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

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cut-ones-coat-according-to-ones-cloth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To live within one's means, without spending more than is affordable.

## Examples

- You must cut your coat according to your cloth to save money.
- Since our budget is smaller this year, we need to cut our coat according to our cloth and cancel the vacation.
- The family realized they had to cut their coat according to their cloth, choosing to forgo luxury purchases to ensure they could pay the mortgage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.