That "more than I budgeted" text stings, been there. Losing two regulars at once after holding your rate for three years is rough, but $35 in 2021 money is basically charity now. You did the right thing, and the ones who stay will pay what you're actually worth.

Paying for a desk did the same thing for me a couple years back. I was working from my couch and starting at noon, which sounds great until you realize you're still answering emails at 10pm. Dropping real money made me actually show up, because wasting $250 stings more than wasting time. The weird part is the routine stuck even after I gave up the desk. Now I just can't sleep in past 8 without feeling like I'm behind. If it gets you out of bed and into a groove, that's not a waste, that's a fix you were willing to pay for.