Getting FIRE’d in New Zealand - The Seven Must-Know Steps
Our Seven Step Guide to Getting FIRE'd in New Zealand Covers Everything You Need to Make Financial Independence a Reality
Updated 23 July 2021
Once you've decided that you want to pursue FIRE (or at least want to understand how you could potentially retire earlier), the next step will be to identify the things you need to implement to achieve your retirement target. This guide breaks down the top seven steps new FIRE followers in New Zealand should undertake to start your financial journey. We cover:
Know This First - Which FIRE is best for me? There are so many I can't decide.
The various FIRE paths are set out to provide some flexibility for people – recognising the everyone's financial situation and goals are different. Read up about the different types of FIRE here and try them out. Try to envision your ideal lifestyle in 20 years. Then, see what kind of income you would need to service that lifestyle. Match this to the types of FIRE, and you will have your answer. Set one of the FIRE goals, and if over time you find that you're achieving it too fast (or too slow), then pivot to another type and see if that is more in line with your goals.
- The Seven Steps
- Must-Know New Zealand-Specific FIRE Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Tips for New Zealanders Reaching FIRE
Know This First - Which FIRE is best for me? There are so many I can't decide.
The various FIRE paths are set out to provide some flexibility for people – recognising the everyone's financial situation and goals are different. Read up about the different types of FIRE here and try them out. Try to envision your ideal lifestyle in 20 years. Then, see what kind of income you would need to service that lifestyle. Match this to the types of FIRE, and you will have your answer. Set one of the FIRE goals, and if over time you find that you're achieving it too fast (or too slow), then pivot to another type and see if that is more in line with your goals.
The Seven Steps:
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Create a financial planBefore you do anything, you should think about what your objectives are. Decide what your ideal future looks like. Relevant question include:
You may find out that you don't want to retire at all, and the work you're currently doing is fulfilling and enjoyable. However, if this isn't you, then start planning what your future situation might look like and how you'll get there. You'll have to think about a lot of various financial inputs such as:
As you begin to save, you should keep track of your progress and make any required changes to your strategy depending on how you are tracking. |
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Reduce non-essential spendingIf you don't actively budget your spending or have a particular mindset when it comes to spending, it can be very easy to spend more than you expect on goods or services that you may not get much enjoyment out of. So first, examine your weekly, monthly and annual spending to understand where you are spending money and where you may not need to. This could include looking at monthly bills, typical shopping expenses and one-off purchases. Typically, these one-off purchases are where you're spending money you probably didn't need to, such as a new home appliance, the latest technology upgrade or other non-essential goods. Once identified, ask yourself how much value you get out of these goods compared to how much they cost you. Remember – the more you spend, the more money you will need to save.
Reducing your spending as much as possible is a core concept in the FIRE movement. It's not just about saving money – it is about examining every aspect of your financial life and understanding where you might be overspending or making unnecessary purchases that don't add value to your life. Once these are identified, changes can be made. You'll want to increase or decrease spending on certain items with the overall goal of getting the most happiness out of your money. By doing so, you'll get the best "bang for your buck". How can I make the changes?
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Consider ways to trim down essential spendingSome things are just not possible to remove. Things like housing, food and transportation are essential to most people's lives. These costs are also typically the largest expense proportional to how much you earn. However, there is a strategy to try and reduce the amount of expenses on these essentials.
