“Spend Your Money Rather Than Humiliate Yourself” (Palestinian-Jordanian Proverb) There was a man named Abu Fadi who was known in the neighborhood as a hardworking person who was financially comfortable. He was never stingy with himself or his family, and he always said: “A person works hard so they can live comfortably.” Even so, he had a strange habit. Whenever he needed something, he would try to save money in any way possible, even if it meant embarrassing himself by asking favors from other people. One day, his washing machine broke down. Instead of hiring someone to fix it, he started going around the neighbors asking if anyone knew how to repair it. Sometimes he would do laundry at one neighbor’s house, and other times he would send his family’s clothes to someone else’s home to be washed. Later, when he needed to move furniture from his house, he asked his friends to come help him instead of renting a moving truck. People helped him willingly and out of kindness—but only for so long. Over time, they began to feel that it wasn’t really a matter of need; it was simply excessive penny-pinching. One day, Abu Fadi was standing at the local shop complaining that he needed to repair his water tank but didn’t want to pay a worker to do it. Abu Al-Abed came over and asked him: “What’s the matter, Abu Fadi? Don’t you have the money?” Abu Fadi laughed and replied: “Thank God, I’m doing fine.” Abu Al-Abed answered: “Then if you’re doing fine, why do you keep putting yourself in awkward situations with people every time something needs to be done?” Abu Fadi fell silent. Then Abu Al-Abed added: “Man, spend your money rather than humiliate yourself.” Abu Fadi went home thinking about those words. He realized that saving money is a good thing—but not to the point where you burden other people or embarrass yourself when you can easily afford to pay. From that day on, whenever he needed a service or a job done, he paid for it comfortably and without hesitation. And he started saying: “It’s true—better to spend your money than humiliate yourself.” Meaning of the Proverb “Spend your money rather than humiliate yourself” is a proverb used to advise someone to rely on their own resources and pay for what they need if they can afford it, rather than lowering themselves or repeatedly asking favors from others. The idea is that a person’s dignity and self-respect are worth far more than money. Money can be spent and earned again, but the effects of humiliation or loss of dignity can be much harder to erase.