FIRE Basics.
Start here. Plain-English explainers of the FIRE movement, the math behind financial independence, the 4% rule, and the flavors of FIRE (Lean, Fat, Coast, Barista). Everything you need to understand the foundation before running the numbers.
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19 entriesLean FIRE vs Fat FIRE: Which Path to Financial Independence Is Right for You?
Lean FIRE and Fat FIRE represent opposite ends of the financial independence spectrum. Here's how to compare the numbers, trade-offs, and lifestyles — and decide which target is right for you.
Coast FIRE Explained: How to Stop Saving and Still Retire Rich
Coast FIRE lets you stop making retirement contributions early — while your existing investments compound to your full FIRE number on their own. Here's the math and how to calculate your Coast number.
Barista FIRE: The Flexible Middle Ground Between Working and Full Retirement
Barista FIRE lets you leave your stressful career, take a lower-pressure part-time job, and let your investments grow toward full financial independence. Here's how it works and whether it's right for you.
How to Calculate Your FIRE Number: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your FIRE number is the portfolio size that lets you retire. Learn the 25x rule, where it comes from, and how to calculate a realistic number for your own life.
What Is FIRE? The Complete Guide to Financial Independence, Retire Early
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. Learn the core principles, the different types of FIRE, the math that makes it work, and whether it's right for your life.
7 Common FIRE Mistakes That Could Derail Your Early Retirement
The path to financial independence is well-mapped, but the pitfalls are real. These are the most common mistakes people make — both in planning for FIRE and in the years after reaching it.
How Much Money Do You Need to Retire at 40?
Retiring at 40 requires more than the standard FIRE number. Learn how to calculate exactly how much you need based on your spending, healthcare costs, and a longer time horizon.
What Is a Coast FIRE Number and How Do You Calculate Yours?
Your Coast FIRE number is the amount you need invested today so compound growth carries you to full retirement — without another dollar of contributions. Here's the formula and worked examples.
FIRE Calculator: How It Works and What Your Results Mean
A FIRE calculator runs compound growth math on your specific numbers to project when you'll reach financial independence. Here's what's happening under the hood and how to use the results well.
FIRE Number by Age: How Much Should You Have Saved at Every Stage?
Age-based savings benchmarks are a useful gut check, but your FIRE number is determined by your spending, not your birthday. Here's how to interpret the numbers at every stage.
What Is Financial Independence? (And Why It's Not Just About Being Rich)
Financial independence means your investments cover your living expenses — no paycheck required. Here's what it actually means, how it's measured, and the psychological shift that comes with reaching it.
How to Retire Early: A Practical Roadmap From Paycheck to Financial Freedom
Early retirement isn't a mystery — it's a math problem with a finite set of variables. Here's the step-by-step roadmap, the key levers, and realistic timelines based on savings rate.
The FIRE Movement Explained: History, Philosophy, and How People Are Actually Doing It
The FIRE movement didn't start on Reddit. Here's where it came from, the math that makes it possible, who's actually doing it, and whether the criticisms hold up.
Starting FIRE After 40: It's Not Too Late (Here's the Playbook)
You're 40, 45, or older and you just found FIRE. The math still works — and you may have advantages that 25-year-olds starting out don't. Here's the realistic playbook.
Moderate FIRE: The Middle Path Between Lean and Fat FIRE
Moderate FIRE targets $40,000–$100,000 in annual spending — a comfortable, realistic lifestyle without extreme frugality or a massive portfolio. Here's how the math works and who it's right for.
How to Achieve FIRE: A Step-by-Step Playbook
Achieving financial independence and early retirement comes down to five steps. Here's the concrete playbook — with numbers, timelines, common mistakes, and how to adjust when life changes.
FIRE Number Calculator: What It Is and How to Use It Right
A FIRE number calculator tells you how large your portfolio needs to be to retire. Here's what one actually does, which inputs matter most, the common mistakes people make, and when the math breaks down.
Your Financial Independence Number: The Only Metric That Matters
Your financial independence number tells you exactly how close you are to work being optional. It's more useful than net worth, more actionable than vague savings goals, and surprisingly straightforward to calculate.
How Much Do You Need to Retire at 50? (With Real Numbers)
Retiring at 50 means bridging 15 years to Social Security, managing healthcare through your 50s and 60s, and building a portfolio that lasts 40+ years. Here's how the math works at several spending levels.
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