FIRE Movement: What You Should Know About It
Over the last couple of years, a new wave of financial savviness has taken over. More and more people are working towards saving up earlier in their life so they can enjoy comfort at ease later (and not that much later, either!). Have you ever heard of the FIRE movement? The name stands for Financially Independent, Retired Early. In its essence, itencourages young people to save and invest so they can retire in their 30s or 40s.
If you are in search of financial freedom and fulfilment, this may be a great option for you. Statistics show that most Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 have only saved about 12% of what they actually need for retirement. Worrying, isn't it? If you looking for options to improve your retirement years or simply thinking of financial independence, let's take a look at what this movement has to offer.
What is the FIRE movement?
The FIRE movement started in 1992 after Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez published the book Your Money or Your Life. The book emphasized the need for individuals to attain financial freedom rather than remain dependent on their 9–5 jobs.
As the name itself suggests, the FIRE (Financially Independent, Retired Early) movement can be split into two separate concepts:
– Financially independent
For most people, losing a job means losing their livelihood. The only way to escape this predicament is by attainingfinancial independence. To do this, you need to generate alternative revenue sources in addition to your salary.
The primary goal within this movement is to generate enough income to sustain you in the absence of employment. As a bonus, your independence will help you decide whether or not you want to continue working. Hence the second concept.
– Retired Early
The retirement age of 65 years does not seem to cut it in today's world. Luckily, you do not have to wait that long. You can retire in your 30s or 40s, as long as you have your finances straightened out. But what will you do after retiring at 30?
Contrary to popular opinion, retiring does not mean you must stop working. You can always choose to start a business or switch to a more fulfilling career path. Financial independence enables you to make changes to your life without taking money into the account.
What are the pros and cons of the FIRE movement?
The FIRE movement has attracted thousands of followers around the globe. But what exactly does it have to offer, and what should you be aware of?
✅ It encourages the pursuit of a meaningful and satisfying life
✅ It encourages the quest for financial independence and early retirement
✅ It promotes good personal finance habits
✅ It makes retirement flexible: you can take up other projects or travel
❌ It can be unrealistic: the idea of saving 50% or more of your monthly salary could be impossible, given your responsibilities or circumstances.
❌ Extreme frugality can be uncomfortable. Saving a big chunk of your paycheck can strain your monthly budget. Some expenses make life easier and fun, so cutting them off could make your life miserable.
Luckily, there are numerous steps can help you beat those cons!
Steps to take to ensure financial independence
As you may have worked out by now, the FIRE movement requires a large amount of savings. To achieve this, you have two options:
- Increasing your income so you can cover your costs and save comfortably
- Cutting down on your expenses and living a more frugal lifestyle
1. Increase your monthly income
Cutting down on expenses is good – however, you would reach your FIRE goals a lot faster by increasing your income. Here are a few ways to do that comfortably:
- Start a business or a side hustle to create smart passive income
- Put your savings in a savings account with great interest rates
- Download the Honeygain app and earn some free money(more on this later)
2. Cut down on your expenses
You should also expect for your FIRE (Financially Independent, Retired Early) goals to require some expense cuts. Lowering your costs allows you to put more aside for your savings, which will significantly shorten the time needed to reach your objectives.
⚠️ Pro tip: Consider cutting expenses that do not add any value to your day today. Remember, the goal is to save money, not to make your life miserable.
3. Make investments
Unless your paycheck allows you to save enough for your retirement, you will need to fill the gap by making investments. You could consider investing in:
- Retirement Plans
- Bonds
- Mutual Funds
- Annuities
- Certificates of Deposit
- Stocks
- Exchange-Traded Funds
4. Use Honeygain to make more money
The whole point of the FIRE movement is to develop financial security and retire early. With Honeygain, you can make smart passive income for your savings or investments. Additionally, Honeygain offers you some regular financial tips to help you achieve your financial goals.
With Honeygain, you can get free moneyfor sharing your Internet connection. Publicly available web data is collected during this process and used by Honeygain's businesses clients to improve their ad ranking, make price comparisons, and prevent ad fraud.
If you are not a Honeygainer yet, learn more about it in the video below:
TIP: With Honeygain, you can generate passive income effortlessly while playing games, shopping, or watching online cooking channels: all you need to do is leave the app running. Furthermore, you can still use it after retirement to make some extra cash!
5. Avoid maxing out your credit cards
Did you know we typically tend to spend more when we use credit cards than when we use cash? Plus, it is difficult to save and invest when your salary is constantly servicing debt, and most people are one emergency away from taking on too much. If using a credit card is necessary (in some countries, they're required for building one's credit score), make sure to use them as little as possible and always pay your bills in time.
⚠️ Things to keep in mind ⚠️
💡Financial emergencies can derail your progress
We do not live in a perfect world. Financial emergencies can drain your savings and affect your investments. We recommend creating an emergency fund to cushion financial blows and avoid credit card debt.
💡You can start saving at any age
It is always advisable to start saving for retirement early in your career. But don't worry if you haven't started yet. All you need to do is save aggressively, cut your expenses and make wise investments.
💡Your retirement goals are unique to you
Your retirement dreams are as unique as you are. Some people want to travel the world after retirement, while others would rather venture into business. Avoid copy-pasting a friend or relative's plan. It might not fit your dreams.
Do you want to join the FIRE movement?
The journey towardsfinancial independence is all about how you spend, invest, and save money. The best way to turn your dreams into reality is by practicing good financial habits and improving your personal finances. Find as many potential income sources as possible, and don't forget to try Honeygain as one of the smart passive income techniques ⬇️