Money Matters — B1 Essential Words

bargain /ˈbɑːrɡɪn/ noun / verb B1 Money

Meaning: Something bought at a good, low price; to discuss and agree on a price.

Example: This coat was a real bargain at $30.

Another example: Tourists bargain with sellers at the market.

Collocations: a real bargain · bargain price · bargain with

Synonyms: deal, steal (informal, of a price)

Antonyms: rip-off

Word family: bargains (n pl) · bargaining (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Two lives: the THING (a bargain = great price) and the TALK (bargain = negotiate). US stores mostly fix prices — bargaining lives at flea markets and car lots.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Bargain hunting' is a weekend sport with its own TV shows.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

refund /ˈriːfʌnd/ noun / verb B1 Money

Meaning: Money paid back to you because you returned something or paid too much; to give money back.

Example: The store gave me a full refund.

Another example: They refunded the ticket price.

Collocations: full refund · ask for a refund · refund policy

Synonyms: repayment, money back

Antonyms: charge

Word family: refunds (n pl) · refundable (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Noun stress RE-fund; verb re-FUND. Keep the receipt — refunds ask for it everywhere.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'No refunds' is the strictest sign in retail; 'full refund' is the kindest.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

tip /tɪp/ noun / verb B1 Money

Meaning: Extra money given to a server or driver for good service; also a small piece of useful advice.

Example: We left a 20 percent tip.

Another example: Here's a tip: book flights on Tuesdays.

Collocations: leave a tip · a helpful tip · tip for

Synonyms: gratuity (formal), advice

Word family: tips (n pl) · tipping (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Two gifts in one word: money for service and advice for life. In US restaurants, tips are expected (15–20%).

🗣 In spoken American English: Waiters' wages depend on them — tipping is a system, not just kindness.

Register: Neutral — dining essential.

credit /ˈkredɪt/ noun B1 Money

Meaning: The system of buying now and paying later; also trust given for good work, and points toward a degree.

Example: She bought the phone on credit.

Another example: Students earn credits for each course.

Collocations: credit card · on credit · course credit

Synonyms: loan (bank gives), recognition, points

Antonyms: debit, cash

Word family: credits (n pl) · creditable (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Credit card vs debit card is the wallet pair: credit borrows the bank's money; debit spends yours. College courses give credits toward degrees.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Give credit where it's due' means praise the right person.

Register: Neutral — finance essential.

debit /ˈdebɪt/ noun B1 Money

Meaning: Money taken directly from your bank account when you pay; the card that does this.

Example: Pay by debit and the money leaves your account at once.

Another example: She lost her debit card.

Collocations: debit card · pay by debit · direct debit

Synonyms: withdrawal, payment

Antonyms: credit

Word family: debits (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Debit spends YOUR money instantly; credit spends the bank's, billed later. Cashiers ask: 'Debit or credit?'

🗣 In spoken American English: The safest first card for teens — you can only spend what's there.

Register: Neutral — banking essential.

fee /fiː/ noun B1 Money

Meaning: An amount of money paid for a service or for the right to do something.

Example: The gym charges a monthly fee.

Another example: There is a small fee for parking.

Collocations: monthly fee · fee for · no fees

Synonyms: charge, cost, rate

Word family: fees (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Fee vs price: prices buy THINGS; fees pay for SERVICES and permissions (entry fee, service fee, late fee).

🗣 In spoken American English: 'No hidden fees' is the promise every customer hunts for.

Register: Neutral — services essential.

coin /kɔɪn/ noun B1 Money

Meaning: A small round piece of metal used as money.

Example: He found an old coin on the beach.

Another example: I need a coin for the parking meter.

Collocations: a gold coin · coin in · flip a coin

Synonyms: change (coins collectively)

Antonyms: bill (paper money)

Word family: coins (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Coins are metal; bills are paper — the wallet pair. 'Flip a coin' decides things by chance.

🗣 In spoken American English: Quarters ruled American childhoods: vending machines, pay phones, arcade games.

Register: Neutral — money basics.

wallet /ˈwɒlɪt/ noun B1 Money

Meaning: A small flat case for carrying money and cards in your pocket or bag.

Example: He keeps his cards in a leather wallet.

Another example: I left my wallet at home.

Collocations: in my wallet · wallet and phone · digital wallet

Synonyms: billfold, purse (US women's handbag)

Word family: wallets (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Men traditionally carry wallets; a woman's purse is a handbag in the US (in the UK purse = small money case — careful!).

🗣 In spoken American English: Phones ate them: the 'digital wallet' now holds the cards.

Register: Neutral — daily life essential.

purse /pɜːrs/ noun B1 Money

Meaning: In American English, a woman's bag for carrying money, keys, and personal things (a handbag).

Example: She put her phone in her purse.

Another example: His grandmother keeps candy in her purse.

Collocations: in her purse · purse and shoes · a leather purse

Synonyms: handbag, bag, wallet (flat case)

Word family: purses (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: US purse = handbag. UK purse = the small coin case. One ocean, two purses — the Atlantic strikes again.

🗣 In spoken American English: Grandmothers' purses are famous treasure chests of candy and tissues.

Register: Neutral — daily life.

savings /ˈseɪvɪŋz/ noun B1 Money

Meaning: Money you have saved, usually in a bank, for future use.

Example: Their savings paid for the house deposit.

Another example: She puts $200 a month into savings.

Collocations: savings account · life savings · into savings

Synonyms: reserves, funds, nest egg (informal)

Antonyms: debt, spending

Word family: save (v) · saving (n — one act/discount)

⚠ Common mistake: Savings names the whole pot of saved money. A savings account pays interest on it.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Rainy-day savings' is the family's safety net in one phrase.

Register: Neutral — finance essential.