Wiktionary
scratch together
vb. (context idiomatic English) To collect, assemble or gather small amounts (especially of money), from various sources, with some difficulty
Usage examples of "scratch together".
Warren would have to scratch together a bomber squadron at once, with the surviving pilots of Bombing Six, Scouting Six, and the Yorktown aviators.
Cadfael paid a second visit next day, to make sure that his dressing had drawn the Welsh boys ragged scratch together with no festering.
He and Ilona were saving every penny they could scratch together to eventually pay for a cloning procedure.