Firstly, some jobs may be location-dependent (e.g. freelance writing, software engineering, consulting etc.) and may allow you to work remotely. Covid-19 has also made it much more socially acceptable to work remotely for at least a few days a week, and some progressive firms have pivoted to fully remote to reduce office leasing costs. If you work in a job that allows you to be flexible, it may make sense to move to a lower cost of living ("LCOL") area. If you work in a typical corporate office environment, you will likely need to live in a high cost of living (HCOL) area to ensure you get to work on time have a commute home which isn't too long that may reduce time with your family. However, the move to remote work has allowed some flexibility with when people start and finish work. In addition, the lack of a need to be in the office means you may be able to move further out or to a different city whilst maintaining the same job and lifestyle. For example – someone working in Auckland (HCOL) that has a job that does fully remote work could move further out (e.g. Pokeno, Pukekohe) to Hamilton, Queenstown or other parts of the south island (LCOL). This would mean their income levels have stayed the same, but their cost of living expenses (housing) have been reduced. Important: This guidance not work for everyone and it probably won't apply to those that work in location-dependent jobs such as retail, hospitality or where extensive in-person meetings and collaboration is required. In addition, moving further away into a more moderate cost of living ("MCOL") area can be more economical (assuming the commute is bearable and the strain on health and family is manageable). Other elements of essential expenses can be trimmed, including cooking at home vs eating out and taking public transport instead of driving into work. It may be perceived to be the less ideal option for many, but for some, the value of retiring 10 - 15 years early is worth the temporary sacrifices in the short term. For example, someone who lives in an LCOL area that eats mainly at home and takes the train to work may save 30% more than another person on the same income living in an HCOL area, eats out semi-regularly and drives into work. This may result in the first person reaching their "magic number" 10 years earlier than the second person. Everyone's situation is unique – and undertaking this type of cost-cutting will all depend on what people really want in life and whether they are willing to make the sacrifices to get what they want. |
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Stay out of debt (if possible)If you don't already have one, start saving for an emergency fund to assist you in the instance you run into any financial issues. Without one, you may need to resort to credit card debt. Debt, in general, can be very corrosive and hard to get out from under (especially if the interest rates associated with that debt are high or if your income levels are lower).
Over the past decade, interest rates have been at all-time lows. This is beneficial for those with debt (in an investing context and a personal finance context), but these rates are likely to creep up in the short to medium term. As such, current credit card interest rates of 12% – 20% may increase to 25% – 35% within five years. This can significantly impact New Zealanders with outstanding credit card debt and effectively reduce the speed at which they can accumulate savings (which may increase how long it takes to reach their retirement target). The most efficient way to get to your "magic number" faster is to pay down your debt. Most investments into shares/index funds will return around 9% - 10% a year, and with interest rates at around 12% to 20% on credit cards, your debt would grow faster than your investment returns. As such, the most important thing to do if you have high-interest debt is to pay it down. For those that are debt-free, it's important to use debt to your advantage, rather than have it impede your financial journey. Using credit cards as a cash flow tool is good, but using debt to service living costs is generally not advised. Our guide to debt help has more information. |
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Increase the amount you save each monthSome aspects of FIRE may appear daunting, but you can start small and incrementally work up from there, especially if you are new to saving. Setting smaller savings objectives for yourself and gradually increasing them as you gain confidence can work well since these minor victories will keep you motivated and on track to achieving financial independence.
For example, targeting an initial savings goal of 5% of your post-tax (take home) monthly pay can start a good habit of consistent saving. Then, as you feel more comfortable with your expenses and savings, you can steadily increase this. A good long-term target is to save c. 30 – 40% of your take-home pay. However, this may be easier for some than others depending on the stage of life you are at (e.g. those who have a mortgage, live on lower incomes or have multiple family members to support may target a lower savings rate on average). |
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Increase your income through a second jobIncreasing your income may be somewhat more difficult to achieve compared to other elements listed in this guide. For many people, it's much easier to cut down on spending than it is to find new sources of work to generate income. Further, most work time available will likely be spent on your primary job or income source, leaving little time left over to take up any additional work. However, supplementing your current income through working more hours (if on an hourly rate) or working in a second job can be a crucial step in reducing the time it will take to reach your retirement number.
