This is an All-Ears English Podcast episode 2193.
Is it too pricey?
How to talk about your money values in English.
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With your American hosts, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer,
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Are you experiencing inflation in your economy?
Today, get some new vocabulary to say what you think is expensive,
and what you are willing to splurge on.
Listen in today for a great connection skill.
Hello, Michelle. How's it going today?
Good. How are you, Lindsay?
I'm feeling great. I'm feeling great.
Do we have some exciting poll results to share for our listeners today?
We do. I was waiting on this one.
I went into this one, yeah.
I want to know.
Yeah, so guys, if you haven't been listening on Spotify,
on Spotify, we give out polls for our episodes.
So, and on some of them, we really interact with you
and we share the results.
Yeah.
So today, we are going to share some results.
So on episode 2162, that was dating somewhat much older,
is it accepted in American culture?
We talked about May, December relationships,
where there is a wide age gap in a relationship.
And we asked our listeners, have you ever been in a May,
December relationship?
So in a relationship where someone is the other person,
your partner is much older or younger than you.
So, Lindsay, you want to reveal the results?
Yes, here are the results.
So, 35% of you said yes, you have.
And 65% of you said no, you haven't.
So that's kind of interesting.
I thought so too.
Would you have, do you think it's more people
than you expected that have?
No, I think that feels about right to me.
But, globally, we talked about on this episode again,
what we're talking about here is everyone being
over the age of 18, obviously.
Okay, go back and listen to that episode.
But yeah, it's definitely, we talked in that episode about culture,
right?
What is the view from American cultural perspectives?
It might be different around the world.
Yeah, sure.
That could be influencing that number, right?
Yeah, absolutely.
Definitely.
So, guys, thank you for participating in that poll
and we'll have more to come.
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Love it.
Okay, today we're talking about things that are expensive, right?
What we're saying when things are expensive now,
this is a hot topic right now, Michelle,
because inflation has been,
especially in 2022,
kind of went through the roof.
And I know it's not just in the US.
I know that I think in Western Europe,
it's been high.
I thought I heard in the UK, it's been high.
And then some countries have experienced
like negative inflation too.
So, yeah, what are we getting into today, Michelle?
Yeah, today or we are going to be talking about
expressing that something is very expensive
or too expensive for you.
Lindsay, can you think of the last time you didn't buy something
because it was too expensive?
Is there something that you said,
I'm not going to buy that?
I don't know if it's as much for me about items.
It's about going out to eat.
That's where I really felt the pain of inflation is going.
It feels like every time I go out to eat,
now, you just what you spend is two or three times
what it used to be.
You know?
And then I just get annoyed and I say,
Denver doesn't have good enough food
to merit that kind of price.
So I'm saying, I just, I kind of protest
and I get in a little bit of a fit.
Yeah, that's what I mean.
Oh, I mean, there's things all the time.
So many times I'll see an outfit or something
and I'll say, oh, I like that.
And then I look at how much it is.
And I say, I like it, but I don't like it
for this amount of money.
So that happens kind of frequently.
There was also something recently.
Actually, we did an episode.
Do you remember the one where we said something it is?
Yes.
And I had not an information about how expensive something was.
And I said, okay, I'm going with the cheaper one.
So definitely this happens all the time.
For sure. So it was funny.
Today, we're going to talk about how to express
that something is too expensive.
Guys, if you want to learn about saving money abroad,
listen to episode 2157.
That was saved money abroad with these tips.
Yes.
I'll help out with today's episode.
Yeah, and this is, you know, today's episode
is a connection skill clearly
because we are all more or less
looking at the same price tags, right?
If we're buying the same thing,
there's not a special price for this person
or that person for most things.
And so we are all, it's like the weather.
We're all kind of experiencing these trends in inflation
and the cost of living, the cost of things.
So this is a true connection skill, Michelle.
Definitely.
Yeah, because it can connect with somebody
say you can or can't do something,
maybe even for a little negotiating.
Lots of things here.
Lindsay, what is something that you do splurge on?
What do you feel okay splurging on?
What is worth it to you?
Well, I think when I travel, I like to mix it up.
So I'll do kind of a hostile, like a cheaper hostile one night
and one or two nights.
And then when we move to the next city
in whatever country we're in,
we're okay to splurge on a nicer hotel,
especially if it's more affordable for us.
But I wouldn't do that the entire trip, right?
So when I am like treating myself, it has to be a treat.
It's not something I get used to and get all the time, right?
That's the key.
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Well, yeah, that's why it's a splurge.
It's not something you do all the time.
It's a great bonus word, by the way, Michelle.
Definitely.
Definitely.
So, right, like you said, Lindsay,
I think the two of us we've learned
that we would both rather spend money on experiences
than physical items.
But definitely, everybody is different
and that's fine.
Whatever, everybody places value differently
on different things.
Yeah, it's true.
When I went to see the pink concert,
that was a splurge.
