One of the most enjoyable parts of making money is getting to spend it. And when done right, it doesn't have to have a negative impact on your long-term finances.
Below is a collection of quotes about spending money wisely that show the importance of spending, how it can be done mindfully, how to make smarter purchasing decisions, and more.
For each quote, we also provide a simple takeaway to give you another perspective on the meaning and lesson within.
But:
Before we get to all that smart stuff, let's look at some relatable and funny money spending quotes to lighten the mood…
Funny Quotes About Spending Money
“I was meant to be rich, I can tell by the way I spend money.”
– Unknown
Takeaway: Unfortunately the universe doesn't automatically award big spenders with cash money paychecks. But hey, if you're a big spender, at least use some of these apps that pay you to shop.
“Spending money comes in stages, like going broke.”
– Ann Robinson
Takeaway: Funny, but true. If you're not careful, a small spending problem can gradually build up until there's nothing left to spend. And sometimes that's only the beginning. If the habit continues and turns into mountains of credit card debt, the road to recovery can be a very difficult one.
“The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your back pocket.”
– Will Roberts
Takeaway: In the perspective of spending, folding a $100 bill in half doesn't immediately turn it into $200. But, saving that money for future use can result in finding a much more fulfilling or productive use for that money.
“A bargain is something you can’t use at a price you can’t resist.”
– Franklin Jones
Takeaway: Big spender or not, deals are something a lot of us can't resist. And in most cases, they're really great to find. Just make sure you're not getting swindled into buying something you don't need just because it's on for a good price. If you don't need it at full price, you probably don't need it on sale either.
“Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.”
– Oscar Wilde
Takeaway: This is more a quote on life rather than a funny quote on spending money, but think about it this way: for one, spending money isn't the only thing in life. There are plenty of free ways to have a good time. It's also a good reminder to get creative with how you utilize your money. If you're a big buyer of things, why not switch it up and spend your money on an experience instead? Being a little imaginative with your spending can bring about new and exciting things in life.
“They say money talks, but all mine ever says is ‘good-bye sucker.”
– Jill Shalvis
Takeaway: If you can relate to this quote about spending money, you might be overspending!
“Budget: a mathematical confirmation of your suspicions.”
– A.A. Latimer
Takeaway: If you like spending money and you haven't started a budget yet, it's probably a good idea to do so. Tracking your expenses, writing things down, and seeing where your money is actually going can go a long way in helping you reign in your spending habits.
“The waste of money cures itself, for soon there is no more to waste.”
– M.W. Harrison
Takeaway: Wasting money here and there might seem harmless at first. That is, until you check your bank account and wonder where everything went (and why there's nothing to show for it).
Quotes On Spending Money Wisely
“Just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you should buy it.”
– Suze Orman
Takeaway: Be thoughtful with how you spend your cash. Even if the cost isn't huge, consider if there are better ways to use your money.
“Wealth is largely the result of habit.”
– John Jacob Astor
Takeaway: Spend your money wisely and you're more likely to build wealth. Spend it recklessly and you'll likely experience the opposite, no matter how much you earn.
“Any fool can spend money. But to earn it and save it and defer gratification – then you learn to value it differently.”
– Malcolm Gladwell
Takeaway: Before you spend, remember how hard you worked to earn and save that money. Don't let that effort go to waste. Value your money, time, and effort, and you'll have a much easier time spending wisely.
“Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have, so spend it wisely.”
– Kay Lyons
Takeaway: While this isn't necessarily a quote about spending money wisely (it's more about time), it's a good reminder to use all of the resources at your disposal in a wise and meaningful way. You can't change the past, and the future remains uncertain, so maximize the value of the present.
“To acquire money requires valor, to keep money requires prudence, and to spend money well is an art.”
– Berthold Auerbach
Takeaway: Don't spend your money mindlessly. You should put the same amount of care and intention into spending your money as you do for earning and managing it.
“Spending money to show people how much money you have is the fastest way to have less money.”
– Morgan Housel
Takeaway: Trying to keep up with the Joneses or impress people with your wealth is a waste of time, effort, and money. And in the end, it's not likely to attract the right friends anyway. Try to avoid letting others influence the way you spend your money.
“Almost any man knows how to earn money, but not one in a million knows how to spend it.”
– Henry David Thoreau
Takeaway: There are many ways to earn money, and there are many ways bad spending habits can make that money go to waste. Learn how to spend your money wisely and your financial situation will be ahead of most others.
