Quotes about money and personal finance can help to motivate you to save, spend less, and earn more. Some of the best personal finance quotes come from well-known money management mentors. However, some lesser-known sayings are just as powerful. 

Read the thought-provoking quotes below. Print your favorites and place them where you see them daily to boost financial motivation. 

25 Best Quotes About Money and Personal Finance

The list below contains some of the best quotes about money and personal finance. These quotes come from different periods and parts of the world. However, they are all timeless and profound. 

1. ‘I will tell you the secret to getting rich on Wall Street. You try to be greedy when others are fearful. And you try to be fearful when others are greedy.‘ –Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors in history. In the above quote, he advises people to buy when people are selling out of fear and sell when people are holding assets and the prices are high. 

By buying when others are fearful of buying, you can acquire assets for less. To do so, you need to have money saved to buy when other people are afraid to spend their money. 

2. ‘Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time.‘ –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Waiting to get things done or managing your money responsibly until you are out of money or time is not a productive way to live. Most people run out of money when they wait until it is almost gone to start spending responsibly because you usually have more expenses than you plan. The same is true about time.

3. ‘Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.’ –Franklin D. Roosevelt

Money is much better when you work for it because it gives you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction you do not receive from someone giving it to you. Perhaps you have heard that money does not equal happiness. However, when you work for it, it gives you plenty to be happy about. 

Furthermore, while you can live without a job, it is often better for your self-confidence to work for the money you earn.

4. ‘A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.’ –Yogi Berra

In the past, you could buy more with less. You rarely can. The same is true of many properties and investments, though. The longer you hold on to them, the more valuable they become. 

5. ‘Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.’ –Benjamin Franklin

Do not count on money to bring you happiness. That is why people tell you to work doing something you love. Then you are happy making money instead of working for money to make you happy. 

6. ‘Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.’  –Ayn Rand

No matter how much money you have, you must work to have anything you want. You won’t get anywhere without proper motivation, effort, and belief in yourself. 

7. ‘He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all.’ –Eleanor Roosevelt

Faith in yourself is key to your success in life. If you lose faith in your ability to live successfully, you will struggle, which is why losing faith is worse than losing money or a friend. 

8. ‘Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.’ –P.T. Barnum

When P.T. Barnum said this quote, he was spot on. He meant that you should use money, not let money use you. For example, use your money to make money, do not borrow money, and end up having to work to pay it back. 

9. ‘You must gain control over your money, or the lack of it will forever control you.’ –Dave Ramsey

Another quote with the same principle is the one above by Dave Ramsey. You have to control your spending and budget, or else your debts and money problems will enslave you. 

10. ‘It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.’     Robert Kiyosaki

People rarely consider generational worth anymore, but your goal should be to leave something your family can use to make more money for generations to come. In the past, people worked to buy something they could leave for the future generations in their family so they could take care of themselves, like a restaurant, store, farmland, fishing boat, etc. 

11. ‘Wealth, after all, is a relative thing since he that has little and wants less is richer than he that has much and wants more.’ –Charles Caleb Colton

An important lesson for everyone is to live on less than they earn. You are literally and figuratively richer if you spend less than you make.

12. ‘If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it!’ –Jonathan Winters

When Jonathan Winters said, ‘if your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it,’ he suggested that if an opportunity does not present itself, you should seek it.

13. ‘My old father used to have a saying:  If you make a bad bargain, hug it all the tighter.’ –Abraham Lincoln

When Abraham Lincoln said the quote above, he meant that you should not easily forget about a financial mistake. When you own it and accept the consequences, you are less likely to make the same mistake again. 

14. ‘If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can’t buy.’ – Proverb

Have you ever counted the blessings you can’t buy? It does make you feel rich. Some things you can’t buy that are extremely valuable include your health, physical appearance, love, education, accomplishments, and skills. 

15. ‘Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.’ –William A. Ward

The above quote by William A. Ward is some of the best personal finance and life advice you can receive. Living by this quote will help you have a more fulfilling and secure life. You can do so by delaying purchases until you can pay cash, contributing to your 401k, following sound investment advice, and giving responsibly.

16. ‘Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.’– P.T. Barnum

You use money as your servant when you use it to create wealth. When you owe money and must punch a clock at a job you hate to pay your debts, you are a slave to money.

17. ‘Many folks think they aren’t good at earning money when what they don’t know is how to use it.’ – Frank A. Clark

If you struggle to make ends meet, it may have less to do with your earnings and more with your spending habits. You can live more comfortably by planning and taking care of your finances.

18. ‘Never complain about your troubles; they are responsible for more than half of your income.’ – Robert R. Updegraff

Most people complain about customers, work tasks, having to be in the office at a specific time, and other aspects of their jobs. Robert R. Updegraff suggests that people should not complain about these troubles because they are necessary to earn a living.

19. ‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.’ –Benjamin Franklin

Many investments are nothing more than a chance to increase your net worth. However, investing in knowledge always pays off. Taking the time to earn a degree or learn new skills makes you more marketable and leads to better opportunities and higher earning potential. 

20. ‘Waste not, want not.’ – Unknown

‘Waste not, want not’ is a famous saying; however, there are conflicting reports of the origin. It means you should save today so you always have enough when necessary. It applies to money, food, and any other items you use. With the high cost of housing today, cutting back on wasteful spending on things like gourmet coffee is a responsible way to ensure you have enough for necessities. 

21. ‘I learned that lack of money erodes self-respect, and a noble dignity arises by earning a living.’ – John Soforic

If you have ever gone through money troubles, you know that it can affect more than just your bank account. Getting back to work feels good and gives you a sense of purpose. Planning and following a budget to pay down debt and position yourself on sound financial footing while earning a good living also helps. 

22. ‘Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle.’ – Ken Hakuta

You can make any idea come to life with the resources you have in front of you now. If you have an idea, start working on it, and the help you need will present itself to you. 

23. ‘I don’t pay good wages because I have a lot of money; I have a lot of money because I pay good wages.’ – Robert Bosch

Robert Bosch was a German inventor who helped to save his Jewish employees from the Nazi regime with the help of his loyal employees. He believed his success came from paying the people who worked for him well. 

24. ‘Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.’ – Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill was a prominent writer of motivational books on personal finances and building wealth during the great depression. He was also an advisor to Franklin Roosevelt from 1933 to 1936. His insight is timeless and helpful for overcoming a poverty mindset. 

25. ‘There is nothing wrong with [people] possessing riches. The wrong comes from riches possessing [people].’ – Billy Graham

The above quote by Billy Graham is an excellent reminder that money is not bad. Many people grow up thinking that wealth makes you a bad person. However, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the fruit of your labor as long as you remain humble and have not hurt anyone in acquiring it.

Final Advice on the Best Quotes on Money and Personal Finance

The above quotes on money and personal finance can help you stay on track regarding spending, managing debt, earning a living, and saving for retirement. By following their advice, you can live a peaceful and financially rewarding life.

You can also use the guides on this site to learn more about personal finance, investing, saving, and related topics.