Penny Wise and pound foolish. 
Related proverbs
Similar proverbs in the same language
English
-
Fear not the loss of the bell more than the loss of the steeple.
-
Won with the egg and lost with the shell.
Similar proverbs in another language
French
-
Avare pour le son, prodigue pour la farine.
Stingy with bran, lavish with flour.
German
-
Die Brühe ist oft teurer als der Fisch.
The broth is often more expensive than the fish.
-
Mücken seihen und Kamele verschlingen.
Mosquitoes strain and camels devour.