Hard-earned money

Hoeh-koāⁿ-chîⁿ

Huih-koāⁿ-chîⁿ

——————–

Tê-tóng-jîn kám-kak gī-oân tham-u, pîn siáⁿ-mi̍h khai in ê hoeh-koāⁿ-chîⁿ.

The Tea Party people think congressmen are corrupt, and have no right to be spending their hard-earned money.

Good neighbors are priceless

Chhiam kim bé chhù, bān kim bé chhù-piⁿ

Literally: “A thousand pieces of gold buys the house, ten thousand the neighbors”

Poor as a churchmouse

Siang kha gia̍p chi̍t-lia̍p lān-pha

Literally: “(Be nothing but) testicles between two legs”(i.e. that’s all you’ve got)

Crime doesn’t pay

Thau ni, thau liàm, chi̍t-sì-lâng khoeh-khiàm

Literally: “If you steal things and nick things, you’ll be in want your whole life”

There’s a related proverb that means something similar, but is also a more general admonition to not be greedy:

Siūⁿ tham tì ke-lam

Literally: “If you want to be greedy, you’ll end up with a chicken cage on/over your head”

Manage household; take care of the money (at home)

Hoāⁿ chîⁿ

Chîⁿ lóng goán thài-thài the hoāⁿ, goá thàn ê chîⁿ mā lóng ài kau hō͘ i.

My wife manages the money at our house; I even have to give the money I make over to her.

Non-tax revenue

Hui-sòe-khò siu-ji̍p

Châi-chèng kì-lu̍t eng-kai ài ùi cheng-ka hui-sòe-khò siu-ji̍p kap tē-kè-sòe ha̍p-lí-hòa hē-chhiú.

Fiscal discipline has to start with increasing non-tax receipts and rationalizing property taxes.

Skinflint; pennypinching, cheap

Óe phīⁿ-sái chia̍h kiâm-kiâm

Literally: “Pick one’s nose to eat (something) salty.”