<prompt> Human: Short Story: So Im a freshman and I got an investment banking internship at a boutique firm for the summer. I got the job because I played sports with the head partner at the firm. I worked incredibly hard the first month 40 hours a week, and got a paycheck for 500; a lot less than I was expecting because I kept getting praised for being able to do everything they ask me to. What should I do? I need to make money in the summer because I go to school in a high cost area.Long story: When I was a senior in high school, I asked to shadow the partner at the firm. At the end of the few days, I asked if I could return the following summer. He agreed so long as I take an accounting course during my freshman year.So come this summer, Ive taken my accounting course and asked if the internship was still on the table. He said yes. I assumed I was going to get paid but he asked if my University needed him to write anything to get me credit. I talked to my mom about it and she let me know I probably wasnt going to get paid at all which I was bummed about. At least I could learn.When I got into work, I asked if interns get paid and the partner said no. He came up to me later and said he could give me a stipend but wasnt going to give the other intern one because heshe isnt capable of doing the work the partner wants himher to do heshe has no accounting knowledge.So at work I do everything they ask which consists mostly of finding information for them and sorting it out. Its actual work and I wasnt learning anything special at all; I was just doing grunt work. I worked super hard for the first month and was a model intern. I didnt screw around at work and did the job fully and efficiently unlike the other intern. I did my work incredibly well and started getting praised by my bosses. I took this as a compliment and figured I would make a good amount of money because Im an extremely valuable employee. I was wrong.I ended up getting a check at the end of the month for 500 bucks and when I did the math it came out to around 3.12 an hour before taxes. As you could probably imagine I am unhappy.So at this point Im not sure what to do. I asked my mom but she told me I shouldnt ask for more because it could burn bridges. On the other hand need spending money by the end of the summer for school. My mom said she would give it to me, but its just the principle of it. What my boss is doing is wrong and at the end of the day, I wouldnt be getting paid for my valuable work, but rather by my sympathetic mom who wants to make sure I get a good recommendation.My position is something personal finance has taught me: work is about money. I want to get paid for what Im worth... or even a half-decent portion of what Im worth. I have all the connections I need because Ive built a great network with my fraternity alumni.At this point I hate my job. I come home depressed and angry every day because it makes me sick that I go into work for a place that recognizes my abilities through verbal praise instead of a paycheck.Ive thought about my options and heres what Ive come up with: 1 Ask for more money and risk getting turned down and burning a bridge. 2 Just not say nothing to ensure a good recommendation but guarantee not making decent money. 3 Quit and freelance other skills like lawn mowing, tennis lessons, excel spreadsheet classes, and tutoring to try and make up for all the time I havent been earning decent money. What are your thought personal finance? What should I do?  <response>: You got a 500 stipend for an unpaid internship. By your own admission, they made this clear before you ever started working.In relation to what you should do, you dont have a position. Youre an intern. You are doing this for experience mainly, with a possible benefit of compensation. If they do not offer paid internships, but you were expecting compensation, you had unrealistic expectations.If you need money, get a job, not an unpaid internship that just happens to be going well enough that they offered you an out of the norm stipend. 