What's the difference between Coast FIRE, Lean FIRE, and regular FIRE — and which one should I aim for

Three ways to think about the same goal

All three flavors of FIRE are about the same underlying question: how much money makes work optional. They differ in how frugal the lifestyle is and whether you need the portfolio to support you yet. Once you see them side by side, the right one tends to pick itself.

Side-by-side

Which one should you aim for

Start with Coast FIRE if the math feels unreachable today: it separates "saving for later" from "paying for now," and a calculator turns it into one number. If you genuinely enjoy a minimal lifestyle, Lean FIRE gets you there faster with a smaller pile. If you want to keep your current spending in retirement without cutting back, regular FIRE is the honest target — it just needs the largest number.

The practical path most people end up on: hit Coast, keep contributions running, and let the portfolio grow into regular FIRE. Run the numbers each year; the target moves with markets and spending.

FAQ

Which FIRE variant is easiest to reach?
Coast FIRE, because compound growth covers retirement while your paycheck covers the present.

What's the risk with Coast FIRE?
It assumes long-run returns. Recalculate yearly and keep a cushion for bad decades.

Is Lean FIRE just living cheaply?
It's a deliberate minimal budget with thin margin. Fine if spending is genuinely low, risky if surprises are common.

Do I have to pick one?
No. Treat them as stages: Coast first, then grow toward regular FIRE.