“The two most important things about money are, to make it first, then make it last” is a popular saying about money. “For, having to make it first, they had to make it last” was in a poem published in 1871. “The mint makes it first. It’s up to you to make it last” was cited in print in 1919. “Make Money First, Then Make It Last” was cited in a 1929 newspaper advertisement for a bank.
 
“Two problems about money: To make it first—and then to make it last” was cited in 1951.
 
   
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January 1871, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, pg. 315:
JOE BUGGINS;
OR,
THE STORY OF A CHRISTMAS CARD.
(...)
The money then was spent with care,
And was not spent too fast;
For, having had to make it first,
They had to make it last.
 
1 February 1919, Miami (FL) Herald, “Money,” pg. 8, col. 4:
The mint makes it first.
It’s up to you to make it last.—Ben S. Kearns in Life.
 
13 February 1929, The Daily News (Frederick, MD), pg. 3, col. 3 ad:
Make Money First
Then Make It Last
(Farmers & Mechanics National Bank—ed.)
 
16 June 1932, The Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA), “Maybe I’m Wrong” by John P. Medbury, pg. 4, col. 4:
Will Rogers says that money is just a matter of figures. The U.S. mint make it first, and it’s up to you to make it last.
 
5 March 1936, New Castle (PA) News, “Hints and Dints,” pg. 4, col. 5:
One way to be assured of an income is to make it first and then make it last.
 
23 October 1951, Jefferson (IA) Bee, “Home Bank Notes,” pg. 4, col. 2:
TWO PROBLEMS ABOUT MONEY: To make it first—and then to make it last.
 
25 November 1953, Seattle (WA) Times, pg. 6, col. 5:
Of facts about money, this is the worst; to make it last, you must make it first.—Everson News.
   
Google News Archive
26 March 1958, Beaver Valley Times (Aliquippa, PA), “So Help Me! Says Scoop Coates: Friend Claims He Saw Deer Wearing Sweater,” pg. 14, col. 3:
I’M NOT A financial counsellor, but I might pass along some dope given me by my Grandpap Snyder: “Make it first — Make it last.”
 
18 April 1963, Chicago (IL) Tribune, pg. C1:
Inflation: When it’s easier to make it first than to make it last.—Glasgow’s Glombusters.
   
23 December 1966, New York (NY) Times, Jess Willard, Nearing 85, Is Bitter-Sweet; Ex-Champion Shuns Boxing, Lives Quietly in California” by Dave Anderson, pg. 31:
He doesn’t talk about his money except to say that “I once told Hattie that I’ll make it first, but she d have to make it last.”
 
18 May 1973, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “It Happened Last Night” by Earl Wilson, pg. 28A, col. 6:
REMEMBERED QUOTE: “The two most important things about your income are, make it first, and then make it last.”
 
Google Books
20,000 Quips & Quotes
By Evan Esar
New York, NY: Barnes & Noble Books
1995, ©1968
Pg. 417:
The two most important things about your income are — make it first, and then make it last.
   
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Phillips’ Treasury of Humorous Quotations
Edited by Bob Phillips
Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers
2004
Pg. 137:
The two most important things about your income are: Make it first, and then make it last.
 
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The two most important things about money are, to make it first, then make it last. - Joe Moore #quotes #humor
9:00 AM - 16 Aug 11