a penny saved is a penny earned

/ə ˈpɛni seɪvd ɪz ə ˈpɛni ˈɜrnɪd/◆proverb

thriftiness is valuable

Instead of buying coffee every day, she started brewing at home—a penny saved is a penny earned.

Her decision to save money by making coffee at home reflects the proverb's advice to value every small amount saved.

◆ What It Really Means

Every small amount of money saved is as valuable as money earned, emphasizing the importance of frugality.

¶ Literal Meaning

If you save one penny, you have one penny that you did not spend, which is equivalent to earning one penny.

Literal Breakdown

a pennya coin worth one cent+savedkept or not spent+earnedobtained through work or effort

◇ Mental Image

A mental picture of a single penny being carefully placed aside, symbolizing the accumulation of small savings over time.

◈ When to Use

A person decides to bring lunch from home instead of eating out every day. They realize that the money saved from not buying lunch is just as valuable as the money they earn from their job.

◉ Cultural Note

This proverb is attributed to Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father of the United States, who emphasized the virtues of frugality and hard work in his writings. It reflects the cultural value placed on saving money and avoiding waste.

informal

Every small amount of money you save is as valuable as money you earn.

He decided to cancel his unused gym membership, realizing that a penny saved is a penny earned.

His action demonstrates the proverb's principle of avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Often used to encourage saving money, even in small amounts.

Collocations

save every pennyto be extremely frugalpenny-wisecareful with small amounts of money

Synonyms

thrift is wealth waste not, want not

Antonyms

spend freely live beyond your means

paying attention to small expenses will prevent larger financial issues

money doesn't grow on treesproverb

money is not easily obtained and should be spent carefully

Pro Tip

Use in conversation

Use this proverb when advising someone to save money, even in small amounts. For example: 'I know you want to buy that new gadget, but remember, a penny saved is a penny earned.'

Gold Rule

Context matters

This proverb is about the value of saving money, not about earning money. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Word Origin

Originates from Benjamin Franklin's 1736 essay 'Advice to a Young Tradesman,' where he wrote: 'A penny saved is two pence clear.' The phrase evolved into its modern form over time.

Usage Notes

Primarily used in personal finance contexts to promote saving money. It is a proverb, so it is not typically used in formal writing but is common in everyday speech.

English Dictionary

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