我们原先以为过更加精打细算的生活是我们不得不做的一种牺牲，但结果它反而是一种好处。

We had assumed that living a more budget-conscious life would be one of the sacrifices we would have to make; instead, it was turning out to be one of the benefits.

youdao

他在生活的各个方面都精打细算。

He was economical in all areas of his life.

《牛津词典》

那么精打细算后卖掉自己分得的一些救济品就再自然不过了——不是因为他们分得的太多，而是因为这是唯一可以挣到钱买其他生活必需品的途径。

So selling the rations seems the natural thing to do-not, one adds earnestly, that they are given too much. Rather, it is the only way to earn money to pay for other needs.

youdao

So in a sense the fact that there's a more critical screen, there's more of a careful thought process, the fact that customers are pickier with their money today, all of that really is a chance to make people better.

所以实际上，如果环境更为挑剔，人们的构思过程就会更为严谨细致，现在的消费者花每一分钱都精打细算，这其中产生的是让人们生活的更好的商机。

斯坦福公开课 - 微软CEO-Steve.Ballmer谈科技的未来课程节选