"A lot of people are in debt because they spend what…

“A lot of people are in debt because they spend what their friends think they make” is a jocular one-line saying that has been popular on Twitter. “Some people are in debt because they spend what their friends think they make” was first cited in the “Barbs” section of several newspapers on December 29, 1941.

29 December 1941, The Daily Ardmorette (Ardmore, OK), “Barbs!”, pg. 4, col. 7:
Some people are in debt because they spend what their friends think they make.

Google News Archive
13 January 1942, San Jose (CA) Evening News, “Barbs,” pg. 12, col. 2:
Some people are in debt because they spend what their friends think they make.

Google News Archive
13 February 1942, The Western Star (Coldwater, KS), pg. 2, col. 2:
Some folks are in debt, advises the Kansas City Kansan, because they spend what their friends think they make.

Google News Archive
21 July 1953, Newburgh (NY) News, “Chance Shots,” pg. 4, col. 4:
Lots of persons are deep in debt because they spend what their friends think they make.

Twitter
Funny One Liners‏
@funnyoneliners
Some people are in debt because they spend what their friends think they make.
7:55 PM - 11 Nov 09

Twitter
MyWeeklyAds.com‏
@My_Weekly_Ads
A lot of people are in debt because they spend what their friends think they make. - Joe Moore #quotes #humor
10:01 PM - 14 May 13