on a shoestring

You usually use this phrase with the preposition on. You can say you are 'living on a shoestring' or 'running a business on a shoestring'. It often follows verbs like start, run, operate, or manage. It functions like an adverb to describe your financial situation. If you are traveling and sleeping in hostels to save every penny, you are traveling on a shoestring.

This is perfect for talking about startups or new creative projects. Use it when you want to sound impressed by someone's budgeting skills. It works well at a coffee shop with friends or in a casual office meeting. You might use it when explaining why you can't go to that fancy steakhouse tonight. It sounds more humble and descriptive than just saying 'I am poor.'

Avoid this in very stiff, formal legal documents or high-level banking reports. Do not use it to describe a billionaire who is just being stingy. That is just being 'frugal' or 'cheap.' On a shoestring implies that there actually isn't much money available to begin with. Also, do not use it for things that are naturally free, like taking a nap.

This phrase likely comes from 19th-century street peddlers. These sellers were so poor they only had enough money to buy a few shoelaces to sell. Over time, it became a symbol for any small-scale business. In British and American culture, there is a certain respect for the 'shoestring' budget. It shows you have grit and creativity. People love a 'rags-to-riches' story that starts on a shoestring.

You will often hear the compound adjective shoestring budget. For example: 'We are working with a shoestring budget this month.' Sometimes people just say on a string, but that is much less common and can be confusing. Stick to the classic on a shoestring to sound most natural. It is a favorite phrase for travel bloggers and indie filmmakers everywhere.