Money and dressing

[susan54]

I agree that the urge to dress is not income-related but how you dress is. Maybe the impression gained on this forum is not so much income related as age related. Older people will be more likely to be at the top of their salary grade or have paid off the mortgage. I have been poor and still wanted to buy nice clothes but couldn't so now that I am a bitter better off I enjoy my spending ability. In love high quality clothes and accessories but I have a knack of finding incredible bargains. I am currently wearing a scuba dress by Coast retailing at £109. I paid £39 for it in Debenhams yesterday, and that is far from my best bargain. If you are limited in funds and care about looking good invest - that is the right word - in a style consultation. They will advise you on exactly what suits you and when you do buy you won't make mistakes. If in the UK use House of Colour - way outclasses the alternatives. It actually saves money in the long term.

[Vikky]

The desire to dress is more pressing than the money to buy clothes. Having said that I do have a reasonable income in retirement but still buy most of my wardrobe via charity chops, Ebay, Amazon and where they come from the usual retailers they tend to be at the lower end of the price range.
Vikky

[donnalee]

As a lifelong musician, I must agree with Traci and Ressie that it is and always was a tough way to make a living. Living poor has it's advantages though as it teaches you to plan ahead and to spend what money you have carefully. You have to think about how useful something may be and whether it will do for your uses even though it may not be your first choice, where to locate what you need and how to acquire it at the lowest cost. Since I am retired on a small pension now, I am pretty comfortable as long as I am careful where and how I spend what money I do have, but it would not be possible if I hadn't learned how to deal with it early on.

[reinasblack]

With decent size 13 women high heels costing $150.00 + s&h a pair and with having a size 32 waist measurement meaning your a XL in female dresses and pants it all comes at a premium cost when I first started dressing. Wanting to dress and spending $600+ for one night out when I was college bound was not gonna happen often if at all.plus being new and shy about it cause I am in the closet with crossdresing for most of my aquantences

Stuff is cheaper now but not back then

[abby054]

I doubt money has anything to do with the desire to crossdress, but it definitely affects the performance. It is no disgrace to be poor, but it can be inconvenient.

[Lana Mae]

Regardless of the money a way will be found to express the feminine side! I am semiretired, because social security is not enough and life circumstances ate my retirement funds. So, I have to work and right now can only make so much or I lose the social security! (not 66 yet!) I have to save money to do almost anything! Now that Uncle Sam took a sizable slice for taxes(first time ever owed !) The car fiasco and still in limbo with old car and new car payments are $100 more! It is going to have to chill for a while but I am not stopping! This is me or a large part of me! No stopping now! Hugs Lana Mae

[Teresa]

Kairi,
I made one promise to my wife which I intend to keep and that is my dressing isn't going to cost a fortune. I now have my pensions and my wife still chooses to work. We've had many arguments over money , so now I let her run the show, it's what she does best and is very good at it. I've agreed to recieve an allowance, at times it is restrictive but it does give the restrictions I need to keep my dressing in line. I mostly buy from charity shops, I'm totally happy with that my outfits work out fine , if I looked like orphan Annie I wouldn't do it but the comments I get are very nice so everyone is happy.

Throwing money at dressing doesn't make a shade of difference when dealing with the need to dress, the thing many of us need more is the freedome to dress as we choose , money can't buy that .

[DIANEF]

Have to agree with Teresa, to me time is more precious than any amount of money.

[sara66]

Having money is good, but I still had a good size wardrobe before I had any solid financial stability. You just have to chose wisely. As far as time to dress, I had more time to dress when I had little money but was still single.

Sara

[Brandy Mathews]

I don't think that it has a thing to do with how much money a person has at all. Had very little income when I first started, about 25 years ago. Things are a lot better now, income wise. I still love a good sale though, lol.
Bree

[Jenny22]

For me, money doesn't make a difference. I retired at age 60, and having had reasonably good financial planning, I am comfortable. However, except for my wigs and beautiful silicone girls, my CD spending is frugal. I'd love to have $400 silicone hip, thigh and butt adornments, but refuse to do so due to their cost.

[StephanieM]

In a way I believe that crossdressing is related to prosperity on some level. For example if we all were farmers struggling to just get enough to eat, we probably wouldn't have time for things like this. This is a first world activity in my opinion, and since we live in relative wealth to many other countries and our ancestors we have been able to peruse this.

I do believe those with more income can devote more resources into dressing. Those with less make do with what we can get on a budget.

