spare funds

USAGE SUMMARY

"spare funds" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to leftover money saved for unexpected expenses or special purchases. For example, "I still have some spare funds from my tax refund, so I'm planning to buy a new laptop."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

A negative deposit rate would in effect charge banks for parking spare funds at the ECB.

The Economist

There are no spare funds in Labour's calculations for extra welfare spending.

The Guardian

If Rita has any spare funds left, she could put some into a stocks and shares ISA.

Independent

Mutual funds and other investments don't typically appeal to entrepreneurs, who often use spare funds to finance other start-ups.

The New York Times

The poor spend the bulk of their income; the rich have spare funds to save.Some economists, in contrast, like consumption taxes because they don't distort incentives or behaviour.

The Economist

Bosses who panicked and left after the 1997-98 crisis ended up looking like idiots.Yet companies should allocate capital carefully, regardless of the spare funds they have.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

With less money to spare, funding agencies like NSF tend to get more conservative and hand out dollars to projects they feel are most likely to succeed, according to Spafford.

Science Magazine

The Environmental Protection Agency had run on spare funding after the shutdown began.

HuffPost

Obviously, this doesn't mean we should stop searching for treatments for the underlying causes and symptoms of Alzheimer's and other dementias or spare funding to relieve those already suffering.

Huffington Post

Botswana has indicated that it has already reached this position, with more PLHIV expected to fund their own treatment in the future, to spare government funds for other pressing needs[ 14].

Globalization and Health

They built a cyclotron out of spare research funds by putting it in a rehabbed ventilator room in the bowels of Palmer.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial planning or budgeting, use "spare funds" to refer to money available for savings, investments, or discretionary spending.

Common error

Avoid using "spare funds" interchangeably with "emergency fund". "Spare funds" can be used for various purposes, while an "emergency fund" is specifically reserved for unforeseen expenses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spare funds" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig, it is used to refer to money or resources that are available and not immediately needed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

6%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spare funds" is a commonly used noun phrase that refers to available financial resources, often for savings, investments, or discretionary spending. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across diverse contexts. While the phrase is appropriate for formal settings, it’s crucial to distinguish it from the more specific "emergency fund". Consider alternatives such as "available capital" or "excess cash" to add nuance to your writing. Predominantly found in news, business, and finance contexts, mastering the use of "spare funds" enables clear and precise communication about financial matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extra funds

Simply indicates additional money.

available capital

Emphasizes the capital is ready for use.

excess cash

Highlights the surplus nature of the money.

surplus funds

Indicates funds exceeding what is needed.

discretionary income

Refers to income available after essential expenses.

unallocated resources

Stresses that the funds are not yet assigned to a specific purpose.

residual funds

Implies funds that remain after other obligations are met.

free capital

Emphasizes the freedom to use the funds.

idle money

Suggests the money is not currently being used or invested.

uncommitted funds

Funds that aren't assigned.

FAQs

How can I use "spare funds" in a sentence?

You can say, "I plan to invest my "spare funds" in the stock market" or "The company decided to allocate its "spare funds" to research and development".

What are some alternatives to "spare funds"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "available capital", "excess cash", or "surplus funds".

Is it correct to use "spare funds" in a formal business context?

Yes, "spare funds" is appropriate for formal business contexts. It clearly communicates the idea of available financial resources without being overly informal.

What's the difference between "spare funds" and "disposable income"?

"Spare funds" generally refers to money available for various purposes, while "disposable income" is the amount of money a person has left after paying taxes and other mandatory deductions. So "disposable income" is the foundation for identifying "spare funds".