Crossword Genius

The way to have very little money by the end of the month (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

south

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'the way' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'very little money by the end of the month' is the wordplay.
'very little money' becomes 'sou' (sou can mean a small amount of money).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the' becomes 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects).
'end of the' says to take the final letters.
The final letter of 'month' is 'h'.
'sou'+'t'+'h'='SOUTH'

'to have' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for south that I've seen before include "1949 musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, made into a film in 1958" , "Compass point" , "Down on a map" , "Direction to the right of sunrise" , "Cardinal point" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app