Finding new sources of income could come in freelance writing, working in the gig economy (e.g. Uber, Didi or meal delivery), bespoke consulting leveraging your experience in a certain sector or picking up another part-time job in an adjacent industry. Our guide to side-hustles has further ideas. Because such work would likely require your full attention (e.g. it can't be done during your primary work hours), most people need to find time either in the evenings or on weekends to successfully work in a second job. In light of this, some New Zealanders will likely be able to do this more than others (e.g. a 25-year-old graduate will likely not have a family to support and take care of, so may have more time in the evenings to pick up another work shift or work as an Uber driver part-time). Finding new sources of income can help you get to FIRE sooner, as long as you do not fall into the lifestyle inflation trap, which occurs when your spending rises as your income rises. This means you won't have any material increase in your savings rate. For example, if your current spending rate is 50%, for every $1 your income increases, your spending rate may continue to increase by 50% or more due to lifestyle inflation, resulting in a reduced savings rate. Taking on a second job and increasing your overall income can be a great way to increase your saving rate. In New Zealand especially, there comes a point where an artificial floor is created, and you can no longer reduce expenses by (e.g. bread will never be less than 20 cents at Countdown). Once people have hit this point, the only way to substantially increase your savings rate is by increasing your income. Pay rises in New Zealand can be inconsistent and are typically small (intended to keep up with inflation at around 2% to 3% per year). By working a second job, you can increase your savings rate through the extra money you make. This may significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to reach your retirement target. On the other hand, It can be more beneficial in the long run to look for ways to save what you already earn instead of increasing your income. Lifestyle inflation is one of the main ways that people continually push out their retirement date as their expenses continue to rise in lockstep with their income. Therefore, reducing your expenses significantly impacts savings rates and the amount you will need in retirement. For example – for every $100 you can reduce your spending by, you have an additional $100 of savings to invest in, as well as the longer-term benefit of reducing the total level of spending that those savings must cover (e.g. your average expenses in retirement). This effectively reduces the final retirement target and the number of years you will likely need to save. If you're able to make money through a side job that you enjoy (e.g. blogging, coaching others, ridesharing), you may be able to incorporate this into your post-retirement income. Financial independence is mainly about not having to work as much as you used to. Of course, working on the side to supplement your retirement income somewhat negates the purpose of "retirement". However, as we've outlined in our introduction to FIRE and Five types of FIRE guides, retirement looks different for many people, and some of the things we enjoy doing may inherently generate some income. |
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Invest your savingsInvesting your savings is one of the most important elements of reaching FIRE. While saving 30% of your income is a great target, if you cannot grow this amount over 30 to 40 years, you will need to save significantly more money to retire (and keep up with inflation). The positive thing about investing your savings is that your money continues to work for you long after you have earned it – while you are eating, sleeping and breathing.
Working for a living has the disadvantage of having a restricted number of hours in a day (you physically have to work for 7-8 hours a day to obtain an income). The idea of "passive income" (which we will break down in a later guide) should be your priority because it does not use your time – arguably your most valuable and limited resource. Passive income can come in many forms, but the most common forms of passive income for New Zealanders are:
Typically, investing your money in low-cost passive index funds is the most efficient way to grow your savings when younger. Additionally, talking with financial advisors early on may be beneficial for your long-term investing plan – they will be able to discuss your investment possibilities, as well as the potential risk and return profiles. Some of the key reasons for building passive income include:
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Further Must-Know Tips to Start FIRE:
1. Begin today and begin small.
Money habits are no different than any other – slow and steady steps make all the difference. You're more likely to modify your lifestyle if you start by taking small steps gradually increase from there. For example, begin investing a weekly amount that you won't miss. It can seem like nothing is happening initially, but you'll start to see results and want to do more at a certain point.
2. Gain control over your spending patterns.
Even if it's just an awareness of where your money is going – it pays to understand your current spending habits. This should reveal the non-essential items draining your bank account but not providing you with any value. The next step is to minimise how much you spend on these types of items. Consistency and sustainability are the most important factors – you don't need to cut down 100% of this spending, but making small changes over time will help to improve your financial position. It will eventually become habitual, and making extensive changes all at once will become easier over time. Finally, do not feel bad about spending on things that make you happy. If you start second-guessing everything and become afraid to spend money, you may end up giving up entirely.
