量入为出 Live within one's means
Explanation
量入为出，汉语成语，意思是根据收入的多少来定开支的限度。
Liàng rù wéi chū, a Chinese idiom, means to determine the limit of expenditure according to the amount of income.
Origin Story
话说三国时期，蜀国丞相诸葛亮在治理蜀国时，十分注重财政管理。蜀国地处偏远，资源贫瘠，国库收入有限。为了使国家经济不至于崩溃，诸葛亮采取了严格的量入为出的政策。他详细调查了蜀国的财政状况，根据实际收入制定了详细的开支计划。在日常生活中，诸葛亮也身体力行，从不铺张浪费，他常说：“治国如家，量入为出，才能家国兴旺。”他还教育臣民们节俭，不随意浪费粮食和物资。通过诸葛亮的努力，蜀国在有限的资源下，经济稳定发展，人民生活也得到了改善，体现了量入为出的重要性。
In the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of Shu, placed great emphasis on financial management. Shu was located in a remote area with scarce resources and limited national revenue. To prevent the nation's economy from collapsing, Zhuge Liang implemented a strict policy of balancing revenue and expenditure. He carefully investigated the financial situation of Shu and established a detailed spending plan based on actual revenue. In his daily life, Zhuge Liang also practiced frugality, never wasting resources. He often said, “Governing a country is like managing a household; balancing revenue and expenditure is crucial for both national and household prosperity.” He also educated his people on frugality, encouraging them to avoid wasteful use of food and materials. Thanks to Zhuge Liang’s efforts, Shu experienced stable economic development under limited resources, improving the people’s lives. This illustrates the importance of controlling expenses according to income.
Usage
用来劝诫人们要根据自身的收入来安排开支，不要大手大脚，入不敷出。
It serves as a warning to people to arrange their expenses according to their income and not to spend lavishly, resulting in insufficient income.
Examples
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我们应该量入为出，避免过度消费。
wǒmen yīnggāi liàng rù wéi chū, bìmiǎn guòdù xiāofèi. guójiā cáizhèng yào liàng rù wéi chū, cáinéng bǎozhèng jīngjì de wěndìng fāzhǎn
We should live within our means and avoid excessive spending.
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国家财政要量入为出，才能保证经济的稳定发展。
The national treasury should be managed within its means to ensure the stable economic development.