Hard times

CONVERSATION PRACTICE

A: Life is difficult nowadays.
B: Sure it is. I can hardly buy cheap items nowadays!
A: My salary’s not enough for me to buy things that I usually buy before.
B: I can’t even save!
A: Me either! Most of my salary is allocated in paying for bills and loans.
B: Well, it only means that we need to tighten our belts so that we won’t
starve.
A: That’s the only solution that we can do nowadays. Nobody can help us
but ourselves.
B: Correct. If we continue to spend so much, we won’t have enough money
to save for emergency cases.
A: That is why I am trying to limit the use of my cell phone, electricity, and
water.
B: It will also help if we cut our unnecessary expenses like going out on
parties, buying expensive clothes, and other stuff.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

1. Tighten our belts—need to economize or to save
2. Hard times— a time of difficulty
3. Allocated— To set apart for a special purpose; designate
4. Unnecessary— things that are not necessary or essential.

CONVERSATION IN CONTEXT

1. What solutions do the speakers thought of about saving money?
2. What happens when a person doesn’t save money?
3. Why one speaker did say that life is difficult nowadays?

PERSONAL APPLICATION

1. Can you also say that life is difficult nowadays?
2. What are your ways of saving money?
3. Can you still buy expensive items nowadays?

PHOTO CREDIT:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotoasbirlaor/3055053822/

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