{"title":"Financial Literacy: First Conditional","intro":"Talk about money decisions and their results: first conditional, unless, and time linkers","level":"A2-B1","blocks":[{"id":"b0","type":"warm_up","content":"Which picture best describes your mood today and why?","order":0,"warm_up_mode":"meme_grid","meme_items":[{"state_label":"","image_url":"https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6b/05/ca/6b05ca62b9c38ab0fcc4a6c0936f5556.jpg"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-033.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"https://i.pinimg.com/736x/90/c6/f8/90c6f8904bd57ffabf00ef52a6ba0e31.jpg"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"https://i.pinimg.com/736x/86/ae/51/86ae5124c789e1ec6d09515d12de6719.jpg"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-031.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-004.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-032.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-019.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-002.png"}]},{"id":"b1","type":"open_question","content":"

Answer the questions.

How do you usually get money — salary, freelance, or something else?
What do you spend most of your money on?
Do you ever worry about money? What worries you most?

Useful words:

salary, bills, saving up for, run out of money

","order":1,"title":"Your money habits","image_type":"visual_support","images":["/media/312b1d2775004eb490b1935b3d10b649.jpeg"],"image_source_urls":["https://live.staticflickr.com/8762/17468693762_8b792bb277_b.jpg"]},{"id":"b2","type":"theory","content":"**Meaning:**

We use the first conditional to talk about a real or likely situation in the future and its result.

\n\n**Form:**

if + Present Simple, will / won't + base verb

The if-clause can come first or second. Use a comma only when the if-clause comes first.
unless = if not
After when, as soon as and until we also use Present Simple, not will.
Instead of will you can use can, may, might, should — or an imperative.

\n\n**Examples:**

If I save $80 every month, I will have enough by winter.
I won't borrow money if I plan my budget.
What will you do if you run out of money before payday?
I won't lend you anything unless you pay me back on Friday.
I'll transfer the money as soon as I get my salary.
If you make a budget, you can avoid debt.
If you don't check your account, you might not notice an extra charge.
If you lose your card, call the bank immediately.

\n\n**Common mistake:**

~~If I will save money, I will have more.~~ → If I save money, I will have more.

I'll pay you back ~~when I will get my salary~~. → when I get my salary.

~~Unless you don't cancel it, they will charge you.~~ → Unless you cancel it, they will charge you.

\n\n**Usage:**

Zero vs First Conditional: use the Present Simple in both parts for things that are always true (If I pay by card, I always spend more), and will for one specific future situation (If I pay by card tomorrow, I'll spend too much).

","order":2,"title":"First Conditional: form and use","image_type":"grammar_explainer","images":[],"image_source_urls":["https://live.staticflickr.com/496/18946510838_cfb15b3b39.jpg"]},{"id":"b3","type":"vocabulary","content":"to spend money on — to use money to buy something\nto save up for — to keep money for a specific goal\nto pay for — to give money for something\nto borrow from — to get money from someone to be returned later\nto be in debt — to owe money\nto run out of money — to have no money left\ncan't afford — not to have enough money for something\na salary — regular payment for work\nbills — regular payments for services (electricity, water, rent)\na subscription — regular payment for a service (streaming, gym)","order":3,"title":"Money talk: chunks"},{"id":"b5","type":"reading","content":"

Anna gets her salary on the 25th, and last month it disappeared in three weeks. She loves eating out, so she spent most of her money on restaurants and food delivery. She also forgot about her bills — electricity, internet and rent — and by the 18th she had run out of money. She had to borrow $200 from a friend to pay for her rent, so now she is in debt.

This month Anna wants to do things differently. First, she will write down all her fixed costs. If she pays her bills in the first week, she won't worry about late fees. She also plans to cook at home four days a week: if she stops eating out, she will save about $80 a month.

Then there are her subscriptions. She has three, and she only uses one. As soon as she cancels the other two, she will save another $15 every month.

Her goal is simple. If everything goes well, she will pay back her friend in May, and she will save up for a short holiday in winter. \"I can't afford to make the same mistake again,\" she says. \"Unless I plan, I will be in debt every month.\"

\n\nQuestions on the text:\n1. Why did Anna run out of money last month?\n2. Who did she borrow money from, and what did she need it for?\n3. What two changes will she make this month? Give details.\n4. What does Anna mean when she says \"Unless I plan, I will be in debt every month\"?","order":4,"title":"A month with Anna"},{"id":"b4","type":"media","content":"

Before you watch. Think about your last salary. What did you spend it on?

Name three things.

After you watch:

What are the three parts of the 50/30/20 budget? What percentage is each?
Watch again. Name two \"needs\" and two \"wants\" from the video.
What will happen if you try this budget next month?
Name one rule you will follow. Use \"unless\" or \"as soon as\".

