What Is Coast FIRE? The Retirement Plan That Doesn’t Need More Saving

What if you could stop saving for retirement right now—and still retire comfortably?
That’s the radical promise behind Coast FIRE, a smarter way to reach financial independence without obsessing over every dollar.

Most people think they need to grind it out for 30+ years, stuffing every spare cent into retirement accounts. But Coast FIRE flips that script: hit a number early, then coast on compound growth. No more aggressive saving. Just time doing what matters.

Let’s break it down.

The Problem With Traditional Retirement Saving

We’ve all heard the advice:

“Save 15% of your income until you’re 65.”

But for many, that plan just doesn’t add up.

More than 45% of Americans have no retirement savings at all.
The median 401(k) balance for ages 35–44 is just $60,000 — far below what’s needed.
(Source: [Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2023])

And saving gets harder when life happens — kids, housing, medical costs. So what’s the alternative?

Enter: Coast FIRE

Coast FIRE is a financial independence strategy where you:

Save aggressively early in life
Hit your Coast FIRE number (more on that below)
Then stop contributing altogether
Let compound interest grow your nest egg until retirement

You're not retiring early—but you don’t need to save anymore. You’re coasting to retirement.

Imagine the freedom of knowing:

“I never have to save another dollar, and I’ll still hit my retirement goal.”

🚦 Coast FIRE vs Traditional FIRE

Feature	Traditional FIRE	Coast FIRE
Save until age	~35 (then retire)	~30–40 (then stop saving)
Work status	Fully retired early	Keep working (less pressure)
Contributions needed	Very high	High early, then $0
Lifestyle	Frugal/minimalist often	Flexible, balanced

How to Calculate Your Coast FIRE Number

Your Coast FIRE number is the amount of money you need invested today so that, with no more contributions, it grows to your retirement goal by your target age.

Here’s the basic math:

Future Value = Present Value \times (1 + r)^t

Let’s say:

You’re 30 years old
You want $1 million by age 65
You expect 7% annual return ( $r = 0.07$ )
That’s 35 years of growth ( $t = 35$ )

To find your Coast FIRE number:

1,000,000 = X \times (1.07)^{35}

X = \frac{1,000,000}{(1.07)^{35}}

1,000,000 ÷ 10.677 \approx 93,667

So that's $93,667

So if you have ~$93,667 invested by age 30, you can stop saving. Let time do the rest.

Want to skip the math? Use the free Coast FIRE Calculator to plug in your age, target retirement, and goals.

Why Coast FIRE Works (When Traditional Saving Doesn’t)

Harnesses Compound Interest Early
Starting early is your biggest advantage. $50K at age 25 can become $500K+ without lifting another finger.
Eases Mid-Life Pressure
Once you’ve hit your number, you can change careers, take sabbaticals, or work part-time — without guilt.
Boosts Mental Freedom
Knowing you’re done saving is liberating. You don’t need to chase high salaries forever.
Flexible Lifestyle Choices
Unlike hardcore FIRE, Coast FIRE doesn’t require extreme frugality. It fits more realistic life paths.

5 Common Mistakes with Coast FIRE

Even smart savers fall into traps. Watch out for:

Underestimating inflation
Don’t forget: $1M today ≠ $1M in 35 years. Always adjust for real buying power.
Overestimating returns
Use a conservative 6–7% annual return, not 10%+ projections.
Forgetting lifestyle inflation
Plan for your actual desired lifestyle, not just a “bare-bones” retirement.
Ignoring taxes
Your investments might be taxed differently than you expect.
Stopping contributions too early
Don’t coast until you’ve truly hit the number — use this calculator to check.

Actionable Takeaways

Here’s how to take control of your retirement path today:

✅ Calculate your Coast FIRE number using the free calculator
✅ Audit your current investments — are you on track?
✅ Set a savings goal to hit your number by a target age
✅ Avoid lifestyle inflation as income grows
✅ Bookmark this site and revisit annually to adjust your plan

Ready to Coast?

Most people think financial independence is for the ultra-disciplined or ultra-rich.
Coast FIRE proves that it’s about timing, not income.

With a smart early start, you can stop stressing about savings—and live a more meaningful life today.

Use the Coast FIRE Calculator to see your number.
No spreadsheets. No guesswork. Just a clear path to a work-optional future.