Warm-up
Answer a few quick questions before today’s lesson about money.
Listening
Listen to the recording and answer the questions in each part. You can replay the audio as many times as you need — click anywhere on the progress bar to jump to a specific moment. Read the questions in each part first, then submit when you are ready; your answers will be marked together at the end of each part.
Listening — Buy Now, Think Later? Consumer Spending Report
This listening task is split into parts. The audio player stays at the top of the page so you can replay it freely — click anywhere on the progress bar to jump to a specific moment. For each part, read the questions first, then listen and answer. You can change your answers until you click Submit; feedback appears once you submit each part.
Reading
Read the passage on the left, then work through the questions on the right.
Reading — Buy Now, Think Later?
Read the passage on the left, then answer the questions one by one.
Buy Now, Think Later?
The Problem with Impulse Spending
Sarah Chen spent $450 on a designer handbag last Tuesday. She didn’t need it—her old bag worked perfectly fine. But when she saw it in the shop window, she felt a rush of excitement and bought it immediately. By Wednesday morning, she regretted the decision. Sarah is not alone. Studies show that 40-80% of people make impulse purchases, and many report feeling guilty afterwards. Impulse spending happens when we buy something without planning, usually driven by emotion rather than necessity.
Why do we spend impulsively? Psychologists suggest several reasons. First, shops are designed to encourage quick decisions—bright lights, attractive displays, and limited-time offers all push us to buy now and think later. Second, our emotions play a huge role. If you feel stressed, bored, or unhappy, shopping can feel like a temporary solution. Third, social media has made impulse buying easier than ever. A single click can deliver a product to your door within days.
The Consequences and Solutions
If you make too many impulse purchases, you may face serious problems. You could accumulate debt, damage your credit score, or find yourself unable to save for important goals like holidays or education. Unless you develop better habits, your financial situation could worsen. Experts recommend several strategies. You should wait at least 24 hours before making non-essential purchases. You must create a shopping list and stick to it. If you struggle with online shopping, you ought to unsubscribe from marketing emails and delete saved payment information. With discipline and awareness, anyone can break the impulse-spending cycle.
Vocabulary Practice
Practise the 12 key vocabulary items from this lesson through three exercises.
Vocabulary Practice — Buy Now, Think Later?
Work through all three parts. Each part uses the same vocabulary in a different way.
Writing Task
Your friend is thinking about downloading a budgeting app to help control their spending habits. They’ve asked you to review “SpendSmart”, an app you’ve been using for three months. They want to know if it’s worth downloading, especially whether it helps prevent impulsive purchases. Write your honest review to help them decide.
You should address:
- How well it tracks spending and identifies unnecessary purchases
- Whether it includes features to help you resist impulsive buying
- How easy or difficult it is to use on a daily basis
Speaking
Speaking task. Read the instructions, then complete the task.
Teacher Guide
Practise with
- bank accountnoun phrase
An arrangement with a bank where you can deposit and withdraw money.
- betverb
to risk money on the outcome of something
- coinnoun
A small, flat, round piece of metal used as money to buy things.
- cost an arm and a legidiom
to be extremely expensive
- financiallyadverb
in terms of money
- monetaryadjective
relating to money
- overpayverb
to pay more money than the correct or expected price for something
- oweverb
to have a debt to someone; to need to repay money or do something for someone
- rewardnoun
something given in return for good work
- wagenoun
money paid regularly for work done