Final answer:
Depreciation is not a type of discretionary expense; it is the allocation of the cost of an asset over its useful life. Fixed, Intermittent, and Variable are types of costs businesses incur, with Fixed costs being unchangeable regardless of production levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of discretionary expense that is not listed in the options provided is Depreciation. Discretionary expenses typically include expenditures that can be adjusted or eliminated based on individual or company preferences, such as for entertainment, travel, or non-essential goods and services. Fixed, Intermittent, and Variable costs are all types of costs that a business may incur but depreciation is not classified as a discretionary expense since it represents the allocation of the cost of an asset over its useful life and is not something that can be adjusted at will.
Discretionary expenses are often contrasted with obligatory payments such as rent on a factory, which is a fixed cost and does not vary with the level of production. Whether a company produces a great deal or a little, fixed costs remain the same. On the other hand, variable costs fluctuate with production volume, and intermittent costs occur sporadically or on an irregular basis.