Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Saving Money” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Saving
1. What does it mean to save money?
2. Why is saving money important?
3. At what age should you start saving money?
4. How can saving money change your future?
5. What is the difference between saving and spending?

II. Saving Methods
6. What is a piggy bank?
7. How does a savings account work?
8. Can you name some ways to save money at home?
9. What are financial goals?
10. How do you set a savings goal?

III. Saving Strategies
11. How can you save money on food?
12. What are some tips for saving on transportation costs?
13. Why should you compare prices before buying?
14. How can making a list help you save money?
15. What does it mean to buy something on sale?

IV. Budgeting
16. What is a budget?
17. How do you create a budget?
18. Why should you track your expenses?
19. How does a budget help you save money?
20. Can budgeting help with debt?

V. Challenges in Saving
21. What makes saving money difficult sometimes?
22. How can you resist the temptation to spend?
23. Why might people not save money?
24. How can emergencies affect your savings?
25. What can you do to save money even when it’s hard?

VI. Tools for Saving
26. What is a financial planner?
27. How can apps help you save money?
28. What is an automatic savings plan?
29. Why is having a bank account useful for saving?
30. What are coupons?

VII. Long-term Savings
31. What is an investment?
32. How does interest help you save money?
33. What is a retirement savings plan?
34. Why is it important to save for retirement early?
35. What is a pension plan?

VIII. Saving for Big Purchases
36. How do you save for a car or house?
37. Why might you need a down payment?
38. What is a mortgage?
39. How can you save for education?
40. What is a layaway plan?

IX. Saving vs. Borrowing
41. How is saving better than borrowing?
42. What are the downsides of taking a loan?
43. Why is it good to avoid credit card debt?
44. How does interest on loans compare to interest on savings?
45. What is living within your means?

X. Teaching Saving
46. How can parents teach children to save money?
47. What are good savings habits?
48. Why is it helpful to learn about money in school?
49. How can you make saving money fun?
50. What are some games that teach about saving?

XI. Impact of Saving
51. How does saving money affect the economy?
52. Can saving money lead to wealth?
53. What is financial independence?
54. How can saving money give you peace of mind?
55. What does financial security mean?

XII. Culture and Saving
56. How do different cultures save money?
57. What are some traditional saving methods around the world?
58. How do holidays affect saving and spending?
59. What are some community saving schemes?
60. How does your culture view saving money?