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Origin contested
“A penny saved is a penny earned”
What it means
Economy is as valuable as income.
Where it comes from
With 240 pence to the pound, the smallest coin was small enough that saving one felt trivial. The proverb insists otherwise.
How sure are we?
Usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin, though the sentiment predates him in English by well over a century. Earlier versions run "a penny saved is a penny got", which scans rather better.