I never thought I’d be doing something like this. That should tell you how desperate my situation is. I was recently furloughed from my job as a bartender due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I was making really good money as a bartender. My boss always paid me in cash, under the table, and on a good night, I was bringing home $200+ in tips and $100 in hourly pay. I only worked four nights a week, and had plenty of money to comfortably pay my rent and buy my groceries for the month. When my boss sent out the information that employees wouldn’t be coming back until further notice, I was panicked. First instinct in that moment would have been to start budgeting. But I didn’t. You see, I’m a college student, currently living by myself in a very large apartment with no roommate. I got much too caught up in the luxuries of quarantine: online shopping, DoorDash, frivolous spending that just spiraled me into a terrible financial situation. Rent was due, so I paid it, but next thing I knew, my card got declined. My apartment complex issued a late fee, and they called my mom asking where the payment was. I was screwed. Luckily, I was able to work something out with the apartment complex so I was offered another ten days to pay. Ten days is practically no time at all to make the amount of money I needed without any type of job lined up. On top of that, I am a full time student, and I’m at the end of my semester, meaning my projects are piling up, and I barely have time to even type this post. I attempted many times to file for unemployment and claim my money from the government. There was a few problems, however. I was paid in cash, under the table. I have no record of even having worked at the bar I worked at, so I can not technically file for unemployment, as I have no paystubs. I did fill out all the information I could and hoped for the best, but I never received any money, and I was never even contacted in regards to my unemployment application. I attempted also to claim money through the CARES Act. I could not receive money for this, however, because I do not have tax records from 2018 or 2019 and up until last year, I was considered a dependent. I currently need $800 to pay my rent. I tried applying for a rent loan, but I do not have any credit built. I’ve never even had a credit card. This situation I’m in is completely my fault, and I own up to it. In the next six months, I’ll be paying everyone back for their donations, as I sincerely appreciate it. I hope you can find it in your heart to help me out, as this is really my last option.