Just had to choose between a fixed price or hourly rate for a 3-week web design gig

The job was for a local bakery in Portland, they needed a full site refresh with 8 pages. They offered me either $1500 flat or $45 an hour with a 40-hour cap. I went with the hourly because I know how these projects can balloon. It took me 52 hours total, so I billed $2340. Honestly, the flat fee would have left over $800 on the table. How do you guys usually decide which way to go on a new project?

My grinder kept making a weird noise and it took me a month to figure out why

It started with a small click during grinding, so I cleaned everything out. I took apart the burrs twice and checked for rocks in the beans. The real fix was finding a tiny piece of chipped ceramic from an old mug stuck deep in the grounds chute. How do you usually track down odd sounds in your gear?

I was cleaning a dusty laptop fan with compressed air for years until a friend showed me the right way.

He held the fan blades still with a toothpick while blasting it, which stopped the motor from spinning backwards and potentially generating current that could damage the board, something I never considered.

My Brussels sprouts turned into charcoal briquettes last night because I followed that 'high heat for crispiness' advice to the letter.

I was in my kitchen in Denver, watched them smoke through the window at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, and now I'm wondering if anyone has a specific temp and time that actually works for them.

Serious question, how do you handle pricing when your old clients come back years later?

Honestly, three years ago I was charging $50 an hour for basic web work from my apartment in Austin. Last month, a client from back then emailed me out of the blue for a new project. Ngl, I panicked a bit because my rate is now $95. I just sent the new rate with a quick note about my updated skills and experience, and they agreed without any fuss. Has anyone else had that weird moment of sending a much higher number to someone who knew you when you were just starting?

I used to think a follow-up email needed to be sent exactly 48 hours later, but a quiet Tuesday in April changed my mind.

I mean, can we stop overanalyzing every book detail in club debates?

Last meeting, we spent an hour arguing about a minor character's backstory. Idk, maybe it's just me, but that seems pointless. I joined to share fun reads, not have literature class. These intense debates are making me dread our monthly chats. Can we just enjoy the stories?

I'm painting a kitchen and the client keeps tossing in new tasks

We settled on a price for just the walls. Now they want the ceiling and cabinets done too, without discussing more money. Every time I bring up extra costs, they dodge the conversation. Should I stop work until we have a new agreement?