What is a Shoestring Budget?

“On a Shoestring Budget” refers to a project or task that is attempted with a small budget or minimal capital funding – which is generally insufficient for the proposed capacity of the project. A shoestring budget is likened to a shoelace that when stretched is enough to keep a pair of shoe on the foot, but parts of the foot might hang out.

How Does a Shoestring Budget Work?

While a shoestring budget is a budget is generally considered insufficient for the underlying project, there is a notion that, if a shoestring budget is stretched, the budget might just be enough for the project. Bootstrapping is a related but different concept. It refers to individuals carrying out a project with only the use of available resources.