Views #753 | Low-Intermediate 4

Tight Budget

Lupe and Kara work out how much money the need for their trip to Vegas.

Script
Vocab
Quiz


Lupe	Kara

Kara: So, planning this next trip coming up, we need to start thinking of how much money we need to save, how much money we're going to spend on flight and hotel, and how much we're gonna have to tell the other girls to bring.

Lupe: Yeah, I actually meant to ask you about that just because it seems that I don't bring enough money, so this year I'm really trying to save more money. Make sure I have enough for everything. Starting with the flight, how much do you think we're gonna pay for flights this year and when do you think we should book to get the best price?

Kara: Well, flights right now are running about two hundred dollars per person round trip and that includes taxes and everything, but of course the closer it gets to the date of when we're gonna go the less seats are available so they're priced higher. So, I think it's best to book at least two months before we leave and we're gonna be paying probably around two hundred dollars.

Lupe: Sounds good. I think I'll have the money ready by then. So what do you think we're gonna do about hotel this year? There are gonna be six girls going so I'm thinking we can afford something a little bit more expensive this year, maybe get a nicer room, try new hotels.

Kara: Yeah, that's true. It's being split between the six of us. We normally budget between a hundred and a hundred and seventy-five dollars per person and that's for three nights. So I think it will be around that range: a hundred, about a hundred and fifty, give or so a little bit.

Lupe: I think the hardest part about saving money for this trip is because of how much shopping we do, so I think I really need to save the extra money for that because I know we like to spend a lot of money on shopping and also eating out. We've been wanting to do nicer restaurants so how much do you plan on bringing this year?

Kara: Well, it's hard to say really. We also have to take into account cabs and the gambling we want to do. My normal rule of thumb when I go to Las Vegas is to at least bring a hundred dollars per day, but that doesn't include my money for shopping, so normally to gamble a little bit with, for cabs, and for entrance fees, and shopping is extra on top of that. But that's another problem I've always noticed. people never have change for the cabs. We need to tell everybody to bring one dollar bills and five dollar bills so that they can pay the cabs.

Lupe: Not only for cabs, but you know in Vegas we're constantly having to tips everybody: the people that carry our bags in, the cab drivers, and even bouncers at the doors for the night clubs when we go dancing, so we definitely need to let everybody to know to be prepared and always have a lot of cash on them - exact change to.

Kara: Yeah, or else we end up footing the bill.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

I actually meant to ask you

I actually meant to ask you about that just because it seems that I don't bring enough money.

I 'actually meant to ask you' means that you intended to ask someone a question.

Notice the following:

I actually meant to ask you what time you thought you were going to be home.
He said that he actually meant to ask you if you ate meat before he cooked you dinner.

are running about

Flights right now are running about two hundred dollars per person round trip.

Are 'running about' means that something is keeping at a certain level, in this case it refers to an average price.

Notice the following:

The average price for a meal for two is running about $50
I think the cost for bread is running about $2

split between

It's being split between the six of us and we normally budget between a hundred and a hundred and seventy-five dollars per person.

'It's being split between the six of us' means that something is going to be divided between six people.

Notice the following:

The bill is going to be split between the six of us.
How much do you think it will cost once it has been split between the six of us?

give or so a little bit

So I think it will be around that range: a hundred, about a hundred and fifty, give or so a little bit.

'Give or so a little bit' means that it is an approximate value. It could be slightly more or slightly less.

Notice the following:

I think it will take about three weeks give or so a little bit.
The painter said it will take him about two months to complete the house, give or so a little bit for the weather.

take into account

We also have to take into account cabs and the gambling.

When you 'take something into account,' it means that you factor it into your considerations.

Notice the following:

Don't forget that you need to take into account the cost of gas.
She said that I had not taken her feelings into account.

Vocabulary Quiz

meant • running • split
give or so • account

I think the train tickets are about $50 one way now.
Make sure you take into that we are traveling with a baby, so it takes us a little longer.
He's about 6 feet tall, a little bit.
I actually to ask you what your favorite color is.
If we the bill between the four of us, it will be really cheap.