discretionary

Intermediate 💰 Finance / Accounting

Definition

Money or time that is technically yours to spend, which in practice means the budget line everyone raids first. Discretionary spending is whatever is left after the mandatory bills, the mandatory meetings, and the mandatory guilt have all been paid.

Example Usage

Travel and team lunches fall under discretionary spending, so naturally they were the first things cut when the quarter got serious.

Source: Provided dictionary definitions; standard finance and budgeting terminology

Related Terms

Translate This Term

See “discretionary” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator