1. We can hardly pay the rent, buy enough food, and keep the children in clothing. We’re barely making ends meet.
2. Roger was unable to support his family on his teacher’s salary. He made ends meet by taking a second job.

Synonym: get by. Compare to: keep (one’s) head above water. Both keep one’s head above water and make ends meet mean having just enough money but no extra, although the former conveys a feeling of desperation. Keep one’s head above water can also mean survival in situations other than financial, whereas make ends meet is limited to financial survival.