one can afford to buy a horse but cannot afford the saddle—spend money extravagantly but grudgetrifling expenses ❍ 你看这～的事么！有本儿开铺子，倒没有橱柜了。(《醒世因缘》七十一) Have you ever seen aman who can afford to buy a horse but can’t afford the saddle? You’ve got the capital to set up a shop but you can’t afford the cupboards.