This post is really just to let off some steam and stop driving my poor husband crazy.
I don't really sell cakes, but people ask me to. On Wednesday, someone else I work with (someone other than my boss) asked if I could make a Valentine's day cake for her and her partner - 2 layers, 8'' round, filling, decorated with a log cabin, bears and hearts. 
She said she'd like to keep it around $40.
So I figured it would take 2-3 hours to make this cake, and I don't want to waste a whole toddler-nap for a couple of bucks, so I said I would need to charge $55. It didn't scare her off - she's going to pay it. Yikes!
I've always ended up undercharging. I feel comfortable that way - this way I'm the one who gets ripped off, and nobody is mad at me (except me).
Is it a self-esteem thing that I need to get over? I'm so paranoid that she's going to get the cake and say, "I paid $55 for THIS???"
Any words of wisdom from someone who has successfully moved past the doormat phase? I've always quoted one price for a cake, then I've gone above and beyond what I promised to make, just so they'd be happy with the end result - I'm giving away my extra effort, and feeling like a sucker.
Thanks for letting me vent - I'm too broke for the therapy I so desperately need. 
I wouldn't feel bad. I undercharge all the time and am constantly mad at myself. I don't know why I am afraid I won't get any business, but then again, I know I am being taken advantage of!! GRRR....
Hold your head up and don't feel bad. Your coworker apparently knows you make good cakes or she would have backed out when you gave her the price.
Cindy
Thanks. I made a practice log cabin and bears yesterday, and when I asked my husband what he thought, he just stared at it for about 10 seconds and then said, "What are you going to do with the windows?" !!! Typical.
Men! 
Gotta love em don't we? 
Hold your head up high and show her you make 55.00 cakes with ease! <or at least as far as she can tell!!!> besides no one but you will see the imperfections, if there are any. Your work looks good, don't sweat it.
I just got an order from my husband's co-worker today. She wants a cake for uncle's 65th birthday that would feed 40 people. She wants 3 vinyl records as a design etc. I'm so scared of telling her how much it would cost. She wants yellow cake with buttercream on it. Yeah that's simple. But all the detailed work that will go with it...making the records, musical notes etc., will eat up most of my time.
I guess deep inside we want to do the cake but we don't want to scare them away with the price so we end up settling for what we thin is affordable to them.
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