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!

Episode 55:The Top 5 Money Lessons

Kids, what have your parents taught you about money?

And adults, what did your parents not teach you that maybe

In today’s episode, we tackle the top five money lessons

I’m your host — the Cash Kid — and today, we’re diving into

The Top 5 Money Lessons Parents Fail to Teach Their

So let’s get into it!

🎯 #1: Not Teaching the

One of the biggest mistakes I see is when parents just give

Now, I’m not referring to money they get for a birthday or

It’s like if a teen knocked on your door, said they would

How can we fix that?

When kids understand that hard work equals rewards...we

Plus, we’re less likely to be willing to give up or spend

🎯 #2: Not Talking About

You hand a kid twenty bucks...and 10 minutes later it's

That's because budgeting and saving don't come naturally —

Here’s a simple fix:

Greenlight is an app I use to set up save, spend, and give

Budgeting isn’t boring when you turn it into a challenge or

🎯 #3: Avoiding

A lot of parents think, "My kid doesn’t need to worry

A better way?

Money mistakes happen...but learning early can help us

One of the tried and true measure is when a teen turns 16

🎯 #4: Not Encouraging

Saving is good — but growing your money is even

What are some ways you can help:

You never know — the next Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey might

🎯 #5: Not Setting a Good

Parents, we’re watching you — even when you think we’re

Here’s what helps:

The more we see smart money moves in action, the more

And be honest with us. If you’ve made bad financial choices

And if you don’t have the answer, help them find the right

[Closing Thought]

At the end of the day, parents don’t have to be perfect

Kids WANT to learn.

So whether you're a parent, grandparent, or a kid tuning in

🎙️ CASH KID (closing

See you next time. Remember, anyone can be a Cash Kid. You

Hey Cash

In this

We’ll talk

So if you're

Before we

Alright,

(intro

Cash Kid:

than

He's

Adam Bergman: Well thanks so much for having me. Really excited. So I

Right?

So

Cash Kid:

Adam Bergman: Sure, sure. So I'll, let me double click on that and

So

You

It's

If

Cash Kid:

So

Adam Bergman: Yeah, so being young, you have the biggest advantage. I

You

They're

Starting

Okay,

So

And

Cash Kid:

And

Adam Bergman: Yeah, absolutely. So. When IRAs were created back in

Even

Cash Kid:

Adam Bergman: Exactly. it's exactly right. So

the

So

Cash Kid:

But

Adam Bergman: No, it's, kids can do it too. the key is the money,

Like

Like

Cash Kid:

.

It's,

So

Adam Bergman: Right. So let, let me just, uh, kind of, um, discuss

doubles

So

Cash Kid:

Did

Adam Bergman: I was lucky. I had a really smart dad and my dad was

The

You're

Very,

Cash Kid:

And

Adam Bergman: Yeah, I, that's my passion. That's my dream, is to

I

How

Cash Kid:

And

And

think

Adam Bergman: Yeah, so I've been, I wrote a book on cryptos. I'm very

It's

So

I

Where

Cash Kid:

Adam Bergman: I actually wrote a ninth, but um, so I think it's this

That's

That's

Cash Kid:

Adam Bergman: yeah, call me. Yeah, it's Adam. So, um, definitely check

But

Understand

Every

Cash Kid:

Adam Bergman: Ira financial.com is the best place, um, to go. You can

Cash Kid:

​
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.

Who can be a millionaire?

Hey guys, welcome back to The

My mom and I recently both

I learned a TON from this

Remember, the Cash Kid

[music interlude]

Segment

Cash Kid:

A millionaire is someone

And net worth is just a

Let’s break it down real

And to be a millionaire,

Segment

CASH KID:

Chris Hogan interviewed

The idea that it’s not

But according to the book,

Chris Hogan calls it the Millionaire

Most people think that

🔹 79% of millionaires received no

In Chris Hogan’s book he

Segment

They don’t sit around

That’s a big deal. If you

Millionaires also don’t blame

Segment

💰 Live below your means –

And I love

It doesn’t take a ton of

Final

OUTRO:

Alright, that’s a wrap! If

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]

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

I bought Tesla stock at

And then things tanked.

I’ve been ready to hit

I’d really like to talk to

Let’s talk Elon. 

A new episode the Cash Kid

Welcome back to another

But, I’m back and it’s

If you didn’t know, here

I immediately fell in love

But really, this is what

Now have you ever put

I was pumped! I had saved

Tesla dropped. 

Hard.

Suddenly, I wasn’t making

Alright, let’s take it back to 2022.

I had been saving up

But then, Tesla

I was so excited

But investing doesn’t

In late 2022 and early

My $250 stock? Dropped

And as a kid investor, let

And honestly, part of me

And my Mom says daily I

But here’s what I learned—the

Whenever Elon does

For example:

This made me realize—stock

And Tesla? It’s one of

1.   

2.   

I chose to hold.

Because here’s something I

And guess what? It did.

You’ll hear this a lot and

By 2025, Tesla had

And Elon… I’d really like

Tesla is great, but

From the beginning though

And in fact, because I did

Oh, and Elon—if you’re

And if you liked this

Because learning how to

Remember, anyone can be a

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.