I'm in a desperate financial situation and have been considering payday loans. I'm worried about the

The immediate financial need is a combination of things. My rent is due in a week, and I'm about $800 short. On top of that, my car just broke down, and the mechanic is quoting me $500 for the repairs. I need the car to get to client meetings and to my part-time job at the coffee shop, so it's essential. If I don't have the car, I'll lose even more income, which will make everything worse. I'm just trying to bridge this gap until my next big client payment comes in, which should be in about three weeks.

I need to borrow about $800. It's not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but it feels insurmountable for me right now.

My income is pretty inconsistent right now. I work as a freelance graphic designer, so some months are great, and others are really slow. My average monthly income is probably around $2,500, but it can fluctuate by $500-$1000 either way. I'm currently employed, but it's project-based, so there's no guarantee of steady work from one month to the next. I'm actively looking for more stable, full-time employment, but it's a competitive market.

I've done a little bit of looking around. I asked my family if they could help, but they're all struggling financially themselves right now. I've also looked into my employer's hardship program, but it seems to have a long approval process and I need money much sooner than that. I briefly considered a small personal loan from my bank, but my credit isn't great, and I was immediately denied. I haven't really explored any government assistance programs because I'm not sure if I qualify or how to even start that process.

My biggest concerns, beyond the astronomical interest rates, are the fees that seem to pile up. I've heard stories about people getting trapped in a cycle where they can't pay back the original loan plus the interest, so they have to take out another loan to cover the first one, and it just snowballs. I'm also really worried about the impact on my credit score if I can't make payments on time, or if they send it to collections. The thought of my credit being ruined for years is terrifying, and I'm not sure how aggressive these lenders can be in trying to collect.