self-confidence can transform a child’s life. They explore the deep connections between confidence, mindset, motivation, and leadership, offering practical insights and real-life examples. To wrap up the episode, Charla shares […] The post Se...

7 Ways Self-Confidence Shapes the Future (Part One) In this episode, Matt and Charla discuss how building self-confidence in children can create a positive ripple effect throughout their lives. Charla shares her insights and experiences, highlighting the importance of confidence in helping kids navigate challenges, make decisions, and foster resilience. The episode also teases a […] The post...