It's not uncommon to hear people about people living through a financial crisis selling their belongings in order to get back on their feet.
A few years ago, when I was strapped for cash, I held a garage sale and successfully sold a lot of items from my closet and other things I had around the house that I barely used.
However, there is one woman who decided to take things in a different direction by offering up her virginity for sale.
26-year-old Jasmin announced last year that she is willing to part with her maidenhood, so she put it up for auction on the website of a Germany-based company called Cinderella Escorts.
"Cinderella Escorts have a Memberclub [sic] of guys who have are verified Millionaires and Billionaires. Celebrities and Businessmen. On the one side we offer them to meet international Model and Actress or to join our celebrity parties. But on the other side it allows us also to give girls the opportunity to date wealthy guys or even stars like in Jasmin's case. It doesn't matter if we talk about our High Class Escorts or about our virgins," read a statement on the website.
The listing reassured the interested parties that Jasmin's virginity was medically proven by a doctor and a certificate is even available for further proof. If the buyer is really not convinced, they could have another doctor verify it when they meet the girl.
It only took a few months before Jasmin found a buyer who was willing to spend millions.
While dozens of wealthy individuals placed bids, the highest bidder turned out to be an unnamed "Hollywood actor" based in Los Angeles, and he shelled out a whopping $1.4 million for it.
"Wow! This was an amazing experience! ... After I got public attention, it took some months, but finally I sold my virginity!" Jasmin said. "I would never have dreamed to get that high price for my auction. But as more I am amazed who bought my auction. It is so amazing! I love my decision to sell my virginity through cinderella-escorts.com and I think every girl would do the same in my position rather than giving it to a man she later on nevertheless break up with."
So why did she want to sell her virginity in the first place?
According to multiple media reports, London-based Jasmin wanted money to start a business and thought this was the easiest way to go about it. She also revealed that she wants to "travel the world and visit America and various other places."
"Doing this will allow me to move forward with my life. I will be able to have a future free of financial worries," she continued.
Jasmin also admitted that she grew "tired of waiting for the right one to come along" so she decided that "a positive alternative would be selling my virginity."
She told MailOnline that she has no second thoughts and that her family fully supports her decision.
"My parents supported me from beginning. They know everything and agree," Jasmin explained. "I am 26 and they know that I am adult enough for deciding alone what I do with my body. As I met the actor already and I was always a big fan of [his], I am more nervous as a fan than about losing my virginity."
While the anonymous A-lister came in first place, a German businessman and a Manchester United player followed closely behind.
Jasmin had the chance to go on a date with all three men, but she is happy that it's one of her favorite actors that won the auction.
"Last week I dated three guys for Dinner here in London," she revealed. "A football player from Manchester United, who really want [sic] super nice to me. Also I've had a Date with a businessman from Munich. He was a real gentleman and we really liked each other. But to be honest he was finally too old for me. The Highlight was dating one of my favorite actors from Hollywood."
Sure, it's her body and she can do whatever she wants with it, but there are many people who still have a hard time wrapping their heads around this deal.
Sexologist Dr. Nikki Goldstein might have an explanation for why someone would want to pay this much just to have a sexual encounter with a virgin.
"It's actually quite a backwards idea because the value of virginity comes from the idea that a virgin is pure and innocent," Dr. Goldstein told UNILAD. "Which is damaging to our beliefs about sexuality as those who do have sex should not be seen as dirty or guilty. For some men it's the ego of being the first to be sexual with that woman and a sense of ownership of her virginity."
She added, "For some it's about the power and ego, for others it's more of a fetish. If it's two consenting adults that understand what they are getting into then in a way we have to respect everyone's choices but I do still worry about their belief system associated with this sexual act and what it means for the future."
Jasmin isn't the only woman to recently offer up her virginity for sale.
Another student, only identified as Nicole, received a six-figure offer last year through an auction on another escort website Elite Models VIP.
The only difference is that Nicole, who works as a part-time model, later revealed that she wasn't planning to go through with the transaction.
As for Jasmin, she's still sticking to her plan and will have her big day sometime in April at an undisclosed German hotel. She has the right to pull out of the deal anytime she wants, according to the website founder Jan Zakobielski.