It’s doling out things he can manage without (9)
I believe the answer is:
dispenser
'it's doling out things he can manage without' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'he can manage without' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'he' could be 'spenser' and 'spenser' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'di' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dispenser that I've seen before include "One filling prescription" , "Chemist" , "one to give out" , "Pharmacist" , "Container releasing its contents in prescribed amounts" .)