When your LGBT finances have a Pride-hangover
Your plan to not eat for two weeks pre-Pride was not only a last-ditch effort to shed those five pounds you haven’t been able to burn off since Christmas ‘17, it was partly to save prep your LGBT finances for three days of displaying your amoure-propre at every event, party and parade Pride weekend offered.
Now, about your LGBT finances post-Pride
Yes, Pride was born from years of oppression and the stigma of deviancy. It was a groundbreaking display of personal acceptance and intolerance of intolerance. Now it’s a three-day, non-stop tour de force of your relevancy, awesomeness and superiority over a gaggle of gays with more opinions than a Sean Hannity and Kellyanne Conway demon spawn.
But, your plan to not overindulge and spend your every pink dollar plus some didn’t work out so well, did it? Your bank account is now so red even Donald Trump thinks it’s too fascist. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Been there. Done that.
How do you overcome this bout of budgetary bloat? What must you do to regain a sense of fiscal equilibrium? Never fear, Debt Free Guys™ is here. Below are five crafty ways to get your post pride finances back on a track that’s not headed to Beer Bust.
1. Look inside to understand your queer finances
First off, set aside some time regularly to think about your finances. The reality is, what we think about we improve. It’ doesn’t need to be hours. We suggest taking about 30 minutes a week to check in and see how you’re doing.
This may be the perfect time to reflect on what brings you long-term happiness and if you’re spending on things that are giving you a momentary high.
2. Take your LGBT finances on a summer vacation and pare back
That’s right. Summer just started, which brings numerous opportunities for cost-effective fun. Ride your bike. Go for a hike. Walk your dog. Sleep outside at night. Read under a tree. Round up your gaggle for a game of kickball. Soak up the sun or sit on your porch and wave to passersby like an honorary member of The Imperial Court.
Just being outside and not on your sofa or belly up to the bar is fun in and of itself. It gives you the opportunity to find something free or NSE (Not So Expensive) to do alone or with others outdoors. Plus, when it’s over you won’t understand why you thought you could only have fun spending money.
3. Sign your gay finances up for free tools
There are an enormous amount of free tools and apps that will help you become money conscious. “The more you know” applies to your money too.
4. Grow your knowledge to expand your LGBT finances
If energy flows where attention goes then you must make time to lay the groundwork for financial success by feeding your mind. All too often our approach with money is like the proverbial scared ostrich. Such an approach may work for some, but only for so long. Eventually, your ass gets burned, literally.
Read personal finance blogs and listen to financial podcasts like Queer Money™ to learn what we and our peers know. Many people have gone through or are going through the same thing as you. Learn from them.
5. Do a financial checkup on your queer finances
Finally, make the time to regularly assess your spending. If we don’t actively monitor our spending, things get out of control like too many stops at the Stoli tent. See what you’re doing well and not so well. Course correct as necessary and, in no time, you’ll see your accounts fade to black.
If you’ve never done a financial checkup, sign up for the Credit Card Pay Off Plan here. We provide three tools that will help you find where you currently are financial, where the f*ck your money goes and, finally, finding your Magic Money Number.
These are but five recommendations to cure your Pride hangover. As we said above, there is a wealth of information out there. If this post even sparked a little interest in you to improve your personal financial situation, come back for more tips for your LGBT finances from us regularly. With the right habits in place, you’ll be able to overcome any future momentary lapse in your sanity.