The sugar daddy lifestyle is full of surprises. And if you’re new to this dating format, you might feel intimidated by what you don’t know. The good news is, by learning from other experienced sugar daddies and babies in the community, you can have a good idea about what to expect as you get started.
Let’s take a look at 10 things you didn’t know about the sugar daddy lifestyle!
1: There are many kinds of sugar relationships
No matter what kind of relationship you’re interested in, there’s a partner who will be happy to go on that adventure with you. It’s part of what makes sugar dating so exciting.
This is something that can be quite shocking to those who are new to sugar daddy relationships. They think, like traditional dating, that there’s only one way to sugar. But here are just some of the different kinds of relationships you can explore:
- Friends with benefits
- Mentorship
- Long-term arrangement
- No strings attached
- Travel companion
2: And yes, some arrangements really are platonic
An argument that comes up frequently in sugar baby forums is whether platonic arrangements really exist. The truth is, they do!
The beauty of this kind of dating is that you get to set the terms of the relationship. If you want to offer your companionship, youthful energy, travel enthusiasm, or something else that you think has value, you can find someone who will be interested. It’s all about being clear about what you’re willing to bring to the table and then learning how to advocate for yourself. As long as you can do that, it’s definitely possible to find a platonic relationship.
3: The sugar dating community is called “The Bowl”
As you start navigating sugar daddy lifestyle blogs and forums, you’ll come across plenty of unfamiliar lingo. The Bowl, for instance, is a way to refer to the sugar community. Some other helpful phrases you should know are:
- POT: No, this doesn’t have anything to do with a honey pot. Instead, it simply refers to a potential partner
- MG or M&G: this refers to your first meet and greet with a POT. Like a first date, it’s all about getting to know someone new and chatting about what you’re looking for in a relationship.
- Freestyling: In the world of sugaring, freestyling means taking things offline. Instead of using a popular site, like SugarDaddy.com, you might seek out a partner at a high-end event or through mutual friends.
- Vanilla: Vanilla relationships are traditional relationships without the sugar element.
It’s worth familiarizing yourself with some of the common lingo in the sugaring world. That way, you’ll never feel out of your depth when chatting with a potential partner.
4: The sugar daddy lifestyle is open to all walks of life
Contrary to what popular media portrays about sugaring, the reality is, this lifestyle is open to all kinds of people. In other words, not every sugar daddy is a millionaire. And not every sugar baby is down and out, financially.
While this can be a surprising truth for outsiders, this openness to income ranges can actually be beneficial to people in the bowl. Not every person is going to want or need an ultra-luxurious lifestyle to enjoy a relationship. Instead, they may benefit more from someone to support them through graduate school or the occasional romantic weekend away.
To be sure, there are sugar relationships that abound with gourmet dinners and trips to Paris in a private jet. But many happy arrangements exist on a more modest scale.
5: It’s perfectly normal to develop feelings for a sugar partner
Unless you’re sticking with hook-ups and short-term arrangements, it’s pretty common for partners to develop feelings for each other. After all, it takes some chemistry and compatibility for two people to make each other happy. And many people in the bowl would say that an emotional connection is what makes their sugar relationship work.
There’s even a separate term for arrangements that develop into something serious: SGF/SBF or sugar girlfriend/sugar boyfriend. In this situation, both partners are emotionally invested in the well-being of the other. They may have mutual friends, be introduced to family members, and even be open to marriage in the future.
6: Most of the stereotypes about sugar babies are wrong
The popular idea of a sugar baby is of a young, materialistic girl who wants nothing more than to be pampered by an older man. But the more time you spend meeting other people in the community, you’ll quickly learn that this stereotype doesn’t hold water. For starters, sugar babies don’t have to fall into a particular age group or gender. And, they can and typically are interested in much more than shiny, new things that their partner can buy them. In fact, some of the most successful sugar babies are looking to pursue their own life goals. And, they’re either too busy or too ambitious for traditional dating styles.
There’s also a stereotype that sugar babies are out to get one another. But, this is really not the case. There is a huge community of sugar babies online who are dedicated to helping and encouraging one another.
7: You can forget the sugar daddy stereotypes, too
Just like there are plenty of misconceptions floating around about sugar babies, daddies tend to be unfairly characterized, too.
Similar to sugar babies, people who take on this role can come from any age group and gender. As long as they have the willingness to treat their date to a good time, they can become an amazing partner.
Now, let’s talk about the misunderstanding about why people choose to date in the bowl. In many cases, these individuals could date the traditional way. But they’re more interested in focusing on their business to commit to a vanilla relationship. Maybe they’ve been through a divorce or have realized that other dating styles are just not for them. Instead of coming to the bowl because they have no other option, it’s much more common for sugar daddies to actively choose the freedom, excitement, or emotional element that comes with sugaring.
8: You’ll build skills that are useful in other areas of your life
One of the positive things about sugaring is that it can teach you valuable life skills, such as:
- Clarifying your needs. The best way to be successful in this community is to know what you want. Not only will it help you be a better partner, but it can also teach you how to pursue your desires in other areas of your life.
- Negotiating for yourself. Standing up for what you want is a massively helpful skill in everything from negotiating a salary to buying a car to navigating family relationships.
- Distinguishing between genuine and false connections. Unfortunately, there is a fair share of scammers in the bowl. But don’t worry, you’ll develop a sixth sense for the fake connections and instantly recognize the genuine ones. This is, of course, a huge asset in your life, especially when it comes to surrounding yourself with trustworthy people.
9: The sugar daddy lifestyle isn’t a business negotiation
While this dating style will make you better at negotiating, don’t get the idea that sugaring is all about business deals. In contrast, there’s usually a courtship process that can take newbies by surprise.
Don’t expect, for instance, that a potential partner will draw up a written contract on your first date! Instead, the courtship process with someone you have chemistry with can feel quite sweet. You might chat about your favorite foods or where you’d like to travel in the world. Don’t forget to have fun and find common ground with a potential partner before talking about the terms of the arrangement.
10: Being a sugar partner can be a lot of work
Finally, the last, and perhaps most important thing, to learn about the sugar daddy lifestyle is that it takes effort! Here are just a few of the tasks that go into finding the perfect partner:
- Seeking out and chatting with POTs. While it’s exciting to meet new people, it does take time to find them and create an online connection!
- Getting ready for dates. Sugar dating, especially the first M&G requires you to put some thought into your presentation.
- Being emotionally available. Many sugar partners are interested in creating an emotional connection with their dates. This can take energy, empathy, and patience.
- Maintaining communication between dates. If you have good chemistry with a POT, this won’t feel like work. But it will still take time out of your day that you should be able to dedicate to your potential partner.
- Continual maintenance in the sugar daddy relationship. Keeping your partner happy will become a regular item on your to-do list. This might include working on yourself to keep your partner attracted, or suggesting new and interesting dates or activities to maintain the spark between you.
Overall, the more you’re willing to put into your suar relationship, the better your experience will be!
You’ll learn even more with first-hand experience
We’ve covered 10 things you might not have known about the sugar daddy lifestyle. But, the truth is, there’s lots more to explore! Stay open, curious, and excited about the process and you’ll be well on your way to reaping the benefits of this exciting dating scene.