Still, his family can barely afford food, let alone Christmas presents.

For years we could barely afford the national minimum wage.

Women can barely afford food or medicine, and the idea of having anything nice is just a dream.

As a result, food is scarce and with taxes higher than ever, the people can barely afford to eat.

The wages were so low the slaves could barely afford to live off them.

Together they could barely afford to rent an apartment at market rate.

"It seemed like they could barely afford the cost of the trip," the executive said.

Many of these people could barely afford to eat, never mind pay for insurance.

The practice even spread to some who could barely afford it.

Middle-class and working families can just barely afford day care as it is.