be penny-wise and pound-foolish

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be penny-wise and pound-foolish

To be so concerned with saving money that one ignores larger problems and ultimately ends up spending more. I know you don't want to pay for this expensive course of treatment, but when ignoring your health lands you in the hospital, you'll see that you were penny-wise and pound-foolish.
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References in periodicals archive ?
It is easy to understand why school decisions to cut spending on cleaning and repair ("deferred maintenance") are penny-wise and pound-foolish: resulting air pollution will harm occupants and multiply the cost to repair buildings later.
Parent's Guide to School Indoor Air Quality. Revised
Dubai: Freelance butchers have surfaced once again to offer their services to residents who are penny-wise and pound-foolish and have little or no concern for the health risks that they might inflict on their families and colleagues.
Illegal butchers pose health risk
"Unfortunately, Boro are penny-wise and pound-foolish."
OFFSIDE or FAIR GAME?; You have your say on the sacking of Brendan Phillips
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