An allotment can refer to two different things:
-
Allotment (gardening): In British English, an allotment is a plot of land made available for individual, non-commercial gardening or growing food plants, often referred to as a kitchen garden. In North America, this is known as a community garden. These plots were initially intended to improve the living conditions of workers by providing them with social balance and food self-sufficiency.
-
Allotment (financial): In a financial context, an allotment is a designated amount of money that is automatically distributed from a persons pay for a specific purpose. This can include setting aside funds for family, paying off a loan, or paying for life insurance premiums. There are two types of allotments: discretionary and non-discretionary. Discretionary allotments are voluntary and can be stopped, started, or adjusted at will, while non-discretionary allotments are for government payments and have a limit of 15 per month.
