Idioms are fun phrases that do not mean exactly what the individual words say. People use them to make their speaking and writing much more colorful and interesting. In this article, you will learn many great Idioms related to Saving Money and keeping your cash safe. Understanding these expressions will help you talk about budgeting and shopping like a natural English speaker.
In this lesson, we will look at Idioms that mean keeping your money safe or spending it wisely. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Saving Money
1. A penny saved is a penny earned
Definition: Money that you save is just as valuable as money that you make.
Used in a Sentence: My mom always tells me a penny saved is a penny earned when I put coins in my jar. / You should not buy that silly toy because a penny saved is a penny earned.
Similar Expressions: Keep your cash / Save your money
2. Save for a rainy day
Definition: To keep money aside for a time when you might really need it in the future.
Used in a Sentence: It is smart to save for a rainy day just in case your bike breaks. / We save for a rainy day so we do not have to worry about emergencies.
Similar Expressions: Prepare for the future / Put money aside
3. Pinch pennies
Definition: To spend very little money and be very careful with what you buy.
Used in a Sentence: We had to pinch pennies to afford our fun family trip to the zoo. / He pinches pennies by making his lunch at home every single day.
Similar Expressions: Be frugal / Spend carefully
4. Tighten your belt
Definition: To spend less money than you did before because you have less of it.
Used in a Sentence: Since dad changed his job we all have to tighten our belt. / You must tighten your belt if you want to buy that new video game soon.
Similar Expressions: Cut back on spending / Live with less
5. Squirrel away
Definition: To hide or store a little bit of money at a time for future use.
Used in a Sentence: She likes to squirrel away her allowance in a secret little box. / They squirrel away small amounts of cash every single week for their trip.
Similar Expressions: Stash away / Store up
6. Build a nest egg
Definition: To save a large amount of money over time for a big goal or for when you are older.
Used in a Sentence: My parents are trying to build a nest egg for my college education. / You can build a nest egg by saving a little bit of cash each month.
Similar Expressions: Save a fund / Create savings
7. Live within your means
Definition: To only spend the money you have and not borrow money from others.
Used in a Sentence: It is important to live within your means so you do not owe money. / They live within their means by only buying things they can afford today.
Similar Expressions: Budget well / Spend wisely
8. Stretch a dollar
Definition: To make a small amount of money go a very long way by shopping smartly.
Used in a Sentence: My grandmother knows exactly how to stretch a dollar at the grocery store. / We can stretch a dollar by buying items that are on sale this week.
Similar Expressions: Make money last / Spend carefully
9. Scrimp and save
Definition: To live very simply and spend as little as possible to save up money.
Used in a Sentence: We had to scrimp and save for a whole year to buy this nice television. / He will scrimp and save until he has enough for a brand new bicycle.
Similar Expressions: Be thrifty / Save strictly
10. Sock away
Definition: To save money by putting it in a safe place or a bank account.
Used in a Sentence: I plan to sock away half of my birthday money for the summer. / She manages to sock away twenty dollars from every paycheck she gets.
Similar Expressions: Put away / Store money
11. Salt away
Definition: To save money safely for a long time so you can use it much later.
Used in a Sentence: The pirate tried to salt away his treasure in a hidden dark cave. / My uncle likes to salt away his extra cash in a special savings account.
Similar Expressions: Hide away / Save up
12. Cut corners
Definition: To save money or time by doing things in a cheaper or easier way.
Used in a Sentence: We can cut corners on the party by making our own fun decorations. / Do not cut corners if it makes the final school project look messy.
Similar Expressions: Reduce costs / Spend less
13. Make ends meet
Definition: To have just enough money to pay for the basic things you need to live.
Used in a Sentence: They work very hard to make ends meet every single month. / It can be tough to make ends meet when prices go up at the store.
Similar Expressions: Survive financially / Pay the bills
14. Keep the wolf from the door
Definition: To have enough money to avoid going hungry or losing your home.
Used in a Sentence: His part time job helps keep the wolf from the door. / They sell fresh vegetables from their garden to keep the wolf from the door.
