What is the monetary cost of swinging for you?

[swingcouple69]

We do try to make a trip to the club of our choice (actually the only one that we've been to) about every 2 months and its about $150 for that night. However, we do have 2 close couples that we go out with regulary, about every 2 weeks. By the time we pay the babysitter (the sitter normally keeps both sets of kiddos luckily), snacks and pizza for the kids and sitter, dinner for us and drinks, it hits us about the same price range. We have actually done some budget searching as well and are going to cut back to once a month. Whether it be a club or going out. We love having fun and going out but we've got 3 kiddos to put through college soon and one wants to be a D.O. Of curse family first! But Mom and Dad need some fun too to help retain their sanity! Hope this helps some!

[SexyRedmondCpl]

At first, we had the same worries about the fiscal reprocussions of the lifestyle. We like to restrict our play to one of the on-premise clubs in our area... just keeps our lives less complicated. The initial cost was a flat $150 with $50 in dues per year, plus party costs (which are substantial).

The key for us was in volunteering to help close the club down at the end of every other party we attend. Our haunt gives you the party free if you close, plus the next one you attend Net cost to us: $50 per year, plus $150 amortized Now if you count volunteer time at our hourly salary equivalent, much higher... but we get to meet so many more people closing that hours are kind of a wash.

[The Fuse]

Good thread!

When thinking about the costs of swinging, I'm thinking about costs that we wouldn't have otherwise. For instance, a dress that I can wear to a vanilla event is not a swinging expense, even if I wear it to a lifestyle party. I tend to dress a bit more modestly than the majority of women at the parties, because I feel comfortable with a little more coverage... either that or nothing at all. (That, and I'm cheap.) I have only bought a few things that I wouldn't otherwise have, or couldn't wear in vanilla life -- a few pieces of lingerie is probably it.

I haven't noticed anyone including the cost of swinger site membership. We pay a certain amount for Swing Lifestyle; I think it's something like $50 for three months.

We have only been to one club party, because our closest club is about an hour and a half away and expensive: $100 for a years' membership, then $50 for the party, around $70 for the room, more for drinks, more for clothes, dinner, breakfast... we had fun at the one we went to, but not enough fun to spend that much. (Aside: would someone please start a swinger's club in Hampton Roads, Virginia???)

Our main expense that's attributable to swinging, that we wouldn't have otherwise, is going out to dinner with new couples on first dates. If we spend around $70 - $80 on dinner once every month or so, when we might have stayed home otherwise, that adds up. But lately we've been going to a few more house parties and meet-and-greets, so that makes it more cost-effective.

We have been lucky, in that most of our playing has been with longer-term playmates. We don't have kids and they don't either (or they are grown), so we play at our house or theirs. If it were a lot more expensive, I'm not sure we'd do it very much.

We have only gotten a hotel twice that was just for play. We've done so when we were traveling with friends who were also playmates, but traveling is fun in and of itself. Is it a swinging expense? Maybe partially. But we also split expenses, because we go in one car, share one room, etc.

I'd just like to add that while we spend a lot more on going out now than we used to, we also enjoy ourselves more and have a better social life.

[MadamSapphire81]

i don't spend much money on all those aspects you mentioned. then again i am a single female. but i have a question for you
with all that "grooming" that you mentioned, do you think anyone is really paying attention to it? maybe i worded that wrong. getting your hair done and all that expensive waxing and yadda yadda after the act is done, we don't look all that great anymore except for that glow that we put on after having a night/session of intense love making or swinging. keep it simple. visit each other's houses. bring your own snacks that can be used for other places other than your mouths.
swinging should not be a financial burdon on your life. it is to help eliviate the stress! swing on!

[Hott Times]

Great thread and answers! It has gotten us thinking too.
When we first started in the LS, we made a conscious decision to go outside our local area because of fear of our jobs. So we go to Nashville to Menages every few months but have to get a hotel room, gas, meals etc. which can run $250-300 a visit for all expenses. We also have gone to Playcate in Myrtle Beach for 4 days and to Desires for 4 days with an extra 2 days added on for usual tourist. That can run up the $ but we have found out that it is easier to budget for as the costs are included in the whole package upfront. When we have traveled elsewhere with our children we tend to go over our budget as there are no fixed costs and the cost is about the same per day we have found out. We have spent some time in Europe but have not gone there lately due to the low US dollar.
When we first started also my wife was motivated to lose some weight and had to buy some new clothes. Clothes for work and some "sexy play" clothes that was about $500-600 worth the first year. However I never complained because it drastically improved her health and energy, besides I loved giving my opinion on her sexy new tops, lingerie, etc. And she looked hot! Since then the clothes budget has dropped significantly.
Only lately have we started meeting local couples so can not give a comment on that cost but would expect it to be much lower than traveling to a club or visit friends outside the local area.
We had decided when we started this to be more cautious and discrete due to our jobs and nearby family, and not worry as much as the cost. Like most "hobbies" the first year was expenseive- about $6-7000 but as time as passed the cost has done down drastically.

