found money
Surprise pocket change
Found money is cash or assets discovered unexpectedly—coins in a coat pocket, an uncashed check in a drawer, a forgotten savings account.
The term extends to any windfall that feels like a bonus rather than earned income: Tax refunds feel like found money, even though it's your own.
The psychology matters: found money often gets spent more freely than regular earnings.
Accumulated gambling prize
- lotteryRandomized prize distribution
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- bequestGift left by will
- bonanzaSudden large windfall
treasure · fortune · manna · godsend · blessing · surprise · bonus · refund
Amount exceeding requirement
- spareHeld in reserve
- extraAdditional, beyond necessary
- disposableMade for one use
- unallocatedNot yet given out
uncommitted · flexible · splurge · treat · indulgence · nonessential · guilt-free · slush fund
jackpot
Accumulated gambling prize
- lotteryRandomized prize distribution
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- bequestGift left by will
bonanza · treasure · fortune · manna · godsend · blessing · surprise · bonus · refund · rebate
surplus
Amount exceeding requirement
- spareHeld in reserve
- extraAdditional, beyond necessary
- disposableMade for one use
unallocated · uncommitted · flexible · splurge · treat · indulgence · nonessential · guilt-free · slush fund · rainy day
- Pleasant Surpriseswindfall, bonus, gift, refund, upgrade
- windfallsjackpot, windfall, grand prize, big win, lottery win
- easy moneyquick buck, fast cash, windfall, gravy train, free lunch
- money slangbucks, dough, moolah, cheddar, cash
- informal savingspiggy bank, rainy day fund, coin jar, change jar, penny jar