'budget-friendly' originates from the combination of 'budget' and 'friendly', where 'budget' refers to a financial plan and 'friendly' implies being suitable or accommodating.

'budget' comes from the Old French word 'bougette', meaning 'small bag', and 'friendly' from Old English 'freondlic', meaning 'kind or helpful'.

Initially, 'budget' referred to a physical bag for money, but over time it evolved to mean a financial plan. 'Friendly' has largely retained its meaning of being kind or accommodating.