Starting in 2025, Uncle Sam is dangling a shiny new $6,000 tax deduction for folks 65+, or $12,000 if you’re married. Sounds fabulous, right? Well… not so fast. In this episode, we unpack who actually benefits, how the phase-outs work, and why some in our community could see a nice boost—while others get stuck sipping house wine at The Abbey.

• What the new $6,000/$12,000 retirement deduction really is (and isn’t).
• The income phase-out ranges that shrink your bonus.
• Real examples featuring single lesbians, married gay couples, and those bougie retirees with 1,000-thread count sheets.
• Why this isn’t a fix for Social Security (and how Gen X might get shafted… again).
• How to start planning so you keep more of your coins come retirement.

🎧 Whether you’d use $6,000 for bills, travel, or a new pair of red-bottoms, this episode breaks down what this boomer perk means for you.

Grab your Happy Gay Retirement Calculator for help starting your fabulous retirement plan.

In this episode, we spill the (Thai iced) tea on the top 5 cities where gay retirees can stretch their dollars, enjoy top-notch healthcare, and live fabulously ever after. From Phuket’s beaches and Bangkok’s big-city energy to Chiang Mai’s cultural calm, we’re serving the Queer Money Retirement Ratings you’ve been waiting for.

And honey—did we mention Thailand is now the first country in Southeast Asia with marriage equality? ✨ That’s not just fabulous, that’s historic. Whether you want island vibes, royal golf resorts, or drag queens at The Stranger Bar, there’s a Thai city with your name on it.

• 💍 Thailand is the first Southeast Asian country with marriage equality (2025).
• 🌈 LGBTQ+ life is thriving: Pride in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya & more.
• 🏥 World-class healthcare, with English-speaking hospitals that cater to expats.
• 💸 Retiree-friendly visas—including a classic non-immigrant retirement visa (50+) and a digital nomad option.
• 📉 Living costs are 36–60% lower than in the U.S.—yes, even in Bangkok!

👉 Which Thai city would you choose? Tell us in the comments!

👉 Want to see more of the cities and countries we've covered? Find details here: https://queerMoneyPodcast.com/cities

🌈 Grab the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and start mapping your fabulous plan.

We did it, queens—we retired early! 💅 At 51 and 54, we’re not sipping martinis on a trust fund (spoiler: one of us was disowned and disinherited 👀). We didn’t have cushy six-figure salaries either. Nope, we made some smart (and sometimes messy) money moves, and now those IRA checks are rolling in.

In this episode, we spill the nitty gritty on how we turned basement living, pigeon-poop cleaning, and a Mini Cooper obsession into a million-dollar retirement portfolio. From avoiding the 2008 housing disaster to buying Apple stock when everyone else was just buying iPods, we’re breaking down the real tea on what worked—and what didn’t.

If you’ve ever thought early retirement was only for the ultra-rich, think again. Tune in, laugh with us, and maybe pick up a few fabulous strategies for your own retirement journey.

• Buy the right size (for life and budget) → frees cash to invest.
• Kill lifestyle creep after paying off debt → redirect $1K+/mo to retirement.
• Invest consistently (especially in downturns) → time in market > timing.
• Complete the pyramid: stocks + income real estate + small business.
• Use a cash buffer (e.g., money market) to smooth withdrawals.
• 72(t) strategy can unlock IRAs early—plan it carefully.

👇 Grab the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and start mapping your fabulous plan.

Palm Springs is cute, but what if your retirement backdrop was honey-colored cliffs, café culture, and 300 days of Mediterranean sunshine?

By popular demand, we’re spilling the limoncello on Malta—a tiny archipelago that’s big on LGBTQ+ rights (ranked #1 in Europe!) and just might be your queer retirement fantasy. From Pride parades in Valletta to drag brunches at Café del Mar, Malta offers more than just Game of Thrones vibes and tax shelters for Crypto Bros.

In this episode, we:

🌈 Count down the Top 5 cities & towns in Malta for LGBTQ+ retirees.

🌈 Reveal the Queer Money Retirement Rating for each spot.

🌈 Dish the perks, downsides, and local gay flavor you need to know before booking that one-way ticket.

💎 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and start plotting your sunny, queer Mediterranean escape here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

1. Malta is 20–35% cheaper than the U.S.—but still pricier than much of Southern Europe.
2. LGBTQ+ rights here are 🔝 in Europe. You’ll feel safe and celebrated.
3. Each city has its vibe: nightlife, culture, chill, or everyday queer density—pick your flavor.
4. Downsides: heat, water scarcity, high rents in hotspots, and healthcare limitations.
5. Overall: Malta shines bright with a Queer Money Retirement Rating of 8–9/10.

👉 Share in the comments: Which Maltese city feels like your retirement vibe?

👉 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and ring the bell—Thailand is up next in our international gay retirement series!

The U.S. stock market is still tossing confetti like it’s Pride, despite Trump’s tariff tantrums and everyone waiting for the other (designer) shoe to drop. GDP’s up, inflation’s creeping, and the consumer is “resilient” (aka drowning in credit). So what gives?

We’re diving into:

• Why the GDP looks sparkly on the surface (hint: imports are the messy drag wig underneath).
• How Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff “taco trading” makes economists feel like they’re cooking dinner with their stove knobs hijacked.
• Why Big Tech and index funds are propping up Wall Street while Main Street feels the pinch.
• What’s really hiding behind “consumer resilience” and why your credit card company is the only one clapping.

💸 Don’t get blinded by the glitter—learn what’s really fueling this market and what it means for your wallet and your retirement plans.

