英语听力—环球英语 1473 A Different Kind of Money Plan

 　　Voice 1

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Liz Waid.

　　Voice 2

　　And I'm Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

　　Voice 1

　　On today's Spotlight we will talk about MONEY - something many people do not like to talk about. We will discuss two different money plans - one bad and one good.

　　I NEED it!

　　I WANT it!

　　I HAVE to have it!

　　Voice 2

　　Have you ever said these words? Then advertising² has fooled you! Companies spend millions of dollars each year on television and radio advertising. They try to persuade you that you NEED what they have to sell.

　　Voice 1

　　Many people fall into the trap of spending. They spend money on clothes, cars, new homes, products for the home, games, films, travelling - the list goes on and on. But, many people spend more money than they have. They are in debt. For some people, debt even takes over their lives. It is like they become slaves to debt. All of their time, energy, and money must go towards paying their debt. And they feel as if they have no way to escape it.

　　Voice 2

　　Christians⁵ believe that God does not want people to be slaves to debt. The Bible⁶ includes many ideas about money. One of these ideas is that people should experience freedom from debt – financial freedom.

　　Voice 1

　　But how can you get financial freedom? Many people, both rich and poor, struggle with how to spend and save money. They do not count their money as they spend it. Then, at the end of a week or month they have no money left to save. They may not even have enough money to pay for important things like food and rent. This is following a bad money plan. This money plan goes like this:

　　Voice 2

　　First, spend – spend your money on anything you want to buy. Second, save if you have any money left. And third, give if there is any money left after saving⁷.

　　Voice 1

　　Following this bad money plan does not lead to financial freedom. Instead, it will lead you down a path toward³ debt. And you will go deeper and deeper into debt. It is not really a money PLAN at all! But, there is another way. And it is easy to remember. Just say, "10 10 80!"

　　Voice 2

　　Christian⁴ money experts created the 10-10-80 plan using values from the Bible. The 10-10-80 money plan goes like this: First GIVE 10 percent of all your money. Second, SAVE 10 percent of all your money. And finally, SPEND the last 80 percent wisely.

　　Voice 1

　　You may be surprised that the first step in this plan is to give! How can giving your money away lead to financial freedom? Many people know that giving can bring great joy.

　　Voice 2

　　Christians believe that money is a gift from God. They believe that God owns everything - not just our money - but everything. God wants people to experience joy. And he knows that giving can be a source of great joy. When we do not give, we cannot experience this kind of joy - the kind that comes from helping⁸ others.

　　Voice 1

　　Here is the story of a woman named Maiya. Maiya was on a fixed⁹ money plan. She did not have a lot of extra money at the end of a week after buying food and paying rent. But, she heard about the joy of giving. She believed that ten percent of her money should go back to God. So, Maiya was committed to giving even though she could use that money for other needs.

　　Voice 2

　　Since Maiya started giving, she has experienced¹⁰ great joy. When she gives money away she worries less about her own finances¹¹. She sees how God takes care of the poor through people like her who give. And she knows that God will take care of her too. Since beginning to give, Maiya finds that when she really needs money, the money is there. Somehow God always provides for her. And others help her, when she needs help.

　　Voice 1

　　This brings us to the second step in the 10-10-80 plan. After giving ten percent, the next step is SAVING ten percent. Saving helps you to prepare for the future. There may be an emergency. Or you may want to do something fun, like a vacation. Then your savings¹² can help you.

　　Voice 2

　　Saving is a discipline. It takes hard work and you must be devoted¹³ to it. Saving only happens when you promise not to spend that ten percent. The first thing you should do when you receive money is to split¹⁴ it up. Take out ten percent for giving and ten percent for saving. Put that money where you will not touch it. Put it in a place where you will not be tempted¹⁵ to spend it. That may mean hiding it in a container in your home. It may mean giving it to a friend who will promise to hold it for you. Or, it may mean putting it in a bank. Putting your money in a bank is probably the safest idea. But whatever you do, do not spend that money!

　　Voice 1

　　Many people may think, "But, I do not have enough money to save ten percent - especially after I give ten percent." But it is possible. Even if you can only save a small amount, that amount will soon start to add up. But try to save something, even if it is not ten percent.

　　Voice 2

　　The final step in the 10-10-80 money plan is to spend wisely! You can use the last 80 percent on anything you want. You will probably need to pay for your home and buy your food first. But, if there is any left, you can buy what you want!

　　Voice 1

　　The idea is that you will only spend what you have and no more. You have already used some of your money to give back to God. And part of your money is saved for the future. So, what is left is the amount you have to spend. When that money is gone, then you should stop spending. You do not want to be a slave to debt!

　　Voice 2

　　Many people think this plan sounds impossible. But you can start simply. Start by setting¹⁶ apart only two percent, or five percent each for giving and saving. After a time, increase the amounts of money you are putting in these areas. Soon, you may discover that it is not a difficult plan at all. Many people who follow this plan even begin to devote MORE than ten percent each to giving and saving.

　　Voice 1

　　Keep listening to Spotlight to hear more about a spending plan - a budget. A budget can help you count your money as you spend it.

　　Voice 2

　　The writer of this program was Rebekah Schipper. The producer was Liz Waid. The voices you heard were from the United States. You can find this and other Spotlight programs on our website at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called, "A Different Kind of Money Plan."

　　Voice 1

　　We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.

　　- See more at: http://spotlightenglish.com/listen/a-different-kind-of-money-plan#sthash.1REp3Lz0.dpuf

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

6 bible   

n.《圣经》；得到权威支持的典籍

参考例句：

• According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的，我们都是亚当的后裔。
• This dictionary should be your Bible when studying English.学习英语时，这本字典应是你的主要参考书。

7 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 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。

10 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

11 finances   

n.(pl.)财源，资产

参考例句：

• I need a professional to sort out my finances. 我需要专业人士为我管理财务。
• The company's finances are looking a bIt'shaky. 这个公司的财政情况看来有点不稳定。

12 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

13 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

14 split   

n.劈开，裂片，裂口；adj.分散的；v.分离，分开，劈开

参考例句：

• Who told you that Mary and I had split up?谁告诉你玛丽和我已经离婚了？
• The teacher split the class up into six groups.老师把班级分成6个小组。

15 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

16 setting   

n.背景

参考例句：

• The play has its setting in Vienna.该剧以维也纳为背景。
• Where and when a story takes place is called the setting.故事发生的地点和时间称为故事背景。