3. Discuss money with your friends, family, and significant other.
Other people are frequently in the same situation as you or have suggestions and tactics to speed up your progress. Chatting with friends and family about your FIRE goals can be great but be wary of what kind of views they have about frugality and spending in general. Most people will likely be supportive and understand the lifestyle you're attempting to establish for yourself.
4. Take some time to consider what it is that you genuinely care about.
Saying no to things becomes a lot simpler when you get laser-focused on what you value and want to spend your money on. Spend some time to think about what you've enjoyed in the past, what you're currently doing with your time and what you want to achieve in the future is all time well spent.
5. Don't be frightened to say no.
We can care a lot about what people think of us at times. This means we can say yes to spending on many things that we may not care about. Saying no to these types of things consciously can add up over time and will result in reaching your FIRE targets faster.
6. Make a strategy.
Having a robust strategy in place for how you're going to cut costs, save for an emergency fund, and start investing may take away a lot of stress and uncertainty. Having a plan is the best way to tackle your FIRE goals.
Money habits are no different than any other – slow and steady steps make all the difference. You're more likely to modify your lifestyle if you start by taking small steps gradually increase from there. For example, begin investing a weekly amount that you won't miss. It can seem like nothing is happening initially, but you'll start to see results and want to do more at a certain point.
2. Gain control over your spending patterns.
Even if it's just an awareness of where your money is going – it pays to understand your current spending habits. This should reveal the non-essential items draining your bank account but not providing you with any value. The next step is to minimise how much you spend on these types of items. Consistency and sustainability are the most important factors – you don't need to cut down 100% of this spending, but making small changes over time will help to improve your financial position. It will eventually become habitual, and making extensive changes all at once will become easier over time. Finally, do not feel bad about spending on things that make you happy. If you start second-guessing everything and become afraid to spend money, you may end up giving up entirely.
3. Discuss money with your friends, family, and significant other.
Other people are frequently in the same situation as you or have suggestions and tactics to speed up your progress. Chatting with friends and family about your FIRE goals can be great but be wary of what kind of views they have about frugality and spending in general. Most people will likely be supportive and understand the lifestyle you're attempting to establish for yourself.
4. Take some time to consider what it is that you genuinely care about.
Saying no to things becomes a lot simpler when you get laser-focused on what you value and want to spend your money on. Spend some time to think about what you've enjoyed in the past, what you're currently doing with your time and what you want to achieve in the future is all time well spent.
5. Don't be frightened to say no.
We can care a lot about what people think of us at times. This means we can say yes to spending on many things that we may not care about. Saying no to these types of things consciously can add up over time and will result in reaching your FIRE targets faster.
6. Make a strategy.
Having a robust strategy in place for how you're going to cut costs, save for an emergency fund, and start investing may take away a lot of stress and uncertainty. Having a plan is the best way to tackle your FIRE goals.
Must-Know New Zealand-Specific FIRE Tips
There are many different tips and tricks you can use to speed up the FIRE process, but the bulk of the advice will come down to ways to (1) increase income, (2) decrease expenses or (3) improve your returns on investments. These three levers are realistically the core ways to get to your "magic number" faster.
Some of the top tips we've colloquially found:
Some of the top tips we've colloquially found:
- Shop at Pak n' Save versus New World and Countdown. Prices are routinely 20-30% cheaper for most products given the bulk nature of their supply chain and warehousing. While this may only result in $50 – 100 a week in savings, those can rack up in the long run.
- Set up an auto-transfer option for investing. Most people have consistent income and expenses that they're aware of (bi-weekly salary payment of $2,000, weekly $500 payment for rent, Sunday grocery shop totalling $150, Phone plan costing $60 monthly etc.) and should be aware of how much money they have leftover at the end of each month. If you're able to set up an automatic transfer for this amount (or 50 - 60% of this amount to take into account unexpected one-off expenses) to your investment or brokerage account (similar to how KiwiSaver is automatically deducted and invested), then you're able to save that portion of your income to invest directly. Not seeing money in your account is the easiest way not to spend it – the more this process can be automated, the more seamless your saving and investing journey will be.
