How to buy almost everything

Air travel

The world’s airlines make up to 20,000 price changes every day, so check price often – over hours, not days.

Ring airlines and travel agents late or early in the day – when business is quiet.

Bicycles

The best time to look for bargains is autumn, when shops make space for new stock.. January and February are also good – because the sales are on.

Cars

Buy around Christmas when business is slow. You can make the dealer an offer. The best day to buy is Tuesday because it is the least busy (weekends and Mondays are the busiest days).

Start by offering 10 percent to 15 percent less then the list price.

Computers

Get at least three quotes.

Ask the realtor about its returns policy. Who pays for the computer to be returned to the shop if there is a problem?

Diamond rings

August is the jeweller’s slowest month so it may be a good time for deals. Christmas and near Valentine’s Day are the busiest.

Diamonds are not a good investment – retailers can increase the price by as much as 100 percent.

Gym membership

Try at least three gyms, within 10 minutes of work or home. Book an appointment to visit and look around. Don’t go during the business time of 5p.m. – 7p.m. during the week.

Never sign up after one visit. Your second visit should be at a busy time. Ask other gym members lots of questions. Ask staff how many members there are.

From the Guardian

1. Read the article again and answer the questions.

1. Which parts of the day are best to ring airlines and travel agents?

2. Which is the best season to buy a cheap bicycle?

3. Which is the least busy day to buy a car?

4. Which is a jeweller's slowest month?

5. When is the busiest time to visit a gym during the week?

2. Underline the correct word or phrase in italics to make true definitions.

a) Up to 20,000 - is not less /more than 20,000.

b) Make space - create an area that is full /empty.

c) Around Christmas - after/about the same time as Christmas.

d) A good investment - get more /less money back later.

e) Sign up- join/leave.

f) Gym members - the people who work for /go to a gym.

Over to you

What were the last two big things that you bought? Where did you buy them? What things do you enjoy buying? What do you hate buying?

Unit 7 People

Booksellers

Level of difficulty ***

Before you read

Use a dictionary to help you underline the correct answer.

a) An unemployed person i) has a job.

ii) doesn't have a job.

b) You get experience in something by i) reading a book.

ii) learning how to do a job or activity.

c) You celebrate when

i) something good happens or it's a special occasion,

ii) something bad happens or it's a normal day.

Reading

Read this article adapted from the Observer and answer the questions.