make ends meet

(verb) to make enough money to pay all of your bills without getting into debtExample Sentences:

Son: Mom, I’m going to Europe!
Mom: For how long?
Son: For two years.
Mom: What? Why? How will you make ends meet?
Son: I’m going to get a job and travel the continent!

In college, I made ends meet by being a full-time student with a part-time job working in the library.

The single mother had a difficult time making ends meet, so she had to get a second job.

Media:

Similar idioms:

1. make ends meet
2. get through
3. burn the candle at both ends
4. get out of one’s face
5. back off
6. stone sober
7. on second thought
8. work up to
9. nothing ventured, nothing gained