L10U3-1-Giving-a-friend-financial-advice

1 Vocabulary Personal finance

Talking about your personal finances

When you are talking about personal finances (personal finances), you need to start with your expenses, debts, income and savings.

My expenses are about 2,000 a month.
My expenses are about 2,000 a month.

I have about $5,000 in debt.
I have about $5,000 in debt.

My income is around $5,000 a month.
My income is around $5,000 a month.

I have about 6,000 in savings.
I have about 6,000 in savings.

Here are some crucial verbs for talking about money and expenses. Notice the word loan can also be a noun.

My parents loaned me $4,000 to go to school.
My parents loaned me $4,000 to go to school.

I have a student loan from the government.
I have a student loan from the government.

I borrowed 3,000 from the bank.
I borrowed 3,000 from the bank.

I owe the bank $3,000.
I owe the bank $3,000.

I have to pay my parents back.
I have to pay my parents back.

Select the correct words.

My expenses are about $ 3,000 a month, including rent and food.

Because of my student loan, I have about $ 5,000 in debt .

My income from work is about $ 5,000 a month.

I have about $ 3,000 in savings in the bank.

My parents loaned me $ 6,000 for school.

I owe the bank about $ 4,000 for my loan.

Move the text to the correct gaps.

Do you have any savings in the bank?

My uncle loaned me $6,000 for school.

I owe the bank about $4,000 for my loan.

What are your major debts ? Do you have any loans?

My friend is always trying to borrow money from me.

Listen and record what you hear.

I have about ten thousand in debt.
I owe the bank twenty thousand.
My expenses exceed my income.
I have a student loan from the government.
I borrowed money from the bank.
My parents loaned me money to go to school.
I have about six thousand in savings.

2 Expressions Giving financial advice

Understanding the problem

Before you give someone financial advice, make sure that you ask questions about the situation.

A: What's the problem?
What's the problem?
B: My finances are a mess! My rent is killing me.
My finances are a mess! My rent is killing me.

A: What are your big expenses?
What are your big expenses?
B: My car payment, rent and my student loan.
My car payment, rent and my student loan.

A: What else is there?
What else is there?
B: I owe my parents $3,000.
I owe my parents $3,000.

A: Are you still working part time?
Are you still working part time?
B: No, I'm full time now.
No, I'm full time now.

A: How much do you have in savings?
How much do you have in savings?
B: Almost nothing.
Almost nothing.

Giving and responding to advice

Here are some ways to give and respond to advice. Some are more direct than others. Notice that advice is a noun. The verb is advise.

A: You might consider getting a roommate. You might consider getting a roommate.
B: I know. You're right. That's good advice. I know. You're right. That's good advice.

A: If I were you, I'd sell the car. If I were you, I'd sell the car.
B: That sounds reasonable. That sounds reasonable.

A: You'd better move in with your parents. You'd better move in with your parents.
B: Are you kidding? That's a terrible idea! Are you kidding? That's a terrible idea!

Put the text in the correct order.

You might consider getting a roommate.
What are you big expenses?
If I were you, I'd sell the car.
You'd better move in with your parents.

Move the text to the correct categories.

Complete the sentence.

Listen and record what you hear.

What are your major debts?

What are your big expenses?
You'd better cut down on your expenses.

You might consider getting a roommate.
Do you have any savings?

If I were you, I'd sell the car.

Are you still working part time?

What else is there?

3 Listening Giving and responding to advice

Listening for gist(主旨)

When you listen to a conversation, often there is language that you don't understand. In those situations, listen for the gist (gist) of the conversation. When you listen for gist, you listen for the attitude of the speakers and the main idea of what they are saying.

Listen to Stuart. Try to catch the gist of what he is saying.

Max is one of my best friends, but he's terrible with money. I mean, he's awful with money. There's no getting around it. It's ironic because his family is loaded. They have tons of cash.
Max is one of my best friends, but he's terrible with money. I mean, he's awful with money. There's no getting around it. It's ironic（讽刺的） because his family is loaded. They have tons of cash.

Even if you don't understand all of the words, you can get the gist of the conversation. What is Stuart's attitude or emotion? Stuart is annoyed with his friend Max. What is the main idea? Max is terrible with money even though his family has lots of cash.

Stuart talks about his friend Max. Watch the video, and answer the questions.

Max is one of my best friends, but he's terrible with money.I mean, he's awful with money.
There's no getting around it. It's ironic because his family is loaded. They have tons of cash.
I don't know,I thought I was strapped for cash(我以为我手头拮据),but Max just has no cule.
His money management is awful.I keep telling him that life isn't cheap.
You know,you got monthly expenses,bills,rent,food,but he never thinks about the future.
For a guy who has no source of income,it's any wonder how he isn't broke and living out on the street.
You know,and I'm glad that he isn't you know?
I'm glad I can help him out.
I hope everything works out for him.and for me.
I'm just kidding...kind of.But I hope things work out.

Stuart and Max are having a discussion. Watch the video, and answer the questions.

MAX:So,Stuart,listen.Do you think I could borrow some money?

STUART:Yeah.Are you kidding?Listen,man you can ask me anything you want,but...money?Really?No!

MAX:Come on,man.I just got a couple of bills.I'll pay you back.

STUARY:Your family could buy and sell my fanily five times over.Ask them for money.
Max:I think that might be the worst thing I've ever heard.I'm supposed to be independent now.I can't

Stuart:No,you won't.They're your parents.

Max:Exactly.

STUART:It's,It's not that I won't lend you the money and,I mean,I would if I would,but I can't....

STUART:I've been killing myself on this project at work,you know,and I haven't even gotten paid for it.

STUART:I got boss that wants to see me fired.

STUART:And don't you have any savings?

MAX:Enough for lunch,but not for rent.

STUART:Then why don't you sell your car?That thing is not necessary.You could sell that and pay your rent for years.

MAX:I'm not going to sell my car.

STUART:well,Then you're going to have ask your landlord for extension.

MAX:Are you kidding me?

Max:Have you met this guy.He freaks out(发疯了) if you ask him to change a lightbulb(灯泡).
Stuart:I don't know what to tell you,Max,I'm not going to give you the money.

MAX:It's no big deal,dude.It's just a small,little loan.

STUART:It's just that i'm going through a tough time right now,OK?

max:all right?

STUART:You're going to have to figure it out on your own.

MAX:Thanks for nothing.

Stuart:Wow,unbelieable.I'm going inside,man.

MAX:See you.

4 Final Task Giving financial advice

Your friend is having financial problems. Give him some advice.
What else is there?
If I were you, I'd sell your car.
You might consider getting a roommate.
How much do you have in savings?
With your expenses, you'd better go full time.

You're welcome. Good luck!