3 ms·
I can totally relate. I spend way too much time helping my Mom which aggravates the hell out of me because she has been using a PC since Win 3.1 and she still
by Grinnmarr 16y ago
I can totally relate. I spend way too much time helping my Mom which aggravates the hell out of me because she has been using a PC since Win 3.1 and she still can't remember the easiest of tasks. Thankfully she has friends to help her with her financial reporting (she is treasurer for 2 non-profits) and her desktop publishing, but no matter how many times I tell her to stop installing free cursors and such it seems I need to clean her system out regularly. She is like the lady who calls tech support only to discover that her PC isn't even turned on lol But I could never charge her. She is my Mom. Now my sister on the other hand pays too many consultants too much but only wants free advice from me which I give casually. The few times she has asked me to do serious work she has balked even when I low balled her on the price. So she continues to spend too much for too little because she won't hire her little brother.
Friends ask for help all the time and I just dispense advice. I am not creating anything for free unless I have an emotional investment in the project and honestly I have always been uncomfortable charging friends. The friendship is what matters and a formal biz relationship can really stress it out at times. If I were you I would make it a policy to not work for family and friends and then make exceptions on a case by case basis if you feel inclined.