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A Penny for Their Thoughts

Blog | March 1st, 2012

            We’re not the first people with financial problems. Generations before us also worried about money. Saving, spending, buying and selling. It’s nothing new, so let’s take a look at what some of the bright minds of the past and present have to say about the matter. 

“I don’t care too much for money, ‘cause money can’t buy me love.” –The Beatles

            What it means: Of course, John, Paul, George and Ringo are telling us, like we’ve heard before, that the best things in life often don’t cost a cent. Is the song stuck in your head yet?

“The mint makes it first, it is up to you to make it last.” –Evan Esar

            What it means: The American humorist made a clever play on words, but not without wisdom. Nobody but you is in control of stretching your dollars, milking your money for all it’s worth.

“If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.” –Benjamin Franklin

            What it means: Mr. Franklin knew that making money, of course, is great! However, if you want to be wealthy, you’ll also have to learn the value of saving.

“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.” –Will Smith

            What it means: The Fresh Prince is making a point to be conscious of why you’re making a purchase. Do you need this item, or do you just feel that way?

“Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail.” –Richard “Kinky” Friedman

            What it means: Money can only get you so far. Friedman, a famous author and musician, is saying that money can’t buy you happiness but with the right attitude, it can do some great things.

“The safest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it in your pocket.” –Kin Hubbard

            What it means: The journalist and humorist is actually making a great point. There’s no trick to making your money grow; no easy way to become wealthy. The only tried-and-true way to keep your money is to save it.

“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” – Benjamin Franklin

            What it means: Ben’s back, and saying that if you take your work seriously, you will be rewarded. Punctuality and dedication will take you where you want to go.

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.” –Charles Dickens

            What it means: Sure, the English author is using a foreign currency, but the point remains clear: Spend less than you earn and you’ll be happy! Spend more than you earn and you’ll find yourself buried in debt. Charles accurately describes this as “misery”.

“Every day I get up and I look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work.” –Robert Orben

            What it means: The comedic writer found a clever way of reminding us that, while we’d all like to make a billion dollars, fly around in private jets and live in a castle, most of us will have to get up and go to work every day to stay afloat. Again, there are no shortcuts. We need to keep working to keep making money.

“If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.” –James Goldsmith

            What it means: The billionaire was restating the age-old idiom: “You get what you pay for”. You can save money in the long run by buying quality products and services, instead of “monkeys”.