Mike Dennison wrote:

With apologies to UK readers, I am using this forum to survey non-UK
amateurs about the term "on a shoestring" which the RSGB may be using in
the title of a future project.

This sounds worrying.

I have the view that the continual reference to "cheap" actually does amateur
radio more harm than good. There is an importance difference in both 
effectiveness
and image between cheap and economical.

Stewart G3YSX