A few weeks ago, someone emailed me asking if I’d consider lowering my prices.
Not for a massive project. Not in the name of a long-term partnership. Just… because.
And, they were really rude about it — even doubling down after I said I don’t negotiate.
I’ve been asked this question dozens of times over the years. While I’m not currently freelancing, it still happens occasionally when someone wants to buy an ad or sponsored post on my blog. I don’t entertain it anymore.
From late 2018 through most of 2023, freelance writing was my full-time job. Every invoice, every client, every assignment mattered. I wasn’t doing it “for fun” on the side. I was trying to survive.
And yet, some of the hardest parts of freelancing weren’t the deadlines, the hustle, or the constant search for work — it was getting people to agree to my (reasonable) prices and actually pay their invoices on time.
I’ve been ghosted on projects. I’ve been insulted over rates. I’ve been told I was “too rigid” because I said I only worked Monday–Friday, 9–5. Imagine that — wanting work-life boundaries.
I even tried requiring monthly retainers for ongoing work so I could better predict my income. You’d think that would make clients feel more secure, but most went silent. And no matter how carefully I wrote my contracts, it always felt like a gamble. I couldn’t afford to walk away from “bad fit” clients — because even a bad fit helped keep the lights on.
I remember being in a writing group with other freelancers whose businesses seemed airtight. When I shared my struggles around clients not paying or negotiating rates, they’d say things like, “That just wasn’t the right client for you.” Maybe. But try explaining that to your landlord.
What always stunned me was how freely people would negotiate with me — a person, not a corporation — often rudely, like I should be grateful they even reached out. And honestly? It’s not just annoying — it’s insulting.
Because when someone asks a creative person to lower their rates, what they’re really saying is: You don’t deserve fair pay.
They’re saying your skills aren’t valuable. That your time isn’t worth protecting. That your creativity, experience, and energy should come at a discount — for their convenience.
Maybe it’s because people are used to mass-produced content. Maybe they’ve become desensitized to the cheapness of big brands outsourcing everything. But independent creatives aren’t corporations. We’re people. And when you ask us to cut our prices, you’re not just haggling — you’re sending the message that our work doesn’t matter.
Here’s the thing: I no longer freelance. I walked away because the instability and constant need to justify my value wore me down. But I still run this blog. I still get occasional requests for sponsored content, backlinks, and ad placements. And my answer hasn’t changed:
No, I won’t lower my prices.
Because the price is the price. If you can’t afford it or don’t think it’s worth it, that’s fine. But don’t try to make me feel bad for charging what I’m worth.
We are in a difficult economy. I understand the pressure to make every dollar count — I’ve lived it. But don’t make that my problem, especially when you’re reaching out to me.
Freelancers, creatives, bloggers — anyone who works for themselves: You deserve to be paid fairly. You deserve respect. You deserve to say no.
And for anyone who wants to work with me? Great. But the price is the price.
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