leftover money

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leftover money" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to any remaining funds after expenses have been paid or after a budget has been accounted for. Example: "After paying all the bills, we had some leftover money that we decided to save for our vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

AFTER pondering what to do with leftover money earmarked for outreach services, the Westchester Library System decided to hold a free concert featuring the Jazz Forum All Stars.

The New York Times

The hijackers, their purchases made, began returning leftover money.

The New York Times

"What if we've got leftover money?" Shermaine asked.

The New York Times

And they still have some leftover money — some of which goes toward more lottery tickets.

Independent

A minority of candidates, with leftover money or inadequate records, must repay funds.

The New York Times

But it is unclear exactly what the organization plans to do with the leftover money.

The New York Times

But after taking care of our basic needs, leftover money was spent on charity.

The New York Times

You can spend the leftover money on a memory card (not included).

The New York Times - Tech

If those programs are fully funded, leftover money would go to the city's discretionary general fund.

The Washington Post

It is unclear what Mr. Obama plans to do with the leftover money.

The New York Times

(If there is any leftover money in Trouble's trust following her demise, it goes to the Helmsley charitable trust).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing budgets, specify what will happen to the "leftover money". Will it be reinvested, saved, or used for something else?

Common error

Don't assume "leftover money" automatically equals profit. It represents unspent funds and may need to cover future expenses or liabilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leftover money" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to the remaining amount of money after expenses have been paid or a budget has been allocated. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leftover money" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to remaining funds after expenses or allocations. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to use more formal alternatives like "remaining funds" in professional contexts. Common usage involves discussing budgets, investments, and allocation strategies. Remember that "leftover money" isn't always profit; it simply indicates unspent funds that may need to cover liabilities or be reinvested. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remaining funds

This alternative is a more formal and direct way of referring to the money that is left.

surplus funds

This phrase is typically used in a business or financial context to describe excess money.

unspent balance

This alternative focuses on the fact that the money has not been used or allocated.

carryover funds

This term is frequently used in budgeting contexts, indicating funds that are moved from one period to the next.

excess capital

This term emphasizes the financial aspect, often used when discussing investments or business finances.

unallocated funds

Similar to "unspent balance", this emphasizes that the money has not been assigned to a specific purpose.

extra cash

This is a more informal way to describe "leftover money", suitable for casual conversation.

residual income

This phrase implies that the money is what remains after all expenses have been paid from an income source.

available funds

Focuses on the accessibility and usability of the remaining money.

spare change

This alternative is typically used for a small amount of "leftover money".

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "leftover money" in a sentence?

You can use "leftover money" to describe remaining funds after expenses, such as: "After paying the bills, we used the "leftover money" for a vacation."

What are some alternatives to saying "leftover money"?

Alternatives include "remaining funds", "surplus funds", or "excess capital", depending on the context.

Is "leftover money" a formal or informal phrase?

"Leftover money" is generally considered a neutral to informal phrase. For more formal contexts, consider using "remaining funds" or "unallocated funds".

What is the difference between "leftover money" and "profit"?

"Leftover money" simply refers to unspent funds. "Profit" implies earnings after all expenses and costs have been deducted from revenue. They aren't interchangeable; "leftover money" is simply unspent, profit has an implication that it is earnings.