Franklin recommends drinking water instead of alcoholic punch, presenting the choice as beneficial in two ways. The drinker keeps the money that would otherwise have been spent and avoids the physical harm associated with excessive or unsafe drinking. The “dry-bellyache” refers to a painful illness historically connected with contaminated alcoholic spirits.

The saying combines Franklin’s recurring themes of thrift, moderation and practical attention to health. Pleasure purchased in the moment may carry both a financial cost and a physical one, while the simpler alternative preserves money and avoids unnecessary risk. The advice is characteristically practical: one decision can serve several purposes at once. Its broader lesson is that restraint can produce benefits beyond merely giving something up, particularly when an indulgence consumes resources while also creating avoidable harm.