Speaker A

When purchasing something, I prefer a good old way of paying with cash. I'm not really familiar with cashless ways of payment. For me it's too complicated and I don't really trust big banking corporations. I've heard that they can trace all your expenses, and besides, I think that the safest place for my own funds is my pocket. Of course, somebody can disagree, but I get so nervous when I write my password as I am afraid of forgetting it.

Speaker B

I prefer to keep all my money on my debit card. It makes me feel very secure for my funds. If anything happens, for example: if I lose my wallet or get mugged on the street, I can easily call my bank and ask to suspend my card's service and refund all the transitions that were made after the incident occurred. I find it very convenient. I don't worry about my money when something unexpected happens. I am sure it will be conserved by professionals.

Speaker C

Banking cards are very helpful nowadays, but I think you should always have some cash with you at any time. Imagine yourself cashless in a restaurant, trying to pay the bill with your debit card that declines every time a waiter swipes it? Tricky situation! Even though you funds on your bank account, things like chip or equipment failure may occur and you'll end up in trouble.

Speaker D

I think debit cards are awesome for the active users! With a card you can shop on-line and get whatever things you like! I really love the idea that I don't have to go to noisy and crowded shopping malls to buy clothes. I can simply order whatever I need on-line and with a single click mouse it's going to be delivered to my doorstep. You can also watch all your transactions on-line by logging into your bank's website. That's what I call modern technologies!

Speaker E

I've been using credit cards for quite a while. It comes handy when I run out of money. I have a certain limit on my card that I cannot exceed; but usually I don't use it much often. The reason why is that every time I forget to cover my credit statement, I receive a fine from my bank. You also have to pay a yearly fee in order to obtain a credit card. Other words, having a credit card can become a hassle if you aren't very good in managing your own expenses.

Speaker F

I enjoy watching my money grow, that's why I have a savings account. If you have some money that you don't want to spend just yet, you'd better put it on your savings account. I have earned extra $900 by not spending the rest of the amount. If you want to save some cash for your kid's college, savings account would be the best bet. Your money is going to be very secure and there's almost no chance of loss. The best thing is that your funds will eventually grow!

Speaker A

For me the meaning of money has changed over time. When I was very young my parents were well off and I enjoyed more luxuries than most of my friends, but my parents fought constantly over money. As I grew older my parents lost all their wealth and I spent my teens being fairly poor compared to my friends while my parents continued to fight over money and eventually divorced each other.

Speaker В

For me money is a tool. It's a tool to accomplish things and get what I need or want. Does it mean freedom to me? No, it does not and I do not understand those who say money means freedom to them. If your freedom is dependent on money how free are you really? Aren't you enslaved to money an money is your master? What will happen when you lose your money? These are important questions you should think analyzing your attitude towards freedom.

Speaker C

Money seems freedom for me in the sense that a car means freedom or a musical instrument means freedom. A car lets me get places that I could not go otherwise. This instrument lets me express myself in ways that I otherwise could not. Would I lose my freedom if I lost my money? Yes, at least a good bit of it. There are many things that I would be required to give up. So money only helps me to be free but it doesn't give all the freedom.

Speaker D

Money is something I would like to live without. When my father died of a heart attack trying to earn more money for the family, I developed an extreme hate for money, the thought of money would make me angry. Money is the chains capitalism uses to keep people subservient. It makes people mad, ruins human health and lives, ruins families and relations. Money makes us suffer.

Speaker E

How you handle your money says a lot who you are. Money is neither good nor evil. Some people use money with evil intent for evil purposes. People with good intentions use it for positive ones. I see money as a gift from God to me. All the money that passes through my hands is not my own, and I have the privilege of giving away at least 10% to charities With money you can do a lot of good for others, and I can make a difference m other people's lives.

Speaker F

Money means basic survival. I was lucky to learn how to survive and do a lot of things without money. If you are content with what you already have, then money has no power over you. It can't do anything for you. If you have the knowledge how to provide for yourself and your family without money, then that knowledge is much more valuable than money. So in my opinion, I can't say that money is the most important thing for me.

Speaker A

The first step I make to save money is figuring out how much I spend. I keep track of all my expenses — that means every coffee, newspaper and snack I buy. Ideally, I can account for every penny. Once I have my data, I organize the numbers by categories, such as gas, groceries and mortgage, and total each amount. I consider using my credit card or bank statements to help me with this.

Speaker B

Once I have an idea of what I spend in a month, I can begin to organize my recorded expenses into a workable budget. My budget should outline how my outgoings measure up to my income. I want to be sure to factor in the sums to be paid that occur regularly but not every month, such as car maintenance. Creating a budget with a template can help me feel more in control of my finances and let me save money for my goals.

Speaker C

Now that I've made a budget, I create a savings category within it. I try to put away 10—15 percent of my income as savings. If my expenses are so high that I can't save that much, it might be time to cut back. To do so, I identify non-essentials that I can spend less on, such as entertainment and dining out. Considering savings a regular expense, similar to groceries, is a great way to reinforce good savings habits.

