Lean FIRE Calculator
2026 rulesCalculate your lean FIRE number and how quickly a lean budget gets you there.
Your numbers
Result
Lean FIRE number
- FI number$875,000
- Saved now$60,000
- Funded today6.9%
- Years to FI18.4
- Age at FI51
- Monthly budget in retirement$2,917
- Each $1,000 less in yearly spending cuts the target by$25,000
Lean budgets leave little room for health insurance. Before Medicare, ACA premium credits depend on the income you report, not on your savings.
How it works
Lean FIRE means early retirement on a frugal budget, often under $40,000 a year for a household. At a 4% rate, $35,000 of spending needs $875,000.
Each $1,000 you trim from yearly spending lowers the target by $25,000 and frees $1,000 more to save.
Questions
Is lean FIRE risky?
There's less room to cut in a bad market. A lower withdrawal rate or some flexible income adds a margin.
What about taxes?
At lean spending, long-term gains and qualified dividends often fall in the 0% range, so taxes can be very low.
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