The phrase "was poor" can be expressed in various ways depending on the context. It could be replaced with "struggled financially", which implies a lack of financial stability. Alternatively, "had limited funds" indicates a situation where one did not have much money available. "Lived in poverty" meaning a state of serious deprivation. Other synonyms include "barely making ends meet", "hand-to-mouth existence" and "subsisting on a shoestring budget". It is essential to note that these alternatives carry slightly different connotations. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the appropriate synonym based on the context of the sentence.