“Money is of no value; it cannot spend itself. All depends on the skill of the spender.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Takeaway: The value of your money is ultimately decided by how wisely you spend it. $100 in the hands of one person may have a much larger impact or return than that same $100 in the hands of another.
“Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don't have for something they don't need.”
– Will Rogers
Takeaway: The next time you see an advertisement that really tempts you to make a purchase, remember this money spending quote and ask yourself, “Do I really need it?”
“Getting money is like digging with a needle, spending it is like water soaking into sand.”
– Japanese Proverb
Takeaway: Making money is hard (and sometimes slow), while spending it is easy. Be careful.
“You can have a Masters degree in making money, but you will still wind up broke if you have a PhD in spending it.”
– Orrin Woodward
Takeaway: Poor spending habits can cause even the highest of earners to go broke. Learn how to control your spending early on and that practice will stick with you as your income rises.
“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Takeaway: Here's another money spending quote similar to the one above. One small expense probably won't make a big impact on your finances, but a collection of consistent small expenses can.
“Focus not on what you earn, focus on how you spend what you earn.”
– Stephen Magnus
Takeaway: When it comes to tracking your finances, keeping track of your income is the easy part. Tracking and controlling how you spend — that's the tough part. It's also one of the most important aspects of personal finance.
“If money is spent in the wrong way, then ‘control’ the spending and if the money is spent in the right way, then ‘decontrol’ the spending.”
– Dada Bhagwan
Takeaway: If you're noticing that you're not staying within your budget and your spending is starting to stress you out, it's probably time to tighten up a bit. On the other hand, if you're doing well in controlling your spending and making wise purchases, don't be afraid to reward yourself now and then.
“If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.”
– Vicki Robin
Takeaway: The pursuit of having everything can be an endless cycle. Learning to appreciate what you already have will not only help you spend less, it'll also lead to a much happier life.
“Having loads of money doesn’t make you a better person…spending it smart does.”
– Ziad K. Abdelnour
Takeaway: If you can spend your money in ways that have a positive impact on your life and the lives of those around you, that says a lot more about your character than the mere accumulation of wealth does.
“The way to stop financial joyriding is to arrest the chauffeur, not the automobile.”
– Woodrow Wilson
Takeaway: If your spending is out of control, things like cutting expenses or restricting your access to money can be a potential solution. But, it's also essential to get down to the root cause of the habits, decisions, and other factors that are leading to those big splurges. Modify your overall money mindset and behaviors and you'll be much more likely to achieve long-term financial stability.
“More people should learn to tell their dollars where to go instead of asking them where they went.”
– Roger Babson
Takeaway: Plan and prepare for your spending in advance. Make a budget. Create sinking funds. Build an emergency fund. All of these things will make your finances much more predictable and secure.
“Every time you spend money you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
– Anna Lappe
Takeaway: Your dollars have a larger impact on the world than you might think. When you spend money on something, you're showing support for that product, service, brand, etc. That, in turn, influences the market as a whole. Make mindful spending choices that align with your vision of the future.
“The real cost of a four-dollar-a-day coffee habit over 20 years is $51,833.79. That’s the power of the Compound Effect.”
– Darren Hardy
Takeaway: Although small expenses aren't always the root cause of financial troubles, they can add up, especially when you consider how much that money you spent could have been worth if you invested it. If you're currently wasting money away on things you don't use or don't need, think about how that money could be used elsewhere.
“Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people that they don't like.”
– Will Rogers
Takeaway: This is another money spending quote about the importance of not letting other people influence what you do with your money. It's better to be happy living below your means than it is to be broke trying to look rich.
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Takeaway: When you're shopping for something new, don't sacrifice quality for savings. A high quality item or service may cost more money upfront, but it'll also last longer and work better. Cheap things tend to need to be replaced more often and will cost you in the long run. As they say, you get what you pay for!
“Once you really accept that spending money doesn’t equal happiness, you have half the battle won.”
– Ernest Callenbach
Takeaway: Trying to create happiness by spending your money on material possessions will never work. That said, using your money to create experiences, help others, fund passions and personal growth, and similar, can bring a lot of joy and fulfillment.
“By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest.”
– Agesilaus
Takeaway: Spending less may not lead to more things, but it can lead to more freedom.
“Money amassed either serves us or rules us.”
