No-spend trend

Megan | Oct 24, 2025Oct 22, 2025

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• engage in talking about spending and saving money;
• practise vocabulary to talk about budgeting;
• watch a video on a trend in spending less.

In this lesson, students discuss shopping choices and experiences, explore money-related phrases (e.g. dip into, resist the urge, justify a purchase) and talk about how they would cut back on spending. They watch a video about the ‘no-spend’ trend, discuss concepts related to consumption and give their opinions. Students also chat about tips to spend less and discuss how they would handle a strict no-spend month.  

WARM-UP AND USEFUL PHRASES

This lesson focuses on talking about spending and saving money and starts with a warm-up. Students discuss points related to shopping experiences and decisions. Afterwards, they match phrases used to talk about managing money (e.g. buy on impulse, cut back on, dip into) with their definitions. Students then say what statements they relate to. Moving on, they complete questions about spending habits and money management, using the phrases from the previous exercise. Then, students discuss the questions. Following that, they imagine they’re on a budget and look at pairs of lifestyle and money-saving challenges. Students say which option they’d prefer to cut back on spending. 

VIDEO AND DISCUSSION

In this part of the lesson, students practise talking about spending and saving money and watch a video about a ‘no-spend’ trend. First, they say what they think the trend involves. Then, students watch the start of the video and check their ideas. Afterwards, they look at concepts (e.g. revenge spending, consumer confidence, support groups) that relate to the video. Students predict what the video might say about them. Following that, they watch the rest of the video and check. Moving on, students look at comments on the ‘no-spend’ trend. They choose one they agree with and one they disagree with and give details. Next, students imagine a friend wants to spend less. They suggest tips using phrases about spending and money management. Finally, students imagine a strict no-spend month and talk about how they’d handle different scenarios.

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students choose different points to create dialogues. They use the target phrases from the lesson. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

WORKSHEETS

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