Pinch pennies
verb phrase
To be careful with money and spend very little.
Even though he earned a good salary, he chose to pinch pennies and save as much as he could.

Often appears as...
- need to pinch pennies
- start to pinch pennies
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To be careful with money and spend very little.
Even though he earned a good salary, he chose to pinch pennies and save as much as he could.

Often appears as...
- need to pinch pennies
- start to pinch pennies
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1

Informal Use
The phrase 'pinch pennies' is casual and best used in informal settings like conversations among friends.

I can't go to the movies tonight, I'm trying to pinch pennies until payday.
Non-literal Phrase
'Pinch pennies' means to be frugal—it doesn't mean literally pinching coins with your fingers.

She doesn't really pinch every penny, but she's definitely frugal with her budget.
Money-Saving Context
Use 'pinch pennies' when talking about saving money or cutting down on expenses.

Since we're planning a big trip next year, we need to start pinching pennies now.
Informal Use
The phrase 'pinch pennies' is casual and best used in informal settings like conversations among friends.

I can't go to the movies tonight, I'm trying to pinch pennies until payday.
Non-literal Phrase
'Pinch pennies' means to be frugal—it doesn't mean literally pinching coins with your fingers.

She doesn't really pinch every penny, but she's definitely frugal with her budget.
Money-Saving Context
Use 'pinch pennies' when talking about saving money or cutting down on expenses.

Since we're planning a big trip next year, we need to start pinching pennies now.
Informal Use
The phrase 'pinch pennies' is casual and best used in informal settings like conversations among friends.

I can't go to the movies tonight, I'm trying to pinch pennies until payday.
Non-literal Phrase
'Pinch pennies' means to be frugal—it doesn't mean literally pinching coins with your fingers.

She doesn't really pinch every penny, but she's definitely frugal with her budget.
Money-Saving Context
Use 'pinch pennies' when talking about saving money or cutting down on expenses.

Since we're planning a big trip next year, we need to start pinching pennies now.
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