Geelong-based drag queen Art Simone became a mainstream star during the inaugural season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, when she made it into the finals after an early elimination. But she's been performing for more than a decade, and remembers scouring the local $2 shop for dress-ups when she was getting started. Over her career her costumes have evolved from $2 shop drag to custom-made gowns, and her venues from small clubs in Melbourne to the world stage — but her passion still lies in promoting drag in Australia.

For Pay Day, Art Simone reflects on how expensive drag can be, the moment she felt like an "adult", and her annual Halloween pilgrimage the US.

How would you describe your financial situation right now?

Comfortable but with room to grow. I'm not sitting on a throne of gold, but I am able to cover my living expenses with a bit of extra coin to treat myself every now and then.

How was money spoken about in your house growing up?

Money was a very prevalent topic within our household, things were very tight and the phrase "robbing Peter to pay Paul" was used consistently. It's not 'til I was older that I realised what a balancing act my Mum had to do in order to provide for us kids.

What did you spend your first pay cheque on?

I can't remember exactly but it usually was to fund my interest in makeup and wigs. I'd frequently visit the local $2 shop to try and source some things to help me dress up.

About how much of your income goes towards your rent or mortgage each week?

That would imply I get a weekly wage! Working in the arts I have the joy of a haphazard income stream, which trickles in at assorted dates and times. It certainly makes it hard for budgeting, but I always make sure I have enough put aside for next month's mortgage before I go dipping into the dollars.

What has been your biggest financial disaster?

When I was 18 I went to the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to study studio arts photography. In order to equip myself with all the tech I needed I took out a personal loan that proceeded to haunt me well into my 20s. Drag isn't cheap so on top of that debt, I was also funnelling all of my income into my drag so I could continue to grow within the scene. I remember at one stage I was paying my rent with a credit card. But eventually I managed to pay it all off (including my HECs) and swore never to have a credit card ever again!

What's your guilty splurge?

I'm a big horror fan, so (schedule permitting) I like to make an annual pilgrimage to the USA to go to Halloween events and haunted houses. No one does it like them!

Have you ever kept a secret about money?

I'm pretty open and honest about finances, the good the bad and the ugly. But I may or may not have used Microsoft Paint as a teen to *adjust* some documents to help my family get approved for a loan.

How much was the last loaf of bread you bought?

Nothing beats a $4.90 Helgas from Woolies. But I usually just raid the freezer for long lost crusts of loaves past.

Cash or card?

payWave! Long gone are the days of being paid with an envelope and a bit of cash at the end of the night. I rarely see physical money, so payWave is my best friend.

How many bank accounts do you have? How do you organise your money?

I have four — Personal, Savings, GST/Tax and Business. It's like a digital version of the series of envelopes my grandmother used to keep in her purse to divide out her money.

What's your biggest source of money anxiety?

Honestly, it's interest rates and my mortgage — my repayments doubled last year and that's really what I've seen affect the way I'm able to live. It's made it very difficult to attempt to grow my savings and I'm just glad they seemed to have put a pause on raising them (for now).

What are you saving for right now and how are you doing it?

I'm pretty lucky that I've got all the big ticket items I need, like a house and car, so really I feel like I'm saving for the apocalypse (aka the next interest rate increase). I just want to have a nice nest egg of funds that I can use in an emergency. Also, by working in the arts you can have dry spells and lower income periods, so I feel like I'm always saving to account for that.

What's the biggest lie you tell yourself about money?

That I'm allowed to have a new custom frock made because it's technically a business expense, despite having an expansive wardrobe of over 200 costumes.

What's your biggest financial achievement?

I think buying my car with cash and being able to buy a home. Those were the two moments in life where I felt like my hard work had paid off and that I was officially an *adult*.

If you could tell 18-year-old you one thing about money, what would it be?

I would probably sit myself down and really explain how interest rates on credit cards work. Nothing is for free!