--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trouble with a budget is that it's…" description: "\"The trouble with a budget is that it's hard to fill up one hole without digging another.\" — Dan Bennett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/dan-bennett-75988_economy_the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-h_1445218.jpg" --- # The trouble with a budget is that it's hard to fill up one… ![“The trouble with a budget is that it's hard to fill up one hole without digging another.” quote by Dan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/dan-bennett-75988_economy_the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-h_1445218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/dan-bennett-75988_economy_the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-h_1445218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/dan-bennett-75988_economy_the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-h_1445218.jpg) > “The trouble with a budget is that it's hard to fill up one hole without digging another.” Dan Bennett ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Budgets are zero‑sum; fixing one problem creates another, showing systemic interdependence. **In simple terms:** Solving one budget issue often creates a new one. Key Takeaway Address root causes, not just symptoms. Themes budgeting systems trade‑offs finance Mood practical cautious Type business advisory When to use this quote - company finance - personal budgeting - project planning - policy making Key Concepts systems thinking resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - What underlying structures cause the trade‑off? - How can you redesign the system? A Different Perspective Short‑term fixes can worsen overall health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) ## Related quotes > [You can't dig a different hole by digging the same one deeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/you-can-t-dig-a-different-hole-by-digging-the-same-one-deeper/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [“I looked back to the hole. What if we were digging our own grave”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-looked-back-to-the-hole-what-if-we-were-digging-our-own-grave/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“Politicians think the only way out of a hole is to keep digging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/politicians-think-the-only-way-out-of-a-hole-is-to-keep-digging/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Just go hard or get out of my hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/just-go-hard-or-get-out-of-my-hole/) Author Name > [Foreign aid, though less than 1% of the annual federal budget, is often a hard case to make to constituents who are rightfully worried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/foreign-aid-though-less-than-1-of-the-annual-federal-budget-is-often/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > ['Winter's Bone' really suited having a lower budget. It would be so hard rolling into a rural setting, a place where people are poor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-granik/winter-s-bone-really-suited-having-a-lower-budget-it-would-be-so-hard/) [Debra Granik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-granik/) > [Probably no single event highlights the strength of Campbell's argument (on peak oil) better than the rapid development of the Alberta tar sands. Bitumen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/probably-no-single-event-highlights-the-strength-of-campbell-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [I started digging and found that Israel signed a peace treaty with the United Arab Emirates after the country had diversified their economy, instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-agassi/i-started-digging-and-found-that-israel-signed-a-peace-treaty-with/) [Shai Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-agassi/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [When you consider the sheer magnitude of investable equities to choose from in the world's emerging markets, you realize that finding one that looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mobius/when-you-consider-the-sheer-magnitude-of-investable-equities-to/) [Mark Mobius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mobius/) > [From my image of digging around in the mud like a grunt, I preferred fighting the war from ships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haskell-wexler/from-my-image-of-digging-around-in-the-mud-like-a-grunt-i-preferred/) [Haskell Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haskell-wexler/) > [I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-thought-i-knew-a-lot-about-music-then-you-start-digging-and-the/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-archaeology-you-uncover-the-unknown-in-diplomacy-you-cover-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/some-people-are-like-ants-give-them-a-warm-day-and-a-piece-of-ground/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) ## More by Dan Bennett > [“One of the healthiest ways to gamble is with a spade and a package of garden seeds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bennett/one-of-the-healthiest-ways-to-gamble-is-with-a-spade-and-a-package-of/) Dan Bennett > [Middle age is having a choice between two temptations and choosing the one thatll get you home earlier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bennett/middle-age-is-having-a-choice-between-two-temptations-and-choosing/) Dan Bennett Explore all 3 Dan Bennett quotes ## More Digging quotes > [Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/some-people-are-like-ants-give-them-a-warm-day-and-a-piece-of-ground/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-archaeology-you-uncover-the-unknown-in-diplomacy-you-cover-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-thought-i-knew-a-lot-about-music-then-you-start-digging-and-the/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [From my image of digging around in the mud like a grunt, I preferred fighting the war from ships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haskell-wexler/from-my-image-of-digging-around-in-the-mud-like-a-grunt-i-preferred/) [Haskell Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haskell-wexler/) > [When you consider the sheer magnitude of investable equities to choose from in the world's emerging markets, you realize that finding one that looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mobius/when-you-consider-the-sheer-magnitude-of-investable-equities-to/) [Mark Mobius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mobius/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [ The Ancient One, as you know, is the master, is the Sorcerer Supreme, and \[Doctor\] Strange comes to learn how to heal himself and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/the-ancient-one-as-you-know-is-the-master-is-the-sorcerer-supreme-and/) [Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/) > [I wish I lived back in the Old West days, because I'd save up my money for about twenty years so I could buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-wish-i-lived-back-in-the-old-west-days-because-i-d-save-up-my-money/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [If you really want to be a good archaeologist, you have to understand ancient DNA; you have to understand chemical analysis to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parcak/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-good-archaeologist-you-have-to-understand/) [Sarah Parcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parcak/) > [I was a manual labourer. I figured out really early on that the value of my life could be determined by my hourly rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-was-a-manual-labourer-i-figured-out-really-early-on-that-the-value/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've never met a girl who thinks like you." "A lot of people tell me that," she said, digging at a cuticle. "But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-ve-never-met-a-girl-who-thinks-like-you-a-lot-of-people-tell-me/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [If you don't break a hole through the brick wall, don't just start digging a new hole. Keep going until you break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/if-you-don-t-break-a-hole-through-the-brick-wall-don-t-just-start/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Keep digging, Flynn. Six feet makes a grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/keep-digging-flynn-six-feet-makes-a-grave/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) Browse all 487 Digging quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The trouble with a budget is that it's hard to fill up one hole without digging another.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Bennett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bennett/the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-hard-to-fill-up-one-hole/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Digging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bennett/the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-hard-to-fill-up-one-hole/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/dan-bennett-75988_economy_the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-h_1445218.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/dan-bennett-75988_economy_the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-h_1445218.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/dan-bennett-75988_economy_the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-h_1445218.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The trouble with a budget is that it's hard to fill up one hole without digging another.” — Dan Bennett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dan Bennett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bennett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The trouble with a budget is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bennett/the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-hard-to-fill-up-one-hole/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bennett/the-trouble-with-a-budget-is-that-it-s-hard-to-fill-up-one-hole/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```