From Splenda to Sugar: Navigating Arrangements with Men Who Aren't Millionaires

Contrary to popular belief, most relationships in the sugaring world are non-millionaire sugar arrangements. And the truth is, sugar babies can feel valued and satisfied with partners who don’t fall into the ultra-wealthy category. The trick is knowing how to set up an agreement that is honest and works for both parties.

In this article, we’re taking a closer look at the “Splenda Daddy” stereotype to see how you can make the most of a relationship with a non-millionaire partner!

What is a Splenda daddy?

Within the sugaring community, a Splenda daddy refers to a partner who wants to be able to spoil and care for a sugar baby, but isn’t overly wealthy. As we’ll discuss in this article, this can be a problem, but it’s not inherently a bad thing. In fact, many Splenda daddies are seen to have great potential, especially if they are generous with more limited funding than a stingy ultra-wealthy daddy or if they’re on a career path that could catapult them into ultra-wealthy status later on.

How much do Splenda daddies make?

Something important to keep in mind is that there’s no set income or net worth that a Splenda daddy needs to have in order to fall into this category.

On the one hand, most Americans consider someone to be rich if they have a net worth of over $2.5 million and ultra-wealthy if they have a net worth of $30 million or more. So, you might consider a Splenda daddy to be anyone who has a net worth somewhere between $2.5 and $30 million.

On the other hand, it’s also possible to be a Splenda daddy without being in that rich category. Indeed, anyone with an extra $2000 to $4000 of expendable income per month could make a sugar baby very happy.

What this means for sugar babies is that it can be more useful to consider a potential partner’s monthly expendable income instead of net worth or gross income. This is what will actually set the Splenda daddies apart from ultra-wealthy sugar daddies and (as we’ll define in the next section) salt daddies.

Difference between a Splenda daddy and a Salt Daddy

A salt daddy refers to someone in the Bowl who may or may not have high levels of wealth but doesn’t have any intention of pampering a sugar baby. They may use a variety of tactics to trick a sugar baby into dating them for a while, but they won’t ever actually follow through with sharing their resources or giving gifts.

So, how does this differ from a Splenda daddy? Well, it’s all about intention. Splenda daddies will do their very best to care for their sugar babies, and will, hopefully, be honest and clear about what they can provide. Their goal isn’t trickery or manipulation, and they’re going to use whatever resources they can to care for their partner.

Pros and cons of dating a not ultra-wealthy sugar daddy

Before moving forward with a Splenda daddy of your own, take a look at some of the pros and cons of non-millionaire sugar arrangements:

Pro: There are more options within this category

There’s a lot of pressure for sugar babies to find the wealthiest, most generous millionaire in the sugaring world. But the fact is, there are more options in lower tax brackets. And more options mean that you won’t feel pressured to settle or deal with the stress of competition with other sugar babies.

Con: You might have to take on more sugar daddies

It is possible to find a Splenda daddy who can meet your expectations, whether you’re looking for a comfortable allowance, help with the bills, or luxury gifts. But, if you have very high financial goals, you might need to take on more than one Splenda daddy.

Pro: They’re more likely to have time to spend with you

The ultra-wealthy tend to be exceedingly busy people, whether it’s because they’re running corporate empires or have a demanding social or even political life.

But a Splenda daddy is more likely to live a more or less normal life, just like the rest of us! That can be great for sugar babies who don’t want to have to bend over backwards just to schedule a date.

Con: Splenda daddies may be more stressed than an ultra-wealthy daddy

The thing about being very rich is that, well, it can solve a lot of problems. Overly wealthy sugar daddies can hire someone for just about any chore, inconvenience, or stressor they have in their lives. To be sure, that doesn’t mean that they never have problems. But they certainly have access to resources that make many problems easier to deal with.

A Splenda daddy, on the other hand, may need more emotional support or escapism to deal with the demands of their job or family life.

Pro: You may be able to build a connection before they have a chance to strike it rich

If you find a Splenda daddy who is on their way to becoming ultra wealthy, building a deep connection before they get their big break can be life-changing. That’s because Splenda daddies who become successful sugar daddies often remember the loyalty and emotional connection they had with someone who was with them during the upward climb. And that can mean that you both get to enjoy the riches when your Splenda daddy graduates from the Splenda status.

Con: There may be some dry patches

Depending on their financial situation, Splenda daddies may be more prone to economic ups and downs that can affect their relationships. So, sugar babies should be able to roll with financial changes and anticipate dry patches.

How to set up an agreement on a lower budget

As you can see, there are some compelling pros to taking on non-millionaire sugar arrangements. So, how can you go about getting a Splenda daddy of your own? Here are a few tips:

Set a financial minimum

The first thing you’ll want to do is sit down to budget out how much you would actually like to receive from a sugar arrangement, including allowance, beauty treatments, dinners, and other benefits. This will help guide you during your negotiation with potential daddies.

