Hand-to-mouth existence is a term used to describe a life of poverty where income is spent on necessities like food, rent, and bills with little or nothing left over. There are several synonyms which capture the same meaning as hand-to-mouth existence including living paycheck to paycheck, scraping by, surviving, making ends meet, or just getting by. All of these terms highlight the struggle of those who have limited means and must constantly worry about how they will afford basic necessities. While there are many government programs and organizations aimed at alleviating poverty, the reality is that millions of people still lead hand-to-mouth existences, and will continue to until significant changes are made.