The old proverb "what is a penny saved is a penny earned" means that whatever you save, if it's given proper care and use, you'll eventually get an equal amount of money back. A penny is a small unit of currency in various countries. This proverb reminds people to save their money and invest it wisely since it can earn them more money in the future. The original proverb is "a penny for your thoughts", which means to tell someone what you are thinking. The phrase "a penny saved is a penny earned" was first used in the 1500s. It's believed that the proverb was influenced by Benjamin Franklin who wrote about financial planning in his Poor Richard's Almanac. He suggested that the best way to get wealthy was to "save half of what you earn".