B2idiommoneyIELTS-friendly
live paycheck to paycheck
USUK
to spend all of your wages each month, with nothing saved
American spelling 'paycheck' (British 'pay cheque'), but the phrase is understood everywhere. It stresses no savings, while 'live hand to mouth' stresses having barely enough to eat.
In context
Many young workers in Ho Chi Minh City live paycheck to paycheck because rent is so high.
We lived paycheck to paycheck until my wife got promoted.
More idioms about money
- a cash cowa product or business that steadily makes a lot of money
- a false economya way of saving money that ends up costing more later
- a gold minea business or thing that makes a lot of money, or a rich source of something
- a golden handshakea large sum of money paid to someone when they leave a job
- a money pitsomething, often a house or car, that costs you much more money than it is worth