Possible Clues:

• Squeezing (out)
• Scratching (out)
• Barely making, with 'out'
• Barely making (with "out")
• ___ out a living (making do)
• Just managing, with 'out'
• Just making, with "out"
• Scraping (out)
• Managing, with 'out'
• Making last longer by careful use