Talk About Money in English Like a Pro | Business English Learning

Do you feel nervous talking about money in English? Budgets, costs, invoices — it can feel awkward, especially in a second language. In this lesson, Daniel and Lauren teach you 25+ essential money words, and how to use them politely, so you always sound calm and professional at work. This is clear, practical English for B1–B2 learners. You don't need to be a math genius — just a few of the right words, and the confidence to use them. ✅ What you’ll learn • The key words: budget, revenue, expenses, and profit • How to ask for a price: quote, estimate, ballpark figure • How to describe prices: pricey, affordable, cost-effective • How to negotiate politely: discount, “is there any flexibility?” • How to talk about money problems calmly: shortfall, overspend, contingency fund • How to soften your language and sound confident • Practical words: invoice, the bottom line, break even 🎧 How to use this lesson: listen first, then repeat every phrase out loud. Imagine you are in a meeting with us. Practice a little every day, and these words will start to feel natural. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 Intro — Talking about money at work 1:31 Warm-up: why money feels nervous 2:32 Budget (within budget / over budget) 3:26 Revenue, expenses & profit 4:23 Costs vs expenses + fixed & variable costs 5:40 Allocate & reallocate funds 6:33 Ask for a price (quote, estimate, ballpark) 7:34 Describe prices (pricey, affordable, cost-effective) 8:40 Negotiate politely (discount, flexibility) 9:44 Talk about a shortage (shortfall, overspend, contingency) 11:48 Softening language = confidence 13:12 The bottom line 13:50 Break even 14:26 Invoices & payments 15:20 Role-play: a budget meeting 16:43 Quick review of the key words 18:05 Question of the day 18:44 Final tips 🔑 Key phrases from this lesson • What's the budget for this project? • We finished the project within budget. • We're a little over budget this month. • Revenue minus expenses equals profit. • We allocated $5,000 for ads. / Can we reallocate some money? • Can you send me a quote? / Just give me a ballpark figure. • This plan is very cost-effective. • Is there any flexibility on the price? • Could you offer us a small discount? • We have a small shortfall of about $2,000. • The costs were higher than anticipated. • We might need some additional funding. • We need to tighten our belts this month. • The bottom line is, we don't have enough for both. • We expect the project to break even this year. • Please settle the invoice by Friday. 👍 If this lesson helped you, please like the video, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss a new English lesson for work. If your boss gave you a small budget to improve your workspace, what would you allocate it to? Tell us in the comments! About the channel English for Work is your practical channel for Business English. Every week, Daniel and Lauren help you speak more confidently at work — in meetings, projects, money talks, emails, and everyday office conversations. Our lessons use simple, natural American English for B1–B2 learners, with real examples you can use right away. This English lesson is perfect for anyone who wants to talk about money in English at work: budgets, costs, expenses, prices, and invoices. Whether you are explaining a cost to your manager, discussing a budget in a meeting, or asking a supplier for a better price, these phrases will help you sound clear, calm, and confident. #BusinessEnglish #EnglishForWork #MoneyEnglish #LearnEnglish #EnglishSpeaking #ESL #EnglishVocabulary #BusinessVocabulary #EnglishPhrases #SpokenEnglish #EnglishLesson #IntermediateEnglish #EnglishForProfessionals #EnglishForBeginners