- Shop around for large ticket items. If buying items that cost more than $1,000 (e.g. fridges, rangehoods, mattresses, cars etc.), it can pay to visit multiple suppliers. Typically, they will have policies to match the lowest possible price, or in some instances, give a 5-10% discount to make the sale (they may take a loss or a small profit on the sale and would rather sell their stock than send you to their competitors). Shopping around can save hundreds of dollars. Use websites like PriceSpy, Amazon and PB Tech (for electronics) to compare prices.
- Upgrade electronics less frequently (if non-essential). If your microwave breaks, you probably need to buy a new one. But if you see the new iPhone come out, there may be merit in waiting a year or two before you upgrade. Focusing on what is essential can help you stop impulse purchases and get closer to your FIRE target.
- Meal prep/eat out less. It is very easy to get swept up in life, rush to commute to work and end up forgetting to pack your lunch. While every now and then is fine, eating out every second day is not feasible. Spending $15-20 for an acai bowl or pad Thai at lunch adds up – and these expenses can typically be avoided if you plan in advance. Again, it's the small things that add up.
- Take advantage of discounted offerings. If you're planning a trip overseas or within New Zealand, take advantage of the best deals through Jetstar, Grabaseat or other flash sales. They offer the same experience for a significantly discounted price. Our guide to saving money on New Zealand travel has more tips.
- MoneyHub resources: Our guides to saving money on driving and household bills offer further tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
FIRE is not straightforward - our comprehensive FAQs below help you find what's best for your future.
How much money do you need to be financially independent?
You'll need to accumulate enough money to live comfortably without working full time to achieve financial independence (FI). As a generic rule of thumb, you should be saving 25x your yearly expenses at a minimum, which you would then invest to give you sufficient income/drawdown in retirement. You should be able to withdraw 4% of the value of the money you've accumulated in your investment portfolio without running out of cash. However, it should only be used as a guide to determine how much money you'll need to be financially independent. (Note – the 4% rule may no longer hold. We will be doing a future guide on this soon).
The actual amount you'll need to save may vary depending on what age you retire at, how long you'll be retired for, if you'll have any other sources of income during retirement and the type of retirement you envision. Together, these factors will influence how much you'll need to fund your chosen lifestyle.
You'll also have to think about how the market might shift and the trustworthiness of any assets, as well as how tax rules might change, all of which could affect your income. Because of these unknown variables, it's a good idea to set aside more money than you think you'll need if your circumstances change (or factors out of your control influence your required income in retirement).
The actual amount you'll need to save may vary depending on what age you retire at, how long you'll be retired for, if you'll have any other sources of income during retirement and the type of retirement you envision. Together, these factors will influence how much you'll need to fund your chosen lifestyle.
You'll also have to think about how the market might shift and the trustworthiness of any assets, as well as how tax rules might change, all of which could affect your income. Because of these unknown variables, it's a good idea to set aside more money than you think you'll need if your circumstances change (or factors out of your control influence your required income in retirement).
Is FIRE a thing you can only do in the United States? Can New Zealanders do it?
New Zealanders can get FIRE'd. Regardless of where you live, you will make an income and have expenses. You will need to pay for housing, transportation and food. You will need to pay taxes. You will likely contribute to superannuation. All of these things occur, regardless of the country you live in. What does change is the relative amounts for each heading, and the regulation around investing, taxes and retirement accounts. However, many New Zealanders have been crafty, innovative and smart when it comes to money. For these reasons, it is possible to get FIRE'd in New Zealand.
How does FIRE work with real estate/property?
Yes – absolutely. In the past 40 years, property has been one of the fastest ways for New Zealanders to reach FIRE. However, the next few decades may be significantly different, and as such, we would recommend caution when considering real estate for FIRE. Rental yields have been steadily declining, and as such, has presented a problem for FIRE followers targeting real estate as a source of passive income.
