be frugal

[bē ˈfro͞ogəl]

verb phrase

ser frugal / ser econômico

1. to spend money carefully and avoid waste; to live economically

She decided to be frugal and pack her lunch instead of eating out.

Ela decidiu ser frugal e levar seu almoço em vez de comer fora.

2. to use resources sparingly and efficiently

To save for retirement, you need to be frugal with your spending.

Para poupar para a aposentadoria, você precisa ser econômico com seus gastos.

NYC Slang

pinch pennies / tighten your belt

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

ser frugal / ser econômico

commonly used in both formal and informal contexts

Rio de Janeiro

ser frugal / ser pão duro

colloquial: 'pão duro' means stingy or tight-fisted

São Paulo

ser frugal / ser econômico

standard usage, formal language preferred

Portugal

ser frugal / ser poupado

poupado is commonly used in European Portuguese

watch your wallet

count your pennies

live within your means

tighten your belt

pinch pennies

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