Amanda went on The Catholic Woman Podcast, hosted by Marie Hanson, for a wide-ranging conversation about money, faith, and what it actually takes to find financial peace today.

In this episode, Amanda shares the real story behind a major money fight early in her marriage, how she and Jonathan paid off debt and stayed out of it, and why debt freedom is only the beginning—not the finish line. They talk candidly about budgeting as a skill Catholics need to relearn, the moral and practical challenges of credit cards, and why debt keeps families tied to the past instead of free to respond to God’s call.

We also mention some of the realities young families are facing right now: an increasingly unaffordable housing market, the student loan crisis and the pressure many couples feel when they’re trying to do “everything right” and still feel stuck while sharing stories of God’s very specific providence along the way.

This episode is especially for anyone feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to move forward financially while staying faithful.

Resources mentioned:
• Catholic Budget Guide: https://walletwin.com/catholicbudgetguide/
• Learn more about WalletWin and Catholic Money Academy: https://walletwin.com

If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a friend—and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review to help more Catholics find it.

We made a hard decision in 2025 that will radically change our family’s 2026—and it didn’t come out of nowhere.

In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, we walk through how annual planning has shaped our family’s biggest decisions over the years, from homeschooling to schooling, from time stewardship to major life pivots.

We share how our yearly “dream date” and planning rhythm helped us notice when something that once worked was no longer bearing good fruit—and gave us the clarity and courage to change course.

This conversation is about learning how to step back, examine the fruit of your decisions, and discern where God may be inviting you to stay the course—or make a shift—in the year ahead.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the status quo, unsure whether a good thing is still the right thing, this episode will help you think through annual planning with honesty, faith, and intention.

👉 Plan Your Year with Us (Live Workshop + Planner Bundle):
Join our live Plan Your Year 2026 workshop and get access to the Big Catholic Planner, wall calendar, and more at
https://walletwin.com/calendar

As we look ahead to 2026, Jonathan and Amanda take an honest look back at the purchases that shaped their family’s financial life in 2025—for better and for worse.

In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, they walk through their favorite purchases, their lingering regrets, and the patterns that emerged when they slowed down to reflect.

From great deals that genuinely served their family to “savings” that quietly cost them time, energy, and peace, this conversation is about learning how to discern money decisions more wisely as life gets fuller.

You’ll hear how priorities shift as responsibilities grow, why saving money isn’t always the most faithful choice, and how to balance stewardship with sanity as you plan for the year ahead.

This conversation will help you think more clearly about what to keep, what to change, and what to leave behind as you move into 2026.

📧 Questions or comments? [email protected]
📞 Leave us a voicemail: https://walletwin.com/voicemail

If this episode helped you, share it with a friend and leave a 5-star review—it helps more families find the show.

In this episode of the Catholic Money Show, Amanda and Jonathan discuss the concept of 'brain rot', exploring how excessive screen time affects our lives and mental health. They emphasize the importance of creating a battle plan for 2026 to avoid falling into the trap of mindless scrolling and unintentional time wastage. The conversation includes practical strategies for limiting phone usage, the benefits of media detoxes, and the introduction of their Big Catholic Planner and Calendar as tools for intentional living and planning for the new year.

Moments of Note

00:00 Introduction to the Battle Plan for 2026

00:19 Understanding Bed Rot and Brain Rot

02:11 The Impact of Screens on Our Lives

05:29 The Rise of Screen Usage and Its Effects

06:25 Media Detox and Memory Improvement

09:22 Experimenting with Phone Usage

10:20 The Challenge of Limiting Phone Time

13:24 Creating an Anti-Bed Rot Challenge

14:54 Introducing the Big Catholic Planner and Calendar

18:07 Planning for the New Year

21:15 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Christmas is almost here—and if your budget is tight or your ideas feel a little last minute, this episode is for you.

Jonathan shares five meaningful, low-cost yet high-value gift ideas you can pull together quickly, even if you didn’t plan ahead or your Christmas budget is running lean this year.

These aren’t “filler” gifts. They’re creative, thoughtful, personal presents that people genuinely love to receive.

You’ll hear:
• Why great gifts don’t require big spending
• Jonathan’s favorite homemade gift that costs pennies
• A movie-night bundle that works for couples or families
• A clever pick for puzzle lovers
• One of the best last-minute gifts
• How to create an at-home spa kit that feels luxurious without the price tag
• What actually makes a gift meaningful—hint: it’s not money

If you want simple gift ideas that feel heartfelt, personal, and affordable, this episode will spark plenty of inspiration.

