美国千禧一代学会谨慎支出

AS IT IS 2016-09-01 American Millennials are Cautious¹ About Spending 美国千禧一代学会谨慎支出

Many young Americans have a large amount of debt even before they begin working. Millennials -- people between 18 and 35 -- are worried about paying their student loans², so many of them are not using credit³ cards. Some experts believe this trend may have a long-term effect on the economy.

Stefanie O’Connell graduated from New York University with a degree in drama and a large amount of debt. There were not many jobs for someone with her education. So she became cautious about how she spent her money.

That behavior caused her to begin a new career as a financial expert. She writes a blog about wealth management. It has helped her to learn that many millennials share her situation.

“They’re very wary⁵ of spending beyond their means. They’re wary of tools like credit cards. They’re wary of taking any kind of risk -- even if it is a smart risk, like investing⁶.”

O’Connell’s experience with her blog readers is supported by information gathered by the U.S. central bank. It found that the percentage of Americans under 35 who hold credit card debt has fallen to its lowest level since 1989.

Credit cards are an important part of the American financial system. Without one, it is difficult to buy many goods and services. These can include buying a cell phone or renting an apartment.

Credit expert Adam Levin says young people need these financial instruments.

“It’s critically important for a young person to build credit, to build strong credit. That doesn’t mean you over-credit yourself. It just means that you are wise about your credit; you are a responsible payer, that you don’t get yourself in over your head.”

Smartphone apps like Level Money can help young people build credit. The apps give advice and help people make better spending decisions without going deeper into debt.

Words in This Story

credit cards –n. plastic cards that let people spend money on credit with the understanding that they will pay it back

drama –n. the art of acting⁷ in a play or other performance

blog –n. a web log⁴, a website in which people write their opinions, experiences or activities

wary –adj. not having or showing complete trust in someone or something

beyond (one’s) means –idiom. to be more expensive than a person can afford

financial instruments –n. financial products people use for investment⁸, any kind of tradeable asset⁹

critically –adv. very, extremely

over (one’s) head –idiom. to be beyond someone’s ability to understand or act

1 cautious   

adj.十分小心的，谨慎的

参考例句：

• We should not only be bold,but also be cautious.我们不仅要大胆，而且要谨慎。
• He was cautious about his work.他对工作非常谨慎。

2 loans   

n.借出物，借款( loan的名词复数 )v.借出，贷与（尤指钱）( loan的第三人称单数 )；出借（贵重物品给博物馆等）

参考例句：

• They are offering loans at extortionate rates of interest. 他们在放高利贷。
• Government loans have been the salvation of several shaky business companies. 政府的贷款救活了几家濒临倒闭的公司。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 credit   

n.信用，荣誉，贷款，学分；v.归功于，赞颂，信任

参考例句：

• I credit him with a certain amount of sense.我认为他有一定的见识。
• He got the credit,and we did the dirty work.他得荣誉，我们做不讨好的工作。

4 log   

n.记录，圆木，日志；v.伐木，切，航行

参考例句：

• They log for a living.他们以伐木为生。
• And then what do you do with that log?然后你要拿那些记录做什么呢？

5 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

6 investing   

v.投资，花费( invest的现在分词 )；授予；（把资金）投入；投入（时间、精力等）

参考例句：

• He was timid about investing money. 他不敢投资。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Europe also caught the excitement of investing in American railroads. 欧洲人对投资美国铁路也极感兴趣。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 investment   

n.投资，投资额；(时间、精力等的)投入

参考例句：

• It took two years before I recouped my investment.我用了两年时间才收回投资。
• The success of the project pivots on investment from abroad.这个工程的成功主要依靠外来投资。

9 asset   

n.有价值的资源，优点，长处；财产，资产

参考例句：

• Ability to get along with people is an asset in business.在商业界善跟别人相处是可贵的优点。
• Intelligence was her main asset.智力是她的主要财富。