Examples:

• After losing his job, he was as poor as a church mouse and couldn’t pay his rent.
• When she first moved to the city, she was as poor as a church mouse, but she worked hard to succeed.
• The old man lived as poor as a church mouse, yet he was always kind and generous.
• During his college days, he was as poor as a church mouse and survived on instant noodles.
• They started their business as poor as church mice, but now they are millionaires.
• After the flood, many families were left as poor as church mice with nothing to their name.
• He may look rich now, but a few years ago he was as poor as a church mouse.
• The artist was as poor as a church mouse before his paintings became famous.
• Growing up, we were as poor as church mice, but we were happy.
• She felt as poor as a church mouse after spending all her savings on the trip.