FIRE Calculator
Calculate your path to financial independence: FIRE number, savings rate and years to your goal.
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Lean ~€24,000, regular ~€36,000, fat ~€60,000
More detailswithdrawal 4% · retire at 65 · part-time €1,000/month · inflation 2% · before tax
Safe withdrawal rate
Enter or drag your target years – the savings rate adjusts
Your target is €900,000 (today). With a savings rate of 33.3%, you are financially independent in 26 years – at 56. By then you need €1,506,076 because of inflation.
- at 36Coast FIRE
- at 50Barista FIRE
- at 56FIRE at 56
- at 36Coast FIRE
- at 50Barista FIRE
- at 56FIRE at 56
- FIRE number (target wealth)Annual expenses ÷ 4% withdrawal rate
- €900,000
- FIRE number when reachedwith 2% inflation per year
- €1,506,076
- Savings rate
- 33.3%
- FIRE age
- 56 years
FIRE scenarios compared
- Coast FIRE€168,584 needed · grows without further saving until 65
- 36 years
- Barista FIRE€600,000 needed · with €1,000 part-time income per month
- 50 years
- Full FIRE€900,000 needed
- 56 years
What you can do
Good! Consider whether you can save even more.
Save €250 more per month2 yr earlier
FIRE then at 54.
Cut expenses to €32,4001 yr earlier
The FIRE number drops to €810,000.
How this was calculated
FIRE number = annual expenses ÷ 4%. It grows every year with inflation because your expenses get more expensive.
Wealth: each year the return on the balance plus twelve monthly savings. Savings rate = savings ÷ (expenses + savings).
- Lean FIRE: ~€24,000/year, minimalist lifestyle
- Regular FIRE: ~€36,000/year, normal lifestyle
- Fat FIRE: ~€60,000/year, comfortable lifestyle
- Coast FIRE: No more saving needed, wealth grows on its own
- Barista FIRE: Part-time work covers ongoing costs
The calculations are based on historical averages and constant assumptions. Actual returns fluctuate. This is not financial advice. Consult a professional advisor for important financial decisions.
RZ-26 · headon.pro
FIRE: The path to financial freedom
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is a movement aimed at becoming financially independent earlier than usual through aggressive savings strategies and smart investing – often at 40 or 50 instead of 67.
The key lies in the savings rate: the more you save and invest from your income, the faster you reach your goal. With a savings rate of 50%, you can reach FIRE in about 17 years.
The most important FIRE variants
- Lean FIRE
- Minimalist lifestyle with about €24,000 in annual expenses. Requires less wealth, but more constraints.
- Regular FIRE
- Average lifestyle with about €36,000 in annual expenses. The classic FIRE approach for the middle class.
- Fat FIRE
- Comfortable lifestyle with €60,000+ in annual expenses. Requires significantly more wealth, but allows for luxury.
- Coast FIRE
- Enough saved that your wealth grows to your FIRE number on its own. No further saving needed.
The math behind FIRE
- Planned annual expenses
- €36,000
- Safe withdrawal rate
- 4%
- Calculation
- 36,000 ÷ 0.04
- Required wealth (FIRE number)
- €900,000
- Current wealth
- €50,000
- Monthly savings rate
- €2,000
- Annual savings rate
- €24,000
- FIRE number
- €900,000
- Years to FIRE
- approx. 22 years
Savings rate: the key to FIRE
The savings rate matters more than income. Someone who saves 70% reaches FIRE in 8.5 years – regardless of absolute income. Someone who saves only 10% needs over 50 years.
Years to FIRE by savings rate
- 110% savings rate~51 years to FIRE
- 225% savings rate~32 years to FIRE
- 350% savings rate~17 years to FIRE
- 465% savings rate~10.5 years to FIRE
- 575% savings rate~7 years to FIRE
- 685% savings rate~4 years to FIRE
Frequently asked questions about FIRE
Everything you need to know about financial independence and the FIRE concept
What does FIRE mean?
FIRE stands for "Financial Independence, Retire Early". It is a movement aimed at becoming financially independent earlier than usual through high savings rates and smart investing.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule comes from the Trinity Study and states: if you withdraw at most 4% of your wealth each year, it will statistically last for at least 30 years. For a conservative plan, many use 3-3.5%.
How do I calculate my FIRE number?
The FIRE number is simple: annual expenses divided by the withdrawal rate. With €36,000 in annual expenses and a 4% withdrawal rate: 36,000 ÷ 0.04 = €900,000.
What is Coast FIRE?
With Coast FIRE, you have saved enough wealth that compound interest alone will grow it to your FIRE number by the time you reach regular retirement age. You no longer need to save, only cover your current living costs.
What is Barista FIRE?
Barista FIRE means you have enough wealth that withdrawals combined with a part-time income (e.g. as a barista) cover your expenses. This lets you work less without needing the full FIRE wealth.
What savings rate do I need for FIRE?
The higher the savings rate, the faster you reach FIRE. With a 50% savings rate you reach FIRE in about 17 years, with 70% in about 8.5 years. Most FIRE aspirants aim for a 50%+ savings rate.