IELTS Essay: Shopping Habits & Age
Shopping habits depend more on your age group than anything else.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many would argue that an individual’s shopping habits depend more on age demographics than other factors. In my opinion, age is relevant in terms of a person’s tastes, however social class is a greater determiner.
Those who would argue in favor of age point out how a person’s preferences are largely fixed. The past several decades have witnessed seismic changes in culture, particularly related to technology. A person who grew up before the digital age is more inclined to spend money on books, holidays, furniture, and other non-digital items. The style of these items is also likely to be more traditional and less modern. However, someone under the age of 40, is more likely to spend on a new phone, electronic vehicle such as a Tesla, or clothing and furniture that is more modern and minimalist. These disparities widen when considering the youngest generations who are even more inclined to value the virtual world through purchases such as NFTs and cryptocurrencies.
However, for the majority of major purchases, wealth determines what a person can afford and therefore buy. This is evident for a variety of products ranging from food and wellness items to technology and fashion. For instance, most individuals would love to buy the newest smartphone when it is released, drive in a luxury car and shop for expensive and healthy organic products at the supermarket. However, one’s financial status will either allow a person to express these desires or force them to live frugally. The best evidence for this is the lack of discretion children show when it comes to shopping. They are uninhibited by financial concerns and therefore attempt to buy whatever they like.
In conclusion, despite the clear differences in taste present in individuals or different generations, financial flexibility is the clearest factor influencing a person’s shopping habits. This has been true for most of history and still remains the case today.
Analysis
1. Many would argue that an individual’s shopping habits depend more on age demographics than other factors. 2. In my opinion, age is relevant in terms of a person’s tastes, however social class is a greater determiner.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who would argue in favor of age point out how a person’s preferences are largely fixed. 2. The past several decades have witnessed seismic changes in culture, particularly related to technology. 3. A person who grew up before the digital age is more inclined to spend money on books, holidays, furniture, and other non-digital items. 4. The style of these items is also likely to be more traditional and less modern. 5. However, someone under the age of 40, is more likely to spend on a new phone, electronic vehicle such as a Tesla, or clothing and furniture that is more modern and minimalist. 6. These disparities widen when considering the youngest generations who are even more inclined to value the virtual world through purchases such as NFTs and cryptocurrencies.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
1. However, for the majority of major purchases, wealth determines what a person can afford and therefore buy. 2. This is evident for a variety of products ranging from food and wellness items to technology and fashion. 3. For instance, most individuals would love to buy the newest smartphone when it is released, drive in a luxury car and shop for expensive and healthy organic products at the supermarket. 4. However, one’s financial status will either allow a person to express these desires or force them to live frugally. 5. The best evidence for this is the lack of discretion children show when it comes to shopping. 6. They are uninhibited by financial concerns and therefore attempt to buy whatever they like.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
1. In conclusion, despite the clear differences in taste present in individuals or different generations, financial flexibility is the clearest factor influencing a person’s shopping habits. 2. This has been true for most of history and still remains the case today.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Many would argue that an individual’s shopping habits depend more on age demographics than other factors. In my opinion, age is relevant in terms of a person’s tastes, however social class is a greater determiner.
Those who would argue in favor of age point out how a person’s preferences are largely fixed. The past several decades have witnessed seismic changes in culture, particularly related to technology. A person who grew up before the digital age is more inclined to spend money on books, holidays, furniture, and other non-digital items. The style of these items is also likely to be more traditional and less modern. However, someone under the age of 40, is more likely to spend on a new phone, electronic vehicle such as a Tesla, or clothing and furniture that is more modern and minimalist. These disparities widen when considering the youngest generations who are even more inclined to value the virtual world through purchases such as NFTs and cryptocurrencies.
However, for the majority of major purchases, wealth determines what a person can afford and therefore buy. This is evident for a variety of products ranging from food and wellness items to technology and fashion. For instance, most individuals would love to buy the newest smartphone when it is released, drive in a luxury car and shop for expensive and healthy organic products at the supermarket. However, one’s financial status will either allow a person to express these desires or force them to live frugally. The best evidence for this is the lack of discretion children show when it comes to shopping. They are uninhibited by financial concerns and therefore attempt to buy whatever they like.
In conclusion, despite the clear differences in taste present in individuals or different generations, financial flexibility is the clearest factor influencing a person’s shopping habits. This has been true for most of history and still remains the case today.
