No one can dispute that right now our economy is in one of the worst shapes it’s been in in a long time. Heads of families are getting laid off left and right. Many people are forced to foreclose on their homes. Those who are fortunate enough to keep working and keep their homes through this crisis are none the less affected by the economic downturn our nation has taken. Where does swinging fit into this whole equation though? Are economic troubles of the nation also affecting the swinging community? Are there any ways that people can still enjoy “the lifestyle” while still remaining in their budget?
The economic crisis that affects our entire nation (and most of the world) is having an impact on the swinging community. People no longer have the extra money they once had to go out on dates or go out to the clubs. The cost of living is going up while salaries are not. Even some of the thriftier swingers who used to put a little extra money aside each month to pay for their “play time” expenses are finding they can no longer afford to do this. In a recent survey of 100 swinger clubs polled, over 80% of them said that the state of the economy has affected their business negatively. Some report that business is down over 20% in the recent months. When people are trying to figure out how to put food on their tables and keep the electricity turned on, swinging related expenses are not going to be high up on their list of priorities. Sadly, due to the lack of attendance, some clubs have actually been forced to close, at least temporarily if not for good. The numbers of those attending just aren’t enough to keep them running.
The economy is struggling. That doesn’t mean that the swinger community has to. There are lots of ways that you can be a frugal swinger.
The lifestyle as a whole is suffering. Even “dating” within the lifestyle is suffering. Restaurants cost money. Hotel rooms cost money. Condoms cost money. Let’s face it, if it comes between feeding your family or taking a couple out to dinner or drinks, most of us are going to spend the money on our families. What are we as swingers suppose to do? Are there any ways that we can enjoy this lifestyle while still maintaining a healthy budget?
Sure there is.
The lifestyle does not have to be a casualty of this economic crisis. We have suffered enough. We need to seize our day of pleasure. With the stress and hardships that the economic crisis is putting us through, we need now more than ever to go out and seek life’s pleasures when we can. There are ways that you can still enjoy the lifestyle and not have to spend that much money.
WEB$ITE$
These days, belonging to a website is a virtual necessity for any swinger. This means you are probably paying monthly membership fees. Since these online swinger communities have become the primary way for swingers to meet, stay in touch and learn about events, going offline completely is not really an option if you plan to continuing swinging. But, if you have monthly paid memberships on several different sites, you may want to take a look at which sites are benefitting you the least and cancel those. If you have any friends on those sites, you can always write them and exchange regular email addresses, phone numbers, or even MySpace profiles as a way to stay in touch.
Many websites offer cheaper member rates if you buy 3 months, 6 months or a year membership, rather than paying one month at a time. While it may be a larger chunk of change to spend at once, it will save you a lot of money in the long run compared to paying month-to-month. But the very BEST deal in the long run is to buy a lifetime membership to a site if they offer one. These are hard to find and usually only exist for a limited time to help a site grow while it is still new. While some people may be adverse to paying a little extra for a lifetime membership on a new site, especially one which may not yet have a ton of members in their local area, a well designed lifestyle site grows very quickly. A lifetime membership pays for itself within a few months, and a short while later, when the site is thriving, you’ll be glad you got it. If you stay on a website for many years, a lifetime membership could literally save you hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars.
CLUB$ & EVENT$
Shop smarter when it comes to choosing events. If you are fortunate enough to get out to a club once a month, be sure to check on the reputation of the club if you’ve never been there before. Trust me, it’s worth it in the long run. Before you go to any club or event for the first time, it’s a good idea to check with lifestyle friends who have been there before. But even the best club or event is only as good as the crowd who attends. With everyone pinching their pennies these days, you may find yourself in fantastic, yet empty club. Not a good use of your money. But this can be easily fixed by communicating with others online, finding out what nights they are attending, inviting groups of friends to attend on a specific night, or even just checking an event’s RSVP list, like you now can here on Kasidie.
