Support your friends in the new year, pay them.

This isn't inspired by anything in particular, so far as I know most people I know would agree with me, but every so often I find a listicle or something of stories where people are asked to do work for "exposure" or other similar lack of compensation, and I just want to put out there that that is bullshit and I hope none of you are working for free unless you want to.

We all have certain skills that others make use of now and again, and also until the revolution comes we need money to eat, these two things combined mean you shouldn't feel bad about asking for payment, even when it is friends and family who want you to work for them. I have paid friends and family for photography, graphic design, web site construction, leatherwork, general labor, and house sitting. I regret none of it, I got good products from it, and my relationships remained healthy too!

If you have a skill that someone wants to use, then it is a skill that is worth charging for, and in the world we live in today that is more and more important. Buy your writer friend's book, pay your cousin to babysit, commission a piece of art, whatever it is, if you ask for something, be prepared, and excited, about paying for it.

Some will give me crap about how poor they are, well yeah, we are all poor, figure it out, do it in installments, barter a service you can do, cook some meals, anything, but if you value skill and your friends you will offer something.

I know it isn't big news but I see people get screwed often enough that a gentle reminder can't hurt.