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Unpopular opinion: People keep calling my side hustle a 'hobby' to avoid paying me.
Tbh, I've done freelance website help for three local shops, and each one tried to pay me in coffee or 'exposure' after the work was done. It matters because it devalues real skills, and I know it's wrong because my invoice clearly stated $75 an hour. How do you handle friends or neighbors who expect professional work for free?
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michaeltorres1mo ago
What do you do when they ask for a "quick favor" before you even talk price? I started saying my rate up front, like "I'd love to help, my freelance rate for that is $75 an hour." It feels awkward but it stops the free work talk before it starts.
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jade_jenkins1mo ago
Honestly, starting with your rate feels like a great way to scare off actual friends or burn a bridge. If my cousin asks me to glance at her resume, I'm not sending an invoice. That "quick favor" line is often just someone being polite, not a secret plot for free labor. Jumping straight to money makes every interaction feel like a business deal, and that's a lonely way to live. Sometimes doing a small thing for free leads to a bigger, paid job later because people remember you were cool about it.
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jennifer8331mo ago
Honestly, I've started asking what they need first, then giving a ballpark. Like if someone says "can you look at my site," I'll say "sure, a quick review usually takes me an hour, so that's around $X." It frames the favor as real work with a real time cost. It feels less blunt than just stating a rate cold, and it makes them actually think about the scope. They often realize it's not so quick.
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