1.
pocket money, allowance, spending money
Money given regularly to children or budgeted for personal spending. Also refers to money a married person receives for personal use from the household budget.
Usage
For children, 小遣い refers to a regular allowance. For adults, particularly married men in Japan, 小遣い refers to the personal spending money allocated from the household budget. The topic of サラリーマンの小遣い (salaryman's allowance) is a common subject in Japanese media.
The polite form お小遣い is very common, especially when parents talk about children's allowances. Also written as 小遣い or お小遣い in kana.