FIRE to FI
It hit me the other day while I was rinsing out my battered, sticker-covered travel mug — the one that’s seen more existential coffee breaks than I care to count. I wasn’t thinking about money. I was thinking about how quiet the house was (miracle), how good the coffee smelled (also miracle), and how… okay I felt. Not giddy. Not stressed. Just steady.
And that? That’s new.
For years, I chased FIRE like a full-time job — spreadsheets, budgeting challenges, slashing anything joyful. The goal? Early retirement. Mostly because I hated my work.
But sprinting toward escape only got me burned out. And I have shifted into looking at the FI in FIRE, roll on Financial Independence.
What I’ve learned — slowly, stubbornly — is this: financial independence isn’t about quitting everything. It’s about creating options.
- The option to rest.
- To pivot.
- To work part-time instead of full-time.
- To say no to burnout and yes to something that actually fits.
I’m not chasing FIRE anymore. I’m walking the slower path of FI — still intentional, still focused, but rooted in presence, not panic.
It’s not about retiring early.
It’s about living better, now, with options.
I’m Not Running — I’m Rebuilding
I’ve worked some deeply weird and sometimes soul-crushing jobs over the years — from payday loans to door shops that may or may not have paid us legally. (Let’s just say: I got real cozy with spreadsheets, panic, and podcasts about early retirement.)
When I found the FIRE movement, it was like someone handed me a flashlight. I dove into budgets, cut spending to the bone, and dreamed of never needing a paycheck again. But I took it too far. I burned out.
Eventually, I came back to myself — slower this time. More mindful. I started writing, walking, tracking my money without spiraling. I found a job that didn’t make me dread Mondays. I made peace with not retiring “early,” but retiring deliberately.
Because what I actually want is to live well — now and later.
So why fi?
Financial Independence gives me space to choose:
- To switch from full-time to part-time when my kids are still small enough to think I’m cool
- To go self-employed if something meaningful calls to me
- To walk away from toxic jobs or bad bosses without panicking
- To rest, recalibrate, or take a sabbatical without watching my bank account bleed
FI is my safety net and my slingshot. Not just freedom from work — but freedom in work.
Wrapping Up
Financial Independence isn’t a finish line — it’s freedom to live on your terms. It’s about choosing rest, flexibility, and a life that fits.
Are you sprinting toward FIRE or taking the slower, steadier FI path? I’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment or reach out — let’s figure this out together.
Thanks for being here.
