What is a verb that means 'to make a small amount of money last for several days'?

It happens to me every month particularly the last week. I have a little amount of money. I have to manage the expenses till I get my salary. So I make such a small amount of money last for several days.

It happens not only in the matter of money but grocery items also. Is there any word to imply the activity "making something little last for several days"?

I need single word (a verb) for the verbal phrase 'make a small amount of money last for several days'.


One useful word for "making something little last for several days" is eke, which is always used with an object and out.

[with object] (eke something out)
1 Make an amount or supply of something last longer by using or consuming it frugally:
the remains of yesterday’s stew could be eked out to make another meal

1.1 Manage to make a living with difficulty:
many traders barely eked out a living

[ODO]

You are eking out your salary and food.


You want the idiomatic use of the verb stretch meaning "last or cause to last longer than expected." From Steven Smale: The Mathematician Who Broke the Dimension Barrier by Steve Batterso:

Determined to stretch the money as far as possible, he lived frugally in a tiny, windowless Greenwich Village apartment.


pinch pennies

: to stint on or be frugal or economical with expenditures; economize.

Random House

Also, scrimp or skimp (on)

: (used without object): to be sparing or frugal; economize (often followed by on): They scrimped and saved for everything they have. He spends most of his money on clothes, and scrimps on food.

: (used with object): to be sparing or restrictive of or in; limit severely: to scrimp food.

Random-House


Two that come to mind for me are conserve and scrimp. As the OP asks for a single word verb, I think conserve is probably a more well known verb, but scrimp may be the more closely matching one.

scrimp—verb—be thrifty or parsimonious; economize. (OD)

For the record, parsimonious means

parsimonious—adjective—unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal. (Google)

Here is an example of usage of scrimp and save from Collins English Dictionary:

I'm glad the Italians didn't scrimp and save and move away, like the Whatchamacallits," said Anastasia, after two mouthfuls of spaghetti.
Lowry, Lois ANASTASIA KRUPNIK (3-IN-1)