If I pursue FIRE, what sacrifices do I need to make?
Because FIRE is heavily focused on saving, you'll realistically have to make some lifestyle adjustments, which may include some sacrifices. Realistically, you won't have enough money to spend on everything you want and also save for FIRE, so you'll need to figure out your priorities. You won't be able to travel every weekend, dine out for every meal, purchase new gadgets every month, rent an expensive apartment and buy a car every two years. Instead, you must identify what one or two things genuinely bring you joy, and then push the rest to the side.
However, minimalism isn't strictly required for the FIRE movement, as seen by FatFIRE followers that live relatively lavish lifestyles. Instead, FatFIRE supporters prefer a more comfortable lifestyle, and it is entirely possible to live a more luxurious lifestyle while still staying true to FIRE.
It is entirely up to you how much you're willing to give up reaching your FIRE goals. For example, some people will be willing to live on a shoestring budget to attain financial independence sooner, while others may want to enjoy more comforts now, even if it means taking longer to save. For example, this can make sense for those with young families – the memories you make by taking your kids on a family trip to Europe or America can be priceless.
The core of FIRE is to understand what makes you happy and making deliberate spending decisions, rather than applying a standard frugal lifestyle with immense sacrifices. It is less about simplicity and more about spending with purpose, keeping to your principles. Many individuals spend without thinking and, some years later, wonder where their money went. Most people would benefit from thinking about what makes them happy and what does not.
However, minimalism isn't strictly required for the FIRE movement, as seen by FatFIRE followers that live relatively lavish lifestyles. Instead, FatFIRE supporters prefer a more comfortable lifestyle, and it is entirely possible to live a more luxurious lifestyle while still staying true to FIRE.
It is entirely up to you how much you're willing to give up reaching your FIRE goals. For example, some people will be willing to live on a shoestring budget to attain financial independence sooner, while others may want to enjoy more comforts now, even if it means taking longer to save. For example, this can make sense for those with young families – the memories you make by taking your kids on a family trip to Europe or America can be priceless.
The core of FIRE is to understand what makes you happy and making deliberate spending decisions, rather than applying a standard frugal lifestyle with immense sacrifices. It is less about simplicity and more about spending with purpose, keeping to your principles. Many individuals spend without thinking and, some years later, wonder where their money went. Most people would benefit from thinking about what makes them happy and what does not.
How will $1m last 30 years or more in retirement?
Everyone's $1 million is different. Therefore it can seem like an arbitrary number. However, it is predicated on the 4% rule, which states that you will never run out of money if you withdraw 4% of your entire investments every year. This is not guaranteed, but leading economists are debating whether this rule is still appropriate.
The $1 million number itself isn't the issue, but about whether the amount chosen can be sustained. Your goals should be to have enough money invested in the right things to live off the residual income (through rent, dividends or capital gains) rather than having to eat at the initial principal.
For example – if you have $1 million and invest in the NZX 50 index, it can be assumed that the index will return between 5% and 10% on average (we will assume 5% for this rule). If you draw down 4% of the amount ($40,000), the drawdown will be less than the typical increase in principle due to capital gains. There are tax and legal implications for buying and selling, but in general, New Zealand does not have a capital gain on shares. While you may not be guaranteed 5% every year (equities swing by 10-20% each year), on average, you will do better on some years (meaning your $1m may grow to $1.1m) or worse in others (your $1m can drop to $900,000). Over a long enough period, as long as your drawdown is on average significantly lower than your investment return, your $1 million should be able to last you for much longer in retirement.
The $1 million number itself isn't the issue, but about whether the amount chosen can be sustained. Your goals should be to have enough money invested in the right things to live off the residual income (through rent, dividends or capital gains) rather than having to eat at the initial principal.
