Describe An item on which you spent more than expected

♻️ Retained🎸 Objects / Hobbies

Describe an item on which you spent more than expected.

You should say:

• What it is

• How much you spent on it

• Why you bought it

• And explain why you think you spent more than expected

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes. You have 1 minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

The item that made me overspend drastically is a second-hand 1980s film camera I picked up at a vintage market three months ago. I had set a strict budget of 800 yuan for a functional entry-level film camera, but I splashed out 2100 yuan on this limited-edition model in the end. Initially, I went to the market just to browse and get a feel for different camera models, as I’ve recently got into analog photography to document my weekend hikes. But when I spotted this well-preserved Canon AE-1 with its original leather case and lens filter, I was immediately smitten. The seller told me it was owned by a professional photographer and had barely been used, and he threw in three rolls of rare expired film as a bonus, which pushed me to make the purchase. I know I spent far more than I planned because I got carried away by its nostalgic charm and the limited offer, and I could have easily got a cheaper camera that met my basic needs. It was definitely an impulse buy, but I’ve taken so many gorgeous photos with it that I don’t regret the splurge too much.

analog photography /ˈænəlɔːɡ fəˈtɒɡrəfi/:胶片摄影

nostalgic charm /nəˈstældʒɪk tʃɑːm/:怀旧魅力

vintage market /ˈvɪntɪdʒ ˈmɑːkɪt/:复古集市

expired film /ɪkˈspaɪəd fɪlm/:过期胶卷

splash out /splæʃ aʊt/:花大笔钱(购买心仪物品)

smitten /ˈsmɪtn/:怦然心动的,痴迷的

Part 3 Discussion