When I have a project beyond my skills and I have a friend, neighbor, inlaw,
aquaintance that I know will do a good job, I insist on them NOT to give me
a discount. I want a job well done and am willing to pay for it. It's not
fair to them. Though they usually insist. I also help any way I can
without getting in the way.
I have a neighbor in the Home improve biz and asked his advice on patching
my roof after a large limb fell on it and created some minor leaks. He went
to his house 3 doors down, cut some coil stock, slid it under the damaged
shingles and nailed it down. 15-20 minutes max. Done. He would not accept a
penny. He did get a gift cert in the mail for the restaurant of his choice
along with a sincere thank you.


"Upscale" wrote in message
...
"George Max" wrote in message

It sounds like your friends don't recognize the value of your time to
you. They think you're their servant. I wouldn't do much of anything
for them. If it were me, I'd be busy into the forseeable future and
let them find someone else to do the work. No, I wouldn't have a rude
confrontation, I'd simply be unavailable. Maybe they'll figure it
out, maybe they won't.

Doesn't a lot of this depend on the friend you have, who the person is and
how close a friend they are? I've got a best friend that I'd do anything
for
if it was within my capability and on the outset, appears to not going to
cost me something exorbitant. He's rarely asked me for anything and when
I've been in need and asked him to go out of his way for me, he's done it
without question. I know what when I have an emergency, he will be there
to
help me and he knows the reverse is true. It may be that we don't even
think
of taking advantage of each other because we both know that if it comes
down
to something really important, we're both willing to go the extra distance
for each other. I call this person my best friend and I wouldn't have it
any
other way.