The $1 burrito that transformed how I teach
In this episode of It’s Not About Money, Charla shares a pivotal parenting story featuring her son, Jack, and a $1 burrito that sparked a deeper understanding of financial responsibility. Jack joins Charla to reflect on the lessons he learned from managing his own budget as a middle schooler, including the value of saving, the impact of small decisions, and how these early experiences shaped his current financial habits.

The discussion dives into why it’s essential for parents to let their kids make “bad” money decisions on a small scale, how those lessons stick, and the importance of teaching kids to think beyond instant gratification.

Key Topics Covered:

- Teaching Money Skills Through Experience: Why giving kids control over their own budget—even if it means mistakes—builds long-term responsibility.

- Balancing Immediate Desires and Long-Term Goals: How Jack learned to prioritize saving for future needs over impulsive spending.

- The Power of Real-Life Lessons: Charla explains why hands-on financial experiences are more impactful than lectures.

- Building Financial Independence: How these lessons prepared Jack to handle larger financial responsibilities as an adult.

Key Takeaways:

- Give Kids Hands-On Experience: Allow your kids to manage a budget, even if they make mistakes—it’s a safe way for them to learn.

- Focus on the Big Picture: Teach kids to see how today’s choices affect their future financial goals.

- Be Patient with the Process: Small financial “missteps” today can lead to smarter decisions tomorrow.

- Encourage Reflection: Help kids evaluate their spending decisions to understand the impact of their choices.

Call to Action: 

* Reflect: How are you currently teaching your kids about money? Are there opportunities to give them more independence in managing their own budget?
* Discuss: Share a story with your kids about a financial decision you made and what you learned from it. Use this as a conversation starter about smart spending and saving.
* Try It: Consider giving your child a monthly “eating out” budget or another real-world money scenario to manage on their own.

Connect With Us:

- Read more about this topic and other discussions on Charla’s blog: [https://beyondpersonalfinance.com/our-blog](https://beyondpersonalfinance.com/our-blog)

- Subscribe to the weekly email with links to our podcast and blog: [https://beyondpersonalfinance.com/subscribe-1](https://beyondpersonalfinance.com/subscribe-1)

- Learn more about our unique products designed to enhance your children’s understanding of real-world money management: [https://beyondpersonalfinance.com/](https://beyondpersonalfinance.com/)