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pay yourself first
Meaning: A common personal finance principle encouraging people to save a portion of their income before spending on anything else.
Example: Everyone's heard of the tired old adage of paying yourself first.
Note: Used as an “adage” (common saying) but criticized here for lacking practical details.
one goal at a time
Meaning: Focusing attention and effort on one objective instead of multiple goals at once.
Example: You should focus on only one goal at a time.
multitasking at work
Meaning: Handling several tasks simultaneously; used here as a comparison for dividing attention among multiple savings goals.
Example: Like multitasking at work, splitting your attention across goals isn’t efficient.
Note: Not an idiom, but a key everyday expression learners should know.
set it and forget it
Meaning: A system or approach that runs automatically once set up, without requiring further attention.
Example: This set it and forget it approach is shown to help you save more.
tendency towards inertia
Meaning: The natural human preference to stick with the current state and avoid active effort.
Example: Passive systems work with our tendency towards inertia.
Note: Good expression for advanced learners; describes behavioral economics.
hold back
Meaning: To hesitate or stop yourself from doing something.
Example: You won’t be tempted to hold back a bit every time y
inertia
IPA: /ɪˈnɜː.ʃə/ (UK), /ɪˈnɝː.ʃə/ (US)
Meaning: A tendency to remain unchanged or resist action; in finance, the tendency to stick with passive systems.
Meaning: A tendency to remain unchanged or resist action; in finance, the tendency to stick with passive systems.
Example: Automatic savings plans work with our natural inertia by removing the need for repeated decisions.
emergency fund
IPA: /ɪˈmɜː.dʒən.si fʌnd/ (UK & US)
Meaning: Money set aside to cover unexpected expenses, such as car repairs or medical bills.
Meaning: Money set aside to cover unexpected expenses, such as car repairs or medical bills.
Example: Building an emergency fund of $500–600 can protect against sudden car repair costs.
automate
IPA: /ˈɔː.tə.meɪt/ (UK), /ˈɑː.t̬ə.meɪt/ (US)
Meaning: To set up a process to run automatically without manual effort.
Meaning: To set up a process to run automatically without manual effort.
Example: Automate your savings transfers so you don’t have to remember each month.
Other Listening Exercises
A simple 2-step plan for saving more money
In progressA2 · 2:41