無い袖は振れぬ (ないそではふれぬ): you can't give (use) what you don't have; nothing comes from nothing; you can't shake sleeves you don't have

you can't give (use) what you don't have; nothing comes from nothing; you can't shake sleeves you don't have

A frank admission of having nothing to give, usually about money. You cannot shake sleeves you do not have.

A Japanese proverb (ことわざ)