CASH KID

A lot of people think that when wanting to build wealth, it means that you're greedy. But what if it actually means that you're being wise? Today's episode flips the script with the idea. We're talking with a mom who's built her family's financial future from the ground up, and she's doing it with purpose, faith, and generosity at the core. But before we dive in, be sure to like, follow and subscribe to the Cash Kid Podcast so you don't miss out on more episodes that help you learn how to earn, save, and invest money earlier in life. Alright, let's get started. The Cash Kid podcast is underway. So you've got some cash maybe from an allowance or that money your grandma gave you for your seventh birthday. Here you go, sweetie. Woo hoo. Thanks Grandma. Whatever it is, what are you gonna do with it? Spend it hide of the way or maybe invest it. Let's start learning how to make that money grow. Time to learn how to be a cash. Today's guest is on a mission to equip families, especially homeschool families, with the tools, mindset, and biblical foundation to build lasting wealth and raise kids who are financially confident, generous, and wise. Stephanie is also known as the Wealthy Homeschooler on Instagram is a first generation multimillionaire, a devoted wife and a mom to four kids, and the creator of the Finance Blueprint. It's a parent led opening go system designed to teach kids how to earn, manage, and grow their money through real life applications at home. She shares her real life journey from going to survival mode to strategic wealth building. All while homeschooling her kids and in keeping her faith at the center of it all. Stephanie, welcome to the Cash Kid podcast and first off, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. Stephanie: Yeah, thank you so much for having me. This is so fun. So my name is Stephanie. I'm a mom of four. I live in the Maryland Baltimore area with my husband Ryan and our four kiddos. They are 10, 8, 6, and four. We do homeschool. It'll be our sixth year coming up this fall, which is wild. But my background is in elementary education. I taught for eight years in second and third grade. Then I moved into real estate. I grew a really successful real estate career. But when COVID hit a lot of things shut down, especially here in Maryland, and it got harder to take my kid with me. On all of my appointments, which I usually did, I incorporated them a lot into my life. And so I switched gears. We decided to stay home and homeschool the kiddos, and I put my real estate license on hold and started building some online businesses and opportunities to supplement that income and started the Wealthy Homeschooler page. Gosh, it'll be two years this upcoming February, just sharing our journey. Cash Kid: That's really amazing in how you took something and allowed it to become part of your life. So you currently have 162,000 followers on your Instagram page. Oh, at Wealthy Homeschooler. So why did you start this page and what was your mission? Stephanie: Yeah, so I started this page really to share our journey with building generational wealth and using multiple streams of income to do really hoping to inspire others and hold ourselves accountable too. It's morphed as it's grown and become far more than just a finance piece. We now look at wealth building throughout our entire lives and really living intentionally within how we parent and how within our marriage and within our finances, our faith, our health. And we share now a variety of different tools for people to use systems within their home that we use here within our home too. To help us build that wealthy life. Cash Kid: And I really love that your tagline let's build a wealthy life. And you describe your family as a first generation multimillionaire, homeschool family. What does that mission look like in a daily life? Stephanie: Yeah, that's a great question. Wealthy life for us looks like living intentionally in all aspects of your life. And so whether that be in how you handle your finances or how you are, building that relationship with your children or your spouse you know what you're, the focus that you're putting into your health and your faith. And so we really, for us, that looks a lot of systems that we're putting in place. We have four kids, so life is crazy. And so it's a lot of trying to navigate this busy life while staying really intentional and on a path of purpose and a really purpose driven life. Cash Kid: So you often share that your wealth built building journey is rooted in biblical principles. Can you explain how your faith has shaped your views on money, work, and stewardship? Stephanie: Yeah, absolutely. Money tends to be taboo to talk about for a lot of people, especially if you're a Christian. But we believe that God owns it all and we are just stewards, right? So we trust him with the process. And that means that we're working hard. We're making sure that we're using our wealth building as a tool not just for ourselves, but for others, to be generous. And teaching our children to do that too. And faith really keeps us focused on our purpose. And when you look at it from that lens. You really start to understand how God is at the core of everything that we do. And he gives us food that we need in order to live the life that we want. Cash Kid: Yeah. And going off of what you just said, there is a common misconception that being wealthy and being godly don't go hand in hand. What do you say to the people who feel uncomfortable with the idea of Christians pursuing financial abundance? Stephanie: Yeah, that is a big one. I get that question a lot. Wealth isn't bad. The love of money is. If you make that your sole focus, that is when it becomes bad. Wealth is biblical. It's a tool to bless others. And I actually did a post on this the other day because I've gotten so many questions about it and I shared some of my favorite scripture that aligns with this. And so I'll share a few with you. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. That's Proverbs 13:22. But remember the Lord your God for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth in Deuteronomy. You'll be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. That's in Corinthians. So there's a lot in the Bible, there's a lot within scripture. He just wants to make sure that you're using it in the right way and that your focus doesn't become solely on money. So I think when you look at it from that perspective it starts to make sense and you start to see it as a tool and that he's given us this opportunity to do good with it. Cash Kid: Yeah, no, I really like how you set that into the words and use scripture to help you. So in your content, you make it clear that it isn't just about money, it's about legacy and impact. How does your faith play into the kind of legacy you're building to your kids and your community? Stephanie: Okay. So for us faith is at the foundation of our legacy. None of it matters without our faith. So we wanna raise kids who love God who serve others and who live boldly and who understand that wealth is a tool, it's not the goal. And so that's really what we try to communicate through our page, through our products that we share, and how we teach kids to manage money and how we teach them to steward it in a way that is following their purpose. That God set forth for them. Cash Kid: So tell us about your finance blueprint, like the course that you sell, and how can it help families start this journey to building a wealthy life? Stephanie: Yeah it's our newest product, the Finance Blueprint, and it is a step-by-step guide to teaching kids about money management and wealth building. But in a way that's really super kid friendly and easy for parents to communicate, even if they maybe are not as knowledgeable about certain aspects of finances and wealth building. And it came about because my husband has, he's a CFO so finances are his jam and he loves talking about them and he started having little conversations with our kids at the dinner table about what is an asset and what is a liability and precious metals and all these different conversations. And then he was like, I wanna sit down and I wanna start meeting with them like once a month. And teaching them about some money management concepts. And he had this idea for this thing called Pigs, which is an acronym for personal investing, giving and savings. And that's the foundation. Money management. And so we developed this little monthly finance meeting with our kids and started teaching them how to earn some income around the house. Not through chores, but through like extra jobs, like, vaccuming out the car or cleaning out the basement or some of the bigger things. They could earn income and then they would take that income and they would, choose where to put it each month, how much are they putting in investing, how much are they putting in giving in their savings? And then how much do they want for personal spending? And then we started paying them a penny on every dollar they were investing in that, teaching them compound interest. And so it grew into this awesome monthly meeting with our kids in this cool like blueprint for them. And we've been doing it for over a year now. So we turned it into a guide specifically for families. And it tells you exactly what to do during a meeting, how to set up, how to set it up how to pay your kids, why to pay, why, to teach them how to pay themselves first. What cash flow is. And it just goes into some of the core foundations of money management and wealth building. Cash Kid: Yeah. And I think that is so important because what we talk about a lot on the podcast is that a lot of reasons that like kids and other people were so behind is 'cause as you said earlier, money was kinda like taboo and it wasn't really talked about amongst families and it really could set people back 'cause they didn't know what they were getting into. So I really like how you guys set down one day outta the month and literally like talk about it, teach 'em about it, and then give them ways that they can do more with it. Because I think that's super important, not only for your kids, but just to help them in the longer run. Homeschooling and family finance can both feel overwhelming. How do you design your system to feel fun and approachable for both parents and kids? Stephanie: Yeah as a homeschooling parent, I know there's not a lot of room for anything extra within our days. Sometimes just getting through language arts and math can be a lot. So we wanted to make it a system that was easy for parents to implement and that kids would really enjoy and would be something that, wouldn't stress everybody. Yeah. So it made it very simple visual. It's fun, it's interactive. We actually, you, while they're working on their income throughout the month, you know you're not really meeting, you're not meeting until the end of the month just once. It's very doable for anybody out there. But we use these pigs, we. Each category of personal investing, giving and savings has a little pig character with a poem and a story about the pig and that talks about them. So there's like Stanley to saver and there's Ivy the investor and Ivy waters her little tree and it grows, and her apples grow on her tree, and that's her interest that the kids are earning. And so they get to color it in and it's really interactive and easy for kids to digest even at a younger age. Our 4-year-old does it too. And while she may not pick up as much as our 10-year-old does yet than just hearing those little bits and pieces, she starts to understand it. So we tried to keep it as simple and visual as possible for kids. Cash Kid: Yeah. I think that's really important because sometimes there's lots of like really tough aspects to comprehend when it comes to investing, and I feel like setting it down to a standard that other people can understand and helping them have a chance to like actually know how it's working and like what stuff does, but down to like how they can understand it is really important to help them grow financially in knowledge as well. So you emphasize creating multiple income streams as part of your family's approach. Could you share with us what those streams look like and how much you involve your children in the process? Stephanie: Yeah, absolutely. So we started realizing the importance of multiple streams of income in our early thirties, which is a little late, to be honest. We wish we had known sooner but we read a book called Rich Dad Poor Dad. Sure. You right? Cash Kid: Yeah. Stephanie: I've read it's, yep. So good. Recommended all the time and it really opened our eyes up to the importance of multiple streams of income in this life that we wanted to build for our family. And I had just gotten into real estate, so it was the perfect opportunity for us to start looking into investing in some long-term rentals. So we do have five long-term rentals, and then we have a short term Airbnb. We bought that one. This will be three summers ago. That one is really fun because we purchased that one and it's in another state. It's in North Carolina. So since we homeschool, I moved myself and all the kids down for three months and we lived in the beach house and put it all together and they were 100% a part of the process, which was really cool for them to experience. So we bring them in as much as we can. When we go rent, when we go hunt for properties, we're bringing them in when we're analyzing a property to see if it's a good return on our investment, my 10 year old's sitting there looking at that spreadsheet with my husband. So we have real estate as some of our streams of income, obviously our brokerage accounts. We're actually about to open our son's first brokerage account. He has over 500 in his investing pouch in the finance blueprint. So he's ready. So we're debating whether it's gonna be some Bitcoin or a, a normal brokerage account. But we'll see. And then we also have obviously some online income with digital marketing and affiliate marketing with our digital products and then our normal brokerage accounts. So we've really tried to diversify as much as possible and we're teaching our kids to do the same. Now we incorporate them into our business so they, when you go on the Wealthy Homeschooler page, you will see them in my video. I don't like to show their faces, but I do, their bodies are in there and you can hear their voices. And since they're a part of it, we can pay them. So we pay them through our business. And then that goes into a Roth IRA for them. And that's how we started incorporating them. But they're really a part of every conversation we have. We don't hide any money or business conversations from our children. They're, we always have them out in the open with them or invite them in to just listen and interact and give us their opinions too. Cash Kid: Yeah, I think that's really smart incorporating them with everything that happens. And also you said that your 10-year-old started is, has $500 now to start investing open the brokerage account. Yeah, so I actually started investing when I was 10. And I think $500 was the exact amount I had 'cause as a 10-year-old and like whenever I was younger, I get my money from like the birthday and Christmas and stuff. I just never spend it. I'm, that's just like personal preference. I was just, I hold onto my money as long as I could. And so I had $500 saved up in my wallet. And when I found out about investing and I really liked it, I really got my parents to open me up a green light account. I started investing, I set my $500 in. It really is helpful 'cause you have a savings and a spending, a giving and a investing account and it gives you a debit card. And so it really helped me manage my money and see how everything was going. And now I have helped open one up for my younger siblings now who are 10 and seven, and they both, they don't have it on like as much of a scale as I do, but they have both started investing and they have really started to see the impact. And for families starting from scratch, no wealth, no financial education, what's the pivotal step, first step that you encourage them to take? Stephanie: Oh, okay. Make the decision to be the catalyst of change. It has to start somewhere. And it only takes one generation to completely transform the future of a family. It takes one person. So I, that is my probably biggest piece of advice is it doesn't matter where you come from, whether you come from, wealth or not. You need to make the decision that you want to do it, and then you need to act. Start small doesn't have to be a lot. Like you said, you started with $500 and you're investing and you just saved that up over time. And you don't have to know everything to begin. You can learn along the way. There are so many tools and resources available right in our fingertips now to learn everything that we need to learn about finances. Make the decision to be the catalyst of change, Cash Kid: Part of finance, sure you have to have knowledge and stuff, but another part of it is you have to be mentally aware of it and know how that you have to change. Especially as like Dave Ramsey and stuff and lots of other people, when they talk about people in debt, it, they tell them that you are gonna have to change the mindset of how you act around, and so you have to changeand be the catalyst of change, as you just said. And so I think that's really important. Before we close, is there anything that we haven't asked you that you would like to share with our audience? Stephanie: I really just think that, I just wanna stress that you don't have to come from wealth to build wealth. You don't have to come from wealth to be the reason why your family gets on a completely different financial path. Like you just said, it's a mindset. Wealth is totally a mindset. And that's the most important place to start. And like we said, to just start small. Even if that's just taking a look at how you're spending and seeing where you can cut something out. Even if it's just that coffee run that you're going to get. I love a good coffee run. I had to cut my coffee run out recently. So if you need to cut out your coffee run in order to be able to put that money towards something more important like a new path for your family, like adding to your 401k starting a new brokerage account or starting a 529 for your kids, whatever it might be. You need to make that decision and do it. And just because you didn't come from wealth does not mean that you cannot, that you can't build it. Yeah. Yeah, Cash Kid: exactly. And that's one of the points that's pointed out in Rich Dad, Poor Dad, it doesn't take wealth to have wealth. You can come from anything. Stephanie: It does misconception for people that they think we have to come from a financially stable family to have a great future, and that's not the case. Cash Kid: Stephanie, we really appreciate your time and your expertise. Thank you for joining us on the Cash Kid Podcast and boosting the financial knowledge of fellow Cash kids everywhere. Be sure guys to go follow Stephanie on Instagram @wealthyhomeschooler. If you like this episode, be sure to share it with someone today and help us as Stephanie's tagline states to build a wealthy life. Remember, anyone can be a cash kid. You just have to learn how to become one. Cash kid out! Disclaimer: The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guest. This podcast is not intend to provide personal investment advice. This content has been made for informational and educational purposes only to make a full and informed investment decision. We advise you to speak with a financial advisor and for kids, definitely your parents first before investing.

