Sayyiduna Hakim bin Hizam bin Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with him) says that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The upper hand is better than the lower hand. Let each of you begin with his own household. The best charity is that after which a person still remains self-sufficient. Whoever seeks to refrain from asking, Allah will keep him from it, and whoever seeks to be independent of people, Allah will make him independent."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الزكاة / 7752