[WesternSwing]

Originally Posted by The Fuse

I haven't noticed anyone including the cost of swinger site membership. We pay a certain amount for Swing Lifestyle; I think it's something like $50 for three months.

I didn't because we have lifetime memberships to Swingular and Swappernet that were paid for years ago so have no effect on our current budget, and at Swing Lifestyle we are on their affiliate program so we haven't had to pay for our membership for over a year now. Though right now we are free members because they don't seem to be able to get their affiliate program right and none of our affiliate dollars earned are being applied to our membership like was set-up to do. I'm working on it with them, but the progress has been slow getting this resolved.

[carrysmith]

here in miami we have noticed alot of swingers doing small get togethers at home casue it can get very expensive to swing down here, on a good sat.nite when we add it all up, we have spent from $200 to$450, we have spent all the way to $900 for newyears eve..we know of couples that only attend the club once a month casue of the high costs and hard times.

[bendmeovernow]

i love the idea of a one bd place for my playtime.... and yes.. you do have the pricier hotels. heheheh but hey... sometimes that all that's around i guess.. we don't really spend anything going out.. we go to our home club and stay the night... and just end up paying for a small bottle of alcohol to drink that night and that's about it. it's the only way we can swing for now i guess... now with the clubs... you can most of the time here ask the hosts if they need help... bartend... or do house tours... and get in for free.. it's how we even get to go to the club... cus they are friends and after the frist few months we didn't have to pay anymore. we just help out when they need it and get to play later in the night when all is settled down and all. we know others that say hey.. i'll do this till midnight.. and they don't have to pay.. cus the club doesn't have to pay someone to come in and do this or do it themselves. now if you don't have clubs near you... and that's not an option.. i'd see who's willing to go with the shareing a 'play' space that's for sure. i love that idea.

[quietlykinky]

Originally Posted by Mrs Spoomonkey

The cost is why we like having a local club where our only expense is a 6 pack, and club fees. If we meet a couple or single, the club has rooms so no hotel.

The only thing we have here that is anything like this is three hours away, in another state, and only has get-togethers once a month or so.

God we need to move.

[CXXC]

Ok. I had to wait to answer this question with any amount of accuracy. As the year end is upon us, I am now able to.

If you factor in our lifestyle Vacations (domestically and abroad), drinks/dinners (both out and at our home), Travel to be with distant LS friends in other States, Trips to our favorite club, Various purchases for clothing/shoes (they have a depreciable value) condoms, toys, lubes, Membership fees, Solo adventures in Vanilla clubs (when successful), and gifts for the host/hostess when attending house parties, I am truly embarrassed to admit the cost.

I would not dare to include the man hours we have both spent in pursuit of our lifestyle desires based upon our annual income as that would raise the cost even more. Then again, one must determine what one's time is worth.

I would have to say, the cost for our lifestyle hobby is almost equal to our diving hobby! One of them might have to go this year! Hmmmm... Anyone want to buy a set of dive tanks????

[warrencouple]

Originally Posted by CXXC

I would have to say, the cost for our lifestyle hobby is almost equal to our diving hobby! One of them might have to go this year! Hmmmm... Anyone want to buy a set of dive tanks????

Depends, are the tanks in good shape, and will you throw in regulator / gauges or computers?

One of these days, I need to get the wife into SCUBA, and refresh my certification (PADI Advanced Open Water)

Jason
(who's not answering this poll, as thus far, we've not spent much $$$ on something we're not entirely sure we're going to continue doing)

[CXXC]

Originally Posted by warrencouple

Depends, are the tanks in good shape, and will you throw in regulator / gauges or computers?

One of these days, I need to get the wife into SCUBA, and refresh my certification (PADI Advanced Open Water)

Jason
(who's not answering this poll, as thus far, we've not spent much $$$ on something we're not entirely sure we're going to continue doing)

LOL!! Lets just say, we have our certification for cave, wreck, Nitrox, Heli-ox, oh, and advanced open water. All of the associated equipment to go with it! Toss in a customed semi-dry suit for MRs. CXXC and The bidding will commence NOW!

We love diving!

Actually, now that I think about it, OK! We spend more on diving! Whew! Thank goodness! I thought I was going to have to stop!

[couplers]

Right now for the four of us in our poly situation, the cost is zero. Maybe a couple dollars a month for gas to go the mile or two to Red place or Clair's place from ours.


But before Clair became our permanent gf, when I was trying to recruit girls for hubby and we were dating them, it was hundreds if not thousands some months. As I said elsewhere, we never pushed it or said anything about expectaions, only made opportunities for her to express her interest if she had one. We would, however, take our date to out-of-town concerts, the theater, go to nice restaurants, pay for her own hotel room, etc. The ones we really clicked with we would take on vacation with us totally at our expense. It was something we all enjoyed. Since all but several of those didn't go anywhere sexually (except in my mind), maybe it shouldn't even be considered swinging expenses.

[sextoyfancy]

If you're spending about $350.

[VegasLee]

Originally Posted by sextoyfancy

If you're spending about $350.

Does that mean you are charging?