Re: "Stemming gold to make ends meet..."
I realize this addition might be 8 years too late, but I believe the line "stemming gold to make ends meet" refers to the process of removing gold from other objects likes rings, watches, silverware, etc in order to get a composite quantity of it.
I base this opinion on Dictionary.com's definition of the verb stem when used with an object:
–verb (used with object) 20.to remove the stem from (a leaf, fruit, etc)
Not an exact fit for gold, but I think it is more plausible than merely budgeting.
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