Hakim al Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:

Mr. Ilaahi Bakhsh was an influential prominent person from Meerut who was blessed with wisdom. He once made a very beneficial statement. He said,

“In order to alleviate financial difficulty, people make an effort to increase their income, whereas this is not generally within a person’s control. However, they do not consider or make an effort to decrease their expenditure – especially unessential expenditure which can be greatly decreased, whereas this is something within the control of every person.”

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 24/66)

Source: Ihyaauddeen.co.za