pocket expenses
Definition
Noun (plural):
- Small amounts of money spent on minor personal items or incidental costs: "pocket expenses" refers to minor, often daily expenditures that are not part of one's regular budget, such as buying a snack, a newspaper, or a bus fare. These are typically small, discretionary sums.
Usage Examples
- (Money set aside for small, everyday costs.)
- (Minor personal costs related to work.)
- (Money for incidental spending.)
Advanced Usage
"to cover pocket expenses": to provide funds for minor, incidental costs.
- The travel allowance includes a daily amount to cover pocket expenses. (The budget includes money for small personal needs.)
"out-of-pocket expenses": a related phrase meaning costs paid directly from one's own funds, often for business or travel.
- She submitted a claim for out-of-pocket expenses, including taxi fares and meals. (Costs paid personally that are reimbursable.)
Variants and Related Words
- Pocket money (n): an allowance given to children or for minor personal spending.
- He used his pocket money to buy comics. (An allowance for small purchases.)
- Expense (n): the cost incurred for something.
- The total expense of the trip was high. (The overall cost.)
- Incidental expenses (n): minor additional costs not directly related to the main purpose.
- The hotel bill included incidental expenses like phone calls. (Small extra charges.)
Synonyms
- Petty cash: a small amount of money kept for minor expenses.
- Spending money: cash used for personal, non-essential purchases.
- Incidentals: minor items or costs that are not planned.
Related Idioms
- "a drop in the bucket": a very small amount compared to what is needed.
- The €5 for a coffee was just a drop in the bucket compared to his overall pocket expenses. (A tiny part of his total minor spending.)
- "to pinch pennies": to be careful with small amounts of money.
- She pinched pennies to keep her pocket expenses low. (She managed her minor spending frugally.)