Making a big purchase B1
Weighing up cost and value before a big buy.
Reacting to the cost
high price — expensiveA: Did you buy the new phone?
B: No, the high price really put me off.
reasonable price — fair priceA: How much did you pay for your new phone?
B: It was a reasonable price—about $200.
good condition — well maintainedA: Is your bike still working?
B: Yeah, it's in good condition. I take care of it.
out of my price range — too expensive for meI'm afraid that's a little out of my price range. (polite)
Nah, that's out of my price range. (casual)
Checking it's worth it
compare prices — check costsA: Did you buy those shoes online?
B: Yeah, but I compared prices at a few stores first to make sure I got the best deal.
low cost — cheap; not expensiveA: How did you manage to travel so much last year?
B: I found some really low cost flights online.
worth it — good valueI'd say it's worth the money. (neutral)
Trust me, it's totally worth it. (casual)
In the shop
You: It looks great, but that's quite a high price for a sofa.
Partner: It is, but it's solid wood and in really good condition.
You: True. Let me compare prices online before we decide.
Partner: Good idea — no rush, it'll still be here tomorrow.
Talking yourself into it
Partner: I checked — that one's actually a pretty reasonable price compared to the others.
You: Okay, that changes things. Can we afford it this month, though?
Partner: If we're careful, yeah. It should cover the cost without dipping into savings.
You: Right, let's go for it then.
Was the upgrade worth it
You: You went for the pricier laptop in the end — any regrets?
Friend: None at all. It's fast, the battery lasts all day, honestly it was worth it.
You: Good to know. I keep talking myself out of spending that much.
Friend: I'd say just buy the decent one once rather than replacing a cheap one twice.