One gathers nothing in tougher circumstances (7)
I believe the answer is:
hoarder
But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?
(Other definitions for hoarder that I've seen before include "18 [MAGPIE] , perhaps" , "Saver" , "Person acting like a squirrel" , "One who accumulates things" , "One who accumulates or stockpiles" .)