Personal budget

Understanding Personal Budgeting in French (B1 Level)

This lesson focuses on building your French vocabulary and comprehension around the topic of personal budgeting. You will learn key words, expressions, and sentence structures to discuss income, expenses, savings, and financial planning, all important for everyday life and practical conversations.

Core Vocabulary and Expressions

• Revenu — income (e.g., mon revenu mensuel - my monthly income)
• Dépenses — expenses (e.g., les dépenses fixes - fixed expenses)
• Budget — budget (used similarly in English and French)
• Économiser — to save (money), e.g., j'économise pour un voyage
• Facture — bill, invoice (e.g., la facture d'électricité)
• Crédit — credit, loan (e.g., demander un crédit)
• Solde — balance (e.g., le solde de mon compte)

Key Lesson Highlights

You will practice discussing the breakdown of a monthly budget, identifying necessary expenses versus discretionary spending, and expressing opinions about financial priorities. Sentences might include:

• "Je dépense beaucoup en alimentation." (I spend a lot on food.)
• "Il faut toujours mettre de l'argent de côté." (You must always put money aside.)
• "Mon budget est serré ce mois-ci." (My budget is tight this month.)

Differences and Useful Notes

Unlike English, French uses gendered nouns such as le budget (masculine) and la facture (feminine). Be mindful of adjective agreements: for example, charges fixes (fixed expenses) is feminine plural. The verb économiser is commonly used for "to save money," whereas English might simply say "save."

Also, some financial terms come from Latin roots and sound similar in both languages but carry different nuances. For example, crédit can mean a loan, while in English it may also mean reputation or trustworthiness depending on context.

Practical Phrases for Budget Conversations

• "Quel est ton revenu net après impôts?" (What is your net income after taxes?)
• "Je préfère limiter mes dépenses de loisirs." (I prefer to limit my leisure expenses.)
• "Peux-tu m'aider à fixer un budget?" (Can you help me set a budget?)