Coast, Barista and Flamingo FIRE: guide with the simulator
- The three strategies at a glance
- Formulas that all three share
- Full FIRE vs. FIRE «half-way»
- Coast FIRE: “I’ve already done the hard work”
- What is
- Coast number formula
- Numerical example
- When does it fit
- How the Coast FIRE button models it
- Barista FIRE: the wallet pays a portion; you cover the rest
- What is
- Numerical example
- When does it fit
- How the Barista FIRE button models it
- Flamingo FIRE: half now, the compound does the other half
- What is
- Formula and rule of 72
- Numerical example
- Coast vs. Flamingo (frequent confusion)
- How the Flamingo button models it
- Comparison of presets in the simulator
- How to use the simulator (in 7 steps)
- What these buttons do not replace
- Conclusion
The classic FIRE is usually painted as a single moment: you stop working and live 100% off your wallet. But more and more people are looking for a middle path: relieving work stress before having full capital, without giving up mathematical security.
Three variants summarize it in the Anglo-Saxon community: Coast FIRE, Barista FIRE and Flamingo FIRE. Here we define them with numbers, formulas and tables — and how to reproduce them in My FIRE Simulator with the buttons in the «Monthly Savings and Withdrawals» tab (advanced mode).
The three strategies at a glance
| Strategy | Idea in a sentence | Do you contribute after the milestone? | Do you take money out of your wallet before the total FIRE? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coast FIRE | The compound carries only your portfolio until traditional retirement | No | No (pause phase) |
| Barista FIRE | The portfolio pays a portion; light work covers the rest | Optional/less | Yes, partially |
| Flamingo FIRE | You reach ~50% of the goal and time doubles the capital | Not in the break | Only at modeled final retirement |
Formulas that all three share
| Concept | Formula | Example (€32,000/year of expenses) |
|---|---|---|
| FIRE number (4% rule) | Annual expenses × 25 | 32,000 × 25 = €800,000 |
| Annual capital withdrawal | Capital × 4% | 400,000 × 4% = €16,000/year |
| Coast number (capital today that grows only until retirement) | F ÷ (1 + r)^n | See Coast section |
| Rule of 72 (years to double) | 72 ÷ profitability % | 72 ÷ 7 ≈ 10 years |
In the simulator, Withdraw in the flow table means that money leaves your investments each month (expenses covered by the portfolio), not that you “stop working.”
Full FIRE vs. FIRE «half-way»
In all three cases they start from the same question: how much capital do I need for my investments to cover my expenses for life?
With the 4% rule, if you spend €32,000/year:
32,000 × 25 = €800,000 → your full FIRE.
Coast, Barista and Flamingo are shortcuts to get there sooner, work less or stop contributing without yet having that €800,000. The difference is when you contribute, when you stop and how much you withdraw at each stage — exactly what the simulator’s cash flow phases model.
Coast FIRE: “I’ve already done the hard work”
What is
Coast FIRE means you’ve already invested enough for compound interest alone to take your portfolio to your traditional retirement goal (e.g. age 65). From the milestone:
- You stop contributing to the portfolio.
- You live off your salary (you can spend almost all of it).
- The stock market “does the rest” until complete withdrawal.
You are not retired in the strict FIRE sense: you are in *coasting mode.
Coast number formula
If your FIRE goal at retirement age is F, you have n years left and expect an average annual return r (in decimal, e.g. 7% → 0.07):
Coast = F ÷ (1 + r)^nNumerical example
| Variable | Worth |
|---|---|
| Retirement expenses (65 years old) | €40,000/year |
| FIRE number (×25) | €1,000,000 |
| Current age | 35 years |
| Years up to 65 (n) | 30 |
| Expected profitability (r) | 7% annually |
Coast = 1,000,000 ÷ (1.07)^30 ≈ €131,400
| If today you have… | And you stop contributing… | In theory at 65 you would have… |
|---|---|---|
| €131,400 | From 35 years old | ~€1,000,000 (at 7% constant) |
| €100,000 | Since 35 | ~€761,000 (still below Coast) |
In practice, it is advisable to validate the plan with Monte Carlo or historical mode: inflation, commissions and taxes change the result.
When does it fit
- You want to slow down your savings rate without giving up retirement at 65.
- You are looking to change jobs or start with the “classic” retirement already covered in the background.
- You do not need to withdraw from the wallet today; just stop feeding her.
How the Coast FIRE button models it
Location: Advanced mode → Monthly Savings and Withdrawals → Coast FIRE (blue button).
The preset generates two phases (template values; adjust them to your case):
| Phase | Ages (e.g. 35 → 95) | Guy | Template amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Accumulation | 35 – 45 | Contribute | +1,500 €/month |
| 2. Cruise | 45 – 95 | Pause | €0/month |
With current age 35 and end age 95, the simulator uses “current age + 10” as the end of the first phase. If your simulation is shorter, distribute the phases proportionally.
| Tool | Use with Coast |
|---|---|
| Flows + Simulate | Check if the capital can last without contributions until retirement |
| SWR | Only to validate the complete withdrawal at final age; does not replace Coast analysis |
| Monte Carlo / historic | See P10, P50, P90 and risk of ruin after stopping contributions |
Barista FIRE: the wallet pays a portion; you cover the rest
What is
At Barista FIRE the wallet does not cover all expenses, but it does cover a relevant part. You supplement with a part-time job (less stressful): the salary covers the basics — health insurance, minimal bills — and the ETFs cover the rest.
It is the bridge between the corporation and the total FIRE.
