What does discretionary income refer to?

Discretionary income is defined as the amount of income that remains after an individual has paid for all of their essential expenses, such as housing, food, clothing, and transportation. This is the income available for non-essential spending, allowing individuals to make choices about how to spend or save it. The correct answer highlights that this financial concept is about understanding how much money is left for leisure activities, savings, or investments once all obligatory expenses have been accounted for.

The other options relate to different financial concepts. For instance, money saved for taxes represents a necessary financial obligation rather than income available for discretionary spending. Your total earnings before taxes refers to gross income, which does not account for necessary expenses that would determine what is left over for discretionary use. Lastly, money allocated strictly for necessities pertains to essential expenses and does not reflect the concept of discretionary income, which emphasizes non-essential spending potential.