If you realise that you are working so hard to convince your friends to be your friends or slashing your charges so as to keep clients on your list, it is time to accept that you need to move on. Let them choose to have you around because you are human/qualified, capable of reciprocating friendship/being of value, and you are passionate/committed to the relationship involved, be it personal or professional. When you go so low to get accepted, some people will trample you and do their best to exploit your efforts to keep them around you.