AITA for pricing my custom cakes so high, just to discourage people from asking me for cakes.
In the quiet balance between engineering calculations and the delicate art of baking, one person finds solace in crafting sweet surprises.
What began as a simple hobby, a joyful escape from the relentless demands of their full-time job, has slowly transformed into a source of unexpected pressure and emotional conflict.
The once carefree act of baking for friends now carries the weight of expectations and relentless requests.
Caught between the desire to bring happiness through their creations and the harsh reality of limited time and self-doubt, they struggle to maintain the joy that baking once gave them.
The love for spontaneous, heartfelt cakes is challenged by the need to set boundaries, revealing the fragile line between passion and obligation.
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The original poster (OP) enjoys baking as a hobby but has recently faced pressure from friends and family to provide custom cakes for events, which conflicts with their professional time constraints and desire to keep baking low-pressure.
In response to this demand, the OP implemented a high-rate commission structure designed to make taking on baking jobs comparable in value to their engineering work, leading to significant pushback and accusations of being greedy or taking advantage.
Is the OP justified in setting professional-level rates for a hobby service to protect their primary career and personal time, or do the expectations of friends and family for casual favors override the OP's need to es**blish clear, monetarily fair boundaries?
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