How did you afford all of this?
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Introduction
Warm up
A student credit card is a good way to build credit early?
Students should only use credit cards for emergencies.
Having a credit card makes students spend more money than they should.
Credit cards are safer to carry than cash.
A debit card is better than a credit card for most students.
A student without a job should not have a credit card.
Speaking
Dialog
Jacob: Hey, Bia. I stopped by to bring those books you asked for and, hold on… what’s all this? Did you redecorate?
Beatriz: Oh! Yes, I did. What do you think of my new setup? I finally got a smart TV and a new sound system.
Jacob: New setup? Beatriz… this looks expensive.
Beatriz: Well… I might have upgraded a few things. Come here, listen to this speaker. The sound quality is amazing.
Jacob: Okay, it’s impressive. But how did you afford all of this? You didn’t ask your grandparents for money again, did you?
Beatriz: No, Uncle Jacob. Relax. I didn’t borrow anything from them.
Jacob: Then how?
Beatriz: I used my credit card.
Jacob: Your credit card? Since when do you have one?
Beatriz: Since last month. It’s a student card. They sent me an offer, and I applied online.
Jacob: You applied for a credit card because they sent you an email?
Beatriz: Well… they explained it helps students build credit history early. And it’s practical. I don’t always have cash for bigger purchases.
Jacob: Bigger purchases like what?
Beatriz: Like the flight I booked for the semester break.
Jacob: Flight? Where are you going?
Beatriz: My friend and I are planning a trip to Rio. It was a great deal! But I needed the card to secure the ticket.
Jacob: Beatriz… do you actually know how credit cards work? The interest rates on student cards can be brutal if you don’t pay the full balance.
Beatriz: I know there’s a limit. I can’t just spend endlessly.
Jacob: What’s your limit?
Beatriz: It’s not that high… just enough.
Jacob: That’s not very reassuring.
Beatriz: Okay, okay. I may have gotten a little excited. But I’ll manage it.
Jacob: How exactly are you planning to pay the bill?
Beatriz: I was thinking… maybe with the money from my internship? And my birthday is next week too.
Jacob: Counting on future money to pay past spending isn’t the safest plan.
Beatriz: So what do you suggest?
Jacob: Let’s sit down and look at your expenses. We can create a simple budget. Credit cards aren’t evil, but they require discipline. If you learn to manage this now, you’ll thank yourself later.
Beatriz: Deal. But you have to admit… the TV is nice.
Jacob: It is. I just want to make sure it doesn’t cost you double in the long run.
Vocabulary
| afford | interest rates | stopped by |
| simple budget | full balance | borrow anything from |
| semester break | credit history | secure the ticket |
| reassuring | in the long run | Counting on |
| spend endlessly |
| Expression | Definition (English) | Portuguese Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| stopped by | To visit someone briefly and informally | passar rapidamente / dar uma passada | I stopped by my sister’s apartment to return her keys. |
| afford | To have enough money to pay for something | poder pagar | She can’t afford a new laptop right now. |
| borrow anything from | To take something from someone with the intention of returning it | pegar emprestado de | I didn’t borrow anything from my parents this month. |
| Since when | Used to express surprise about when something started | desde quando | Since when do you drink coffee every day? |
| credit history | A record of a person’s borrowing and repayment behavior | histórico de crédito | Building a good credit history is important for future loans. |
| semester break | A vacation period between academic terms | férias do semestre | We are traveling during the semester break. |
| secure the ticket | To guarantee or confirm a ticket reservation | garantir a passagem | I used my card to secure the ticket before prices increased. |
| interest rates | The percentage charged on borrowed money | taxas de juros | Credit cards usually have high interest rates. |
| full balance | The total amount owed on a credit card or bill | saldo total | She always pays the full balance to avoid extra charges. |
| spend endlessly | To spend money without limits or control | gastar sem limite | If you use a credit card carelessly, you might spend endlessly. |
| reassuring | Making someone feel less worried or more confident | tranquilizador / reconfortante | His calm explanation was very reassuring. |
| in the long run | Over a long period of time | a longo prazo | Saving money now will help you in the long run. |
| counting on | Depending on something to happen | contar com / depender de | She is counting on her bonus to pay the bill. |
| simple budget | A basic financial plan that organizes income and expenses | orçamento simples | Creating a simple budget helps control spending. |
Critical thinking
Credit cards give students too much financial freedom.
Parents should help their children manage their first credit card.
Students should be required to take a class on money before getting a credit card.
Credit cards with rewards (like cashback) are useful for students.
Exercises
Reading comprehension
Why was Jacob surprised when he arrived at Beatriz’s apartment? Explain what he saw and why it concerned him.
How did Beatriz get her student credit card, and what reasons does she give for having one?
What concerns does Jacob express about student credit cards? Refer to specific risks he mentions in the conversation.
How does Beatriz plan to pay her credit card bill, and why does Jacob think her plan might not be ideal?
What solution does Jacob propose at the end of the dialogue? Do you think his suggestion is helpful? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
Instructions: Complete the sentences using the words from the box. Use each expression only once.
[stopped by • afford • borrow anything from • Since when • credit history • semester break • secure the ticket • interest rates • full balance • spend endlessly • reassuring • in the long run • counting on • simple budget]
I __________ my aunt’s house yesterday just to say hello.
She can’t __________ a new phone because she’s saving money for college.
I didn’t __________ my brother; I paid for everything myself.
__________ did you start waking up at 5 a.m. every day?
Having a good __________ makes it easier to get approved for loans.
We are planning a family trip during the __________ in July.
I used my card to __________ before the price increased.
Credit cards often have high __________ if you don’t pay on time.
She always pays the __________ to avoid extra charges.
If you’re not careful, you can __________ with a credit card.
His calm explanation was very __________ during the stressful meeting.
Saving money regularly helps you __________.
She is __________ her bonus to pay off her debt.
Creating a __________ can help you control your monthly expenses.
Challenge Section
Story telling
Storytelling is the art of communicating ideas, emotions, or messages through a story instead of just giving information.
Tell short story about someone who did not understand credit cards and learned a lesson.
Role play
For this exercise, you will practice using the vocabulary related to this dialog by acting out a role-play scenario.
Include the words provided in the vocabulary section.
Homework
Produce
Create Your Own Dialog
Instructions:
Using the new words/expressions you’ve learned.
Personal experience
Talk about your past experience with the topic.
