🔥FIRE Calculator
Calculate your path to Financial Independence and Retire Early. Find your FIRE number and track your progress.
Current Situation
FIRE Goals
How to Use This Calculator
This calculator helps you plan your path to financial independence and early retirement. Enter your current income, expenses, savings, and investments to see how long it will take to reach your FIRE number.
The calculator also shows different FIRE variants (Lean, Regular, Fat, Coast) so you can choose the approach that best fits your lifestyle.
Understanding FIRE
What is FIRE?
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is a movement focused on extreme savings and investment to retire much earlier than the traditional age of 65. The goal is to accumulate enough that investment returns cover your expenses indefinitely.
The 4% Rule (25x Rule)
Based on the Trinity Study, the 4% rule suggests you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually with low risk of running out of money over 30+ years. This means you need 25x your annual expenses (1 ÷ 0.04 = 25).
FIRE Variants Explained
Lean FIRE
Retirement on a tight budget, typically with expenses below the national average. Allows earlier retirement but with less room for luxuries or emergencies. Typically 50-70% of current expenses.
Fat FIRE
Retirement with a generous budget that maintains or exceeds your current lifestyle. Takes longer to accumulate but provides significant security and flexibility. Typically 150-200% of current expenses.
Coast FIRE
You have enough invested that compound growth alone will fund your traditional retirement at 65. You can "coast" - work just to cover current expenses without needing to save more.
Barista FIRE
Similar to Coast FIRE, but you continue working part-time (like as a barista) to cover expenses and potentially health benefits, while your investments grow.
Savings Rate Impact
Your savings rate is the most important factor in reaching FIRE. The more you save, the less you need to live on and the faster you can retire. Here is the impact of savings rate on time to FIRE:
| Savings Rate | Years to FIRE |
|---|---|
| 10% | 51.4 |
| 25% | 31.9 |
| 50% | 16.6 |
| 65% | 10.3 |
| 75% | 7.1 |
*Assuming 5% real return and starting from zero
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 4% rule still work?
The original study was based on historical US data. Many experts now recommend 3-3.5% for longer retirements (50+ years) or to be more conservative. The rule remains a good starting point.
What about healthcare and insurance?
This is one of the biggest challenges for early retirement. Consider: private health insurance, Barista FIRE for employer benefits, or moving to a country with public healthcare. Include healthcare costs in your retirement expenses.
What do I do after reaching FIRE?
Many people continue working on passion projects, volunteering, traveling, or spend more time with family. Financial independence is about having the choice - not necessarily about stopping work.
Financial Accuracy
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a qualified financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.