Let’s be honest—when most folks picture retirement, it’s usually a straight couple named Chad and Karen sipping Chardonnay in Scottsdale. Cute for them. But what about you—still fabulous at 67, maybe rocking a part-time gig at a queer-owned café because your bank account missed the memo that you were done working?

On this week’s Queer Money, we’re ditching the tired, hetero retirement fantasy and giving you the real tea on how queer folks can retire fabulously (and actually afford it). We’re serving up a 5-step no-BS framework to take you from “fabulously stressed” to “financially fierce.”

Whether you’re figuring out your retirement number, learning how to pay your future self first, or just trying to make peace with the word “budget,” we’ve got you. Because your golden years shouldn’t be basic—or broke.

Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially for our community. So let’s stop trying to live someone else’s dream and start planning for yours. The goal? A future that fits you like your favorite pair of perfectly broken-in jeans. Or leather pants. We don’t judge.

1. Know Your Number 👛 - Guessing doesn’t cut it. Use the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator to figure out how much you need for the life you want.
2. Pay Your Future Self First 💸 - Even $25 a paycheck adds up. Start now so your 65-year-old self can sip cocktails, not stress.
3. Ditch Chad & Karen’s Plan ❌ - You’re not straight. Your retirement shouldn’t be either. Build a plan that fits your life.
4. Lasso Your Accounts 🤠 - Round up those stray 401(k)s. One place. One plan. So much easier to manage.
5. Pick Your Paradise 🏖️ - Palm Springs? Portugal? Start researching now so you can retire where you’ll live your best life.

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:04 - Step 1 - Know your retirement number
• 4:05 - Step 2 - Pay your future self first
• 6:22 - Step 3 - Skip the straight benchmarks
• 8:21 - Step 4 - Consolidate retirement accounts
• 9:22 - Step 5 - Pick your gay paradise
• 10:30 - Wrap up

• Download it here: queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 Ready to slay your retirement game?

It's time to gather up those long-lost 401(k)s and 403(b)s like the financial Pokémon they are—with PensionBee! 🐝✨ PensionBee helps you find, combine, and invest your old accounts fabulously, with your own personal BeeKeeper guiding you every step of the way. Start building your Happy Gay Retirement—because queens don’t wing it, we plan it. 👑💼

Consolidate My Retirement Accounts and Save Money

Hola, Spain! You voted, we listened—and this week, we’re heading to the land of tapas, Gaudí, and gay beaches to reveal the Top 5 Cities in Spain for Gay Retirees!

From Malaga's chill beach vibes to Barcelona’s big gay energy, we’re breaking down:

• 🌈 The LGBTQ+ scene in each city
• 💸 Rent and cost of living
• 🏳️‍🌈 Our Queer Money® Retirement Rating
• And, of course, our favorite perks (hi, Bear Week in Sitges 🐻💦)

Spoiler alert: You can see Africa from your house, and yes, the best paella is in Valencia.

Whether you're dreaming of mañana mornings or plotting your fabulous early retirement, this is your Spanish gaycation starter pack. 🌴💃

🎧 Episode 592 is brought to you by PensionBee—helping you consolidate those old 401(k)s so you can plan your Happy Gay Retirement with ease. 🐝

📲 Tap that subscribe button, share with your wanderlust-y queer friends, and grab your Happy Gay Retirement Calculator in the episode description.

Next up: Mexico! But for now… stay fabulous. ✨

• 🗣️ Pro tip: Don’t be that American - Want the full Spanish fantasy? Learn the language. It’s sexy and respectful.
• 🏖️ Malaga = sun, culture, and cheap rent—but bring your Spanish dictionary - This coastal cutie is wallet-friendly, but English isn’t widely spoken. Time to practice those rolling R’s!
• 🍊 Valencia is laid-back luxe - It’s giving: beachy, artsy, and unapologetically queer—with fewer crowds and more charm than the big cities.
• 🎨 Madrid has it all—museums, parks, nightlife, and Pride with a capital P - Just watch for some recent political shade trying to dim its sparkle.
• Sitges is cute and uber gay - the small beachside town south of Barcelona where we gayed it up for three months in 2019
• 🏙️ Barcelona is big, bold, and fabulously gay - You’ll pay more for the privilege, but the culture, community, and queer life? Chef’s kiss.

