a sensible budget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sensible budget" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a budget that is reasonable, practical, and well thought out. Example: "After reviewing our expenses, we decided to create a sensible budget that would help us save money while still covering our essential needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

"We now have an opportunity to focus on a sensible budget that is responsible, that is fair, and that helps hardworking people all across this country," he said.

The New York Times

They don't want borrowing, even carefully packaged borrowing as part of a sensible budget reform proposed by Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch.

The New York Times

"It's a sensible budget which addresses some of the anxieties that were bothering the market," said Abheek Barua, chief economist at HDFC Bank.

The New York Times

Other proposals seem marginal and, indeed, could sidetrack the governor and Legislature from their primary mission, which is to pass a sensible budget.

The New York Times

What you're going to get is a sensible budget, a budget for the times in which we live, a budget for the future of the country".

The Guardian

"Democrats and some reasonable Republicans are willing to raise the debt ceiling and pass a sensible budget – one that cuts spending on what we don't need so we can invest in what we do.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

In any sensible budget agreement, the aim should be to insure that all big companies pay their fair share of taxes, rather than using elaborate avoidance schemes.

The New Yorker

We may nonetheless end up with a halfway sensible budget deal.

The New Yorker

That's why sensible budget plans involve a short-term stimulus combined with long-term trims that take effect when the economy is healthy again.

The New York Times

Of course you remember the big, bipartisan budget deal in 2011, with all the automatic, irrational cuts to federal agencies that would go away as soon as Congress came up with a sensible bipartisan budget plan.

The New York Times

So research funders should demand a sensible conference budget in any proposal, and outside particular research projects, academic institutions should fund conferences seriously as places where networking can incubate new ideas and refine old ones.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advocating for "a sensible budget", provide specific examples of how it balances needs with available resources to enhance credibility.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling a budget as "sensible" without outlining the rationale behind its key allocations and trade-offs. Demonstrate its practicality through clear justifications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sensible budget" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "sensible" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "budget". Ludwig provides examples that showcase its use in various contexts, generally to describe a financial plan that is rational and practical.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a sensible budget" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression that describes a financial plan characterized by rationality and practicality. As confirmed by Ludwig, it often conveys advocacy for a responsible approach to balancing financial needs and resources. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various communication settings. Related phrases include "a reasonable budget" and "a practical budget", offering similar semantic meanings. To enhance credibility, it's best practice to substantiate the "sensibility" of a budget with concrete examples of its key allocations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonable budget

Replaces "sensible" with "reasonable", implying fairness and moderation.

a practical budget

Substitutes "sensible" with "practical", emphasizing feasibility and utility.

a sound budget

Uses "sound" instead of "sensible", suggesting stability and good judgment.

a prudent budget

Replaces "sensible" with "prudent", highlighting carefulness and foresight.

a responsible budget

Substitutes "sensible" with "responsible", stressing accountability and obligation.

a well-considered budget

Rephrases the idea to focus on the thoughtfulness and deliberation behind the budget.

a balanced budget

Implies equilibrium between income and expenditure, removing the explicit assessment of sensibility.

a fiscally conservative budget

Adds the dimension of fiscal conservatism, indicating a focus on minimizing spending and debt.

a sustainable budget

Emphasizes the long-term viability and ability of the budget to be maintained.

a realistic budget

Focuses on the budget being achievable and grounded in reality.

FAQs

What does "a sensible budget" mean?

The phrase "a sensible budget" refers to a financial plan that is rational, practical, and well-considered, balancing needs with available resources.

What can I say instead of "a sensible budget"?

You can use alternatives like "a reasonable budget", "a practical budget", or "a sound budget" depending on the context.

How is "a sensible budget" different from "a balanced budget"?

While both terms relate to financial planning, "a sensible budget" emphasizes rationality and practicality, whereas "a balanced budget" focuses specifically on ensuring that income equals expenditure.

Is it correct to describe a budget as "sensible"?

Yes, describing a budget as "sensible" is grammatically correct and widely accepted, especially when the budget is well-thought-out and addresses financial realities effectively. Ludwig confirms this usage.