Voluntary or optional spending, as opposed to that which is necessary or mandatory; specifically spending which a government or other official body is empowered but not required to undertake.
Origin
1940s; earliest use found in Journal of Marketing.
Definition of discretionary spending in US English:
discretionary spending
noun
Voluntary or optional spending, as opposed to that which is necessary or mandatory; specifically spending which a government or other official body is empowered but not required to undertake.
Origin
1940s; earliest use found in Journal of Marketing.