FIRE archetypes
Pick the FIRE path that fits your actual life
Compare Lean, Coast, Barista, Regular, and Fat FIRE by spending, portfolio target, lifestyle trade-off, and next action.
- 5
- paths
- 25x
- spending rule
- 2 min
- quiz
At a glance
Compare the five paths
The fastest choice is not always the best one. Use the table to narrow the range before opening a detail page.
Lean FIRESpend: $25K – $40K / yrTarget: $500K – $750KYou can happily live on $30–40K/yr and have done so for at least a year.Coast FIRESpend: Any spending levelTarget: Partial — depends on ageYou’re under 45 with a healthy portfolio relative to your current age.Barista FIRESpend: $40K – $70K / yrTarget: $400K – $1MHealthcare is the main thing keeping you in your current job.Regular FIRESpend: $40K – $80K / yrTarget: $1M – $2MYou want a clean "done" day, not a part-time downshift.Fat FIRESpend: $100K – $400K / yrTarget: $2.5M – $10M+Your household income is firmly in the top 10% and stable for years.
Deep dives
Open a profile
Each profile explains the lifestyle, math, pros, cons, and glossary terms behind that FIRE style.
Lean FIREOptimized for speed and intentionality on a modest budget.FIRE on a lean budget — typically $25–40K/yr of spending and a $500K–$750K portfolio. The fastest path for people who prize time over lifestyle inflation.Target: $500K – $750KSpend: $25K – $40K / yrCoast FIREEnough invested that compound growth finishes the job for you.Coast FIRE is the point where your current portfolio, left alone, will grow to your full FIRE number by age 65. You still work — but only to cover today’s expenses.Target: Partial — depends on ageSpend: Any spending levelBarista FIREMost of retirement is portfolio-funded; part-time work covers the gap.A hybrid path where your portfolio funds most of your spending via a conservative withdrawal and part-time work (often for the health benefits) covers the rest.Target: $400K – $1MSpend: $40K – $70K / yrRegular FIREThe classic path: save 25× your spending and walk away.The baseline flavor of FIRE — middle-class lifestyle, roughly $40–80K/yr expenses, $1M–$2M portfolio. The cleanest, best-documented target.Target: $1M – $2MSpend: $40K – $80K / yrFat FIREFIRE with room to breathe — luxury optional, not essential.Financial independence supporting a comfortable or affluent lifestyle, typically $100K+/yr of spending and a $2.5M+ portfolio. More years on the job in exchange for fewer compromises after.Target: $2.5M – $10M+Spend: $100K – $400K / yr
Still choosing?
Turn the closest path into numbers.
Use the comparison to pick a likely style, then model the assumptions in a calculator.