• 0:00 - Intro - Don't be that American
• 0:25 - Malaga - Affordable and expat-friendly
• 2:13 - Valencia - Gorgeous and big
• 4:30 - Madrid - Packed with gays, the capital in the center of the country and hot, hot hot
• 6:52 - Sitges - The gay mecca of Europe and host of International Bear Week every September
• 9:37 - Barcelona - Arts, culture, beaches and a gay nightlife to please just about any gay

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 Ready to slay your retirement game?

It's time to gather up those long-lost 401(k)s and 403(b)s like the financial Pokémon they are—with PensionBee! 🐝✨ PensionBee helps you find, combine, and invest your old accounts fabulously, with your own personal BeeKeeper guiding you every step of the way. Start building your Happy Gay Retirement—because queens don’t wing it, we plan it. 👑💼

Consolidate My Retirement Accounts and Save Money

We’re getting real about what’s actually draining your retirement savings—and no, it’s not just brunch and bad decisions (though we’ll get there). First up: hookup culture. Apps like Grindr have us chasing dopamine hits instead of dividends, making it harder to think long-term when instant gratification is just a swipe away.

Next, let’s talk designer drama. From the outside, it’s giving “fabulous,” but inside the bank account? It’s giving “maxed out.” The pressure to flex with luxury brands can lead to spending that’s more about validation than value.

And finally, we’re unpacking the emotional baggage—guilt, shame, and that quiet voice saying we should be further along by now. Spoiler: You’re not alone.

Let’s ditch the shame, ditch the scarcity, and start building the fabulous future we deserve. 💅

• Swipe now, stress later. That instant gratification life? Cute in the moment, brutal for your retirement account.
• Silence = sabotage. Shame keeps a lot of gay men from talking about money—and that silence is costing us our futures.
• Label who? The obsession with luxury is serving looks—but also serving financial stress. That Gucci bag won't fund your golden years.
• Hookups cost more than cab fare. Casual flings might be fun, but they can seriously mess with your mental health and your money mojo.
• Keeping up with the Instagays? The pressure to be polished and perfect is pricey—and it’s stealing cash from your long-term goals.
• Opportunity cost is real, babe. Every dollar and minute you spend now is one less toward your dream retirement villa in Sitges.

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 Ready to slay your retirement game?

It's time to gather up those long-lost 401(k)s and 403(b)s like the financial Pokémon they are—with PensionBee! 🐝✨ PensionBee helps you find, combine, and invest your old accounts fabulously, with your own personal BeeKeeper guiding you every step of the way. Start building your Happy Gay Retirement—because queens don’t wing it, we plan it. 👑💼

Consolidate My Retirement Accounts and Save Money

In this first-ever global edition of our Gay Cities Series, we're heading to the land of maple syrup, mounties, and mild manners — but don’t let the politeness fool you. Canada is fierce when it comes to welcoming LGBTQ+ retirees.

From coastal charm in Halifax to queer-friendly arts in Victoria, we’re dishing on the top 5 Canadian cities where affordability, healthcare, and inclusivity meet. We’re rating each destination using our brand-new Queer Money® Retirement Rating, giving you a smarter way to choose where to live your next, best chapter.

• Windsor has mild winters, a killer view of Detroit, and rent that won’t melt your retirement budget.
• Calgary skips the sales tax and delivers majestic mountains and queer community spirit.
• Halifax is slow, sweet, and secretly one of Canada’s most affordable queer hubs.
• Victoria brings beachy vibes and progressive energy, if your wallet can handle it.
• Ottawa scores big with healthcare, green space, and Pride that pops.

🏳️‍🌈 Whether you're planning your next move or just manifesting it, this episode delivers the data — and the drama — so you can plan a retirement that’s as fabulous as you are.