For example – if you have $1 million and invest in the NZX 50 index, it can be assumed that the index will return between 5% and 10% on average (we will assume 5% for this rule). If you draw down 4% of the amount ($40,000), the drawdown will be less than the typical increase in principle due to capital gains. There are tax and legal implications for buying and selling, but in general, New Zealand does not have a capital gain on shares. While you may not be guaranteed 5% every year (equities swing by 10-20% each year), on average, you will do better on some years (meaning your $1m may grow to $1.1m) or worse in others (your $1m can drop to $900,000). Over a long enough period, as long as your drawdown is on average significantly lower than your investment return, your $1 million should be able to last you for much longer in retirement.
You talk about selling shares to pay for yearly expenses. But what happens if we go into recession and the market crashes?
If a market crash occurs on the day you reach your magic number, and you have drawn down 4% of your assets (around $50,000 to $100,000 depending on the circumstances), this would likely result in less money for the year.
A way to negate this could be to retain a year's worth of living expenses in the bank, so you aren't forced to sell low when the markets fall. However, over time – this will smooth out. In contrast, if the market significantly outperforms, you will be drawing down the same $50,000 – 100,000, but this may be less than 4% of your asset base, effectively allowing the additional gains to compound for the following year.
While this may not be as secure as term deposits or bonds, FIRE followers typically retire at 40 or 50 and are expected to live till 80 – 100. Therefore, the 40 – 50 year runway they will need to support them is significant. Through inflation and other means, it is necessary to continue growing and compounding your wealth from this point (while still supporting your yearly expenses). This is why the 4% rule is somewhat outdated.
A way to negate this could be to retain a year's worth of living expenses in the bank, so you aren't forced to sell low when the markets fall. However, over time – this will smooth out. In contrast, if the market significantly outperforms, you will be drawing down the same $50,000 – 100,000, but this may be less than 4% of your asset base, effectively allowing the additional gains to compound for the following year.
While this may not be as secure as term deposits or bonds, FIRE followers typically retire at 40 or 50 and are expected to live till 80 – 100. Therefore, the 40 – 50 year runway they will need to support them is significant. Through inflation and other means, it is necessary to continue growing and compounding your wealth from this point (while still supporting your yearly expenses). This is why the 4% rule is somewhat outdated.
Does FIRE still work in a recession and the stock market drops?
A decline in the stock markets is to be expected on every FIRE follower's journey. A bear market typically occurs once every 10 – 20 years. The majority of money saved and invested will not need to be used until you reach your "magic number" (typically 25x); therefore, a bear market can be a blessing in disguise for FIRE followers. By investing regularly each month, you may be able to get shares of companies at a significant discount to what you would have initially paid for them had a bear market not occurred. The financial markets are unpredictable and volatile in the short term, but in general, the stock market will rise over the medium to long term. It's also normal to expect that the period after the bear market returns the highest (% wise), meaning those that invest habitually will automatically invest at these optimal points, reducing the effective time it will take to get FIRE'd.
Investing regularly is the best way to continue to ride out the market shifts (especially given the long runway necessary to support retirement). Note – this advice may not always apply equally to every FIRE follower. Time is required to recover from significant market events such as those that occurred in 2008, but when the time to need the money approaches, it becomes less vital to growing it quickly and more important to avoid volatility. Some that are slightly further along in their journey may wish to be more defensive or prudent in nature as they have less time to ride out these waves of volatility. However, for many FIRE followers (30-50), this is enough time to continue investing and is generally the optimal strategy.
Investing regularly is the best way to continue to ride out the market shifts (especially given the long runway necessary to support retirement). Note – this advice may not always apply equally to every FIRE follower. Time is required to recover from significant market events such as those that occurred in 2008, but when the time to need the money approaches, it becomes less vital to growing it quickly and more important to avoid volatility. Some that are slightly further along in their journey may wish to be more defensive or prudent in nature as they have less time to ride out these waves of volatility. However, for many FIRE followers (30-50), this is enough time to continue investing and is generally the optimal strategy.
How does KiwiSaver relate to FIRE?
