'Are we invoicing in tiramisu now?': Freelancer shares hilarious incident of client paying with ‘cheesecake' instead of money, goes viral

Economic Times

09-05-2025

iStock A freelancer's attempt to collect payment for her services took a bizarre twist when a client sent her a whole cheesecake instead of cash.
In the wild world of freelancing, one often expects the unexpected. But even by those standards, Harnoor Saluja's recent client interaction takes the cake—quite literally. The communications professional, who works independently, found herself at the center of a viral storm after sharing a bizarre incident on LinkedIn. 'When I thought invoices couldn't get weirder, a client sent me a cheesecake,' she wrote, clearly still amused and a tad baffled. 'Not a thank-you note, not a payment—just dairy-based confusion.'
What followed was a masterclass in comedic storytelling, seasoned with equal parts disbelief and wit.
Saluja explained that she had shared her address with the client, fully expecting a standard monetary transfer. But the client, in a twist fit for a rom-com gone rogue, interpreted the address as an invitation to send dessert. 'They saw it and thought, 'This freelancer? She needs dessert',' she joked in her post. Her sarcasm only got sharper from there. 'Look, I love cake, but last I checked, I wasn't running a pastry subscription. Are we invoicing in tiramisu now? Should I start accepting PayPal and panna cotta?'
The story took on a life of its own as thousands chimed in with equally delicious humour. One user quipped, 'Is this a new kind of barter collab?' Another suggested she add 'Ras Malai' to her list of acceptable payment options. Others were ready to ride the wave with her. 'Should I list 'gulab jamun' under preferred payment modes?' she asked rhetorically. Another commenter fired back, 'Only if you're ready to accept kaju katli as change.' Saluja's own reply to the madness? 'Sir, I'm here to get paid, not open a bakery. But if this is the vibe, I'm raising my rates to include éclairs and emotional compensation.'
While the tone was lighthearted, the post underscored a very real frustration faced by freelancers—clients who delay, dodge, or downright ignore payments. Though wrapped in cheesecake, Saluja's anecdote sheds light on a serious issue within the gig economy: the undervaluing of creative and freelance labour.
Yet, rather than name and shame, she opted for humour and grace, prompting laughter instead of outrage, and a digital moment of solidarity among other freelancers who've been there—minus the dessert.The cheesecake saga has now become an internet fable of sorts, with freelancers jokingly contemplating a dessert-based economy. And though Harnoor Saluja still hasn't confirmed if she ever received the actual payment, one thing's certain—she's won the internet, and maybe a few new clients who pay in actual currency.