cash-strapped
Short on funds
Cash-strapped describes a person, organization, or government that lacks sufficient money to meet their needs or obligations.
The term suggests a tight, uncomfortable financial situation rather than complete poverty—being squeezed for funds rather than broke.
The cash-strapped school district cut all arts programs.
Cash-strapped consumers are skipping vacations this year.
It appears frequently in news coverage of budget shortfalls and economic hardship.
Experiencing serious difficulty
- brokeLacking any funds
- pinchedStole or squeezed tightly
- squeezedPressed firmly together
- tightFirmly stretched or fitting
short · wanting · needy · desperate · stressed · anxious · worried · precarious
Insufficiently financially supported
- impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- low-incomeEarning below average wages
assistance · welfare · subsidies · aid · relief
Sparing with resources
- thriftyPrudent with resources
- budgetingAllocating funds systematically
- economizingReducing expenditures deliberately
- belt-tighteningReducing expenditures deliberately
scrimping · penny-pinching · cutbacks · cost-cutting · bargain-hunting · couponing · discounts · secondhand
Past expected arrival
- creditorsThose owed payment
- arrearsOverdue financial obligations
- defaultPreset standard option
- collectionsGathered groups of items
repayment · loans · borrowing · interest · bills · owing · liabilities · maxed-out
Prolonged economic decline
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- layoffTermination without cause
- inflationSustained price level increase
- underpaidGiven inadequate wages
struggling
Experiencing serious difficulty
tight · short · wanting · needy · desperate · stressed · anxious · worried · precarious · vulnerable
underfunded
Insufficiently financially supported
- impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
low-income · assistance · welfare · subsidies · aid · relief
frugal
Sparing with resources
- thriftyPrudent with resources
- budgetingAllocating funds systematically
- economizingReducing expenditures deliberately
belt-tightening · scrimping · penny-pinching · cutbacks · cost-cutting · bargain-hunting · couponing · discounts · secondhand · DIY
overdue
Past expected arrival
collections · repayment · loans · borrowing · interest · bills · owing · liabilities · maxed-out · underwater
recession
Prolonged economic decline
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- layoffTermination without cause
- inflationSustained price level increase
underpaid · underemployed · divorce · emergency · fixed-income
- povertypoverty line, poor, poverty rate, impoverished, generational poverty
cash-strappedliquid
Free-flowing substance
flush · money to burn · deep-pocketed · well-heeled · cashed-up
cash-strappedwealthy
Having abundant financial resources
affluent · prosperous · well-off · rich · well-heeled
cash, strap, cashier, strapping, strapped, cashing, cashed, cashiers, cashbox