to be able live or survive each month with just enough money to pay for your expenses
Examples:
- If we reduce our spending, we can make ends meet.
- It’s hard to make ends meet when you’re out of work.
- I swear to you, I'm just trying to make ends meet.
- After the cost increases, the small bakery could barely make ends meet.
Synonyms: get by, keep head above water, scrape by