Crossword Genius

Wants variable income (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yearnings

'wants' is the definition.
(a yearning feeling is a feeling of want)

'variable income' is the wordplay.
'variable' becomes 'y' (algebra).
'income' becomes 'earnings' (earnings is a kind of income).
'y'+'earnings'='YEARNINGS'

(Other definitions for yearnings that I've seen before include "wishes" , "Desires" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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