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.

Every January, thousands of families look back at the holiday season and wonder: “What happened to our budget?”

In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, Jonathan and Amanda Teixeira share practical (and heart-centered) tips to help you host joyfully—without draining your wallet.

From setting a realistic holiday hosting budget to creating meaningful traditions that focus on relationships over appearances, they’ll show you how to celebrate with peace and purpose.

You’ll learn:

• How to set clear spending boundaries before the season starts

• Creative ways to host on a budget (without cutting the joy)

• Tips to prevent post-Christmas debt and stress

• How to refocus your mindset on hospitality and connection

Whether you’re planning Thanksgiving, Advent gatherings, or Christmas dinner, this conversation will help you enter the holidays without a financial hangover.

🎁 Resources Mentioned:
👉 5 Days to a Debt-Free Christmas — Get the guide at walletwin.com/christmas

🎄 Use code MERRY10 to save $10!

📧 Questions or comments? [email protected]
📞 Leave us a voicemail: 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 does Taylor Swift’s new song “Wi$h Li$t” reveal about our culture’s relationship with money, fame, and love? 💸

In this fun and thoughtful reaction episode, Amanda and Jonathan listen to the track, unpack its lyrics, and explore what it says about society’s obsession with wealth—and how even pop culture reflects our deeper desire for love, family, and meaning.

From private jets to basketball hoops in the driveway, they discuss what the song gets right (and wrong) about happiness, success, and the human heart.

👉 Preorder your 2026 Big Catholic Planner now: www.walletwin.com/calendar

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

🎵 Music Credits:

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

• Clips and references from Taylor Swift’s “Wi$h Li$t” are used for educational commentary under fair use. All rights belong to their respective owners.

In this inspiring interview from The Catholic Money Summit, Amanda Teixeira sits down with Rob and Sam Fatzinger—parents of fourteen and authors of A Catholic Guide to Spending Less and Living More. Together, they discuss what it really takes to live within your means, raise a large family, and trust God through every financial season.

From appreciating simple pleasures to resisting comparison on social media, this conversation offers refreshing honesty about Catholic family life, budgeting, and faith-filled contentment. Rob and Sam share stories of community generosity, lessons from past financial mistakes, and the deep joy of living a simple life rooted in trust and gratitude.

If you’ve ever wondered how large families balance faith and finances without losing peace, this episode will encourage you to focus on what truly matters.

👉 Access More Inspiring Interviews: Explore The Catholic Money Summit and gain access to dozens of incredible conversations about faith, money, and mission. On-demand access now available at CatholicMoneySummit.com.

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

There are only about 100 days left in 2025—what do you want to see happen before the new year begins?

In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, Jonathan and Amanda talk about how to make the most of the time that’s left. They share how to choose meaningful goals, finish strong, and set yourself up for a peaceful and fruitful 2026.

From conducting a quick “stewardship assessment” to using feast days as natural motivation points, you’ll learn how to focus your energy where it counts and finally close out the year feeling proud of your progress.

Plus, they explain why now is the perfect time to start planning—and how the Big Catholic Planner can help you stay on track for both your faith and your family life.

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