Episode 55:The Top 5 Money Lessons Parents Fail to Teach Their Kids... Kids, what have your parents taught you about money? And adults, what did your parents not teach you that maybe you wish you’d had a heads up? In today’s episode, we tackle the top five money lessons parents fail to teach their kids. Hey everyone! Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast — where we teach kids, teens, and even some adults how to earn, save, and invest money. I’m your host — the Cash Kid — and today, we’re diving into something that’s been on my mind for a while... The Top 5 Money Lessons Parents Fail to Teach Their Kids... (and don’t worry — if you’re a parent listening — this isn’t about making anyone feel bad. It’s about all of us learning how to be better and set up the next generation for success.) So let’s get into it! 🎯 #1: Not Teaching the Value of Money and Hard Work One of the biggest mistakes I see is when parents just give kids money...without connecting it to any effort. It sounds awesome, right? Free money! But the problem is, it teaches kids that money just appears...without work. Now, I’m not referring to money they get for a birthday or holiday. It’s the scenario of them asking for money and you just freely handing it over. It’s like if a teen knocked on your door, said they would mow your lawn for $50 bucks. You pay them and then they just walk away. You just lost money and still need to mow your lawn. How can we fix that? Tie money to chores or responsibilities around the house. Encourage us to earn money through side jobs like mowing lawns, dog-walking, or babysitting. And share stories about your own work! Kids learn a lot by hearing how you make and manage your money. When kids understand that hard work equals rewards...we start respecting money and ourselves a lot more. Plus, we’re less likely to be willing to give up or spend our money on unnecessary items as we know how hard it was to earn that money in the first place. 🎯 #2: Not Talking About Budgeting and Saving You hand a kid twenty bucks...and 10 minutes later it's gone. Sound familiar? That's because budgeting and saving don't come naturally — they have to be taught. Here’s a simple fix: Teach us to split our money into "Save, Spend, and Give" jars. Help us set real savings goals — like saving up for a bike or a cool gadget. And most importantly...explain the difference between "needs" and "wants." We need food. We want the latest new OnCloud shoes or clothes. There’s a big difference! Greenlight is an app I use to set up save, spend, and give categories. It’s all digital and easy to move money from one bucket to the next. Parents and kids both have access to it to monitor it and help reach the goals together. Budgeting isn’t boring when you turn it into a challenge or a goal we’re excited about. 🎯 #3: Avoiding Conversations About Debt and Credit A lot of parents think, "My kid doesn’t need to worry about credit cards yet." But here’s the thing — by the time we do get a credit card, if we don’t understand how debt works, we can get into serious trouble. A better way? Start small. Let your kid "borrow" $5 with the promise to pay it back with a little interest. Talk about how credit scores work and why they matter. And share real stories from your life — like how you bought your house, your car, or even mistakes you made with debt. Money mistakes happen...but learning early can help us avoid some big ones later. One of the tried and true measure is when a teen turns 16 they can be made an authorized user on their parents credit card and have them only use it to buy gas and pay that back every month. It helps to build their credit and experience in how credit works… and that it’s gotta be paid back… or you’re in debt. 🎯 #4: Not Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Investing Saving is good — but growing your money is even better. And guess what? Kids can totally understand investing and entrepreneurship if someone takes the time to explain it. What are some ways you can help: Introduce simple concepts like stocks, bonds, and ETFs. Support our business ideas — like selling bracelets, mowing lawns, or even running a YouTube channel! And point us to real success stories of young entrepreneurs who started early. You never know — the next Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey might be sitting at your kitchen table! Don’t be the one to discourage them. Find a way to help them expand on their business mindset in a educated way. 🎯 #5: Not Setting a Good Financial Example Parents, we’re watching you — even when you think we’re not! If you’re always swiping credit cards, shopping online, or arguing about money...that’s what we learn. Here’s what helps: Be open about money. Let us see the family budget. Talk about savings goals you're working on. And let us be part of little decisions, like picking cheaper groceries or planning a budget-friendly family outing. The more we see smart money moves in action, the more likely we are to copy them! And be honest with us. If you’ve made bad financial choices before and feel we could learn from it, share so we can avoid those same mistakes. And if you don’t have the answer, help them find the right one. Make it an activity to do together. [Closing Thought] At the end of the day, parents don’t have to be perfect about money to raise financially smart kids. It just takes honesty, a little guidance, and making money talks normal — not scary. Kids WANT to learn. We want to be independent and successful with our money. So whether you're a parent, grandparent, or a kid tuning in — remember: it’s never too early (or too late!) to start learning about money. 🎙️ CASH KID (closing voice): Thanks for hanging out with me today on the Cash Kid Podcast! Be sure to hit "Subscribe" so you never miss an episode. And hey — if you liked this one, share it with a friend or parent who could use a little money motivation too. See you next time. Remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid. You just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, out!

Hey Cash Kids! Let me ask you a big question... What if I told you that you could be a millionaire one day just by saving a little bit of money each year starting NOW — even as a teen? In this episode, we’re talking to Adam Bergman, a retirement expert who’s helped over 17,000 people invest using self-directed IRAs — including his own kids! He’s going to break down how YOU can start investing in things like Bitcoin, real estate, and even small businesses... yes, even as a teen. We’ll talk about: ✅ The secret power of Roth IRAs ✅ How compounding returns make your money grow faster ✅ Why starting early gives YOU the biggest advantage So if you're serious about building real wealth and taking control of your financial future — you do NOT want to miss this. Before we dive in — don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave us a review if you're loving the podcast. Your support helps us reach more future millionaires just like you! Alright, let’s get into it. (intro tease) Cash Kid: Hey Cash kids. Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast and today we're doing an interview with none other than the Adam Bergman . He's the founder of IRA Financial Group And IRA Financial Trust, which are the leading providers of self-directed IRA plans and 4 0 1 Ks. He's helped over 17,000 clients make alternative asset investments with their self-directed plans. Adam has published nine books on retirement plans and Taxation is a frequent contributor to Forbes and has been quoted in over 250 major publications. He's passionate about educating Americans of self-directed investment plans and passionate about my generation and learning about these types of investment strategies earlier in life. I'm excited to learn from Adam today. So hey Adam. Welcome to the show, and first off, tell us a little bit about yourself. Adam Bergman: Well thanks so much for having me. Really excited. So I was a tax lawyer and um, for eight years in New York City. Really, um, always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Didn't really know what I wanted to do. And I had the pleasure of being able to help a client who wanted to use his IRA to invest in what's called a hedge fund. Right? It's, a more advanced way to invest. So I was asked to research how he was, able to use his IRA to invest in a hedge fund, and I was totally blown away because. I couldn't imagine myself, always thought of myself as a really, you know, smart guy. I was a tax lawyer of a master's in tax law and I had no idea that you can use your IRA to do alternative assets like real estate or gold or hedge fund. So I quit my job and started IRA Financial about 15 years ago. Cash Kid: you have adults save retirement and really like unique ways. So can you explain just like what a self-directed plan is, but in a way that a kid or teen could understand it? Adam Bergman: Sure, sure. So I'll, let me double click on that and just give a little bit of history and make it easier to understand. So in 1974, IRAs were created Not a lot of Americans got to save for retirement. Right. It was mostly if you worked at big companies like Ford or GE, you had a defined benefit plan, otherwise you just didn't have a chance. So the government created ERISA, which created the IRA and the 401k, which are the two most common ways to save. So what is the foundation? What's an IRA or an individual retirement account? Basically anyone that has some income that works, that has a job, could open an IRA. So you can be a lifeguard, you can be a basketball coach, you can work at the grocery store. You can do chores for a neighbor, as long as it's really not a parent paying you. You can have income and you can put money into an IRA. And what's the advantage? Well, there's two big advantages. One is you get a tax deduction for what you put in. Meaning if you make $20,000 and you get a $5,000 tax deduction, you only pay tax on 15,000, which is good. It's less money goes to the government. And the second is the most important. It's called tax deferral. That means you don't pay tax when your money is invested in an IRA. So here's a simple example. If you take a hundred dollars and buy Bitcoin, okay, or or Tesla stock, and it goes to $200 in an IRA and you sell it, you don't pay any tax. If you did that in a non IRA account, you would pay income tax on that gain. And if you did that for the next 10, 15, 20, 30 years, you're gonna have a lot, lot less money if you saved in a non IRA. Cash Kid: Right. Yeah. And I feel like that's a big factor, and that's part of one of the reasons that we really wanted this interview is so we could teach people the different, like investment strategies or different ways that you could invest through different platforms. And so being able to show like the unique benefits, I think would be really beneficial for us at our age. So thank you. And, uh, third of all, why do you think it's important for people even young people like us to start thinking about money for the future now instead of waiting till we're adults. Adam Bergman: Yeah, so being young, you have the biggest advantage. I have a 14-year-old and 11-year-old, and they both have Roth ira, so lemme just. Discuss that real quick. So I talked about the traditional IRA where you get a tax deduction. There's something called a Roth IRA, which is an after tax IRA, meaning you do not get a tax deduction, but once you're 59 and a half and the Roth's been open at least five years, you pull out everything tax-free. You never, ever, ever, ever have to pay income tax again on what you save. So here's an example. I like to give examples because I think they make the most sense. So let's take an easy example. How about someone's 15 years old? Okay. And let's say they have a job at the grocery store, and let's say they wanna save a thousand dollars a summer, right? They're gonna spend some money and do some stuff with it. But let's say they just wanna put away a thousand dollars a summer, which is possible, and let's just say for argument's sakes, that from age 15 to 70 years old, okay? So even if they go to college and make more money, the individual just puts away a thousand dollars a year. Starting from 15 to age 70, and let's just say they get an average rate of return of 8.5%, which is pretty good, but not great considering. If you look at like the S&P 500, the largest index in the stock market, it averages over 10%. So if you did that 15 to 70 a thousand dollars a year, eight point a half percent rate of return at age 70, you'd have a million dollars. Okay, so here's how about this, instead of 15, let's say you started at 25. Okay? Instead of 15 years old and you started 25 a thousand dollars, guess what? You only have $450,000. So this is so important. That's why I'm so excited to be on this podcast. If you are young, you have the biggest advantage, and that's time. And the way the retirement system works is the more money you put in and the more time you have, the richer you become. Cash Kid: Yeah, and I think that's one of like one of our main like factors and things that we're trying to get people to do. So I, at my school, I was given the opportunity to give a presentation, so I made a financial presentation about how to make money and what to do with it, and in it, I really hit on the like big impact that, uh, starting early is like one of the biggest benefits you could possibly have because I did the same example I said if you started at 16 and then you started at 26 and the difference is basically almost half as you just explained. And so it really just shows like the important and beneficial factor of starting early. And that's why we like to say it's never too early to start. So what's the difference between regular investing and alternative investing, and could you give us another fun example? Adam Bergman: Yeah, absolutely. So. When IRAs were created back in 1974, the, the IRS did not distinguish between an IRA that bought stocks, which is traditional investment, anything that's publicly traded, right, like stocks or exchange traded funds, mutual funds, and then alternative assets, which are non-publicly traded, like real estate, uh, gold, hedge funds, private equity, private businesses, lending your friend money. Even Bitcoin is considered an alternative. So it's, it's anything not traded on a public exchange, anything that's not a stock. Cash Kid: So basically, uh, you just, instead of traditionally buying a stock, you'd set it into like maybe a Bitcoin or like a house that's just like not as like publicly traded, is what you're saying. Adam Bergman: Exactly. it's exactly right. So the reason why the government wants us to invest not just in stocks, but in real estate or Bitcoin or gold or private businesses, is because they want us to diversify, right? The idea is that if you put all your eggs in one basket and something happens to the stock market, you don't just lose 30% of your net worth in one day, which has happened. So like for me, my best investments I ever made and my kids as well, was Bitcoin. I got into Bitcoin over 10 years ago. I started buying Bitcoin for my kids five years ago and that has far exceeded anything they've been able to generate in the stock market. So if they just stuck with stocks, they would've done fine, but they would've missed out on a lot of opportunity. Cash Kid: Yeah. Yeah. And I feel like that's like really true about a ton of things. 'cause I mean then again, like real estate prices are constantly going up. And so when I was first like looking into you and like thinking about other stuff, I really saw how it was just like another way to diversify. 'cause when I talk, I always talk about diversifying in your stocks. But then again, talking about this alternative investing, you can really diversify into. Like make, having stocks, having real estate, having Bitcoin, and having all the different, like other factors, uh, which is like another way to diversify, which I had never really thought about before. So, can, uh, kids and teens actually start investing in alternative things like real estate or small businesses, or is that like just for adults? Adam Bergman: No, it's, kids can do it too. the key is the money, right? So some alternative assets like real estate, you may need, you know, some significant money to, to invest. Like you wanna buy a house, it's gonna be hard to do that with $7,000. So there are alternatives you can do for less money. Like there's bitcoin, like gold, like private businesses, right? There's crowdfunding stuff where you can invest in a startup with just $5,000 at $10,000. So there's a lot of fun stuff that you can do that could potentially really, really maximize your returns, and you don't need a whole lot of money to do it. Cash Kid: Right. Because I feel like that's another like factor. 'cause when I'm talking to kids my age, they're like, I don't have enough money to start. It's not really gonna make an impact. But then again. Just starting early and like just setting in that money and getting in there and continuing to set money in there, it will help grow your money. . But then again, as you just said, maybe you only need like a thousand to $5,000 and you just set it in some gold and stuff. Well that is still gonna go up in price over time. And so I think that that's really important that every kid needs to think about. It's, you don't have to have. A ton of money to start. 'cause you can start by investing with literally just a dollar. Like you in some, uh, investment portfolios. fractional shares. So a dollar is all you need. Even though it might not give you as much, you are still setting money in and can get a return. So just as you said, maybe a thousand, uh, 5,000 or a hundred dollars, it doesn't really matter because you can still grow your money. Adam Bergman: Right. So let, let me just, uh, kind of, um, discuss this one term that's very important to understand. Probably the most important thing, a child or a young investor needs to learn, and that's something called compounding returns, right? I'm sure you've talked about that before. Compounding returns means your money doubles every eight years, assuming a 9% rate of return. It's the power of 72. Albert Einstein said compounding returns is the eighth of the world. You know, Albert Einstein, the smartest guy ever. So what is compounding returns? It makes sense, right? Your money is gonna grow faster when it's not subject to tax. So if you take the two features of being a kid. Meaning you're young, which is an amazing advantage over someone, that's older, and the power of the retirement system, which allows you to invest and generate returns without taxation. If you marry those and put those two together, you have almost a guaranteed way to generate significant, real wealth, real money for your future, for your life, tax free. Cash Kid: So you started IRA Financial and now you have helped manage over $4 billion. Did you always know what you wanted to do with money when you were a kid? Adam Bergman: I was lucky. I had a really smart dad and my dad was really into investing, so we would watch at that point, like CNBC, and he would teach me and I would learn, but the most important thing he taught me was the term compounding returns. And he always said, you wanna save, you wanna start young. The biggest advantage you have is being young, your age. So I started my habits. It's all about good habits, right? Good habits isn't just about eating or health. It's also about investing. And good habits means starting, even if. It's a dollar a day, a dollar a month, a dollar, a quarter, a year. Just start saving, open an IRA, put money in, start investing. You're gonna see your money grow and there's nothing that's gonna excite you more than success. So as your money grows over time, you're gonna say, Hey, this is really cool. This is working. You're gonna put more money in. And I guarantee you it's guaranteed 'cause it's math, it's just, it works. The more money you put in, the more time, the more you invest, the more you diversify you will be. Very, very, very rich. When you're older, it's guaranteed. Cash Kid: I got started by playing a stock market game and I figured out what all I could do with it, and here I am over like three and a half years later from the first time I did that. And I'm talking about it and I think it's just super cool. So do you think that school should teach more about money and investing? And if you could design a class for kids, what would you include in it? Adam Bergman: Yeah, I, that's my passion. That's my dream, is to actually teach these courses. Yes, we are doing such a disservice to our young generation, and I'll give the example of me. I obviously went to school, I went to university, a really good university. I went to law school. I even have a master's in taxation, so I was in school till I was like 25 years old. I worked at some of the largest law firms in the world, and not once did I learn about compounding returns. Not once did I learn about retirement saving. So yes, we should be teaching kids probably starting in eighth or ninth grade about the power of investing, how it works, what stocks how do you look at a balance sheet? How do you make a decision on an investment? What's an IRA? What's a 401k? Yes. We are really hurting our young generation and it's a crime. Cash Kid: Yeah, because I have talked to a lot of adults and they talked about, like how you just explained that, um, they don't, they were not taught anything. My mom, her senior year was given a pamphlet and was taught how to write a check, and that was all of her financial education all the way through high school. And that was it. I mean. I've seen some better improvement, like how, uh, now it's required in some states that you do have to take at least one financial course, we interviewed someone else and she said that the benchmark for financial education is the fourth grade, which means that we really need to start getting in there and start learning early, and I think that that is, again, one of our passions on the podcast is that we can earn save and the invest money earlier in life. And so we hear a lot about Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. What should our generation know about these kinds of investments and how do you think that they could impact our future? Adam Bergman: Yeah, so I've been, I wrote a book on cryptos. I'm very bullish on Bitcoin. I've been investing in cryptos for over 10 years, without giving people investment advice. I think it's important to gain exposure to emerging asset classes, new technology, whether it's AI, whether it's cryptos, whatever's next, right? It's important as an investor to allocate, and that's why diversification is so important. it's not just important to buy Tesla versus Google versus Apple. It's important to say, you know what, if I have a thousand dollars. I want to allocate that thousand dollars to different investment classes like gold, like Bitcoin, like stocks, like real estate. So you're well covered. So if one asset really goes up, great. If one asset really goes down, it doesn't impact your whole portfolio. So yes, I think young people should get access to cryptos. I mean, that's up to you, depending on your risk profile, how much you wanna put in. But whether it's a dollar or a hundred dollars, I think it's important to learn about the technology and to gain some exposure to it. I think the biggest piece of advice I would say is if you're young, take chances. You have the best opportunity to take risks in you're investing because you're young, so you can make up for mistakes. Where if you're a grandparent, right, and you're in your sixties or seventies. You can't take risks because you're gonna need the money to live, to help pay for your lifestyle 'cause you may not work forever, but if you're young, you can take risks. So that's why I think it's really exciting to invest in alternative assets like cryptos or private businesses, because yeah, there may be some chances that you may not be successful, but that's okay because you have a lot of time to make up for those losses versus when you're older. Cash Kid: You've written eight books about money, and if a kid wanted to learn from one of your books, which one would do you think that would be like the most beneficial for them to start with and why? Adam Bergman: I actually wrote a ninth, but um, so I think it's this one. it's called Seven Figures by 70, and I wrote this, it's a couple hundred pages. I wrote this maybe five years ago, but the principles stay the same. It's all about what we talked about today, that basically if you do these three things, you're gonna be rich, and here they are, start early. That's why being a kid, you have a huge advantage as long as you have some income coming in. Start early, opening a Roth IRA. Be consistent. Number two, right? Get good habits. Even if you can't put in a lot of money, you need to save it for other things, or you need to help your parents out with stuff. That's cool. Put a dollar away. Just keep your good habit. And then third, the most fun. Trust the process. Be patient. Watch your money grow. You do those three things, you're gonna be rich. It's guaranteed, it's mathematics, it's compounded returns. Cash Kid: Mr. Bergman, where can people go to learn more about you and your services that do you offer through IRA Financial Trust and your other business features? Adam Bergman: yeah, call me. Yeah, it's Adam. So, um, definitely check out the website, ira financial.com. But I think YouTube, like, I always send my kids, uh, they're always on YouTube or TikTok, but. YouTube's probably better in this case. And there's thousands of videos, some long, some short, some boring, some fun, I don't know. But you can have fun with it and kind of pick and choose what you wanna learn about. Um, and it, you don't have to read a boring book if you don't want to, but at least you can learn about the pri

