Unit 3 · Money Matters · Lesson 3

Describe Your Spending Habits

Listen to a radio call-in show, learn vocabulary for spending habits, and discuss how people manage money.

Lesson Goals

  1. Understand a radio call-in show about spending habits.
  2. Identify good and bad money habits.
  3. Use vocabulary to describe spending habits.
  4. Talk about your own spending habits.
Progress
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Lesson References

Open the book pages first. Then continue to the warm-up activity.

Open / close Listening and Vocabulary pageListening and vocabulary page
Open / close Discussion Builder pageDiscussion builder page
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Warm-up Activity · How do you spend money?

1. Which sentence describes a careful spender?
2. Which person probably has a money problem?
A

Listening Comprehension

Money Talks with Lara Savino
“Money Talks” with Lara Savino
3

Describe your spending habits

Audio 30 · Listening Comprehension

Read the statements. Then listen to the radio call-in show.

A. Listen for main ideas

1. Steve finds it hard to save money.
2. Steve buys a lot on credit.
3. Steve spends less money than he makes.
4. Steve has been on a budget for three months.
Audio 31 · Listen Again

Listen again for Lara Savino’s advice.

B. Listen for details

1. Which tip does Lara give first?
2. What should Steve do about unnecessary spending?
3. Which tip helps Steve control his money in the future?
4. Why does Steve probably have a problem with money?

D. Vocabulary · Describing spending habits

Audio 32 · Vocabulary

Listen and practice the spending-habits vocabulary.

Nouns

a big spendersomeone who likes to spend large amounts of money
a spendthriftsomeone who spends money carelessly, especially when he or she doesn’t have a lot of it
a cheapskate / a tightwadsomeone who does not like spending money and can be unpleasant about it

Adjectives

generouswilling to give more money, time, etc., than is expected
cheap / stingyunwilling to spend or give money, even when one has a lot of it
thrifty / frugalusing money carefully and wisely
E

Vocabulary Practice · Correct Answers

1. Can you believe what _____ Martin is! He refused to leave a tip for the waiter!
2. Our grandmother donates to many organizations. She’s always been very _____ with her money.
3. He’s so _____ that he wouldn’t even lend his own son money.
4. George must be wealthy. He’s such _____. He always insists on treating his friends to dinner.
5. If you try to be more _____ with your money, you’ll have enough when you really need it.
6. Unless you stop being such _____, you’re going to get deeper in debt.
B

Discussion Builder · Now describe your spending habits

Step 1 · Pair Work

Choose the letter that best completes each statement for you. Then compare your answers with a partner.

Spending Habits Self-Test

1. You hear a great new song on the radio. You...

2. You’d love a big-screen TV but don’t have the money right now. You...

3. You have lunch with two best friends. Your meal was cheaper. When the bill comes, you...

4. You’re invited to a wedding. You...

5. You discover a hole in your favorite jacket. You...

Count up your score.

If you circled three or more A’s: You can be generous at times, but you may be a bit of a spendthrift.

If you circled three or more B’s: You’re careful with money — even thrifty.

If you circled three or more C’s: You may hate spending money. Some might say you’re a tightwad.

If you circled three or more D’s: How would you describe your spending habits?

Step 2 · Group Work

Tell your classmates about your spending habits or your partner’s.

Step 3 · Writing

On a separate sheet of paper, describe your spending habits.

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Final Quiz

1. A spendthrift is someone who...
2. “Thrifty” means...
3. Steve’s main problem is that...
4. Which advice is best for someone who spends too much?
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