Barista FIRE Calculator

Semi-retire sooner with part-time work covering your day-to-day costs while your investments coast to full FIRE. Calculate your sweet spot.

Your Details

Current Age30

1870

Target Retirement Age65

3580

Current Savings£25,000

£0£1,000,000

Annual Contributions£10,000

£0per year£80,000

Expected Annual Return7%

2%~7% historical avg15%

Desired Annual Income in Retirement£30,000

£10,000£300,000

Part-Time / Barista Income£15,000

£0annual income£40,000

Safe Withdrawal Rate4%

2%Part-time income supplements7%

Barista FIRE: Your £15,000 part-time income reduces your required portfolio withdrawal to £15,000/year. Portfolio only needs to cover the shortfall.

Barista FIRE Number

£375,000

At 4% withdrawal

Years to FIRE

17 yrs

FIRE age: 47

Coast FIRE Number

£35,124

Invested today to coast

Annual Contribution

£10,000

Needed to hit target

Portfolio Projection

Assumes 7% nominal annual return. Not inflation-adjusted.

Barista FIRE explained — semi-retirement before full FIRE

Barista FIREis named after the Starbucks barista who works part-time for the healthcare benefits and a modest income — while their investments grow in the background. The concept is simple: you don't need to hit full FIRE to escape the 9-to-5 grind. You just need your investments to cover the portion of your expenses that part-time work can't.

This calculator lets you enter a part-time income figure. It then calculates the portfolio you need to cover only the shortfall between your desired retirement income and what your part-time job provides — meaning you can reach your target much sooner.

Who is Barista FIRE for?

✓People who want to leave a stressful full-time career but aren't ready to stop working entirely
✓Anyone who enjoys part-time or flexible work and wants to reduce financial pressure
✓Those who want employer benefits (pension contributions, health cover) through reduced hours
✓Creatives, freelancers, or consultants who can earn part-time without the 9-to-5 structure