All Ears English Podcast: What Are You Saving Up For?| Episode 2525

Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Michelle Kaplan
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Lindsay and Michelle discuss the differences between "saving" and "savings" in English, teach relevant vocabulary and phrasal verbs like "save up" and "save on," and explore the cultural nuances of talking about money in American society. The conversation guides listeners on how to use these words in natural contexts, clarifies common student mistakes, and gives practical examples, all while encouraging listeners to connect through language, not stress over perfection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Topic: Talking About Saving Money

(02:20)

• Michelle opens by asking Lindsay, "Are you saving up for any special purchases?" [02:20].
• Lindsay replies, "I'm always saving for travel. You know, we're going to go to Italy in December, which I'm excited." [02:26]
• Michelle explains that she and her family are "trying to save in general," rather than for a specific purchase [02:43].

2. English Vocabulary: ‘Saving’ vs ‘Savings’

(03:14–07:33)

• Many English learners confuse "saving" vs. "savings."
• Common student mistake: "I am having savings," instead of "I am saving money" [03:14].
• ‘Saving’ is the verb for the act of not spending or preserving (money, time, etc.):
  • “I’m saving money by taking the earlier flight.” [05:03]
  • “I’m saving time by picking up Charlie at 2 instead of 3.” [05:31]
  • “Saving money is really important to our company, especially now.” [05:40]
  • No S: "We’re not putting an S on this… we’ll get into why..." [05:53]
• ‘Savings’ is a noun, commonly referring to money kept in a bank or set aside for the future:
  • “Savings is generally about the bank… to have money in savings.” [06:32]
  • “You might have a savings account.” [06:49]
  • “I opened a savings account for my daughter when she was born.” [07:02]
  • “My mother always told me to put aside a certain percentage of my paycheck into savings.” [07:07]
  • Crucially, the ‘s’ in ‘savings’ doesn’t mean plural; it’s just the noun form [07:27].

Notable Quote

“It’s not necessarily that it’s plural. We just… say it that way.” — Michelle [07:27]

3. Phrasal Verbs: ‘Save Up’ and ‘Save On’

(09:16–12:15)

• "Save up" means setting aside money for a specific purpose.
  • "Is there anything you're saving up for?" [09:16]
  • Adding "up" makes it more conversational and motivational:

    “I think it makes it also a little more… encouraging, maybe.” — Lindsay [09:47]

  • Less formal/casual language:
    • “If you walk into a bank, I don’t think the teller is gonna say… what are you saving up for?” [10:22]
    • But it’s natural among friends [10:40].
  • Example: “If you want to buy a house, you better start saving up now.” [10:57]
  • When specifying a goal, use "save up for…" (“I’m saving up for a new pair of sneakers.”) [11:28]
• "Save on" means to spend less or reduce expenses:
  • “We can save on groceries by clipping coupons.” [11:48]
  • “Let’s save on clothes by shopping at a second-hand store.” [12:15]

Notable Quote

“Save up… it makes it a little more casual, a little more conversational.” — Michelle [09:44]

4. Money and American Cultural Norms

(12:21–14:20)

• Discussing saving money is usually acceptable, but certain specifics are still taboo:
  • “There are certain faux pas… around money that we shouldn’t talk about.” — Lindsay [12:45]
  • It's inappropriate to ask, “How much money do you make?” or “How much do you have?” [13:06, 13:15]
  • General questions about saving for something are fine, especially if the person volunteers the information [13:29].
• Michelle shares a personal story about explaining these norms to her son [13:56].

Notable Quote

“Money, sex, and religion are faux pas, but here we are talking about how native speakers share what they're saving up for all the time.” — Lindsay [12:52]

5. Role Play: Applying the Vocabulary in Context

(14:21–16:08)

• The hosts enact a roommate scenario, discussing how to use various "save" expressions naturally:
  • “It seems we are spending a ton on cleaning supplies.” [14:36]
  • “I think we can save on them if we buy in bulk.” [14:40]
  • “Maybe we can save up for a larger order.” [14:44]
  • “I have some extra money in savings, so we can use that.” [14:48]
  • “Saving money is huge for us right now.” [14:51]
• They debrief and clarify each use:
  • “We’re basically… spend more money up front, but based on buying in bulk, you’re actually saving money.” — Michelle [15:31]
  • “It turns out we don’t have to save up because I have money in savings…” — Lindsay [15:46]

6. Takeaways and Practical Tips

(16:10–17:25)

• Use “saving” as a verb and gerund, “savings” as a noun for accumulated money.
• "Saving up for" is casual, friendly; "savings account" is technical/banking.
• When in doubt about cultural norms, listen first; avoid specifics about salary or net worth.
• If unsure if a question is appropriate, it's okay to ask first ("I'm not sure if this is okay to ask, but…") [17:10]

Notable Quote

“If you’re confused about what’s okay to talk about and what’s not, just start listening for what people are talking about.” — Michelle [16:45]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “I think every time I book a flight…I hate my life when I wake up at three in the morning.” — Lindsay [05:07]
• “It’s fascinating…when kids are learning social norms…and as an adult, you’re like, yeah, maybe we should question that norm.” — Lindsay [14:09]
• “Whatever you're saving up for, I hope you get many riches soon so you can buy it.” — Michelle [18:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:20 – Episode topic introduction: personal saving goals
• 03:14–07:33 – "Saving" vs. "savings:" usage and common learner mistakes
• 09:16–12:15 – Phrasal verbs: "save up," "save on," examples, and cultural nuance
• 12:21–14:20 – Discussing money: American cultural do’s and don’ts
• 14:21–16:08 – Role play: roommates budgeting together
• 16:10–17:25 – Practical takeaways and cultural guidance

Final Takeaways

• Use “saving” (verb/gerund) to describe the act, “savings” (noun) for the money stored.
• “Save up for” is a friendly, native way of asking about future financial goals.
• Some money topics are fine for small talk; others (salary, total savings) remain taboo.
• Listen to how Americans discuss money, and don’t hesitate to clarify what’s socially acceptable.
• Practice using the phrasal verbs "save up" and "save on" for more natural English.

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