Frequently Asked Questions

Exotic Expenditures is a social fund organized as an LLC that allows a group of friends to pool resources for extraordinary experiences. We're not a business in the traditional sense—we don't seek profits or have customers. Instead, we're a structure that helps our members collectively fund adventures they couldn't afford individually.

Exotic Expenditures began when a group of friends realized they shared dreams of extraordinary experiences but couldn't afford them individually. Rather than letting these dreams remain unrealized, we created a structure to combine our resources. We established the LLC to provide legal protection and a framework for managing our collective funds.

Yes and no. We are a legally registered LLC, but we operate as a social fund rather than a traditional business. We don't sell products or services, and we don't seek to make profits. Our purpose is to create a legal structure for friends to pool money for shared experiences. Think of us more as a club with a formal legal structure than a business.

Membership in Exotic Expenditures is typically by invitation, as we're a close-knit group of friends. However, we occasionally open to new members who share our values and vision. If you're interested, you can apply through our membership page, and current members will review applications based on compatibility with our existing group dynamic.

Members contribute equally to our monthly fund and participate in decision-making about how we use our resources. Each member gets one vote in determining our expenditures, regardless of tenure. Members are expected to participate in at least 50% of events and contribute ideas for future adventures. The most important responsibility is maintaining a spirit of collaboration and respect.

Yes, members can leave at any time with 30 days' notice. Our operating agreement outlines a fair process for this transition. Members who leave don't receive a refund of past contributions, as those funds have typically been spent on experiences. However, we do have provisions for distributing any accumulated assets if the collective were to dissolve completely.

Each member contributes $150 per month to our collective fund. This amount was determined based on what felt reasonable for our members while allowing us to accumulate enough for truly extraordinary experiences. For special adventures requiring additional funding, we occasionally vote on one-time extra contributions, but these are always optional.

We operate on a democratic basis. Members propose ideas for experiences or expenditures, and we vote on them during our monthly meetings. Each member gets one equal vote, and we require a 70% majority for approval. For smaller experiences (under $1,000), a simple majority is sufficient. We maintain transparent records of all fund movements and decisions.

We understand that not everyone can make every event. There's no refund for missed events, as the funding model is based on collective resources rather than individual purchases. However, we make efforts to plan events when most members can attend, and we typically plan a mix of larger and smaller activities throughout the year to maximize participation opportunities.

We've funded a wide range of experiences, from helicopter camping trips to renting exotic sports cars for a weekend, from chartered sailing adventures to exclusive dining experiences with renowned chefs. We typically aim for experiences that would be prohibitively expensive for individuals but become accessible when costs are shared among our membership. We prioritize unique, memorable activities over material possessions.

We typically organize 2-3 major experiences per year (those costing $5,000+) and 4-6 smaller events ($1,000-$3,000 range). This schedule allows us to accumulate sufficient funds for truly extraordinary experiences while still maintaining regular group activities. Events are planned approximately three months in advance to allow members to arrange their schedules.

For most events, members can bring one guest by paying an additional guest fee determined by the cost of the experience. Some of our most expensive or limited-capacity experiences are members-only. We decide this on a case-by-case basis during the planning phase of each event. Guest policies are clearly communicated when events are announced.

All members sign a comprehensive liability waiver upon joining Exotic Expenditures. For higher-risk activities, we secure appropriate insurance coverage, which is factored into the event cost. Additionally, we only work with vetted, professional vendors who carry their own liability insurance. Our LLC structure provides an additional layer of protection for members.

While we take all reasonable precautions, adventure activities inherently involve some risk. We encourage members to maintain their own personal insurance coverage appropriate to their participation levels.

Your application data is securely stored and only shared with current members as part of our review process. We do not sell or share your information with third parties for marketing purposes. If your application is not accepted, we retain your information for six months before deletion in case a spot opens up soon after. See our Privacy Policy for complete details on how we handle personal information.

While we've had many incredible experiences, our most memorable was chartering a catamaran in the British Virgin Islands for a week. Twelve members participated, with costs shared equally. We visited remote islands, learned to sail together, and enjoyed incredible snorkeling spots that would be inaccessible to most travelers. The total cost per person was approximately 60% less than if anyone had attempted this trip individually.

Our sailing adventure in the British Virgin Islands

For international adventures planned well in advance, we maintain a contingency fund of approximately 15% of the estimated total cost to account for currency fluctuations, unexpected fees, or price increases. If the contingency isn't needed, these funds roll back into our collective account for future adventures. For adventures with significantly variable costs, we sometimes collect an initial deposit and then finalize the remaining balance closer to the date when costs are more certain.