KiwiSaver is effectively a forced savings programme with incentives from the government and your employer. It's a great way to take advantage of systematic benefits (effectively free money) and a forced compounding scheme (because you can't access it till 65 or in unique circumstances). However, for those that want to retire earlier (e.g. 40 or 50), you still won't be able to touch this money – which can be a potential downside. However, the benefits of contributing to KiwiSaver usually outweigh the downsides of when you can access it. As always, it will depend on your unique situation and which FIRE path you are pursuing.
The top tips for people who reach FIRE:
- Don't quit just yet. Quitting typically doesn't have an undo button. First, make sure your cash flows, magic number and expenses are all mapped correctly and that you are, in fact, in a solid financial position. Once you've verified this, feel free to resign. However, staying in your job for a few months after you've hit your FIRE goal can be an excellent test to see whether you do enjoy the work itself – or you were just in it for the paycheck. Most people find out that the job they do has some enjoyable elements – and may be shifting to part-time or just taking extended leave may be a preferable option.
- Don't move the goalposts. We are hedonic creatures and will adapt to our environment. If we set a goal and achieve it, we get rewarded through dopamine and are incentivised to set another goal. However, when it comes to FIRE, do not set another goal (known as "moving the goalposts". If you continue to do this, you may perpetually seek out a bigger FIRE target and never end up taking your freedom and pursuing what you want – which is the whole point of FIRE.
- Pay it forward. Many people never get fully FIRE'd. It's an absolute privilege to get there, and there will be many others in your community that are trying to. Giving back by sharing your story, connecting with others and supporting your family and friends can be a great way to build the community and provide a sense of meaning.
How do I stop lifestyle inflation?
Humans are subject to hedonic adaptation. When something changes for us, we notice it in the short term; then, it becomes the norm. This is how we perceive salary increases. For example – you may get a 20% raise and feel extremely happy with your increased income. However, after a few months – you'll get used to the increased amount in your bank account and may potentially seek to spend more or look for something else to focus on.
Lifestyle inflation can be tempting for almost everyone that gets a salary increase. The best advice to avoid lifestyle inflation is to create a bit of time between getting the raise and deciding what to do with the extra money. For the most part – an increase in disposable income doesn't necessarily need to correspond to an increase in expenses. For the most part – you were living life fine before you got the raise.
Spending the excess money on better items can be a reasonable strategy (e.g. if you were skimping on the food you like, then it can make sense to add this to your weekly shopping list). However, spending more money on things you didn't have before may not be the wisest decision (buying new cars, phones, food, etc.). That doesn't mean you can't celebrate; be mindful spending money feels good in the short term and isn't the root of where you get happiness.
For example, non-monetary celebrations such as spending time with friends and family, going for walks in nature or taking time for self-care are much cheaper and somewhat more sustainable alternatives.
Lifestyle inflation can be tempting for almost everyone that gets a salary increase. The best advice to avoid lifestyle inflation is to create a bit of time between getting the raise and deciding what to do with the extra money. For the most part – an increase in disposable income doesn't necessarily need to correspond to an increase in expenses. For the most part – you were living life fine before you got the raise.
Spending the excess money on better items can be a reasonable strategy (e.g. if you were skimping on the food you like, then it can make sense to add this to your weekly shopping list). However, spending more money on things you didn't have before may not be the wisest decision (buying new cars, phones, food, etc.). That doesn't mean you can't celebrate; be mindful spending money feels good in the short term and isn't the root of where you get happiness.
For example, non-monetary celebrations such as spending time with friends and family, going for walks in nature or taking time for self-care are much cheaper and somewhat more sustainable alternatives.
I have reached FIRE - now what?
Congratulations; it is no small feat to reach your FIRE targets, and the hard work you've put in has finally paid off. Make sure to celebrate (but don't splurge too hard). What you do from here is definitely up to you – but the primary purpose of FIRE is to have the freedom to choose what you would like to do and do that. If you don't know the answer to this, maybe spending a bit of time reflecting and finding this out is most important. Or – if you already know what you like doing and what you want to pursue, go for it.
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