“The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet”

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” is an old proverb meaning that everyone’s situation in life is seemingly (if not actually) more desirable than one’s own. “The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet” is a jocular version of the proverb; everyone else seems to have plenty of money, even though everyone could be earning the same amount of money.
 
“The cash is always greener in the next safety deposit vault” was cited in print in 1956. “The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet” was cited in 2002 as a T-shirt saying.
 
 
Wiktionary: the grass is always greener on the other side
Alternative forms
. the grass is always greener (normal shortened form).
. the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence (normal long form).
Proverb
the grass is always greener on the other side
1. Other circumstances seem more desirable than one’s own but in reality are often not.
 
16 May 1956, Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, “Kleiner’s Notebook” by Dick Kleiner, pg. 38, col. 3:
NEW YORK—NEA—Even when you get to be George Gobel, you’re not satisfied. The cash is always greener in the next safety deposit vault.
 
Google Books
Forbes
Volume 121, Issues 1-6
1978
Pg. 118:
THE MONEY is always greener on some other side of the finance industry.
 
13 March 1984,

(Madison, WI), pg. 12, col. 5:
I guess the money is always greener when it’s on the other side of the fence, ...
 
Google Books
Beyond the Veil:
A Journey Into the Hidden Truths and Exploited Myths of America’s Most Misunderstood Industry: Network Marketing
By Leonard W. Clements
Marketwave
1995
Pg. 74:
Then there are those who believe that the cash is always greener on the other side of the fence.
 
13 January 2001, The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), “Clash of the Owners” by Greg Cote (Miami Herald), pg. D7, col. 2:
The frumpy Modell is and will be the face of the owner who believes the money is always greener on the other side.
   
Google Groups: alt.wrestling.wwf
shirt slogans
The Kurgan
3/9/02
(...)
The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet.
   
The One Ring
Put THIS on your T-shirt… 😉
Post by *E*V*E*N*S*T*A*R* » Sat Aug 03, 2002 9:31 am
(...)
The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet.
   
IronMagazine Bodybuilding Forums 
Seen on T-Shirts
david
09-03-2002, 04:51 PM
(...)
The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet.
   
Prison Talk
Funny Tshirts
Billsmom
12-09-2007, 07:18 AM
(...)
The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet.
 
Twitter
Hector
‏@Not_From_Troy
The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet.
4:12 PM - 12 Feb 2012
 
Twitter
Michel Cendana
‏@Michel_Cendana
Bumper Sticker: The money is always greener in the other guy’s wallet.
2:31 PM - 5 Mar 2014