Before you read about Maria’s problem Match the words to their correct definition put the number of the definition next to the word Credit card Debt salary earn spend online shopping Steal group therapy 1To take the money you get at the end a group of people that something that an amount of money paid out of the month for working isn’t yours talk about their problems … a small plastic card used as money to owe money to someone or to a bank to buy objects using your computer money you get for something you Hello I’m maria A few years ago I had a big problem.I was only nineteen When I found a wonderful job as junior secretary in a big company in Rome that sold designer clothes The salary was very good and I felt very lucky I worked hard and I always saved money because I wanted a new to buy Car I had my own credit card and I felt very mature about the way I used my money One day a friend convinced me to buy a pair of designer jeans ,they cost 300 euro! When I wore my jeans everyone complimented me I felt so good and happy that I decided to buy a new jacket then i bought three new designer shirts then i bought four pairs of Armani shoes Suddenly I couldn’t stop Shopping I went shopping three times a week Everything I saw in a shop was necessary to me I bought beautiful clothes and the more expensive they were the better I felt I started to pay with my credit card because what I earned in a month wasn’t enough One day I wanted to buy a beautiful dress it cost 600 euro but when I paid with my card I realised there was no money I was in debt! I had spent all my savings! But I wanted the dress I needed the dress so I went back to shop the day after and tried to steal it!!!! I was caught!!! I went to court and I think I was very lucky because the judge sent me to group therapy and I met other people with my same problem Group therapy helped me understand I had a big problem Three years have passed since that terrible day Now I buy what is really necessary and I feel satisfied ,before I bought so many things but I had to keep buying to feel happy I am now paying back my debt with the bank and after I’m going to start saving again to buy a new car and not fifteen pairs of shoes!!! Answer the questions in your notebooks 1)Where did Maria start working at 19? 2) what did she think about her salary? 3) what did her company sell? 4) why did she start saving money? 5) why did she feel mature? 6)Who convinced her to buy the jeans? 7) how much did the jeans cost? 8)how did she feel after she bought the jean 9) what did she after? 10) why did she start using her credit card? 11) why did she try to steal the dress? 12)What did the Judge do? !3) how many years have passed? 14) what is she doing now? Ask and answer these questions Me How Often you go shopping? What you usually buy ? How much you spend in a month? What’s your favourite shop? What is the most expensive object you bought last year? Do you feel happy when you go shopping? Do you think a credit card is a good idea? Why or why not? friend