What term refers to a small stash of cash kept on hand for minor payments?

• A. Petty Cash
• B. Petty Cash Fund
• C. Cash on Hand
• D. Petty Cash Reserve

Answer: (A)

Petty cash refers to a small amount of money kept on hand specifically to cover minor, everyday expenses such as stamps, taxi fares, or small office supplies. This term is the best fit because it directly describes the cash that is set aside for small payments, separate from the main accounts. The idea behind a petty cash fund is the system or account that controls this cash, while the actual cash on hand is the petty cash itself. The other terms aren’t as precise for the cash kept for minor payments: “cash on hand” is a general label for any cash you have available, not necessarily earmarked for small purchases; “petty cash fund” refers more to the control mechanism or account rather than the physical stash; and “petty cash reserve” isn’t a standard, widely used term in this context.