31 Motivational Budget Quotes to Help You Stick to Your Goals

Are you trying to stick to a budget this year? It can be tough, but it’s definitely not impossible. In fact, with a little bit of determination and inspiration, you can make great progress! That’s why we’ve put together this list of motivational budget quotes. We hope they will help you stay on track and achieve your financial goals.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.

31 Motivational Budget Quotes

Ready for some inspiration? Let’s go!

1. “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” –John Maxwell

The purpose of a budget is all about being proactive rather than reactive. Planning doesn’t have to feel restrictive, but instead can feel freeing as you are intentionally telling your money what to do.

2. “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

A great reminder that money is all about perspective. Someone making less money but saving half of it will be far better off financially that someone making a ton of money and spending all of it.

3. “A budget is more than just a series of numbers on a page; it is an embodiment of our values.” — Barack Obama

Yes! I’m a huge proponent of creating a values-based budget that allows you to plan for intentional spending based on the priorities in your life.

4. “Doing a budget means learning an ancient and powerful word: NO.” –Dave Ramsey

I personally have some hesitations about quoting Dave Ramsey because there are a lot of issues with his organization – but I do like the message here. Sometimes we end up spending money on things we don’t even really want to do or want to own. It’s a good reminder that it’s OK to say no.

5. 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.

This one is a little bit of tough love! But it’s a good exercise to take a look at your spending and seeing if it reflects your true priorities in life. If you want to prioritize spending time with family and friends, yet most of your spending is on material goods for your house – are you truly using your money to create the most happiness in your life?

6. “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” –Epictetus

Sometimes, we can feel pressure to “keep up with the Jones”. True wealth is not valued in possessions though, but in being satisfied in your life – financially, emotionally, and health-wise.

7. “The speed of your success is limited only by your dedication and what you’re willing to sacrifice.” –Nathan Morris

It can feel tough to limit your spending today – but just imagine what that could do for you tomorrow and in years to come! For example, you could spend $2000 today getting some new furniture, even though your current set up is just fine. Or, you could invest that $2000 and it will be worth around $10,000 in twenty years.

8. “Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” –Benjamin Franklin

There are two factors to the wealth equation – money in and money out. Some people naturally have an easier time focusing on one or the other. When it comes to money out, think about all those small expenses you have. A few streaming subscriptions, a gym membership you rarely use, regular take out meals when you forgot to plan dinner…these all add up.

As a personal example – I have lately been obsessed with cold brew coffee. I bought it from the grocery store, but didn’t realize I was buying 3 bottles a week at $5/each. That’s $60/month on just coffee. Instead, I switched to buying ground coffee and making my own cold brew. That is only costing me around $15/month for a few packages of coffee from ALDI, saving me $45/month.

9. “The more your money works for you, the less you have to work for money.” – Idowu Koyenikan

This one speaks to the importance of investing. We need to make sure we set ourselves up to live a good life for years to come. Investing means your money is working for you.

10. “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

Woah – this is definitely a truth bomb. How many times have you purchased a new outfit for a work event or a wedding because you felt like you needed something new to wear? Or wanted to upgrade something about your house maybe to impress your neighbors? Don’t worry about what others think and focus on your own goals.

11. “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

I like this quote because it gets to the heart of budgeting – being intentional about taking care of your money. But it also brings up another limited commodity in our lives, which is time. It’s important to be cautious about wasting either.

For example – While you could spend a few hours clipping coupons on a Sunday, is it worth the lost time with your family to save a few dollars? That answer may be yes or no for you, and there’s no “right” answer. But it’s important to think about the value of both time and money.

12. “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.” –Yogi Berra

Phew, we are feeling this quote now with inflation these days! But this is a good reason why it’s important to consistently assess your budget. It’s not meant to be a one-and-done, but rather a living document that gets modified as needed.

13. “There is a gigantic difference between earning a great deal of money and being rich.” – Marlene Dietrich

Earnings can fly right out the door if they’re not used strategically. Budgeting helps you decide how those earnings are used, and puts extra money towards things that matter to you. It also helps you decide how much money will go towards investments, which have the capability to grow great wealth over time.

14. “The more you learn, the more you earn.” –Warren Buffett

There are so many applications for this quote. Learning how to create a budget gives you the power to be purposeful about your money, which should allow you to save more over time. Learning about retirement accounts and investing will give you the ability to exponentially build wealth. Learning more about your field will create opportunities for higher salaries.

15. Money can’t buy happiness, but it will certainly get you a better class of memories.” –Ronald Reagan

While we’ve been told over and over again that money is not the most important thing in the world, the truth is – money has the potential to makes our lives a heck of a lot easier and allows for amazing experiences. When you budget, you can allocate money towards expenses that create lasting, impactful memories.

Love travel? Maybe part of your budget is a vacation fund for each summer. Enjoy watching your kids play sports? You can budget for each season. Value quality time with your partner? Build your budget to include monthly date nights.

The key here is to spend on experiences > stuff.

16. Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” –Thomas Edison

To many people, budgeting may feel hard, restrictive, or tedious. But there’s really no shortcut to taking control of your money, so sometimes you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and get to it.

Sure, some people may have different ways of budgeting and don’t need to be as granular with allocating for every single expense. Your method of budgeting may simply be automating retirement savings, regular savings, and bill payments, knowing that once those are all paid, you have enough to work with for variable expenses. Or you may need to break down a budget to every single expense. Either way, you’re still doing the important work.

17. “Budgeting is not just for people who do not have enough money. It is for everyone who wants to ensure that their money is enough.” –Rosette Mugidde Wamambe.