Similar Expressions: Stay fed / Avoid poverty
15. Stash away
Definition: To hide money in a secret or safe place so you do not spend it.
Used in a Sentence: I like to stash away extra coins in my red piggy bank. / He will stash away some cash in his desk drawer for unexpected emergencies.
Similar Expressions: Hide cash / Save secretly
16. Hold the purse strings tight
Definition: To be in control of the money and refuse to spend it on silly things.
Used in a Sentence: My mother holds the purse strings tight when we go to the toy store. / You have to hold the purse strings tight if you want to save up fast.
Similar Expressions: Control spending / Limit buying
17. Get more bang for your buck
Definition: To get a lot of value or a good deal for the money you spend.
Used in a Sentence: You get more bang for your buck if you buy the larger box of cereal. / Shopping at the discount store always gives you more bang for your buck.
Similar Expressions: Get a good deal / Find good value
18. Look after the pennies
Definition: To be careful with small amounts of money so large amounts will easily grow.
Used in a Sentence: If you look after the pennies you will soon have a whole dollar saved. / She learned to look after the pennies when she started her first real job.
Similar Expressions: Watch small expenses / Save little amounts
19. Make every penny count
Definition: To use all your money in the most helpful and careful way possible.
Used in a Sentence: When buying school supplies we try to make every penny count. / He makes every penny count by never throwing away good food.
Similar Expressions: Use money wisely / Avoid waste
20. Live on a shoestring
Definition: To live with a very small amount of money for your daily needs.
Used in a Sentence: College students often have to live on a shoestring for a few years. / We lived on a shoestring while my dad was looking for a new job.
Similar Expressions: Have a tight budget / Spend very little
21. Tuck away
Definition: To put money in a safe place where it will not be spent right away.
Used in a Sentence: She decided to tuck away five dollars from her weekly allowance. / You should tuck away some cash before you go out with your friends.
Similar Expressions: Hide away / Save securely
22. Keep a lid on spending
Definition: To stop yourself or your family from spending too much money.
Used in a Sentence: We need to keep a lid on spending this month so we can pay rent. / Try to keep a lid on spending when you visit the candy shop today.
Similar Expressions: Control costs / Limit expenses
23. Keep out of the red
Definition: To make sure you do not spend more money than you actually have in the bank.
Used in a Sentence: My parents budget carefully to keep out of the red every year. / You must stop buying new toys if you want to keep out of the red.
Similar Expressions: Avoid debt / Stay positive financially
24. Watch your pennies
Definition: To be very careful about the small things you buy so you do not waste money.
Used in a Sentence: You have to watch your pennies if you want to afford a new puppy. / They watch their pennies by never eating out at fancy restaurants.
Similar Expressions: Be frugal / Spend cautiously
25. Draw in your horns
Definition: To spend less money and be more careful because of financial trouble.
Used in a Sentence: After the car broke down we had to draw in our horns for a while. / The company will draw in its horns to save money this year.
Similar Expressions: Spend less / Be cautious
26. Squeeze a quarter until the eagle cries
Definition: To be extremely cheap and refuse to spend money unless you absolutely have to.
Used in a Sentence: My grandpa will squeeze a quarter until the eagle cries. / She is so careful with money that she squeezes a quarter until the eagle cries.
Similar Expressions: Be very cheap / Pinch pennies
27. Keep a tight rein on your budget
Definition: To control exactly how much money you spend each week or month.
Used in a Sentence: My dad keeps a tight rein on our budget so we can go on vacation. / You should keep a tight rein on your budget to build your savings faster.
Similar Expressions: Control spending / Monitor money
28. Cut back
Definition: To reduce the amount of money you are spending on things you do not need.
Used in a Sentence: We decided to cut back on buying expensive drinks at the coffee shop. / If you cut back on snacks you will save a lot of cash every week.
Similar Expressions: Spend less / Reduce costs
29. Go Dutch
Definition: To split the cost of a meal or activity so each person pays for themselves.
Used in a Sentence: We decided to go Dutch at the pizza place to save some money. / If we go Dutch it will be cheaper and fairer for everyone.
