cut one's cloth to suit one's purse

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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.

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