When I went to see a next game, that was a splurge.
But I don't splurge on jewelry.
I don't splurge on clothes, really.
Yeah, yeah.
I never always have the memory.
But everyone gets a satisfaction
in different ways out of different things, right?
So that's fair.
And so today we're going to give our listeners
some very native and natural vocab
to have these conversations, right, Michelle?
Yeah, right. So we're going to start with the basic one.
Yeah, basic.
Expensive.
That's the word that most of our listeners
probably know already.
So expensive.
It's just cost a lot of money.
Lindsay, so do you have expensive taste?
Expensive taste?
That's a good chunk.
No, I really don't.
Because speaking of hotels, right,
when I travel within the US,
it's a different story, right?
Versus splurging on a nicer hotel abroad.
I love the basic hotels, Hampton Inn, Hilton, love them,
because you get free breakfast.
Yes.
You have a nice king bed that sheets are clean.
It's clean.
It's basic, but it has everything you need.
It was recently having a debate with a friend,
and they were saying, oh, but what about Niamariat?
It's like, I don't need it.
I don't need it.
I don't need it.
Plus, I don't get free breakfast.
Right.
Right.
Right.
So I'm going to be wrong.
I do love a good Marriott.
But yeah, I think it's nice to just sort of, I don't know,
keep things in check a little bit personally.
That's who I am.
But what about you, Michelle?
Would you say you have expensive taste?
Well, it's funny.
Expensive taste and what you'll actually spend money
are two different things.
So sometimes when I'm in a store, I find that, oh, this
is what I like, and it's the most expensive thing.
So my taste might be, I might just
go, good taste.
That means, I guess.
Oh, well, thank you.
I don't know about that.
But I'll say, oh, gosh, I didn't.
And then I'll, and then I realize, OK, maybe I
have expensive taste, but I'm not going
to take it to the next level of expensive buys.
It doesn't always lead to it.
Maybe I like the, maybe I like something,
but I'm not going to buy it.
Yeah.
I mean, it's just, there's definitely
an adaptation.
If we get used to always buying these expensive things,
then we get stuck and we can't just kind of come back down
to our store.
Sometimes, right?
But it sounds like you just have an eye for quality, usually.
And usually prices are commensurate with quality,
but not always, which is the part where things go off the rails.
When prices just go up, and the quality doesn't go up.
And honestly, that's what I feel like we've
seen in the US in the last few years.
Tricky.
Yeah.
So let's go through another word.
So this is a fun one.
So the same idea is expensive, but this
is kind of a cutesy way of saying it.
It's pricey.
Yes.
Pricey.
This is great.
It's a little too pricey for me, right?
A little too pricey.
And then the next one is a longer one, a little bit
of an expression here.
It's too rich for my blood.
Let's see.
What do you think about this one?
I actually didn't know this one.
This is interesting.
Yeah, I don't know.
I don't really know it, but I've learned something new
all the time on this show, right?
So you could say, oh, wow, look at that apartment.
Too rich for my blood.
Love that intonation, right?
Too rich for my blood.
Yes.
Yes.
This one is just kind of fun.
It's a little bit gross because we're talking about blood.
But it's just saying I'm not.
I don't have that kind of money, basically.
And then there is a more basic one also, like, out of my budget
or out of my price range.
So I'd love to get that car, but unfortunately,
it's out of my budget.
Or he wants that shirt, but it's out of his price range.
Maybe next time.
Nice.
Yeah, and I think most of these are listeners.
These might be new for our listeners, right?
Pricey is a really good one.
So I love that we're showing our listeners
more options other than expensive.
Right.
Exactly.
Okay.
Now, Michelle, what would you say is worth the money?
What is?
We're going to play a little game.
Yes.
So an either or a game.
So then, let's see what we think.
So what is worth the money?
A weekend trip or a concert.
So I would say weekend trip, but I've been to a couple of great
concerts lately, but I still would say a weekend trip is worth
the money.
Just being outdoors, having an adventure is what I would choose.
What about you?
It depends on who is in the concert, but I would have to say
weekend trip as well.
Yeah.
And it depends on where you're going for the weekend trip, too, right?
Exactly.
Exactly.
Let's ask the next one.
All right.
Close or stuff for the home.
That is worth the money.
That's funny, because I wrote this, but I just think about it.
I think probably stuff for the home.
What do you think?
Yeah.
I'm on board with you there.
Not for the home.
I just feel like, I don't know if I really go out enough to worry
that much about expensive clothes.
Maybe when I lived in New York, invite what I was 25 going out, right?
Maybe I would have said something different.
Now, nesting a little bit here, right?
Well, it's funny you say that because I was just thinking about this earlier.
Do you ever have something that you own that's a little nicer, that, but not even super?
Okay.
I'll give you an example.
What I'm wearing today, this is one of my pricier shirts, not as sweaters, not very
pricey, but I'm wearing it today.
