With the current state of the economy, unemployment rates continue to be high- especially for the 18 to 24 age group. That being said, college students are struggling to meet their bills more than ever. Between the rising cost of tuition and meeting monthly bills, students are forced to adhere to a strict budget. But, when you’re just scraping by, even the slightest hiccup can throw your finances into a whirl. What do you do when your landlord is knocking at your door and you don’t get paid until next week?

First things first: ask your parents for a short term loan. Explain that you don’t get paid until next week and that rent is due today. Sometimes, or rather the first few times, parents will most likely react with understanding. However, after the first few times, they’re probably going to blame you for mismanaging your finances. If that’s the case- you may need to seek out loans for bad credit. These are typically designed for individuals with little or no credit history. Be sure to repay the loan on time. Any late payment could potentially have lasting effects on your credit report.

Read more about The Subprime Crisis of Student Debt