Is there a cheap temporary alternative to trademark?

[you know who you are]

Im doing a kick starter and need ti protect my product name but i dont have the 500 bucks now, is there like a provisional tm.

[bcnu]

Better than "cheap", how about "free"?

If you're in the USA (or Canada, UK, Australia..) you automatically get trademark rights from the moment you offer goods or services in commerce using that brand. Free, but somewhat limited as to scope of market protection, to the extent you can actually prove your prior use and likelihood of confusion caused by an alleged infringer you want to squelch.

You can optionally register a trademark in one or more states for a smallish fee ($50 to $100). Also, you can file a federal USPTO application with "intent to use" the brand (within 3 years or so) using online forms for less than $300. If you're ALREADY using it, just file the federal application for a single class and file later for other classes of goods or services, assuming that's how you got anywhere near $500 for a federal ® application.