As a sub to men for some 35 years, and a cashfag for 21 years, i felt it may be helpful for some subs here (and Masters) to have my thoughts on what it is to be a 'good sub/slave/fag'. You may disagree with some points, or have other views, but this is simply my own view, which is widely shared across the BDSM community.

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There are some basic elements of what makes a good sub.

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* Subordination (awareness and practice of it)
* Obedience (to the one you trust and serve)

* Respect
* Humility (accepting mistakes and errors, willing to apologise)
* Putting the Alpha's desires first 

A fag will often approach an Alpha with a list of expectations and requirements. This is the opposite of what it means to be a good sub. The instinct of a sub is a wish to please and satisfy the needs and desires of the man he is serving, before his own desires.

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Note that I don't mention tributes of money in the list, as this is secondary to the above. In findom, in it's real sense, tributing is a by-product of the above qualities. 

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What is Findom, and where does it fit into BDSM? 

Findom has many offshoots and vagaries, but this is how I understand the basic principles...
Findom is a curious thing. In the world where it is a sexualised practice, it is the opposite of how it is in the world outside of BDSM.

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'Findom' in the work place is a natural power exchange, where an employee is the financial subordinate of his employer. In the work place you will do as you are told, and do whatever the employer requires, because that is the way you get your wage, and hopefully, if you please him enough, you will receive a bonus. All the power is in the hands of the man who gives you money, and you will put up with all manner of things in order to avoid missing out on it. The more you please and are compliant to your boss, the more likely you are to get a bonus. You are the sub, and the Dom is the one giving you money. It is the manifestation of the saying 'money is power'. Money talks.

This scenario is obviously very familiar to all of us here.

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In the 'findom community', it is the opposite way around. The power play is not expressed by the Boss (Alpha) handing money to the employee (subordinate), but by the sub demonstrating his subordination and often obedience by handing over a tribute to the Alpha.
Be clear that in findom, a tribute is not a payment, but is simply a tribute, which expects nothing in return. If something is expected in return, such as time, cam, pics, vid or whatever else, then it is not a tribute, but a payment in return from what he has bought. In essence, this is not s********n, but a simple transaction. The Alpha may choose to spend time with the sub, do cam, send pics or whatever, in order to encourage the s********n and develop a bond, but that is because he chooses to. It is not part of a 'deal'.

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A tribute is an expression of subordination and worship. A sacrifice made.  Nothing more and nothing less.

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On a simple level, a tribute is not pressured or demanded. It is freely offered and given.

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In a more advanced relationship, the power can extend to a deeper control of the sub's finances. FINDOM (financial domination) is just that in these cases, where an Alpha can extend his power to a control of spending in the sub's life, demanding when the sub hands over his money, and demanding when he is not allowed to. It can extend to moulding the sub's way of life by controlling what money is available to the sub. This is where Findom comes into it's own on a very powerful level, based on an enormous amount of trust on both sides.

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What about you?

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ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING for a sub to note is that the amount of tribute offered is of less importance than the level of sacrifice made. Some subs are deflated when they see other subs tributing large amounts to an Alpha. They look at the slave market and feel their efforts are wasted because they don't rank amongst the 'high flyers'. They feel they are 'useless' and bad subs. This couldn't be further from the truth.

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What the slave market doesn't tell you is how much sacrifice is made, how much the subs give up or go without, in order to hand over their tributes. Many of them have a much better income than you. In that regard, if you are making sacrifices in order to tribute, you are as good as those handing out large amounts of money, and you may be a better sub than some of the greater tributers if your sacrifices impact on your life.

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Money vs Sacrifice

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I make this comparison...A tribute of £10 from a poor student or sub with a low paid job who struggles to get by is greater than a £500 tribute from a wealthy sub who wouldn't miss it. Of course, there are many Alphas who prioritise levels of money obtained from subs, which is understandable. However, in the Findom BDSM world, it is not the amount of money, but your level of personal sacrifice that is important to a 'great' Findom Alpha. 

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It is worth noting at this point that Findom is not an end in itself, but is a tool for expressing s********n in the BDSM environment. 

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A top quality Alpha/Master isn't concerned about the amount of money you can tribute. He is much more concerned about the level of sacrifice you make for him. 

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So... my point being, don't concern yourself with what others do. 

Focus on what you can do. 

Your s********n is between you and the Alpha you tribute. 

If you serve with humility, obedience, respect, subordination, making sacrifice, and worship the Alpha by putting his wishes before your own, you are amongst the greatest subs. 

Without these qualities, you are are nothing of a sub. 

With them, you are amongst the best, no matter how much or little you are able to tribute.