Yes, baking is work.

[nutraxfornerves]

From Not Always Right. Another hobbyist baker is expected to be cut rate. The cake price is a lie

[ladyjaneinmd]

I hear you all! I'm a seamstress. I can't tell you the number of times someone has shown me a picture of an elaborate prom dress and said, 'You can make this for $50, right?'
Uh no, no I can't.

[notalwaysright]

Urg, the horrors of the Bride or Groomzilla. I don't care what day of the year it is, if it's your wedding or birthday or Christmas, you still should treat people with decency. And that means paying people, not whining because the home baker wants to *gasp* charge a fair price for her work.

My old coworker would refuse any commission if the person said it was for a wedding. She made unique leather items that some people wanted for Ren Fair type theme weddings. It was a rare request due to the nature of the items, but she had no qualms saying no and meaning it. Both times my mom got married it was a someone's house, with just close family, I would never want anything else. Just send me straight to the honeymoon, thanks.

[Slave to the Phone]

This sounds very close to those scenarios where somebody with, say, musical talent is asked to come to a party and play an instrument or sing "and we can't pay you, but it will give you exposure!"

Or anyone who does any sort of hobby that someone else finds of value. I raise Monarch Butterflies from seed (first you have to grow milkweed). I once had someone "ask" for a bunch that they could set free at their 1st wedding anniversary party. Of course, there was no offer of money (because I get them for free), or even a party invitation.

When someone is having a "special" day, of course everyone around wants to help make it perfect. How dare you want money for something you should be begging to give them for free so you can be a small part of their happiness?!?!

[Pixelated]

This sounds very close to those scenarios where somebody with, say, musical talent is asked to come to a party and play an instrument or sing "and we can't pay you, but it will give you exposure!"

No, you're not a professional baker, but that hardly means that what you are doing is not WORK. And you should be paid for your WORK.

[ZumZum]

I hear ya! I bake, too. It's my happy place. I do it for work all the time.
I had one co-worker beg me to bake a cake for them personally. (it was one I baked before that they obsessed over....).

They offered to buy me any ingredients I didn't already have. Yes, you read that right. Any ingredients I didn't already have. They knew I always have the staples on hand. This cake used specific cookies in it.

No additional compensation for time or using my staples....
They whined every time I came back from a day off and hadn't made it for them.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I’ve recently gotten back into baking. Monday I made cupcakes and cake pops with a new icing recipie and brought them to work.

Note: I’m a staff accountant and make decent money.

One of my coworkers, also an accountant, is getting married soon and asked if I could make cake pops in her colors, in lieu of a cake. I asked some details about what she wanted, crunched a few numbers, and came up with a price that included all the materials and a fair hourly rate. It amounted to $1.50 per cake pop.

She starts pouting about how expensive that is and how she asked me so she could “get a deal” since I’m not a professional baker.

You’re damn right I’m not a professional baker. I don’t have the supplies discount or the speed that comes with experience. I’ll do you a favor but you’ll be paying for my work.