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📕 A2: Grades 10-12 • MONEY BASICS

L3: Paying Bills and Understanding Debt

Learn how to manage monthly bills and understand basic debt. Practice using 'need to' and 'have to' to talk about responsibilities.

L3: Paying Bills and Understanding Debt
💬 Warm-up
1 What bills do people pay every month?
2 Why is it important to pay bills on time?
3 What does 'budget' mean to you?

🎯 Objectives

  • Use 'need to' and 'have to' to talk about money responsibilities.
  • Understand and use vocabulary related to bills, payment, and credit.
  • Plan and write a simple monthly budget.
  • Give short spoken advice about money lessons.
In this block:

📚 Vocabulary

1.
bill
"I have to pay my phone bill every month."
a list of money you owe for a service or item
2.
pay
"I need to pay the electricity bill by Friday."
to give money in exchange for something
3.
currency
"The currency in Japan is the yen."
the type of money a country uses
4.
exchange
"I need to exchange dollars for euros at the bank."
to change one currency for another
5.
rate
"The exchange rate today is 1.10 dollars per euro."
a number that shows how much one currency is worth compared to another
6.
credit
"She uses a credit card to buy things and pays later."
money that a bank or company lets you borrow, often for a fee
🗓️ Friday, 9th October 2026
bill
a list of money you owe for a service or item
pay
to give money in exchange for something
currency
the type of money a country uses
exchange
to change one currency for another
rate
a number that shows how much one currency is worth compared to another
credit
money that a bank or company lets you borrow, often for a fee

✍️ Practice

Guess the missing word.
1. The rate between dollars and pounds changes every day.
2. When you travel, you might need to exchange your money for the local currency.
3. Every month, my family receives a bill for the internet service.
4. If you borrow money from a bank, it is called credit .
5. You must pay your rent before the first of the month.
🗓️ Friday, 9th October 2026
1. The rate between dollars and pounds changes every day.
2. When you travel, you might need to exchange your money for the local currency.
3. Every month, my family receives a bill for the internet service.
4. If you borrow money from a bank, it is called credit .
5. You must pay your rent before the first of the month.

📖 Reading

Anna's First Bills

Anna is 18 and lives with her parents. Last month, she started a part-time job at a café. Now she has to pay for some things herself. Her parents told her it is time to learn about money. She got her first phone bill and electricity bill. She looked at the numbers and felt a little worried. 'I need to pay these before the due date,' she thought.

Anna also wants to travel to Japan next year. She checked the exchange rate for the Japanese currency, the yen. She learned that the rate changes often. She decided to save some money in a special account. 'I have to save at least 500 dollars every month,' she said. She also learned about credit. She knows that using a credit card means borrowing money, and you have to pay it back later. She wants to be careful with credit.

Anna made a simple plan. She writes down her income from her job, her bills, and what she wants to save. She uses a notebook. 'I have to check my plan every week,' she says. 'I need to be smart with my money.' She feels proud because she is learning to handle her own finances.

Comprehension Questions

1.
Why did Anna start paying bills herself?
She started a part-time job and her parents wanted her to learn about money.
2.
What two bills did Anna receive?
She received a phone bill and an electricity bill.
3.
What does Anna want to do next year?
She wants to travel to Japan.
4.
How much does Anna have to save every month?
She has to save at least 500 dollars every month.
5.
How does Anna check her money plan?
She checks her plan every week using a notebook.

🎧 Listening Practice

Dylan's Money Talk

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Listening context

Comprehension Questions

1.
How did Dylan feel when he received his first bill?
He was shocked because the bill was seventy dollars.
2.
What does Dylan do every week to manage his money?
He checks his bank account every week.
3.
What did Dylan's friend Mark tell him about credit cards?
Mark said credit is borrowed money and you have to pay it back with extra if you are late.
4.
Why was the exchange rate important for Dylan's sister?
The exchange rate was important because she got more euros for her dollars when the rate was good.
5.
How much money does Dylan save from each paycheck?
He saves fifty dollars from each paycheck.

🗣️ Pair Work

Budget Talk

"In pairs, discuss how you manage monthly bills. Use the vocabulary words from this lesson. Talk about income, expenses, and saving."

👉 With a partner, list three bills people usually have.

👉 Explain how you or your family pay for these bills.

👉 Discuss one thing you have to do to save money.

🚀 EnglishDee Tasks

KEYWORDS: bill pay currency exchange rate credit
✍️ WRITING

My Monthly Budget

Write a simple monthly budget. First, list your income (like a job or allowance). Then, list your expenses (bills, food, fun). Finally, write how much you plan to save.

✅ Checklist:
  • Write 80-100 words.
  • Use 4 words from the vocabulary list.
  • Use 'need to' or 'have to' in at least 2 sentences.
  • Structure: income, expenses, savings.
🎙️ SPEAKING

Money Advice

Record a 45-second talk. Explain the most important money lesson you have learned. Start by stating the lesson. Then give 1 example from your life or from someone you know. End with advice for others.

✅ Checklist:
  • Recording duration: 45 seconds.
  • Use 4 vocabulary words.
  • Focus on fluency (keep speaking without long pauses).
  • Start with your lesson, then example, then advice.
Helpful Phrases
  • The most important money lesson I learned is...
  • For example, I once...
  • I have to remember that...
  • I need to plan for...
  • My advice to others is...
  • It is better to...