Question for the gents....do you use a throw away cell phone as part of your playing? How about a an email adddress such as gmail?

A hobby phone to keep your "real" phone clean.   Some guys with no SOs may choose to forgo them but I still recommend them.   If you are not playing, you shut the phone off.  Don't worry about someone else finding your calls (Tiger).  If you have civie company or even meet someone...  you just retire the hobby gear.  No records to bite you in the butt.

A hobby email not connected to your "real" email.  
When I first started, a MILF I was seeing went UTR suddenly.  I watched it play out on another site.  He'd emailed her to explore a meeting.  He used an account he shared with his wife.  Wife found the reply & kicked him to the curb...  and he hadn't even got any yet!!  

When I started the hobby, I promised myself I'd not do anything stupid...   as I have read & learned I discovered that I had not been careful enough (my standards) but I had been lucky.  Luck is not a plan!  

I recommend anyone thnking about the hobby to read the self help section (link by the life ring) and read back on the Newbie board several pages.  The questions do repeat / overlap...  but keep reading back until you can answer every question yourself.  And it's FREE!!  Just costs you your time.  
skb

Without a reason to hide it doesnt really matter too much.  And if I ever quit hobbying I dont think it will kill any of the ladies. lol. I might be missed a little but this too would pass.  So there isnt a big deal.

a whole $20 every 3 months with a top up card bought with cash, just like the phone.  No paper trail of any kind.

I have a pay as you go TracFone. On at 8:00AM and off at 6:00PM. Off on Weekends
I also use a Gmail address that ALWAYS requires a username and password to access.

Yes to both

I have a separate yahoo account.  Is there an advantage of gmail over yahoo?
Thanks

I have always heard Gmail was more secure, but I've switched to hushmail recently just to be on the safe side.  

Tracfone has a $30 phone that if you purchase that particular model, you always get double the minutes you purchase when you reload.  I thought that was a pretty good deal.

I just have one cellphone I use for everything. May be taking a chance but I don't have to worry about a wife or SO or GF catching me. Not worried too much about it . i never mention anything that could get me in trouble in texts etc. i do have other Email for the hobby .

Why throw away a perfectly good cell phone when you can throw away the SIM card?