Similar Expressions: Split the bill / Pay your own way
30. Skin a flint
Definition: To be very mean or stingy with money and try to save every single cent.
Used in a Sentence: He would skin a flint to avoid paying for a movie ticket. / You do not have to skin a flint to be good at saving money for the future.
Similar Expressions: Be stingy / Be extremely cheap
31. Be tight fisted
Definition: To be very unwilling to spend your money on anything or anyone.
Used in a Sentence: The boss is very tight fisted when it comes to buying new office supplies. / Do not be so tight fisted that you cannot enjoy a small treat sometimes.
Similar Expressions: Be stingy / Hold on to money
32. Be close fisted
Definition: To hold onto your money tightly and refuse to give it away to others.
Used in a Sentence: He is quite close fisted and almost never donates to charity. / Being close fisted can help you save money but it might make you lonely.
Similar Expressions: Be miserly / Be cheap
33. Keep your powder dry
Definition: To save your resources or money until you really need them for a big chance.
Used in a Sentence: I am keeping my powder dry until I see a good sale on computers. / The team decided to keep their powder dry for the big project next month.
Similar Expressions: Save resources / Wait for the right time
34. Store up
Definition: To gather and keep money or supplies for a later time in the future.
Used in a Sentence: The little squirrel stores up nuts just like we store up money in the bank. / We should store up some extra cash for our summer holiday.
Similar Expressions: Save up / Collect money
35. Lay away
Definition: To save money by paying for something a little bit at a time before you take it home.
Used in a Sentence: We put the new television on lay away at the big department store. / She will lay away a few dollars each week to buy a gift for her friend.
Similar Expressions: Pay in parts / Save gradually
36. Strike a hard bargain
Definition: To argue for a better price so you do not have to spend as much money.
Used in a Sentence: My clever uncle can strike a hard bargain at the weekend flea market. / You struck a hard bargain and saved us twenty dollars today.
Similar Expressions: Negotiate well / Get a good deal
37. Drive a hard bargain
Definition: To be very strict when making a deal so you pay less money overall.
Used in a Sentence: She drives a hard bargain when she is buying used books online. / If you drive a hard bargain you can keep more money in your pocket.
Similar Expressions: Be a tough negotiator / Haggle well
38. Pay peanuts
Definition: To pay a very small amount of money for something or to someone.
Used in a Sentence: They only pay peanuts for the older games at the neighborhood yard sale. / You will save a lot of cash if you only pay peanuts for your old clothes.
Similar Expressions: Pay very little / Spend barely anything
39. Buy for a song
Definition: To buy something for a very cheap price compared to what it is actually worth.
Used in a Sentence: I managed to buy this beautiful winter jacket for a song. / We bought the old wooden house for a song and fixed it up together.
Similar Expressions: Buy very cheaply / Get a huge bargain
40. Buy in bulk
Definition: To buy a large amount of something all at once because it costs less per item.
Used in a Sentence: We buy in bulk at the big store to save money on toilet paper. / You can save a lot of cash if you buy in bulk for your family.
Similar Expressions: Purchase large amounts / Buy wholesale
41. Have a stash
Definition: To have a hidden collection of money saved up for when you want it.
Used in a Sentence: I have a stash of coins under my bed for silly emergencies. / My brother used his secret stash to buy a brand new comic book.
Similar Expressions: Have a hidden fund / Keep a reserve
42. Penny wise
Definition: To be very careful about small amounts of money and daily costs.
Used in a Sentence: It is good to be penny wise when you go grocery shopping for the week. / She is very penny wise and always uses paper coupons at the store.
Similar Expressions: Be frugal / Be thrifty
43. Keep your hands in your pockets
Definition: To refuse to spend money or to avoid paying for things when out with friends.
Used in a Sentence: He kept his hands in his pockets when the waiter brought the dinner bill. / If you keep your hands in your pockets you will save your cash today.
Similar Expressions: Avoid paying / Refuse to spend
44. Protect your wallet
Definition: To be very careful not to let people or stores take too much of your money.
