It's Not About Money

Let Your Teen Pay:  Empower Your Teen with Financial Ownership Episode Summary: In this episode, Matt and Charla discuss the importance of teaching teens financial responsibility by giving them ownership over their own expenses. They explore practical strategies to help teens understand the value of money and make informed financial decisions. Discussion Highlights: Real-Life Financial […] T...

7 Things To Stop Doing For Your Kids – Episode 17 Introduction: – Welcome back to “It’s Not About Money,” the podcast for intentional parents. – Join us as we guide you through empowering your tweens and teens on their journey to adulthood. Episode Highlights: Stop Waking Your Teens Up: – Encourage independence by letting […] The post 7 Things To Sto...

Empowering Teens Episode 9 Summary: “Empowering Teens: 28 Essential Life Skills to Start Now” In this episode of “It’s Not About Money,” hosts Matt and Charla McKinley, the Artisan of Adulting, unveil a comprehensive list of 28 essential life skills that every teen should know.  The skills are categorized into personal care, kitchen, outside the […] The post INAM: Emp...

7 Holiday “Dangers” That Aren’t Dangerous In this holiday-themed episode, Matt and Charla take a lighthearted look at the “dangers” parents often worry about during the holiday season. Through humorous and relatable stories, they explore how letting go of perfection and allowing children to make small mistakes can help families enjoy a more relaxed, joyful […] The post 7 Holiday...

Peaceful Parenting Episode 5 Summary: “Peaceful Parenting:  10 Battles that Aren’t Worth It” In this episode of “It’s Not About Money,” hosts Matt and Charla McKinley, the Artisan of Adulting, discuss the importance of choosing battles wisely when parenting teens. Charla shares insights on 10 battles with teens that may not be worth the struggle. […] The post INAM: Pe...

Beyond the Nest Episode 3 Summary: “Beyond the Nest:  Nurturing Self-Confidence in Kids” In this episode of “It’s Not About Money,” hosts Matt and Charla McKinley, the Artisan of Adulting, delve into the essential topic of self-confidence in children. Charla shares her insights on nurturing self-confidence through meaningful experiences. Segments Helping Someone Different f...

10 Gifts To Bring Your Family Together In this episode, Matt and Charla focus on one of the most essential aspects of family life: quality time. Charla shares how this is her love language, and together, they explore practical ways to build strong family bonds that stand the test of time. Key Topics Covered: – […] The post 10 Gifts to Bring Your Family Together appeared first on Ultima...

Listener Questions! In this episode, Matt and Charla tackle listener questions, diving into topics about kids, money, and parenting. They share their personal experiences and practical tips for raising financially savvy kids while navigating the ups and downs of family life. Key Topics Covered: – When to Start Talking to Kids About Money:  It’s never […] The post Listener’s Quest...

Financial Books for Kids In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla discuss a fundamental topic for families—normalizing money conversations with kids. They dive into why it’s essential to introduce financial topics early and make them part of everyday family life. Reflecting on their own upbringing and experiences, and emphasize how breaking […] The post Financial Books...

Narrow the Search In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla delve into the process of helping teens narrow down their career interests and understand the importance of focusing on career clusters. They discuss how exploring different career paths and making informed decisions can set teenagers up for future success and financial […] The post Narrow the Search appeared first on...

5 Relationships Your Teen Needs to Struggle Through In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla explore the vital role that struggling through certain relationships plays in the growth of teenagers. They discuss how letting teens navigate challenges on their own helps build resilience and prepares them for adulthood. Key Points Discussed: […] The post 5 Relationships Your Teen N...

Teach Them to Look In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla discuss the importance of teaching children awareness—helping them notice their environment and take responsibility for what needs to be done. Inspired by parenting coach Hope Sydell’s methods, the hosts explore practical ways to foster mindfulness and proactive behavior in kids, […] The post Teach Them to Look appea...

Balance:  Fostering Harmony with Technology In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla discuss a significant issue in modern parenting: balancing privileges, like screen time, with responsibility. Their conversation centers on how allowing increased freedom, when paired with demonstrated responsibility, can help teens learn to manage real-life challenges. Key Points Discussed: &#8211...

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. Key Points Discussed: – No Paying for Chores: Charla shares why she’s firmly against paying children for chores, explaining that chores are essential household tasks […] The post Pro...

Gratitude in Three Steps In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Matt and Charla share their insights on teaching children gratitude by letting them experience the weight of their responsibilities. Through humorous stories and real-life examples, they discuss how gradually shifting responsibilities to kids can help them understand the value of effort and develop […] The post Gratitude in Th...

From Dreams To Dollars ( Help Your Teen Plan for a Financially Secure Future) In this episode, Matt and Charla delve into the importance of preparing teens for financial independence and realistic career planning. Charla, creator of Beyond Personal Finance, shares insights from her curriculum designed to help teens understand the cost of living and […] The post From Dreams To Dollars appeare...

20 Things Your Teen Should Aspire To In this episode, Matt and Charla discuss their philosophy of avoiding a too-cushy or pampered lifestyle for their children. They focus on how to balance generosity with teaching the value of hard work, responsibility, and realistic expectations. By doing so, they aim to prepare their children for a […] The post 20 Things Your Teen Should Aspire To appeare...

Privilege vs Responsibility In this episode of *It’s Not About Money*, Matt and Charla dive deep into the essential balance between responsibility and privilege in raising children. They explore how these concepts can help mold children into responsible adults and how parents can strategically use privileges to teach valuable life lessons. Key Points Discussed: – […] The post Privilege...

Stuff Your Teen Can Fail At Allowing teens to experience and learn from failure in a supportive environment helps build their confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills, preparing them for future challenges. Key Points Discussed: Encouraging Self-Belief and Independence in Teens: – Allowing teens to fail in low-stakes situations helps build resilience and problem-solving skills. &#...

The Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Child In this episode of “It’s Not About Money,” Matt and Charla discuss the greatest gifts we can give our children, focusing on building their self-confidence and independence. They share practical parenting techniques to nurture self-belief and equip kids with essential life skills. Key Points Discussed: Belief in […] The post Greatest...

3 Traits That Define A True Adult In this episode of “It’s Not About Money,” Matt and Charla dive into the essentials of intentional parenting, focusing on the crucial skills children need to develop into responsible and capable adults. They explore the concept of raising adults, not just kids, and emphasize the importance of fostering […] The post 3 Traits That Define A Tr...

Back to School Budget- A Handy Guide to Letting Your Teen Practice Money Skills In this episode, Matt and Charla McKinley discuss the importance of teaching children financial responsibility through a practical and hands-on approach. They introduce a back-to-school budget exercise where kids are given control over their clothing budget, using a Visa gift card to […] The post Back To School B...

Back to School Contract:  The No Argument Approach 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 family establish clear […] The post Back to School Contrac...

6 Essential Steps When Considering a Credit Card In this episode, Matt and Charla McKinley dive into the often contentious and anxiety-inducing topic of credit cards. Charla, the creator of “Beyond Personal Finance,” shares her unique perspective on teaching teens about credit card usage. Matt & Charla firmly believe in the importance of hands-on financial […] The post 6 Esse...

Let Your Teen Pay:  Empower Your Teen with Financial Ownership Episode Summary: In this episode, Matt and Charla discuss the importance of teaching teens financial responsibility by giving them ownership over their own expenses. They explore practical strategies to help teens understand the value of money and make informed financial decisions. Discussion Highlights: Real-Life Financial […] T...