scrimps
Holds back spending
Scrimps is the third-person singular of scrimp, meaning to be very sparing or frugal, often to an uncomfortable degree: She scrimps on groceries to pay rent.
To scrimp and save is to economize carefully over time: They scrimped and saved for years to buy a house.
The word suggests doing without rather than merely budgeting.
Stores or rescues
- economizesUses resources sparingly
- tightensMakes less loose
- cutbacksReductions in spending
- budgetsPlanned expense limits
conserves · rations · stretches · sacrifices · manages · curtails · reduces · spares
Refuses to release
- shortchangesGives back too little
- cheaps outSpends too little
- begrudgesEnvies or resents possession
- deniesDeclares something untrue
deprives · underspends · underfeeds · underpays · holds back · squeezes · misers · hoards
Supplies less than required
- underestimatesJudges below actual worth
- shortfallsAmounts below targets
- undersuppliesProvides inadequate quantity
- lacksIs missing something
wants · needs · falls short · runs low · spreads thin · makes do · ekes out
saves
Stores or rescues
- economizesUses resources sparingly
- tightensMakes less loose
- cutbacksReductions in spending
budgets · conserves · rations · stretches · sacrifices · manages · curtails · reduces · spares · portions
withholds
Refuses to release
- shortchangesGives back too little
- cheaps outSpends too little
- begrudgesEnvies or resents possession
denies · deprives · underspends · underfeeds · underpays · holds back · squeezes · misers · hoards · grudges
underprovides
Supplies less than required
- underestimatesJudges below actual worth
- shortfallsAmounts below targets
- undersuppliesProvides inadequate quantity
lacks · wants · needs · falls short · runs low · spreads thin · makes do · ekes out
scrimpssplurges
Spends lavishly on treats
lavishes · squanders · indulges · overspends · lives large
- scrimp and saveSpend minimally, accumulate money