idiom · informal
scrimp and save
/skrɪmp ənd seɪv/SCRIMP·and·SAVE
to live very frugally and save money for something important
Examples
“They scrimped and saved for a down payment on a house.”
“If we scrimp and save now, we can afford the trip next year.”
“Students often scrimp and save to pay tuition fees.”
Band 8 sentence
“We scrimped and saved for three years to make a down payment, cutting out luxuries and cooking at home every night.”
Collocations
- scrimp and save for
- scrimp and save to buy
Word family
Common mistakes
We scrimped and saved for the car, but still no money.→We scrimped and saved for the car.
They scrimp to save money.→They scrimped and saved to save money.
Say it for a higher band
5save money→6cut back→7+scrimp and save
Synonyms
cut back severely
Easily confused
pinch pennies
“They pinched pennies for months before they could afford the repair.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Hardship
Learn it with its set