I have found this hobby to be a miracle in disguise.  I looked over my mom w/ her cancer for several years and wasted away my college money buying little things and spent money dealing with her death.  

Now that I have been escorting a year, I have paid for college (this is better than the career I paid for) all new furniture, foreign travel and support myself.  

I do pinch my pennies. I am always paranoid that something bad will happen to me or my looks. I hope to have enough money to retire in a couple years and then do this for the gravy. I buy everything fromm ebay, big lots or walmart and I only eat out when clients take me.  I am even putting a billard table into my garage so my friends can't pursuade me to go drinking at bars w/ them (very expensive)

But it's not a good way to cheer myself up, because it leaves a big hole in my bank account!  It's way better to try to figure out the deep down reasons why I'm feeling down and deal with them (maybe see a shrink - hey, it's not a waste of money if you take it seriously and stay with it for a while!) instead of just blowing money.

When I first started out, I thought that I was being frugal. I bought a few expensive things, but didn't do anything I thought to be outrageous.  Then I went back to school, and have been only working part time.  So there isn't money pouring out of my ears anymore, but I tried to maintain the lifestyle that I had been enjoying, and it just doesn't work.  These last couple months have retaught me the value of a 20 dollar bill!  That and doing my taxes...!

They then offer desperate specials. It's great for us hobbyists who, conversely, watch our pennies.

Abe Lincoln is screaming because I pinch my pennies so hard!
I'm frugal. Spending money makes me anxious. I grew up poor, and I'm afraid to waste money. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow.
That doesn't mean I make myself go without. I have things many people would consider luxuries, but I paid rock bottom prices for them. I buy floor models after season and that sort of thing. I am not about the bling and I don't have anything flashy, and I'm never impressed by someone else's bling. All I can ever think of when I see something like that is, "how can they spend that much for ... ".
It would probably be healthier for me to blow a little money now and then on something frivolous, but I guess I'm not ready.

I try to balance both.  I'm tight with money for "stuff" though always try to buy quality and value which tends to cost a bit more.  I don't do any elaborate spending though will pony over the extra $20 for the lotion I enjoy and give myself lots of time off (which is a cost - no income).
i.e., the beautiful second hand camel hair coat cost the same as my over priced stockings.

I do tend to spend it all though.  Fortunately real estate is 80%+ of the monthly expenses so it's not *all* lost...

Hello Ciara, I can definitely relate.   lol  I've spent money today on some lingerie, paid a bill and rented a nice room.

I saw a pair of shoes and three other pieces of lingerie.  Yes, I picked them up, but before I paid, I put them back.  I will go back for them.

I do watch my spending.  You never know what may happen in the future, and I'd like to have my bills paid and something to fall back on in case of emergency.  I'll save "mad money" for those occasions when I just want to spend and not have to worry about anything.

xoxo

I would have to say I am A.... most of my earnings..(and I do pay taxes) go toward college education for my two teenage children, I love to shop at a store down the road that always has really cute stuff on sale for 10 bucks or under..

I wish I could say that I'm an "A", but I tend to slack on saving. And that's awful since it causes me a ton of anxiety during the winter months (when business slows, especially here in Omaha). However, I'm not into keeping up with fads and trends and remain fairly reasonable with my purchases. I just make too many purchases by month's end. lol  

But I am working hard on this issue and am in the process of implementing a savings/investment plan. I am a full-time student and I'm very part-time in this industry, so unlike a lot of other ladies, I do not have "money running out of my ears". I make a decent living and am satisfied, I just need to learn to be a bit more frugal and give more consideration to long-term goals.

Great question, Ciara!

Abbey Marie

I've been on vacation so I'm a little late responding to Ciara’s post, but I just wanted to add one of my own experiences as a provider and what I learned from it.

I buy what need and obviously live a lot better than I did when I was an executive assistant, but I don't waste money on things I don't need and I do save, save, save!  I consider being a successful provider to be a unique opportunity to become financial stable for the rest of my life.  One particular event that convinced me to stick with my plan and keep saving as much as possible was when I had a relatively serious auto accident in June 2003 (head on collision with a wrong way freeway driver.)  I needed to take off 2 1/2 months to fully recover from the broken bones and general trauma from that accident. The fact that I had money in the bank allowed me to take that time off without any financial worries and it certainly brought home to me just how easily and quickly my life as an escort could be over.  I was lucky and recovered fully, but I know other escorts who have found themselves in similar situations and have not been so lucky, who saw their escorting days and the money they earned as a result disappear overnight.  No one knows what the future will bring, but having money in the bank should at least give you the opportunity to go back to school/invest in a business, etc. rather than having to live on a disability check!

Suzanne in San Diego

just dont let that moderation get too extreem or you take the fun out of life

I am a penny pincher
I look for sales and specials all the time.
I don't pay full price for anything very often.

  I really get tired of hearing the Guys say,
When I saw XXX all she did was gripe about being 3 months behind on this and 5 months behind on that.

There are those that budget,spend and invest well and thoughtfully.

There are always those that never have money day to day for anything.
I donate to many places through out the year and enjoy helping others.

  I feel that this is all a wonderful hobby and will not last for ever or very long for everyone ,
So we must all think and spend wisely!