","order":6,"title":" Simple ways to budget and save money","media_type":"video","search_queries":["first conditional","first conditional examples movies series clips","first conditional real conversation examples native speakers"],"purpose":"usage_example","target_concept":"First Conditional","url":"https://youtu.be/LpIxeL94Qss?si=oL0ziX2BLfBPvglC","images":["https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-__933PYFeI/hqdefault.jpg"],"media_purpose":"usage_example"},{"id":"b6","type":"multiple_choice","content":"Choose the correct option.","order":5,"title":"Quick check","questions":[{"content":"If I get my salary tomorrow, I ___ pay you back.","options":["will","would","am","do"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"She won't buy coffee if she ___ to save.","options":["tries","will try","try","tried"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"If you don't pay the bills this month, you ___ a late fee.","options":["pay","will pay","would pay","paid"],"correct_answer":1},{"content":"I won't lend you money ___ you pay me back on Friday.","options":["unless","if","when","because"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"If he stops eating out next month, he ___ about $80.","options":["would save","saves","saved","will save"],"correct_answer":3}]},{"id":"b7","type":"fill_gap","content":"1. If Anna pays her bills first, she ___ (not worry) about late fees.\n2. Anna won't save the extra $15 a month ___ she cancels her subscriptions.\n3. If she doesn't control her spending, she ___ (be) in debt again.\n4. As soon as she ___ (get) her salary, she will put $80 in a separate account.\n5. If she ___ (not cook) at home, she will spend $80 on restaurants again.\n6. She won't buy anything expensive until she ___ (pay) back her friend.","order":7,"title":"Complete the sentences about Anna","options":["won't worry","unless","will be","gets","doesn't cook","pays"],"correct_answer":"won't worry ... unless ... will be ... gets ... doesn't cook ... pays","gap_answers":[{"index":1,"answer":"won't worry"},{"index":2,"answer":"unless"},{"index":3,"answer":"will be"},{"index":4,"answer":"gets"},{"index":5,"answer":"doesn't cook"},{"index":6,"answer":"pays"}]},{"id":"b9","type":"open_question","content":"

Your friend runs out of money every month. Give him/her at least 4 pieces of advice.

Use all three structures:

- first conditional: If you ..., you will / won't ...

- unless: You won't ... unless you ...

- as soon as / until: As soon as you get your salary, ... / Don't ... until you ...

Example:

If you write down your expenses, you will see where the money goes.
You won't save anything unless you cancel some subscriptions.

Talk for 2-3 minutes.

","order":8,"title":"Advice for a friend","image_type":"visual_support","images":["/media/89d6853964ac457aa02e1d327ae98bc5.jpg"],"image_source_urls":["https://live.staticflickr.com/7375/9128661882_10a55418e7_b.jpg"]},{"id":"b8","type":"multiple_choice","content":"Choose the correct option.","order":9,"title":"Harder check","questions":[{"content":"I'll transfer the money as soon as the bank ___.","options":["opens","will open ","opened","would open"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"If you lose your card, ___ the bank immediately.","options":["call","will call","would call","called"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"If she doesn't check her account this week, she ___ notice the extra charge.","options":["might not","won't be","doesn't","didn't"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"If I pay by card, I always ___ more than I plan.","options":["spend","will spend","would spend ","spent"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"They won't go on holiday if they ___ enough money by June.","options":["won't save ","don't save","didn't save","wouldn't save"],"correct_answer":1}]},{"id":"b10","type":"open_question","content":"

Think of one of your own money habits: coffee, online subscriptions, eating out, taxis.

What will happen if you change it? Talk for 2-3 minutes and use at least 5 sentences with:

first conditional (If I ..., I will ...)
unless (I won't ... unless I ...)
as soon as or until (I'll start as soon as I ... / I won't ... until I ...)
might or can (If I ..., I might ...)

Example:

If I cook at home more, I will save money on food.
But I won't start unless I plan my week on Sunday.

","order":10,"title":"Change one habit","image_type":"visual_support","images":["/media/8aed73855b4845ba8bc33d998b163ca9.jpeg"],"image_source_urls":["https://live.staticflickr.com/4414/36729188285_7d8f10c88a_b.jpg"]},{"id":"b11","type":"homework","content":"

Your friend sends you this message:

Hey! I found a phone I really want — $900. I don't have the money now, but the shop offers 12 monthly payments with no interest. I think I'll take it. What do you think?

Write a reply (70–90 words). Include:

- two things that can go wrong (use the first conditional)

- one alternative plan (use unless or as soon as)

Useful phrases:

If you take it, you will... / You won't ... unless ... / As soon as you ..., you can ...

","order":11,"title":"Homework","image_type":"visual_support","images":[],"image_source_urls":["https://live.staticflickr.com/3371/3331607909_50c5bf1328_b.jpg"]}]}