But I have noticed alot of people lately esp, thinking I am doing this for my health.

Church wants atleast 3 cakes donated for the fish fry cake wheel, every friday for like 7 or 8 weeks for a special lay down.

My bday is next week, so there's another one.

A coworker EXPECTS one on the 9th for her bday.

We have a lady retiring today and I made her a cake for the party. My idea, so I wasn't thinking about charging anything. It is a pot luck. A co-worker came into medical records and asked me to do a cake up another employee that is having a baby next month. YIKES!! I told her I didn't know how much to charge...she said "you can't charge us, you are donating it to the party." YIKES again.

For a first time in a long time, I was at a loss of words.

I am not sure what do say, I don't like drama but i am being taken advantage of.

Thanks for letting me vent.....any thoughts?

Patricia

Yeah, you need to start charging! Maybe the church, donate the first week and then let them know what they will cost from that point on.
Let the others know that you'll work up a design and price and get back with them.

Julie

Wow, what do you mean you can not charge? I would tell all involved that you will begin charging for all cakes (except for a gift at your discression) March 1. If they complain let them! Cakes are expensive and time consuming and you are being taken advantage of.
Sorry but you will have to be firm and strong on this one!
Tracy

I would tell her, "Yes I can charge you, I was planning on bringing some meatballs for the party, so if you would also like the cake, you can pay me xx dollars for it."

Good luck. Try and remember that you do this for fun and not let these people get to you.

Are you married? My husband FORBADE me to do cakes for free. See if your husband is tired of footing the bill and the mess and the loss of your time and see if he will FORBID you to do them for free to!

"I'd love to, but my husband has told me that I am NOT allowed to do cakes for free anymore. It is too taxing on the household and he feels that HE deserves compensation."

I can NOT believe some peoples nerve to EXPECT you to make a cake. I would never do it for people so ungrateful! I love love love doing things for other people, I can have a million things to do and will drop everything to do something for someone else, but when people just EXPECT that you will do it, that isn't the same. Phooey with all of those people. Get your friend a nice card, do NOT make her a cake, you are under no obligation to do so. For all of these events would you pay for a gift for that person in the same value as what the cake costs you? Now factor in electricity, cleaning, your HOURS to make the silly thing, now how much is the "free" gift? Comes out to $30-50 depending on what you are making, and even for my closest friends I don't spend that much on a gift for them.

If it helps I FORBID you to do cakes for free. Tell them Alice will get me
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Then what is everyone else "donating" to this employee's party? You are going to have to start saying no, I know its not easy, but say you cannot afford to do it for free. Its one thing if you are doing it because you want to, another when its just expected of you. Don't feel guilted into it, why should you be spending out of your own pocket? There is no excuse at an office either, when everyone only has to chip in a couple of dollars to cover the cost (and if people don't want to do that, then why should YOU be footing the bill?!)

I agree with Princess Tonya, at the next potluck, bring another dish, NOT CAKE. You are under no obligation to provide cake at every gathering. Maybe this will get across the point, that while you enjoy doing cakes, you don't enjoy doing them for free ALL THE TIME!!

make up a price list and whenever anyone starts to talk about cake donations..you can quietly hand them the list with a great big smile!

eventually they will get the hint

I get it!!!! Charge them!!!!

Actually, I love a couple of ideas....I will tell everybunny..."Alice says I have to charge." That way I am not making the decision. Alice did.

And the sheet for the prices and walk away...again no drama.

And no more cakes to pot lucks, lets drive them crazy, how about cole slaw?

I went to the pot luck around 12, and everyone raved about the cake, one lady asked what bakery made it and another another gal, said "Patty cakes made it". The look of shock was crazy. They thought it was store bought. I told her no this is better than store bought, it's "Patty made".

Patricia

When people come begging for cakes especially fornon-profit organizations; I politely state "Sweetie, when I can get eggs, butter, flour, sugar, vanilla and especially chocolate for free. You can get a free cake."
HAPPY BAKING AND DECORATING!

I know how easy it can be to fall into this pattern. I started making cakes in November, and I brought one practice cake to our safety meeting at work that month.

Then I brought another practice cake to the December meeting.

At the January meeting, one of the guys looked at me and said, "Where's the cake?"

I just told him in a comically haughty tone of voice, "Those were PRACTICE cakes. I don't NEED any more practice." Everyone got a good chuckle and I was off the hook for providing the goodies every month.

It's easier if you use humor to break the tension when you turn them down for their free sugar fix.

Yup, I had to suck it up and stop making cakes for every one of my personal get-togethers... because people got the idea that since I could make them for my personal parties so easily, that they somehow cost no money. I actually had people show up to my last get-together and say "Where's the cake?" It finally hit home. I explained that they cost money and take a lot of time. I stopped getting the "can you just throw a quick cake together for my next _____?" questions.

Be tough. Your work is worth the money!

People will never understand that it takes time to make and decorate cakes. I have the same problem. It's not that the ingredients are THAT expensive, but our time is valuable!!

Boy, oh boy do I feel your pain right now!

I've been doing "practice" cakes every weekend for the past 2 months. When I tell people how long they have taken me to do ("I spent 5 hours on this yesterday and another 2 hours this morning"), they don't jump right up and ask for freebies as much. I know it will take me less time to make them as I get better at it, but I'm learning to stress to people the "cost" of making these cakes! (In a very friendly and fun way, of course.)

At your office, I would say that your contribution could be a "discounted" cake and tell them you are charging less than you would to another customer. I started charging some of my friends $25 for my practice cakes, and they must call me with feedback after their event (if I wasn't in attendance) and save me a piece to taste.

Thanks to everyone who posted- you've made my day!

I used to tell people I'd be happy to donate my time doing the baking and decorating if they "donated" the ingredients.

In order to make sure these people know that you are now charging, you HAVE to make up a price & flavor list. That way, it shows them you are serious & professional.

I started charging everyone. Even my parents pay for their birthday cakes (that is just the supplies cost) but still. Money does not grow on trees.

My daughter and I have been doing this just a short time and we aren't comfy selling cakes yet. We know all the flaws, yet no one else seems to notice, thely seem perfectly happy. We will make a free "practice" cake for an event once a month but tell everyone who asks that since we are still practicing we will sell cakes for ingredients cost plus $10 "labor" but they need to know they are getting a "pratice cake" and it might not be perfect.

Here we go again...I walked into school this morning and told them I wouls be brining cakes by in the morning for the fish fry. Shannon said "don't forget about the PTO meeting tuesday", Marybeth said, "that's her bday, so shes probley not coming." Shannon said "Oh, she's coming she's bringing the cake."

I have never opened my mouth until them. I said.....be proud of me......

Alice said I had to start charging for my cakes!!!

Yes, I said it and Shannon said you can't charge for your cake, I said well, guess I am not getting one. (But everybunny knows, I will have one at home.

I did good!!!

Patricia

Good for you!!! Now stick to your guns! When you WANT to do a cake, you decide. It's not for somebody else to decide who and what you donate to!