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6 Minute English

Living with debt

28 May 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

0.031 - 3.676 Neil

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

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10.139 - 32.397 Unknown

Kun häly katoaa, on helpompi keskittyä olennaiseen. Siihen, mikä vie minua eteenpäin. Kun markkinat heiluvat, Nordea Private Bankingin asiantuntemus ja oma sijoitusjohtajani tuovat selkeyttä kohinnan keskelle. Siksi valitsen kumppanin, joka vie minut askeleen edelleen. Nordea.fi kautta Private Banking.

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34.152 - 62.772 Unknown

Raaka-öljyn hinta nousi yli sadan dollarin tynnyriin. Levottomuudet jatkuivat pyrsiä. Maailma voi tuntua joskus hallitsimattomalta. Silloin haluan, että varallisuuteni on asiantuntevissa käsissä. Oma sijoitusjohtajani Nordea Private Bankingissa auttaa minua pysymään askeleen edellä. Näin minulle jää aikaa siihen, mikä elämässä on tärkeintä. Nordea.fi kautta Private Banking.

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64.308 - 89.958 Unknown

Kiitos kun katsoit!

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90.903 - 118.342 Neil

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. And I'm Pippa. Are you good at saving money, Neil, or do you like to spend it? Well, actually a bit of both. I like to spend money on nice things, but I also try to save mainly because I've got children. How about you?

Chapter 2: What are the common reasons people go into debt?

118.679 - 148.193 Neil

Yeah, I'm the same. I like to save money or I try to for the future, but I also do spend it. I don't count every penny that I spend and save every single penny that I earn. Well, whether you're a saver or a spender, being in debt is common in the UK. Debt refers to money a person has borrowed to buy something and which they have to pay back, usually to a bank, a credit card company or another person.

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148.548 - 172.679 Pippa

Many people avoid talking about debt, but it affects us all. In 2025, over 1,000 people contacted the UK Citizens Advice Bureau every single day of the year for help with their debt. And when debt gets out of control, it causes stress and worry. BBC Radio 4 programme Thinking Aloud interviewed one young man, Jason, about his debt.

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172.882 - 198.211 Jason

Whatever jobs there are aren't enough to provide for a family. Sometimes you need to take out loans. I've done it a few times. But you can't ever pay it back. You can't see a way out other than winning the lottery or something. I'd like to think I could clear them all one day. Even if it means like five years paying them off. Jason uses three phrases. Payback, payoff and clear debt. All of which mean the same thing. To give back the money you've borrowed.

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198.565 - 212.622 Pippa

In this episode we'll hear more about living with debt by learning some useful new words and phrases. And remember, you'll find all the vocabulary used plus a quiz and worksheet on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

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212.757 - 240.314 Neil

But first I have a question for you, Pippa. According to debt support group The Money Charity, roughly how much is the average British adult in debt through credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans? Is it a. £2,200, b. £4,200 or c. £6,200? I'm not sure. I'll say £2,200.

Chapter 3: How does debt impact mental health and daily life?

240.449 - 263.18 Neil

OK, well, we will find out the answer later in the programme. Jason's story features in a new book by sociologist Ryan Davey. Ryan spent months living in a low-income housing estate, which he gave the fictional name Woldum. He talked with residents and listened to their money worries. Here, Ryan explains more to BBC Radio 4's Thinking Aloud.

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263.399 - 288.56 Ryan Davey

Minun tarkoitukseni oli, että ihmiset tunnevat, että olin kiinnostunut oppimaan heidän elämänsä ja miten he tekevät päätöksiään. Joten tein joitakin intervjuuja asiantuntijoille ja katsoin, missä liikkuvuus tuli päivittäisissä keskusteluissa. Paljon ihmisistä Waldenissa, joko Jasonilla, liikkuvuus oli yleinen asia päivittäisessä elämässä. Lisäksi se, että olin arjessa, joten olin takaisin yhdessä yhdessä päivittäisessä elämässä, oli osa päivittäisessä elämässä.

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288.56 - 311.189 Neil

The people of Walden were making ends meet. To make ends meet means having just enough money to pay for basic living expenses like food, bills and rent. Ryan found that many residents were in arrears, a phrase meaning to still owe money that should have already been repaid. For most residents, debt was a normal part of daily life.

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311.746 - 327.187 Pippa

With a regular income, debt can be managed. But for those who are unemployed or on low incomes, it can cause serious distress. Here, Ryan discusses how the residents he met felt about their debt, with BBC Radio 4's Thinking Aloud.

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327.389 - 345.158 Ryan Davey

Jason actually fluctuated between wanting to clear all of his debts on the one hand and on the other, what he described as living on the never never, and actually questioning the supposed moral obligation to pay his debts. Over the months that I knew him, the...

Chapter 4: What phrases do people use when talking about debt?

345.158 - 366.1 Neil

Jason was living on the never-never, an informal phrase for buying the things you need by making regular small payments over a long time. It's called the never-never because it seems the debt will never be repaid.

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366.252 - 395.8 Pippa

Jason experienced financial strain, emotional stress caused by a lack of money to meet his basic needs or to repay his debt. Debt is a serious issue. It affects many people and there are support groups who can help if you need it. OK, Neil, what was the answer to your question? I asked what the average amount of debt a British adult has through credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans. I said it was around £2,200.

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395.935 - 410.06 Neil

I'm afraid that's not the right answer. In fact it's 4,232 pounds. OK, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned starting with debt. Money a person has borrowed and needs to give back.

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410.549 - 435.288 Pippa

The phrases to pay back, to pay off and to clear a debt all mean to give back money you have borrowed. If someone is making ends meet, they have just enough money to pay for basic living expenses. And if they are in arrears, they still owe money that should have been repaid already. If you buy something on the never never, you buy it by making small regular payments over a long period.

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435.372 - 462.997 Pippa

And finally, financial strain is emotional stress caused by a lack of money to meet your basic needs. Once again our six minutes are up, but if you'd like to know how debt is spelled and all the other words from this episode, visit our website bbclearningenglish.com to find a full vocabulary list. See you again soon, but for now it's goodbye. Bye!

Chapter 5: How can financial strain affect individuals and families?

471.552 - 496.426 Unknown

Kun häly katoaa, on helpompi keskittyä olennaiseen. Siihen, mikä vie minua eteenpäin.

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