节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-09-17
难易度:Medium
关键字:finances, prosperous, analyze, estimate, on track
OK, everybody, welcome back from the break.
You know, some people track their spending by using their credit card for any
and all purchases, big and small.
At the end of each month, the credit card statement lists what was bought and
when.
Very convenient, right?
Now I don't recommend this method for everyone.
But for those of you who have credit card discipline, it might be something to
consider.
OK. Let's finish up step 1, Track your spending, on line 8.
(Music).
Changing Your Financial Future.
Try attacking your spending for one month.
Each time you make a purchase, write it down.
This will make you aware of your spending and help us analyze it.
You may be shocked by how much you're actually spending on something.
Making a budget.
After you've tracked your spending for a month, creating a realistic budget will
be easy.
Start your budget by listing all of your major spending areas - food, clothes,
entertainment, etc.
Then use the information you gained from tracking your spending to come up with
a reasonable estimate of how much you should budget for each area.
All right, friends, we are trying to help you manage your financial future.
We've given you one tip so far.
Track your spending.
We've seen many people end up spending more money in areas that they didn't
realize, so it's important to try and track it.
What else can we do with this tip, Kaylah?
Well, try tracking your spending for one month.
Friends, don't think of it as a whole year.
One year at a time can be very intimidating.
So think about it as one month.
Take the time to write down what you've been spending for just one month.
That's right.
Each time you make a purchase, write it down.
If you're spending money on anything, that is considered a purchase.
That means you are buying something.
And it's very easy - just write down what you bought and how much.
That's right.
If you have a smartphone, you can even do this on your phone.
Keep track of what you're spending.
This will make you more aware of what you're spending for the entire year.
Yeah. I actually started doing this, and it helped me a lot.
Ever since I got a smartphone, it's very easy.
You just pull out your phone, type in what you bought, and it will do all the
math for you.
It's great.
Once you get that in there, you can see what you're spending your money on.
Then you can go in and analyze it.
OK. This will make you aware of what you are spending, and it will help you
analyze it.
Now to "analyze" something means to examine or to study it in detail in order to
discover more about it.
I know that's kind of a long definition.
But really, it means to look at something, figure out what it means and then you
can understand.
And that's what you're doing with your finances.
You're looking at them, understand how they work, and then can change them to be
better.
Yeah. Now if you're analyzing something, you're really trying to learn from it.
And so here, friends, it's important to learn about how you are spending money
because maybe you're spending more than you want to.
And so if you learn how you are spending it now, then you know what to change.
Have you ever reached the end of a month and wondered where all your... money
went?
Well, you may be shocked by how much you're actually spending on something.
Maybe you think buying a cup of coffee for just a couple of dollars every day is
not a big deal.
Until you add up how many days a month - 30 days a month - at that price is kind
of expensive.
Yeah, it might surprise you.
So here, that's why it's important.
Track your spending.
Know how you spend your money.
OK. Now what is our second tip?
Well, once you have tracked your spending,
you know how much you're spending in certain areas and what to change, then our
second tip is to make a budget.
All right.
So we know a budget is a plan for how you want to spend your money, so now you
need to plan now that you've learned.
Now here we are talking about a budget as in money, but you can also budget how
you spend other things like your time, your energy.
Here we're specifically talking about money, though.
All right.
After you've tracked your spending for one month, then create a realistic budget
and that will be easy.
That's right.
Once you know how much you're spending every month, you can create a realistic
budget.
Realistic, you see the word "real" in there.
That means it makes sense.
It fits into reality.
It fits into real life.
That way, it's not out, strange and... you don't have enough money for certain
areas or things you wouldn't think of.
Tracking allows you to have that.
Exactly. So now you can create a budget that feels real, that you can use in the
real world.
And friends, if you've already tracked your spending, then making a budget is
easy.
That's right.
It won't be very difficult because you will know what areas you need the money
in.
So start your budget by listing all of your major spending areas.
"Major" meaning the big ones.
Create a list of those, things such as food, clothes, entertainment.
We can add some to that list, maybe renting your apartment, your car or scooter
prices, things like that.
Exactly. Those are all major things that you are usually spending money on every
month.
And then we see a little word here, "etc." Or that's pronounced "et cetera."
That just means there are more to list.
That's right.
I listed a few more.
But friend, I'm sure you can think of what you spend your money on every month.
Now then use this information.
So take the tracking information and use it.
You can... you can learn a lot from tracking.
All right.
So you want to use the information that you've gained from tracking.
And if you gain something, that means you get it or receive it.
That's right.
You gain this information from tracking your spending.
Then you can use it to come up with a reasonable estimate of how much you should
budget for each area.
So if you have... you come up with something, that means you are creating it.
OK. So yes, you're creating here a reasonable estimate of how much you want to
spend.
Kaylah, can you explain, especially with money, what is an estimate?
Well, an "estimate" is the guess of how much it's going to cost or how much
value needs to be in it.
So you can guess - OK, I estimate this amount of money for this area.
And make that reasonable, realistic.
Make it a... true to life, something that is true.
Yeah. That's easier once you track things.
So here this is a good plan.
Find out how much you're spending everywhere, and then guess how much you should
stand next month.
Well, we have two more tips for you tomorrow, so make sure you join us.
But right now, it's time for us to go visit Ken in the Chat Room.
(Music).
Hi, Ken.
Hey, Bryan. How was your weekend?
Oh, not bad.
I had a chance to get outside and do a little hiking.
How about you?
I didn't get outside much.
I mostly stayed indoors watching movies with my cousin.
Oh. Did you see anything good?
Well, my cousin was in the mood for watching some older movies.
We even watched the original Star Wars.
Wow! Now that is a classic.
Were you able to sit through the whole movie?
Barely. The special effects in that movie are so not real.
They just can't compare with the effects in the movies today.
Good point.
And Ken, what I think you're trying to say is that those special effects aren't
realistic enough.
Yes. That's what I meant.
They don't look realistic enough.
They look fake.
Right.
That's one meaning of realistic.
Another meaning of realistic is something based on facts rather than feelings or
hopes.
For example, workers should be realistic when asking for raises and not ask for
too much.
I suppose you are right.
Any raise is a good raise.
Say, I've heard some of my American friends tell each other to "get real." Is
that related?
Actually, yes. It is.
That is a common interjection that people use when they disagree with others and
want them to think more realistically.
OK. Let me try to use this one.
Get real, Bryan! You'll never lose weight.
Excuse me, Ken?
Are you trying to challenge me? OK.
Well, I've got one for you too.
Get real, Ken! You can't really read a book a week.
Come again?
Of course I can, Bryan.
All right.
Let's not do this anymore.
Let's get real without being so mean to each other.
Sounds good, Ken. And by the way, I didn't really mean what I said.
Me either.
(Chinese).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And that's all for today.
Goodbye and take care.
Bye-bye.
Friends, information about how to handle personal finances is all over the
place, on the web, in newspapers and in magazines like Studio Classroom.
It's a topic that's hard to avoid,
nor should we try to avoid it because the way we think about money and the way
we handle money affects our lives on so many levels.
So the more we know, the more empowered we are to shape our own future.
OK. Join us tomorrow for two more simple steps to get us on a budget and stick
to it.
Have a greatday!