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Barista FIRE

Barista FIRE blends part-time work with your portfolio — the job (and often its benefits) covers part of your spending, so you need less invested.

What Barista FIRE means

Barista FIRE is when part-time income covers part of your expenses, so your portfolio only has to fund the rest. The name comes from taking a lower-stress job — sometimes for the health benefits — while your investments carry the remainder.

The Barista FIRE formula

Barista number = (annual expenses − part-time income) ÷ safe withdrawal rate. If you spend $50,000 a year and earn $20,000 part-time, your portfolio only needs to cover $30,000 — about $750,000 at a 4% withdrawal rate, versus $1,250,000 for full FIRE.

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This calculator gives educational estimates only. It plans in today's dollars using a real (after-inflation) return, so your FIRE number reflects total spending including any taxes you'll owe. Projections are illustrative, not guarantees, and this is not financial advice.

Questions

What is Barista FIRE?

Barista FIRE is semi-retirement where part-time income covers part of your expenses and your portfolio funds the rest. Your number is (annual expenses minus part-time income) divided by your safe withdrawal rate.

Why is it called Barista FIRE?

It refers to taking a lighter part-time job — classically one with health benefits, like a coffee-shop role — to bridge the gap while your investments keep growing.

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