To ask for my pay early

[Whocaresifyourebeingunreasonableornot]

I do private tutoring.
The main family I work for last paid me on the 11th December as they went away early for Christmas.
I usually get paid at the end of the month, struggling a bit at the moment, would it be unreasonable to ask him to pay me next week? That’s six weeks from when I was last paid
I feel a bit embarrassed, but it’s been a big bills month.
Would you ask? What would you say?

No, I wouldn't ask, because then it will be longer until you get paid again and you'll just struggle next month instead.

I think it would be sorry. If their usual payment date is the month end then I’m not sure it’s very professional to ask them to pay early.

Did they pay you for the whole month of December or was that for work you’re doing in January? Any tutor I’ve used has been paid up front at the start of the month, so it depends on what the December pay covered.

They’re extremely wealthy, he’ll just have money in the bank i’m sure

Next month is fine as I don’t have the same payments coming out as I have this month

I wouldn’t ask because unless your suggestion is that you permanently change your payment date, it’s not going to help you, you’ll then just have another 6 week wait for your next pay.

It also looks really quite unprofessional.

No I don't think you should ask if the agreement is already in place.

I would not ask. Being wealthy doesn’t mean you don’t mind employees pushing boundaries. Could you use your overdraft instead?

No I only asked for pay up until the 11th as they were then away the rest of December

No, I definitely wouldn't ask.

i Typed up the below and I almost didn’t post it because it just comes across as a bit mean, but I’m really just trying to be honest so you don’t jeopardize your job over a temporary issue.

If a tutor asked me for pay early, I would be really concerned. Getting paid early in one month does not cause you to need to be paid early the next month. If you are temporarily short it is because of unexpected high expenses or poor budgeting. I would have sympathy for the first, but would be very concerned it was the second because most people have some sort of place they would go before asking for their paycheck early. If someone doesn’t know how to budget, it would make me question their ability to properly tutor a subject

Don't ask...It looks unprofessional and puts you in a weak position. As a tutor you want to be respected for your skill and professionalism and not treated like a grateful servant. So don't act like one. Your terms are your terms and your payment date is agreed.
Supposing he asked you if he could pay you two weeks late one month because he was a bit short and didn't think you needed the money. Keep it business-like.

I wouldn't ask, i'd just struggle through it as best I could.

If they paid you up until the 11th because they went away then is the issue not that you got it early but that you didn't earn enough? or do you get paid the same regardless of the hours you actually work with them and your next pay will be more than usual?

Have you looked at other ways you could get through the next week or two? a community food pantry, food banks etc? is there a bill or two you can pay a week late?

We get paid over a week early at Christmas in my workplace. January pay date is the same as it normally is. So January is a very long month. It was up to you to have put the money away in December.

No no no. Basically you're asking to borrow money?
How rich they are is irrelevant.
You should have managed your December pay to budget for this.

Going against the grain here. Good tutors are like gold dust.

If DD's tutor had asked for an advance it would not have been a problem. I'd have been glad to help.

Do you have a contract with them that states a date?

If not then it's as simple as your self employed and you can invoice them as regularly as you like as long as only invoicing for services you have provided. Don't overthink it, unless you are contractually prevented from doing so you should be invoicing at your convenience and to suit your business.

It's not an advance or "wages" if your self employed, it's just a business billing for its services.

That makes it sound like the fact they paid you on the 11th instead of the 31st is irrelevant because there was nothing else to pay you for. So the issue really is that you didn’t work as much in December, so you didn’t have as much money coming in and you haven’t budgeted for this?

It’s difficult when you are reliant on being paid for jobs like this over a regular salary. Asking for money early will look pretty unprofessional, I think. But they may not care, it’s hard to know how they’ll see it.

No, its wrong.
You need to learn some budgeting skills and also, when you are paid early in December to hold it untouched until the true date.

Take a look at Money Saving Expert for some tricks.

This changes things. You are at least due from 12th to end of Dec? Or are you not being paid while they were away? If not then no don't ask.

What's your actual employment situation with them? Is there any paperwork in place? Just wondering if it's really OK for you not to receive any holiday pay for 11th-31st Dec while they were away.

I wouldn’t ask, it’s really unprofessional, and while some people would be ok with it, for many it would leave a bad taste in their mouth. It could risk the professional relationship in the long run

You sound as though you are self employed (so your clients are not responsible for your holiday pay) and this is one of the families you work for, did you not fill their December hours with your other students? If these people are you main income you need to keep your relationship professional otherwise they may find another tutor.