"It's not hard to meet expenses -- they're…

“It’s not hard to meet expenses—they’re everywhere” is a joke on the double meaning of the word “meet” (“to see” expenses and “to satisfy” expenses). The “it’s not hard to meet expenses” joke has been cited in print since at least 1917.

4 March 1917, Idaho Statesman, “Little Pal, taking in the sights at Palm Beach” by Leo (comic), second section, pg. 5:
WOMAN: WHY, WE HAVEN’T COME TO TH’ POINT WHERE IT’S HARD TO MEET EXPENSES, HAVE WE?

MAN: HARD T’ MEET ‘EM? I SHOULD SAY NOT. IT’S HARD T’ DODGE ‘EM!!!

Google Books
The School of Education Record
University of North Dakota
April 1917
Pg. 48, col. 2:
Don’t you find it hard to meet expenses?
Hard! Man, alive! I meet them at every turn.
— Topeka Journal.

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Xi Psi Phi Quarterly
Volume 18
By Xi Psi Phi Fraternity
January 1920
Pg. 196:
Don’t you find it hard to meet expenses?
Not in the least. I meet expenses every time I turn around.

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The Medical World
Volume 40
1922
Pg. 192:
The Ashland Bugle says it used to be a familiar expression about its being hard to meet expenses, but that now expenses are about all you do meet. — K. C. Star.

1 September 1949, Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI), pg. 19, col. 3:
AUTOMATIC THINKING
Headlines say: Senate votes down cut in government expenses. Looks like Congress is not finding it tough to meet expenses; they’re meeting them everywhere.
AUTOMATIC HEATING. 506 University

11 February 1956, Corsicana (TX) Daily Sun, pg. 8, col. 2:
Why worry about being able to meet expenses? They’re always waiting ahead at every turn. You can’t miss them.

7 March 1959, Ludington (MI) Daily News, “Strictly Business” by McFeatters (comic strip), pg. 9, col. 2:
“I find it easy to meet expenses—they’re all around me!”

3 August 1971, Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), pg. 1 masthead:
Today’s Chuckle
It’s not difficult to meet expenses—they’re everywhere.

Google Books
The Biggest Joke Book Ever
By Jack Jacoby
Victoria, BC: Trafford
2008
Pg. 285:
It’s not hard to meet expenses—they’re everywhere.