Who can be a millionaire? Can I? Can you become one? Hey guys, welcome back to The Cash Kid Podcast! Today, we’re talking about something that most people think is impossible… but actually isn’t. You don’t have to be born rich. You don’t have to be famous. You don’t even need to have a six-figure salary. But what do you need? That’s what we’re going to talk about. My mom and I recently both read Everyday Millionaire by Chris Hogan, and we’re going to break down exactly what makes a millionaire. The best part? Almost anyone can do it—it just takes smart financial choices, patience, and the right mindset. I learned a TON from this book. It actually shocked me how wrong most people are about who millionaires really are. And trust me, after reading this book, I realized that anyone can do this. No lottery tickets, no trust funds—just smart habits, the right mindset, and patience. Remember, the Cash Kid Podcast is here to teach my generation how to earn, save, and invest money earlier in life. We are going to bust some millionaire myths today. Let’s get started. [music interlude] Segment 1: What is a Millionaire? Cash Kid: Alright, so let’s start with the basics. Before we dive into how to become a millionaire, we should probably define what a millionaire actually is. Most people think a millionaire is someone with a million dollars in cash just sitting in a bank account. But that’s not what it means! A millionaire is someone whose net worth is at least $1 million. And net worth is just a fancy way of saying: everything you own, minus everything you owe. Let’s break it down real quick: Say you own a house worth $300,000, but you still owe $200,000 on it. You also own a car worth $75,000, and you’ve paid off $55,000 of it. That means the total value of your assets is $375,000. But when you subtract what you still owe ($255,000), your net worth is $120,000. And to be a millionaire, that number has to be in the millions! Segment 2: Who Actually Becomes a Millionaire? CASH KID: Okay, now that we know what a millionaire is, let’s talk about who actually becomes one. Chris Hogan interviewed over 10,000 millionaires for this book. What surprised me the most was who these millionaires actually are Honestly? I thought most millionaires would be people making six figures or more—big CEOs, athletes, or tech geniuses. But in reality, the majority are regular people! They’re teachers, engineers, small business owners… even people working in everyday jobs. Most of them never made over $100K a year! That blew my mind. The idea that it’s not about how much you make, but how much you keep is huge. So many people think they have to have some crazy high-paying job to build wealth, but it’s really about spending smart, saving consistently, and avoiding debt. There’s a myth about millionaires that Chris Hogan debunks in the book and it’s the thoughts that millionaires always lived flashy lives—you know, fancy cars, designer clothes, huge houses. And for my generation, because of social media nd movies that’s what’s drilled into our heads. We feel and see that’s we have to look and live that way to be rich. But according to the book, most millionaires actually live pretty normal lives. They drive used cars, live in modest homes, and don’t waste money on things they don’t need. Chris Hogan calls it the Millionaire Mindset. They don’t care about looking rich—they care about being rich. Big difference. Most people think that millionaires come from rich families or inherit their money. But that’s so wrong. Did you know that: 🔹 79% of millionaires received no inheritance at all? 🔹 Only 21% inherited anything, and of those, only 16% got more than $100,000. 🔹 And get this—8 out of 10 millionaires came from families that were at or below middle-class income levels. So basically, most millionaires didn’t start rich—they built their wealth from scratch. That’s a HUGE myth-buster! In Chris Hogan’s book he highlights a lot of stats. One of those is that 1 in 3 millionaires never even had a six-figure income in a single year. And only 7% of them made over $200,000 per year. That means you don’t need a fancy job to get there! So what does that tell us? It’s not about how much you make—it’s about how you manage what you make. I think we all are guilty of thinking well those who work lower salary jobs will just never get ahead or be able to reach millionaire status. But he gives examples of teachers, farmers, construction workers all reaching millionaire status. Segment 3: The Millionaire Mindset Okay, let’s talk mindset. One thing that stuck with me from this book is that millionaires believe they’re in control of their own destiny. They don’t sit around waiting for someone to make them rich. They take control, make smart decisions, and stick with them for years. That’s a big deal. If you tell yourself, “I’ll never be rich,” guess what? You probably won’t be. But if you believe you can, and you put in the work, you’ve got a real shot. Millionaires also don’t blame others for their money problems. They don’t rely on luck or wait for someone else to fix things. They take responsibility and work towards their goals. Segment 4: Smart Money Habits of Millionaires Alright, let’s get to the good stuff. If someone listening wants to be a millionaire someday, what are the habits they should start practicing right now? What do you feel you learned from the book Everyday Millionaire that could affect the habits of your generation? Here are the big ones: 💰 Live below your means – Millionaires don’t spend every dollar they make. They budget, they save, and they avoid debt. 💰 Plan for big expenses – 95% of millionaires plan and save for major purchases, while most people just put things on credit cards. 💰 Invest early and often – Investing is the ultimate wealth-building tool because your money works for you. And I love to talk about investing. Yes! Investing is huge. The stock market will go up and down, but over time, it grows your money way more than just saving alone. It doesn’t take a ton of time. You just set it and let it grow. Sure, there will be recessions and dips, but in the long run, the market always bounces back. Final Segment: How to Get Started Now Alright, let’s wrap it up. What’s the first step someone should take if they want to become a millionaire? Step one: Start saving and avoid debt. Credit card debt will keep you stuck, so don’t use it for things you don’t need. Step two: Live below your means. If you get $20, don’t spend $20—spend $15 and save $5. Step three: Invest early. Even if it’s just a little at first, get started! And most importantly—remember that anyone can do this. It’s all about time, discipline, and smart choices. OUTRO: Call to Action Alright, that’s a wrap! If you liked this episode, make sure you subscribe to The Cash Kid Podcast so you don’t miss our next episode. And if you’ve read Everyday Millionaire, let us know what you thought! DM us on Instagram @CashKidPodcast or leave a review. Remember—anyone can be a Cash Kid! You just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid out!

Have you ever had a GREAT idea to make money—like selling something cool, offering a service, or turning a hobby into cash—but then, something gets in your way? Maybe you don’t have enough money to start, or you feel like no one would buy from you. Maybe you're thinking, "I'm just a kid, how do I even start?" I get it. I’ve been there. And guess what? So has every successful entrepreneur EVER. The difference between them and everyone else? They didn’t let obstacles stop them. So today, I’m going to tell you the 5 biggest roadblocks that stop kids and teens from starting a business—and exactly how to break through them. By the end of this episode, you’re gonna feel PUMPED to take action. No more waiting. No more excuses. Let’s go! Hey, Cash Kids! Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast where I’m on a mission to teach my generation (and some adults) how to earn, save, and invest money earlier in life. This season we’re focusing on kid and teen entrepreneurs. If you aren’t already, please subscribe to our show and share with a friend. Leave a comment from wherever you are listening and head to our website to purchase some Cash Kid merch to help fund our show. This is the best way for us to continue to grow and change the financial direction of the next generation. Alright, now let’s get into the top roadblocks we face in starting a business. Let’s break it down starting with number 1. Roadblock 1: Not Knowing Where to Start Okay, let’s be real for a second. Starting a business can be overwhelming. With so many options, it’s tough to know where to begin. You might think, “Should I sell cookies? Or start a tutoring business? Or maybe create a YouTube channel?” It can feel like there’s just too much to choose from. Here’s the thing—I’ve been there, too. I spent weeks thinking about what I should do, and then I realized that the best place to start was with something I already loved. Do you have a hobby or a skill you’re passionate about? It could be anything—from baking, drawing, or even gaming! The key is to build your business around something you already enjoy. Trust me, that passion will make it so much easier to stick with it when things get tough. And listen, don’t overthink it. I know it sounds like a lot, but sometimes the best business ideas come from the things you already do every day. Do people ask you to help with their homework? Maybe you could start tutoring! Do you love animals? Maybe it’s time for a dog-walking business. The key is to solve a problem—whether that’s helping someone with their homework or providing a service people really need. Rockblock 2: Not Having Enough Money to Start Now, let’s talk about something that trips up a lot of young entrepreneurs—money. It’s true that many businesses need some upfront costs, whether it’s supplies, marketing, or tools. But here’s a secret: you don’t need to spend a ton of money to get started. Let’s use the classic lemonade stand business venture. Most kids who set these stands up don’t have much cash or budget. But they figured out they could use things they already had at home: cups, a table, some lemonade mix, and a pitcher. That was it! They didn’t need fancy branding or a high-end website—just a simple idea and a little bit of effort. If you want to start a business that requires almost no money, consider service-based businesses like tutoring, babysitting, or offering to do yard work like raking leaves. These kinds of businesses have zero startup costs, and you can start making money right away. And once you earn some cash, you can reinvest it into your business to make it even better. Also, if you need a little extra cash to kickstart your idea, don’t hesitate to talk to your parents. Maybe they can help with a small loan to get you started—or even help promote your business to family and friends! Roadblock 3: Not Having Enough Time I know this one all too well. Between school, sports, hanging out with friends, and just trying to enjoy your free time, finding time for a business can seem impossible. Trust me, I’ve had days where I felt like there was no way I could run my business AND do everything else I love. But here’s the trick: treat your business like any other important commitment. That might mean setting aside just one hour a week to work on your project or business. Maybe it’s after school or on the weekends… I mean… we filmed this episode on the weekend. So, use your time wisely and take advantage of time away from school to work on your business. Do whatever works best for you. The important part is making time for it regularly. You can spend one hour a day wasting time sitting in front of a TV or one hour a day focused on a ways to improve your skills in an area. That equates to 30 hours of progress after one month or 30 hours more of well… nothing. Think about it! And don’t feel like you have to go big right away! Start small and build from there. Maybe you only take on one or two clients at first, or you offer just one product. As you get better at managing your time, you can scale up your business. This way it doesn’t become overwhelming and you quit not long after starting. Roackblock 4: Not Knowing How to Market the Business Okay, so you’ve got your business idea, and now it’s time to let people know about it. But how do you actually get people to buy your product or use your service? This is where it gets fun—marketing is like the secret sauce to making your business stand out! First, social media is your best friend here. You can use platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or even Facebook to share what you’re doing and get the word out. But before you go posting all over the place, make sure to talk to your parents about the best way to go about it safely. You don’t need to have your own account—maybe your parents can help you post for you! You can create fun, engaging content that shows off what you’re selling. And, if you’ve got a cool product, don’t be afraid to show it off in action! Word of mouth is also super powerful. Ask your friends, family, and neighbors to help spread the word, and offer special deals for first-time customers to get them excited to try your product or service. Roadblock 5: Fear of Failure And now, the big one: What if I fail? What if I make a mistake, or no one likes what I’m doing? Believe me, that fear is totally normal. But here’s the thing—everyone makes mistakes, even the most successful entrepreneurs. And guess what? Those mistakes are where you’ll learn the most! Instead of worrying about failing, I want you to focus on learning. Mistakes aren’t failures—they’re just lessons in disguise. Start small and take manageable risks. Test out your idea with a few people, then see what works and what doesn’t. And if things don’t go as planned, that’s okay! It’s just part of the journey. Find a mentor, too—someone who’s been through it and can give you advice when things get tough. It could be a parent, a teacher, or even another Cash Kid! Sometimes, having someone to talk to can make all the difference in building your confidence. Starting your own business is a challenge, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and even make some money! Every entrepreneur faces obstacles, but if you push through, you’ll come out the other side stronger and more confident than ever. So, Cash Kids—are you ready to tackle these so called “roadblocks” and start your own business? Whether it’s tutoring, pet-sitting, or selling crafts, I know you’ve got what it takes. And remember, if you ever feel stuck or need advice, the Cash Kid Podcast is here to guide you every step of the way. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube @cashkidpodcast, and stay tuned for future episodes. Remember anyone can be a cash kid, you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, Out! Disclaimer: The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guest. This podcast does not intend to provide personal investment advice. This content has been made for informational and educational purposes only. To make a full and informed investment decision, we advise you to speak with a financial advisor—and for kids, definitely your parents—before investing.

Secrets the Rich Know (That We Don’t Learn in School) Ever wonder why some people always seem to have money, while others struggle no matter how hard they work? Is it luck? A family secret? Or something we’re not learning in school? Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast. I’m your host, the Cash Kid, where I’m on a mission to teach my generation how to earn, save, and invest money earlier in life. This is episode 51 of the show, and we’ve covered a wide range of topics, but today, we’re tackling a question that I’ve pondered and others have asked me about. This idea stemmed from a famous financial book I read. What is it, and do the rich have secrets we don’t know about? Let’s dive in. The Cash Kid Podcast is underway! Intro tease: So you’ve got some cash. Maybe from an allowance, or that money your grandma gave you for your 7th birthday. Here you go, sweetie. Thanks, Grandma. Whatever it is, what are you going to do with it? Spend it, hide it away… or maybe invest it? Let’s start learning how to make that money grow. Time to learn how to be a cash kid. I want to make it clear that as a 13-year-old, I in no way think money will buy you happiness or fix all your problems. But debt and not knowing enough about your finances can also cause unhappiness and problems. So the mission here on the Cash Kid Podcast is always to educate, inform, and motivate my peers to take healthy action in their financial journey. And the way we do that is through acquiring good information and taking conscientious action with our money. Now, why should a kid or teen my age care? Just ask your parents. Most will tell you they were taught very little about finances when growing up or in school. Why is that? For Christmas, my parents bought me the famous financial book, Rich Dad Poor Dad. Rich Dad Poor Dad opened my eyes. It compares how two dads—one rich, one not—teach their kids about money. One teaches how to grow wealth, the other stays silent, hoping a job and hard work will be enough. This book illustrates the difference between how the rich talk to their kids about finances while the Poor Dad doesn’t. But how can we change this? This is what motivated me at the age of 11 to start this podcast. You see, I was in a special class in the 4th grade that got to play the stock market game for ten week period. We were handed $100,000 in fake money to invest for ten weeks. I felt like a mini-investor. I was totally hooked playing the game. But I realized most of my classmates never got this chance, and that bothered me. A year later, after talking to my parents, reading books and talking to my teachers, I realized it wasn’t just kids who weren’t financially literate… it was adults too. I thought, this can’t continue. And if you don’t think we kids see and realize how much debt our nation, many recent graduates, and families are in…well, we’re watching. So, what can we do? I believe we need more financial education in our school systems. As of May 2025, 27 U.S. states require high school students to complete a personal finance course to graduate. This marks a significant increase from just 6 states in 2019, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of financial literacy in preparing students for real-world challenges Just last month, I had the opportunity to speak to 100 7th graders about ways they could earn, save, and invest money. Then two weeks later, I got to give the same presentation to 75 6th graders. You wouldn’t believe how many questions these kids had. What was even more encouraging was that we learned that numerous students, after our presentation, the students went home, talked to their parents, and opened savings or investment accounts. Then we heard that one math teacher after learning about us and how interested her kids were about investing, is working it into her curriculum. So, how do we do it? We educate. We talk about it. We find ways to inform. That’s our mission and goal. Let’s close that gap. Thanks for listening. Cash Kid, get curious. Ask questions. Read books like Rich Dad Poor Dad. Be sure to like and subscribe and check out our Cash Kid merch at cashkidpocast.com Remember our motto: anyone can be a Cash Kid, you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, out!

