Lean FIRE
Annual spending × Lean spending percentage ÷ withdrawal rate. This models a deliberately smaller lifestyle budget.
RICH2FIRE CORE FIRE CALCULATOR / LEVEL 1
Which FIRE path fits the life you want?
Compare Lean, Traditional, Fat, Coast and Barista FIRE with one adjustable baseline. Change your spending and withdrawal-rate assumptions to see how much capital each path requires.
YOUR BASELINE
One life. Five ways to fund it.
Use today's dollars. These estimates illustrate planning trade-offs, not investment advice.
YOUR TRADITIONAL FIRE NUMBER
$1,000,000At a 4.0% withdrawal rate, this is the portfolio designed to support $40,000 of annual necessary spending.FIVE PATHS, ONE VIEW
How much capital does each path ask for?
Coast is shown as the capital required today; its future target is the same as Traditional FIRE.
| FIRE path | Assumption | Portfolio number | Estimated time | What it represents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lean FIRE | $28,000 annual spending | $700,000 | 15.0 years | A deliberately leaner version of your baseline. |
| Traditional FIRE | $40,000 annual spending | $1,000,000 | 20.1 years | Your full current necessary-spending baseline. |
| Fat FIRE | $64,000 annual spending | $1,600,000 | 27.7 years | More room for comfort, choice and extras. |
| Coast FIRE | 20 years at 7.0% nominal growth | $383,997Future target: $1,000,000 | 7.7 yearsThen grow for 20 years | Capital needed today to grow into an inflation-adjusted future target. |
| Barista FIRE | $500 / month flexible income | $850,000 | 17.7 years | Portfolio needed while flexible income covers the rest. |
YOUR CURRENT DIRECTION
Which path are you exploring?
This is not a commitment. Saving a baseline simply gives your future check-ins something calm and concrete to compare with.
You can change this choice whenever your plans change.
TIME AND CAPITAL
What can your portfolio grow into?
Each colored line uses the same current portfolio, monthly contribution, nominal return and inflation assumptions. It stops at that path's inflation-adjusted target.
Lean FIRE$700,000 · 15.0 years
Traditional FIRE$1,000,000 · 20.1 years
Fat FIRE$1,600,000 · 27.7 years
Coast FIRE$383,997 · 7.7 years
Barista FIRE$850,000 · 17.7 years
The time chart assumes $150,000 invested today, $1,500 invested each month, 7.0% nominal annual return and 2.0% annual inflation. Spending rises with inflation; new investments also rise with inflation. Return and withdrawal-rate assumptions are uncertain.
THE SHORT ANSWER
What are the five FIRE paths?
Five FIRE paths use different levers. Lean FIRE lowers the lifestyle budget; Traditional FIRE funds the baseline budget; Fat FIRE increases spending flexibility; Coast FIRE relies on time and compounding; Barista FIRE combines a smaller portfolio with continued flexible income.
| Path | What changes | Still earning income? | Core calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean FIRE | Lower spending | No | Lean spending ÷ withdrawal rate |
| Traditional FIRE | Baseline spending | No | Annual spending ÷ withdrawal rate |
| Fat FIRE | Higher spending | No | Fat spending ÷ withdrawal rate |
| Coast FIRE | Time to compound | Yes, for current expenses | Future FIRE target discounted to today |
| Barista FIRE | Flexible income | Yes | Uncovered spending ÷ withdrawal rate |
METHODOLOGY
How the five FIRE targets are calculated
The calculator applies the same withdrawal-rate assumption across the spending-based paths so the differences come from the lever each path changes. Percentages are converted to decimals before division.
Last reviewed: October 10, 2026
Traditional FIRE
Annual spending ÷ withdrawal rate. At $40,000 of spending and a 4% rate, the target is $1,000,000.
Fat FIRE
Annual spending × Fat spending percentage ÷ withdrawal rate. This adds room above the baseline budget.
Coast FIRE
Traditional FIRE target × ((inflation factor) ÷ (1 + nominal return))coast years. If inflation adjustment is off, the inflation factor is 1. This is the capital needed today to reach the future Traditional FIRE target without further contributions.
Barista FIRE
Maximum of zero and (annual spending − annual flexible income), divided by the withdrawal rate. Flexible income is the monthly amount multiplied by 12.
MODEL CARD
Check the model before you trust the result.
- Model version
- 1.1
- Last reviewed
What is calculated
Spending-based targets use one user-selected withdrawal rate. Coast FIRE discounts the future Traditional FIRE target using the chosen nominal return and optional inflation adjustment. Time-to-target uses a smooth deterministic growth path.
Reproduce one result
$40,000 spending, a 4% rate, 70% Lean, 160% Fat and $500 monthly flexible income produce $700,000 Lean, $1,000,000 Traditional, $1,600,000 Fat and $850,000 Barista targets. At 7% return, 2% inflation and 20 years, Coast capital today is $383,997.
What is not claimed
No market sequence, taxes, fees, asset allocation, healthcare shock or income failure is simulated. A withdrawal rate is a scenario input, not a guaranteed safe rate.
Reference material
Verification and changes
The production formulas above are covered by deterministic automated checks. Version 1.1 makes the evidence, reference case and limits visible; it does not change the default assumptions.
Material calculation corrections will update this version and review date. See our correction policy.
FIVE FIRE PATHS EXPLAINED
Choose the trade-off you can live with.
What are the five FIRE paths?
Lean FIRE funds a lower-cost lifestyle. Traditional FIRE covers a typical target budget. Fat FIRE plans for a higher level of spending. Coast FIRE means existing investments may grow while you cover current costs. Barista FIRE combines investments with flexible income.
Which FIRE number should I use?
Begin with your expected annual spending, including housing, healthcare, taxes, travel and irregular costs. The right target is the one that reflects the life you actually want to fund, not the smallest number you can tolerate.
What withdrawal rate does this calculator use?
The calculator lets you set the withdrawal-rate assumption. A withdrawal rate is a planning assumption, not a guarantee; test different rates and consider your time horizon, flexibility and other income.
Is Coast FIRE the same as being financially independent?
No. Coast FIRE means you may be able to stop making retirement contributions and let invested assets compound while current income covers your life today. Full financial independence usually requires assets or income to cover ongoing spending.
EVIDENCE SNAPSHOT
What this tool is built on.
Five FIRE Paths Calculator. Compares Lean, Traditional, Fat, Coast and Barista FIRE using one transparent set of spending, return and withdrawal assumptions.
This is implementation evidence, not professional certification. Assumptions and limits matter more than a badge. Correction policy.
- Model version
- 1.1
- Last reviewed
- Evidence basis
- Published formulas using your inputs
- Data status
- No live feed; results change only with your inputs
- Decision sensitivity
- Financial assumptions matter
CITE THIS TOOL
Let readers return to the same version.
This citation includes the tool name, model version, review date and stable URL. Citation does not imply Rich2Fire endorses third-party content.
Rich2Fire. (2026). Five FIRE Paths Calculator (model version 1.1, reviewed 2026-10-10). https://rich2fire.com/tools/five-fire-paths-calculator