I typed “tuition help” into Google and was a little surprised when an ad for SeekingArrangements.com popped up. This site is site for Sugar Babies, Sugar Daddies & even Sugar Mommies.

According to the site a Sugar Baby is: “Attractive, ambitious & young. Sugar Babes are college students, aspiring actresses or someone just starting out. You seek a generous Benefactor to pamper, mentor and take care of you—perhaps to help you financially?”

Also according to the site, a Sugar Daddy is: “Rich and successful. Single or married, you have no time for games. You are looking to mentor or spoil someone special—perhaps a “personal secretary”? secret lover? student? or a mistress for an extra-marital affair?”

A Sugar Mommy? The much rarer female equivalent of a Sugar Daddy.

Is it a new form of prostitution or is it simply a mutually beneficial relationship? According to the law, as long as a woman is paid for some other services besides sex, such as companionship or assistant work, then it’s not prostitution. And while some Sugar Babies may feel like sex workers, most enphatically stress they are not.

In fact, some Sugar Babies insist they don’t want, or need, money; instead, they want to be showered with expensive gifts—gifts becoming a measure of love and respect. Others are very straight up about wanting money, whether for tuition help, rent, or simply to buy some of the finer things in life.

I asked one of the members if it made him feel bad, knowing that women only want to be with him for money.

“No,” he answered, “most men think that their women are with them to some degree for money. Many women make it seem that way, or just act like in such a way that it’s clear,” said Brian, a man who wished to keep his last name private.

And, lots of people who “seek arrangements” equate the site to marriage, stating that the two things are very similar, that marriage is an economic and sexual arrangement.

There is also a book: Seeking Arrangement: The Definitive Guide to Sugar Daddy’s and Mutual Beneficial Relationships it’s a very realistic look at how both sides deal with the issues that arise from entering into a relationship like this. If you are considering trying one of these “arrangements” then this book would be a great place to start.