Coast vs Barista vs Lean vs Fat FIRE
"FIRE" isn't one thing. The five flavours below trade off how much you save, how soon you stop, and how much you spend. Here's how they compare, and a calculator for each.
| Type | The idea | Still working? | Portfolio needed | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast FIRE | Save enough early, then stop saving and let it grow. | Yes, full-time, covering today's costs. | Smallest | Coast FIRE → |
| Barista FIRE | Part-time income covers part of your spending; the portfolio covers the rest. | Yes, part-time (often for benefits). | Low–medium | Barista FIRE → |
| Lean FIRE | Fully retire on a deliberately minimalist budget. | No. | Lower full number | Lean FIRE → |
| Full FIRE | Fully retire on a normal, comfortable budget. | No. | Standard | FIRE number → |
| Fat FIRE | Fully retire on a generous, no-compromises budget. | No. | Largest | FIRE number → |
Which FIRE is right for you?
Choose Coast FIRE if you like (or don't mind) your job but want to kill the pressure of aggressive saving as early as possible. It's the easiest milestone to reach and it buys immediate peace of mind, you keep working, but only to cover today, not tomorrow.
Choose Barista FIRE if you want to downshift now, fewer hours, a lower-stress role, or self-employment, and you're happy for part-time income (especially one with health benefits) to bridge the gap. It needs more than Coast FIRE but far less than full retirement.
Choose Lean FIRE if you value time over stuff and can happily live on a modest budget. Lower spending is the single biggest lever on how soon you can fully retire.
Choose Full or Fat FIRE if you want to fully stop working with a normal or generous lifestyle and are willing to save longer to get the larger portfolio it requires.
The one number they all share
Every type starts from your FIRE number, annual spending ÷ your withdrawal rate. Coast and Barista just discount or offset it. Get that number right first, then pick the path that fits your life.
Model all five side by side
The FIRE Planning Toolkit compares Coast, Barista, Lean, Full and Fat FIRE in one sheet, with a net-worth tracker and FIRE-date projector.
See the Toolkit, $20