I, for one, have never had a really high level of disposable income to begin with. So when I make the decision to see a provider, I am having to do careful consideration of how that affects my budget going forward. Add to that that the “novelty” of trying new providers out often results in disappointment, and that’s not so worth it any more. So, I have pretty much settled on one I call when I feel the need, and supplement that with dating and the bar scene. I would love to see that one provider more often, and/or add the occasional fresh taste to the menu, but my personal economics won’t allow it. I actually doubt I will be doing this at all for very long. Originally Posted by billdwyer18Sir, believe me - I feel your pain, for I have at times been in the 'low disposable income' bracket myself. When I started my hobby adventures in 2006 (my God, its been 11 years - where DID the time go...), I also did not really think that I would be in it for long, and relied heavily on a couple of regulars for their reliability. I have taken several leaves of absence from the hobby over the years (due to a combination of limited funding and other RW situations), but I have always found my way back. I'm not saying that this will be the case for you, but rather just relating my own experiences to let you know that you are not alone in your situation. Happily, for me at least, the funding situation has improved...even though I never really thought it would.
That being said, when limited disposable income is an issue, careful reading of reviews, reading/viewing of showcases, and (when available) reading of a provider's posts in here can be very helpful when selecting a provider in order to minimize disappointment (it won't prevent it from happening - sometimes two people just don't 'click' - but it will help).
Yes, prices have risen...on everything. When I purchased my first brand new car back in the early 80's, it cost me about $7,000 - for a very nice car. A comparable car today would cost north of $50,000.
I think too many times we hobbyists forget (or just don't know) about the expenses a good provider has to incur to be successful. When those prices go up, then by nature so must rates. 'Seeing more clients', as some in here have suggested, is not really a valid solution for the successful providers, as to be truly successful provider in this business takes careful planning, screening, and preparation - all of which takes a lot of time and money.
Okay, I'll shut up now (why yes, I DO tend to ramble a bit...).