Huge national events are really where the danger lies when it comes to breaking your bank account. You need to be especially diligent in your fact checking before you potentially waste hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on an event that isn’t worth it. Some facts you want to check on before booking are: How long have the hosts or owners been throwing lifestyle events? Do most of their guests return year after year? What is their refund policy? How is their customer service? I recommend reading this Kasidie article: Buyer Beware… What every swinger should know before booking a lifestyle event. Follow the author’s advice and you’ll walk (or limp) away with a smile on your face, knowing that your money well spent.
GOING ON DATE$
So, how can swingers be frugal when it comes to dating? A good option is to think back to another a time in our lives when we were also broke, horny and dating: High School! Sure you’d like to impress people by going to a nice restaurant, but let’s face it, times are tough for everyone. Remember when you were dating back in high school? You couldn’t afford to be fancy back then, so you were forced to think up creative, fun and cheap alternatives. There’s nothing wrong with suggesting your favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant or the fun local dive bar. You might even find that these places are actually much more enjoyable than the more expensive establishments anyway. You could also try meeting couples for lunch date instead of dinner as most restaurants offer much of the same food for a much lower the price.
Most people in the lifestyle are understanding,
and probably won’t mind splitting the bill.
You could also save money by inviting them over to your home. Once again, make sure the other couple is open and comfortable with this beforehand. If they are, you should pat yourself on the back, or the butt, or whatever because you have just eliminated having to spend money on a hotel room or a restaurant. Besides, what can be more intimate than having another couple alone all to yourselves in the privacy of a residence where it’s just the four of you and it doesn’t cost a thing to stay the night? I can’t think of any. This is a great chance to show off your cooking skills. For entertainment you can try playing a board game or sexy video game, like the ones suggested in this article: Video Games: The New (Social) Lubricant. You might as well be able to enjoy good conversation, good food, good fun and save a few bucks at the same time. You know, have your guests and eat them too!
HOTEL$
For some swingers (especially those with kids) having playmates over to the house is not an option. The hotel room can be the economic blackhole of swinging. As you know, they can certainly cost a fortune. But there are ways to enjoy your time at a hotel and not worry that you’ve spent this week’s electric bill doing it. For starters, you can kindly ask the other couple if they would mind splitting the tab for a room. Most people in the lifestyle are understanding, and probably won’t mind splitting the bill. This being said, you should never assume they will agree to this, so it’s good to work this out before making any reservations if you can. I would suggest talking to the other couple, perhaps through e-mails or chatting, about this just to be sure you have your bases covered and avoid any awkwardness at the time. Sometimes hotels also have special days that rooms are cheaper, so you may want to do a little research beforehand and find out what hotels close to where you’re having dinner are having reduced rates. A little time can save you tons of money in the long run.
BABY$ITTER$
The number one reason that swingers who have children will miss a party is because they couldn’t secure a babysitter. Babysitters have always been in short supply on weekend party nights, especially ones that are willing to spend the night, and not ask questions about why you always return at 5AM with your hair all messed up. But now even the cost of the babysitter has become a concern. Remember, you are not the only swingers with this problem. Try talking with some of your closer swinger friends who have kids and (assuming your kids get along with each other) see if you can arrange a sleepover and split the cost of one babysitter. Some swinging parents actually skip hiring a babysitter altogether and form babysitting groups. Essentially, they each take turns staying in and watching each other’s kids while the other couples go on a date or to a party. Sacrificing an occational party night to watch your friend’s kids is a pretty good trade if it ensures you’ll have a free babysitter on a night that you really want to go out.
The economy is struggling. That doesn’t mean that the swinger community has to. There are lots of ways that you can be a frugal swinger. I have listed some of the ways you can still enjoy the lifestyle and not have to go bankrupt to do it. I’m sure that some of you reading this may even have your own little secrets about how to save money while enjoying the lifestyle. What do you say we go out to lunch and discuss them?… It’s on me.
