Support Like This

 Pay Full Price. Hype Them Up. Be a Real One.

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t sit right with me anymore: the way we treat our friends who are building something for themselves—whether it’s a business, a brand, a side hustle, or a creative pursuit.

You know the ones. The friends selling clothes, baking cupcakes, freelancing their design skills, offering home services, starting their own clinics, or curating thrift drops online. They’re putting themselves out there, taking risks, learning as they go, and working hard.

So why is it that when it’s our friend offering the service, we feel entitled to a discount?

“Pila man ang friends price?”
“Tagai ko ug hangyo beh, ikaw ra gud.”
“Libreha na oi, barkada man ta!”

Don’t get me wrong — maybe those words aren’t meant to hurt. Maybe they’re meant to be playful. But behind that banter is a pattern of not taking your friends’ hard work seriously. Of assuming that their time and effort are worth lessjust because you know them.

And honestly? That needs to stop.

When I support a friend’s business, I pay full price. Not because I’m rich. Not because I can’t use a discount. But because I see the value of what they do. I respect the grind. I know what it takes to build something from scratch, and the last thing I want to do is devalue that.

I don’t just buy from them either. I like and share their posts. I hype them up. I repost their announcements. I leave glowing reviews when I’m genuinely happy with the service. I treat them the same way I’d treat a big business I admire because if I won’t support the people closest to me, who will?

And when they post about me? I don’t mind at all. That’s love. That’s community. That’s how we help each other grow.

This is your reminder that your support doesn’t always have to come in the form of money, though paying full price is a huge help. Support can also look like sharing their posts, commenting “🔥🔥🔥” under their launch photos, tagging them when someone asks for recommendations, or simply telling them, “Hey, I’m proud of you.”

So let’s stop making our friends feel awkward for charging what they’re worth. Let’s stop expecting free labor from the people we say we love. Let’s normalize saying:

“I’m happy to pay.”
“You deserve this.”
“Let me post about your business real quick.”

We rise by lifting each other.
Support your friends like you support influencers you’ve never met. Because your friend’s hustle? That’s something to be proud of, not bargained with.