Require your start to be poor (5)
I believe the answer is:
needy
'poor' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'require your start to' is the wordplay.
'require' becomes 'need' (synonyms).
'start to' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'your' is 'y'.
'need'+'y'='NEEDY'
'be' is the link.
(Other definitions for needy that I've seen before include "Necessitous" , "Poor; indigent" , "Impecunious" , "Poor; wanting affection" , "badly craving affection" .)