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Last weekend, I overheard a fellow gay mention he was planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta soon, which can only mean one thing: Spring is right around the corner.
A cute lil’ springtime trip can be a great way to recalibrate, particularly after what’s been a tumultuous start to the year. I took a trip last month, a quick getaway to Mexico City, and found that a couple days spent swapping out doomscrolling for sightseeing was the vitamin drip my heart and soul needed. As Out’s finance columnist, me telling you to go burn cash is typically a no-no (“tsk, tsk,” goes the purity culture). But if you’re financially splurging and numbing to get through the weeks right now, a hard reset in the form of a weekend getaway might actually be the better money move in the long run.
Spring is also when many people get that juicy tax refund, which can make funding your wanderlust a bit easier. About 65 percent of Americans who filed their taxes last year got a refund, with the average refund being just over $3,100. If you’re expecting money back, this might be your biggest cash windfall for the year, so consider splitting it between responsible stuff, like paying down debt, and cultivating queer joy. And if you don’t get money back, drown your sorrows in a martini or mocktail to grieve, then move on. Whichever your situation, planning a spring fling now can help you save some bucks later.
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First, pick your destination and get a sense of your budget. For some of you, this is flying to Paris, and for others it’s a road trip to Paris, Illinois. You make the location fabulous, not the other way around, so pick something you’ll look forward to that also doesn’t break the bank. If you’ll be booking flights and/or lodging, sign up for price alerts in the event a sudden discount comes along on a random Wednesday afternoon.
As you price watch, do a little spring cleaning on your expenses to free up some extra cash. I say this with love: You don’t need ten streaming subscriptions. Pause a few of them. Or consider rotating between services (But leave Peacock in, because Traitors is everything right now).
Also look into whether your checking account offers a round-up service. This is when every purchase you make on your debit card is rounded up to the nearest dollar, with the difference getting dumped in a savings or investing account. If your bank doesn’t do round-ups, apps like Acorns are an option. A few extra dollars a day will be funneled into your savings account, and in a couple months’ time you’ll have extra blow money to work with.
Set aside time to get excited about the place you’re visiting, too. If you’re exhausted in the weeks and days leading up to your trip, you skip the foreplay thrills entirely, which are half the fun. Will there be food? Are there museums? Where are the local queens performing? Remember, this isn’t just some silly little gaycation or getaway; you’re doing valuable life research, exploring how you most enjoy spending your free time and what brings you pleasure. That’s real wealth. And queer people being happy triggers the shit out of online trolls these days, so it’s important we frolic and continue to cultivate fun in the current political moment.
Maybe these flight attendants are onto something. Maybe travel is how we learn more about ourselves and assert more control over our destiny. Money is great, but you can’t take it with you when you’re dead, and if you spend all your energy saving for the future, you might miss the meaning of life along the way. Whether it’s a picnic in the park or some new stamps in your passport, plan to take a trip this spring to refresh your spirit and keep your fire burning bright.
Nick Wolny is Out magazine’s finance columnist. He writes Financialicious, a personal finance newsletter tailored toward queer readers, and is working on his first book, Money Proud, which releases later this year. NickWolny.com @nickwolny
Have a burning money question? Call or text the Financialicious hotline at (323) 207-9969 – your question might get answered.
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