Learn Saving Money Expressions in English

Saving money expressions help us talk about being frugal or budgeting. Here are 20 idioms and phrasal verbs related to saving money.

Saving Money Expressions

1. Pinch pennies
   Meaning: Save money wherever possible
   Example: They’ve been pinching pennies for months.
2. Cut back on
   Meaning: Reduce spending on something
   Example: They cut back on dining out.
3. Make ends meet
   Meaning: Earn enough to cover expenses
   Example: She works two jobs to make ends meet.
4. Live within one’s means
   Meaning: Spend only what you can afford
   Example: They always live within their means.
5. Set aside
   Meaning: Reserve or save something for later
   Example: They set aside money for a vacation.
6. Tighten the belt
   Meaning: Reduce spending to save money
   Example: We’ve tightened the belt since January.
7. Nest egg
   Meaning: Savings accumulated for future use
   Example: They’ve built a solid nest egg.
8. Put away
   Meaning: Save or store something for future use
   Example: She puts away 20% of her income.
9. Rainy day fund
   Meaning: Savings for unexpected expenses
   Example: They rely on their rainy day fund.
10. Break the bank
    Meaning: Spend too much money
    Example: That fancy dinner broke the bank.
11. Save for a rainy day
    Meaning: Save money for future problems
    Example: She always saves for a rainy day.
12. Stash away
    Meaning: Secretly save money
    Example: He stashes away cash for emergencies.
13. Be frugal with
    Meaning: Use something carefully to avoid waste
    Example: They’re frugal with grocery shopping.
14. Squirrel away
    Meaning: Hide or save something for later use
    Example: He squirrels away extra income.
15. Count the pennies
    Meaning: Be very careful with money
    Example: They count the pennies when budgeting.
16. Scrimp and save
    Meaning: Save by being thrifty
    Example: They scrimp and save for their wedding.
17. Live on a shoestring
    Meaning: Survive on a very tight budget
    Example: They live on a shoestring budget.
18. Put aside
    Meaning: Save money for a specific purpose
    Example: We put aside money for a house.
19. Be thrifty
    Meaning: Be careful with money
    Example: She is thrifty and doesn’t overspend.
20. Spend wisely
    Meaning: Use money carefully and thoughtfully
    Example: He spends wisely on necessary things.