Ok. For those to mention about pricing and cost of living, I will make 1 comparison over years...
Comparing agency prices, as they are more comparable as indies prices vary much more;
-2001, minimum wage was $7.00/hr, agency prices were $140. (20 hrs of a minimum wage earner)
-2024, minimum wage is $15.75/hr,
Agency prices are approx $260. (17 hrs of a minimum wage earner)
**not counting that the agencies take out their cut from that price from the SPs as well.**
Apparently SPs aren't concidered entitled to the same rise in payment for their time as any other industry. If anything over the years they have been pushed into a reduction of their price in comparison to the increasing cost of living over the years.
And there is still quite a few people who keep pushing asking for us to give services at a discount, or trying to haggle prices. It is an annoyingly and insulting request when it is asked. And not all indies charge even up to the agency price, but every provider receives bargain hunters trying to get luxury services they can't afford.
Many people are struggling in this economy, so obviously there are less people who have and are able to afford extras, but it doesn't mean the extra is any less valuable, and should decrease it's worth as well.
Everything we need to keep appearances up, has gone up in prices as well.