4 Money Smart Moves When You're Gay and 21 | Debt Free Guys™ (2024)

Hi there! You new here? We love that you found our little corner of the web. Here at Debt Free Guys, we’re all about helping people experience the freedom of becoming debt free! Would you love to feel that relief? After reading our article below, see how we can help you more here.

Money smart gays

Statistics show that despite popular stereotypes if you’re young and queer you’ll do worse financially than your straight peers. To beat those stats, here are our money smart moves for gays at 21 years old. Start paying off credit card debt today with the free 7-Step Credit Card Debt Slasher here.

Be money smart

David was kicked out of his house because he’s gay and suddenly had to adapt to living life flying solo. David’s experience is why we want to help those with similar struggles and why we came up with these money smart moves to ensure financial independence and success for young LGBTQ adults. Whether you’re forced to fly solo or just want to be independent, follow these steps for your success.

Money smart moves

1. Get rich early

The minute you qualify for a company-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), SEP or SIMPLE IRA (Individual Retirement Account), sign up for it and immediately contribute 20% or more of your income to it.

Financial security requires successful investing and time in the market is the key to successful investing. If you invest $2,000 annually for ten years between the ages of 21 and 31 you’ll have more money when you turn 71 than if you invest $2,000 annually for 40 years between the ages of 31 and 71.

2. Become your own boss

Getting more LGBTQ people into leadership positions is another passion of ours. We need more queer people to be the bosses and leaders of industries to influence what diversity and inclusion look like in our society. Despite the broader acceptance of the queer community today, there’s still a lot of opportunities to influence what true equality looks like.

You’re a pro at something that makes you unique. Use your skills and unique perspective to help your community. Start your own business with a website, podcast, YouTube videos, freelancing or consulting. Today’s economy with all our newer tools offers so much opportunity, but we need to do things in a different way.

We believe having a blog is nearly as important as having a resume. We also believe that to build a platform and to have enough influence to change the world, we need more LGBT bloggers. Therefore, we’re advocating for more LGBTQ people to become bloggers and we’re doing what we can to create more LGBT bloggers. It’s only because of our blog that we’ve added to our overall income a $60,000 a year freelancing writing income stream.

There’s a wealth of freedom and income for those brave enough to embrace it. Embrace it!

3. Listen to Queer Money

Even some in our own community don’t know the financial nuances of being LGBTQ. That’s why we created the Queer Moneypodcast. We believe that for our community to become financially successful, we need to talk more about money and our differences when it comes to our money. We, also, highlight on Queer Money™ other successful LGBTQ people and not just those who are financially successful but anyone who’s living their best life.

4. Pay off student loans

Most college graduates today are stressing about their student loans. In two years, we paid off over $51,000 in credit card debt with interest rates much higher than even today’s student loan rates. We’ve worked with so many people who, quicker than they ever thought possible, paid off four times the debt we paid off. Our website is full of tools to help you pay off any form of debt and we talk about paying off student loan debt regularly on Queer Money™.

This, however, is our favorite tools to pay off debt. Try it.

Whether you already are or want to be independent, these four steps will help you become financially successful and help you avoid the financial insecurity many in our community face today. The stronger you are as an LGBTQ individual, the better you can help us all as a community. Help yourself and help our community by becoming financially stronger.

Note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning we’ll receive payment at no cost to you if you buy through these links. We only recommend products we use or thoroughly vet and would recommend to our moms. Buying too many of these is how you live fabulously broke. To livefabulouslywith financial security,start here.

Here are more smart money moves to become financially independent:

  • How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt in 2021
  • Affordable Gay Cities You’re Forgetting
  • 4 Forgotten Principles of a Debt Free Life

4 Money Smart Moves When You're Gay and 21 | Debt Free Guys™ (2)

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4 Money Smart Moves When You're Gay and 21 | Debt Free Guys™ (2024)

FAQs

How to obtain financial freedom? ›

Here are the ways you can start achieving financial freedom today:
  1. Learn How to Budget.
  2. Get Debt Out of Your Life—For Good.
  3. Set Financial Goals.
  4. Be Smart About Your Career Choice.
  5. Save Money for Emergencies.
  6. Plan for Big Purchases.
  7. Invest for Your Retirement Future.
  8. Look for Ways to Save Money.
Feb 2, 2024

How can I debt-free? ›

Getting out of debt can put you in better financial health and open more opportunities.
  1. Understand Your Debt. ...
  2. Plan a Repayment Strategy. ...
  3. Understand Your Credit History. ...
  4. Make Adjustments to Debt. ...
  5. Increase Payments. ...
  6. Reduce Expenses. ...
  7. Consult a Professional Financial Advisor. ...
  8. Negotiate with Lenders.

Why do you think it is common for people to feel shame about being in debt? ›

Shame can enter the picture when you associate financial stability with being a good person. If you're unable to get out from under your debt, it could impact your self esteem.

What is the 4 rule for financial freedom? ›

The 4% rule says people should withdraw 4% of their retirement funds in the first year after retiring and take that dollar amount, adjusted for inflation, every year after. The rule seeks to establish a steady and safe income stream that will meet a retiree's current and future financial needs.

What's the 50/30/20 rule and how does it work? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

Can I get a government loan to pay off debt? ›

While there are no government debt relief grants, there is free money to pay other bills, which should lead to paying off debt because it frees up funds. The biggest grant the government offers may be housing vouchers for those who qualify.

What is the avalanche method? ›

In contrast, the "avalanche method" focuses on paying the loan with the highest interest rate loans first. Similar to the "snowball method," when the higher-interest debt is paid off, you put that money toward the account with the next highest interest rate and so on, until you are done.

Why is debt attractive? ›

Beyond attractive returns, debt offers crucial advantages: Stability: Debt provides predictable cash flows that anchor your long-term financial plans. Capital preservation: Your principal investment remains largely safe since the outcome is returned after a certain tenure, protecting you from significant losses.

Is it embarrassing to ask for money? ›

At the same time, the survey found that two-thirds of people feel ashamed when they have to ask their parents for money, and 70% of millennials feel this way.

Why you shouldn't be in debt? ›

Debt that isn't healthy for your finances typically carries a high interest rate. Carrying too much debt can negatively affect your credit score.

What are the 7 steps to financial freedom? ›

You can too!
  • Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund.
  • Pay Off All Debt (Except the House) Using the Debt Snowball.
  • Save 3–6 Months of Expenses in a Fully Funded Emergency Fund.
  • Invest 15% of Your Household Income in Retirement.
  • Save for Your Children's College Fund.
  • Pay Off Your Home Early.
  • Build Wealth and Give.

What are the 5 ways of financial freedom? ›

Handle your wealth modestly, without overspending or being too generous with your money. Review, monitor and adjunct your investment portfolio when required. Ensure your financial strategy remains up to date as your life and goals change over time. Tip: An ongoing relationship with a financial advisor can help.

What salary is needed for financial freedom? ›

Perhaps surprisingly then, financial freedom comes at a much lower price point in the eyes of the average American, according to Empower—about $94,000 a year, is how much they said they'd need to earn to feel financially independent. But that's still about $20,000 more than the median household income of $74,580.

What is the average age to get financial freedom? ›

Among the key findings: 45% of young adults say they are completely financially independent from their parents. Among those in their early 30s, that share rises to 67%, compared with 44% of those ages 25 to 29 and 16% of those ages 18 to 24.

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