A reserve is different from a refusal
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
After accepting the project, Noor made a provident plan that set aside funds for replacement supplies and a quieter month after the deadline. Her studio partner called every purchase wasteful and grew so parsimonious that he opposed replacing a worn tool needed for accurate work. Noor thought prudence required comparing the purpose and consequences of each expense. Preparing for future needs could justify saving money, but it could also justify spending enough to keep the studio functional.
A provident decision looked beyond the attractive payment to the work that would follow it. Noor used prudence when she checked which supplies were essential, which could be repaired, and which could wait. Her partner's parsimonious refusal to approve even a necessary replacement threatened to slow the commission and waste their time. They eventually agreed on a reserve for future needs and a limited purchase that allowed the current work to proceed reliably.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.