Speaker D

One of the best ways for me to save money is to set a goal. I start by thinking of what I might want to save for — anything from a down payment for a house to a vacation — then I figure out how long it might take me to save for it. Here are some examples of short-term goals: emergency fund, vacation, down payment for a car. And these are the examples of long-term goals: retirement, the child's education, down payment on a home or a remodeling project.

Speaker E

After my expenses and income, my goals are likely to have the biggest impact on how I save money. I try to be sure to remember long- term goals — it's important that planning for retirement doesn't take a back seat to shorter-term needs. Setting goals can give me a clear idea of where to start saving. For example, if I know I'm going to need to replace my car in the near future, I could start putting money away for one.

Speaker F

Almost all banks offer automated transfers between your checking and savings accounts. I can choose when, how much and where to transfer money to, or even split my direct deposit between my checking and savings accounts. Automated transfers are a great way to save money since I don't have to think about it and it generally reduces the temptation to spend the money instead. I check my progress every month.

Speaker А

I absolutely adore cooking. In my everyday life I use recipes which are easy to cook. But when I want to surprise my guests, I choose something special. I feel like a strong, independent, woman when I'm making something new in the kitchen. Sometimes it's good to let off some steam and concentrate on the ingredients. It's true that cooking will help you in any situation. I really enjoy cooking and being able to create a great meal.

Speaker B

Cooking is something I have to do, not something I enjoy. My friends often say to me, "Just start cooking. You'll love it." But I don't. We are not all gifted with love of things related to food beyond just eating it. Personally, I hate cooking. And now that I have children I have to do it. Can you imagine how painful it is? I suffer every day because I do what I don't enjoy doing.

Speaker C

I'm too busy to cook meals as often as I would like. But when I finally get a desirable day off, I spend it on cooking. There are so many different types of food and recipes. They all offer endless possibilities of what you can cook. Whether it may be a different style, type, or even just a different version. Creating something new in the kitchen helps me to relax and forget about all my problems.

Speaker D

I don't like spending too much time on cooking. I get bored while making something for dinner, for example. And it doesn't matter what recipe I choose or what food is used. I'm sure it's better to go out somewhere, and order whatever you want, so you can save your time and energy. I believe that this wav I have more opportunities to try something really tasty and diversify mv life.

Speaker E

I can't say that I love cooking, but knowing the basics and feeling competent in the kitchen gives me an opportunity to improve mv health. One of the most important advantages is that it's good for my body. I can avoid processed food and focus on using real ingredients. On the other hand, when I'm cooking I choose what goes into each dish. It means that I regulate the quality of the ingredients.

Speaker F

Of course, I realize that cooking is an amazing skill to have. It not only saves you time and money on food, but it can also contribute to better health. Besides, cooking brings you closer to friends and family and can be a wonderful creative outlet for stress. But, you know, it's not mine. I can't manage with a frying pan or even peel some carrots. I become incredibly awkward and helpless.

Speaker А: I love paper books. But being on my business trip in Argentina, e-books have saved me time and money. First of all, I don't know Spanish very well. Also, the bookshops there have a very small English language selection. So, I decided to avoid waiting 4—5 weeks for books from different Internet stores and chose e-books. Besides, I then didn't have a heavy suitcase full of books.

Speaker B: From my point of view, there is nothing better than e-books. I can carry an entire library in my pocket. E-books offer the possibility to adjust the size, contrast and colour to my liking. Also, if I have some difficulties in understanding words, or don't know the translation, I can look up unfamiliar words instantly with the built-in dictionary. Now I can't imagine my life without such a handy device.

Speaker C: Personally I prefer to avoid reading e-books. Staring at a lit screen is tiring for my eyes and brain. You know, e-books are even hard to absorb for me. I don't remember the information from it for a long time: while paper books let me "feel" it: the smell

and the touch of the pages. I believe that e-books are really usable and don't weigh down backpacks but, on the other hand, there is nothing like the feeling of reading down a pace, then flipping over to the next one.

Speaker D: What can be more comfortable than fanning through the pages quickly and getting an estimate of how much of the book you've finished, or how much is left, if the book is a text-book. Such random flipping is difficult with an e-reader, where the reader has to repeatedly press buttons or swish and swipe the screen for the same activity. Also, when I am reading some serious stuff, I need it to be on paper so that I can highlight, underline and scribble down notes!

Speaker E: The digital era is here to stay, and it is best to find a balance such that it does not compromise on a skill set that is central to our intellectual identity. In e-books, I adjust mv fonts in such a way that I feel like I'm reading faster. Also, I customize the size, type, and background according to mv eye-comfort. On the other hand, paper based books don't need any energy to run. Besides, turning, the pages of a book is a real action that we do with our fingers: we get the haptic feedback of holding the book.

Speaker F: This might be my personal opinion, but with a paper book I always have a better sense of where I am, and I form memory for where, physically, different parts of the book are, especially with re-reading. Unfortunately, real books only work for those who do not plan to move much and for those who can afford to budget for their monthly expenditure on books.