Barista FIRE Calculator
Can you quit your day job and go part-time? See if your savings plus part-time income sustain you to full retirement.
During the barista phase, your $20,000/yr part-time income and $16,000 from your portfolio falls $4,000 short of your $40,000 expenses.
How This Works
During the barista phase, your portfolio grows at the real return rate while net cash flow (part-time income minus expenses) is added or withdrawn each year. If income exceeds expenses, the surplus is reinvested.
Your full-stop age is when your portfolio crosses your FIRE number (Annual Expenses / Withdrawal Rate). At that point, you can stop working entirely and live off portfolio withdrawals.
All calculations use real (inflation-adjusted) returns and run entirely in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Barista FIRE?
Barista FIRE means you have enough savings that you can quit your full-time career and work part-time (like a barista) to cover the gap between your portfolio income and living expenses. Your investments continue growing until they can support you fully.
How is this different from Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE means your savings will grow to your FIRE number on their own — you just need to cover current expenses. Barista FIRE is similar but accounts for a specific part-time income that partially covers expenses while your portfolio grows.
What counts as part-time income?
Any reliable income: part-time job, freelancing, consulting, rental income, or a side business. The key is it's sustainable income you can count on during the barista phase.
What if my part-time income doesn't fully cover the gap?
If part-time income plus portfolio income doesn't cover expenses, you'll draw down your portfolio during the barista phase. This may mean you never reach full FIRE, or it takes longer. The calculator shows this in the projection.