VOA慢速英语2021--当亏损时该如何生存

How to Survive When You Lose Money

From VOA Learning¹ English this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

Research done earlier this year found that one in two people worldwide saw their earnings² drop because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In May, the Reuters news agency³ reported that people in low-income countries were especially hard hit by job losses or cuts to their usual working hours.

Experts at the U.S.-based company Gallup recently questioned 300,000 people in 117 countries. They found that half of those with jobs earned less because of the pandemic. In a statement, the Gallup researchers said that "worldwide, these percentages ranged from a high of 76% in Thailand to a low of 10% in Switzerland."

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit some workers around the world harder than others.

In many countries, women are over-represented in low-paid industries, such as retail⁴, tourism, and food services. A study done by the international charity organization Oxfam found that the pandemic had cost women around the world $800 billion in lost wages.

How to survive when you lose money

Losing income is never easy. For some people, a loss of wages or a job could mean losing a home or not having enough money to eat. This can be true even if a reduction⁵ in wages is temporary.

There are ways to get through a financially difficulty time. Some financial experts shared suggestions with the Associated Press.

Accept your situation

Manisha Thakor is founder⁶ of MoneyZen, a company in Portland, Oregon. She teaches people how to manage their money. Thakor says it is important to admit that your earnings have dropped. Do not hide from the problem or put off dealing⁷ with a loss in income, she said. This will only make the situation worse.

Athena Valentine Lent is the founder of the Money Smart Latina website. She also said it is important to face and accept your money troubles directly and immediately.

Lent added that it is important to be kind to yourself. While it may be difficult, try not to let a job loss or a drop in earnings damage your feelings of self-worth.

Make a spending plan

It also is important to know your exact monthly⁸ or weekly expenses. How much do you spend each month? This includes even very small things like riding the bus or buying coffee on your way to work.

The experts suggest making a spending plan, or a budget and updating it as often as you need to.

If you don't need it, don't buy it

Finally, the experts say, it is important to make changes to fit your new earning level. Stop spending money on things that are not necessary.

Lent said if you don't need it, don't buy it. She suggests looking at your bills. You might be paying for services you might not need.

She gives these examples. You might need the Internet but not cable⁹. You might need a phone but not all the extras on a phone plan. If you want movies or books, consider going to library to borrow them for free. Or you could have a book trade in your community. Some people do this for clothing, too.

Food is an area where you can save a lot of money.

Lent suggests to cook at home instead of going to a restaurant or other food places. Other experts suggest buying sale items in large amounts and then freezing some, while others say to cut down on meat, which can be more costly¹⁰.

Make a list when you go shopping and stick to it. Create a meal plan for the week. Research healthy but inexpensive meal ideas. When you cook dinner, make a little extra for lunch or even breakfast the next day.

Consider growing your own fruits, vegetables and herbs. Even people living in small spaces can grow small amounts in containers.

Looking ahead

Lent said if you know money is going to be tight for a period of time, start saving¹¹ money right away.

And if possible, look for ways to make extra money. She suggested selling things that you no longer need. Perhaps there is a way to pick up extra work.

Use your community

Look where you might be able to use your community. You could save money on transportation costs by possibly sharing rides. Perhaps there are ways you could save money by sharing childcare.

Thakor has another suggestion for people: try to have some amount of money set aside for emergency uses. That way, if you face money trouble in the future, you know you will have some money to help keep you going.

Words in This Story

income – n. money that is earned from work, investments¹², business, etc.

survey – n. to gather information from : ask questions of

range – n. a series of numbers that includes the highest and lowest possible amounts

income – n. money that is earned from work, investments, business, etc.

expense – n. the amount of money that is needed to pay for or buy something

budget – n. an amount of money available for spending that is based on a plan for how it will be spent

update – v. to change (something) by including the most recent information

tight – adj. low in supply

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

3 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

4 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

5 reduction   

n.减少，减低，减缩；减少，减低

参考例句：

• Reduction in income tax will be welcomed with open arms.减少所得税将受到热烈欢迎。
• You will have a reduction for cash.付现金可以打折扣。

6 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 monthly   

adj.每月的，持续一个月的，每月发生的；adv.每月，按月； n.月刊；(复数）monthlies:月经

参考例句：

• The rent on his apartment was his biggest monthly expense.他的房租是每个月最大的开支。
• The monthly rent is $15,inclusive of light and water.每月租金15美元，包括水电费在内。

9 cable   

n.缆绳，索；电缆；电报；vt.电汇，打电报

参考例句：

• Don't forget to cable us as soon as you arrive.别忘了一到就给我发个电报。
• The worker attached a cable.工人连接电缆。

10 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

11 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

12 investments   

n.投资( investment的名词复数 )；投资额；（时间、精力的）投入；值得买的东西

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile, investments are at great risk. 由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All their money was tied up in long-term investments. 他们所有的钱都搁死在长线投资上了。 来自《简明英汉词典》