👉 See the full guide with links & examples: walletwin.com/lastminutegifts

How do you stay generous at Christmas without blowing your budget?
In this special episode, Jonathan joins Sarah on Morning Air (Relevant Radio) to talk through practical, realistic ways to navigate Christmas spending with clarity and peace.

They cover:
• How to set a Christmas budget that actually works
• Why breaking your plan down person by person matters
• What to do when a gift you love is outside the limit
• How couples can team up on the Christmas budget
• How to talk with family about scaling back traditions
• Simple ways to avoid the post-Christmas credit-card hangover
• Why stewardship—not stress—is the heart of Catholic gift-giving

Whether you’re aiming to stay debt-free this season or want a calmer approach to holiday spending, this conversation gives you the tools to plan well and stay grounded.

👉 Grab the free Catholic Guide to Budgeting at catholicbudgetguide.com

Budgeting gets a bad reputation—people say it’s restrictive, stressful, or simply doesn’t work. But the truth? Most people aren’t budgeting the way budgeting is actually designed to work.

In this episode, Jonathan and Amanda break down the three core habits that make budgeting simple, effective, and peaceful. Practical, biblical principles that hundreds of Catholic Money Academy families use to finally feel confident and in control of their finances.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or frustrated with budgeting…this episode is your reset.

📘 Mentioned in This Episode

👉Free Resource: The Catholic Guide to Budgeting, A step-by-step walkthrough for creating your first budget using the WalletWin method. https://catholicbudgetguide.com

👉 Order your 2026 Big Catholic Planner now: ⁠www.bigcatholiccalendar.com

Music in this episode is by Dylan Gardner – check out his album Almost Real on ⁠iTunes⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or wherever you listen to great music.

We’ve all heard about the avalanche, the snowball, and maybe even the snowflake method for paying off debt… but which one actually works best in real life?

In this episode, Jonathan and Amanda go back to their own story of paying off about $25,000 of debt in just 7.5 months and break down the three major debt payoff strategies—what they promise, where they fall short, and why the method you choose matters more than you think.

You’ll hear:

❄️ Debt Avalanche – the mathematically “optimal” approach that often fails real human behavior

❄️ Debt Snowflake/Flurry – lots of motion, not much progress

❄️ Debt Snowball – the method they used, and why those early wins were crucial

Plus how they now teach a deeper, more strategic version called Stack & Attack inside the Catholic Money Academy.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, ashamed, or just stuck with your debt, this episode will help you choose a strategy you’ll actually stick with—so you can finally make the progress you’ve been praying for.

Explore Catholic Money Academy:

https://walletwin.com/academy/

📧 Questions or comments? [email protected]

📞 Leave us a voicemail: https://walletwin.com/voicemail

Music in this episode is by Dylan Gardner – check out his album Almost Real on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to great music.

What if something you already own could start paying for itself?

In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, Jonathan and Amanda share how they turned their family RV from a personal purchase into a profitable rental—all while keeping faith, family, and stewardship at the center.

After just one year of listing their RV for rent, they recovered the entire cost of the vehicle. But beyond the numbers, this episode is about what they learned: managing logistics, handling risks, serving others, and seeing possessions as opportunities for generosity and wise stewardship.

You’ll hear:
🚐 How they transformed their RV into an income-generating asset
💡 The practical side of listing, maintaining, and managing a rental
📈 Lessons on discernment, boundaries, and business decisions rooted in faith

Related Episodes (The RV Saga):

📍 Why We Bought a 26-Year-Old RV
📍 R.I.P. Wallet Winnebago
📍 What We Learned Living in an RV for 7 Weeks

👉 Begin your Catholic financial formation inside Catholic Money Academy: https://walletwin.com/academy/

📧 Questions or comments? [email protected]
📞 Leave us a voicemail: https://walletwin.com/voicemail

🎵 Music in this episode is by Dylan Gardner – check out his album Almost Real wherever you listen to great music.

Caring for your children and your parents at the same time? You’re not alone.

In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, Jonathan and Amanda dive into the unique financial and emotional challenges of the “sandwich generation.”

If budgeting for aging parents while managing the daily demands of family life and work sounds familiar, this conversation will help you show up for the people you love with peace, purpose, and a plan—without losing your sanity (or your savings) along the way.

👉 Get your free Catholic Budget Guide: https://walletwin.com/catholicbudgetguide/
🗂️ Prepare for life’s unexpected moments: https://walletwin.com/binder

📧 Questions or comments? [email protected]
📞 Leave us a voicemail: https://walletwin.com/voicemail

🎵 Music in this episode is by Dylan Gardner – check out his album Almost Real on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen to great music.