Archive for the ‘frugality’ Category
Frugality Quote Collection by experts in personal finance both past and present. Rich people offering excellent tips to save money.
Richard Burton: Hoards Riches
on Saturday, April 2, 2022Richard Burton Money Quote saying a frugal guy that doesn’t enjoy the dough is just a work-horse for the cash. Richard Burton said:
“A man that hoards up riches and enjoys them not, is like an ass that carries gold and eats thistles” — Richard Burton
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In this quote, Richard Burton is drawing a comparison between someone who accumulates wealth but does not use it to enjoy life, and a donkey that carries valuable gold coins yet can only eat thistles, a spiky weed with little nutritional value.
The best interpretation is that Burton believes amassing riches just for the sake of hoarding them, without taking time to experience and benefit from the financial security provided, is a foolish waste akin to a beast of burden nurturing only on thorns while hauling around treasure it cannot access.
Overall, Burton appears to be saying that the purpose of earning or having money is to improve one’s quality of living and ability to find enjoyment or fulfillment. Merely stockpiling wealth without using it for personal gain or pleasure is as nonsensical as a donkey filled with gold yet subsisting on vegetation that brings it no benefit.
Birthday: November 10, 1925 – Death: August 5, 1984
Thomas Jefferson: Cheap or Dear
on Sunday, March 6, 2022Thomas Jefferson Money Quote saying don’t buy stuff you don’t want, if it’s cheap it could feel very expensive to you. Thomas Jefferson said:
“Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you” — Thomas Jefferson
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This quote from Thomas Jefferson advises against making purchases solely because an item is inexpensive, if it’s not genuinely something you need or will use. Even if the up-front cost is low, buying unnecessary things can still end up “dear to you” in other ways – it wastes money, cluttering your home with possessions that need to be stored or maintained.
The quote suggests it’s better to spend judiciously based on true needs and value rather than impulse. While deals can be tempting, focusing first on quality over quantity and restraining from non-essential spending even when things are cheap can help save money in the long run.
Overall, the message seems to be that price alone shouldn’t determine purchases – only buy what will be genuinely useful or meaningful.
Birthday: April 13, 1743 – Death: July 4, 1826
Jean de la Bruyere: Robs Himself
on Wednesday, February 16, 2022Jean de la Bruyere Money Quote saying that being extremely thrifty takes money from family, but a miserly person steals from themselves. Jean de la Bruyere said:
“The spendthrift robs his heirs the miser robs himself” — Jean de la Bruyere
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In this quote, Jean de la Bruyere is contrasting the behaviors and impacts of two different types of financially unwise individuals – the spendthrift and the miser.
Specifically, he notes that a spendthrift, who recklessly wastes money on excess or frivolous expenses, effectively “robs” or deprives their heirs (those who would inherit their estate) of the wealth that should be passed down.
However, Bruyere also states that a miser, who is overly frugal to the point of being stingy and refuses to spend any money even on themselves, paradoxically “robs” themselves by denying themselves the enjoyment or benefits that their wealth could provide while they are alive.
The best interpretation is that Bruyere believed both extremes – being either too free or too tight with money – were flawed approaches that ultimately hurt either oneself or others. A balanced attitude towards spending and saving was implied to be preferable to either extreme according to Bruyere’s perspective.
Birthday: August 16, 1645 – Death: May 11, 1696
Theodor Adorno: Time Parsimony
on Tuesday, January 4, 2022Theodor Adorno Money Quote saying the value of time bears frugal care of both time and cash as well. Theodor Adorno said:
“If time is money, it seems moral to save time, above all one’s own, and such parsimony is excused by consideration for others. One is straight-forward” — Theodor Adorno
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In this quote, Theodor Adorno is critiquing the idea that “time is money” and the mentality it can encourage. He suggests that if one views time solely as a financial commodity to be saved and spent carefully, as money is, it can promote a selfish outlook.
Seeing time only in economic terms may lead people to excessively save their own time at the expense of others, for example by rushing through interactions or avoiding helping others to avoid using up their own limited time.
Adorno argues this type of “time parsimony” is rationalized as consideration for others, but really just serves oneself. The key message is that viewing time only as a resource to be economically managed can undermine moral and social relationships in favor of self-interest.
