I am cheap as fuck.
If I can find something cheaper or make it myself, I will. Sometimes you have to spend some money, but if I can get something cheaper or make it myself, then why not? And since I had virtually nothing when I first started camming, not even a good webcam, I used what I had until I could make enough money to get better things.
Lighting, Frugal-wise
First, let’s talk lighting on a budget, because let’s be real — lighting is everything. Ring lights are great, but they can be expensive. When I needed an inexpensive solution for lighting, I bought floor lamps with bendable necks, then I bought HD LED light bulbs. These bulbs are amazing. They help make colors brighter and whites whiter, which is perfect for videos and for camming. Next, I took a piece of computer paper and taped it over the lamp to prevent that bright glow effect that can appear on camera.
Important: LED lights do not get hot, but please don’t do this computer paper trick with regular bulbs!
I also have a little selfie ring light that clips on my phone or computer, which you can get for like $5. This really helps when taking pictures or videos on a phone.
A lot of models use studio backgrounds, which can be pricey. Instead of buying an expensive one, try your local discount warehouse store to see what you can find. You can get some lightweight throw blankets for next to nothing and tack them to a wall. Photos will have a nice solid background, and you can get any color you want.
Clothes, Frugal-wise
Now I don’t know about you, but my lingerie situation was sad. I had none, nada, nothing. Lingerie, or even a nice bra and panty set, can be super expensive, especially when you’re buying a lot. I started shopping at a Burlington store nearby, which has a massive women’s intimates section. You can get a ton of very nice (and sometimes brand name) things and pay under $10 for each.
If you don’t have a Burlington store nearby, then look around for similar stores. There are plenty of places that sell cheap lingerie, you just have shop around. Check discount stores, liquidators or warehouses. You’ll be surprised at the things you can find.
Matching and cute!
Equipement, Frugal-wise
Obviously, not everything can be made or found for cheap. A good webcam and computer are definitely not things you want to go cheap on, but you can lower your costs if you shop around.
I went to Best Buy and got my webcam on sale for twenty percent off. I also checked out their refurbished computer section. I got an amazing computer for $300 that retails at $1,000. Amazon also has good deals on computers.
Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to put out cheap looking, crappy content. You can find ways to be creative and save yourself some money. And for the things you can’t do yourself, just shop around. I promise you can find amazing deals when you look in the right places.
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Jessica Sage is a hard-working entrepreneur from New York. From camming and clips making to working hard behind the scenes, she’s got even more skills than meets the eye.
Background banner image by Ivandrei Pretorius via Pexels.
