the child knows what is coming next. This is an excellent idea so everyone is aware of how the day will proceed. Time is very elusive for young children, so this has been a helpful tool for parents and children alike! (missymontessori. com has downloadable schedules that families can use or you can create your own!) Child-friendly homes, predictable routines, and shared experiences of playing and cooking together have been the best ways for children to learn to rely on themselves for part of the time. ¢
Cathie Perolman is a reading specialist, elementary educator, author, consultant, and creator of educational materials for primary and elementary students. Check out her new downloadable materials on her website cathieperolman.com.
Spending Cleanse Reset your spending habits with a spending cleanse to realign your values and goals with your spending habits.
N
o one is perfect with money; we’re all creatures of habit. When we’re stressed out or bored or unhappy, we spend more, which can become a vicious cycle and contribute to our bad feelings. A spending cleanse is a way to reset our money habits. It means paying attention to where our money goes, to determine if our spending aligns with our values and goals. We all need a periodic spending cleanse because it’s so easy to let good money habits slide. It’s surprising how quickly we get off track.
a spreadsheet or find an online tool to help you track your spending. REMEMBER: If
you’re in a relationship or part of a family, get others on board with this experience. You will all benefit from the effort and the support. SET A TIMELINE FOR YOUR CLEANSE.
Once you are done, reflect on your spending. What was the best part? What was the most difficult challenge? What new habits do you want to carry forward?
A spending cleanse is a time to step back and be intentional again. It’s a way to enhance your financial wellbeing and diminish your stress around money. A cleanse, is appropriate any time you want to become more aware of your spending habits.
A spending cleanse heightens awareness about how, when, and why we spend money. It gets us away from mindless outlays and helps us focus on aligning with our goals and values; essential elements to an increased sense of wellbeing.
She is the author of Practical Special Needs for the Montessori Method: A Handbook for 3-6 Teachers and Homeschoolers published by the Montessori Foundation (available through montessori.org.) She is a regular contributor to Tomorrow’s Child and Montessori Leadership magazines.
Here are a few options for how you can do a spending cleanse:
Whatever method you choose, make an appointment with yourself to evaluate where you’re doing well, as well as, discover any notso-great habits. ¢
Cathie Perolman holds a BS in Early Childhood Education and a MEd in Elementary Education with a concentration in reading. She is credentialed as a Montessori teacher. She is married and has two adult children and two adorable granddaughters. Cathie lives in Ellicott City, Maryland with her husband.
2. DO A CREDIT CARD CLEANSE
For more than three decades she has dedicated her energies to improving reading for all youngsters.
1. TAKE A WEEK (OR TWO) OFF OF SPENDING
Buy nothing with plastic or cash. Purchase your groceries and pay your bills the day before you begin, and then stop. You might want to jot a note when you feel an impulse to spend. Put your cards in a drawer and don’t touch them for a month. Live off of cash only. 3. SPEND ONLY ON NEEDS
Don’t buy any wants—only purchase items that are legitimate needs. 4. TRACK YOUR SPENDING
Track every dollar you spend, using all payment methods. Before you start, create
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