Saving Money

Abidemi: Todd, are you good at saving money?

Todd: No, I'm terrible. I waste money. I waste so much money.

Abidemi: How?

Todd: Well, I don't buy things on sale. I don't use coupons. I buy anything I see.

Abidemi: So, when I shop, I don't look at prices. I just see the food or the thing and I get it and I buy it and I pay for it. And, then it's sometimes very expensive, so I just waste money. I don't budget. I need to budget my money but I don't budget my money.

Todd: What about you? Are you good at saving money?

Abidemi: I don't think I'm too bad at saving money. I look at prices a lot. I also buy a lot of things on sale, so I'm able to save some money.

Todd: So, you look for discounts?

Abidemi: Yes, I do.

Todd: Do you use coupons or special offers?

Abidemi: No, I don't, but if I see some I will use them.

Todd: So, do you waste money on anything? Like, maybe eating out, buying clothes, renting movies?

Abidemi: I waste money on buying clothes.

Todd: Oh, okay!

Abidemi: But, I save a little bit because I buy them on sale.

Todd: Ah, do you buy things online?

Abidemi: No, I don't. I usually go into the stores to shop.

Todd: I'm good with clothes too, so I don't spend much money on clothes. I only shop maybe once a year. Or, I only shop if I need something, like it's really cold and I need a jacket.

Abidemi: I see.

Todd: And, I'm really bad, so I often only wear clothes people give to me.

Abidemi: That's good!

Todd: Yeah, so I get shirts or ties for Christmas gifts or a birthday gift, and I do that. My mom often asks ... every year, my mom asks, "What do you want for Christmas?", "What do you want for your birthday?"

Todd: And I'll say, "Underwear and socks" or "Socks and T-shirts". And so, she buys them for me and then I don't have to buy them.

Abidemi: Wow. Sounds like you're an easy person to give a present to.

Todd: Yes, for clothes. Yes, for clothes. But, I waste money on computers and electronics and those things are expensive, so I buy a new computer every year. I have four computers now in my house.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: I have five mobile phones.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: I have an iPad. I have lots of electronic equipment. So, I spend so much money on those things.

Abidemi: I waste money on traveling.

Todd: Ah, yeah.

Abidemi: Every year, I take about one or two trips to different countries, so that's where a lot of my money go.

Todd: Yeah, traveling is expensive.

Abidemi: Yes, yes.

Todd: But, when you travel, do you save money? Do you stay at cheap hotels? Or, do you buy cheap plane tickets?

Abidemi: I try to. I try to all the time. But, usually the plane ticket is so expensive that a lot of my savings is already gone.

Todd: Yeah, I know. I buy my tickets online, usually with Expedia. And, it's cheap. It's pretty cheap. I waste money on food. I eat out almost every day.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: Or, I buy my dinner at the supermarket almost every day. Do you waste money on food?

Abidemi: No, I don't. I usually get bored if I eat out too much, because even though I am not a very good cook, there are some thing that I cook that I like to eat. So, I would miss those things. So, no, I don't waste money on eating out.

Todd: Ah, that's interesting. So, you save money, I waste money. You have to teach me your tricks. You have to teach me your tips on saving money.

Abidemi: Please teach me how to get cheap travel tickets.

Todd: It's a deal.

Abidemi: Thanks.