Just managed, with "out" (4)
I believe the answer is:
eked
'just managed with out' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for eked that I've seen before include "Made, a living say, laboriously" , "Lengthened; supplemented" , "Added to scantly" , "... out, made to last through frugality" , "- - out: increased" .)