beyond their budget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beyond their budget" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means something is too expensive or costly for a person or group to afford. Example: The couple fell in love with the beautiful house, but unfortunately, it was beyond their budget. They ended up purchasing a smaller, more affordable home instead.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But the properties were beyond their budget, he said.

The New York Times

A single unit was about $3,500 £2,3700), which was well beyond their budget.

The Guardian

But doing a proper modern and minimal interior proved beyond their budget.

The New York Times

But they quickly realized that nearby neighborhoods, like Laurelton and Rosedale, were beyond their budget.

The New York Times

Most of Manhattan was beyond their budget, but plenty of new developments elsewhere in the city fit their bill.

The New York Times

With the Port Authority's insurance requirements in mind, he assumed filming on the bridge would be beyond their budget.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Retailers tend to benefit from credit card spending, as it often means people are spending beyond their budgets.

The New York Times

Locals, too, would board at each port of call since easyCruise offered them a way to visit nearby islands that might otherwise lie beyond their budgets.

The New York Times - Travel

DataKind - the overarching organisation of which DataKind UK is a chapter - aims to address this imbalance, creating opportunities for nonprofit organisations to take advantage of skillsets that would otherwise be far beyond their budgets.

The Guardian

It's one of the main reasons why people think travel is a luxury beyond their budgets.

Vice

According to estimates culled from companies and Wall Street analysts, United States news companies may have already spent as much as $100 million beyond their previous budgets to report the conflict.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing financial constraints, consider the audience and context. "Beyond their budget" is suitable for general use, but more specific phrases may be appropriate in technical or formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using overly casual synonyms in formal writing. While phrases like "out of their league" might convey a similar meaning, they lack the professionalism of "beyond their budget".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beyond their budget" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating that something is not affordable or is too expensive for a particular person or group. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and common usage. It modifies a noun or verb by expressing a limit or constraint related to financial resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beyond their budget" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something is unaffordable. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely used in News & Media, indicating that it's a neutral and easily understood expression. When writing, consider the context and audience to choose the most appropriate synonym, balancing clarity with the desired level of formality. Be mindful of potential misinterpretations and ensure the chosen phrase accurately reflects the financial constraint being described. "Beyond their budget" is often interchangeable with phrases like "unaffordable for them" or "outside their price range".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unaffordable for them

Focuses directly on the lack of affordability.

exceeds their financial means

More formal, highlighting the financial resources available.

outside their price range

Emphasizes the pricing aspect, common in retail contexts.

not within their financial reach

Highlights the impossibility of attaining something financially.

they cannot afford it

Direct and simple statement of inability to pay.

too costly for them

Focuses on the high cost as the barrier.

financially unattainable

Emphasizes the absolute inability to obtain due to finances.

prohibitively expensive for them

Highlights that the expense is a significant obstacle.

over their spending limit

Relates to a pre-set limit that has been surpassed.

more than they can spend

Simple and direct alternative with a focus on spending ability.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "beyond their budget" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "exceeds their financial means" or "not within their financial reach".

What's a simpler way to say "beyond their budget"?

Simpler options include "they cannot afford it" or "too costly for them".

Is it correct to say "over their budget" instead of "beyond their budget"?

While "over their budget" can be used, it typically refers to exceeding an allocated amount. "Beyond their budget" more broadly suggests something is unaffordable, regardless of a specific budget being set.

How does "outside their price range" compare to "beyond their budget"?

"Outside their price range" is very similar but often used in the context of shopping or purchasing specific items, whereas "beyond their budget" can apply to broader financial limitations.