Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
What does being thrifty mean? If you go on a shopping spree at the mall every weekend, you’re not being thrifty. If you buy only the most expensive brands, you’re not being thrifty. If you eat at restaurants instead of buying groceries, you’re not being thrifty. Being thrifty means being smart with your money.
You might want to save money for school, for a car, or for your rainy day fund. To do this, you will need to pinch pennies and be thrifty. Buy used clothes instead of new clothes. Cook meals at home. Take the bus instead of a taxi. It’s not always fun, but being thrifty today can help you have a better life tomorrow.
Andy break the bank. Jessica has some ideas to help him be more thrifty. Listen to today’s English lesson to hear her ideas.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
Andy_H: Ah, Jessica, I need your help!
Jessica: What’s going on?
Andy_H: So, I went to Whole Foods, and I splurged again. I don’t have any money left.
Jessica: Oh, you have got to learn to pinch pennies. Go to thrift stores. Go to Winco. You can do a whole shopping spree, and you save so much money.
Andy_H: Yeah, but all the stuff is gross.
Jessica: I think it’s a lifestyle adjustment. Trust me on this. If you go and take your time, don’t go when you’re in a rush, and you read labels, you’ll recognize brands, and you’ll really get a great return on investment. I fill up an entire shopping cart of groceries, and I don’t even break the bank. It’s incredible.
Andy_H: I guess I have a compulsive spending habit. Oh, man. I think I’m going to have to jump on the being thrifty train with you, because I’m about to open up my rainy day fund just to get some pasta.
Jessica: You should come with me the next time I go.
Andy_H: Can I?
Jessica: I’ll call you, and I’ll show you how it’s done. You can learn to shop thrifty just like I do.
Andy_H: OK.
Jessica: Trust me, you’ll love it.
Andy_H: OK
Grammar Point
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Quizzes
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Discussion
Andy is a compulsive shopper. If he goes on a shopping spree, he’ll break the bank! He tells Jessica that he splurged at the grocery store and spent all his money. How can he change his habits? Jessica has a lot of good ideas for him.
Instead of splurging, Jessica likes to shop for used clothes and cheap groceries. By choosing brands that cost less, she can save money for her rainy day fund. Jessica is good at being thrifty. She’ll help Andy get a better return on investment when shopping.
Are you good at pinching pennies? Where do you buy groceries?