It depends on what you want. I've seen SPs for years, but I've had two sugar babies as well. They are different arrangements.
SPs, are more about just sex. You get variety, not even a suggestion of a commitment, and essentially pay-for-play. They are also relative low-risk, no up-front money and if they don't show you're not out a dime.
With SBs there's more of a chance to hang out and develop a sense of intimacy (genuine or not, who's to say?) You make a bit of a commitment, perhaps a monthly allowance up-front, and in return you get consistency and a lesser chance that the lady will just drop off the radar because she's having a bad week or she met a cute guy. SBs require more planning and scheduling, but in general your expense per sex act is lower.
I've loved both. I'm currently in a SB relationship because I have so little time for R&R I want to make sure that what I have counts. I need to plan dates weeks in advance due to my job, and I need to be reasonably sure the woman will show up. The SB scene in Toronto is rich and varied.
KK
This is incredibly well written and gives a pretty good summary between the subtle differences.
EC, I don't think the 'cheaper' SB route is a ready option.
You must be lucky to discover such a gal but, I find that you may 'cultivate' an SB from someone in the industry (develop a rapport), where they don't watch the clock like an agency gal or indy with an active or busy schedule.
The cultivation is precisely how my 3 longest SD/SB relationships came about. People in standard relationships do not maintain their relationship as long as one of these (3+ years).
I think sb relationships end very badly for the most part.
No they don't when approached correctly. Some maintain friendship for many years afterward.
From a woman's perspective, isn't the SB/SD relationship something totally different though? You don't have to deal with multiple individuals, with people you don't know. You can get to know, like, trust your partner? You can drop your guard and be much more relaxed with your partner... Obviously if you were the kind of princess others are hinting about that's another story (and I'm NOT saying you are, I don't know you!). The SB life would just not apply to your expectations.
From my very limited experience with a SB (who was an agency SP before), I see A LOT of differences (and she tells me so). It doesn't look like the same beast at all.
It is different... You both have good days, and bad days. You see the ups and downs and in many ways as a sugar relationship progresses you embrace these... You know exactly whom you will spend your evening or afternoon with and you get excited to do so. It doesn't really matter how much of an allowance you get because at the end of the day you know your SD will ALWAYS ensure you are taken care of.
Former SB Extraordinaire,
Lily Divine
For those wondering I will share... I have run the gamut of scenarios:
Shopping Daddy - He was far more comfortable taking me shopping than he ever was handing over an allowance. It was fun, playful, and an amazing day. Always!
Average Day - $500-1000 shopping (I never once asked, but rather tried things on, and let him decide what I was getting) + lunch. I always provided the accommodations. We'd go out once every 3-8 weeks.
My Mentor - He was my sounding board, my confidant, my best friend. There through thick or thin in either of our lives and we still touch base once in a while even now.
Monthly - $300/week + shopping and incidentals. He knew what rent was, and covered it plus a little more. In addition to this we went to dinner, or lunch 1-5 times a week. I truly mean we were together often... If I wanted something expensive in a store it was not unheard of for that to happen also. I would say that between gifts and allowance I was getting an average of $2000-2500/month + incidentals such as food and entertainment which likely totaled well over $1500-2000/month. Sex was fantastic! Always!
My Traveling Eye Candy - What more can I say? Women like eye candy also and I got lucky. I saw him with regularity on his trips to my area. If he was in town... I had NO other plans!
Per-Visit/Trip - $500 for an evening, $1000 for a 24-36 hour visit on average + dinner, his hotel/accommodations, wine, flowers, toys... Dinner was room service always and eaten while entwined with one another naked. ALWAYS! Breakfast was always in bed and there wasn't a chance that I was doing anything the day after other than sleep and read romance novels in a bubble bath.
It's different when it develops to those stages... There is nothing wrong with P4P and to be honest a number of those I see now border on the fringes of this. It just has become more of a very friendly community of friends between them. They all bring something unique to the table, and we keep things in this context to limit the demands and expectations one might otherwise find post transition.