👉 Plus: Find out which countries we’re covering next, and get access to our Queer Money® Retirement Card at QueerMoneyPodcast.com/cities

Listen now and start planning your fabulous foreign future. Because if you're gonna retire, make it queer, eh?

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:32 - Windsor
• 3:00 - Calgary
• 6:20 - Halifax
• 7:26 - Victoria
• 9:12 - Ottawa
• 10:32 - Wrap up

Mentioned in this episode:

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On this week’s Queer Money, we’re serving up some real talk with a side of glitter.✨ We're diving into the fabulous façade many LGBTQ+ folks feel pressured to maintain—and asking the hard question: is your bank account living its truth, or is it buried under a pile of maxed-out credit cards and designer receipts?

Take our juicy little quiz to find out whether you’re financially fierce or financially faking it. 💁‍♂️ Along the way, we unpack why so many of us feel like we have to look rich, even when we’re barely scraping by. Spoiler: capitalism, trauma, and queer culture have some explaining to do.

But don’t worry—we’re not here just to spill the tea. We’re dishing up strategies to help you stop pretending and start planning for the kind of wealthy life that’s actually fabulous (not just filtered). 🌈💰

Tune in, take the quiz, and let’s trade in the shame for something that shines.

• ✨ Financial authenticity is the new black - We’re ditching the performative wealth and embracing real money talk—because pretending to be rich is soooo last season.
• 💅 Yes, you can live fabulously—but let’s keep it financially honest - We’re talking glitter and grounding. You deserve a lifestyle that feels good and makes sense for your wallet.
• 📝 Take the quiz, boo - We’ve got a fun (but kinda eye-opening) quiz to help you clock your financial habits—and maybe uncover some truths you've been ducking like a Grindr ghoster.
• 🗣️ It’s time we normalize queer money convos - Money stress shouldn’t be a secret shame. Let’s make it a community conversation—like Drag Race recaps, but with spreadsheets.
• 📊 Track your spending like you track your steps (or your ex) - Start with a simple budget. Essentials + savings = the real glow-up.
• 💸 Build that flex fund, honey - Because life throws shade and unexpected bills. A flex fund is your financial fan for when things get hot.

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:12 - Fabulous Quiz
• 4:10 - Why is it so expensive to be gay?
• 7:02 - Money moves to be financially fierce
• 10:06 - What's next

Mentioned in this episode:

Support the Queer Money podcast

We love bringing you new content every week. Help us keep doing that. Click the link below to support our mission of financial empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community.

Support the Queer Money podcast - Buy us some coffee

Subscribe to the Queer Money Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe here to get weekly money tips, show notes, Queer Money take-aways, give-aways, access to events and more.

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This Ever wonder how LGBTQ icons like Anderson Cooper, RuPaul, and Elton John went from fabulous to filthy rich? On this episode of Queer Money, we spill the financial tea on how these legends stacked their coins—with side hustles, savvy real estate moves, and unapologetically owning their brand. From primetime news desks to the main stage of Drag Race, they’ve turned their queer power into powerhouse portfolios.

We’re not just gagging over their glam—we’re breaking down the money moves you can actually steal (the legit kind) to build your own wealth. Because financial freedom isn’t just fierce—it’s a form of resistance. So tune in, get inspired, and remember: the goal isn’t just to get rich, it’s to lift the whole damn community while you do it.

• ✨ Anderson, Ru, and Elton didn’t just get lucky—they made bold, brilliant money moves (and looked fabulous doing it).
• 💼 Side hustles, real estate, and brand power aren’t just for celebs—you can werk them too.
• 💖 Building wealth isn’t just about balling out—it’s about lifting up your queer fam along the way.
• 🔥 Financial freedom? It’s not only fierce. It’s revolutionary.
• 💸 Take a page from their playbook and start stacking your own glam-filled coins.

Mentioned in this episode:

Subscribe to the Queer Money Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe here to get weekly money tips, show notes, Queer Money take-aways, give-aways, access to events and more.

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Support the Queer Money podcast

We love bringing you new content every week. Help us keep doing that. Click the link below to support our mission of financial empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community.

