Beginner Listening Series 2 Lesson 16- Dialogue about Saving Money in English
In this lesson, you listen to an English conversation between two people talking about saving money.
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Lesson Script
Abidemi: Are you good at saving money?
Jim: No, I’m terrible. I waste money. I waste so much money.
Abidemi: How?
Jim: Well, I don’t buy things on sale. I don’t use coupons. I buy anything I see. 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. 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.
Jim: So, you look for discounts.
Abidemi: Yes, I do.
Jim: Do you use coupons or special offers?
Abidemi: No, I don’t, but if I see some I will use them.
Jim: So, do you waste money on anything? Like, maybe eating out, buying clothes, renting movies?
Abidemi: I waste money on buying clothes.
Jim: Oh, okay!
Abidemi: But, I save a little bit because I buy them on sale.
Jim: Ah, do you buy things online?
Abidemi: No, I don’t. I usually go into the stores to shop.
Jim: 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.
Jim: And, I’m really bad, so I often only wear clothes people give to me.
Abidemi: That’s good!
Jim: 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?”
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.
Jim: 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.
Jim: I have five mobile phones.
Abidemi: Wow.
Jim: 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.
Jim: 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.
Jim: Yeah, traveling is expensive.
Abidemi: Yes, yes.
Jim: 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.
Jim: 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.
Jim: 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.
Jim: 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.
Jim: It’s a deal.
Abidemi: Thanks.
English Listening Lesson Quizzes
Answer the following questions about the conversation.
1) Who is good at saving money?
a) She is.
b) He is.
c) Neither of them.
2) Who wastes a lot of money on food?
a) He does.
b) She does.
c) Neither of them.
3) What does she waste money on?
a) Eating out
b) Clothes
c) Gifts
4) How does he save money on clothes?
a) He asks for gifts
b) He looks for sales
c) He buys used clothing
5) Who talks about money and traveling?
a) Just her.
b) Just him.
c) Both of them
Answers
1=a
2=a
3=b
4=a
5=c
English Grammar Tips
Point 1: We use the present simple to talk about actions that happen regularly or again and again. We use the base form for the first and second person and third person plural.
They work for a small company.
We live near the park.
I have a lot of friends from high school.
You speak really good English.
Point 2: For negative statements, we add do not before the verb. In spoken Engish,we often say don’t instead of do not.
I do not have a lot of time. (written)
I don’t have a lot of time. (spoken)
They do not work here anymore. (written)
They don’t work here anymore. (spoken)
Point 3: Add do before the subject in Wh questions.
What time do you work?
Who do you eat with at work?
When do you usually go to bed?
How do they get to work?
Point 4: We add an /-s/ to the verb when the subject is third person singular. We look at the third person closely in the next lesson.
He knows a lot of peoples.
She makes a lot of money.
My dog hates cats and cars!
My smart phone has many apps.
English Listening Lesson Phrases
I’m terrible.
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:
- I’m terrible about remembering people’s names.
- My sister is terrible at saving money.
An easy person
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:
- I am an easy person to cook for. I eat everything.
- He is an easy person to live with. He is so nice.
Eat out
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:
- I don’t eat out much. I like to cook and save money.
- My family eats out about once a week, usually at a pizza place.
Teach me your tricks
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:
- I love how you cooked this. You need to teach me your tricks.
- How do you stay so thin and eat so much? Teach me your tricks!
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:
- I can teach you Spanish if you teach me English.
It’s a deal.
If you fix my car, I will cook you dinner?
You have a deal!
Quizzes for Lesson Phrases
- terrible
- easy person
- eat out
- teach me
- Deal
- You need to ………. your tricks for getting bargains.
- My brother is …………. At saving money .
- My dad is a very …………… to shop for. He likes everything.
- It’s a ……….. I’ll help you if you help me.
- I try not to …………too much because it’s expensive .
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