skimping

Skimping is the practice of providing less of a resource, service, or quality than is appropriate or required in order to save time, money, or effort. It often involves reducing standards, scope, or thoroughness beyond reasonable limits, and is typically viewed as a short-sighted or unethical form of cost-cutting. The term is used across business, government, and everyday life.

Common domains include manufacturing and procurement, where cheaper materials, fewer quality checks, or abbreviated testing are adopted to lower upfront costs. In construction and engineering, skimping may manifest as underspecified components or inadequate supervision. In public services, staffing shortages or underfunded maintenance can produce a similar effect on reliability and safety.

Short-term savings from skimping risk long-term costs, higher failure rates, safety hazards, legal liability, and reputational damage. It can also erode customer trust and increase operating expenses through warranty costs or emergency repairs. Critics argue that skimping treats risk as a solvable problem via luck rather than through robust planning.

Mitigation relies on clear quality standards, regular audits, and risk-based budgeting. Transparent cost-benefit analyses, performance-based contracts, and accountability mechanisms can align incentives away from skimping. Related concepts include cutting corners, penny-pinching, and lean approaches when properly applied with safeguards.