How I Learned to Stop Being Depressed (Changing my Prices...
8 months ago
I don't care about money. It's the one thing where "number go brr" hasn't effected how I act in any way other than making what I need to live. This is a good thing and a bad thing: Good because I'm not motivated to make more money above all other things, but bad because it's never been a point of focus for me as a self employed person. Wanting to keep my prices low so that most everyone can afford them has been a goal of mine, but it came with a cost and I hope to explain that cost to you now and why I can no longer just eat that cost anymore. My intent here isn't to encourage a feeling of sympathy, but to help you all out there understand why I'm increasing my prices, and outline the unforeseen consequences of not charging a reasonable fee, which hopefully will encourage others to do the same! I hope I do a good job with this here abridged version! Any questions are welcome as I'm personally excited to share my own journey!
So, not charging properly comes with a few consequences, not many of which you'd expect at the outset, and when I started this whole art thing way back in 201̷̢̨̩͖̫̖̮̮̰͉̞̄͋̾͝͠͝3̸̢̺̙̤̮̣̤̫̯̋̀̃̈́́͛͆̑̈́̅̀͜ there were things like inflation, equipment repair, medical expenses, etc that I didn't plan for, let alone emergencies and until now I haven't given it much more thought. The only thing I ever had was next month's expenses. Paycheck to paycheck. Well things get more expensive overtime, and while it's not one to one, my prices remained generally the same, priced with the same mentality, that "everyone deserves art". I still believe that so desperately but I can't survive with that mentality alone anymore, and thanks to my friends encouragement and advice along with no small bit of research with what current rates are, and my commissioners keeping me alive with their VERY generous tips up to this point, I will be increasing my prices. I want to be able to keep my promises again, when I say I'll draw gifts for my friends. I want to take breaks and play Deep Rock Galactic with my friends again and not worry about it affecting how much I make. I want a doctor and a therapist to help fix what broke after 5 years of this*. I want to stop having my savings account be a count down timer. I want to come back to my computer every day and love art again, because I've gotten time away from it and can bring new life experiences into my paintings. I still want as many people as possible to access my art, but I also have to want to support myself as well. Thank you, everyone who's constantly told me that, and sorry it took me so long to realize how badly I was treating myself.
I really hope you all continue to support me because I'm eager to work with you all to make something you'll treasure for a long time. If my prices get too high for you, hey I totally understand. Money's tight. To those of you who are already in my approved commission list for the month (I've contacted you and confirmed your slot) the prices I quoted for you won't be changing. But once I open again, the new prices will be how I charge. If you want to know how my prices will be changing, just keep an eye on my Carrd. I'll be updating my prices there! CLICK HERE FOR MY CARRD!
As always, thank you so much for reading, and be well, and do good things!
-Tiny
"My prices are changing and I'm not sorry!" Dither told me to write that.
*I can explain more about this in case you're curious! All questions are welcome! I want to be honest with you all!
So, not charging properly comes with a few consequences, not many of which you'd expect at the outset, and when I started this whole art thing way back in 201̷̢̨̩͖̫̖̮̮̰͉̞̄͋̾͝͠͝3̸̢̺̙̤̮̣̤̫̯̋̀̃̈́́͛͆̑̈́̅̀͜ there were things like inflation, equipment repair, medical expenses, etc that I didn't plan for, let alone emergencies and until now I haven't given it much more thought. The only thing I ever had was next month's expenses. Paycheck to paycheck. Well things get more expensive overtime, and while it's not one to one, my prices remained generally the same, priced with the same mentality, that "everyone deserves art". I still believe that so desperately but I can't survive with that mentality alone anymore, and thanks to my friends encouragement and advice along with no small bit of research with what current rates are, and my commissioners keeping me alive with their VERY generous tips up to this point, I will be increasing my prices. I want to be able to keep my promises again, when I say I'll draw gifts for my friends. I want to take breaks and play Deep Rock Galactic with my friends again and not worry about it affecting how much I make. I want a doctor and a therapist to help fix what broke after 5 years of this*. I want to stop having my savings account be a count down timer. I want to come back to my computer every day and love art again, because I've gotten time away from it and can bring new life experiences into my paintings. I still want as many people as possible to access my art, but I also have to want to support myself as well. Thank you, everyone who's constantly told me that, and sorry it took me so long to realize how badly I was treating myself.
I really hope you all continue to support me because I'm eager to work with you all to make something you'll treasure for a long time. If my prices get too high for you, hey I totally understand. Money's tight. To those of you who are already in my approved commission list for the month (I've contacted you and confirmed your slot) the prices I quoted for you won't be changing. But once I open again, the new prices will be how I charge. If you want to know how my prices will be changing, just keep an eye on my Carrd. I'll be updating my prices there! CLICK HERE FOR MY CARRD!
As always, thank you so much for reading, and be well, and do good things!
-Tiny
"My prices are changing and I'm not sorry!" Dither told me to write that.
*I can explain more about this in case you're curious! All questions are welcome! I want to be honest with you all!
This was the correct decision for you and absolutely what you should have done. I'm glad that you are charging something that allows you to have a healthier work/life balance and to better live the life that you want to.
If you feel the need to have affordable options for anyone, including the folks like me who can't even afford to pay their utilities, do raffles, or sales, or payment plans, or some collaboration with other artists where each person only has to put in a little bit of time so the end product can be cheaper without anyone working themselves to death or feeling cheated. Don't stress yourself out or starve because you set your base prices too low.
also; ROCK AND STONE, BROTHER!!
So good luck, hope this sets 'ya on to the right path for your health and all!
Its important for a dwarf to know their worth and make it concrete, simple as.