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Saving Money

Abidemi and Todd talk about if they are good at saving money.
Views #1503 | Beginner (B2)

Saving Money

Abidemi and Todd talk about if they are good at saving money.

Abidemi: Todd, are you good at saving money?

Todd: No, I'm terrible. I waste money. I waste so much money.

Abidemi: How?

Todd: Well, I don't buy things on sale. I don't use coupons. I buy anything I see.

Abidemi: So, when I shop, I don't look at prices. I just see the food or the thing and I get it and I buy it and I pay for it. And, then it's sometimes very expensive, so I just waste money. I don't budget. I need to budget my money but I don't budget my money.

Todd: What about you? Are you good at saving money?

Abidemi: I don't think I'm too bad at saving money. I look at prices a lot. I also buy a lot of things on sale, so I'm able to save some money.

Todd: So, you look for discounts?

Abidemi: Yes, I do.

Todd: Do you use coupons or special offers?

Abidemi: No, I don't, but if I see some I will use them.

Todd: So, do you waste money on anything? Like, maybe eating out, buying clothes, renting movies?

Abidemi: I waste money on buying clothes.

Todd: Oh, okay!

Abidemi: But, I save a little bit because I buy them on sale.

Todd: Ah, do you buy things online?

Abidemi: No, I don't. I usually go into the stores to shop.

Todd: I'm good with clothes too, so I don't spend much money on clothes. I only shop maybe once a year. Or, I only shop if I need something, like it's really cold and I need a jacket.

Abidemi: I see.

Todd: And, I'm really bad, so I often only wear clothes people give to me.

Abidemi: That's good!

Todd: Yeah, so I get shirts or ties for Christmas gifts or a birthday gift, and I do that. My mom often asks ... every year, my mom asks, "What do you want for Christmas?", "What do you want for your birthday?"

Todd: And I'll say, "Underwear and socks" or "Socks and T-shirts". And so, she buys them for me and then I don't have to buy them.

Abidemi: Wow. Sounds like you're an easy person to give a present to.

Todd: Yes, for clothes. Yes, for clothes. But, I waste money on computers and electronics and those things are expensive, so I buy a new computer every year. I have four computers now in my house.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: I have five mobile phones.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: I have an iPad. I have lots of electronic equipment. So, I spend so much money on those things.

Abidemi: I waste money on traveling.

Todd: Ah, yeah.

Abidemi: Every year, I take about one or two trips to different countries, so that's where a lot of my money go.

Todd: Yeah, traveling is expensive.

Abidemi: Yes, yes.

Todd: But, when you travel, do you save money? Do you stay at cheap hotels? Or, do you buy cheap plane tickets?

Abidemi: I try to. I try to all the time. But, usually the plane ticket is so expensive that a lot of my savings is already gone.

Todd: Yeah, I know. I buy my tickets online, usually with Expedia. And, it's cheap. It's pretty cheap. I waste money on food. I eat out almost every day.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: Or, I buy my dinner at the supermarket almost every day. Do you waste money on food?

Abidemi: No, I don't. I usually get bored if I eat out too much, because even though I am not a very good cook, there are some thing that I cook that I like to eat. So, I would miss those things. So, no, I don't waste money on eating out.

Todd: Ah, that's interesting. So, you save money, I waste money. You have to teach me your tricks. You have to teach me your tips on saving money.

Abidemi: Please teach me how to get cheap travel tickets.

Todd: It's a deal.

Abidemi: Thanks.

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

I'm terrible.

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No, I'm terrible. I waste money.

When a person says 'I'm terrible' that means they do not do or act as they should. Notice the following:

  1. I'm terrible about remembering people's names.
  2. My sister is terrible at saving money.

an easy person

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Sounds like you're an easy person to give a present to.

If you are an easy person that means you are not picky and that you do not complain much. Notice the following:

  1. I am an easy person to cook for. I eat everything.
  2. He is an easy person to live with. He is so nice.

eat out

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I waste money on food. I eat out almost every day.

When a person eats out, they do not eat at home. They eat at a restaurant. Notice the following:

  1. I don't eat out much. I like to cook and save money.
  2. My family eats out about once a week, usually at a pizza place.

teach me your tricks

image

You have to teach me your tricks.

If you teach someone your tricks, you show them a special way to do something. Notice the following:

  1. I love how you cooked this. You need to teach me your tricks.
  2. How do you stay so thin and eat so much? Teach me your tricks!

it's a deal

image

It's a deal.

People use the phrase 'It's a deal' or 'you have a deal' when they promise to do something for each other. Notice the following:

  1. I can teach you Spanish if you teach me English.
    It's a deal.
  2. If you fix my car, I will cook you dinner?
    You have a deal!

Vocabulary Quiz

terrible • easy person • eat out
teach me • deal
  1. You need to your tricks for getting bargains.
  2. My brother is at saving money .
  3. My dad is a very to shop for. He likes everything.
  4. It's a . I'll help you if you help me.
  5. I try not to too much because it's expensive .
Answer the following questions about the interview.


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Are you good at saving money?
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Hello, and welcome to elllo. My name is Todd Beuckens. I've been an ESL teacher for 25 years. I created elllo to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.
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