pay one's way
Cover own costs
To pay one's way is to cover one's own expenses rather than relying on others: She worked two jobs to pay her way through college.
The phrase emphasizes financial self-sufficiency.
Something that pays its way generates enough revenue to justify its cost: The new equipment paid its way within six months.
- earningGaining through work
- budgetingAllocating funds systematically
- live within meansSpend only what's affordable
- savingReserving for future use
- self-supportingAble to maintain oneself
accountability · settle up · independence · pull your weight · debt settlement · reciprocity · frugality · autonomy · investing · fairness · square deal · purchase · contribution · chip in · exchange · self-reliant · obligation · foot the bill