他很節儉，他的床鋪中間下陷，房間家俱也很簡樸。
(sag下陷，動詞時態是sagged, sagging；furnishings = furniture；spartan意為簡陋的=bare； spartan本是古希臘奴隸制度城邦斯巴達，這裡是普通形容詞，s不大寫)
Due to a tight budget, we have cut till we are lean and mean.
由於預算緊縮，我們已經削減到了貧乏和刻薄的程度。
(lean 變瘦，貧乏；mean刻薄，兇惡)
With minimum-wage income, he finds little fat to trim in his budget.
以他最低工資的收入，他的預算沒有再削減的餘地。
(fat 這裡指額外的錢；trim 修剪，削減，動詞時態是trimmed, trimming)
For many families, the belt-tightening is about survival.
對許多家庭來說，束緊褲帶省吃儉用，只是為幸免於死。
(belt-tightening 當名詞用；survival幸存，殘存)
Some people don't know how they are going to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.
有些人不知如何保持桌上有飯菜，頭上有屋頂。
(a roof over one's head棲身之處)
Everyone wants his or her dollar to stretch as far as it can go.
每個人都要把他/她的錢，盡量發揮到最大效用。
(to stretch拉長，節儉地延長使用)
Many American teens are in a bind because of the tougher job market.
由於職場工作難找，許多老美年輕人陷入困境。
(bind捆綁，to be in a bind陷入困境= to have a hard time)
With a tight budget, we are working under a cloud of uncertainty.
預算的緊縮，使我們在不穩定的陰影下工作。
Nowadays, many people try to leave their credit cards behind and use cash.
現在許多人不用信用卡而用現鈔。
(to leave something behind 不帶某件東西)
He has fallen behind on his mortgage payment and may face foreclosure.
他拖欠房貸付款，也許面臨銀行收房拍賣。
(to fall behind落在……之後，拖欠)
He is not only running out of money, but also out of luck.
他不但沒有錢，運氣也不好。
By earning overtime in a no-pay-raise year, he may have the chance to rake in some extra income.
在一個不加薪的年度裡，賺些加班費也是他獲得額外收入的機會。
(to rake in歛集)
We try to cut back across the board and (to) avoid anything that costs an arm and a leg.
我們想要全面節省，而且要避免昂貴的東西。
(across the board 全面性的；to cost an arm and a leg 花很多錢，非常昂貴)
More young adults move back in with their parents because of finances.
由於經濟緣故，許多成年人搬回與父母同住。
The stress of being the sole breadwinner has taken its toll on his health.
作為唯一賺錢養家者的壓力，使他健康受損。
(sole breadwinner 唯一養家的人)
Many would-be retirees have watched their savings dwindle and health care costs soar.
許多將要退休的人，看到存款縮小，而健保開支猛增。
(dwindle 逐漸縮小，減少= decrease；soar高飛，猛增= increase)
During this tight budget, don't count on him to open up his wallet too wide for charity.
在這預算緊縮之際，不要指望他能為慈善大力捐款。
(to count on someone 依靠某人；to open up one's wallet wide 照字義，把錢包開得很大，拿錢出來)
All he seems to care about is saving money.
他所在乎的就是省錢。
He used to be a big spender and is currently in debt up to his ears.
他過去揮金如土，如今債台高築。
( to be in debt up to one's ears或neck照字義，欠債高到耳朵)
He worries about making ends meet and cuts back on air conditioning and food.
他擔心能否勉強維持生計，並且削減冷氣和食物開支。
(to make ends meet 使收支相抵，勉強維持生活)
With his low wages, he just wants to earn a very modest living.
以他的低工資，他只想過非常儉樸的生活。
( to earn a living = to make a living 謀生)
(下期待續)
