Excerpt from Thriving in Sex Work: Sex Work and Money, a personal finance guide for sex workers, available now, wherever paperbacks and ebooks are sold.

Having

We can’t put our financial house in order if it’s built on a shaky foundation. Tell me if you answer this question honestly:

Do you know where your money is?

As sex workers, it is vital to treat the money we work so hard for with care. Sexy Reader, I want you to have a clearly thought-out, front-of-mind plan to keep your money safe. This means knowing at all times where your cash is: 

•  On your person

• In your wallet or purse

• At your bank

• In your car

• In your home

• At your place of business

It means knowing at all times where all cards and devices linked to your personal and business accounts are, including:

• Debit and credit cards

• Phones, computers, and any other electronic device with access to your:

o   Bank, investment, and credit card accounts

o   Work websites

o E-pay apps 

It means having high quality passwords for all sites and accounts linked to your finances and business, including your:

•  Bank

• Website

• Cloud storage

• Online ads

• Social media accounts

• E-pay apps and gift lists

Note: For more on password security, check out Violet Blue’s recommendations in the Appendix.

It means having a clear plan to keep cash and other valuables safe, including who knows about and who has access to your:

•  Cash stash

• Safe

• Safety deposit box

• P.O. box

Read through these lists carefully. If each item’s location, access, and security protocol ring like a bell in your mind, you’re free to skip the exercise on the next page. But if you’re experiencing any fuzziness or anxiety or not-knowing, your homework is to create an emergency plan.