Sean Dyche believes competing financially will always be tough for Burnley, claiming even Bournemouth operate on a different level.
The Clarets broke their transfer record twice in the summer, bringing in Steven Defour for £7.5million and paying Derby £10.5m for Republic of Ireland international Jeff Hendrick.
But that came in an inflated market built on rising television revenues and Dyche was still in the bottom three spenders during the window. Saturday's opponents Bournemouth are another club who cannot match the largesse of the very top sides, but their spending came to around £40m over the summer, with Eddie Howe investing in his squad having kept them in the Premier League last term.
The Cherries have Russian owner Maxim Demin to help back their push, but Dyche understands that kind of financial muscle does not exist at Turf Moor.
"The money is a big challenge for us. We've put some into it, but it's a different club, we haven't got their backer who seemingly keeps writing the cheques," he said.
"They've spent a lot over the last two seasons. If I had I'd spend it, but this club runs in a different way.
"That can't be held against them, it's just a fact. It's who you buy and what level of the market.
"It's £15million for a young player (Jordon Ibe), £11million for (Benik) Afobe, those numbers are out of our range...£7million on a winger (Max Gradel), £8million on a left-back. They're figures we can't get to and all the wages that go with that of course.
"We are what we are and we don't really overthink what everyone else is doing."
Howe was Dyche's predecessor at Burnley, having spent a brief but ill-fitting stint at the club before returning to the south coast.
This will be his second return to Turf Moor since parting ways, but the fact that the occasion finds both teams in the top flight means that mutual appreciation is a more likely tone than underlying bitterness.
"I think they've moved on and I think we've moved on," Dyche said.
"Both clubs have done well and if there ever is a good parting of the ways I think it's probably that. He's done well there, I've come in and done well here.
"There was no messiness to it. Both clubs have moved forwards. I think he'll come up and get on with it and four years is quite a long time."
Dyche hopes to have goalkeeper Tom Heaton back in the side after two games nursing a calf injury.
The England international has been back involved in training this week and will reclaim the gloves from Paul Robinson barring unexpected complications.
Source: PA
