spending money

American  

noun

1. money for small personal expenses.

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spending money British  

noun

1. an allowance for small personal expenses; pocket money

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Etymology

Origin of spending money

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

"Maybe some people see that working a lot of hours and not spending money doesn't look like fun - but the feeling behind it gives me respect for myself, and that makes me happy."

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Especially as everyone is living longer and spending money and driving the economy.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

Chief among the locals' complaints is that the tourists are not spending money in the area -- they simply show up, snap their selfies and leave.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Those people are spending money they likely would have spent in the city anyway, a principle economists call substitution.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

For me, it was like spending money without knowing your bank balance.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama