In the four years which followed his election he succeeded in accumulating a round sum of four million crowns, which he stored up in the Castle of S.Angelo.The total revenues of the Papacy at this epoch were roughly estimated at 750,000 crowns, which in former reigns had been absorbed in current costs and the pontifical establishment.

By rigorous economy and retrenchments of all kinds Sixtus reduced these annual expenses to a sum of 250,000, thus making a clear profit of 500,000 crowns.[71] At the same time he had already spent about a million and a half on works of public utility, including the famous Acqua Felice, which brought excellent water into Rome.

Roads and bridges throughout the States of the Church were repaired, The Chiana of Orvieto and the Pontine Marsh were drained.

Encouragement was extended, not only to agriculture, but also to industries and manufactures.

The country towns obtained wise financial concessions, and the unpopular resumption of lapsed lands and fiefs was discontinued.