It’s episode 50 of the Cash Kid Podcast! Yep, we’ve covered 50 topics related to teaching my generation how to earn, save, and invest their money earlier in life. It’s my mission to create generation that’s more informed about their finances, one that asks more questions, smarter money management skills, and less stress. But one things we haven’t discussed is, how does the Cash Kid make money. Now in season 3 of this show we’ve been focused on spotlighting other fellow “Cash Kids” about ways they’ve been making money. And what we’ve learned from talking with this kids and teens is there are so many ways for us to make some extra cash while young. So, I thought I would spotlight some of the ways I’ve been exploring to make some extra cash. Let’s dive in. The Cash Kid Podcast is underway! [musical interlude transition] 1: My Part-Time Job Alright, I’m not going to lie. I might get a little excited and run down a few rabbit holes when I learn about ways to make money. The most recent was how to create a faceless YouTube channel. This is where you create a bunch of YouTube shorts and post on social to make get a bunch of vanity views and make money on YouTube. There’s a 16-year-old who touts he’s made millions doing this. He had a simple course you could even take to see how he does it. I watched it. I tried it. It’s harder than it looks. I’ve had a few other things like that one as well and honestly, I learn a little from doing research and knowing what’s a vital option or what’s going to really take a lot more time and energy that I have to give to make it work. So this focus on ane of the first ways I make money—and that’s through working at the concessions stands at our local sporting events in my town. I found out about this by seeing kids my age and hearing them talk about working here. I thought I could do it to so I texted the Owner and I got the job. Now, don’t get me wrong, juggling school, a podcast, and a job can be a lot. But working at the concession stand has been a great way for me to generate income. It’s steady, predictable, and gives me the freedom to invest in my other business ventures. Funny fact, one night I was working the concession stand at a high school basket ball game. I had a customer ask if I speak French. Well turns out, I am currently taking French and I was able to take his order in French. He tipped me $5 bucks! (Say something in French) If you’re looking for a steady income, and old enough to work, consider getting a part-time job at places like Publix, your local concession stands, or any other businesses in your area. Even if it’s just a few hours a week, it’s a great way to start making your own money and learning how to manage it. Lesson Learned: What’s a lesson learned from this venture. Keep your eyes and ears open! I learned about this one from a friend discussing it and then researched it myself. There are always opportunities around you to make money—you just have to be ready to take them. 2: Buying, Selling, and Trading Sports Cards Another way I make money is by flipping sports cards. I sell through two platforms: eBay and Whatnot. You’ve probably heard of eBay, and Whatnot is an auction-based site where you can buy and sell cards in real time. Flipping sports cards is easier than most people think. I spend about an hour each week searching for cards at a low price, buying them, and then reselling them at a higher value. Setting up an account on these platforms takes a little time, but once you’re in, it’s super easy to list, sell, and ship. Plus, both sites offer prepaid shipping labels, making the process even smoother. With this I have learned to speak in front of a live audience, how to ship items, how to be prompt and professional, and people skills If sports cards aren’t your thing, you can do this with sneakers, vintage clothing, or even collectibles. The key is to buy low and sell high! Lesson Learned: Selling sports cards taught me how to talk to a live audience and present myself well so that customers trust me and want to buy from me. Confidence and communication are key! 3: Selling 3D-Printed Items Another way I make money is by selling 3D-printed items. Two Christmases ago, my brother got a 3D printer, but after a couple of months, he lost interest. I saw an opportunity after watching Instagram videos of people selling 3D-printed products, so I put that printer to work! I started making small fidget toys and selling them to my peers and on eBay. Within two days, I had already made $100. The best part? The printer does most of the work! I just load the filament, press a few buttons, and wait for the products to print. The profit margins are high—sometimes 400-500+%! Also, I had the opportunity to sell at a local business at thier Young Entrepreneur week. And made around $150 in like 2 hours! If you have a 3D printer or anything else lying around that you can repurpose to make money, go for it! There’s always a way to turn something you already have into cash. Lesson Learned: A lesson I learned here is to use what you already have! Sometimes, making money isn’t about finding something new—it’s about seeing the potential in what’s right in front of you. 4: The Podcast Of course, one of the hardest ways I make money is through this podcast. I’m not gonna lie. Sometimes I wish some rich donor would just email us and say, “I think this concept is great. Here’s some money to help you run your show and make it easier.” But no donor has showed up yet. (laught) Running the Cash Kid Podcast isn’t just about hitting record—I have to write scripts, research topics, manage social media, and engage with all of you. It takes a lot of time and effort, but I absolutely love it! Many told us a podcast is more a labor or love, and we get that now. Building a podcast or any content-based business takes patience. But once you grow your audience, you can monetize through sponsorships, merchandise, and ad revenue. Speaking of which—if you want to support the podcast, visit our website, check out our merch, and spread the Cash Kid love! Every share, every listen, and every purchase of merch helps us keep bringing you awesome content. Find everything at cashKidpodcast.com, then hit merch. Lesson Learned: The lessons I’ve learned from running a podcast are innumerable honestly. Time and dedication will always bring more results. The more effort you put into something, the more rewards you’ll see over time. Final Thoughts So, let’s recap the key lessons I’ve learned while making money: Keep your eyes and ears open – Opportunities to make money are everywhere! Learn to present yourself well – Whether it’s flipping sports cards or pitching an idea, communication is everything. Use what you already have – Sometimes, your next business idea is sitting right in front of you. Time and dedication bring results – The more effort you put into something, the more you’ll get out of it. Alright, Cash Kids, now it’s your turn! Are you ready to take what you’ve learned and start making your own money? Whether it’s through a part-time job, flipping items, 3D printing, or even starting your own podcast, there’s always a way to get started. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube @cashkidpodcast, and stay tuned for the next episode. Remember—anyone can be a Cash Kid; you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, out!

/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;} I bought Tesla stock at the age of 10…. And then things tanked. I’ve been ready to hit that sale button so many times on this stock. Did I though? I’d really like to talk to Elon Musk about how my generation could affect his stock and the future of Tesla. Let’s talk Elon. A new episode the Cash Kid Podcast is underway. Welcome back to another episode of the Cash Kid Podcast. I’m your host, the Cash Kid. We took a little break.. as well… I’m 13…I go to school full-time… I kind of really like to make good grades… and I made my school’s tennis team and so my parents wanted me to take a break before recording more episodes. But, I’m back and it’s time to talk about Tesla… and my Tesla stock in particular. If you didn’t know, here on the Cash Kid Podcast our mission is the teach my generation (and some adults) how to earn, save, and invest money earlier in life. The whole premise of this episode and the Cash Kid movement started because in the 4th grade I was allowed to play the stock market game as a class challenge in school. I immediately fell in love with stocks. I was fascinated how the price of a company’s stock could go up and down and how someone like me… a 10-year old at the time… could take the money just sitting in my wallet, invest it and then make more money. But really, this is what set the idea in motion. Within a few months, I discovered an app called Greenlight where I…who was 10 at the time, could purchase fractional shares of a company and I could purchase stock in a company to try and get a gain. Now have you ever put money into something, thought it was going to the moon, and then—BOOM—it crashes? That’s exactly what happened when I bought my first Tesla stock at 10 years old. I was pumped! I had saved my money, did my research, and when Tesla split in 2022, I finally got my chance to buy a full share for around $250. But then, something happened that I did NOT expect… Tesla dropped. Hard. Suddenly, I wasn’t making money—I was losing money. And as a 10-year-old investor, let me tell you, watching your first-ever stock go from a bull market to a bear market is like riding the world’s scariest rollercoaster—except your money is on the line! Alright, let’s take it back to 2022. I had been saving up money, learning about investing, and watching Tesla for a while. But before I could invest, Tesla’s stock price was over $1,000 per share—which was way out of my budget. But then, Tesla announced a stock split. If you don’t know what that means, it’s when a company splits its shares to make them more affordable to investors. So instead of being $1,000 per share, Tesla dropped to around $250 after the split. And I jumped on it right away! I was so excited because I thought, “This is it! Tesla is the future! I’m about to make BANK!” But investing doesn’t always work like that. Not long after I bought my Tesla stock, the market tanked. In late 2022 and early 2023, the stock market was struggling. Inflation was up, interest rates were high, and people weren’t spending as much money. It was what some called a mini-recession—and Tesla was hit hard. My $250 stock? Dropped by over $100. And as a kid investor, let me tell you, that hurt. I started thinking, "Did I just make a huge mistake? Should I sell before I lose even more?" And honestly, part of me wanted to call up Elon Musk and say, "Dude! What is going on? Fix this!" And my Mom says daily I would get in the car after school, open up my Greenlight account and check the price. I was obsessed over how it was performing. But here’s what I learned—the stock market isn’t about quick wins. It’s about patience. One thing I realized is that a company’s stock price isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people’s confidence in that company. And Tesla? It’s tied to Elon Musk like no other company. Whenever Elon does something big—whether it’s launching a new car, buying Twitter (which he did in 2022 now know as X), or making a statement about politics—the stock moves. For example: When Tesla was booming in 2021, people had HUGE confidence in electric cars. More people were buying Teslas, and investors saw the company as a tech powerhouse. Boom—stock price went up. But when Elon started focusing more on Twitter in 2022, investors started pulling back on Tesla. Some people thought he wasn’t as focused on the company anymore. Stock went down. Then, in 2024 and 2025, with the upcoming presidential election, Elon’s political opinions started making headlines, which made Tesla stock swing wildly again! This made me realize—stock prices aren’t just about how well a company is doing. They’re about how much people BELIEVE in the company. And Tesla? It’s one of the most emotional stocks out there. So back to my story—when Tesla dropped, I had a choice: 1. Sell at a loss and accept that I made a bad investment. 2. Hold on and wait it out. I chose to hold. And my parents may have done a lot of convincing me as I was ready to hit that sale button… many times. Because here’s something I learned—just because a stock goes down doesn’t mean it’s never coming back up. And guess what? It did. You’ll hear this a lot and it’s best you drill it into your head with investing. The best results in the stock market don’t come from quick trades. The saying goes, “It’s time in the market, not timing the market.” By 2025, Tesla had recovered. The stock went from struggling to climbing back up. And today? I’m in the green! And Elon… I’d really like it to stay that way. You know… just one young investor here, why should you care, but really… my generation is routing for you. Here’s another BIG lesson I learned: never put all your money into just one stock. Tesla is great, but imagine if I had put ALL my money into Tesla and it never recovered? I would’ve been in big trouble. From the beginning though I knew to diversify—which means spreading your money across different stocks or investments instead of just one. That way, if one stock struggles, the others can help balance things out. And in fact, because I did this, even though my Tesla stock was down, my other stocks were up and those gains outweighed the lose of Tesla. So, what’s the BIG takeaway from my Tesla stock rollercoaster? Investing is a long game. Stocks go up and down, but patience pays off. Big companies like Tesla move based on confidence. If people believe in Elon and his company, the stock goes up. If not, it may go down. But remember there are of lot of other people behind that company working hard to keep it in the green and moving forward. Don’t panic, do your research on Tesla and be informed about what’s really going on… instead of making purchasing decisions on emotions. Which brings me to the next point. Don’t panic sell. Just because a stock dips doesn’t mean it’s dead. And most importantly—diversify! Don’t put all your money into one stock. Oh, and Elon—if you’re listening, I’ve got some thoughts! My generation isn’t just watching—we’re investing, and we’re your future Tesla buyer of your cars and stock. So maybe one day, we can sit down and chat about that! Alright, Cash Kids—what’s YOUR investing story? Have you ever bought a stock and seen it go up or down? Hit me up in the comments and let’s learn together. And if you liked this episode, make sure to hit that subscribe button, follow the podcast, and share this with a friend who’s curious about investing. Because learning how to invest now could change your entire future. Keep hustling, and I’ll catch you in the next episode! Remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid, you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, out! Disclaimer: The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guest. This podcast does not intend to provide personal investment advice. This content has been made for informational and educational purposes only. To make a full and informed investment decision, we advise you to speak with a financial advisor—and for kids, definitely your parents—before investing.

At just 11 years old, Eli Everts has turned his passion for building into a successful business! In this episode of the Cash Kid Podcast, we dive into Eli's journey as 'The Assembly Man.' Learn how he started assembling furniture, toys, and more to earn his own money. Eli shares his love for Legos, the tools he uses (like his dad’s drill!), and even how he balances schoolwork with his side hustle. If you're a kid or teen dreaming of starting your own business, Eli’s story will inspire you to turn your unique skills into a money-making venture! 💡 From the importance of marketing (shoutout to Eli's mom!) to the joy of helping others, this episode is packed with tips and motivation. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to the Cash Kid Podcast for more stories about young entrepreneurs turning their passions into profits! 💰✨ 📌 Follow Eli’s advice: Think about your talents, find problems you can solve, and start building your dream business today!

