Maria moved into her first apartment last month. She was excited to live alone. But she quickly learned about paying bills. The first bill arrived in her mailbox. It was the electricity bill. Maria opened the envelope nervously. The amount was higher than she expected. She had used the heater too much. Maria decided to save energy. She turned off lights when leaving a room. The next bill was for water. This one was smaller and easier to pay. Maria paid it online using her bank account. She felt proud of herself. Then the internet bill came. Maria had forgotten about this one. She needed internet for her work. Luckily, the bill was not very expensive. Her landlord sent her the rent reminder. The rent was the biggest expense each month. Maria transferred the money on the first of the month. She always paid rent on time. Her phone bill arrived next. Maria used her phone a lot for calls and messages. She considered changing to a cheaper plan. One evening, her friend Lisa visited. Lisa asked about Maria's new life. 'Paying bills is harder than I thought,' Maria said. Lisa laughed and agreed. 'I made a budget spreadsheet,' Lisa suggested. 'It helps me track all my expenses.' Maria thought this was a great idea. The next day, she created her own spreadsheet. She listed all her monthly bills. She also wrote down her salary. Now she could see exactly where her money went. Maria discovered she was spending too much on food delivery. She decided to cook more at home. This would save her fifty euros each month. After two months, Maria felt more confident. She paid all her bills on time. She even started saving a little money. Her parents were proud of her. 'You are becoming very responsible,' her mother said. Maria smiled at the compliment. Managing money was not easy, but she was learning. She felt like a real adult now.
English Story (A2)Paying Bills
This A2 English story is designed for elementarys learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
A young woman learns to manage her monthly bills for the first time after moving into her own apartment. She discovers helpful tips along the way.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why was Maria's electricity bill higher than she expected?
2
How did Maria pay her water bill?
3
What did Lisa suggest to help Maria manage her expenses?
4
What did Maria discover when she made her budget spreadsheet?
Vocabulary
30 words from this story
