Money and Friends in the UK

May 15, 2026, 09:47
UKFinance

Introduction

A new study looks at how different amounts of money can cause problems between friends.

Main Body

A survey asked 2,000 people in the UK about money. Many people feel sad or worried when friends invite them to expensive places. Some people do not talk about money because they are shy or afraid. Dr. Tom Mathar says that silence is a problem. He says people should be honest about their money. He suggests that people can plan a cheap budget for their friends. Rich friends should also help. They should think about their friends' money. They should suggest cheap activities. This helps friends stay happy together.

Conclusion

Money gaps are hard for friends. People need to talk and be kind to each other.

Learning

The 'Should' Power-Word

In this story, we see a word used to give advice: should.

When you want to tell a friend the best thing to do, use this pattern: Person →\rightarrow should →\rightarrow Action

Examples from the text:

  • People →\rightarrow should →\rightarrow be honest.
  • Rich friends →\rightarrow should →\rightarrow help.
  • They →\rightarrow should →\rightarrow suggest cheap activities.

Quick Rule: Do not add "to" after should. ❌ People should to be honest. ✅ People should be honest.

Word Pairings (Collocations)

Some words just 'fit' together. Learn these as one piece of information to sound more natural:

  1. Expensive →\rightarrow places (Hotels, fancy restaurants)
  2. Cheap →\rightarrow budget (A plan to spend little money)
  3. Money →\rightarrow gaps (When one person has a lot and another has a little)

Vocabulary Learning

sad (adj.)
Feeling unhappy or sorrowful.
Example:I felt sad when my friend cancelled the trip.
worried (adj.)
Feeling anxious or concerned about something.
Example:She was worried about the exam results.
shy (adj.)
Being nervous or hesitant in social situations.
Example:He is shy and rarely starts conversations.
afraid (adj.)
Feeling fear or danger.
Example:I am afraid of speaking in front of a large audience.
silence (n.)
The absence of sound or speech.
Example:The silence in the room made everyone uncomfortable.
problem (n.)
A difficult situation that needs to be solved.
Example:Finding a solution to the problem took hours.
honest (adj.)
Telling the truth and being open.
Example:She is honest and never lies about her feelings.
budget (n.)
A plan for how to spend money.
Example:They created a budget to manage their monthly expenses.
rich (adj.)
Having a lot of money or wealth.
Example:The rich family donated to the charity.
kind (adj.)
Being friendly, helpful, or considerate.
Example:He was kind and offered to help with the move.