Mooch about, indulged from time to time (4)
I believe the answer is:
idle
'mooch' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'indulged from time to time' is the wordplay.
'from time to time' indicates alternate letters (letters removed on a regular basis).
The alternating letters of 'indulged' are 'IDLE'.
'about' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for idle that I've seen before include "Not occupied" , "having been taken from service" , "Dormant" , "goalless" , "Still" .)