Cash Kid: [00:00:00] Hey everyone, welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast. Today, we're highlighting the ultimate teen entrepreneur, a 17 year old who's running his own car detailing business and making serious money while still in high school. Not only is he handling multiple clients, but he's also managing a team of employees, proving that age is no barrier when it comes to entrepreneurship. Cash Kid: With big aspirations to plan to go to a business school. This senior is already on the fast track to success. We're excited to dive into his story, how he grew his business, and what the future holds for him. This is an episode you won't want to miss. So let's meet today's Cash Kid. If you aren't already, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at Cash Kid Podcast. Cash Kid: Or sign up for our mailing list at cashkidpodcast. com. Stay tuned. The Cash Kid Podcast is underway. Cash Kid: Eli Slaton, welcome to the show. And first off, tell us a little bit about yourself. Eli Slaton: Thank you for having me. My name's Eli Slaton. Um, I'm 17 years old and [00:01:00] I'm a mobile car detailer in Birmingham, Alabama. I love working on cars. And so that's what I do for people. I help clean up their cars and get them how they like them. Cash Kid: How did you come up with the idea to start a car detailing business? Like, how did you get it off the ground? Eli Slaton:I've always loved cars. There's something about bringing a car back to life that's just satisfying. I noticed that many people didn't just want their cars washed, they wanted them detailed, really taken care of, inside and out. That's when I thought, Hey, I can do this as a business. I started small, just detailing cars for friends and family and in my community. I used what I had at first, basic supplies and a lot of hard work. But as I made money, I reinvested it into better tools and equipment, which helped me deliver even better results. Word started to spread and more people wanted my services. That's when I realized this could be something a little bigger than I [00:02:00] thought. I officially started my business, and then from there, it's just been consistent improvement and growth. Yeah, that's really interesting about how you took something that you weren't sure about, and then you ended up turning it into like a full grown business. Cash Kid: So, you've grown your business now from the point to where you're managing employees. What's it like being a teen and running a team? How do you keep everything so organized? Eli Slaton: Yeah, managing employees as a teenager is definitely an interesting experience. Uh, right now I have about 10 part time employees, and each one plays an important role in making sure our clients are happy. At first it was overwhelming, and I think about how to organize everything. Scheduling appointments, assigning tasks, and keeping track of details. It was kind of overwhelming. But, I quickly realized the importance of systems and communicating. I use scheduling apps and tools to stay organized, and I hold regular meetings with my team to make sure that we're on the [00:03:00] same page. I also try and lead by example. If I, if I want my team to go above and beyond for our clients, I need to show them what it looks like. It's not always easy, but it's rewarding to see my team come together and deliver high quality detailing services. Cash Kid: Yeah, I mean, you really have to keep them in line, but then you also have to manage them and get your entire business going. Eli Slaton: So, being a senior in high school while running a successful business might keep you busy. How do you balance school, work, and your personal life? Balancing school, business, and personal life has been one of the biggest challenges for me. Being a senior in high school means I have to focus on my classes, but running a successful business with over 300 clients now and a team of employees means I have a lot of responsibilities outside of school. What helps me most is staying organized. I use a business planner to map out my day and make sure I'm [00:04:00] prioritizing my important tasks. For example, I might use a couple hours in the morning to work on schoolwork, and then focus on detailing in the afternoon, and still make some time to relax and hang out with friends and family. Eli Slaton: It's really a balancing act, but when you care about what you're doing, you'll find a way to make it work. Cash Kid: That's really important because if you can't balance school and do your business, you might be doing too much because school is still very important. So what challenges have you faced as a young entrepreneur, especially when it comes to managing both clients and employees? How did you overcome those challenges? Eli Slaton: Yeah, starting a business as a teenager definitely comes with some challenges. Uh, for me, one of my hardest parts was gaining credibility as a young entrepreneur. Some, some clients and even potential employees doubted me at first because of my age. I had to prove myself, try to prove myself by delivering [00:05:00] consistent and high quality services while also being professional as best I can. Another challenge was learning to manage a team of employees. At first, I tried to do everything myself, like answering calls, detailing cars, and scheduling appointments. But I quickly realized I needed to delegate trust to other people. To overcome this, I invested time in training my employees so they could meet high standards I set for my business. Every challenge taught me something valuable and helped me to become a better entrepreneur. Cash Kid: Yeah, I feel like if you never had challenges in your business, really you weren't able to like, learn or have the skills to like, overcome something. So being able to have a challenge is always like, don't think of it as a bad thing, but think of it as a way that you can overcome and build better skills. Cash Kid: So, you're making big money with your business. What's your approach to pricing and how did you scale up to where you are today? [00:06:00] Eli Slaton: Yeah, when I started, I kept my prices competitive to try and attract as many customers as I could over time. As I gained more experience and my reputation began to grow, I was able to adjust my pricing to reflect the premium services that I try to offer. Um, a big part of scaling my business has been offering different detail and packages that allow clients to choose the level of service that fits their needs. Whether it's just a basic detail or something more advanced like ceramic coating and paint protection, paint correction as well, upselling services and like headlight restorations or pet hair removals, they also help increase revenue. Today, all of the clients I've loved doing their cars, and I've tried to build a business that's not just about making money, but about delivering value and creating [00:07:00] happy, loyal customers. Cash Kid: So, what are some leadership skills you've learned about managing employees, and how do you motivate yourself with a team to deliver a great service? Eli Slaton: Yeah, running a business has taught me a lot about leadership. One thing I've done, or one thing I've learned, is to be a good leader. It isn't about telling people what to do. It's about trying to work alongside them. And showing that you care about their success. For example, I make sure to take the time to train my employees and check in with them regularly because I want them to feel confident and supportive. Because that really translates into their, their service and work ethic toward by clients. Motivation is also a key part. And I like to set goals for the team and try and celebrate when we do hit those goals. Um, so like something as simple as getting a five star review, um, on Google, [00:08:00] we're trying to just "Hey team, we've done a great job on this one. Let's, let's go out to eat," you know, something like that. Yeah, it's leadership's definitely something I'm still learning. Um, trying to get better at. Cash Kid: Yeah. I mean, when you set a challenge, you probably want to have like a reward for it. Cause otherwise it's not as motivating. So being able to try to get a five star review and then go out to like dinner or something. It sounds like a great idea or a way to motivate your employees. So you've gained a lot of real world business experience. How do you think these skills will help you when you go to business school? And what are your long term goals? Eli Slaton: Well, this running this business has really been the best real world education that I could ask for. I've learned how to talk to customers, market my services. Manage money and even negotiate and navigate through challenges that with hiring and training employees. [00:09:00] These are skills that you don't get in the classroom always. Uh, so I know they'll help me when I go to business school, my longterm goal is to keep growing as an entrepreneur in marketing. And I want to expand my detailing business and possibly, possibly even explore other industries. Um, I'm passionate about creating opportunities, whether it's for myself, my team, or my future clients. Cash Kid: Yeah, so what's next for your car detailing business? Do you see yourself expanding or are there other entrepreneurial ventures you want to pursue in the future? Eli Slaton: Yeah, my I'm excited about the future of my detailing business. One of my goals is to expand our services and maybe even open up a dedicated detailing shop while still keeping our mobile detailing option available. I've also thought about franchising the business so other young entrepreneurs could follow a similar, a similar path, almost a [00:10:00] turnkey business for them to just start creating revenue at a young age. I've always loved to look for ways to grow the business. So, what do you do with the money you're earning? Are you saving, investing, or reinvesting it back into the business? Like, what are your financial goals? Yeah, right now, most of my money I earn goes back into the business. I try and reinvest 70 percent of it as much as I can, whether it's upgrading the equipment or buying high quality product, uh, be it marketing takes up a lot of budget. Reinvesting is really what keeps the business growing and moving at the same pace. At the same time, I'm putting money aside in savings and learning about investing. My goal is to build a strong financial foundation now so I can continue to expand my business and explore new ventures in the future. I want to make sure that hard work [00:11:00] is going to pay off in the long run. Cash Kid: Yeah, definitely having a financial goal is a way to keep your business on track, as well as making sure that you're financially set up for life. What advice could you give other teams who are thinking about starting their own business? Especially ones that involve managing employees and scaling up. Eli Slaton: My advice is really simple. Start now. Don't wait until you feel completely ready because the real truth is you'll never know everything about business, especially at the beginning. I'm still learning stuff and it is completely okay to learn as you go. Focus on something you're passionate about and take it one step at a time. I try and surround myself with people who are like minded and who support you. Don't ask or don't be afraid to ask for help and advice from people for sure. Most [00:12:00] importantly, I'd say be patient and stay consistent. Building a business takes a lot of time and if you stick with it though, it is well worth it in the end. I can totally agree with everything you just said there. Cash Kid: Is there anything that we haven't asked you that you would like to share with our audience? Eli Slaton: Just stick to it, uh, keep it, keep trying, learning. Uh, YouTube, it teaches you a lot. Um, I, I actually learned how to do most of my detailing stuff on YouTube in the beginning. So if there's something of particular interest to you, learn how to do that skill. Or that service really, really well. And then get to the point where you can sell it to your friends, sell it to your family and take it to the next level. If it's something you enjoy. Cash Kid:Eli, we appreciate your time and your expertise. Thank you for joining us on the Cash Kid Podcast and boosting the financial knowledge of fellow Cash Kids everywhere. Remember anyone can be Cash Kid. You [00:13:00] just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, out.

Did you know teens like you are cashing in on creative side hustles and making serious money? And no, we’re not talking about boring chores or allowance! Stay tuned to learn how you can turn your skills into cash without waiting to grow up! Hey, Cash Kids! Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Cash Kid Podcast! I’m your host, the Cash Kid, and today we’re going to dive deep into how you, as a teen, can start your very own side hustle and begin making money right now. That’s right! You don’t have to wait until you're an adult to have cash flow coming in—whether it's for a new game, saving for something special, or even just making some extra pocket money. But, the big question is, how do you actually start? Don’t worry—I’m here to break it down step by step. From coming up with your big idea, to setting goals, to selling your product and managing your money like a pro. Now before we go any further, be sure to hit that subscribe or follow button from wherever you are listening to the Cash Kid Podcast to help us continue to grow the most savviest financially generation ever! Alright, let’s get started! Number 1: Create the Idea – Find Your Hustle Alright, first things first: You need an idea. But how do you come up with one? Think about what you enjoy doing. Are you the go-to math whiz in class? Maybe tutoring younger kids is your hustle. Or, are you great at making TikTok videos? You could teach other teens how to create engaging content! Or maybe you’ve got a creative side and love making jewelry, art, or even baking. These are all awesome places to start! Here’s a little secret: You don’t have to invent something brand new to start a side hustle. Sometimes, the best ideas come from things you already enjoy or skills you’ve already got. Ask yourself these questions: What do I love doing in my free time? What am I good at? Is there something that my friends or family always ask me to help them with? The key here is to choose something that excites you because it’s going to take some time and effort, and you’ll want to enjoy the process! For example, just two episodes ago, we spotlighted teen entrepreneur Sadie Norris who runs who own baking business. She loves baking and turned something she already enjoyed doing as a way to make some extra cash as a teen. Number 2: Discover and Learn Skills in Your Chosen Area Ok, so now you’ve got your idea— let’s now become an expert at it! For any side hustle, you need to build your skills so you can do a good job. Yes, people may still pay you if you are a cute kid and they feel sorry for you… but we want to get great at our craft. The good news is that you’re never too young to learn, and there are so many free resources out there! Like YouTube for example which is where I’ve gone to learn a lot about running this podcast. If you’re offering a service, like babysitting or dog walking, you can check out YouTube tutorials, or even ask your parents or friends who have experience. For creative businesses, like making jewelry or crafts, there are hundreds of online courses, guides, and even communities that will help you learn more. Maybe you want to start an online store—well, learning how to take great photos of your products, write catchy descriptions, or marketing yourself on Instagram is key. And guess what? There are tons of free online courses and videos to teach you how to do just that. Never be afraid to ask for help, and don’t rush the learning process. The more you know, the better your hustle will be. Number 3: Start Your Business Plan – Make it Real Now that you have an idea and some skills under your belt, it’s time to create a plan. Don’t worry—this isn’t some boring school assignment. Think of it as your roadmap to success. Here’s a simple business plan for you to follow: Name Your Hustle: What are you calling your new side business? Pick something catchy that reflects what you do. Set a Goal: Do you want to make $50 by the end of the month? Maybe $200 for a special purchase? Setting a goal will keep you focused. Price Your Service or Product: What’s your time worth? How much do you need to charge to make a profit after covering any costs? Do a little research and see what others are charging for similar services or products. Create a Schedule: Are you going to work weekends? After school? I would suggest also running this by your parents so you’re aware of any family commitments as well and don’t cause additional stress down the road with being overbooked. Find the Tools You Need: If you’re selling products, you might need supplies. If you’re offering a service, what equipment or space will you need? Once you’ve got your plan in place, it’s time to take action. Number 4: Get What You Need – Make Your Product or Offer the Service So, now it’s time to gather everything you need to actually launch your hustle. Whether it’s buying supplies for crafting or setting up your website to sell stuff online, get ready to put things in motion! If you’re making products, make sure to make a few prototypes first. Are they high quality? Are they something people would want to buy? Test them out on family and friends to see what they think! If you’re offering a service, maybe offer a few free gigs or discounted sessions to build your reputation and get some reviews. Word of mouth is your best friend. Number 5: Find Customers or List Your Product – Get the Word Out! Now that you’ve got your product or service ready to go, it’s time to find customers. This is the fun part—marketing! First, start with people you know. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors what you're offering. Word of mouth can be powerful. You can also use social media (with your parents’ permission) to spread the word about your side hustle. A lot of the kids and teens whose stories we have shared here on the podcast about their side hustles have noted how their parents use their Facebook or Instagram to help promote their kid’s business. It’s actually how we find most of our guests or fellow Cash Kids to interview on the show. When it’s coming from a parent’s account, it gives a level or trust right away. So, the marketing tactic seems to work! Share photos, testimonials, or even a behind-the-scenes look at how your product is made. If you’re selling a physical product, you might want to list it on websites like Etsy, Depop, or eBay. If you’re offering a service, like tutoring or dog walking, post flyers in your local area or on community message boards online. Also, talk with your teachers at school and let them know you are offering a tutoring service. Many times they keep a running list to share with parents when they ask for tutoring services. The goal is to get your name out there and start attracting customers! Number 6: Start Selling and Making Money Okay, now you’re officially in business! It’s time to make your first sale. Remember, in the beginning, it might be a little slow. That’s totally normal! The more you work at it, the more you’ll improve your skills and build your reputation. You might even want to offer a special discount for your first few customers, just to get things going. The most important thing? Keep hustling and stay consistent. The money won’t always come overnight, but if you keep providing value and doing a great job, you’ll build up a steady flow of cash. Like my friend Eli who runs his own car detailing business. He started out just doing family and neighbors cars to now having enough business at age 17 that he has employees working for him to handle all his orders. Number 7: Expand, Save, and Invest – The Next Step Once you’ve started making money, it’s time to think about the next steps. You could reinvest your profits to make your side hustle even better! Maybe buy better equipment, or spend money on advertising to reach more people. And don’t forget to save! Set aside a portion of your earnings in a savings account. You could even think about investing your money if you’re old enough to open an account. But remember, the key is to save and grow your money! Lastly, if your side hustle is doing well, you can start thinking about expanding—maybe turning your hustle into a bigger business. But that’s a story for another episode! Conclusion: Alright, Cash Kids, that’s all for today’s episode! Starting a side hustle as a teen is a great way to make money, learn new skills, and set yourself up for a financially successful future. Whether you’re selling handmade items, offering services, or starting a digital business, the possibilities are endless. And remember, the key is to have fun, stay motivated, and always think about how you can improve. Thanks for tuning in to the Cash Kid Podcast! Don’t forget to share this episode with your friends and subscribe so you never miss an exciting new episode. Remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid, you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, Out! Disclaimer: The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guest. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not provide personal investment advice. Speak with a financial advisor—and for kids, definitely your parents—before making any investment decisions.

