英语播客EnglishPod 546

The Office - Preparing a Budget (C0173)
A: Welcome Mr and Mrs Carnwell, please take a
seat.
B: Thank you.
A: SoIunderstandthatyourfamilyspendinghassky
rocketed and you want to start budgeting.
C: Yes thats correct. Frankly¹ speaking our house-
hold income is relatively² high and we have never
had any money problems, but I think this isthe
mainreasonastowhyourspendinghasgoneout
of control.
B: We have two kids and with allowances, paying
their credit cards, ours and not to mention our
mortgageandcarpayments. Withtherecenteco-
nomic downturn, my husband’s business has suf-
fered and now we need some advice as to how
we can prepare a family budget.
A: I see. Well you have come tothe right place. First
what we need to do, is determine your cash flow.
Knowing how much money is coming in will help
us allocate³ spending to different categories such
as mortgage, education, groceries, etc.
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).c 2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

B: Yes that makes sense.
A: Secondly⁴, I need you to bring all of your receipts
forthe last two to three months. That way, we can
determine what your average expenditures⁵ are
and see which category you are spending money
onthe most. Usually, your fixed⁶ costs are higher
and we cant⁷ do much about that, but we can usu-
allytrimyourvariablecostssuchasentertainment
or clothing.
C: Great! We will do that then! Now how about we
treat you to a nice dinner?
A: That’s another thing. If you really want to stop
spendingsomuchmoney,throwawayatleasthalf
of your credit cards!

1 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 allocate   

vt.分配，分派；把…拨给；把…划归

参考例句：

• You must allocate the money carefully.你们必须谨慎地分配钱。
• They will allocate fund for housing.他们将拨出经费建房。

4 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

5 expenditures   

n.花费( expenditure的名词复数 )；使用；（尤指金钱的）支出额；（精力、时间、材料等的）耗费

参考例句：

• We have overspent.We'll have to let up our expenditures next month. 我们已经超支了，下个月一定得节约开支。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pension includes an allowance of fifty pounds for traffic expenditures. 年金中包括50镑交通费补贴。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

7 cant   

n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔

参考例句：

• The ship took on a dangerous cant to port.船只出现向左舷危险倾斜。
• He knows thieves'cant.他懂盗贼的黑话。