"From hand to mouth" is an idiom that encapsulates the struggle of living in a state of financial instability or simply making ends meet. Synonyms for this expression can help convey similar sentiments with vividness and variety. The phrase "living paycheck to paycheck" illustrates the same idea, highlighting the necessity of relying on each paycheck to cover immediate expenses. Another synonym is "subsistence living", which suggests barely sustaining oneself on meager resources. "Scraping by" emphasizes the difficulty in meeting basic necessities. Finally, one can opt for the phrase "struggling to make ends meet", emphasizing the effort required to sustain a basic standard of living.