Queer Money®: How Gay People Do Money

Affordable, Safe & Fabulous Places for LGBTQ+ Retirement in France - Gay France!Imagine waking up to fresh baguettes, strolling cobblestone streets hand-in-hand, sipping €4 rosé in the sun—and spending less than you would in most major U.S. cities.Bienvenue to your Gay Retirement Fantasy: France EditionIn Queer Money Episode 620, we break down the Top 5 French cities and towns for LGBTQ+ Americans looking to retire affordably, safely, and fabulously. We rank each city using our Queer Money Retirement Rating, weighing:→ Cost of living→ LGBTQ+ community & visibility→ Healthcare & infrastructure→ Visa & residency realities→ Taxes (yes, we go there)→ Lifestyle, walkability & cultureFrom iconic Paris to underrated southern gems, France may be far more attainable—and queer-friendly—than you think.🌈 Top Takeaways✔ France offers multiple LGBTQ+-friendly retirement options beyond Paris✔ You can live 40–55% cheaper than NYC in several French cities✔ National healthcare + strong infrastructure = real retiree appeal✔ French visas favor retirees with stable passive income✔ Learning some French dramatically improves quality of life🔗 Resources & Links📍 Queer Money Retirement Rating Criteria & City Scorecards - 👉 https://queermoneypodcast.com/cities📊 Map out when, where, and how you can retire - 👉 Happy Gay Retirement Calculator: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalcChapters:00:00 Intro01:12 - Paris 04:27 - Montpellier06:57 - About France10:16 - Nice12:39 - Lyon14:58 - Hidden Gems18:03 - Toulouse20:35 OutroMentioned in this episode:Ready to retire where you can be yourself... fully?Learn more about the Portugal Golden Opportunites Fund with OptimizeGet Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

What the K-Shaped Economy Means for Your Queer Money & RetirementThis episode is brought to you by the letter K — Kiki, killer… and K-shaped economy.If it feels like some people are living in Taylor Swift box seats while you’re doing math at Dollar Tree, you’re not imagining it. That’s the K-shaped economy in action: one line shooting straight up for the wealthy, while everyone else — including millions of LGBTQ+ folks — slides down the bottom leg.On Queer Money® episode 619, we break down what the K-shaped economy is, where it came from, how it shows up in your everyday life, and, most importantly, what you can actually do about it. From grocery bills and wage stagnation to stacked vulnerability and early retirement abroad, we connect the dots so you can respond with strategy, not panic.This isn’t just “the economy.”It’s your retirement, your stability, your next money move.TAKEAWAYSThe K-shaped economy describes two economies at once:one group’s income, confidence, and wealth going up, while everyone else slides down.Pandemic recovery supercharged inequality: asset owners, high earners, and remote workers jumped ahead while service and frontline workers fell behind.High-income households now drive a disproportionate share of spending growth, especially on travel and luxury, while lower-income households are trading down, couponing, juggling bills, and using more credit.Groceries and essentials are taking up a bigger percent of low- and middle-income budgets, even when they’re not buying dramatically more.Wage growth for low-income earners is at its slowest since 2016, while high-income wage growth is at its fastest.LGBTQ+ folks are hit harder because of stacked vulnerability: lower average pay, higher debt, less family support, more career interruptions, more discrimination.The K-shaped economy rewards assets, not effort — which is why consistent investing and debt reduction matter so much.Early retirement abroad isn’t a fantasy escape; it’s a rational response to lower cost of living + better healthcare + more safety in some countries.You can’t fix inequality by yourself, but you canBuild an FU fundReduce high-interest debtLower fixed expensesInvest consistently (even small amounts)Think globally about where you liveTalk honestly about money with your queer communityRELATED QUEER MONEY® EPISODES TO PROMOTE“Best Places for LGBTQ+ Retirement in Portugal” (why Portugal keeps winning)“Top Cities in Italy for LGBTQ+ Retirement”“Retire in Ecuador? LGBTQ+ Retirement Ratings”“Affordable Gay-Friendly Cities in the U.S.”“Why 72% of LGBTQ+ Folks Feel High Financial Stress”Chapters00:00:00 Intro02:11:05 What a K-Shaped Economy Actually Is05:18:02 What’s Happening Right Now12:08:04 Why This Matters for the LGBTQ+ Community18:41:00 The Fragility at the Top20:18:23 What You Can Do  23:27:17 OutroMentioned in this episode:Ready to retire where you can be yourself... fully?Learn more about the Portugal Golden Opportunites Fund with OptimizeGet Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Italy’s Top 5 Cities for Gay RetirementIs Italy really the golden, Aperol-spritz-soaked dream Instagram wants you to believe… or is the truth a little more complicated for LGBTQ+ retirees?This week on Queer Money® we’re ranking the Top 5 cities in Italy for LGBTQ+ retirement — from Renaissance beauty to progressive university towns to sun-drenched coastal havens. We break down the queer vibe, cost of living, rent, language barriers, expat community strength, visa rules, and, of course, the Queer Money Retirement Rating for each city.Italy may have pasta, Pride, and men in Speedos, but will any city snatch the crown from Portugal or our global frontrunner, Valencia? Time to find out.What You’ll Learn Today:The top 5 best Italian cities for LGBTQ+ retireesWhere Italy shines — and where rising conservatism complicates thingsHow much you’ll pay for rent, healthcare, and daily lifeWhich cities have thriving queer communities (and which don’t)Whether you could qualify for Italy’s Elective Residency VisaWhy Italy still can’t take Portugal’s crown 🌈👑Takeaways:Italy is gorgeous — but rising conservatism affects LGBTQ+ protectionsRent ranges dramatically: from ~$850 in Lecce to ~$1,800 in RomeCost of living is lower than Chicago in every city analyzedFlorence & Rome: big vibe, big priceTurin & Bologna: underrated, affordable, queer-friendly gemsLecce: the surprise #1 — stunning, coastal, and affordableItaly’s visa requires true passive income (no remote work allowed)Portugal remains the gold-standard for LGBTQ+ retireesRELATED EPISODES TO LISTEN NEXTPortugal’s Top Cities for LGBTQ+ Retirement (our reigning champion)Spain: Valencia & Beyond — The Fab FrontrunnerGreece LGBTQ+ Retirement RatingsNew Zealand LGBTQ+ Retirement RatingsTaiwan LGBTQ+ Retirement Ratings✨ Want to know if YOU can retire in Italy (or anywhere abroad)?Get the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalcMentioned in this episode:Ready to retire where you can be yourself... fully?Learn more about the Portugal Golden Opportunites Fund with OptimizeGet Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

