stretch (one's) legs according to the coverlet

stretch (one's) legs according to the coverlet

To not spend more money than one makes; to adapt to one's current financial situation. The image is of one positioning oneself as best as possible in a bed that is too small. This new job doesn't pay as well as my old one, so I really need to stretch my legs according to the coverlet and budget responsibly.See also: accord, leg, stretch