Used in a Sentence: You must protect your wallet when visiting the fun amusement park. / He protects his wallet by saying no to expensive new toys.
Similar Expressions: Guard your money / Spend carefully
45. Have a rainy day fund
Definition: To have a special savings account just for emergencies or surprise problems.
Used in a Sentence: It is important to have a rainy day fund in case your car suddenly breaks down. / We dipped into our rainy day fund to fix the leaky roof on our house.
Similar Expressions: Keep emergency savings / Have backup money
46. Set money aside
Definition: To take some of the money you earn and save it instead of spending it right away.
Used in a Sentence: I try to set money aside every time I mow the lawn for my neighbor. / If you set money aside you can buy something very special later.
Similar Expressions: Save cash / Put money away
47. Shop around
Definition: To visit many different stores to compare prices before you buy something.
Used in a Sentence: We always shop around before buying a new television for the living room. / If you shop around you can usually find a much cheaper price in town.
Similar Expressions: Compare prices / Look for the best deal
48. Clip coupons
Definition: To cut out small tickets from magazines or papers that give you a discount on prices.
Used in a Sentence: We clip coupons every Sunday to save money on our family groceries. / She loves to clip coupons and find the best deals in the whole town.
Similar Expressions: Look for discounts / Use vouchers
49. Hunt for bargains
Definition: To search carefully in different stores to find the absolute lowest prices.
Used in a Sentence: My mom loves to hunt for bargains during the big winter holiday sales. / You will spend a lot less money if you take time to hunt for bargains.
Similar Expressions: Look for deals / Shop around
50. Hold onto your cash
Definition: To decide not to spend your money and keep it with you instead.
Used in a Sentence: I think I will hold onto my cash instead of buying that large candy bar. / It is always smart to hold onto your cash when you go to the busy mall.
Similar Expressions: Keep your money / Refuse to spend
Exercise to Practice
- If you pinch pennies, you are trying to spend as much money as possible at the toy store.
- When someone tells you a penny saved is a penny earned, they want you to keep your money instead of spending it.
- We decided to go Dutch at the restaurant so one person did not have to pay for the whole meal.
- To squirrel away money means you throw it in the trash can when you are done.
- A family might have to tighten their belt if they lose their jobs and need to save cash.
- If you buy for a song, it means you paid a very expensive price for something new.
- You should save for a rainy day so you have money ready when a bad emergency happens.
- To live within your means is to borrow a lot of money from your friends to buy games.
- When you clip coupons, you use small pieces of paper to get discounts at the grocery store.
- People who cut corners are usually spending a lot of extra money to do a perfect job.
- A person who likes to hunt for bargains enjoys finding the lowest prices on clothes.
- If you want to keep out of the red, you should buy everything you see in the store.
- When you build a nest egg, you are saving money slowly over time for a big life goal.
- To pay peanuts for something means you gave them a whole huge bag of gold coins.
- You will get more bang for your buck if you find a really good deal for your cash.
Answer Key
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
Conclusion
Learning these Idioms for Saving Money is very useful for your everyday life. They help you understand what people mean when they talk about budgets and banking. It also makes your English vocabulary sound much more natural and fun.
We encourage you to try using them in real life. The next time you go shopping, try telling your friends that you want to hunt for bargains or shop around. Practicing a little bit each day will help you remember these fun phrases forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common Idioms for Saving Money?
Some of the most common ones are pinching pennies and saving for a rainy day. People also like to talk about building a nest egg when they save for big goals.
Why do we use Idioms in English?
We use Idioms to make our language more colorful and fun to hear. They help us share big ideas using simple pictures and stories instead of boring words.
Can children learn Idioms for Saving Money?
Yes, children can easily learn these phrases by practicing them at home. It is a great way to teach kids about money while improving their English reading skills.
How do I practice using Idioms for Saving Money?
You can practice by using them in sentences when you talk about shopping or allowances. Writing them down in a notebook also helps you remember their exact meanings.
Do Idioms for Saving Money mean exactly what they say?
No, most of them do not mean exactly what the words say. For example, tightening your belt is about spending less cash, not fixing your clothes to be smaller.
