hard up

(adjective) to not have enough money

Example Sentences:

A: Dude, come to the movies with us tonight!
B: Sorry man, I’m hard up right now. I don’t have any cash!

Most University students are hard up because they are too busy studying to have a job.

From the Blogs:

Hard up States Find Investors

Media:

Similar idioms:

1. live from hand to mouth
2. grab the bull by the horns