cut one's cloth to suit one's purse

English

Verb

cut one's cloth to suit one's purse (third-person singular simple present cuts one's cloth to suit one's purse, present participle cutting one's cloth to suit one's purse, simple past and past participle cut one's cloth to suit one's purse)

1. (idiomatic) To settle for less when money or resources are limited.
   • 2004, Norman Marsh, Trout Stream Insects of New Zealand, page 189:

     A super-educated fish whose purpose seems bent on humiliating us? Or does he cut his cloth to suit-his purse, becoming choosy when the occasion allows, returning to catholic tastes when times are harder?

   • 2018 December 1, Amanda Hall-Davis, “I took a huge salary hit so I can make my daughters my priority”, in The Guardian:

     If I had to go back then I would but I “cut my cloth to suit my purse” as my mum would have said and adjust to what I need and not fritter money away.

   • 2019 August 15, “Gisborne Herald chief reporter to stand for council”, in Gisborne Herald:

     We have just got to cut our cloth to suit the purse.

See also

• cut one's coat according to one's cloth