To Save More of Make More?

Watch 50 money-guru videos on social media, YouTube, TikTok, or anything else, and in at least half of them you’ll probably run into the same debate: saving money vs. making more money

Which actually leaves you with more in your pocket at the end of the day?

It’s a fair question—and a good one. We’ve all heard stories about someone spending hours to save a few dollars. On the flip side, people love telling stories about how living a bigger, more extravagant lifestyle somehow opened doors to making more money. Both stories get attention. Admiration (and, yes, a little jealousy) drives clicks and views.

Here’s the tricky part: according to The Millionaire Next Door, one of the top characteristics of millionaires is being frugal—frugal, frugal, and frugal. So… does that mean “saver” wins?

Not necessarily.

First, what do I mean by “saver” vs. “maker”?

A saver is someone who focuses on keeping more of what they already have—cutting unnecessary expenses, maximizing deals, and stretching every dollar.

A maker is someone who looks for ways to bring in more—whether that’s picking up extra shifts, starting a side hustle, investing, or creating something new that earns income.

It’s easy to feel guilty if you lean more toward one than the other, especially if you’ve been told the “right” answer is the opposite of your natural style. I used to be much more of a saver—until I was in a relationship with a full-on maker. That’s when I realized saving does have its perks… but also its limits.

The real key: opportunity cost

It’s not about saving vs. making—it’s about what you give up by choosing one over the other. That’s opportunity cost. If you spend an hour clipping coupons, that’s an hour you could have spent making more money. If you spend an hour working, that’s an hour you could have spent relaxing, learning a new skill, or improving your health.

A simple starting question:

“Can I make more money in this same amount of time doing something else—or is it worth it to save instead?”

Example 1: To hire a maid or not?

When my boyfriend and I first moved in together, this was our most contentious topic. I find cleaning peaceful and satisfying. He doesn’t. At the time, I wasn’t working, so why would we hire a maid? His reasoning: so we could both relax.

Sweet, right? And I did appreciate the thought. But the extra money in the bank would have been appreciated more. The truth? We probably wouldn’t have used the extra free time to make more money—we’d have just generated another mess faster because neither of us cared enough about having it spotless.

Example 2: Food stamps vs. part-time work

When I was between jobs, I worked part-time as a waitress and spent about three hours over several days signing up for food stamps. It was temporary, but over six months, that link card gave me $1,800 worth of groceries. It would have taken me almost a month of waitressing to earn that much—before taxes.

Sure, it was administrative work, but it gave me breathing room and helped me get back on my feet. After all, I was also able to work as a waitress, too. Sometimes “saving” comes in forms you don’t expect.

Example 3: The quick lunch math

Packing lunch takes maybe five minutes and saves you $5. Twelve 5-minute spans in 60 minutes means you're saving $60 per hour. If your job pays less than $60/hour, packing lunch wins.

How to actually calculate your opportunity cost

If you want to run the numbers, try this:

1. Figure out your hourly earning rate (after taxes).
2. Estimate how much time the task will take.
3. Calculate your savings from doing it yourself.

Compare that savings to what you could earn in the same time.

Example: If you earn $20/hour and a cleaning service costs $80 for 2 hours, you’d have to work 4 hours to cover it. Is your time better spent cleaning or working? That’s your call.

Short-term vs. long-term costs

Not every decision is about today’s bank account. Skipping a vacation may save money now, but if that time off would prevent burnout and help you keep earning in the long run, it might be worth the expense. Likewise, working extra hours for extra pay now could eat into time you’d otherwise spend learning skills that could double your income later.

Don’t forget non-financial costs

Sometimes the “right” choice has nothing to do with dollars. Peace of mind, less stress, better health, more time with people you care about—those have value, too, even if they don’t show up in your bank account right away.

Can you do both? Absolutely.

It’s not always saver or maker. Sometimes the best move is to save on what you can so you can invest in things that help you earn more later—like taking a free online course instead of paying for one, or cooking at home so you can afford to buy better equipment for your side hustle.

The real takeaway

Whether you’re cutting costs or boosting income, the real win is being deliberate. A dollar saved is a dollar in your pocket—while a dollar you hope to earn is still just a possibility.

So next time you’re stuck deciding, zoom out:

What gets you closer to the life you want—right now and in the long run?