Friendship mixed with interests: irritability
Ever had a friend who just doesn't get that your time is valuable? I built a website for my old college buddy, Sarah, a couple of years ago—totally free, because I needed portfolio work. At first, it was fine. But lately, she's been calling me at all hours, expecting me to drop everything and fix her website problems, still for free.
I've tried to set boundaries, asking her to email me instead, but she insists on phone calls that eat up my workday—or worse, my family time. I feel like I'm being taken advantage of, but I don't want to ruin a 20-year friendship by coming off as cold or greedy.
How do I tell her, politely but firmly, that I can't keep doing this? Is it wrong to start charging her, even though we never had a formal agreement? I could really use some advice before I lose my patience—or my friend. 😓📞
#WorkLifeBalance #SettingBoundaries #FreelanceProblems #JobCareer
