Funding the hobby discretely from your Significant Other (SO)

Cpalmson's Avatar
There is no full proof way to hide your any transactions now-a-days. Your best bet is to hope your SO does not do the books or does not question expenses/transactions. The problem is that if she ever gets suspicious and hires a forensic accountant, she will most likely find a pattern of activity. While the SO can't track it specifically to the hobby, you are going to have some "s'plainin'" to do. That is where a good cover story and poker face come into play. Some have suggested having a hobby which can cover for your real hobby. Some have suggested taking up golf or some other similar activity that could explain a pattern of expenses (cash or otherwise). The thing is your hobby needs to be credible. Don't say you are playing golf but live in Michigan and try to explain away $400 in the middle of winter. There are other hobbies out there like computer gaming which use in game purchases or upgrades. You can tell her that is where the money is going. However you would need to actually play the game and let her see you doing it; otherwise, it is not a good cover. One thing to consider is making everyday purchases with your debit card, and for each purchase, get $10 or $20 back in cash. You can squirrel this money away (under the mattress/in a cookie jar). Probably after a month, you should have enough to play. Once again, though, if she isa forensic blood hound, even those minor withdraws could garner attention-- especially if you do it with every purchase b/c at the end of the month, she may notice all your cash back totals $200-$300. This is an assumed risk hobby. Unless you have an untapped source of income your SO knows nothing about, everything financially is traceable if you have a joint account. In a worst case scenario, hope you can BS your way out of any suspicions.
Crafts for pussy. LMAO Originally Posted by go4it5
While it may sound funny, that is exactly how I fund my forays in this hobby, so my hobby allows me to hobby!!My hobby(the other one) has actually turned into a very lucrative part time business and even though my wife knows I do quite well at it, she really has no idea how well!!
I use my business's banking account to hobby. Yeah, I'm risking piercing the corporate veil, but it doesn't really matter as a pllc anyway.
Cpalmson's Avatar
I use my business's banking account to hobby. Yeah, I'm risking piercing the corporate veil, but it doesn't really matter as a pllc anyway. Originally Posted by sketchball82
You might want to consult a lawyer about this b/c what you are doing is probably a much more serious crime i.e. money laundering felony than some low level misdemeanor. You don't want to get your hand caught in the cookie jar cooking the books with bogus expenses come reconciliation. I think even legitimate expenses such as "entertainment" can't be tied to an illegal activity.
Overall, I'd agree...but paying an escort (or stripper, etc.) isn't illegal, per se. It's dicey if not handled appropriately, but probably not money laundering unless your pimping, etc.

Though, I totally agree that it's not a great idea or a subject I'd want to justify later in an audit.
Guest010619's Avatar
Buy bullets and say your going to gun range to shoot, keep using same cans of ammo. Clean gun when you get home.
Also helps to have hobby where you sell items for cash.


Pick up gun collecting as a hobby. Assuming she's not into guns and isn't super nosey then a multiple of sins can be explained away by the cash you took with you to a gun show.

Or if you have an ATF that you see often and some trust has been built, then maybe gift cards could be an option.

There are some girls that also take credits cards. I would definitely ask around and locate those providers.

Finally, there are some stores that if you run a transaction as debit they have to give you your refund as cash. Originally Posted by SAangel27
THIS^^^^^

Make sure you drag her to a few gun shows......so she sees how lots of guys have cash to buy and sell guns to get the best deals.

And make sure you show her a new gun once in a while.

And its a fun hobby, too! Originally Posted by hgritstoo
pyramider's Avatar
How about telling the SO you are going to need some cash for some pussy?

Use your card to pay for meals with friends or coworkers, then collect the cash from them. Originally Posted by Your Naughty Muse
You can do that once or twice.... Then you will not be invited to eat lunch with the group any longer.
I dispise the fuckers that pull this shit.. The usually wind up with the smallest amout paid, and leave a shiity tip for the server.

I do not care what his other motives are, it just comes across as a cheap ass fucker.

When you are in your early 20's it is all good, after that... Not so good ( think sponge... Sucking all of the good out of your friends)
Get some kind of car and restore it. They are an endless cash draw and will make it very easy to hide money. That whole industry runs on cash so you can show a $1000.00 set of wheels that look normal.
When shopping (groceries in particular), get an extra $20 or $30 and stash it. It can build up.
Paperless transactions emailed to your work address that she doesn't have access to...
You think I just pulled that out of my ass??
lol Originally Posted by riday
True, but ... this year while doing the taxes, stuff wasn't adding up. We needed to pull some sample paystubs to verify the tax withholding (I am set up like you, so I had to use my work laptop). I went into the system last week to see about setting up a small diversion to a second acct, but that memory stopped me cold.

Something I am toying with now is buying grocery store gift cards whenever I am at the store. I can use the credit card, and an extra $25 or $50 on a grocery order is not noticeable these days. As long as I don't show the receipt I'm fine. Assuming my regular girl will take those instead of some of the cash.
pyramider's Avatar
You fucktards that are scurrying around to find money would be better off boincking the SO. If you are not, then someone else is ... ijs.
happybanana's Avatar
I use my business's banking account to hobby. Yeah[B[/B], I'm risking piercing the corporate veil, but it doesn't really matter as a pllc anyway. Originally Posted by sketchball82
So, can you then take the cost as a entertainment expense on the corporate taxes?

HB
RandB fan's Avatar

So, can you then take the cost as a entertainment expense on the corporate taxes?

HB Originally Posted by happybanana
not without an invoice, receipt and a 1099! You can slide for less than $10 but ...


I restore old Z cars, and used to refurbish houses, I was always buying and selling parts, windows, or other building materials that I came across with cash. I bought 300 toilets one afternoon from group of box stores for $600, pieced them together as sets and the next week sold 100 of them for $5k. She never knew it happened.
A close knit group had a bet for who had the most cash in their pockets and my ex didn't bat an eye when I pulled out $7K. I lost.
She got a little more interested in the pocket money during the divorce. But I think her atty told her leave it lay.