On this episode of Financially Naked: Stories from The Financial Gym, our host is Rachel Adaline, HR Manager at The Financial Gym, and she is joined by David Auten and John Schneider, hosts of The Queer Money Podcast. They are personal finance authors, bloggers, and speakers for DebtFreeGuys.com with over thirty-five years of combined experience in finance.

The Financial Gym has a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) Program. To share that internal program with the community, this show's last episode of each month is dedicated to a financial topic with a DEIB twist.

Today, we're diving into a topic close to our hearts: Queer finance and serving the LGBTQIA community. We understand the unique financial challenges and opportunities faced by queer individuals. In this episode, we'll discuss the origins of The Queer Money Podcast, affordable places to live for the LGBTQIA community, and the importance of inclusive financial resources.

Podcast Notes

A year and a half after David and John got together, they realized they had $51,000 in credit card debt and fifteen years of professional financial experience between the two of them. Even with all of the theoretical knowledge of how to be financially secure, they were not and wanted to make a change.
They spent two and a half years paying off the debt and wanted to use their experience to help others with their finances. For a long time, Queer communities have been left out of money conversations and discussions. No one was talking to the LGBTQIA+ community directly. They wanted to be more engaged with the community and create a podcast focused on being a resource for Queer people and their finances.
It is incredibly difficult to work on your financial literacy when you’re focusing on survival. With all of the active legislation being made against the Queer community, it’s important now more than ever to talk about this stuff and connect with others.

The two sides of personal finance - The Personal & The Finance

There are two sides to personal finance. The personal side and the finance side. The 'finance' or transactional side of things is pretty much the same for most people.
The personal side is more complex. It's based on who you are, where you grew up, your sexual orientation, your faith, and all other life circumstances. The personal side often overpowers the more transactional side of personal finance.
On the personal side of things, it's important to recognize how your unique circumstances may impact your financial decisions.
It's also important to acknowledge the larger societal context in which we make those decisions. Everyone deserves to feel safe at work, and inclusive companies are not only good for individuals but also for business growth overall.
It goes beyond the company's internal policies and how they serve their customers. Products and services should be available and presented to the most significant number of people possible and inclusive by design. It's just good business.
Research suggests the more inclusive companies are, the better their overall growth. The ability for people to openly be themselves is better for companies' bottom lines.

How can I find a Queer friendly, affordable place to live?

Historically, the most Queer-friendly places to live are also in big cities and the most expensive. Everyone has different goals, budgets, and preferences and deserves a safe place to live.
Queer people live everywhere. Right now, on the podcast, they are working on The Gay City Series. People have different preferences and priorities. Some people prefer a smaller community or to live by nature. If you're looking for a place to move, moving to an area with an already established community makes sense.
They've analyzed each state and created a list of the most Queer-friendly and affordable places to live. It's about providing people with options of places to feel safe and cozy while living comfortably within their budget. Since living is one of the most impactful financial decisions we make, this is a long-needed resource.

If you are in the LGBTQIA community and want to work with a Certified Financial Trainer who understands to help navigate your finances, schedule a free warm-up call today! If you have any ideas or questions for the show, send an email to trainerpodcast@fingyms.com.