Modest about a bit of money (note being pocketed) (8)
I believe the answer is:
reticent
'modest' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'about a bit of money note being pocketed' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 're' ('re' means regarding or about).
'a bit of money' becomes 'cent'.
'note being' becomes 'ti' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pocketed' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
're'+'cent'='recent'
'recent' enclosing 'ti' is 'RETICENT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for reticent that I've seen before include "Disinclined to speak" , "Reserved, shy" , "Backward in coming forward" , "Reserved, loath to talk" , "'Self-effacing, restrained (8)'" .)