A penny saved is a penny earned
Advice saying that it’s good to save money. When money is saved, it is as good as money that is earned
She runs her own business and does all the work herself because she believes that a penny saved is a penny earned
When I travel, I prefer to stay at a hostel instead of an expensive hotel because I think that a penny saved is a penny earned
John doesn’t make a lot of money, so he’s very cautious in using his money. He supposes that a penny saved is a penny earned

 Beyond one’s means
 To spend more money than you can afford
The trip was just beyond our means
The living expenses in big cities are beyond my means, so I’d rather live in the suburbs
Can I see a cheaper one, please? This expensive fridge is just beyond my means

Someone’s bread and butter
 Someone’s basic income, someone’s livelihood, a job or activity that helps you earn money for your living
His family’s bread and butter comes from his small business
Tutoring is her bread and butter right now
I am financially dependent on my parents but I am going to earn my bread and butter after I graduate

Cut one’s losses
 To stop doing an activity that causes losses or damage, to withdraw from a bad situation before it gets worse
They decided to stop the unprofitable project to cut their losses
To cut our losses, we must be cautious in dealing with this financial issue
A real finance manager must know how to cut our losses in case our business doesn’t work out

 Down-and-out
 (adj) having no money, no job and no home
(n) a person who has no money, no job and no home

She left him when he was down-and-out
That old man is a down-and-out, coming over twice a week to take the leftover food
After the bankruptcy, he became a down-and-out

 Dutch treat
Go Dutch
 Dutch treat: a situation or a meal in which each person pays for himself or herself
Go Dutch: to pay one’s own share instead of for the whole meal

It was our first date and we had a Dutch treat dinner together
Why don’t we go Dutch? Sharing is always good
Let’s go Dutch today. I’ll pay for my order

 Money talks
 Money is so powerful, it can get things done or help a person get his or her own way
That she won the beauty pageant is understandable. Money talks
Who doesn’t think that he will be promoted? His dad is a millionaire and money talks
Don’t worry. I can handle this scandal. I’ll see Mr. George, the chief editor of the newspaper, as money talks

Bring home the bacon
 To go out to work and earn money for the family, to succeed and achieve what you want
In my family, my dad is the one who brings home the bacon while my mom stays at home and takes care of us
Finally, I got a job after two years of unemployment. I can bring home the bacon now
We work so hard on this YouTube series because we hope that it will bring home the bacon

 At all costs
 You use this to say that you’re determined to achieve what you want, no matter how hard or dangerous it is. Nothing or no one can prevent you from achieving your goal
I’ll be the winner at all costs
The director asked the finance staff to prevent the losses at all costs
I’ll win her heart at all costs

 Earn a living
 To earn money to pay for food, housing, clothing, etc
She’s financially independent. She can earn her own living
I have to work very hard to earn my living
Earning a living seems hard for single moms

Money doesn’t grow on trees
 Be careful about spending money because it’s very hard to earn
I wanted to have a new car but then I changed my mind because my old car was still in good condition. My mom always reminds me that money doesn’t grow on trees
I can’t believe that you would spend your full salary on this silly tour. Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know
Parents must teach their kids that money doesn’t grow on trees

Pour money down the drain
 To waste money, to spend money incautiously
This second-hand fridge isn’t working well. Buying it is just pouring money down the drain
You’re pouring money down the drain. What a waste! We never use cookers in our home. We never cook
Don’t pour money down the drain by buying that low-quality computer. It’s going to break soon

Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
 Be born into a very rich family, be rich from birth
He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so he has never known what hard work is
Those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth need to learn how to use money economically
Although she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she lives a very modest life