Why do we buy things we don't need?

Answer and give a real example for each one.

1. What was the last thing you bought? Did you really need it?
2. Do you like shopping, or is it a necessary evil?
3. What do you spend most of your money on?
4. Do you prefer shopping online or in real shops?
5. What is the best bargain you have ever found?
6. Do you ever buy things to feel better?

For each word or phrase, say one true sentence about your shopping habits.

Choose the word or phrase that fits.

1. I didn't plan to buy this lamp. It was an .
2. For my birthday, I on a fancy dinner.
3. A designer bag for only €40? What a !
4. €15 for a small bottle of water at the airport? What a !
5. I'd love a house by the sea, but I can't it.
6. I always before I buy anything expensive.
7. I was to buy the shoes, but I said no.
8. I'm trying to save, so I'm going to eating out.

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. a bargain ↔ a
   rip-offreceiptsale
2. to splash out ↔ to
   cut backtreat yourselfshop around
3. to pay in cash ↔ to pay
   by cardin cardwith sale
4. a planned purchase ↔ an
   impulse buyon saleretail therapy
5. to save money ↔ to
   waste moneyafford moneytreat money
6. full price ↔
   on salea rip-offafford

Use each phrase to talk about your real spending habits.

• I spend too much on...Я витрачаю забагато на...I spend too much on clothes I never wear.
• I don't spend enough on...Я витрачаю недостатньо на...I don't spend enough on my health.
• I can't resist...Я не можу встояти перед...I can't resist chocolate at the checkout.
• I'm the kind of shopper who...Я з тих покупців, які...I'm the kind of shopper who reads every review.
• It was a total waste of money.Це були повністю змарновані гроші.That smartwatch was a total waste of money.
• It was worth every penny.Воно було варте кожної копійки.My coffee machine was worth every penny.
• I only buy... when...Я купую ... тільки коли...I only buy clothes when they're on sale.
• I'm trying to cut back on...Я намагаюся менше витрачати на...I'm trying to cut back on online shopping.

Read the article. Hover over the dotted words for help.

1. Shops put milk and bread near the entrance.
   TrueFalse
2. Paying in cash feels more "painful" than paying by card.
   TrueFalse
3. In the MIT experiment, people paying by card offered more money.
   TrueFalse
4. Online shopping increases the pain of paying.
   TrueFalse
5. Experts suggest waiting 24 hours before an unplanned purchase.
   TrueFalse

1. Do you spend more when you pay by card or phone? Give an example.
2. Which shop tricks work on you?
3. Have you ever been fooled by "Only 2 left!"?
4. Would you try paying only in cash for a month?

Countable (things you can count): many, a few, few, too many. Uncountable (money, time, food, advice): much, a little, little, too much. Careful: ✗ too much clothes → too many clothes. ✗ enough big → big enough.

1. I have
   too manytoo much
   pairs of shoes.
2. I spend
   too muchtoo many
   money on coffee.
3. This jacket isn't
   warm enoughenough warm
   for winter.
4. I don't have
   enough moneymoney enough
   for a new phone.
5. There are only
   a fewa little
   biscuits left.
6. Can I have
   a littlea few
   milk in my coffee?
7. Don't hurry, we have
   plenty ofmany of
   time.
8. How
   muchmany
   did it cost?

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. I have too much clothes. →
2. This room isn't enough big. →
3. I bought a little apples. →
4. How many money do you spend on food? →
5. I have a few time today. →
6. There aren't enough of chairs. →

Answer in detail. Use too much / too many / enough / a few / a little.

1. What do you have too many of at home? What do you have too much of?
2. What do you never have enough of: time, money, sleep, space?
3. What is something you bought that wasn't good enough?
4. What do you spend too much money on? What do you not spend enough on?
5. Describe a shopping trip when you bought a few things you didn't need.
6. What could you cut back on to save a little money each month?

Describe each shopper's problem. Who is closest to you? What advice would you give each of them?

Answer honestly. Use phrases from 2.4.

1. What is the most useless thing you've ever bought?
2. What is the best thing you've ever bought, worth every penny?
3. What can you never resist buying?
4. Have you ever hidden a purchase from someone?
5. Could you survive a "no-buy month" (only food and bills)?

1. Do you make a shopping list? Do you stick to it?
2. Where do you usually shop for clothes?
3. What do you do with things you don't use any more?
4. How many subscriptions do you have? Do you use them all?
5. Do you prefer to pay in cash or by card?
6. Do you check prices or just buy?
7. When did you last treat yourself? To what?
8. Do you shop more when you're happy or sad?

1. Who in your family is the best at saving money?
2. Should parents give children pocket money? How much?
3. Do men and women shop differently?
4. What do teenagers spend most of their money on today?
5. Is it rude to ask how much something cost?
6. How has online shopping changed your town's shops?

1. Is shopping a real addiction?
2. Should "buy now, pay later" services be banned?
3. Is fast fashion bad for the planet?
4. Should shops be allowed to use tricks to make us spend more?
5. Will cash disappear completely?
6. Do we own too many things?

"Paying by card makes people spend too much."

Round 1: give your real opinion for 1–2 minutes. Round 2: defend the opposite side for 1 minute. Use: The problem is that too many people... · There isn't enough evidence that... · In my experience... · On the other hand...