Support the Queer Money podcast - Buy us some coffee

In this episode, we get real about financial anxiety—that all-too-familiar spiral of dread that hits your gut when you check your bank account. But here's the twist: it’s often not about the dollars—it’s about the drama behind them. 💅

We kick things off with a heartfelt question from our listener Mark, who shares how financial fear keeps creeping in, even when things look okay on paper. From there, we break down five fierce, practical steps to stop letting money anxiety run the show. Think gratitude, journaling, support systems—and no, not just retail therapy.

Because healing your relationship with money isn’t just smart—it’s radical, it’s queer, and it’s fabulous.

• ✨ In our first questions episode of the year, we dive headfirst into one of the most common struggles in our community—financial anxiety—and how to kick it to the curb.
• 💸 We unpack the difference between real money problems and the emotional drama we carry around cash—because sometimes it’s not your budget, it’s your baggage.
• 🧠 You’ll learn five doable, feel-better steps to ease money anxiety—starting with practicing gratitude and getting mindful (don’t worry, no incense required).
• 📊 A jaw-dropping 93% of folks in our community told us they struggle with financial decision-making. So no, babe, it’s not just you.
• 🧍‍♂️ David gets personal with stories of how early money trauma still haunts our financial mindset today (we’re talking deep-rooted, generational stuff).
• 💞 And finally, we remind you that healing your money story doesn’t have to be a solo act—build your money squad and lean on your people.

• 00:22 - Overcoming Financial Anxiety
• 00:51 - Understanding Financial Anxiety and Its Origins
• 09:24 - Overcoming Financial Anxiety: Steps to Take
• 12:32 - Strategies for Managing Financial Anxiety
• 16:32 - Overcoming Financial Anxiety: Practical Tips

Mentioned in this episode:

💛 Ready to slay your retirement game?

It's time to gather up those long-lost 401(k)s and 403(b)s like the financial Pokémon they are—with PensionBee! 🐝✨ PensionBee helps you find, combine, and invest your old accounts fabulously, with your own personal BeeKeeper guiding you every step of the way. Start building your Happy Gay Retirement—because queens don’t wing it, we plan it. 👑💼

Consolidate My Retirement Accounts and Save Money

In this episode, we’re breaking down the real price of trading sweatpants for slacks. From $18 salads to skyrocketing childcare and grooming costs, heading back to the office could be draining your bank account by nearly $3,000 a month. But wait—there’s more! We’re spilling the tea on who really benefits from RTO (spoiler: it’s not you). From big biz to real estate moguls, we unpack the money trail behind the push to fill those cubicles. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this desk job worth the dry cleaning bill?”—this one’s for you.

• The RTO economy is giving Real Housewives drama—everyone's got a stake, from your boss to the billionaire behind the office lease
• Between gas, grub, grooming, and a sitter, going back to the office can cost more than Tay-tay floor seats
• Your neighborhood café and dry cleaner miss your weekday meltdown lattes—local businesses are as thirsty for your return as you are for the hot barista behind the counter
• Know the hidden costs so you don’t end up broke and bitter—negotiate benefits like you're Olivia Pope in Prada
• Office buildings are the clingy exes of the economy—they need you back to feel whole again
• Perks like transit stipends and childcare credits may be buried in your HR handbook like an Easter egg—go on a treasure hunt, baby

• 00:06 – Sweatpants to Pay Pants: The Cost of Comfort
• 00:16 – Who’s Really Profiting from Your Office Comeback?
• 06:11 – Desk Jobs & Dollar Signs: The RTO Ripple Effect
• 09:39 – Latte Gaps & Local Crashes: Pandemic Fallout IRL
• 12:04 – Office Life on a Budget: Slay, Don’t Pay
• 13:32 – HR Secrets: Unlocking the Perks You Deserve

Mentioned in this episode:

Support the Queer Money podcast

We love bringing you new content every week. Help us keep doing that. Click the link below to support our mission of financial empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community.

Support the Queer Money podcast - Buy us some coffee

Subscribe to the Queer Money Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe here to get weekly money tips, show notes, Queer Money take-aways, give-aways, access to events and more.

Subscribe to the Queer Money weekly newsletter