live paycheck to paycheck
idiom
US
: to spend all of the money from one paycheck before receiving the next paycheck
Examples of live paycheck to paycheck in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More than half of Miamians, LeFevre included, now live paycheck to paycheck, squeezed by spiralling prices and wages that haven’t kept pace.
—
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Lim also mentioned that most of his clients who live paycheck to paycheck are largely the middle-income earners, which make up 60% to 70% of his clientele seeking consultations on how to save more.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
Still, Latinos are the ethnic group most likely to live paycheck to paycheck, according to the report.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
According to a 2024 Bank of America report, approximately 25% of households live paycheck to paycheck, which has forced retailers to go on the offensive.
—Atal Bansal, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for live paycheck to paycheck
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Lim also mentioned that most of his clients who live paycheck to paycheck are largely the middle-income earners, which make up 60% to 70% of his clientele seeking consultations on how to save more.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
Still, Latinos are the ethnic group most likely to live paycheck to paycheck, according to the report.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
According to a 2024 Bank of America report, approximately 25% of households live paycheck to paycheck, which has forced retailers to go on the offensive.
—Atal Bansal, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for live paycheck to paycheck
Cite this Entry
“Live paycheck to paycheck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20paycheck%20to%20paycheck. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share