And I'm relatively new...

When I first started in "the biz" about a year ago, I worked just enough to meet expense, and not enough to splurge on anything big (e.g., no fancy vacations, no new furniture, no stereo equipment, no outdoor gear).  I "retired" last August, and didn't "unretire" until this January.  During the 6 months from August to January, I accumulated about $8K of debt (OUCH!  Debt makes me very, very uncomfortable) in addition to student loans (which I consider to be an investment, much like a mortgage).

My goal now is to pay off the $8K, become financially stable, and put aside a nice nest egg, which I will use to relocate and/or establish myself when I finish my degree.  I do not have many clothes, and do not spend much on anything except the regular bills (and gas; I drive a truck and it does guzzle...). I do have a few luxury items I would like to get:  1) lasik, 2) couches reupholstered, 3) a particular painting I've been in love with for months.

I am close to another woman "in the biz" and her goals/attitudes are almost the same as mine.  The big difference is that she's starting a business, while I'm trying to finish a degree.  

If I had any advice at all to give to somebody who was newer than I am, it would be this:  Don't count your money before it's in your hand.  I get stood up/last minute cancelled maybe 30% of the time, and this has remained constant (and a constant aggravation...please excuse the digression into complaining...).

Okay... gotta go make myself beautiful.  

Love to all.
Anne

This is what I do:
First off, I live on the means of my paycheck (I work during the day in an office.)I don't drive a fancy car, nor live in a fancy house.
Second, I invest money in a 401(k), I have 3 Roth IRA Mutal funds, a vacation club, and 2 savings accounts.
I save almost every dime from escorting.
My goal, to retire early and move to Arizona.
Save, save, save, so I can relax and enjoy my life.
Shaye

It is a well established economic fact that as peoples income rises, their spending will tend to rise to meet (or even exceed) their increse in income. This describes the common situation where even though someones income tends to increase through their life they often feel they never get ahead.

Ladies who suddenly start making a lot more money can fall into this trap if they start spending the money. They buy or lease an expensive car, go out to expensive restaurants all the time, own 500 pairs of shoes, etc. The best way to head this off is to do as some suggested, take a portion of income right off the top and save it, so you dont get used to seeing it (or spending it). The money will pile up and you wont even miss it because you never got used to spending it. This is a good thing for all of us to do, but especially for providers, who like professional athletes, tend to have a short working career relative to their lifespan, and find it difficult to maintain that level of income when their providing days are over. If they dont get used to the lifestyle that their artificially high incomes provide, they wont miss it, plus they will have a big nest egg later.