Lily asks
What advice would you give someone who wants to save more money?
How to build your answer
Advice: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Their situationShow you get it. “It's tough at first.”
- 2Your top tipOne clear thing to do.
- 3Why it worksFrom your own experience.
- 4What to avoidOne mistake to skip.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Okay, my main tip? Keep an eye on the little things. I used to buy a coffee every morning on the way to work, and when I added it up, it was crazy. Like, over fifty pounds a month. Now I make one at home and take it in a flask. It's not as nice, but it's fine. I also stopped buying lunch and I bring leftovers instead. Small stuff, but it adds up really fast. Honestly, it's the easiest place to start, and you don't really miss it.
Phrases to borrow
keep an eye on something
/kiːp ən ˈaɪ ɒn ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
watch something carefully so you notice changes
Can you keep an eye on my bag for a minute?
Natural
Lily's voice note
I'd say keep track of the little things. I used to buy a coffee every morning on the way to work, and when I finally added it up, it was over fifty pounds a month. I was a bit shocked, to be fair. So now I make one at home and take it in a flask. I also stopped buying lunch, and I bring leftovers instead. It takes no effort at all once it's a habit, and it's made a huge difference to my savings. You don't really miss it either.
Phrases to borrow
keep track of something
/kiːp ˈtræk əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
keep a record of something so you know what's happening
I use an app to keep track of my steps.
take no effort
/teɪk nəʊ ˈefət/
is very easy and needs no work
Making toast takes no effort at all.
make a huge difference
/meɪk ə ˈhjuːdʒ ˈdɪfrəns/
have a big good effect
A good night's sleep makes a huge difference.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
My best advice is to watch the small stuff, because it sneaks up on you. I used to grab a coffee every single morning on the way to work, and it felt like a drop in the ocean. Then I actually added it up. Over fifty pounds a month! Now I make one at home and take it in a flask. It's not quite as nice, but it does the job. I've also cut out buying lunch and bring leftovers instead. I still enjoy treating myself now and then, but it's amazing how fast the savings grow when you tighten your belt a little.
Phrases to borrow
a drop in the ocean
/ə ˈdrɒp ɪn ði ˈəʊʃən/
a very small amount compared to what's needed or the total
Ten pounds is a drop in the ocean compared to the full price.
cut out something
/kʌt ˈaʊt ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
stop doing, eating or using something completely
I'm trying to cut out sugar.
treat yourself
/triːt jɔːˈself/
buy or do something nice just for you
I treated myself to a massage after the exams.
tighten your belt
/ˈtaɪtn jɔː ˈbelt/
spend less money than before because you need to save
After the holiday we had to tighten our belts for a few months.
Your turn: answer Lily
What advice would you give someone who wants to save more money?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Money & shopping
keep track of something
keep a record of something so you know what's happening
“I use an app to keep track of my steps.”
heytardy