Sometimes people feel like budgeting is only for those who are struggling with money. In reality, budgeting (in any form) allows you to be more focused on meeting your financial goals. That applies to any level of income!

18. “It costs nothing to ask wise advice from a good friend.” — George S. Clason

We’ve been somehow conditioned in society that it’s taboo to talk about money. But how are we supposed to learn if we don’t?

It’s good to find others that are budgeting and have financial goals so that you don’t feel alone in this quest. You can ask questions to each other and bounce around ideas.

Of course, take everything with a grain of salt, as sometimes people have very poor financial advice. But often, budget-focused friends may offer up creative ideas or solutions you might not have thought about yourself.

(Note – these don’t have to be your own good friends either. I’m a huge fan of Facebook groups like ChooseFi or Women’s Personal Finance for asking about budgeting and money topics).

19. “If your goal is to be comfortable, chances are you’ll never get rich. But if your goal is to be rich, chances are you’ll end up mighty comfortable.” — T Harv Eker

I love this motivational budget quote. We often limit ourselves based on money beliefs we’ve internalized. But if we can change our money mindset, that can be a powerful step in helping us budget and accumulate wealth.

[Read more: Money Mindset Affirmations.]

20. “Money and success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.” –Will Smith

Along the same lines of money mindset, some people subconsciously sabotage themselves due to long held beliefs about rich people.

When you think of rich people, what comes to mind? Do you think rice people are greedy, taking advantage of others, shallow, or don’t care about other people?

If that’s what you believe, why would you want to get rich?

It’s important to shift those mindset beliefs. I like this quote from Will Smith because it emphasizes that money amplifies who we already are. If you are a kind and generous person, growing your wealth will only allow you to do more kind and generous things.

21. If you don’t get serious about your money, you will never have serious money. — Grant Cardone

Debt and money often becomes these scary monsters that we’re afraid to face. But when we do, it becomes so much easier to take control of it. Getting serious about your budget, paying off debt, and investing for the future will help create a bright future.

22. “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” –Unknown

While often met with criticism in the business world, I do think this quote is relevant to money and budgeting. If you don’t know what you’re bringing home versus what you’re spending on each month, it’s pretty difficult to make process towards your goals. That’s where budgeting helps.

23. “Wealth is not about having a lot of money; it’s about having a lot of options.” –Chris Rock

Money is important, but not just because you’ve got stacks on stacks on stacks. It’s important because it can buy you freedom and experiences and options that are unavailable when you don’t have it.

By creating a budget, you’re putting those steps towards building wealth and creating those options.

24. “It’s your life. Design it well.” –Bobby Berk

Alright, so technically this was a quote on Queer Eye, but I think it applies to budgeting! Your budget doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. You get one life to live on this planet, and you get to decide how you want to approach saving and spending your money.

25. “Where the determination is, a way can be found.” — George S. Clason

Even if you are struggling with your budget and you feel frustrated, a little determination and creativity can go a long way.

For example, if your income isn’t covering expenses, is there anything in your monthly expenses that can be eliminated or reduced? You might be able to get a little wiggle room with small changes, like switching your phone from a regular carrier to a low cost carrier. Or is there a way for you to bring in more income? Can you ask for a raise, or get a side hustle job like Uber or DoorDash, or start freelancing, or job hunt for a better paid position?

[I also know there are situations where it can be extremely difficult to pull your way out, and realize that sometimes a budget isn’t going to get you there alone. If you’re in that spot, be sure to take advantage of the many resources available – that may mean looking into unemployment, SNAP, WIC, affordable housing programs, food pantries, etc.]

26. “Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” –Bill Bradley

When you first decide to start a budget, you might feel motivated and excited. But a few months down the road, fatigue starts to kick in and those old habits might be calling your name. Persistence in staying the course will lead you to your goals, though.

27. “It’s not the big things that add up in the end; it’s the hundreds, thousands, or millions of little things that separate the ordinary from the extraordinary.” –Darren Hardy

Sometimes it seems like we’ll never make progress with money unless something huge happens – winning the lottery or inheriting a big windfall. But in reality, most people that accumulate wealth do so slowly but surely.

Budget for your expenses, make good investments, save over time, make good daily financial decisions…these are the seemingly small steps that lead to big results.

28. “People do not decide their futures. They decide their habits, and their habits decide their futures.” –F.M. Alexander

Let’s pretend you want to finish a marathon this year. You announce it to your family and friends and sign up for the race.

That’s amazing – but does it get you to the finish line? No – it’s the regular habit of running and following a training plan that will get you there.

The same goes for budgeting and growing wealth. You can decide that you want to be rich, but you also need your habits to align with that goal.

29. “Do not save what is left after spending; instead spend what is left after saving.” –Warren Buffett

Many people approach finances as paying all their bills, then seeing what is left to save. But this usually results in never having extra money, because it’s likely the money will somehow get spent throughout the month.

Budgeting flips this around, helping us to allocate money towards bills, saving, and discretionary expenses. We know exactly how much we have for each.

30. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” — Chinese Proverb.

This is one of the most powerful budget quotes. It is never too late to get started with budgeting and financial stability. You can do this!

31. “Raise a cup up for all my day ones
Two middle fingers for the haters
Life’s only getting greater
Straight up from nothing we go
Higher than the highest skyscraper
No Little League, we major
The proof is in the paper
We put the good in the good in the good life” –G-Eazy and Kehlani

Who else loves this song?! Every time I listen to “Good Life”, it pumps me up about growing wealth. Maybe it’ll do the same for you? 🙂

Share: Are there any other motivational budget quotes you love?