I always say, ’People first, then money, then things.’

Orman’s maxim compresses a personal-finance ethic into a hierarchy of values: relationships and human well-being should guide financial choices, and material possessions should come last. Read this way, money is treated as an instrument—useful for security, freedom, and care for others—rather than as a primary measure of success. The line also functions as a corrective to consumerism: “things” are easy to acquire and display, but they are least important when weighed against people and the financial stability that supports them. In practical terms, it encourages budgeting and career decisions that protect family, health, and integrity before lifestyle upgrades.