Possible Clues:

• __ out a meager existence
• Add to (with "out")
• Make do (with "out")
• To — something out is to make it go further
• Barely make it (with "out")
• ___ out (barely make do)
• Get with great effort (with "out")
• Struggle to earn, with 'out'
• ___ out a profit
• ___ out (barely achieve)