Setting aside for a rainy day

It’s a common regret in life that we spend more than we save---money that could go into a savings account or into a pension. Whatever age you are, it’ s never too late to start thinking about saving for your future. Here are several ways to get you going.

【小题1】

It’s hard to know what you can afford to save if you don’t have an accurate budget, so doing this is a key first step. Once you’ve made a record of everything you spend each month and everything you earn, you’ll be able to see how much money you have left.

Get into a regular habit

【小题2】 Payday is great as you won’t be tempted (诱惑）to spend the cash. You can also set up a standing order to move money automatically into a savings account each month, so you won’t forget.

【小题3】

There are different places you can put your savings, from tax-free ISAs(Individual Saving Accounts) to high-interest current accounts. Wherever you choose, keep an eye on the interest rate. Many have high rates for the first year and drop down afterwards. 【小题4】

Set yourself a goal

If you know exactly what you’re saving for, it’s far more likely you’ll keep putting money away. 【小题5】It’s also worth thinking about building an emergency fund for unexpected expenditures.

When you are learning English, listening, speaking and writing are important, but reading can also be very helpful. When you read, you can not only learn some new words, but also you can learn how to use these English words. When you read, it gives you a good example for writing.

Read something that you can   (more or less)   understand. If you need to stop every three words to use a dictionary, it is not interesting. 【小题1】 If there are four or five new words on a page, write them in your notebook. But you don’t have to write them while you read. Instead, try to guess their meanings as you read: mark them with a pen. 【小题2】 Later try to remember them.

【小题3】 For example, read for a short time once a day. Fifteen minutes every day is better than two hours every Sunday. 【小题4】 You could read for fifteen minutes when you go to bed, or when you get up or at lunchtime.

There are a variety of books in the bookstore, so what kinds of books should you choose? Choose a book or a magazine about a subject that you like, because you are going to spend time and money reading it. So, choose an interesting book. You can also read newspapers. There are many English newspapers in China. For example, 21st Century Teens. 【小题5】 There is something interesting in it.

Does your mood change with the seasons?

Some people find that when the temperature goes down, so do their spirits. 【小题1】They eat more and gain weight. They have trouble sleeping. They can’t think clearly.

Here are some ways you can beat the winter blues:

Get out in the sun. Some experts say that winter blues happen because we get less sunlight in the winter than we do in other seasons. Some say that the decrease in sunlight can make us feel sad.【小题2】

Get some exercise. A walk or other exercise will make chemicals called endorphins (内啡肽) flow through your body. Endorphins are natural “feel good” chemicals.

【小题3】Avoid having too much sugar. If you are eager for sugary foods (like cookies or candy), it may be a sign that you need more protein , like meat, chicken, or fish.

Avoid holiday stress. Cut back if you have too many things to do. Make sure you have some quiet time to yourself.【小题4】Get some rest. Studies show that most teens need about nine hours of sleep each night. The average teen, though, gets only about six or seven hours of sleep per night.

Get help. Be cautious if you feel sad all the time and the feeling won’t go away.【小题5】