penny wise and pound foolish

The phrase "penny wise and pound foolish" refers to a tendency or habit of being excessively careful or frugal in insignificant or small matters (pennies), while simultaneously being wasteful, imprudent, or neglectful in larger or more important matters (pounds). It implies that someone may focus too much on saving money in trivial situations, but fail to consider the potential consequences or costs of their actions in the long run.