Outgoings Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

💸

Add to dictionary

outgoings

[ˈaʊtˌɡəʊɪŋz ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Noun}

financial

Outgoings refer to the money that a person or a company spends, especially regularly, on running a business or household.

Synonyms

costs, expenditure, expenses.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
outgoings	Primarily used in British English, 'outgoings' refers to regular payments, especially household bills or business operating costs. She keeps a close watch on her monthly outgoings to manage her budget efficiently
expenses	Commonly used to discuss personal or business spending, often in the context of budgeting or accounting. He keeps all his receipts to track his business expenses for tax purposes
expenditure	A more formal term often used in government, corporate, or financial contexts to discuss the total amount of money spent on specific purposes. The government's annual expenditure on public healthcare has gone up significantly
costs	This term is broad and can refer to any type of monetary outlay, including production, living, and opportunity costs. The costs of manufacturing have increased due to rising raw material prices

Examples of usage

The company's outgoings exceeded its income last month.
She carefully tracked all her outgoings to stay within budget.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Finance

Tracking outgoings helps people create budgets, ensuring they don't spend more than they earn.
Regularly reviewing outgoings can reveal unnecessary expenses, allowing for smarter financial decisions.
In many households, fixed outgoings include rent and utility bills, while variable outgoings can include groceries and entertainment.

Personal Finance Tips

Writing down outgoings helps create awareness and can lead to more mindful spending.
Many financial experts recommend using apps to track outgoings, making it easier to categorize expenses.
Setting a specific limit on outgoings for non-essential items can improve overall financial health.

Cultural Perspectives

Different cultures have various approaches to managing outgoings; for instance, some prioritize savings over spending.
In some communities, collective spending (like shared meals) influences how individuals perceive their outgoings.
Various cultural beliefs also affect spending habits — for example, in some cultures, spending generously on family is seen as a virtue.

Technology

The rise of online banking has made tracking outgoings easier, allowing users to categorize and analyze their spending habits.
Budgeting software can automatically pull in transactions to help visualize outgoings and create reports.
Financial technology (fintech) innovations are continually evolving, offering users new tools to monitor outgoings on-the-go.

Origin of 'outgoings'

Main points about word origin

The word 'outgoings' combines 'out' (to go away) and 'going' (to move), forming a term that suggests movement of money.
In English, similar terms like 'ingress' and 'egress' denote movement, showing how language can symbolize financial flow.
The use of 'outgoings' can be traced back to the 20th century, reflecting the increasing complexity of personal finance.

The word 'outgoings' originated from the combination of the prefix 'out-' meaning 'away from' and the word 'goings'. It first appeared in the English language in the mid-18th century. In financial terms, 'outgoings' became popular as a term to describe the expenses or costs incurred by individuals or businesses. Over time, it has remained a common term in the financial and accounting sectors to refer to the money going out of a budget or account.