tighten one's belt

"And the first person who needs to tighten his belt is the President."

In other words, it would have to tighten its belt.

So everyone in this town is going to have to tighten his belt a bit.

We have tightened our belts; everything is ready for such a situation.

In these difficult times, Americans have had to tighten their belts and learn to do more with less.

So when families have to "tighten their belt" what goes first?

Looks to me that we all need to tighten our belts.

And they're asking the poor people to tighten their belts.

And with Americans across the country tightening their belts, it is time for the federal government to do the same.

The question comes up often as the government tightens its belt.