But then sometimes I feel, to wear it on a weekday, I'm not really seeing anybody.
I'm with my kids.
Is it worth it to wear this shirt today or do I just save it for weekends?
And then I'll have things that I just don't wear.
And it doesn't make any sense.
Yeah, I agree.
No, no, yeah, 100%.
I agree.
Yeah.
So, I will take stuff for the home.
Also, it depends on what it is.
Are we talking about it?
Actually, a couch that can go a long way.
A comfortable couch can go a long way.
Something on a similar level to clothes.
So maybe appliances or pillows for the couch, some sort of decorative.
Okay.
Yeah, I would still say probably the home.
That's funny.
I probably wouldn't have said that 10 years ago, but hey, life changes.
Shall I order a new computer or a new TV?
I'm going to say a new computer.
Oh, yeah.
No, completely agree, because we work online and computers need to move fast, right?
They need good CPUs to move fast and help you get your work done faster.
TV is just, I mean, how, I don't know, but it's how much better can it really be?
It's same show.
Right.
Right.
Exactly.
So, okay, well, that was a fun little game.
I had planned.
Let's go into a role play.
So we're going to show you guys these words and actions.
So here, Lindsay and I are roommates looking for items for our place.
And it sounds like maybe we have different values around what to say.
We spend money on the TV.
Yeah.
Oh, boy.
All right.
Here we go.
Oh, my gosh.
These curtains are beautiful.
Yeah, but look at the price, Lindsay.
They're really expensive.
Well, that's true.
I guess they are out of our budget.
Yeah.
I do love these candles.
They'd be a great centerpiece.
So nice.
$300.
Come on.
That's too rich for my blood.
For sure.
Way too pricey.
Not splurging on candles.
No way.
Okay.
So it sounds like we actually do line up.
Actually, we do line up.
It's good.
I bet this is, I mean, they say that money is one of the hardest things for, if you're in
a romantic relationship, for a couple of fight about it the most.
Right.
That's one of the biggest things people fight about.
I thought that I'd get.
Because everyone has a different association with money.
It means something different to different people.
For some people, it's freedom.
For some people, it's power.
For some people, it's, I don't know.
You could put any word in there and that's what money is.
Right.
Right.
And it can also have something to do with the way you grew up.
So if you grew up, how your parents raised you to look at money, if two people have really
wildly different ways of looking at that, that can influence as well.
That as well.
And I feel like inevitably, no matter who you're coupled up with, you're going to have
some differences in the way you look at money.
It's never going to be 100% lined up because you didn't have the same upbringing.
And your parents didn't have the same experiences in their childhood.
You know, like my grandmother, she lived through the Great Depression.
Right.
And so she used to save Little Rubber Bands when she was living in our home in 2008.
She was saving Rubber Bands.
Right.
Because she was born in 1908.
And that's what she, her formative years were during the Great Depression.
So I don't know.
It's just history really comes in.
Right.
This is an interesting conversation topic.
I mean, we couldn't talk about this more.
So maybe we'll get to it another.
Oh, for sure.
Yeah, we'll come back to it.
Good stuff.
All right, Michelle.
Guys, don't forget to hit that follow button.
You now have the skills to go and have a conversation about inflation if that's happening
in your world or just about money values.
What do you like to spend money on?
What is too pricey?
What's not worth it?
You have the, you have the words.
All right.
Did we go through the role play?
Oh, we forgot.
Oh, hey.
There we go.
So I said, you said these curtains are beautiful.
But I said they are really expensive.
So that's the basic word.
Mm-hmm.
And then I said, that's true.
I guess they are out of our budget.
Right?
Good to have a budget.
Yeah.
Yeah, definitely.
And then it turns out these candles are $300.
Candles can be surprisingly expensive.
I don't know about $300.
But I've been at some stores where I've looked at some candles and I'm not a candle person,
but I'm not either.
And yeah, they can be expensive.
I don't know about that.
Interesting.
And I said, that's too rich for my blood.
Right. Exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then I said, for sure, way too pricey.
I'm really emphasizing the way too pricey.
Yeah.
And then this was our bonus for today.
And I just said, not splurging on candles.
And interesting.
I didn't say, I'm not splurging on candles.
I just said, we're not.
Yeah.
Right.
Exactly.
I just said, not splurging on candles.
So, yeah.
I'm going to do some grammar there, which very modern, very, very native right now.
Okay.
So, yeah, pay attention to that, guys.
And I said, no way.
Okay.
So, we'll do line up.
Thank goodness we didn't get into any kind of, no, no agreement.
So, that's good.
We're good.
All right.
Michelle, very good stuff.
Yeah.
Great.
This was Connolly and guys, we hope that whatever, whatever you're buying today, that it's
good stuff and that you, that you do splurge on something for yourself if you can.
All right.
Good stuff.
I'm Michelle.
I'll talk to you soon.
Thanks.
Bye.
Bye.
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