Shadowing Practice: How to STOP Spending Too Much Money? | 💖 Healing podcast | Intermediate - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Oh, this shirt has a very beautiful color.
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I should buy it.
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All clothes are so boring.
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But it's the end of the month now, so I don't have much money left.
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It's okay.
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Just consider it a reward for next month.
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I just bought it a little earlier.
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I didn't spend too much this month.
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My credit card will handle it all.
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Does this story sound familiar to you?
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Do you see yourself or those around you in this situation?
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This is a common thing in life, overspending.
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So why do we often find ourselves spending more money than we should?
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Let's break it down.
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First of all, let's talk about our world.
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We see ads everywhere.
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These ads tell us to buy new phones, cool clothes, or the latest gadgets.
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It's easy to think we need these things to be happy or successful.
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Another reason is convenience.
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Now, we can buy anything with a few clicks on our phones.
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This makes us buy things quickly.
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Have you ever bought something online just because it was on sale?
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Well, even if you did not need it, I know I have.
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So let's see what ways we can avoid spending too much money.
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Understanding your spending habits is crucial.
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If you don't know where your money is going, it's hard to make changes.
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So how do we start understanding our spending?
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The first thing to do is track everything.
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I suggest starting with a simple exercise.
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Write down every single purchase you make for a week or a month.
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Yes, every single one.
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It might seem boring, but it's very helpful you might be surprised at how much those small purchases add up.
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When you have your spending list, take some time to look at it.
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Also, keep track of your habits.
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Are you buying coffee every morning?
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Are you eating out more than you thought?
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Finding these habits is the first step to making changes.
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now that we know our spending let's talk about the difference between needs
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and wants this is important for managing your money better before
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making a purchase ask yourself is this something I need or something I want?
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Needs are important like food, rent, and utilities.
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Wants are things that are nice to have but not necessary.
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Like a new pair of shoes when you already have 10 pairs at home.
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Without wants, you'll be fine.
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It'll just be uncomfortable.
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But without needs, you cannot survive.
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By carefully considering the items you buy based on needs and wants, you will have a more objective view and save money more easily.
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Another good tip is to wait before buying something.
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If you see something you want, wait 24 hours before buying it.
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Often the first feeling to buy will go away and you'll see you don't need it after all.
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Waiting helps you think more clearly.
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Sometimes you realize that you can live without that item, or you find out that you already have something similar at home.
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This simple step can stop you from making many unnecessary purchases.
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Try it next time you want to buy something.
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You might be surprised at how often you decide not to buy it after waiting.
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Setting spending limits can also help you control your finances better.
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You need to decide how much money you can spend each week or month on things you don't really need, then stick to that amount.
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For example, if you set $50 a week for extra spending, don't spend more than that.
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Moreover, using cash instead of a credit card can also help.
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When you use cash, you physically see the money leaving your wallet, which can make you think twice before spending.
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Creating a budget is one of the most effective ways to manage your money.
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Start by listing all the money you get.
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Next, list all the things you spend money on.
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Include fixed costs, like rent and utilities, and variable costs, like groceries and entertainment.
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In addition, you should use your income to pay for these expenses.
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Make sure you also save some money for the future.
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When you plan, be realistic about how much you spend.
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Don't guess too low, as you might end up needing more money than you expected.
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It's important to save a little extra money for unexpected costs.
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Sometimes things happen that you didn't plan for, like car repairs or medical bills.
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Having extra money helps you handle these surprises without worrying.
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Technology can be very helpful for managing your money.
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There are many apps that can track your spending and help you stick to your budget.
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Firstly, pick an app that is easy to use and fits what you need.
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Some good choices are Mint, YNAB You Need a Budget, and Pocket Guard.
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These apps let you enter and organize your spending so you can see where your money is going.
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Also, set up alerts in the app to remind you when you are close to your spending limit.
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This can help you stay on track and avoid spending too much.
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Another way to save money is to choose cheaper options for spending.
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You can cook at home instead of eating out and plan your meals to avoid extra shopping.
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Or you can check for coupons and discount codes before you buy by using various websites and apps.
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Using public transport instead of driving is also a way to do it because it's usually cheaper and better for the environment.
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Let's put all these tips together with a practical example.
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Imagine you earn $2 ,000 a month.
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You can create a specific budget like this.
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Spending $800 for rent, $100 for utilities, $300 for groceries, $100 for transportation,
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$100 for entertainment, $200 for savings, and $100 on other expenses.
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This is just an example.
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The amount of money you spend depends on how necessary the item or service is for you.
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By following these tips, you can take control of your finances and reduce unnecessary spending.
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Small changes can lead to significant savings over time.
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And remember, spending money is not about feelings.
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It's about making smart choices.
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From the tips above, gradually manage your spending.
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Therefore, you can manage it yourself without having to stress about not knowing where the money is going.
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Thank you.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 96 sentences and 1041 words to shadow. The speech runs for 8:24. The speaker talks at a steady 124 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 90% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

WordPronunciationMeaning
utility noun/juːˈtɪlɪti/The state or condition of being useful; usefulness.
habit noun/ˈhæb.ɪt/An action performed on a regular basis.
helpful adjective/ˈhɛlp.fl̩/Furnishing help; giving aid; useful.
expense noun/ɪkˈspɛns/A spending or consuming, often a disbursement of funds.
unnecessary adjective/ʌnˈnɛs.əˌsɛɹ.i/Not needed or necessary.
cloth noun/klɒθ/A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes…
bore verb/boɹ/To inspire boredom in somebody.
groceries noun/ˈɡɹoʊ.s(ə.)ɹiz/Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies; the commodities sold by a grocer or in a grocery store.
earn verb/ɝn/To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.
meal noun/ˈmiːl/Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity.
practical adjective/ˈpɹæk.tɪ.kəl/Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis.
carefully adverb/ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/With care; attentively, circumspectly.
repair verb/ˈɹiːpɛɚ/To restore to good working order, fix, or improve damaged condition; to mend; to remedy.
remind verb/ɹəˈmaɪnd/To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person).
objective noun/ɒbˈd͡ʒɛk.tɪv/A material object that physically exists.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

WordPronunciationMeaning
add up verbTo take the sum of; to total.
end up verbTo bring to a conclusion.
find out verbTo discover, as by asking or investigating.
go away verbTo depart or leave a place.
set up verb/ˌsɛt ˈʌp/To make ready for use.
write down verbTo produce or set (something) down in writing; to record something.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 11 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, didn't, you'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

  • The “sh” and “zh” sounds: crucial /ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/, shoe /ˈʃu/
  • Long words — get the stress right: utility /juːˈtɪlɪti/, unnecessary /ʌnˈnɛs.əˌsɛɹ.i/, unexpected /ʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd/, uncomfortable /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/

How to practise with this video

  1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
  2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
  3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like utility, habit, helpful.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing formavoid spending · start understanding · suggest starting
Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certainmight seem · might be · might end
Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good ideashould buy · should use
Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two thingsmore money than

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →