tighten the purse strings

verb1

•
To decrease spending or disallow increased spending; to increase control of spending.
- ...would have the opposite effect entirely, and would tighten the purse-strings of capitalists and the employers of... — 1894

forms

tightened the purse strings · tightened the purse-strings · tightening the purse strings · tightening the purse-strings · tightens the purse strings · tightens the purse-strings