One of my beau's good friends and band mate is getting married. They said right away that they wanted me to do the cake. I had planned to apply some sort of discount, but surely wasn't going to do it for free. I am not close with them, as my beau is, and not for any reason, I just don't see them as often as he does. He told me the other night that he told them that he would take care of the cake for them. I will take his contribution for the materials, but do I charge him for my time? This is to serve atleast 100 people and will take a considerable amount of time! He's lucky he's so darn cute, or I'd beat him! NOW, who do I charge?

He probably had no idea of the cost or work involved..hehe guys can be clueless. I'd tell him what the honest charge for it would be and see what he comes up with. At any rate he needs to know so he doesn't offer to take care of the cake in the future.

Where's indydebi when you need here If it's his gift to the couple then he needs to pay for it. He couldn't walk into a bakery and get it for cost of materials. If a friend of yours needed a band and you said you would take care of it would they donate their services?

He does know the work involved, because he sees me in the kitchen doing 2 cakes just about every weekend! He even tells me to charge more because of the time involved. You're right though, no offers to the public without checking with me first!

I would charge him definitely for material and given him the discount of my time. Knowing me I would probably give it back by taking him out to dinner or something, but I think he needs to know how much this is otherwise you run the risk of it happening again.

You can tell him that he has to help out. She he volunteer you, you are volunteering him. Make him wash all the dishes!!

You can bet I'd at least have his fanny in that kitchen the whole time I was making that cake. He'd be so tired of being my gopher and executive dish washer he'd never offer another free cake.

I would definitely let him know what the real final price would be, and he gets to work off the difference between that and the materials helping you out in the kitchen making the cake.
That way it will really be his gift, and not just your sacrifice.

He can clean up as you go along, make sure you have everything at hand that you need, make sure the house is clean while you bake and decorate, bring you dinner etc.
Really make him work for that money difference.
He will learn not to offer up your services like that again.
You can love him and still make sure he learns the lesson without being mean or malicious about it.

Genius point well made. [/quote]

Hubby did that once .... the condensed version is he was paying for the chocolate fountain and thought it would be about fifty bucks. When I told him $750, his chin hit the floor. He said, "You're not REALLY going to charge me that are you?" I said, "Get your checkbook, babycakes, and I also take credit cards."

But if you don't want to do that, then DEFINITELY have his little tooshie in the kitchen with you EVERY MINUTE.

It's pretty easy to volunteer some work for free when someone ELSE has to do the work! SHow him what it MEANS to volunteer to do that work!!

If your beau said he would take care of the cake, have him get a couple of prices including a price from you. He should also tell them that it is his wedding gift to them. Make sure he knows what he has gotten himself (and you) into.

LMAO!!!!! Love the humor, me I would be highly upset, but will remember this thread if someone else was to offer my services.

"Man do I hate cleaning up Powder Sugar explosions and not to mention the other crazy stuff that get thrown in the sink for later clean up!

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