Answers
shopping habits what people usually buy
depend more on has more to do with
age demographics age groups, generations
factors elements
relevant important here
in terms of concerning
tastes what people like and dislike
social class how wealthy you are
greater determiner has more importance for
argue in favor of make the point to support
point out argue
preferences likes
largely fixed mostly don’t change
witnessed seismic changes undergone big alterations
particularly related to technology especially concerning science and tech
digital age computer age
inclined like to
non-digital not related to electronics
style your taste and preferences
traditional older style
modern more recent style
electronic vehicle cars like a Tesla that don’t run on gasoline
minimalist simple and refined
disparities widen differences get bigger
considering taking into account
youngest generations younger people
even more inclined moreso want to
value importance
virtual world online life
NFTs a form of online product (non-fungible tokens)
cryptocurrencies Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.
majority most of
major purchases main things being bought
afford be able to buy
evident clear
variety lots of different kinds
ranging from … to including
wellness items products for your health
released published
luxury car nice automobiles
healthy organic products natural items
financial status how much money you have
express show yourself
desires what you want
frugally inexpensively
lack of discretion not inhibitions, concerns, holding back
uninhibited feeling free, not self-conscious
financial concerns money worries
attempt try to
despite nonetheless
clear differences basic divergences
present in living in
financial flexibility ability to buy things
clearest factor influencing main elements impacting
true for most of history the case in the past
remains the case today is still true now
Pronunciation
Vocabulary Practice
Many would argue that an individual’s s___________________________________________________s than other f_____________s. In my opinion, age is r_______________________f a person’s t_______s, however s__________________s is a g____________________r.
Those who would a_______________f age p_____________t how a person’s p_____________s are l____________d. The past several decades have w_________________________s in culture, p__________________________y. A person who grew up before the d____________e is more i_____________d to spend money on books, holidays, furniture, and other n______________l items. The s________e of these items is also likely to be more t________________l and less m_________n. However, someone under the age of 40, is more likely to spend on a new phone, e_____________e such as a Tesla, or clothing and furniture that is more modern and m_________t. These d_____________________n when c__________________g the y______________________s who are e___________________d to v_______e the v________________d through purchases such as N_____s and c_____________________s.
However, for the m___________y of m_______________s, wealth determines what a person can a________d and therefore buy. This is e__________t for a v_________y of products r_______________m food and w______________s __o technology and fashion. For instance, most individuals would love to buy the newest smartphone when it is r_________d, drive in a l_________r and shop for expensive and h________________________s at the supermarket. However, one’s f_____________s will either allow a person to e_______s these d_________s or force them to live f__________y. The best evidence for this is the l_______________n children show when it comes to shopping. They are u_____________d by f___________________s and therefore a___________t to buy whatever they like.
In conclusion, d_________e the c________________s in taste p______________n individuals or different generations, f________________y is the c_______________________g a person’s shopping habits. This has been t______________________y and still r____________________y.
Listening Practice
Speaking Practice
Buying
- Which item do you buy the most?
- Do you care about the price when buying an item?
- What was the last thing you bought?
- Are good products always expensive?
Writing Practice
Online shopping is becoming more common these days.
What effect could this have on the environment and the types of jobs required?
Good
Thank you!
Please give feedback
A shopper’s age is the most important factor in defining their habits of shopping rather than any other factor. I do not concur with the above statement. Although a person’s age influences what they should purchase, financial status has a profound impact on the final purchase decision. This essay will elucidate points to support my perspective in the forthcoming paragraphs.
Age demographics are crucial in identifying the purchasing behaviours of customers. Marketing companies, therefore, target age specific audiences to sell products as per their characteristics. College students are usually buying things like books, smartphones, and junk food. Also, fashion clothes are popular among teenagers since they want to keep abreast of the latest trends. They always purchase new clothes when there is a discount or promotion going on. Likewise, middle-aged or family people might shop for furniture, baby products, and investment schemes. Because of this information, corporations are not only able to design their products but also market them accordingly to achieve an optimal sales level.
Having said this, the amount of money people have makes people decide whether or not to buy things. If a person is not able to afford basic needs, then he may not want to buy items that are secondary in need. Having lots of wealth will enable people to buy anything they dream of, be it vacation packages or expensive medical treatments. On the other hand, impoverished people cannot purchase goods that are exorbitant or frequently indulge in paid activities offering pleasure or care, even though they want to. They normally do window shopping to satisfy their shopping urge or save for months prior to buying luxury products. Hence, only those with an ample sum of money can shop as per their desire.
In conclusion, while people’s age groups can help to categorize products that they may purchase, the amount of money available with them will ultimately determine the person’s shopping habits. Age is also an influential factor, but it is not more important than the purchasing power of a person.
There is a statement that shopping habits are related to age. In my opinion, age is not the most important reason for shopping habits. People with different economic conditions and sexes would buy different cargos when they are the same age.
The capacity of buying depends on the money that the buyer owns. People would have different preferences when they are in different economic conditions, instead of different ages. With different fortune, people would likely consider different issues. A rich person may only want to spend money and receive happiness, while a poor man needs to consider the expenditure of other parts of his life, such as food and electricity fees. For example, for those who are about 20 years old and need to buy a car, a rich person may want to buy a car with outstanding appearance and extraordinary power, like a super sports car. A poor man may want a comfortable car with low consumption of fuel.
The other issue that has a great influence on shopping habits is sex. It is clear that females and males generally have different preferences at the same age. The main reason may be because society assigns different personalities to boys and girls. Let us take the car as an example again. For kids who are choosing a toy car, a boy may want the bat man battle car, because it is powerful. On the contrary, a girl who is hoping to be a princess would likely prefer a pink and romantic car with a prince in it.
In sum, age does not have the most significant influence on shopping habits. People of the same age with different fortune and sexes would make different decisions when shopping. Moreover, shopping habits also relate to education and health conditions.
Excellent!