Don’t buy into the pressure to find the unicorn daddy

You might find that when you plan your sugaring budget, you would be content with a lower figure than you expected. And, this is common. In general, sugar babies can be happy and content with a more modest arrangement, but feel pressure to find the wealthiest, most powerful sugar daddy in the Bowl. When you let go of that competitive pressure to find a “unicorn,” you can focus on finding someone who is actually a good match and able to meet your financial expectations without a problem.

Make your online profile appealing to Splenda daddies

Look at your sugar dating profile from the perspective of a potential sugar daddy. Are you using words or photos that would intimidate a Splenda daddy? If so, you can make some minor adjustments that will make your profile more accessible for sugar daddies with a lower budget. For instance, consider:

• Including more casual photos. If all of your photos are of you in full glam, wearing designer clothes and attending yacht parties, a Splenda daddy might pass over your profile because they think they won’t be able to satisfy you. So, consider including a few pictures that are more casual but still high quality.
• Being specific about the types of dates you would be open to. Your bio is a great place to tailor your profile to a wider range of income levels. For example, if right now your bio gives off the impression that you’re expecting an ultra-wealthy partner who can whisk you off to Europe, consider toning it down a bit. You might say something like, “Sugar baby looking for someone to treat me to a gourmet meal and a mani/pedi a few times a month.” This is much more attainable to the vast majority of Splenda daddies.
• Inviting sugar daddies to reach out. A call-to-action is always a great way to end a bio, so write yours with the Splenda daddies in mind. You can say something along the lines of “I’m a down-to-earth person who is looking for a fun, caring partner. Slide into my DMs and let's set up a first date!” You can see that this doesn’t necessarily give the impression that you’re willing to compromise on your budget, but it does make you seem friendly and open to negotiation!

Consider virtual sugar relationships

Many Splenda daddies are drawn to virtual sugar relationships because they’re a good option financially. After all, the daddy won’t need to cover the cost of travel expenses or dinner at a fancy restaurant. Instead, the relationship will be based more on building the virtual relationship through phone calls, video calls, or media sharing.

Virtual sugar relationships often come with lower allowances or per date compensation, but they allow you to connect with a partner from the comfort of home.

Be clear about your expectations (and open to negotiation)

It’s important in every sugar relationship to be clear about your expectations, and non-millionaire sugar arrangements are no different. A Splenda daddy won’t know how to care for you unless you tell them specifically:

• How many in-person or virtual dates you’ll expect a month (and what those would consist of).
• Your minimum allowance or per date reimbursement.
• Whether you’ll want your Splenda daddy to cover certain costs, including beauty treatments, travel costs, childcare, clothes for dates, etc.
• Physical gifts that you would like to receive.

Keep in mind that an ultra-wealthy sugar daddy may accept your terms without a second thought. But a Splenda daddy is more likely to want to negotiate a little bit. That’s perfectly normal, so you don’t have to take it personally! As long as you can see that your Splenda daddy seems genuinely interested in caring for you to the best of their ability, you can take it as a sign that you’ll have a satisfying relationship.

Consider shorter-term agreements to start

As we mentioned, relationships with Splenda daddies may be more vulnerable to economic downturns or changes in your daddy’s finances. So, many sugar babies entering into non-millionaire sugar arrangements choose to play it safe, at least in the beginning.

This can look like not pursuing long-term agreements, at least at the start, but opting to take things date by date instead.

Be wary of over-reaching Splenda daddies

Some Splenda daddies feel pressured to make a good impression on new sugar babies by maxing out their credit cards and purchasing gifts outside of their budget. And this can be fun for a while, but if you notice your Splenda daddy spending outside of their means, keep in mind that it might not be sustainable.

You’ll want to decide whether to take full advantage of their current generosity or play the long game and encourage them to slow down so that you can enjoy a more long-term arrangement.

Anticipate financial ups and downs

All sugar babies should be thinking about their financial future, but this is especially true when dating a Splenda daddy. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to build financial stability with a Splenda daddy in order to anticipate future economic downturns:

• Put some of your allowance aside every month. Building up your savings is a smart financial decision that can help you stay afloat if your Splenda daddy comes up short from time to time.
• Have your Splenda daddy help to pay off debts. Using your sugar relationship to pay off debts is a great way to build financial independence.
• Opt for gifts that will increase in value over time. If your Splenda daddy is asking for your preferences about gifts, consider options that will increase in value, such as certain designer bags, jewelry, or even investment bonds.
• End on good terms with your Splenda daddy so that you can rekindle the relationship in the future. If you enjoy your time with a certain Splenda daddy, don’t disappear when they take a step back due to changes in their finances. After all, you never know when they’ll be back and wealthier than the last time you saw them! That being said, when they do decide to end things because of finances, let them know that you’d be open to rekindling in the future, but will be pursuing other options in the meantime.

Are you ready to explore non-millionaire sugar arrangements?

In this article, we’ve done our best to put the stereotype of the Splenda daddy in a more realistic light. There are, of course, some downsides to dating a non-millionaire sugar daddy. But the truth is, there are even more potential positives. So, we think it’s time to give the Splenda daddies a chance!