S3E5 How to Start Babysitting as a Teen: Make Money and Build Responsibility. Cash Kid: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Cash Kid Podcast, where we highlight young entrepreneurs who are finding creative ways to earn, save, and invest money early in life. Today we are featuring another awesome teen who's balancing it all, school, babysitting, and even carpool pickups to make some extra money on the side. If you aren't already, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @ Cash Kid Podcast. Cash Kid: And sign up for a mailing list if you haven't already. Now, this student is proving that you can take on responsibility, help out your community, and learn valuable life skills while still being a student. Whether she's babysitting kids after school, or helping out with carpool runs, she's finding smart ways to bring in cash, while managing her busy schedule. Cash Kid: In this episode, we'll dive into her story, how she got started, and what it takes to balance work and school life. So let's jump in and meet today's Cash Kid. Kennedy Teal, welcome to the show. And first off, Kennedy, tell us a little bit about yourself. Hey Kennedy Teal: Cash Kid, it is so great to be on. [00:01:00] Thanks so much for asking me. Kennedy Teal: Um, so yeah, I'm Kennedy. I'm a junior college student at Sanford University and I come from Johnson City, Tennessee, which I've loved, but I also love Birmingham. It's been an awesome home and yeah, I'm studying interior design and I love babysitting since the very beginning of like my preteen years. So thanks so much for asking all these questions. Cash Kid: Yeah. So, um, what really inspired you to start babysitting and offering, like, carpool pickups? Was it something like you've always wanted to do, or did the opportunity just, like, come up unexpectedly? Kennedy Teal: So, a little bit about myself some more is that I'm an oldest of six kids. So, I've kind of just always been around kids. I've been used to, like, kids. I've been babysitting since I was probably nine for my siblings, so I've just kind of been in that role forever, and I've also loved it, and it's come a little bit naturally to me. So, I think probably when I was around 14 years old, I started just babysitting for my community, and for my church, and for small groups, and [00:02:00] stuff like that. Kennedy Teal: So, like, little jobs. Like, small groups that I didn't have to drive towards, but I was still, like, hanging out with kids and stuff like that. Um, so yeah, it was something that I've always kind of been infused with since I was younger. Um, but yeah, I loved it. Cash Kid: That's amazing and how, like, you kind of, like, was something that you went to and then you turned what skills you have into a way to make money. That's kind of like all that we're talking about on the Cash Kid Podcast. So how do you balance school babysitting and carpool duties? Like what is a typical day or week look like for you? Kennedy Teal: Yeah, good question because it can be a lot. But gladly, my work, my school schedule works very well with me. Um, so my typical week kind of looks like my Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Kennedy Teal: I have class from like 8 to 3:30. So most of those days I am in class all day. Um, occasionally I will do some pickups after those 3:30 classes. So, if like someone needs to go to tennis or horseback riding or something like that. I do pick up a few of those shifts in the later [00:03:00] afternoon. Kennedy Teal: Um, but Tuesdays and Thursdays are my main days that I just go from like probably 8 until 6 or sometimes even 9. Um, so yeah, I've roped off those days so that I can just fully like, Um, not all of those hours are used every week because my weeks kind of look different each week. Um, so sometimes Thursday mornings, I won't babysit, so I'll be able to like go to a coffee shop and do some homework. Kennedy Teal: Um, or like in the evenings, I'm not used as late, so then I can get some homework in as well. So, it's a balance for sure, but just trying to figure out what works well for me. And since I have been doing this for a while, I kind of know my limits and my balance and what works for me. So, yeah. Cash Kid: Yeah, I totally agree with that. It's just like time management, it’s such a big and important factor whenever you're starting a business or a side hustle. So, what has been the most challenging part of juggling all your responsibilities? How do you handle it when things get overwhelming? Kennedy Teal: Yeah, that's a great question because I don't even know if I do handle it very [00:04:00] well. Kennedy Teal: Um, but I think since I'm just used to this, like it's something that just is so second hand. So, it's so natural, um, that I don't even kind of blink twice about it. Like I've been balancing this. Since high school, so high school, I had a block schedule as well. So, I went from eight to three and then I would go babysit in the afternoons. Kennedy Teal: So it's something that's kind of just routine and I have gotten used to it and I've learned kind of my balance of like what, how much schoolwork I need to commit to the project or what I need to do for this or that. Um, so it definitely is challenging, but I think just kind of knowing myself and my limitations. Kennedy Teal: Um, but I also would say babysitting is an awesome job because it is so flexible and it doesn't ever feel like work to me. So, like that is such a big blessing that like I get to go to work after a long day of classes, but it doesn't feel like it. Like I get to go hang out with kids or I get to go drive them to their sports or whatsoever. So it feels like it's very manageable and I can balance it because it's not a crazy strenuous job, you know what I mean? Cash Kid: [00:05:00] So what skills do you think you've gained from babysitting and doing carpool pickups? Have you learned like anything that will help you later in life? Kennedy Teal: Absolutely. I've learned multitasking. I've learned responsibility. I've learned patience. I've learned Leadership, I've learned how to address adults and have those conversations. I've learned how to you know, like figure out kids and how to address them if they're like having a meltdown in a park, you know. Just some things like that, um, that are great social skills for me. Kennedy Teal: Um, so yeah, I think I've been able to like have those experiences that help me very well and I think that those are all going to just grow me as a person as an adult as a mom as Um, a business woman, like if that's something that's in my future. Um, so I think all of those are very beneficial attributes. Cash Kid: Yeah, I totally agree with that. The more skills you can make as a kid, the easier your life will be. So, what do you do with the money [00:06:00] you earn? Are you saving it, spending it on something special, or maybe even investing it? Kennedy Teal: Yeah, great question. For me, my weeks do look a little bit different with babysitting. My hours do vary, um, which is something that I don't mind at all. I kind of do like the flexibility. I like that that each week is different, that I don't have a schedule. start and end time that it's kind of changing, um, it makes each week kind of seem different and interesting. So, with that being said, my money and my income does fluctuate each week. Kennedy Teal: So, it's taught me how to be very responsible and very planned with how I spend my money. So, it is something that I do have to look at kind of at the end of the month and kind of see what I'm like making on an average and how I can spend that wisely, how much I need to save, how much I need to give. And then what do I have left to spend on coffee and some new earrings, you know? Kennedy Teal: So, there's definitely a balance. Um, but it has taught me a lot of responsibility and being [00:07:00] very, um, cautious with how I spend my money because it's not a set income. Cash Kid: Yeah, um, so babysitting and carpooling requires a lot of trust from parents. How did you build that trust with families, and what advice would you give to other teens who want to start similar jobs? Kennedy Teal: Yeah, absolutely. I think what helped me in the very, very beginning was I started taking on jobs that were around the parents. So, like, babysitting at a small group. So, like, they would drop their kids off in the basement and I would play with them. They would come and check in on them. So, they were seeing how I was interacting with their kids, engaging, keeping them safe being in a very calm and peaceful kind of mindset for them. Um, and I think that grew my credibility. So those parents could see that I was trustworthy and responsible with their kids in a kind of safe environment with them near. And so, since kind of, since I was 14, I kind of just grew and grew and grew with how my relationships with those parents. Kennedy Teal: Um, and then that just led to references. So, like, people would pass [00:08:00] my name on to this person and this person. So, it just kind of like grew my credibility. Um, since starting in such a small spot. Um, but yeah, it's grown and now I'm a junior in college and have awesome families and, and awesome references because they are just, they are so awesome to me. Kennedy Teal: Um, so yeah, it's something that is Kind of weird to work through of like, how do I even get started? How do people trust me? But I think it also is something about like you feeling confident about how you are and how you enter a room and how you interact with the kids. It really is all about the kids. That's kind of the only thing the parents are looking at is how you engage them how you get on their level. It’s like liking what they like. Kennedy Teal: So, like my little girl that I babysat she loves to get, uh, Dutch braids in her hair. So, like, the first day I came and started, she was like, Do you know how to braid hair? And I was like, well, of course. So, like, we immediately, like, got on the ground, and I started, like, braiding her hair. Um, so just things like that I think parents are looking for, and I think that builds a lot of trust [00:09:00] in their hearts when they see that you're engaging, and you get on their level, and you're not, like, better than them or whatever. Cash Kid: So, do you see yourself continuing with like these jobs in the future? Or do you have like a different business idea or like career in mind as you grow older? Kennedy Teal: Yeah, I definitely see myself finishing out college babysitting because it is something that I just truly love. And I hate that I do feel like I see an end mark in this kind of chapter in this career. Just because I will probably have um, a career in interior design when I graduate. Um, so that doesn't mean that I have to give up all of my babysitting job. I'm sure I'll do some date nights here and there and free time on the weekends. Um, but I do see kind of my career and my day to day shifting once I graduate. Um, so that is something sad, but, um, I've also loved it and it's not going anywhere. Like, you know, I'm still around, so. Cash Kid: Do you ever find it hard to like keep up with schoolwork or have you found ways to stay organized? Kennedy Teal: I [00:10:00] definitely love my planner. That is what keeps me very, very organized. Kind of at the beginning of the week, my families are awesome to send me dates. Um, and because my schedule is a little crazy and cramped, I'm really blessed to have people sending me dates like in a month in advance. Okay. So, I can kind of just schedule in things very far in advance so that when my week comes I know what's on the list. I know how to prep for that Um, and then I also know my class schedule and I know my other responsibilities outside of school and babysitting so definitely invest in a planner get all your dates set up. Kennedy Teal: Um, and then, yeah, the biggest thing is if you can get your families to give you heads up for in a far in advance, that is very, very helpful with staying organized and not getting overwhelmed with school because you know what the next and next, next week's look like. So. Cash Kid: Yeah, so what advice would you give to other teens who are thinking about starting their own small business or side hustle, like babysitting or carpooling? Kennedy Teal: Great question. [00:11:00] I would say start it. If you love babysitting, if you love doing your little niche, just, just go for it. It's all about confidence. Um, it's all kind of about people. Like, if you're good with people, if you can talk to a person like you're doing right now, like, you can start anything. Um, so yeah, I would say confidence, grace, patience is all very key. Kennedy Teal: Um, but anyone can do anything, and babysitting is such an awesome gig. And I would encourage anyone to go ahead and just start. Plunge, get your name out there. There's amazing Facebook groups out there that you can join to like get into these Facebook clubs that help you, um, you can put your name out there and people can reach out to you or you can reach out to other people. Kennedy Teal: Um, and then yeah, I think there's some awesome apps too, but my favorite thing is just referrals. So, like getting that one family will literally give you the rest of the referrals that will get you through the, the rest of your career. So yeah. Cash Kid: Like whenever you're trying to start a business, just go for it. Because even if it [00:12:00] fails, you have mistakes that you know, that you won't make next time. And if it goes well, then you have skills that you know how to use and apply to your day-to-day life. Yes. Um, so Kennedy, is there anything that we haven’t asked you that you'd like to share? Kennedy Teal: Oh goodness. I think you've done great I feel like you've hit all the points and I've been able to like show babysitting such a great light So yeah, thank you. Cash Kid: Kennedy. We appreciate your time and your expertise Thank you for joining us on the Cash Kid Podcast and boosting the financial knowledge of fellow cash kids everywhere And remember anyone can be a cash kid. You just have to learn how to become one. Cash kid, out!

A Teen Entrepreneur’s Baking Business: HOW A TEEN BALANCES SCHOOL & A BAKING BUSINESS 00:00:00:00 – Intro Cash Kid: What's up, cash kids? Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast! We're in season three, and this season we’re exploring fun and creative ways for kids and teens to learn about money, entrepreneurship, and setting up their own side hustles. Today, we've got an exciting guest—someone who's already turning her passions into profits. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @CashKidPodcast or sign up for our mailing list at CashKidPodcast.com. 00:00:27:18 – Introducing the Guest Cash Kid: Today, we’re talking to a high school freshman who’s taking her love for baking and turning it into a business. She’s whipping up more than just sweet treats; she’s making some extra cash on the side! This young entrepreneur is using her skills, creativity, and hustle to run her very own baking business, and we’re thrilled to share her story with you. Stick around to hear how she’s doing it, the challenges she’s faced, and why we consider her a true Cash Kid. 00:01:45:03 – Guest Introduction Cash Kid: Joining us today is Sadie Norris. Sadie is a fellow Cash Kid, using her talents and entrepreneurial mindset to make extra cash. She runs a baking business called "Sadie's Sourdough and Sweets." Just the mention of it is making me hungry! She’s baking up a storm weekly for clients, and we’ve asked her to join us to talk about how she’s using her baking skills to make a profit. 00:01:54:16 – First Question Cash Kid: Welcome to the show, Sadie! First off, tell us a little bit about yourself. 00:02:07:10 – Sadie’s Baking Journey Sadie Norris: I’ve always loved to bake. I make sourdough bread with my mom, strawberry pie by myself, and I use my sister’s chocolate chip cookie recipe. 00:02:18:22 – When Did You Start Baking? Cash Kid: So, when did you start baking and learning how to make these things? 00:02:32:11 – Selling Online Cash Kid: Do you have a website where people can buy your baked goods? 00:02:47:16 – Shipping Cash Kid: How do you ship your items? 00:03:01:20 – Why Start a Baking Business? Cash Kid: What gave you the idea to use your talent and skill to make some extra money? 00:03:23:01 – Other Ways of Making Money Cash Kid: I know baking isn’t your only way to make money because we worked together at the local concession stand this summer. What are some other ways you’ve worked to make money? 00:03:38:14 – Finding Clients Cash Kid: How do you find clients to buy your goods? Do you run ads on Facebook or just post in groups? 00:04:04:23 – Feeling of Earning Your Own Money Cash Kid: How does it feel to make your own money? 00:04:22:07 – Saving vs. Spending Cash Kid: You’re going to be a freshman. Are there any big purchases you’re saving up for, or do you just spend your money as you go? 00:05:08:03 – Advice for Young Entrepreneurs Cash Kid: What advice would you give to kids and teens who are thinking about starting their own side hustle or business as a student? 00:05:21:08 – Balancing School and Business Cash Kid: How do you manage your business while still being a full-time student? 00:05:47:06 – Lessons Learned from Running a Business Cash Kid: What have you learned from running Sadie’s Sourdough and Sweets? 00:06:10:07 – Time Commitment for Sourdough Baking Cash Kid: I’ve heard that sourdough can take a while to make. How long does it take you? And if you get a lot of orders, how do you keep up? 00:06:52:08 – Best-Selling Items Cash Kid: You also sell cookies and pies. What’s your best-selling item? 00:07:05:17 – How to Place an Order Cash Kid: How can people place an order, and how do they get their goods delivered? 00:07:41:01 – Clarifying Pickup and Delivery Cash Kid: Just to clarify, do you do porch pickup, or do you drop off orders? 00:08:04:18 – Pricing Cash Kid: What are your prices for cookies, pies, and sourdough? 00:08:22:22 – Expanding the Business Cash Kid: Do you have plans to expand your business, add more items, or sell online? 00:08:45:05 – Baking Mishaps Cash Kid: Have you ever had a batch of dough go wrong or made a mess in the kitchen? 00:09:19:26 – Friends’ Reactions Cash Kid: What do your friends think about you running this business? 00:09:45:09 – Conclusion Cash Kid: Sadie, we appreciate your time and expertise! Thank you for joining us on the Cash Kid Podcast and boosting the financial knowledge of fellow Cash Kids everywhere. Remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid—you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid out! 00:10:04:10 – Disclaimer The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guest. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not provide personal investment advice. Speak with a financial advisor—and for kids, definitely your parents—before making any investment decisions.

What's up, Cash Kids? Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast, where we highlight young entrepreneurs learning how to earn, save, and invest at an early age. We're continuing our special series on kids with a serious entrepreneurial mindset, and today’s guest is a great example of that. **Host:** If you aren't already, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @cashkidpodcast or sign up for our mailing list at [cashkidpodcast.com](https://www.cashkidpodcast.com). **Host:** Our guest today is a high school sophomore who’s not only super involved in his community but also runs his own tutoring business. Balancing academics, extracurriculars, and a business, this young entrepreneur is making moves to set himself up for financial success. We’re excited to dive into his story and learn how he's managing it all while gaining valuable skills that will serve him for years to come. Stay tuned as we talk about how he’s helping others while building his own path to success, truly embodying the spirit of a “Cash Kid.” **Host:** “So, you've got some cash? Maybe from allowance or that money your grandma gave you for your seventh birthday. Whatever it is, what are you going to do with it? Spend it? Hide it away? Or maybe invest it? Let’s start learning how to make that money grow. Time to learn how to be a Cash Kid.” **Host:** Joining us today is Matthew Farmer, a sophomore in high school who runs his own tutoring business. Welcome to the show, Matthew! First off, tell us a little bit about yourself. **Matthew:** Hi! Yeah, it’s great to be here. My name is Matthew. I am the secretary for Model UN, I have my own tutoring business called Matthew’s Tutoring, and I’m in several other clubs. I do cybersecurity on the side and I’m part of a club called Educators Rising, where we do volunteer work. That’s all about me! **Host:** That’s amazing! So tell us, what are your thoughts on kids using their talents to make money? **Matthew:** I think it’s really important that kids use what they already know to make money. I felt like tutoring was a solid thing for me to do because I knew what was being taught in class and could help kids who were struggling. I thought, why not make a little bit of money off of it? It’s been going really well. I think it’s important for kids to do that because it teaches maturity, responsibility, and how to handle their money better. **Host:** I definitely agree! There’s always someone with a skill who can help others. So, what gave you the idea to start tutoring? **Matthew:** It’s actually a funny story! Someone from the school reached out to me to tutor as a volunteer, and I did it for a couple of months for free. I had a lot of students, and it got to the point where I was spending my own money on notebooks, markers, and supplies. I realized, with all the time and effort I was putting in, I should turn it into my own business because I found out I was really good at it. **Host:** That’s great! So, how do you get clients or find students to tutor? **Matthew:** I mainly advertise on Facebook, and I have a Google business account. If you search for tutoring in my area, I pop up in the search results. Occasionally, I go door to door, but I don’t do that too often. **Host:** How do you manage your time with tutoring and being a full-time student? **Matthew:** I plan everything out using Google Calendar. I set aside time after school for tutoring, and if I’m doing something else, I have people who work for me who can take on students. That way, I can still have time for myself. **Host:** What subjects do you typically tutor? **Matthew:** We tutor in a variety of subjects because we have different tutors who specialize in different areas. I like to focus on math and science, but we also tutor in subjects like Spanish, world history, and area studies. We offer a wide variety of subjects. **Host:** What have you learned from being a tutor, and how has the money you’ve earned helped you? **Matthew:** The money I’ve earned has helped me a lot. I’ve been able to save up to buy a car since I’m 15 and will get my learner’s permit soon. It’s nice to be able to buy things for myself and even buy gifts for my family. I also save and invest my money, which is really important. **Host:** That’s awesome! You mentioned you have employees. How did you get your first one? **Matthew:** I reached out to one of my friends who didn’t have a job or only worked a little bit. I knew they were really good at math, so I asked if they’d like to work for me. It’s better than a regular job because I pay more than what McDonald’s pays, and the hours are flexible, which is great for students who do sports or have other commitments. **Host:** Have you worked other jobs as a student? **Matthew:** Yes, I’ve worked at McDonald’s for about a year and a half as a crew trainer. It’s been a good experience, and I might try to become a manager when I turn 16. **Host:** What challenges do kids and teens face when trying to find jobs? **Matthew:** It depends on what each job offers. When I was looking for a job, I made a presentation to my parents comparing the benefits and downsides of different places. McDonald’s worked out for me because it was flexible, and they needed more people, while other places like Culver’s already had a lot of staff. **Host:** That’s a great way to approach it! What advice can you give to kids or teens thinking about starting a side hustle or business while in school? **Matthew:** Go for it! Take a risk. Even if it doesn’t work out, you tried, and you can always try again. You’ll never know if you can succeed unless you step out of your comfort zone. **Host:** Exactly! Trying something gives you valuable experience, even if it doesn’t work out. Have you ever wished there was a class in school that taught more about financial skills? **Matthew:** Actually, I’m taking business classes in high school, like marketing and accounting. Next year, I’ll take sports and media marketing, and I’ll be eligible for dual credits at my local college. My school covers the cost, which is great. **Host:** Matthew, we appreciate your time and expertise. Thank you for joining us on the Cash Kid Podcast and boosting the financial knowledge of fellow Cash Kids everywhere. And remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid—you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, out! **Disclaimer:** The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guest. This podcast does not intend to provide personal investment advice. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. To make a full and informed investment decision, we advise you to speak with a financial advisor—and for kids, definitely talk to your parents first before investing

