“Act your wage” (act your age + wage) is a saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying means that one should live within one’s means. “Act your wage” has been cited in print since at least 1950.
 
American financial author Dave Ramsey made “Act your wage!” his catchphrase in the 2000s. “Don’t go broke/ Trying to look rich/ Act your wage” has been printed on images since at least 2011. “Don’t go broke trying to look rich” has been cited in print since at least 2009.
 
     
16 April 1950, Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT), pg. C8, col. 9 classified ad:
ACT YOUR WAGE!
BUY YOUR CAR AT
BATTLE FATIGUE’S
 
25 March 1952, Jefferson (IA) Bee, “Home Bank Notes,” pg. 4, col. 1:
ONE SUGGESTION FOB SAVING MONEY: “ACT YOUR WAGE.”
 
19 December 1963, Belleville (KS) Telescope, “Literary Indigestion” of The Kansas Press, pg. B1, col. 2:
“Act Your Wage” is the way to get out of debt and stay there.-’ Blue Rapids Times.
 
Google Books
July 1968, Changing Times: The Kiplinger Magazine, “Notes on these changing times,” pg. 2, col. 3:
Fight inflation. Act your wage.
 
2 April 1971, Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), “Budget-Minded Women Outdistance Men,” pg. 4-B, col. 5:
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Miss (Pamela) Watkin’s winning contribution to the economy drive was: “(1) Act your wage. (2) Don’t spend all the money your neighbors think you make. (3) Remember, money goes farther when accompanied by sense.”
   
Google Books
2500 Jokes to Start ‘Em Laughing
By Robert Orben
Garden City, NY: Doubleday
1979
Pg. 196:
You can put on airs everywhere else but in a supermarket you have to act your wage.
 
Google Books
Your Church Sign:
1001 Attention-Getting Sayings
By Verlyn Verbrugge
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
1999
Pg. ?:
To stay out of debt, act your wage
 
Twitter
Patrick Mitchell
‏@f5pastorpatrick
I just finished the message ‘Act Your Wage’. Check for it on iTunes in the next couple of days or visit marcyag.com to listen in.
8:06 PM - 18 Feb 2009
 
Twitter
Bridgett Wagner
‏@bridgettwagner
Great bumper sticker I saw today in Dallas - “Act Your Wage” - DaveRamsey.com
7:06 PM - 25 Sep 2009
   
OCLC WorldCat record
Act your wage!
Author: Dave Ramsey; Randy Working; Lampo Licensing.
Publisher: [United States] : Lampo Licensing LLC, ©2010.
Edition/Format:   Game : Game   Visual material : English
Database: WorldCat
Summary:
The object of the game is to save money and get out of debt.
     
Twitter
Enzo Santiago‏
@ChuchuGuard
Don’t go broke trying to look rich! Act your wage!!
8:51 PM - 16 Dec 2011
 
Twitter
♛ TAJ ♛
‏@Billionheir
Don’t go broke trying to look rich. Act your wage.
3:29 PM - 23 Dec 2011