Get by on the cheap 🚶♀️💰
Meaning
To manage to live or function with very little money.
Origin
The phrase 'on the cheap' likely emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century, a colloquial way to describe something acquired or done without spending much money. The 'cheap' here refers to the low cost or quality. Think of someone haggling at a market, trying to get the best bargain, or a student during tough times making their last few dollars stretch. 'Getting by' is the simple act of surviving or managing, so combining the two paints a clear picture of financial resourcefulness – surviving, but with the bare minimum of funds, making do without luxuries.
Get by on the cheap represented with emoji🚶♀️💰
This playful arrangement of a walking person and a money bag underscores the everyday challenge of managing one's finances. It functions as a charming visual metaphor, inviting a dialogue on frugality and the simple, yet significant, act of 'getting by on the cheap'.
Examples
- We managed to get by on the cheap during our backpacking trip by staying in hostels.
- She learned to get by on the cheap after losing her job, cooking meals at home instead of eating out.
- My pet hamster, Reginald, insists on getting by on the cheap, subsisting solely on sunflower seeds and the occasional forgotten crumb.
- The garden gnomes are masters at getting by on the cheap, surviving the winter with just dew and moonlight for nourishment.
Frequently asked questions
'Get by on the cheap' is considered informal English, often used in everyday conversation to describe making do with limited resources. Its origins are colloquial, reflecting everyday language rather than structured or academic discourse.
The opposite of 'get by on the cheap' is to 'live lavishly' or 'spend extravagantly'. These phrases imply spending freely and without financial constraint, often on luxuries.
Yes, 'get by on the cheap' can certainly apply to services. For example, someone might 'get by on the cheap' by doing their own repairs instead of hiring a professional, or by using free online resources instead of paid subscriptions.
While it often implies low cost, 'get by on the cheap' doesn't necessarily mean the quality is poor. It means managing to accomplish something or survive using minimal funds, which could involve finding good deals or resourceful solutions rather than settling for inferior items.