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.