How to pay less taxes with your Boomer Bonus!Imagine getting an extra $6,000–$12,000 tax deduction just for being born at the right time. No lotto win. No extra hours at work. No sugar daddy required. Just a savvy tax move for Boomers and near-Boomers that could seriously boost your bottom line — financially speaking.In Queer Money® Episode 617, we break down exactly how the New Boomer Bonus Deduction (2025–2028) works, who qualifies, and the five smartest ways to maximize it like you’re working it on Tax Day. Plus, we walk through three real-ish scenarios to show how smart planning could save you thousands.If you're 65+ (or within the next four years), this deduction may be your built-in financial facelift — no stitches required.What You’ll LearnWhat the Boomer Bonus deduction is and how it works (2025–2028)Income thresholds, phase-outs, and who qualifiesThe 5 best strategies to maximize your tax savingsHow to use the deduction with Roth conversions, capital gains timing, and more3 sample scenarios showing how Boomers could save thousandsKey Takeaways✔️ A $6,000–$12,000 deduction can offset Roth conversions✔️ Smart capital-gains timing can help keep you in the 0% bracket✔️ This deduction stacks on top of both standard and itemized deductions✔️ The window is temporary: 2025–2028 only✔️ Proper income planning = real money back in your pocketChapters:0:00 - Intro00:14 - The Boomer Bonus Deduction02:08 - Maximizing the Boomer Bonus03:02 - Strategies for Managing Your Income and Deductions06:05 - Real Life Tax Scenarios07:35 - Understanding the Boomer Bonus: Maximizing Your Tax Benefits09:30 - Wrap up👉 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator: queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalcMentioned in this episode:Ready to retire where you can be yourself... fully?Learn more about the Portugal Golden Opportunites Fund with OptimizeGet Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Ready for a fabulous gay retirement in Ecuador?Thinking about retiring abroad? You’re not alone. In Ep. 616 we break down Ecuador—a country that punches above its weight with year-round spring weather, U.S. dollar convenience, solid healthcare, and a much lower cost of living. We cover legal landscape (marriage since 2019; gender recognition 2024), where stigma still shows up, and our Top 5 Ecuador cities for gay retirees—Salinas, Cotacachi, Guayaquil, Quito, Cuenca—with 2BR rent ranges, cost-of-living vs. U.S., and our Queer Money Retirement Rating for each.Key TakeawaysReal savings: Many Ecuador cities run ~50–70% cheaper than the U.S., with rents that can be a fraction of stateside prices.Climate win: Highland zones offer “eternal spring”—often no A/C or snow shovels.Queer reality: Legal wins exist, but visibility and safety vary by city; Quito leads for LGBTQ+ infrastructure, Cuenca for expat ease.Trade-offs: Big-city perks vs. crime hot spots (e.g., Guayaquil), beach life vs. tourist pricing (Salinas), quiet charm vs. fewer queer spaces (Cotacachi/Cuenca).Chapters:00:00 – Intro: Why Ecuador keeps popping for LGBTQ+ retirees02:29 – #5 Salinas (beach town, Vox gay disco): 2BR ~$500–$800 | COL ~50–65% ↓ | Rating 6/1004:37 – #4 Cotacachi (quiet Andean base): 2BR ~$450–$600 | COL ~60–70% ↓ | Rating 7/1006:29 – #3 Guayaquil (big-city energy): 2BR ~$620 | COL ~60–65% ↓ | crime caveat | Rating 7/1009:11 – #2 Quito (capital & queer hub): 2BR ~$675–$1,300 | COL ~54–63% ↓ | Rating 8/1011:40 – #1 Cuenca (expat favorite): 2BR ~$300–$600 | COL ~60–70% ↓ | Rating 9/1013:51 – Next up & wrap upLinks referenced in this episode:queermoneypodcast.com/citiesqueermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalcMentioned in this episode:Ready to retire where you can be yourself... fully?Learn more about the Portugal Golden Opportunites Fund with OptimizeGet Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!