face difficulties
have trouble
I faced difficulties when I tried to buy a house.
get ahead
make progress
I want to get ahead at work so I can impress my boss. I want a promotion!
make sacrifices
give up something valuable
Our family had to make sacrifices when we decided to save for a house. We stopped eating out and decided not to go on a vacation this year.
minimum-wage job
a job that pays the lowest amount allowed by law
You don't want to work at that factory. They offer only minimum-wage jobs. You can't live on that!
poverty
(noun) too little money
After he lost his job, he lived in poverty for a year. Then he found a new one.
put pressure on
make someone feel stress because of your expectations
My mom really wants a grandchild. She puts a lot of pressure on me to have a baby, but we aren't ready yet!
due to
because of
The grass and trees are turning brown due to a lack of rain.
general population
everyone living in a country
His family earns more money than the general population.
generation
the people in a society or family who are about the same age
Most people in my generation love nature. We would rather go for a walk than play video games.
halfway there
you have completed half of your goal
I want to buy a house and have saved enough for the down payment. I am halfway there!
limit
(verb) reduce or control
I try to limit the amount of sugar I eat because it is bad for me.
obtain
to get, acquire
I need to start driving to work. I had better obtain a driver's license and a car.
offspring
your children
All of my offspring live in California.
owe it to
have a responsibility to
My parents worked hard to pay for my education. I owe it to them to study hard and get the best grades I can.
raise children
take care of and educate
My parents raised me to be a responsible, hard-working adult.
rising
going up
The rising prices make me feel worried. I am afraid we won't be able to buy a house.
standard of living
how much money and comfort someone has
After getting a promotion and a raise, Sean's family enjoyed a higher standard of living.
survey
a list of questions asked to learn about people's opinions and behavior
At the mall, I answered a survey about my shopping habits.
typically
usually
I like to get up early, so my day typically starts at 6 a.m.
value of something
importance of __________
My parents wanted me to learn the value of hard work.
what's more
and, furthermore
She has had some bad luck lately. She lost her good job, and what's more, her cat died!
last-minute
done at the last possible time
This morning I prepared most of the dinner and put it in the refrigerator. When I got home from work, I did the last-minute preparations and served it to my family.
middle-aged
in the middle of your life, before you are old
My middle-aged parents are planning and saving for retirement.
old-fashioned
not modern
My mom still uses her old-fashioned TV set. It takes up a lot of space and can only get 3 local channels. She cannot download apps or watch streaming services.
well-behaved
having good behavior
I spend a lot of time training my dog. I want him to be well-behaved and not bother people.