[5:47] Real Life English Unit 30: Managing and Saving on Living Expenses

Learning English is not just about mastering grammar and vocabulary, but also about using it naturally in real-life situations. However, textbook sentences are often too formal and far from actual spoken English. To speak authentic and natural English, you need to be exposed to real-world conversations. Here, we've selected high-frequency English expressions used in daily life, covering social, work, travel, and other scenarios, helping you move beyond textbook English and learn the phrases foreigners actually use. Below is the content of this session of 'Real Life English Unit 30: Cost of Living.' Keep practicing, and your English will become closer to real life! Unit 30: Cost of Living Part One: Expressions 1. We need to figure out how much money we’re spending. 2. I think we could be saving more. 3. That means we don’t have any receipts for $225. 4. Where do you think we can save more money? 5. We could eat in more. 6. That sounds fair. 7. I want to move out. 8. What kind of job did you find? 9. Get a job. 10. If I’m going to live on my own, I have to be independent. Part Two: Dialogues 1. Costs A: We need to figure out how much money we’re spending and what we’re spending it on. B: Why? A: Well, I think we could be saving more. B: Really, well, o.k. Get the receipts out. A: Let’s see. We spent $700 dollars for our home loan payment, $400 on groceries, $75 on utilities, $250 on gasoline, $100 on books, and $300 on entertainment last month. B: That’s $1825. A: We put $500 into the savings account, and $750 into our stock account. B: $3075. Our paychecks our $3300, combined. That means we don’t have any receipts for $225. A: Right 2. Setting a Budget & Financial Plan A: O.K. So, where do you think we can save more money? B: Well, we could eat in more. That $300 for entertainment is mostly going to restaurants. A: Yeah, that’s a good idea, and you like to cook. What about the books? B: No, I need my books. A: Come on, if we save more money we can retire earlier, and you’ll actually have time to read all those books you buy. B: Well, what about the $50 you spent on a shirt? You could’ve gotten something for less. A: O.K. Let’s compromise, if you agree to only spend $75 on books, I’ll agree to only spend $40 for my next shirt. B: All right. That sounds fair. 3. Living an Independent Life A: Mom, I want to move out. B: Hey, sounds great to me, kid. What kind of job did you find? A: Job? B: Yes, job. If you’re going to live on your own, you have to pay for rent and everything else. A: I thought I could just get you and Dad to pay for an apartment. I found a cheap one. B: When you move out, your father and I aren’t paying your rent, young man. Get a job. B: You’re right. If I’m going to live on my own, I have to be independent. A: Well, the newspaper is over there. Look in the want ads, but I don’t know what you’re going to find without a college degree. Part Three: Substitution Drills 1. A: We need (to figure out/ calculate/ find out) how much money we’re spending. B: Why? 2. A: I think we could be (saving more/ spending less/ putting more money away). B: All right. Get the receipts. 3. A: That means (we don’t have any/ there aren’t any/ we need) any receipts for $225. B: Right. 4. A: (Where do you think we can / How can we / What can we do to) save more money? B: We could eat in more. 5. A: We could (eat in more/ go out for dinner less/ stop going out shopping so much). B: That’s a good idea. 6. A: That sounds (fair/ reasonable/ like a good idea). B: Great. 7. A: I want to (move out/ get my own place/ find a new place to live). B: Sounds great to me. 8. A: What kind of (job/ work/ employment) did you find? B: Job? 9. A: Get a job. / Find some work. / Earn your keep. B: But I don’t want to. 10. A: If I’m going to live on my own, I have to be independent. B: Well, (look in the newspaper/get a job/find some work). Part Four: Monologue America seems like a very rich country to much of the world. In some ways, this is true. However, the cost of living in America is very high. Even someone who is very careful with their money will probably end up spending at least $1500 a month just to pay their bills and eat. When you consider the fact that Americans have to save money to buy a house, a car, and pay for their kid’s college education, you realize that it costs a lot to live in America. Americans still see their country as a land of opportunity, and many believe that if they work hard and make the right decisions, they can end up rich. Part Five: Vocabulary and Phrases --budget: 预算；预算费；生活费 --financial plan: 财务计划 --retire: 退休；退役 --saving: 储金，存款，储蓄额 --independent: 有独立心的；自立的 --degree: 学位；学衔 --cost of living: 生活费用 --compromise: 妥协，和解 The above content was organized by Qicaiwang, hoping it helps you in your study of Real Life English Unit 30: Cost of Living.