👉 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator today and start planning your fabulous future here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

1. GDP isn’t as fabulous as it looks—imports just stopped weighing it down.
2. Inflation’s creeping in (yes, even your coffee noticed).
3. Big Tech’s billions and index funds are the sparkle behind the stock market.
4. “Resilient” consumers = maxed-out credit cards. Don’t get fooled.
5. Now’s the time to stack cash smartly and plan ahead—before the glitter fallout.

From drag brunches in Galway to seaside strolls in Wexford, we’re serving up Ireland’s Top 5 LGBTQ+ Retirement Hotspots—ranked by affordability, community, and those oh-so-important queer perks. 🇮🇪✨

This isn’t just a travel fantasy; it’s the gay retiree’s cheat sheet to stretching your pot of gold without sacrificing charm, safety, or a dash of fabulousness. Whether you want artsy coastal vibes, Dublin-adjacent nightlife without Dublin’s rainbow-rent, or a laid-back West Cork foodie scene, we’ve got the tea. And yes, we’re weighing cost of living more than clubbing, because at this stage, your bank account deserves as much love as your social calendar.

Grab a Guinness, pull up your wellies, and let’s find your Irish happily-ever-after (rainy days included).

• The five most fabulous, affordable Irish towns for LGBTQ+ retirees
• Which places are safe & welcoming vs. which will make you cry into your pint
• Why affordability beats nightlife when you’re living your best retired life
• The queer perks you didn’t know you needed: opera festivals, cliff walks & swimming pride parades
• Why Dublin & Cork didn’t make the cut (don’t @ us, it’s about your wallet)

1. Limerick – Affordable, low-key, with a Pride swim parade. Queer Money Retirement Rating: 7.5/10.
2. Clonakilty – Coastal, cultural, and community-driven. 8/10.
3. Wexford – Artsy, beachy, ferry to Europe. 8/10.
4. Howth – Sea cliffs, seafood, & Dublin access without the rainbow rent. 9/10.
5. Greater Galway Bay – Drag brunches, vibrant queer scene, airport nearby. 9.5/10.

Thinking of say "Bye Gurl" the U.S.?

Madonna’s divorce was expensive—but renouncing your U.S. citizenship could cost you even more 💸. In this episode of Queer Money®, we’re spilling the tea on the exit tax—what it is, who gets smacked, and how to not get wrecked by it.

So before you grab your passport and peace out to Portugal, know what Uncle Sam (aka Daddy Taxman) wants from you first. Because freedom ain’t free, darling—especially when the IRS is involved.

• 🇺🇸 The Exit Tax Is Real – Officially called the Expatriation Tax, it hits folks who renounce U.S. citizenship and meet specific criteria.

⚠️ You may be a "covered expatriate" if:

1. Your net worth is $2 million+
2. Your average income tax over the last 5 years is $206,000+ (2025 estimate)
3. You haven’t filed or paid taxes for the past 5 years
4. 👉 Green card holders may be subject if they’ve held one for 8 of the last 15 years

🏡 What gets taxed:

• Your home
• Investments
• Retirement accounts (401(k), IRAs)
• Even Taylor Swift merch 👀
• → The IRS pretends you sold it all and taxes your phantom capital gains.
• 💰 2024 exemption: First $821,000 in phantom gains is tax-free—but that’s not much if your home doubled in value since 1995.
• 🧓 Even in retirement (or death):
• Rental income or property sales could still be taxed
• Your heirs could owe gift or estate tax (up to 40%)
• Welcome to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act—thanks, Reagan!

🧠 Ways to plan ahead:

• Donate appreciated assets (to LGBTQ+ orgs = win-win!)
• Max Roth conversions now
• Relocate abroad early, reduce assets before renouncing
• Review international tax treaties for potential protection
• 🧾 Must file IRS Form 8854 – Whether you qualify for the tax or not, this is your official “I broke up with America” form.
• 💡 Talk to a pro: This is niche tax law. H&R Block ain’t it. Find someone who knows international tax strategy.

🎁 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

New Zealand isn’t just Lord of the Rings scenery and sheep. It’s got gorgeous queer vibes, strong legal protections, and cities that range from cozy and artsy to full-blown fab with ferry rides to wine islands. We break down the top 5 cities for LGBTQ+ retirement in NZ with real costs, real vibes, and real queer perks.

Ready to float through Middle Earth in style? Let’s go global gay with this week’s Queer Money®!

🌍 New Zealand ranks in the top 10 on the Spartacus Gay Travel Index—but is still underrated for LGBTQ+ retirees

🏙️ Top 5 cities ranked from fab to MOST fab:

• #5 Christchurch: Charming, green, affordable (⭐ 7/10)
• #4 Queenstown: Adventure-packed and inclusive (⭐ 8/10)
• #3 Dunedin: Artsy, affordable, student-rich (⭐ 8/10)
• #2 Wellington: Culturally rich & walkable (⭐ 9/10)
• #1 Auckland: Big-city buzz & wine island chic (⭐ 8/10, but most well-rounded overall)

💰 Rents range from ~$1,000–$1,900/month for 2-bedroom homes

📉 Cost of living is generally 7–25% lower than the U.S. average

🏳️‍🌈 Strong LGBTQ+ protections and community support across the country

💃 Lesbian balls, Winter Pride, & gayborhoods galore

💡 Wellington & Auckland boast the most vibrant queer infrastructure

✈️ Auckland wins for lifestyle + international access—but Wellington gets the highest rating for vibe and livability

🎁 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:10 - Past and future
• 1:51 - Christchurch
• 3:44 - Queenstown
• 5:21 - Dunedin
• 7:58 - Wellington
• 10:40 - Auckland
• 12:47 - Why the numbers don't line up
• 13:19 - Wrap up