Wealth Sandbox

Barista FIRE Calculator

Barista FIRE

Barista FIRE means leaving full-time work but using part-time or side income to cover some of your expenses. Your portfolio only needs to fund the gap. Enter annual expenses and part-time income to get a smaller target number and see growth over time.

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Total spending per year

$

Income that covers part of expenses

e.g. 4% rule—applied to portfolio only

When set, we use inflation-adjusted (real) returns so the projection stays in today's dollars.

Current savings + contributions and growth chart

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Your Barista FIRE number
$750,000

Portfolio covers $30,000/year (expenses − part-time income)

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Chart shows accumulation phase only (up to reaching your Barista FIRE number).

Years to Barista FIRE14 years
Invested$436,000
Growth$380,217
YearStartStart Balance$100,000Contribution$0Growth$0End Balance$100,000
Year1Start Balance$100,000Contribution$24,000Growth$7,761End Balance$131,761
Year2Start Balance$131,761Contribution$24,000Growth$9,984End Balance$165,744
Year3Start Balance$165,744Contribution$24,000Growth$12,363End Balance$202,107
Year4Start Balance$202,107Contribution$24,000Growth$14,908End Balance$241,015
Year5Start Balance$241,015Contribution$24,000Growth$17,632End Balance$282,647
Year6Start Balance$282,647Contribution$24,000Growth$20,546End Balance$327,193
Year7Start Balance$327,193Contribution$24,000Growth$23,664End Balance$374,857
Year8Start Balance$374,857Contribution$24,000Growth$27,001End Balance$425,857
Year9Start Balance$425,857Contribution$24,000Growth$30,571End Balance$480,428
Year10Start Balance$480,428Contribution$24,000Growth$34,391End Balance$538,819
Year11Start Balance$538,819Contribution$24,000Growth$38,478End Balance$601,296
Year12Start Balance$601,296Contribution$24,000Growth$42,851End Balance$668,148
Year13Start Balance$668,148Contribution$24,000Growth$47,531End Balance$739,679
Year14Start Balance$739,679Contribution$24,000Growth$52,538End Balance$816,217

Not financial advice. By using this calculator you agree to our Terms.


About this calculator

Barista FIRE means you quit full-time work but use part-time or side income (e.g. a flexible job, freelancing, or a small business) to cover some of your expenses. Your portfolio only needs to fund the gap: annual expenses minus part-time income. That gap ÷ withdrawal rate = your Barista FIRE number—smaller than a full FIRE number, so you can reach it sooner.

Use it to see how much you need if you plan to keep earning some income after leaving your main career. Compare with FIRE Number, Lean FIRE, or Coast FIRE.

How this is calculated

Barista FIRE number = (Annual expenses − Part-time income) ÷ Withdrawal rate. If part-time income ≥ expenses, the number is zero (portfolio need is covered by income). Years to Barista FIRE use the same compound growth projection as the FIRE Number and Investment Calculator. Results are for illustration only.

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