Barista FIRE Calculator
Barista FIRE: how much needs to be invested today if part-time work covers some of the annual spend. Click any i for detail.
Barista FIRE inputs
Current age
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Current age
Your age now. |
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FI age
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FI age
When you want the FI portfolio ready. |
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Annual spend ($)
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Spend
Today’s dollars for annual lifestyle spend. |
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Part-time income ($/yr)
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Part-time
Assumed ongoing part-time / barista / contract income in today’s dollars. Not a job guarantee. |
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Safe withdrawal rate (%)
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SWR
Common sketch is 3–4%. |
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Expected real return (%)
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Real return
After-inflation annual return sketch. |
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Invested today ($)
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Invested
Current invested assets (not home equity unless you count it). |
How to use this calculator
- Set ages and annual spend.
- Enter assumed part-time income.
- Pick SWR and a real return.
- Enter invested assets and see whether you already meet the discounted number.
Results explained
Net spend = spend − part-time. FI target at FI age = net spend ÷ SWR. Number needed today = FI target ÷ (1 + real return)^years. If invested ≥ that number, you are “on track” in this sketch.
Quick reference: Barista FIRE
Vocabulary.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| FI target | (Spend − part-time) ÷ SWR |
| Today’s number | FI target discounted at the real return |
| Vs Coast FIRE | Coast assumes no new contributions and full spend; barista lowers the portfolio need with work income |
| Healthcare | Not modeled — a common gap in early FI |
Full-spend Coast math: Coast FIRE calculator.
How the estimate is built
net = max(0, spend − part-time); target = net / (SWR/100); today = target / (1 + real/100)^(FI age − age).
Example scenario
Spend $48,000, part-time $18,000, 4% SWR → target $750,000. From age 32 to 55 at 5% real, today’s number is that target discounted 23 years.
FAQ
Is part-time guaranteed?
No. If work income drops, net spend and the FI number jump.
Fat FIRE instead?
Use the Fat FIRE calculator with a higher spend and no part-time line.
Social Security?
Not modeled.