[Jenn A116]

I can't imagine how there would be any connection between the two. Yes, crossdressing does require spending money on things you might not otherwise have bought but otherwise there isn't any relevancy that I can see.

[Alice B]

Money is not the motivation. But, I will say it makes the pink fog thicker

[SHINY-J]

Although, I have a stable, solid and well above average salary job that I've been at for well over 10 years, my dressing has made the financial situation SIGNIFICANTLY tighter... it seems I'm always having packages delivered to my doorstep rom my online shopping binges.. to be honest, I think I recently tipped the gurly wardrobe to guys wardrobe ratio to the femme side a few months ago... and my collection keeps,growing and growing!

[Nikki A.]

I live paycheck to paycheck also, The desire to dress has no correlation. I still dress and go out, but I try to keep it reasonable. I shop at thrift shops or when things are on clearance. The only quality things that I'll pay extra for is make up

[Aunt Kelly]

All the responses about money does not matter, does not buy happiness, etc. are right, to a point. but the OP is asking specifically about the preponderance of participants here who at least appear to be well off enough to indulge themselves in a second wardrobe, including non-standard items like wigs, forms, etc. Even the most modest of such collections is truly a luxury to many. So I would not be so dismissive of the OP's observation.
That said, Ilene also makes a good point. Being retired changes lots of priorities. One no longer has work-related expenses, possibly freeing up some funds. And one certainly has more time to indulge in being pretty, so I'm sure that contributes to the perception. I will also add that haunting the thrift stores is a very popular adjunct to cross-dressing, and a frequent topic here, so looking good can be done on a budget. And yes, it is easier when you're not worrying about paying the bills, etc.

[Teresa]

Kelly,
Many of us have to consider does the outlay justify the amount of time we actually dress. OK it's a different question for TSs perhaps. Unless we really need to balance our body shape forget the expensive padding , forms can be made from many things to give a good a good bust shape, the fact they have nipples is irrelevant , if no one sees them . My wigs have come from various sources and none of them expensive and not all new.
I know there is another side to this question some do treat it as a hobby, one they totally indulge themselves no expense spared. That's fine but to me it's not a hobby, or an act . It's a need I have to live with, money doesn't change that feeling, the female part of me has the same inclination as any GG , feeling good putting outfits together , shopping carefully and maybe trying to watch a budget and still look a presentable woman . Being told you look good is an enjoyable bonus, and sometimes totally unexpected, it's being seen and accepted as a woman that is the ultimate goal, not how much money you splashed out on something .

[AutumnNC]

When I did not have much money, I was simply more thrifty. When ebay was new, I could snatch up a quality outfit for a great price. Now that ebay is not so much buy from owner, it kind of faded for me.

Now that I can afford a few things, I buy a lot from amazon. Money does help to get the things you really want. No doubt, but not completely neccesary.

[Aunt Kelly]

Teresa,
Please don't think I don't understand that "need". I am spared that experience (mostly) but I certainly understand it. The OP's query seemed aimed at those who indulge in dressing as an optional activity.

[Teresa]

Kelly,
Sorry about that , I still have a problem with it being a hobby to some people !

[Invisible Emily]

I wish I was retired with cash. I'm a poor college graduate with lots of loans to pay off. I didn't even start dressing seriously until after college so I don't think money was on my mind during that time.

[Beverley Sims]

Those with money and dress occasionally are probably hobbyists. :-)

Most I have seen here have a deeper problem than that and are also less wealthy than the folks you have seen.

Kairi,
It will take you at least a year of being here and replying to posts to see the wide spectrum of people subscribing.

You have probably been selective in your replies because they are the ones that interest you, after being here a while your interests will widen and a whole different range of people will create interest for you.

[CarlaWestin]

Kelly,
Sorry about that , I still have a problem with it being a hobby to some people !

Hobby is just how I would explain it to other people. It saves for having to divulge into long explanations about how gender really works.

The money thing. I've always had some kind of occupation with an income since I was 12 years old. And I plan on working at least five more years. I've spent many hours at night in classes to advance my education in my field and even had my own business at one time. Along the way I've collected enough credits from various pensions to seamlessly retire without a break in income. On the other side, I've been careful with managing money and kept everything in perspective. The whole CD thing was just along for the ride.

[rhonda]

Money isn't the reason , it's how you think , if you do it one time then another and you like it , welcome to the club you're all in and here to stay and you can take that to the bank