Section 1 — The Language of Money Grammar focus

Session 3 Grammar: Present simple for habits and financial routines

How you describe your financial habits reveals your relationship with money. The present simple tense — used correctly — lets you talk about what you routinely do, believe, and prioritize.

Grammar Focus

Present simple: I [verb] / I always / I tend to / I make a point of

Use the present simple to describe financial habits, routines, and principles — things you do regularly, not just once. Strengthen the pattern with frequency adverbs (always, never, usually, regularly) or habit phrases (tend to, make a point of, try to). This is the grammar of financial discipline.

Structure: I + [present simple verb] + [frequency/object]

I track my spending every week — I use a simple spreadsheet to categorize every transaction.

I always pay myself first — I transfer 20% to savings on the day my salary arrives, before I spend anything.

I tend to review my fixed costs once a year to see if I can renegotiate any contracts or switch providers.

I make a point of building my emergency fund before committing to any investment — security first, growth second.

I never buy on impulse — if I see something I want, I wait 48 hours before deciding. It eliminates most regrettable purchases.

I regularly check my net worth — assets minus liabilities — to see whether I'm moving in the right direction.

Frequency expressions to practice

every month / quarter / year on a weekly basis as a rule without exception whenever possible