Discussing Budget and Expenses
A group of travelers discussing and allocating a budget for various travel expenses like accommodation, food, activities, and transport.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
pin down
To decide or agree on something exactly, like a plan or price. Useful in discussions to finalize details.
budget
A plan for how much money to spend on something, like a trip. It's key for managing expenses without overspending.
accommodation
A place to stay, like a hotel or apartment, during travel. Often discussed in terms of cost per night.
breaking the bank
Spending more money than you can afford; an idiom meaning to cost too much. Use it to suggest affordable options.
factor in
To include something as part of a plan or calculation, like extra costs. Helpful for budgeting travel expenses.
allocate
To divide or assign money or resources for specific uses, like daily food budget. Common in group planning.
buffer
Extra money or time set aside for unexpected problems. Essential in travel to cover surprises like delays.
contingency
An unexpected event or extra amount for emergencies, like 10% more budget. Use it to prepare for unknowns.
ballpark figure
An approximate or rough estimate, not exact. Good for initial trip planning before final numbers.
locking down
To confirm or secure something finally, like bookings. Means making it official in travel arrangements.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Alright, so let's try to pin down a budget for this trip.
This sentence starts a discussion by suggesting to decide on a budget. 'Pin down' means to finalize; useful for leading group talks on plans. Simple imperative structure for suggesting actions.
I think we should aim for around $100-$120 per night, splitting it among us.
Suggests a target price with sharing costs. 'Aim for' means to target; 'splitting' shows dividing expenses. Practical for group travel budgeting; uses range for flexibility.
That sounds reasonable. And what about food?
Agrees and asks about another topic. 'Sounds reasonable' is a polite way to approve; transitions smoothly. Useful for continuing conversations in planning sessions.
I'd say a mix. Maybe one nice meal out a day, and then keep the others more budget-friendly.
Proposes a balanced approach to spending. 'I'd say' softens opinion; 'budget-friendly' means cheap. Great for suggesting compromises in expense discussions.
We also need to factor in some money for activities, like tours or entrance fees.
'Factor in' means include in calculations; lists examples for clarity. Essential for comprehensive budgeting; uses 'need to' for necessity.
Based on past trips, I'd allocate at least $50-$70 per person per day for food.
Gives advice using experience. 'Allocate' means assign; 'based on' shows reasoning. Useful for realistic estimates; includes specifics like 'per person per day'.
We should also include a buffer for unexpected costs.
'Buffer' means extra reserve; 'include' in total plan. Important for safety in budgets; modal 'should' suggests strong advice.
That gives us a good ballpark figure to work with.
'Ballpark figure' is an approximate number; 'to work with' means to use as basis. Wraps up estimation; helpful for moving to next steps in planning.