HandtoMouth

Hand-to-mouth is a term used to describe a mode of living in which income is immediately used to cover daily necessities, leaving little or no opportunity to save or invest. The expression is found in English-language literature dating back to at least the 19th century and has become common in economics, sociology, and policy discussions about poverty and financial insecurity.

In practice, hand-to-mouth living often relates to precarious employment, low wages, irregular work, or lack of access to credit, social safety nets, or savings. Consequences include limited financial resilience during shocks, constrained consumption choices, higher vulnerability to price changes, and potential impacts on health and education.

Policy responses address the condition of financial precarity and may include social assistance, unemployment insurance, minimum wage policies, and programs aimed at increasing savings and financial literacy.

Related phrases include "living from hand to mouth" and "paycheck to paycheck." In public discourse, the term is used to describe both individuals and households experiencing ongoing financial precariousness, and it is frequently invoked in discussions of poverty, inequality, and social policy.