Birthday: September 11, 1903 – Death: August 6, 1969
David Suzuki: Saving Money
on Thursday, August 26, 2021David Suzuki Money Quote saying that doing what is right for the environment costs money, but saves the economy. David Suzuki said:
“Conserving energy and thus saving money, reducing consumption of unnecessary products and packaging and shifting to a clean-energy economy would likely hurt the bottom line of polluting industries, but would undoubtedly have positive effects for most of us” — David Suzuki
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This quote from environmental scientist David Suzuki discusses some of the benefits of transitioning to a more sustainable economy and lifestyle. It suggests that while reducing energy usage, unnecessary consumption, and shifting away from polluting industries towards clean energy would hurt the profits of certain companies, these actions would likely have positive impacts on most individuals and society.
Specifically, conserving energy through more efficient practices and technologies can save money on utility bills. Buying fewer excess products and less wasteful packaging would also save costs over time. And transitioning as a whole to renewable, non-polluting energy sources would create a healthier environment and economy for the general public.
So while short-term corporate interests may be negatively affected, the quote argues that sustainability measures would “undoubtedly” provide long-term, widespread benefits from an environmental and economic standpoint.
E.W. Howe: Even Bargains Cost
on Tuesday, August 10, 2021E. W. Howe Money Quote saying it is complex to make women understand that bargains have an expense involved. E. W. Howe said:
“One of the most difficult things in the world is to convince a woman that even a bargain costs money” — E. W. Howe
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In this quote, E. W. Howe is commenting on how difficult it can be to persuade some women that even when they find a good sale or “bargain”, whatever they purchase still requires money to obtain. His implication seems to be that some women may overlook or downplay the financial cost involved when excited about getting an item at a discounted price.
The best interpretation is that Howe is wryly pointing out the challenge in convincing consumers, especially some women, that any purchase requires monetary expenditure – even if it is advertised or feels like a good deal. He suggests the perception of a low price can obscure the reality that money is still changing hands in a transaction.
Birthday: May 3, 1853 – Death: October 3, 1937
Mokokoma Mokhonoana: Invest
on Wednesday, August 4, 2021Mokokoma Mokhonoana Money Quote saying few live below their means and fewer still save and invest the excess. Mokokoma Mokhonoana said:
“There is no law against living below your means (and then saving and/or investing what is left)” — Mokokoma Mokhonoana
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This quote suggests that there is no legal prohibition against choosing to live on less money than one earns through their work or business endeavors. Mokokoma Mokhonoana seems to be pointing out that individuals are free to live frugally and modestly while putting aside or investing the surplus funds that remain after covering living expenses.
In other words, according to this perspective, no law prevents people from living below their means financially as a way to accumulate savings or grow wealth over time through strategic saving and investment of excess income. The quote implies that this can be a viable strategy for building long-term financial stability and security.
Ginger Rogers: Never Enough Cash
on Friday, July 16, 2021Ginger Rogers Money Quote saying being frugal while traveling by train due to lack of money made a young Rogers pretend to be younger. Ginger Rogers said:
“I traveled with my mother, Lela, and there was never enough money. I always had to roll down my silk stockings and carry a doll when we bought train tickets so I could go half-fare. If we had $3, we always figured how to tip for the trunks and still eat” — Ginger Rogers
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In this quote, Ginger Rogers is reflecting on the financial difficulties she experienced as a child traveling with her mother. Specifically:
- Rogers notes that there was “never enough money” and her family had to carefully budget what little funds they had.
- She explains that to save on train tickets, she would roll down her silk stockings and carry a doll to qualify for the lower child’s fare.
- Rogers also recalls that even with as little as $3, her mother would figure out how to pay for baggage fees while still having enough left over for food.
The best interpretation is that Rogers’ quote conveys the challenges and economies her family had to employ even for basic travel necessities as a result of their limited financial means. It provides insight into the hardships of living in poverty and having to meticulously manage even small amounts of money just to get by according to Rogers’ perspective on the daily struggles of subsisting near the poverty line as a child.
Birthday: July 16, 1911 – Death: April 25, 1995