Financial domination (a.k.a. findom) is a widely misunderstood kink, often thought to be the sole domain of sex workers – and while SWs are obviously total pros at it (literally!), findom can also be done within personal relationships. I would know, because I’ve done it in mine!
So, whether you decide to bring up this kink with a current partner, or seek out a new one on a findom dating site, here are my top tips for trying findom…
Figure out your “why”
It’s understandable if findom holds no appeal for you, especially in these economically precarious times. However, if there is some part of you that feels intrigued by this kink, it’s good to ponder why, and then discuss your answer(s) with your partner(s).
To jump-start your thinking, here are some common reasons financial domination turns people on:
- Power: At its simplest, findom is about power exchange, same as any other type of dominance-&-submission play. Money is power in our society, and so, when you give your money away, you are giving away some of your power. Some people find that very hot – and likewise, some people find it equally hot to be given that power, either freely or through (consensual, play-acted) “force.”
- Objectification: Being objectified (or objectifying someone else) is a popular kink which can take many forms, and findom is one of them. In her book Mating in Captivity, for instance, couples’ therapist Esther Perel writes about a husband who struggled to see his wife in a sexual light after their kids were born, because of his (very common) Madonna/whore complex. Perel recommended they “introduce a little healthy objectification” into their sex life, so the wife told her husband she’d give him an “involved, prolonged, great blowjob”… for a hundred bucks. And it worked! It helped him to see her as a sexual being again, instead of as “just” the mother of his children.
- Cuckolding: Some people incorporate findom into their cuck kink, by (for example) paying for their partner to go on a date with someone else, or buying them fancy lingerie for said date. Money can massively raise the stakes on such interactions.
- Alleviating guilt/shame about money: My partner makes significantly more money than me, and I sometimes feel bad when she buys me nice things or takes me nice places, because I worry that she feels obligated, or that I shouldn’t be such a spoiled princess. But through findom, we can recast these kindnesses as part of our kink dynamic, which makes it easier for me to accept them. When I attire myself and carry myself like one of those hot leather-clad dommes from fetish porn and online femdom sites, I can feel like I deserve to be a spoiled princess!
Set clear lines around certain activities
This might be controversial, but I don’t think you should financially incentivize any sexual activity that you want to continue doing for free at some point in the future. When humans get paid to do something, they tend to lose the intrinsic motivation to do that thing without being paid; this is called the overjustification effect.
For this reason, I’d suggest either only paying (or being paid) for activities you wouldn’t otherwise do much or at all, or setting up a very specific “container” in which you’ll be paid, such as a roleplay where you’re both in-character as someone other than yourself. Hopefully these measures will keep the overjustification effect at bay.
Decide on a budget everyone can handle
When it comes to findom, I would never advise someone to play outside their means. You should not be going into debt or stressing yourself out just to participate in this kink!
This is why it’s a good idea to negotiate a specific budget before any findom scene, and to agree on a safeword so either party can tap out if they want to.
And by the way, there’s no rule that says you have to use real money. If Monopoly money still makes your brain chemicals go brrr, then by all means, use it!
3 scene ideas for findom beginners:
- Have your partner pay you a certain agreed-upon amount for an activity you might not otherwise do very often or at all, like a striptease, bootblacking, or foot massage. You could do this as a client/provider roleplay if you like.
- Agree on a budget and then go shopping for something frivolous/fun/sexy – like lingerie, sex toys, or porno mags – on one partner’s dime. When not interacting with sales staff, you can roleplay as a spoiled brat and doting caregiver, or whatever else feels hot to you.
- If your relationship structure allows for it, and if you’re into the cuckoldy angle, have one partner pay for the other’s drinks/dinner/etc. on a date with someone else. Alternatively, just pay for them to enjoy some self-care – e.g. a mani-pedi, facial, or deep tissue massage. Maybe they can text you a selfie from the spa/salon/etc., playfully taunting you for being a hapless paypig 😘
Have you ever tried findom? How did it feel for you?
This post contains sponsored links. As always, all writing and opinions are my own.