Character in Thessaloniki carrying home money (5)
I believe the answer is:
rhino
'money' is the definition.
(old-fashioned slang term for money)
'character in thessaloniki carrying home' is the wordplay.
'character in thessaloniki' becomes 'rho' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'carrying' indicates putting letters inside.
'home' becomes 'in' (to be in is to be (at) home).
'rho' placed around 'in' is 'RHINO'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rhino that I've seen before include "endangered creature" , "I may make fearsome charges" , "Animal hunted for its horn" , "old money?" , "Cash" .)