<prompt> Human: Hey rpersonalfinance!Ive recently started working with a marketing company as a part-time student brand ambassador. I am only required to work 2-3 times a month, which is not too often it interferes with my studies, but is enough to give me some spending cash.Ive worked one event with the group so far, which I will get paid today for, a total of 198. I was required to buy a cake for 31 that I have not yet been reimbursed for.Now I must travel out-of-province for the next event which happens on Monday. I have literally 0 in my bank account aside from the 198 - I will need to purchase:- gas for my car - 90- oil change - 50- another cake - 31That leaves me with 27, 25 of which I owe to a friend for buying me groceries since I have been so broke. The next pay period from this company isnt until after Christmas, when I will receive 88 for the shift, 62 for the cakes, and 300 travel stipend. But, they are not paying me until after Christmas! They are asking me, a student, to cover these expenses before a major holiday and I will only have 3 left in my bank account. Needless to say, I am sitting here today wondering if I should even work this shift - is it worth it? I will not even have the money to travel home for Christmas. I am thinking I will need to take out a payday loan to pay for gas and toll bridge to be home with my parents, which is my biggest fear. :I am lost - what do I do? I realize I will get a large paycheck after Christmas, but is it worth it to take out the payday loan to get me through Christmas? Answer: no! Lol any suggestions on how I should handle this?  <response>: No, dont do a payday loan. Not for this! And yes, ask the company to already give you some money for the trip. Even 100 would be nice to already have; and they should be able to miss it. Alternatively, can you ask your parents for a 100 or 200 loan? And that youll pay them back when your next paycheck comes in? 