Spare as though thou neuer shuldest dye and yet as mortall spend mesurably. To spare that thou mayest haue to spend in honestye for goodes sake.
[1541 M. Coverdale tr. H. Bullinger's Christian State of Matrimony xix.]
A good sparer makes a good spender.
[1635 J. Gore Way to Well-doing 25]
Spare when you're young, and spend when you're old. ‥He that saveth his Dinner will have the more for his Supper.
[1721 J. Kelly Scottish Proverbs 297]
Spare weel and hae weel.
[1832 A. Henderson Scottish Proverbs 16]
I've given them a polish and they've come up real tip-top! Spare well and have to spend, I allus say.
[1977 J. Aiken Five-Minute Marriage x.]
Related to: thrift
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
