B2 – Upper Intermediate
Inflation doesn’t just impact money—it changes how people spend time together. As prices for things like food, transportation, and entertainment rise, many are cutting back on eating out, going to events, or hosting get-togethers. Budgets now play a bigger role in planning social activities, with more people choosing cheaper or free options. This shows how financial challenges can also affect relationships and how communities connect.
Watch the video to learn more and be able to answer the following questions.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does ” disposable income” mean? “Gen X and Millennials are struggling with having disposable income.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does the idiom, “to keep up with the Joneses‘ mean? “It’s a whole new ‘keeping up with the Joneses‘. I can’t have friends because it doesn’t live up to an Instagram ideal.” Make one sentence using the word.
- What does “to live up to” mean in this sentence, “I can’t have friends because it doesn’t live up to Instagram ideal.“? Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think inflation has had a noticeable effect on your social life or the social lives of people you know?
- In your opinion, is it possible to maintain a vibrant social life despite financial challenges?
- How do rising costs of entertainment and dining out influence the way communities interact and socialize?
- What alternative ways of socializing might emerge or grow in popularity during periods of economic hardship?