There's a saying "Never do for free something you're good at". If you're good at it, you're on the top performers, so you're scarce by definition, hence, valuab

There's a saying "Never do for free something you're good at". If you're good at it, you're on the top performers, so you're scarce by definition, hence, valuable. Also, some people tend to unconsciously feel that if you enjoy doing something it's not valuable (it may be an unintended consequence of valuing hard work: if you enjoy it, it's not hard work, so it's not valuable, idk). This is a mindset, and I think you're starting to understand that it's not conductive to economic success and happiness. Sometimes what you get is not pay as in money, you may be owed a favor, networked into some area you didn't have access before (i.e. the first one is free) or are just consciously doing it as a "donation" if you like for some good cause. But it still has value. Sometimes what it helps is thinking about cost, not just actual cost (driving, wear and tear of tools, etc.), but think about opportunity cost: what could you have done with that time? Is it worth it to spend time on that? Keep your priorities straight, what are your goals? Does doing this gets you closer or further away? Sometimes even if they're willing to pay you, you may not want to do it, because money alone won't get you closer to your goals. Once you start changing your mindset, saying 'no' starts becoming easier and you're better prepared to decide wether you should do something or not. What would make it worth your while, and it becomes clear what you should demand for it.