Table of Contents
Describe A Special Day Out That Cost You Little Money

IELTS Speaking Part 2
You should say:
- When the day was
- Where you went
- How much you spent
- And explain how you feel about the day

Sample Answer 1
Usually, whenever I go out, I end up spending quite a bit, especially if I go to the big shopping mall near my school. I just can’t resist buying clothes there.
Last week, I managed not to spend anything, which made the trip feel unique and special. Before I went, I actually had a specific plan.
With the weather getting colder, I wanted to stock up on some warmer clothes. The mall has a lot of nice options, but the prices are pretty high, and I don’t feel great spending so much since I’m still using my parents’ money.
Luckily, our biggest online shopping season is coming up, and nearly everything will be on sale. So my plan was to try on clothes at the mall, figure out which ones looked good and fit well, take a few photos, and then buy them online later, with all the sales and cons.
While I was there, I tried on a bunch of clothes at different stores, and found some pieces I really liked. So it wasn’t a wasted trip at all. The only thing I actually spent money on was a boba tea before I left, which felt like a nice little treat to wrap up the day. All in all, it was a smart and satisfying day out without much spending.
| Word / Phrase | Type | Definition | Example |
| can’t resist | Phrase [B2] | unable to stop oneself from doing or wanting something | I can’t resist buying books whenever I visit a bookshop. |
| managed not to | Phrase [B2] | succeeded in avoiding something | I managed not to spend anything, which felt like a real achievement. |
| unique | Adjective [B2] | being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else | The experience was truly unique and hard to replicate. |
| stock up on | Phrasal verb [B2] | to buy a large amount of something to use later | I stocked up on winter clothes before the cold set in. |
| on sale | Phrase [B2] | available at a reduced price | I always wait until things are on sale before buying them. |
| try on | Phrasal verb [B2] | to put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits or suits you | I tried on several jackets before finding one I liked. |
| figure out | Phrasal verb [B2] | to understand or solve something | It took me a while to figure out how to use the app. |
| tried on | Phrasal verb [B2] | put on clothing to check fit or appearance | I tried on at least ten dresses before choosing one. |
| wasted | Adjective/Verb [B2] | used or spent without good result | I felt like I had wasted an entire afternoon sitting in traffic. |
| treat | Noun/Verb [B2] | a special enjoyable experience or purchase | A day off is a real treat after a busy week. |
| wrap up the day | Phrase [C1] | to bring the day to a satisfying end | A cup of tea by the window is a nice way to wrap up the day. |
| all in all | Phrase [B2] | considering everything; overall | All in all, it was a wonderful and productive day. |
| smart | Adjective [B2] | showing good judgement; clever | Waiting for the sale was a smart financial decision. |
| satisfying | Adjective [B2] | giving a sense of fulfilment or pleasure | It was a satisfying day, even without spending much. |
| day out | Noun phrase [B2] | a trip away from home for the day | We had a wonderful day out exploring the local market. |
Sample Answer 2
Although I am not from a rich family, I’m absolutely willing to splurge on stuff on special occasions. Off the top of my head, there was a time when four of my closest friends and I went out for dinner on my birthday, but I didn’t spend as much money as I had expected.
We made up our mind to go for a newly opened restaurant within a stone’s throw from my house. As it’s their opening day, there were special offers and discounts for us to claim, and it really hit the spot as most of us were running short of cash for the time being. Without much hesitation, we entered and started ordering food. I was trying to be less stingy and asked my friends to order as much as they could because I would be the person to foot the bill on my birthday.
We ordered a total of 7 dishes, ranging from beef and pork to seafood and beer. We ate to our heart’s content as the foods were absolutely out of this world, much more delicious than other diners I had been to. After having relished the meal, I asked for the bill, and the sum really gave me a surprise. It was just 50 dollars, too inexpensive for a 7-course meal, but anyway I settled the bill without even asking the waitress why it was so cheap.
The occasion was quite meaningful to me because I had the chance to meet up with my friends after such a long time as they are living and working quite far from me. We had a whale of a time without having to shell out too much cash on the dinner.
Part 3
1. Young people go out more or old people, why?
Without a shadow of a doubt, the youths are likely to hang out more than the older citizens for the fundamental reason that they are physically robust enough to be on the move. Young people are dynamic and love going about in the town, while the weak old people are often confined to their beds or wheelchairs, which greatly decreases their mobility though they may wish to go out really much.
2. People prefer to go out or stay indoors today? Do you prefer to relax with your friends in a park or an indoor place?
I’d say I generally prefer to relax with my friends somewhere indoors, because I mean, if I’m meeting up with them in a park, then everything could be ruined by the weather. So it’s a bit easier arranging to meet somewhere indoors. Having said that though, if it’s a really nice day out, then I suppose I would prefer to be outside with them somewhere, like a park.
3. How often do you like to hang out with friends?
Hanging out with intimate friends helps me to relieve tense moments at work as well as keep indelible memories with them, which gives me a necessary balance in life. Therefore, I usually hang out with my buddies once or twice a week despite my busy schedule at work.
4. Who do you usually like to hang out with?
I love going out with my intimate friends simply because while being with them, I know that I’m accepted by who I am so I can share with them all my feelings and emotions without any fear of being judged or looked down on.
5. Do teenagers spend much more money than before?
Yes, teenagers spend a lot more money than before because the average income of families has grown as compared to the past. Moreover, since there are nuclear families nowadays, parents like to fulfil the wishes of their children and in order to make them happy they give them more pocket money to spend.
6. How can people save as much money as possible?
Well, there are a lot of ways to save money nowadays. People can invest their money in small savings schemes floated by the government . They can also keep a certain amount of money from their incomes every month and save it for later.
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Credits
Image : Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash


