Barista FIRE Calculator
Design Your Path to Financial Freedom While Working on Your Terms
Your Barista FIRE Journey
Fill in your details below to calculate your path to financial independence
How Barista FIRE Works
Build Your Nest Egg
Save and invest aggressively while working full-time to build your investment portfolio
Transition to Part-Time
Once you reach your target savings, switch to part-time work that covers some expenses
Let Investments Grow
Your investment portfolio continues to grow while you work less and enjoy more freedom
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Barista FIRE method?
Barista FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is a retirement strategy where you save enough money to partially retire early, then work a part-time job to cover some living expenses. The name comes from working as a barista at companies like Starbucks that offer benefits to part-time employees, but you can work any part-time job. Your investment portfolio covers most expenses, while your part-time income covers the rest.
What is the difference between Barista FIRE and Coast FIRE?
While both strategies involve part-time work, they differ in key ways. In Barista FIRE, you need enough investments to cover most expenses and work part-time to supplement income. In Coast FIRE, you save enough early so your investments will grow to support full retirement by traditional retirement age, without adding more savings - you only need to work enough to cover current expenses.
Is Barista FIRE worth it?
Barista FIRE can be an excellent strategy for those who want to escape the traditional 9-5 earlier but don't have enough saved for full retirement. Benefits include: reduced stress, better work-life balance, potential health insurance through part-time work, and the ability to pursue passion projects. However, it requires careful planning and depends on your personal financial goals and lifestyle preferences.
What is the 4% rule for FIRE?
The 4% rule suggests that you can safely withdraw 4% of your investment portfolio each year in retirement with a high probability that your money will last 30+ years. For example, if you need $40,000 annually, you'd need $1 million saved (40,000 รท 0.04). For Barista FIRE, you can often save less since part-time work supplements your income. This calculator uses the 4% rule as a baseline for calculations.