' " to make ends meet" means struggle to have even necessary things.

Mrs. Tad has it right. The others ... no.

Literally pick the fruit or catch the fish as labor and place it in your mouth for food to survive just for today. // Makes ends meet is referring to viewing a calendar with paychecks arriving every two weeks and you have to make your current pay last until the end of the pay period so you can get paid again.

They are identical in meaning ~

"I get paid every two weeks and I live hand to mouth."

"I get paid every two weeks and I barely make ends meet."

(Both sentences mean: When I get paid, I have just enough money to pay my current bills and meet my immediate needs, I have no savings and nothing left over for the future.)