A university that teaches you how to become a millionaire? What?! Our guest on the show will explain, coming up. So, you've got some cash. Maybe from an allowance, or that money your grandma gave you for your 7th birthday. Here you go, sweetie. Woohoo! Thanks, Grandma! Whatever it is, what are you going to do with it? Spend it, hide it away, or maybe invest it? Let's start learning how to make that money grow. Time to learn how to be a cash kid. Welcome back to another episode of the Cash Kid Podcast. I'm so pumped about today's guest on the show. They might have only agreed to come on the show because I'm a kid. And how can you say no to a little kid? But whatever it is, I'll take it. Don't forget, if you aren't already, to follow us on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. We love interacting with our audience on these platforms. And [00:01:00] be sure to subscribe to our podcast and leave a review from wherever you're listening. Joining me on the show today is Justin and Taro Williams from the Millionaire University Podcast. Their motto is, graduate rich, not broke. I'm hooked just from that. Millionaire University believes that anyone can start and grow a successful business. It's your school for wealth creation and on their show they interview experts from numerous industries to help you start and grow a successful business. Mr. and Mrs. Williams, welcome to the show and first off, tell us a little bit about yourself and your business background. Woohoo! That was horrible, let me do that again. Woohoo! Yeah! That's better. I was like, wow! Man, Cash Kid, we are pumped to be here. I came across your podcast, like Few weeks ago and I couldn't stop listening. I was hooked. I love what you're doing. Uh, yeah, I'm going to have, we're going to have our kids listen to it. So thank you so much for everything that you're sharing with everyone. First of all, we've learned a lot from listening to you. So thank [00:02:00] you. You're welcome. And thanks for having your podcast for me to listen to. So go ahead. Perid, do you want to kick it off and share a little more about, about us and our background? Yeah, I'll give you a little bit of our personal background. So Justin and I, we just celebrated our 20th year anniversary. We got three kids. So we have an 18 year old boy, 16 year old daughter, 14 Uh, we live in California, San Diego area, and we have been running businesses together for about 20 years. 20 years! Can you believe that she's been able to handle me for that long? I'm a lucky lady. I have an awesome husband. Oh, I'm blessing. But yeah, we've had some ups and downs. And if you kind of want to share a little bit more of our business background. Yeah. So I've wanted to have a business my entire life. I just didn't know a whole lot about business, but when I was young, your age, or even younger, I would go to Costco and buy candy and try to sell it. And, um, this is a little, I'm not sure if you're supposed to do this, but my mom would [00:03:00] buy the, like candy bars when we were, you guys today, you just like send out a text and we give you money for your fundraisers at school. But when I was younger, I would sell like candy bars at grocery stores. So my mom would buy the candy bars. As if we were doing like a fundraiser, we'll go sell the candy bars. And, um, we were doing all kinds of stuff. I would raise lovebirds and animals and hand feed them and sell them. So I was always just trying to figure out how I could make money, but I always want to have a business, but they didn't really know a whole lot about business. But my parents were in lots of like multi level marketing things, and they never really made a lot of money in those, but I went to like some events and. Some things that kind of got in my head. Um, when I was in high school, I read a book called Rich Dad, Poor Dad. And that really helped me kind of like change the way I thought about about money and business. So I always knew I wanted to have a business. I always knew I wanted to invest. I always knew I wanted to create wealth and be able to do cool things in my life. [00:04:00] So, um, fast forward, went to college, uh, went to Brigham Young University and had a football scholarship. And that's where I met Tara. And so we met and we ended up getting married and I told her like, I hurt my shoulder and I knew I wasn't going to play football anymore and I knew I wanted to start a business. And at the time I was selling satellite dishes door to door. And after doing research, I was like, Hey, I think we can make like three times as much money if we start our own business doing this instead of doing it for this other company. So I got paired a quitter job as a third grade teacher. And we went for it. And we were pumped. We're going to make a million dollars within a year. And what do you think happened within a year? It didn't go as planned. It did not go as planned. At first, it was going pretty well when I was just selling on my own. Yeah, like, yeah, I was making more money because I was getting paid more, but there's a lot of, um, inventory we had to get and stuff. It [00:05:00] was okay. But then we're like, hey, we're gonna get an office and we're gonna hire, uh, get up, take a partner and hire some managers to help recruit guys that can go sell in the summer. And I was running the numbers and it all looked amazing. So it's like, it's okay for spending money. We're gonna make a ton of money this summer. But the managers didn't recruit. Our partner slept in till 1130 every day, the bills kept coming. The phone system was way more than we thought. And all this stuff kept happening. So the money kept going out, but not enough was coming in. And then the summer was getting closer and we're like. We're not going to have a program. We ran up the numbers. We're like, we have 120, 000 of debt. We can't borrow money, putting money on credit cards and a brand new baby. And we had a baby. And so we're like, Oh, shoot. We got it. So we, we left the office, sold all the things that we had bought. I remember about like all this furniture and stuff that we did not need. And it seemed fun at the time, but we sold the, uh, we, we got, uh, we broke the lease. We, I think we had to [00:06:00] pay a little bit of money. We, and we moved to Bakersfield, California, where we lived in a small room with a bunch of other people, our brothers and people who are working for us. And our son slept in the closet and I would go out every day in the 110 degree heat of Bakersfield and sell satellite dish and just worked so hard. And I was like, this is not what I envisioned being a business owner. So tell us more about Millionaire University and um, like why did the podcast start? Go ahead, Tara. Well, Millionaire University, so, you know, a little bit more about our background is we, Bought and sold houses and we educated people on how to sell houses and we ran, you know, we had multiple businesses and then there came a point where we sold one of our businesses and we had some good investments and we had a lot of free time on our hands and we traveled, we'd all kinds of different things. And then we got bored and we were like, what are we going to do? We had retired at a young age. We have all the things we want. We made all the money we want. We have [00:07:00] more money that we're making passively each month than we spend. We did it. So we went through those hard things and then we had financial success, but then we were bored like human beings. We need to progress. We have something inside of us just wants to grow and we want to go and we want to do things. And so there came a point where we were kind of bored. And as you can tell, Justin is a natural born entrepreneur. Like he just loves it. I am not a natural born entrepreneur, but I'm a hard worker. And so I had to learn it on my own and obviously with Justin's help and just with life experience, but I'm smart and I can do lots of different things and I have a good eye for things. And so he and I have been a good team, but he just has this passion in him to teach people about business. And we wanted to create something that our kids could listen to and that would really help them. And that would help other people save on some of the mistakes that we made to give them lots of information, education, really valuable episodes that give them a ton of ideas and tips so that they could also start a business and have more freedom because [00:08:00] it has created a great life for us. We've done lots of really cool things and it's caused us to grow a lot. And so Millionaire University is the resource we wanted when we started a business. So it's kind of like you've mentioned cash kid. I know, um, you're a big believer in, like, education is important, but you also feel like it could be improved, right? Teach a lot about money, how to make money, how to start a business. And so I was just so confused. And as our kids are getting older and getting ready. To for that age where are they going to go into college? Are they going to start a career? What, like, what are they going to do? They want to start a business, but we're like, there needs to be a resource. Like too bad. College or school doesn't teach you more about starting a business. And so we were like, I kept complaining about it. And one day, like we're bored, we're not doing a whole lot. And we're like, why don't we do that? That's what entrepreneurs do. That's what business owners do. They think they see a problem and they're like, well, I'm going to go. Solve that problem, come with a solution for it. [00:09:00] So that's what Millionaire University is, is kind of a, the solution to, to that, that problem that, that we felt like was out there. So, yeah, I totally agree. Our, our podcast is to help the solution of like, not as much financial literacy in schools. We want to help give that to kids who really aren't given the chance to learn much. Like my entire six track year this year, we had five minutes. In the first section of our social studies class to do a stock market game while we're going through the great depression in our social studies. That was the one time that we had it and it was for a nine week period. It was the first five minutes one time on Monday. So really we had 45 minutes of financial education the entire school year. And so it's really not enough because by the time you get out and into the real world, you're going to have taxes and stuff. And no one's ever taught you how to do that. So. That's kind of the mission here. I love it. Amen. Yeah. So, [00:10:00] uh, tell us about some experiences you've had running your own business, the ups and downs and all the failures that got you to where you are today. There's been a lot. How long is this podcast? We've had many ups and downs, many successes, um, and many failures. But that's what's amazing about running a business is, you know, you go to school and you show up, like you said, and, and the teachers and we're grateful for school, you know, teaches you habits and how to make deadlines, how to be organized, how to be social. There's so many good things. And that's a really important phase of life to learn those things. But then there comes a time where certain individuals decide they want to start their own business. And you don't have anybody who wakes up in the morning and says, get up, do this. This is how you make money today. Nobody's telling you that. So who has to tell you that just you, you're your own boss. And so you go from people saying, turn this assignment in exactly this day to this time to, and you're just, you're just doing [00:11:00] what everybody tells you to do to where all of a sudden you're your own boss. And there's. It's epic that your own boss and it's also really scary sometimes because you're like, what do I do? How do I handle this? And so we've had to learn to be our own bosses, how to handle problems that come our way because that's what business owners do. They solve problems every single day and how to solve problems and also be able to make money and take care of our family. And so it's been a journey. I think it's kind of interesting. If you look at college and the education system, people will spend Thousands, tens of thousands of dollars to go to this place for four to eight years to have someone else tell them what to do, where to go and all these things. And it's like, if you can take that same. Thought process, but apply it to business because what happens with business is when things don't go perfectly. A lot of times people like, Oh, I fell like, cause I didn't make a ton of money right away. It didn't work out. But if you can have the thought process of I'm doing things that I believe will lead me towards [00:12:00] creating a financial wealth and financial freedom, but if it doesn't go perfectly, then you look at it as, Oh, I'm learning, this is an education. And you won't look at it as a failure because no one finishes college after four years, even though they didn't make money and they spent money and end up in debt. And they're like, I failed, you know, they know, like, no, like I accomplished something. So I think if we can shift our mindset when we're starting a business and growing a business and know that there are going to be struggles and failures along the way, but that's just a part of the process. Um, Who was it? Who? It took like a thousand times to Benjamin Benjamin Franklin. Yeah, maybe I should go back to school, um, to, to discover electricity anyway, but it wasn't like he failed. He was just figuring out ways that it didn't work. Cause then he would know the way that it did work. And that's really all like a business is, is you, you take action on things and there's certain businesses you can start. They are like service businesses [00:13:00] that you can start making money tomorrow. And then there are other businesses like, um, creating a platform, like a podcast or a blog or like creating an audience that are going to take a lot longer, like you're not going to make money instantly. But you've got to look at it as more like, do you enjoy it? Are you learning? Are you growing? And then more for the longterm. Right. So I think there's just different ways to look at your business, depending on what you're doing. And, but just know that struggles and failure are going to be a part of it. So that when those happen, we always tell our team, like we get paid to solve problems. So when problems come, you literally should be like, yes, it's a problem, you know, instead of, cause if we get down and we're like, oh, this is so hard, then it's easy to quit and give up. And then you won't ever achieve your dreams. So, yeah. Uh, that reminds me when you go into the failures, my, uh, math teacher in her room, she had up a poster and it said, I haven't failed. I've just made 10, 000 [00:14:00] mistakes. Yeah. I learned 10, 000 ways. How to not do it. Right. So, yeah. Yeah. And to give you some, you know, specifics of mistakes we've made. I mean, we've hired people and trusted them way too much. We didn't really like pay attention to them or keep track of them. We were just like, okay, you do this. And we didn't want to want to hear about it. We've gotten really good at being more accountable with our people, keeping, you know, stats, uh, researching different things, making sure we're staying on top of managing people. Uh, we've gotten smarter at how we spend our money. You know, what numbers are we getting back? We've gotten better at creating contracts and how we work with people. Negotiations. We're way better at looking and finding good people, better opportunities, better situations. But we've made mistakes with people, with money, with investments, all kinds of different things. We wouldn't know any of that if we didn't take action. And every mistake we've been, that we've done. If we stick with it and overcome it, we get way smarter and way better. And so the weird thing is, is like, we might have a hard experience or we might lose [00:15:00] some money, but we ended up making a lot more money because we learned from it and we didn't just give up. So that's really huge. I totally agree with that. So what financial education were you taught or exposed to growing up or maybe not exposed to that you wish you were? I mean, I went to school and then I went to college. I always knew I wanted to go to college, put myself through school. I had a paper out when I was 11, babysat when I was like nine. So I've always worked, worked hard, put myself through college, figured out college, got scholarships, played sports, did all kinds of different things. But I was more like, okay, you do this and this. I didn't know really anything about the entrepreneurial world. And so I was a third grade teacher. And I was working really, really hard and that was a great job, but I was getting paid like nothing. I couldn't even support my own self almost. And so when Justin came into my world and he had this natural born entrepreneurial way of looking at the world and he said like, let's make a million dollars in our first summer. I was like, yeah, let's do it. So we didn't have a ton of experience growing up and he talked about some of the experiences that he had, but he and I just kind of have figured out [00:16:00] things together. But it would have been amazing to get a lot more help and resources like there are today. Like there's so much cool information out there. It's wild. It's a good thing. She didn't see into that first year and we had 120, 000 of debt. She might not have married me. You know, I don't know. So do you feel like financial education is needed in our schools? And if so, what type of it do you think is needed? Oh, my goodness. Yes. It's like an understatement of the century. I mean, people don't even know how to balance their checkbooks, how to save money, you know, how to run numbers, how to have investments. I mean, it's crazy. Yeah, I think there was a study done, like, even like, I don't know if it's two thirds or higher. Um, of adults can't even pass a basic financial, like literacy test. Like very, very basic. It's just something that isn't taught. And not only do I think it should be taught, I think it should be the main thing that is taught. It's like everything else is [00:17:00] like around that. It's like, maybe we learn a few minutes of, I don't want to pick any specific subject, because then someone might get upset. But I think financial literacy, I mean, it's not. I remember like pretty much being done, you know, I was done with college and leaving and just being like, I, I didn't really learn a whole lot, like my whole goal now I'm gonna go make money and take care of a family. And I don't know how to do that really other than just. But if I would have had the opportunity to start when I was younger and been investing and learned about money and being able to maybe even start a business like many years before, we would have avoided a lot of stress. And I think like marriages would be better. Families would be happier. Um, I just think it's so needed. The education system has stayed pretty similar. It's evolved a little bit. For so long for so many decades and it just really means a major overhaul, I think Yeah, that reminds [00:18:00] me of uh, like funny thing that happened in school one time So we were gonna go outside for recess and um, it was raining So we had to do indoor recess and all my friends they were off playing Like, uh, board games and they were like playing with the deck of cards and I go up to my teacher and I ask, uh, can I check my stocks? And she goes I have never taught anything about stocks. I've never had a kid ask me about stocks She texted my mom about what had happened because she was just amazed that like I had under And I had learned that and so I thought that was just really a funny like story that had h

You don’t have to wait until you’re grown up to start making your own money. Whether you want to save up for something big or just have extra cash for fun, a side hustle could be your answer. But where do you start? Stick around—I’ve got alot the tips you need to become a money-making Cash Kid! Hey, Cash Kids! Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast, where we teach you tips and tricks to making, saving, and growing your money as a kid or teen. I’m the Cash Kid, and guess what? We’re kicking off Season 3, and this season is all about…drumroll please… jobs kids can do! That’s right! This season, we’ll explore all sorts of jobs and side hustles you can try to earn some extra cash, even if you’re still in school. From mowing lawns to babysitting, from pet sitting to selling crafts online, we’ve got all the ideas you need to start earning. Whether you want to save up for that new video game, a special pair of shoes, or maybe you’re like me and want to invest in some stocks—this season is for you! ( And we’re definitely gonna talk about stocks here and there… I’m a little angry with Tesla… but yet… I want one.) So, today’s episode is a short one, but I want to give you a sneak peek into what’s coming up in this season: We’ll talk about how to find jobs in your neighborhood—the ones that pay you for your effort and responsibility. We’ll share tips on starting your own mini business—ever thought about setting up a lemonade stand or a dog-walking service? Plus, we’ll even dive into saving, spending, and investing what you earn—because being a Cash Kid isn’t just about making money. It’s about learning how to use it wisely! And don’t worry if you’ve never worked a day in your life—we’ll walk you through it all. We’ll also have some special guests on the show who will share their stories of how they got started and give you tips to help you succeed. Oh, and maybe you could help us out here on the show! If you know a kid or teen who is doing something to make money, we would love to feature them here on the Cash Kid Podcast. Just email us yourself or have a parent reach out to let us know what you’re doing at cashkidpocast@gmail.com. We want to spotlight as many fellow “Cash Kids” as we can! Next Monday, we’re diving into our interview with another podcast called Millionaire University. It’s going to be our longest episode yet and young and old a like can learn so much from what these two millionaire entrepreneurs have to say about us kids making our own money… and even millions… one day! Alright, Cash Kids, I’ll leave it there for now. So, make sure you subscribe or follow the podcast and follow along so you don’t miss out on any of these great ideas. Also be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube @cashkidpodcast. Remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid—you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, Out! Disclaimer: The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guests. This show does not intend to provide personal investment advice through this podcast. This content has been made for informational and educational purposes only. To make a full and informed investment decision, we advise you to speak with a financial advisor and for kids, definitely your parents first before investing.

