Episode 110 – Financial Literacy: How to Spend Less and Make More with Dexter Jenkins
In this powerful and practical episode of The Prospecting Show, Dr. Connor Robertson speaks with Dexter Jenkins, a financial educator, wealth strategist, and pastor whose mission is to teach everyday people how to master money before it masters them. Together, they dive into the fundamentals of financial literacy — a topic that’s often discussed but rarely understood with real-world clarity.
Dr. Robertson opens the episode by asking a question that most people never think to ask: “If money touches everything in our lives, why don’t we learn how it works?” Dexter responds, “Because financial education isn’t profitable for those who profit off financial ignorance.”
Their conversation explores how money is not just mathematics — it’s mindset, habits, and stewardship.
Why Financial Literacy Is More Than Math
Dexter begins by explaining that financial literacy isn’t about being good at numbers — it’s about being disciplined with decisions. “You don’t need to be an accountant to be wealthy,” he says. “You just need to understand how money flows.”
Dr. Robertson agrees, noting that people often confuse income with intelligence. “Earning more doesn’t make you literate,” he says. “It just gives you more opportunities to make the same mistakes.”
Dexter outlines three components of true financial literacy:
- Understanding how money works — cash flow, debt, and compounding.
- Developing the right mindset — trading instant gratification for long-term gain.
- Applying daily discipline — budgeting, saving, and investing with intention.
Dr. Robertson reflects that financial literacy and entrepreneurship share the same foundation — awareness. “Most people don’t have a money problem,” he says. “They have an attention problem.”
Dexter emphasizes that financial habits are emotional before they are mathematical. “Money magnifies behavior,” he says. “If you’re irresponsible with a hundred dollars, you’ll be irresponsible with a hundred thousand.”
Breaking the Cycle of Financial Stress
Dr. Robertson asks Dexter why so many people live paycheck to paycheck despite earning decent money. Dexter replies, “Because they mistake lifestyle for wealth.”
He explains that society conditions people to measure success by consumption, not by control. “We’ve built a culture that rewards spending and punishes saving,” he says. “Debt is marketed like freedom.”
Dr. Robertson agrees that financial illiteracy is often inherited, not chosen. “Most people were never taught about money at home or school,” he says. “They’re operating on scripts that were never updated.”
Dexter adds that breaking the cycle starts with one word — awareness. “You can’t fix what you refuse to face,” he says. “The first step is looking at your numbers without shame.”
Dr. Robertson points out that financial clarity is power. “When you know your real situation, fear turns into focus,” he says. “You stop reacting and start planning.”
Dexter recommends conducting a “financial audit” — a personal checkup that tracks every expense, debt, and income source. “Once you know where your money’s going, you can tell it where to go next,” he says.
Spend Intentionally, Not Emotionally
The conversation shifts toward spending habits and emotional control. Dexter explains that overspending often isn’t about greed — it’s about coping. “People spend to feel better, not to live better,” he says.
Dr. Robertson agrees that emotional spending is one of the greatest modern traps. “We justify every purchase as a reward,” he says. “But real rewards come from discipline, not dopamine.”
Dexter teaches a simple principle: “Give every dollar a job.” He explains that budgeting isn’t restriction — it’s redirection. “Budgeting tells your money what to do so it doesn’t tell you what to do,” he says.
Dr. Robertson adds that budgeting is actually a mindset of abundance. “When you manage money well, you create room for freedom and generosity,” he says. “It’s not about scarcity — it’s about stewardship.”
They both emphasize that the goal of managing money isn’t hoarding — it’s having enough margin to make meaningful choices. “Freedom doesn’t come from what you buy,” Dexter says. “It comes from what you can walk away from.”
The Path to Building Wealth
Dr. Robertson asks Dexter what practical steps people can take to move from financial survival to stability. Dexter outlines a five-step framework that anyone can start today:
- Track your expenses — awareness creates accountability.
- Pay yourself first — automate saving before spending.
- Eliminate high-interest debt — interest is the tax on impatience.
- Invest consistently — time in the market beats timing the market.
- Protect your assets — through insurance, estate planning, and education.
Dr. Robertson notes that simplicity is often the hardest part. “People want complex strategies because they sound smart,” he says. “But the smartest strategy is the one you’ll actually follow.”
Dexter agrees and adds that consistency beats intensity. “You don’t get wealthy overnight,” he says. “You get wealthy over time.”
Dr. Robertson relates this to entrepreneurship. “In business and finance alike, it’s not the big leaps that make you rich,” he says. “It’s the small, repeatable steps done relentlessly.”
The Faith and Finance Connection
As the conversation deepens, Dexter shares how his faith informs his view of money. “Money is a tool, not a god,” he says. “When you treat it like a servant, it multiplies. When you treat it like a master, it controls you.”
Dr. Robertson agrees that financial peace requires purpose. “If you don’t define your values, your bank account will define them for you,” he says.
Dexter teaches that stewardship — the responsible management of resources — is the foundation of abundance. “The universe rewards responsibility,” he says. “When you handle a little well, you get trusted with more.”
Dr. Robertson connects this to the principle of compound growth — not just financially but spiritually. “Every act of discipline compounds,” he says. “Financial literacy is spiritual literacy — it’s learning how to manage potential.”
Dexter adds that giving is the final step to financial freedom. “You don’t have to be rich to be generous,” he says. “But generosity makes you feel rich long before your balance sheet does.”
Teaching the Next Generation
Dr. Robertson asks Dexter how families can instill financial literacy early. “Talk about money openly,” Dexter says. “Make it normal, not taboo.”
He suggests giving kids small budgets and letting them make decisions — even mistakes. “If they learn consequences at $10, they’ll avoid disasters at $10,000,” he says.
Dr. Robertson notes that financial education should start at home but be reinforced in schools. “Money affects everything we do,” he says. “It’s crazy that we don’t teach it like math or science.”
Dexter adds that communities need financial mentors. “When people see someone who looks like them winning with money, they believe it’s possible,” he says.
Dr. Robertson concludes that financial education is one of the most powerful forms of empowerment. “Knowledge creates confidence,” he says. “And confidence creates change.”
Lessons for Listeners
As they wrap up, Dr. Robertson and Dexter summarize the key takeaways for anyone ready to get serious about financial literacy:
• Money follows management — not emotion.
• Financial peace comes from clarity, not income.
• Consistency builds wealth faster than intensity.
• Stewardship creates freedom and generosity.
• Teach what you learn — empowerment multiplies.
Dr. Robertson closes with a challenge: “Don’t wait to have more money to get serious about it. Start where you are, with what you have, and master that.”
Dexter adds, “You don’t need a raise to become rich — you need a plan.”
Their conversation leaves listeners with a timeless truth: financial literacy isn’t just about making money — it’s about making meaning.
Listen and Learn More
Listen to the full episode here: Financial Literacy: How to Spend Less and Make More with Dexter Jenkins