bad off
Without enough money to get by; poor. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I've been bad off for the last few months; it's hard to make ends meet these days.
bad off
Also, badly off. In unfortunate circumstances, poor. For example, Her husband's death left her bad off, or She had her pension and wasn't too badly off. The first term is colloquial. [Early 1800s] Also see well off.