– Horace
Takeaway: If, as you make more money, you also continue to spend more and more, it'll become harder and harder to sustain your lifestyle. And if you don't invest for the future, you'll end up trapped in a job (that you might not like) just to fund this lifestyle you created.
“The time making money should be greater than the time that you are spending money.”
– Sophia Amoruso
Takeaway: James Clear talks about breaking bad habits and replacing them with good ones. If shopping is a bad habit for you that you spend a lot of time doing (whether it's online or in-store), try spending some of that time on something that earns you money. There are plenty of ways to make extra money on the side.
“A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man because he has both enjoyments.”
– Samuel Johnson
Takeaway: The key to a healthy bank and a healthy life is to balance your spending and your savings. Too much of one or the other can lead to unhappiness.
“Money looks better in the bank than on your feet.”
– Sophia Amoruso
Takeaway: Splurging on items might bring some temporary satisfaction and a confidence boost, but if it's at the cost of your financial health, the feeling will be short lived. Prioritize your finances first and create smart savings goals for fun purchases.
“Greed is when you get overly excited about your paycheck and spend it in a minute.”
– Robert T. Kiyosaki
Takeaway: If you're living paycheck to paycheck not due to necessity, but because of the temptation of impulsive purchases and immediate gratification, you'll never be able to build wealth. A solution? Immediately put some of that paycheck money away into savings, then spend the rest.
“Keep your eyes on the price when spending. Don't regret later to find that you have nothing for tomorrow.”
– Elisabeth Leamy
Takeaway: “Don't spend it all in once place!” is a similar quote about spending money that you've probably heard. Remember to give yourself options with your spending money. Don't just squander it all on the first thing you see. Smarter spending will lead to better purchases.
“Being a smart shopper is the first step to getting rich.”
– Mark Cuban
Takeaway: Frugality and wise spending habits are key ingredients to building wealth, especially in the beginning of the journey.
“Never spend your money before you have it.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Takeaway: Before you buy anything on credit, make sure you have enough money in the bank to pay for it immediately. Don't spend money you don't have.
“Remember, buying something is not the problem. The problem comes when we believe, for that moment, that the object we're buying is going to make us happy.”
– Celso Cukierkorn
Takeaway: In the end, anything we spend money on is only going to bring us temporary happiness. Shopping can be fun, but don't make it your primary hobby. There are many cheaper and more fulfilling paths you can take to improve your life.
“At the end of the day, taking 50% off a $250 dress still means walking out of the store $125 poorer.”
– Ian Lamont
Takeaway: A sale is not always a good deal. Evaluate the price of a product or service based on it's value to YOU, not based on what the store says it's worth.
“He who buys what he does not need, steals from himself.”
– Swedish Proverb
Takeaway: By spending money on things you don't need, you're taking away money that could have gone toward more worthwhile future endeavors.
“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”
– Henry David Thoreau
Takeaway: When you spend money on something, you're exchanging a part of your life for it. You're trading all of those hours and effort that went into making that money. Make sure it's worth it.
“It's not your salary that makes you rich, it's your spending habits.”
– Charles A. Jaffe
Takeaway: Spending erratically is a good way to go broke. Spending wisely is a good way to get rich.
“Saving money won't get us rich. You have to spend it to get it.”
– Jonathan Anthony Burkett
Takeaway: Money sitting in a bank account is good, but it won't make you rich. To get rich, you need to buy assets that make your money work for you. Learn how to invest.
“Don't tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I'll tell you what they are.”
– James W. Frick
Takeaway: What's truly important to you? Does your spending reflect the answer? If not, make a change.
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Money Spending Quotes: Summary and Key Points
There are quite a few quotes about spending money, and we could've listed more, but in the end, many of them have the same deeper lessons and meanings.
Here's a quick summary of some of these common points:
- Spend money mindfully: Spending money is not a bad thing, but it should be done with care and intention. Instead of frivolous spending, focus on thoughtful and purposeful expenditure.
- Budget and track: Create a budget and track your expenses carefully. This will help you identify where your money is going and give you better control over your spending habits.
- Value quality over price: While discounts, sales, or just downright cheap products are tempting, make sure you're not sacrificing quality for savings. This will often come back to bite you. Don't be afraid to spend a little extra to get something that last longer and works better.
- Balance spending and saving: Striking a balance between spending and saving is crucial for financial stability and happiness.
- Spend on assets: Your money should work for you. Invest in assets and think about long-term financial goals rather than just immediate spending desires.
Other quote roundups:
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