00:00:00] It's over! Not the podcast, just season two. A talk with the Cash Kid, coming up. So, you've got some cash. Maybe from the allowance, or that money your grandma gave you for your seventh birthday. Here ya go, sweetie! Woohoo! Thanks, Grandma! Whatever it is, what are you gonna do with it? Spend it, hide it away, or maybe invest it? Let's start learning how to make that money grow. Time to learn how to be a cash kid. Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast. I'm your host, and today, we're closing out season two with a bang. But don't worry, the podcast isn't over, just the season. We're reflecting on what we've learned. I'll share some personal insights as I continue my financial journey as a Cash Kid. Can you believe it? This is episode 40. We've covered so [00:01:00] much ground this season the last 25 episodes of season 2 our focus was building super financial skills. From understanding a checking and saving account and compound interest to avoiding scams and shopping tips. We've laid the groundwork to set you up for financial success. We live in the information age. All the information is there. It's just taking it and applying it. Which is where we got our motto for the Cash Kid Podcast. Stating how anyone can be a Cash Kid. You just have to learn how to become one. We're all capable of it. I see it already at the age of 12. Our most popular episode, episode 22, Working for Greater Financial Education, featuring Ms. Wanda McAbee from the Alabama Council on Economic Education. She's a true champion for financial literacy. It was inspiring to hear about the strides being made to bring this critical education into our schools. She continues to be a great advocate for what we are doing and help our [00:02:00] mission. So, what have I learned in these last 25 episodes? A lot, actually. Did you know how many adults feel uncomfortable talking about money? Some even graduate from college without a clue on how to manage their finances. I'm 12. That's a bit scary. But, I'm hearing from adults who appreciate our podcast shows and how important financial education is at any age. And let's be real, we don't have excuses anymore. The information is out there, and our mission is to make it accessible for kids and teens, parents, and even grandparents. Together, we're building a healthier mindset around money. And it's crucial, because according to Business Insider, the total household debt in the U. S. hit 17.987 trillion in early 2024. Imagine what this could look like if our generation doesn't get financially smart? What I've learned from my interviews this past [00:03:00] season is how my generation will be one of the ones to not really touch money or have less of an actual emotional attachment to it because we never get the sensation of feeling it. It's all in the cloud, basically. There's also the emerging world of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. How will that affect my generation? There's just so much to explore. And I'm glad you're here to join me on this Cash Kid journey. I'm actually surprised how many of my friends are starting to invest now as well. I'm getting asked. Weekly about what companies I'm looking at and whether I plan to buy or sell a stock based on the market trends. Now that I think about it, it stresses my parents out some. But, me and my friends are on this journey together, and I love the discussions around stocks at my school. It's definitely a Cash Kid goal to have more kids discussing these topics. And, as we wrap up season two, I'm excited to announce our focus for season three. How kids can start earning money. We're [00:04:00] interviewing young entrepreneurs and exploring various job opportunities for kids and teens. You won't believe the amazing things kids are doing to make money. Whether you're interested in starting your own business, learning about stocks, or just finding a way to make some extra cash. Season 3 will be packed with tips and Information. It's mind blowing to me how many options kids like me really have. So please, if you aren't already, subscribe to our show on whatever platform you're listening from. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at Cash Kid Podcast. And joining our mailing list can help you keep updated on what's next for the Cash Kid Podcast. You can find all of our handles episodes and our mailing list, also our merch, at our website, cashkidpodcast.com. Also, we would love your support for this show. Podcasts are passion projects, but they come with expenses. So [00:05:00] let's support our mission by grabbing some cash kid merch on our website or by donating through Buy me a Coffee. You don't actually get me an actual coffee. It's just a metaphor to like, donate directly for a cause. The coffee's for my mom, who actually gets up really early to edit these episodes. Thanks mom! Remember, I'm learning right alongside you, and we're growing as cash kids together. I'm here to find the experts and bring you the best advice. To help us all grow and build a healthier financial future. So, let's get ready to make some cash in Season 3 of the Cash Kid Podcast. See you there. Remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid, you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, out. ​ [00:06:00]

It’s time to go back to school already. (Sigh) My true feelings about school and the cost of heading back. Coming up! Intro: So, you got some cash, maybe from an allowance? Or, that money your grandma gave you for your seventh birthday. Here ya go, sweetie! Woo hoo! Thanks, Grandma! Whatever it is, what are you gonna do with it? Spend it? Hide it away? Or maybe invest it? Let's start learning how to make that money grow. Time to learn how to be a Cash Kid. Hey, Cash Kids! Welcome back to another episode of the Cash Kid Podcast, where we teach you all the tips and tricks to becoming a money-savvy kid or teen. I’m the Cash Kid and today we’re talking about something that’s on everyone’s mind this time of year—going back to school. But not just any back-to-school talk—we’re diving into how to be mindful of the costs and expenses that come with it. Where I live, we are already in week two of school and the idea for this episode actually came from a story one of my new teachers shared in class. We were having to glue some items into some pages in our binder and he was instructing us how to use the glue…we’re 7th graders so thought it was a little strange but then he shared this story how a boy saw this girl using too much glue on a project, and he asked, “Why do you use so much glue?” And she replied, “Because glue is cheap!” And he said, “It must be nice to live the 3-ply life.” (sound effect after joke) So, whether you can live a 3-ply life or not, you need to listen up to this episode. Whether you’re getting new supplies, new clothes, paying for lunch for yourself – or your friends, or just taking care of school property, there’s a lot to think about. So, let’s jump right in and see how we can be smart with our money as we head back to the classroom. **[Sound Effect: School Bell Rings]** **Segment 1: Back-to-School Shopping** Alright, first up, let’s talk about back-to-school shopping. It’s easy to get carried away with all the cool notebooks, backpacks, and gadgets. But before you start filling up your cart, take a moment to think about what you really need. We’ve addressed these a few times already on the Cash Kid Podcast in understanding the difference between needs and wants. Make a list of the essentials—things like pencils, notebooks, and folders. Then, check to see if you have any supplies left over from last year. Reusing what you already have is a great way to save money. We reused our backpacks, and water bottles from last year for instance. Also, consider setting a budget with your parents. This way, you won’t be tempted to buy things that aren’t necessary. Pro tip: Look for sales and discounts. Many stores offer back-to-school deals, so you can get what you need without breaking the bank. **[Sound Effect: Cash Register Cha-Ching]** **Segment 2: New Clothes and Shoes** Now, let’s talk about something that’s super exciting for a lot of us—new clothes and shoes! I made a deal with my parents if I made straight A’s last year could I have a pair of OnCloud Shoes. I already own 5 shares of their company’s stock too so I wanted a pair. So, maybe you can make a deal like that. Maybe you’ve earned some money over the summer and can asks to share the cost of a pair you really want. Also, it’s always fun to start the school year with a fresh outfit, but it’s also important to be mindful of how much we’re spending. Before you go shopping, take a look at what you already have. Do you really need a whole new wardrobe, or can you mix and match some of your current clothes to create new outfits? Sometimes, just a couple of new pieces can make a big difference. You don’t actually need an entire new wardrobe to go back to school. Well, some my age do as there are kids who grew a lot over the summer. But, that constitutes a need, not a want. When you do go shopping, try to focus on buying quality over quantity. A few well-made items can last you longer and save money in the long run. **[Sound Effect: Clothes Hanger Sliding]** **Segment 3: Lunch Money and Daily Expenses** Next, let’s talk about one of the biggest daily expenses—lunch! I’m not going to lie, when I moved to middle school, the freedom of more choices for lunch was appealing. I started buying a X drink every day at lunch before my Mom got pinged with the need to replenish my lunch money supply within a few weeks and questioned me on what I was buying. Let’s just say… we had to make some cut backs. I also know of lots of other kids who want to be kind and buy all their friends an ice cream or buy their friends a lunch with their lunch money. Good intentions… but probably need to discuss with your parents first. Whether you’re buying lunch at school or bringing it from home, it’s important to be mindful of how much you’re spending. If you buy lunch at school, ask yourself if there are ways to save. Maybe you can bring a snack from home and only buy part of your meal. Or, if you bring lunch, think about packing leftovers from dinner. Not only does this save money, but it also helps reduce food waste. And my school is always running some kind of fundraiser for an organization selling cookies, snow cones, and candy. These can add up quickly! Try to set a daily or weekly limit on how much you spend, and stick to it. **[Sound Effect: Coin Dropping in Piggy Bank]** **Segment 4: School Supplies for the Classroom** Now, let’s talk about something a little different—helping out your teachers with supplies for the classroom. Sometimes, teachers ask students to bring in extra items like tissues, hand sanitizer, or dry erase markers. Great parent volunteers usually donate a lot these items for our classrooms. Also, PTO organizations are great at raising funds to mee these needs. So while you may not be buying these supplies yourself, I think it’s important you understand they weren’t free… kind of like back to the glue is cheap story earlier. Remember, every little bit helps, and being mindful of your spending doesn’t mean you can’t help others. **[Sound Effect: Pencil Writing on Paper]** **Segment 5: Taking Care of School Property** Last but not least, let’s talk about taking care of school property. This might not seem like a cost to you, but it’s super important. When we take care of our school’s devices, desks, and other property, it saves money in the long run. Think about it—if everyone takes care of their chrome books, lockers, and yes, not trash the bathrooms, the school won’t have to spend as much on replacements. That money can go towards other things that benefit you and your classmates. Plus, it’s just the right thing to do! **[Sound Effect: School Locker Closing]** **Conclusion:** Alright, Cash Kids, that’s all we have for today! Remember, being mindful of the costs of going back to school doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. It just means you’re making smart choices that will help you—and your family—save money in the long run. So, as you get ready to head back to school, think about the tips we talked about today. Make a list before shopping, set limits on daily expenses, be smart about buying new clothes and shoes, contribute to classroom supplies in a way that works for you, and take good care of your school’s property. Oh, and what are my true feelings about being back at school? Well, let’s be honest, if I had a choice, I’d rather be at home checking my stocks and playing video games or swimming. But… time to get back to work and I’m enjoying so far. Thanks for tuning in to the Cash Kid Podcast! Be sure to share this episode with your friends, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid, you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, Out! Disclaimer: The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guest. This podcast does not intend to provide personal investment advice. This content has been made for informational and educational purposes only. To make a full and informed investment decision, we advise you to speak with a financial advisor and for kids. Definitely your parents first before investing.

We’re all guilty of it! What am I talking about? Stay tuned! Intro: So, you got some cash, maybe from an allowance? Or, that money your grandma gave you for your seventh birthday. Here ya go, sweetie! Woo hoo! Thanks, Grandma! Whatever it is, what are you gonna do with it? Spend it? Hide it away? Or maybe invest it? Let's start learning how to make that money grow. Time to learn how to be a Cash Kid. Welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast! I'm your host, the Cash Kid, and today we're diving into a topic that's super important for kids and teens - saving for big purchases. Let’s be honest. We’ve all been guilty of asking our parents for something we want. My six-year-old brother has figured out how to search up toys on Amazon to show my parents to try and convince them to buy him things. My parents then showed him how to add things to a wish list, and that he has to wait until a birthday or has the money to buy it. But, if we don’t want to wait until a birthday or Christmas for the chance we get what we want, how do we learn to save for things we kids and teens want to buy? Whether you're aiming to buy a new gadget, that first car, a new lego set, Lululemon outfit, purse, or even start your own small business, learning how to manage your money wisely is key. So let's get started! First, let's talk about budgeting. Budgeting may sound boring, but it's the foundation of good money habits. A budget helps you keep track of your income and expenses so you can make sure you're saving enough to reach your goal. **[Sound Effect: Cash Register Ding]** Now, let’s say you get $20 a week from your allowance or a part-time job. If you spend all of it on snacks and video games, there won't be anything left for that big purchase you want. Instead, try the 50/30/20 rule. Save 50% of your income, use 30% for needs like school supplies, and spend 20% on fun stuff. Next, let's talk about earning money. Saving is great, but if you want to reach your goal faster, finding ways to earn extra cash is a smart move. Here are some ideas: First, for teens, why not think about getting a part-time job. Many teens work part-time jobs after school or on weekends. It could be at a local store, a fast-food restaurant, or even babysitting. I saw several teens working at a local farmer’s market the other day. I thought that’s a great job for the summer for teens to make money and save for big purchases. Second, what about tutoring? If you're good at a particular subject, consider tutoring younger students. It's a great way to earn money and help others at the same time. There are always parents on Facebook groups looking for tutors to help their kids with a subject they are struggling in, so lots of clients… and money. And then of course for younger kids there’s the good ole lemonade stand and doing household chores. Be mature and ask to talk with your parents to set-up a chore list for you and how you can earn some money around the house or do things for neighbors. You’d be surprised how many are willing to pay kids to do small jobs here and there. We’re actually working on season 3 of the Cash Kid Podcast already where we’re going to be interviewing lots of tweens and teens about ways they are using their skills to make money. We can’t wait to start releasing those episodes later this year! **[Sound Effect: Coins Clinking]** **Host:** Now, let's move on to selling old items. Most of us have toys, clothes, or gadgets that we no longer use. Why not turn those items into cash? We have lots of large lego sets in our house that we’ve put together. My Mom gave us the idea recently to take those apart and resell them used to others. We looked it up, and it’s actually a thing. Also maybe organize a garage sale, or sell old items online through platforms like eBay, Depop, or Facebook Marketplace. Not only will you declutter your space, but you'll also add to your savings goal for that big purchase. Another important habit is setting clear savings goals. It's easier to save when you know exactly what you're saving for. Break down your goal into smaller, manageable milestones. For example, if you want to save $200 for a new bike, aim to save $50 each month for four months. This makes the goal less overwhelming and gives you a sense of achievement as you reach each milestone. I use an app called Greenlight to help with my savings goals. I can always see how much I have in my savings account. When I get paid for a job or chores, I use the 50/30/20 rule we talked about earlier and know before the money even enters my account where it’s going. Seeing your progress can be incredibly motivating and helps you stay on track. **[Sound Effect: Checkmark]** **Host:** Let's not forget about the importance of needs versus wants. We actually produced an episode on needs versus wants. It’s titled “Needs, Loves, Likes, Wants.” Be sure to check it out. It’s one of our most popular episodes on the Cash Kid Podcast. It's easy to get tempted by things you want to buy immediately, but it's important to prioritize your needs and long-term goals. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this, or can I save this money instead?" Delaying gratification is a powerful skill that will benefit you throughout your life. **[Sound Effect: Thought Bubble Pop]** Finally, let's talk about the power of compound interest. If you save and invest your money wisely, it can grow over time. Consider putting some of your savings in a high-yield savings account or investing in a beginner-friendly platform. Even small amounts can grow significantly over time. So, let’s recap, here are the key points to help you save for big purchases: 1. Budget - Use the 50/30/20 rule to manage your income. 2. Earn Money - Find part-time jobs or ask talk with your parents about a chore list to earn money. 3. Sell Old Items- Clear out those old unused items into cash. 4. Set Goals - Break down your savings goal into smaller milestones. 5. Track Your Progress – Use an online app like Greenlight or keep a book to record your earnings and expenses. 6. Consider Needs vs. Wants - Prioritize long-term goals over immediate desires. 7. Compound Interest – Consider putting your money in a savings account that can grow for free and grow your money over time. That's all for today's episode of the Cash Kid Podcast. I hope you found these tips helpful and are inspired to start saving for your big purchase. Remember, good money habits start early, and the skills you learn now will benefit you for a lifetime. Don't forget to subscribe to the Cash Kid Podcast on whatever platform you are listing from. Leave us a review and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Remember anyone can be a Cash Kid, you just have to learn how to become one. Cash Kid, out! Disclaimer: The information presented represents the views and opinions of the guest. This podcast does not intend to provide personal investment advice. This content has been made for informational and educational purposes only. To make a full and informed investment decision, we advise you to speak with a financial advisor and for kids. Definitely your parents first before investing.

Understanding Inflation: Why Your Money Buys Less Over Time In this Cash Kid Podcast episode, the concept of inflation is explained in a simple way tailored for kids and teens. The episode covers how inflation affects purchasing power, increases the cost of goods, and impacts daily life and financial goals. Real-world historical examples, such as hyperinflation in 1920s Germany and the Great Inflation in 1970s USA, illustrate the effects of rising prices. Practical tips are provided to help young listeners manage their money, save, and invest wisely to mitigate the impact of inflation on their lives. 00:00 Introduction to Inflation 00:39 Why Inflation Matters 01:39 Historical Examples of Inflation 02:33 Causes of Inflation 03:09 Impact of Inflation on Families and Businesses 04:01 Inflation and Personal Finance for Teens 04:32 Tips to Handle Inflation 05:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts