Describe Something you want to Buy but can’t Afford- IELTS Cue Card

What is the other way you can acquire it?

Sample Answer 1

Every individual has a wishlist of their own, some they know can be gratified and others will remain unfulfilled due to the pressure of time and responsibilities. But, everyone strives their best to accomplish all on this list in their own way. I am in a phase of my life where I have lots of desires, but my scope to achieve or buy them is capped. One such thing is to buy a sea-facing luxurious quadruplex for my family. Mostly, I want this to provide my parents with a restful place in their old age. My parents, especially my mother, adore the sea and have always wished to stay near it. Therefore, it’s my commitment to keep their content by giving them all the things that they have sacrificed for my education and care.

In accordance with the current market prices, the position and facilities I want to avail in my house, the minimum price is approximately 2 – 4 crores. It does not include the registration fee and furnishing and decorating costs, though. In total, it will cost me around 15-20 crores to afford the kind of housing space I am dreaming about.

Unfortunately, being a student with a restricted scope of earning such a huge amount is preventing me from availing my dream house. So, I have planned my path, including contingencies, and I have to work smartly and with perseverance to fulfill my dream. I am well aware that there is no alternative to hard work when it comes to achieving big in life. Other than that, I do not want to take loans for this purchase because it might become a financial burden for me and take away the fulfillment of possessing something so extraordinary.

Sample Answer 2

As humans, we find little joy in buying materialistic things. However, some people believe that owning and buying things is crucial for achieving major life goals. As a result, these people often end up purchasing things to quench their thirst as they are not restricted by financial constraints. However, people like me would have to wait to acquire such things. Here, I’d like to talk about something I want to buy but can’t afford.

I maintain a personal wish list to keep track of everything I’d like to buy shortly. One such thing I have always desired to purchase is a car. I’m really passionate about driving and owning branded cars like Audi A4, which is sleek, stylish, and fuel-efficient. Audi A4 is a perfect blend of prestige, status, comfort, and technology and would cost me an arm and a leg because the overall cost of that model ranges from 34 lakhs to 40 lakhs.

Actually, I cannot afford that much right now because I have spent all my savings to buy a 3 bhk apartment a couple of months ago. Due to this reason, I have to wait for a year or two to save more money to own a car.

However, another option for purchasing the car is that I may take out a loan, purchase it with a down payment, and then pay off the remaining balance in monthly instalments. But, I would probably avoid this method since I would have to pay interest on top of the savings, and it would become a massive task for me to keep track of the savings and instalment amounts each month. As a result, I’ve decided to work hard with devotion and commitment to save enough money to buy my dream car in the near future.

Vocabulary

• Materialistic

Meaning: excessively concerned with material possessions; money-oriented
Eg: In today’s materialistic world, everyone tends to only care about money.

• Quench

Meaning: satisfy (one’s thirst) by drinking
Eg: I kept some water in a bowl for the crow to quench its thirst.

• Acquire

Meaning: buy or obtain (an asset or object) for oneself
Eg: Students who work hard acquire good results.

• Wishlist

Meaning: a list of desired things or occurrences
Eg: I’ve decided to fulfil all my wishes from the wishlist before I turn 30.

• Installments

Meaning: a sum of money due as one of several equal payments for something, spread over an agreed period of time
Eg: The second installment is due on Friday.

Part 3 Follow Up Questions

1. Why would you like to buy it?

Well, I’d like to buy a car because it’s been a childhood dream of mine, and owning a car would be beneficial in the city where I live because I could quickly commute to work without having to wait for public transportation, which is typically slow. Moreover, if I owned a car, I would be able to avoid being late to work, avoid the congestion, and have my privacy.

2. Where will you buy it?

Of course, I’d buy the car from a renowned dealer in the city. There’s an Audi dealership on the outskirts of town that may assist me in finding the perfect car and customizing it according to my preference. However, if I want to purchase a second-hand car, I’d check for reliable dealers in the city, visit them, talk to them, and get my hands on a suitable car. Furthermore, I’d like to take it for a test drive before purchasing it.

3. Do you think our shopping habits have changed?

Absolutely. People’s buying habits have altered dramatically due to technological breakthroughs. The majority of consumers have shifted their shopping habits. They buy almost everything virtually through online platforms. In India, it’s very rare that people physically go out to a store to shop because they buy all the products online. If they can’t find the product online, they tend to visit offline stores to purchase the same.

4. Do people spend too much time shopping these days? Why?

Yes, nowadays people spend too much time shopping than what they did in the past. Because of the increased accessibility of smartphones and online shopping applications, it has become effortless for consumers to spend their time online searching for and purchasing their desired products.

5. Does technology affect our shopping habits? Why?

Yes, technology has undoubtedly been one of the most critical drivers of consumerism in recent decades. With the introduction of e-commerce, it has become more accessible for people to shop anything and everything, such as clothes, speciality foods, electronic devices, etc., at a pace without making an effort to go out. Clothes, specialised foods, electronic devices, and other items at their leisure without leaving the house. Even the businesses that have made their way into e-commerce are gaining immense profit. As a result, E-commerce has made it easier for customers to shop for their favourite items and have more options.

Vocabulary

• Congestion

Meaning: a situation in which a place is too blocked or crowded, causing difficulties
Eg: Molly is stuck in traffic congestion.

• Outskirts

Meaning: the outer parts of a town or city
Eg: Factories are located on the outskirts of the cities.

• Shift

Meaning: try to change for another or others
Eg: People should shift their way of thinking.

• Effortless

Meaning: achieved with admirable ease
Eg: Learning to drive is not an effortless task.

• Decade

Meaning: a period of 10 years
Eg: It has been a decade since Joy visited his hometown.

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