This business of "bottling" when you quote prices, it's nothing to do with what you want for the job, it's the fear of rejection
. Nobody likes to be turned down, so if you sense a "no" or a "I'll let you know" coming, you instinctively backtrack and drop your price. Afterwards you wonder why you did it, and you feel disappointed and somehow cheated. I've always known this, and still I do it
One trick to defend yourself is to say to yourself before you quote "How much do I
really need this job?" The answer is simple: you don't, so ask what you want for it, not what you think the customer might pay. That way you get the job at the price you wanted, and the customer's happy, or you don't, but neither of you have lowered your sights to the point where you wonder if it's worth it.
Cheers,
Ian