Financial Management

The list of discussion questions on this page is part of a publication called Number One ESL Discussion Book & Reference Guide.

1. What does financial management mean to you? Why is it important?

2. Can you describe your personal approach to budgeting and managing expenses? (Do you keep track of your income and expenses? Do you stick to your budget every month?)

3. How do you prioritize financial goals? How do you make decisions about saving and spending?

4. Can you share a story about a financial challenge you’ve faced and how you addressed it? (When did this happen? Who was involved? What kind of challenge was it?)

5. What are some strategies you use to save money and build financial security for the future?

6. How important is financial education in making informed money decisions? Think about your family members, your friends, and your co-workers: On a scale from 0 to 10, how would you rate their financial education? What do you do (or what have you done) to improve your own financial education?

7. How do you approach investing and building wealth over the long term?

8. Share a story about a successful financial decision you’ve made and the impact it had on your life: When did this happen? What was the decision? Was anyone else involved? How did it affect your life?

9. How important is it to have an emergency fund and to prepare for unexpected expenses? Some people say an emergency fund should cover one month’s living expenses; other people argue it should cover living expenses for six months. What do you think?

10. Can you share a story about a time when you had to negotiate to improve your financial situation? (With whom did you negotiate? How long did you have to negotiate before you succeeded? What did you ask, what did you offer, and what did you get?)

11. How do you approach managing debt and making responsible borrowing decisions?

12. Lifestyle inflation is when your spending increases as your income rises. Do you have any experience with lifestyle inflation? What advice would you give to people to avoid this?

13. What role do you think financial independence plays in personal fulfillment and well-being? How much money would you need to be financially independent?

14. Can you share a story about a financial mistake you’ve made and what you learned from it? (When did you make this mistake? Were other people involved? What was the mistake? What did you learn from it?)

15. How do you think technological advancements have changed the way we manage money and conduct financial transactions?

16. How important is it to discuss money in relationships? What do you think is the best way for married couples or people in long-term relationships to manage their money?

17. How do you approach donating money to charities and supporting causes you care about? How much of your budget would you like to spend on charities and good causes?

18. What is your opinion of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin? Do you own any cryptocurrency? How easy or how difficult is it to buy cryptocurrency where you live? How secure are cryptocurrencies? Do you think more and more people will start using cryptocurrencies to pay for things in their daily lives?

Number One ESL Discussion Book & Reference Guide: CONTENTS