Makes one's living ni hasa kuhusu jinsi unavyopata ruzuku yako; make your living as a farmer, au repairing cars, robbing banks (or running a bank)....
make a life . . . - hii inategemea ni nini inayofuata: I can make a life easy or difficult (my own, yours, for xyz...)
Iko pia: "that makes my life", ukifurahia sana jambo fulani. kama kusema "That made my day!"