save up every penny, save every bit

pay every penny, pay in full

pay every penny, pay in full

be reduced to abject poverty

receive in full, be paid every single penny

every penny

to beg, implore

To be pinched for every cowrie, to be in great distress, to be reduced to a beggary.

cowrie, small shell (formerly used as a coin)

be very greedy, run a mile for a penny

mean or worthless person

worth two cowries, worthless

shell with a hole in it, bad penny

bit of money of the lowest value, very small amount of money

present a far-fetched idea or argument

has no money

has no money

hit upon a novel idea

Strain at the gnat and swallow a camel.