Conversations / Money and Spending
Money and Spending Conversation Questions for Adult ESL Classes
Use these 20 discussion questions about Money and Spending to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (B1–B2). Each part opens with a vocabulary warm-up, every question is labelled with the thinking skill it practises, and each part fills roughly thirty minutes of class time on its own.
Reviewed by Brando Oxley · 17 Aug 2026
Part 1
Spending Habits and Everyday Choices
Focus: talking about personal spending habits, needs and wants, shopping decisions, budgeting, and different attitudes toward money
Think of one thing people regularly spend money on, one action connected to money, and one place where people commonly spend or save money.
Describe each word without saying it directly. Your teacher or partner must guess the word.
ROUTINE
What kinds of things do you spend money on most regularly?
PREFERENCE
What kinds of purchases are you happy to spend more money on, and why?
COMPARE
Are you more likely to save money or spend it when you receive extra income? Explain your usual approach.
PRIORITIZE
How do you decide whether something is a need or simply something you want?
SHOPPING
What usually influences your buying decisions most: price, quality, convenience, brand, or recommendations?
EXPERIENCE
Tell me about a purchase that you felt was especially good value for money.
PROBLEM-SOLVE
You want to buy something expensive but do not have enough money right now. What choices could you make?
COMPARE
What are the advantages and disadvantages of paying with cash compared with using cards or digital payments?
ADVISE
What advice would you give someone who often buys things they later regret?
REFLECT
How much does having more money change the way people enjoy their everyday lives?
Part 2
Saving, Lifestyle, and Financial Priorities
Focus: discussing saving goals, lifestyle choices, financial pressure, social influence, shared expenses, and planning for the future
Choose one word from each category: Person: student, parent, worker, shopper; Action: save, borrow, spend, compare; Situation: vacation, emergency, sale, payday; Feeling: worried, satisfied, tempted, confident. Use your four words to describe a short scene in two or three sentences.
PLAN
What kinds of things are worth saving money for over several months or years?
COMPARE
Would you rather spend money on experiences or physical possessions? Explain your preference.
DISCUSS
Why do some people find saving money much easier than others?
INFLUENCE
How can friends, advertising, and social media affect the way people spend money?
BALANCE
How can someone enjoy their money now while still preparing for future expenses?
PROBLEM-SOLVE
Two people who live together have very different spending habits. How could they manage shared expenses fairly?
EVALUATE
When does buying the cheapest option save money, and when can it actually cost more in the long term?
CULTURE
What attitudes toward saving, debt, and spending are common in your country or family?
ADVISE
What financial habits would you recommend to a young adult earning their first regular salary?
REFLECT
What does being financially comfortable mean to you personally?