28 Idioms for Affordable

Understanding Idioms on Economical Spending

In the realm of everyday language, idioms play a crucial role particularly when discussing finances. Instead of straightforward terms like "inexpensive," people often spice up conversations with colorful idiomatic expressions like "dirt cheap" or "easy on the pocket." These idioms, by their nature, don’t directly match the direct meaning of the words they comprise. Instead, they add flavor and convey meanings in a more vivid manner.

This article aims to delve into a collection of idiomatic expressions that imply something is reasonably priced or very inexpensive. Each idiom will be defined, used in context, and synonymous phrases will be provided for alternative ways of expression. This will be particularly useful for enhancing your communication skills at school, during shopping, or in casual conversations.

Idioms for Cost-Effective Options

1. Nickel and Dime

   • Meaning: Something very cheap
   • In a Sentence: I picked up these colorful coasters for just a nickel and dime at the flea market.
   • Other Ways to Say It: Very inexpensive / Minimal cost

2. Pocket Change

   • Meaning: Costing so little it’s like spending spare coins
   • In a Sentence: That vintage lamp was bought with just pocket change at the yard sale.
   • Other Ways to Say It: Costs pennies / Inexpensive

3. Won’t cost an arm and a leg

   • Meaning: Not very expensive
   • In a Sentence: This new laptop model won’t cost an arm and a leg but still performs well.
   • Other Ways to Say It: Affordable / Reasonably priced

4. Peanut Price

   • Meaning: Extremely low cost
   • In a Sentence: We managed to get our hands on some designer jeans at a peanut price during the off-season sale.
   • Other Ways to Say It: Dirt cheap / Very low priced

5. More bang for the buck

   • Meaning: Better value for money
   • In a Sentence: Opting for this smartphone model gives you more bang for the buck with its additional features.
   • Other Ways to Say It: Better value / Cost-effective

6. Cheaper by the dozen

   • Meaning: Less expensive when bought in larger quantities
   • In a Sentence: These mugs are cheaper by the dozen, so why not stock up?
   • Other Ways to Say It: Bulk discount / Economical in bulk

7. Thrifty buy

   • Meaning: A purchase that smartly avoids unnecessary expense
   • In a Sentence: Buying off-brand cleaning supplies was a thrifty buy that saved us a lot of money.
   • Other Ways to Say It: Economical purchase / Smart shopping
8. Budget-wise
   • Meaning: Economical and money-saving
   • In a Sentence: Choosing generic brands for your groceries is very budget-wise.
   • Other Ways to Say It: Cost-effective / Economical

Practice Exercise

Test your understanding by filling in the blanks with the appropriate idiom discussed earlier.

1. I always buy these snacks in bulk because they’re ___.
2. Those handcrafted candles were just ___, hardly cost me anything.
3. Planning a wedding doesn’t have to ___ if you plan wisely.
4. He found a ___ on that secondhand bike, barely spent much.
5. Our vacation was ___; we enjoyed without splurging.

Answers

1. Cheaper by the dozen
2. Nickel and dime
3. Won’t cost an arm and a leg
4. Thrifty buy
5. Budget-wise

Conclusion

Mastering these idioms will refine your ability to describe prices in an engaging and relatable manner. Whether you’re trying to convey affordability or excellence in value, these phrases enrich your vocabulary and make your expressions more native-like. Have fun using them in your dialogues or in writing to effectively communicate value without overusing common adjectives like “cheap” or “affordable.”