Numerical example
Objective: €32,000/year → FIRE = €800,000.
| Scenery | Capital | 4% annual portfolio | What needs to be covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIRE complete | €800,000 | €32,000 | €0 |
| Barista FIRE | €400,000 | €16,000 | €16,000/year |
| Conversion | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Annual → monthly gap | 16,000 ÷ 12 | ~€1,333/month of work |
| If the job pays €1,400/month | 1,400 − 1,333 | Margin of ~€67/month |
The portfolio assumes the “luxury” or variable part of the budget; You reduce the sequence risk compared to retiring with €400,000 and zero active income.
When does it fit
- You want to get out of a high-stress job.
- You need medical insurance or “official” income for a few more years.
- Your portfolio is at 50–75% of total FIRE.
How the Barista FIRE button models it
Yellow button in the same row of presets. Generates three phases (example with age 35 and end 95):
| Phase | Ages | Guy | Template | What does it represent? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Accumulation | 35 – 45 | Contribute | +€1,000/month | You still build capital |
| 2.Barista | 45 – 55 | Withdraw | €500/month | The wallet pays part of your expenses |
| 3. FIRE complete | 55 – 95 | Withdraw | €1,500/month | Full retirement from the portfolio |
In phase 2 you only model what you take out of the portfolio; The salary from work does not enter as a negative flow — you simply reduce the Withdraw amount to what the ETFs must cover.
| Tool | Use with Barista |
|---|---|
| Goals (advanced tools) | See which year you cross 50% or 75% of the FIRE |
| Heat map | Sensitivity to a bad decade when starting partial withdrawals |
| Withdrawal Strategy (4%, Guyton, VPW) | Set up full retirement phase 3 |
Flamingo FIRE: half now, the compound does the other half
What is
Flamingo FIRE is less standardized in the literature, but the logic is clear: you accumulate ~50% of your FIRE number, stop contributing (or work on something lighter), and hope that the portfolio doubles in a reasonable window.
Formula and rule of 72
Final capital ≈ Initial capital × (1 + r)^n| Profitability | Years to double (72 ÷ r) |
|---|---|
| 6% | 12 years |
| 7% | ~10 years |
| 8% | 9 years |
Numerical example
| Variable | Worth |
|---|---|
| FIRE target | €600,000 |
| Flamingo Milestone (50%) | €300,000 at 40 |
| No new contributions, 7%/year, 10 years | 300,000 × (1.07)^10 ≈ €590,000 |
Almost complete FIRE without contributing in a decade — on paper. Crisis, taxes and inflation can delay the milestone; That’s why you pretend.
Coast vs. Flamingo (frequent confusion)
| Criterion | Coast FIRE | Flamingo FIRE |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | FIRE at 65 without further contributions | FIRE complete before, via duplication |
| % of target | Minimum for your traditional retirement age | It is usually ~50% |
| After the milestone | Maximum salary; paused portfolio | Lighter work + contribution break |
| Withdrawals before 65 | No | Only in the final modeled phase |
How the Flamingo button models it
Pink button. Three phases (staff, age 35 → 95):
| Phase | Ages | Guy | Template | What does it represent? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Sprint | 35 – 45 | Contribute | +2,000 €/month | Aggressive buildup up to ~50% FIRE |
| 2. Transition | 45 – 55 | Pause | €0/month | Without touching the wallet; you live from work |
| 3. Retirement | 55 – 95 | Withdraw | €1,500/month | FIRE complete |
It is the template with the highest initial savings and the closest to “doubling and then retiring.”
Comparison of presets in the simulator
Same recommended basis for exploring the three buttons: age 35, end age 95, your real capital and portfolio. The amounts in the table are templates of the simulator.
| Preset | Phases | Initial contribution | Intermediate phase | Final withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast | 2 | +€1,500/month (10 years) | Pause until 95 | — |
| Barista | 3 | +€1,000/month (10 years) | Withdraw €500/month (10 years) | Withdraw €1,500/month |
| Flamingo | 3 | +2,000 €/month (10 years) | Pause (10 years) | Withdraw €1,500/month |
How to use the simulator (in 7 steps)
- Enter /app/ and activate Advanced Mode.
- Indicate current age, end age and initial capital.
- Configure portfolio composition (or manual profitability) and inflation.
- Open Monthly Savings and Withdrawals and tap Coast, Barista or Flamingo.
- Replace amounts and ages in each phase with your real data.
- Press Simulate (Monte Carlo or historical).
- Review P10 / P50 / P90, risk of ruin and evolution of assets.
If the P10 drops to zero during partial withdrawals, the Barista or Flamingo plan is too optimistic: raise capital, lower withdrawals or delay the phase.
What these buttons do not replace
| Tool | Limitation |
|---|---|
| SWR | Retirement today at 95% success; does not include previous Coast/Barista phases |
| Assistant/Wizard | classic FIRE; does not configure the three variants |
| Landing calculator | Quick orientation; without multi-country or detailed taxes |
The presets only populate the flow table; taxes, partner, pensions, Guyton-Klinger or VPW are configured by you.
Conclusion
Coast, Barista and Flamingo answer different questions: can I stop saving and rely on the compound? Can I work less now? Can I go halfway and wait for doubling?
The numbers in this article are illustrative. Yours depend on expenses, taxes, country and risk tolerance. Use the simulator’s buttons as a starting point, adjust every euro and every age, and let Monte Carlo check your plan against adverse scenarios — not just a spreadsheet.
Do you want the general context? Read What is the FIRE Movement? and Monte Carlo vs. historical data.
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