Curiosities about Economic Choices

theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist
in General

I think I posted something like this a while ago but it got moved to "pro cuddling" and this is not a question about pro cuddling. Please don't move it!

A friend of mine recently made her massage business "strictly donation based"

Another friend in software engineering would do work for a client and then say "pay me whatever it's worth" (not sure if his boss lets him do that anymore, I'll ask and post here l). He called it inner voicings rather than invoicing.

I'm curious if you are someone or have known anyone who structured your/their business as donation based..

What worked? What didn't? Were you able to pay your mortgage or rent?

Comments

  • JubalJubal
    edited November 2025

    When I've seen this done, it's usually a case-by case thing, and often along the lines of "fine, if you're that unhappy with the work that I've done, then you pay me what YOU think my time, education, skill, knowledge, and work are worth. But don't ever call me to work for you again"

    I'd be terrified at the idea of doing people's taxes on a flexible "donation based" pay scale - can't imagine that I'd be able to keep the lights on and the bills paid. Also have difficulty imagining that the people you mentioned would get paid enough to thrive this way.

    Now I would probably be comfortable in offering this to individuals who didn't get the desired outcome, as that doesn't happen too often. But as a regular thing, I don't think I could do it.

  • TxTomTxTom

    There is some tax law that must be considered whether it's a non-profit or a for-profit business.

    As a side note, many years ago, I recall seeing something called honor vending, whereas one could take a candy bar, a bag of chips, or a soda freely, but was trusted to leave a donation for whatever was taken. I'd love to talk to whomever set that up and see how it went.

    I'd like to think a business could operate that way, but I'm not so sure anymore.

  • MonkeyNeedsAHugMonkeyNeedsAHug

    When I lost a gold ring with high sentimental value, I hired a guy through ringfinders.com. His pricing worked like this…

    I paid his expenses (about $35) to travel to where the ring was lost. I wrote the dollar amount that I’d be willing to pay if the ring was recovered. And then I sealed that number in an envelope.

    If he found the ring, the expectation was that we’d open the envelope together and I’d pay him what I had written down.

    I think his reasoning was, if he found the ring in 15 minutes, he still wanted the full reward, or as was the case with my ring, I didn’t need to feel like he was trying to squeeze me for a larger tip if he worked all day to find it.

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    My friend is paying her mortgage... somehow. I did just book a massage and pay her full price (100, what I value my time at), and I think many in our community will do the same. I'll keep y'all posted. I was waiting till I paid off my house in a few years before I do more donation-based work but we'll see. My friend is inspiring me.

  • JubalJubal
    edited November 2025

    @TxTom By "donation based" I suspect that @theHugAlchemist means "choose your payment amount" rather than "this is a charity donation and therefore not taxable as income". If I'm mistaken, she'll surely let us know.

  • AshenlightAshenlight
    edited November 2025

    In the instances that I have seen it, it struck me as capitalism disguised as charity. They obviously hope you will pay normal price. A few possibilities come to mind:

    1. Hey I could use some work so you just pay me what you can if that’s not the full amount, it’s negotiable although I don’t want to make it sound like it is.

    2. I’m so confident of my work that you can just pay me what you think I’m worth after you utilized my services, realize I’m really good, and now have a guilt complex about it, so I dare you to be cheap.

    3. Even if I end up doing some work for free, the exposure will make me seem like a good person and will bring in more profits in the long run.

    That’s not really being charitable, that’s trying to drum up business under the guise of charity.

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    she is definitely not trying to drum up business. she used to charge a regular rate, and now it's all pay what you can. she is not making more than what she was before. she lives in one of the poorest neighborhoods of my city and wants massage to be accessible

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    she's not taking donations like she's a charity, she files her taxes as a regular business

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    she also teaches meditation and movement on a pay what you can basis as well

  • [Deleted User]Circle5 (deleted user)

    It's kinda tough for people to embrace the concept of dāna when our culture is accustomed to ambition and greed being common driving forces behind the actions of some teachers and service providers. I don't have personal experience with relying on that kind of income, but there are a bunch of teachers in the Buddhist Insight tradition who do - maybe you could find some more insight of your own by exploring that community too.

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    thanks, the local meditation center is run completely on donations, even their retreats. good call!

  • [Deleted User]Circle5 (deleted user)

    No sweat. Those folks have my deepest respect.

  • jmdankjmdank

    I had a friend that was a lady of the night and that is how she structured her payments I think for legal reasons.

  • [Deleted User]TakesTwoTo (deleted user)

    I was a man of the night once, 3rd shift sucks. Now I work 1st shift and am much happier Lol

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    I used to do night shifts too 😂😂😂 now I'm asleep before 10 pm. my therapist is proud of me. I think.

    on thinking about this more I think after I pay my house off I'm just going to shift to helping people in my community more. Cuddling for hours and hours kind of hurts my body, I think I can do something purposeful that doesn't involve so much lying around. Or maybe I'll triple my prices and be one of those pros everyone complains about 😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️

    I don't know. thanks for listening to me throw ideas at the wall, I'm going to sleep now

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