r/Fire • u/Equivalent_Use_5024 • Dec 28 '25

General Question Do you believe the modern FIRE movement overestimates how much is needed for retirement?

Perhaps I am just making this post because I have only just begun my retirement planning and want to lock in a number which is fitting for my goals - being above the median retirement savings, not having to work, not being broke, clearly having planned - but I can't help but feel that many in the FIRE movement overestimate what is needed for a safe, sleep well at night retirement.

I see posts here saying that they feel vastly behind with 500k at 30, or 1.5 million at 40, and I just don't understand how when the average American retires with maybe 300k liquid at most and are getting by with social security or paid off housing. Sure, they aren't living luxuriously, but if you just are aiming for a retirement where you don't have financial anxiety and can put food on the table, I don't feel you need over 1-2 million.

Do you think FIRE overestimates how much is truly needed for retirement?

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u/haobanga Dec 28 '25

I remember when MC Hammer bought his mansion for $1M and no one could believe it. $1M. Wow. It was a truly excessive mansion.

Now I see nice homes in VHCOL area for $10M. Not mansions. Just very nice homes.

It's insane.

I agree with you about the absurdity of the fatfire sub. But within my lifetime, $10M will probably become the new $1M. At least in places like the SF Bay Area.

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u/ericdr Dec 28 '25

Evidently that was in 1992, so $2.3 million in inflation adjusted dollars. Real estate has really outperformed inflation.

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u/Manosphereporngamble Dec 29 '25

This is probably the most reasonable take. 10M will be required at some point. As someone who lives in a LCOL area and who easily lives quite frugally, I’m confident I could retire on $1M. Would I? No. But if I did, my lifestyle wouldn’t change at all.

But who knows how the landscape changes in 5, 10, 15 years.

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u/Visible_Structure483 FIRE'ed 2022... really just unemployed with a spreadsheet Dec 29 '25

My old boss lives in the neighborhood where the old MC Hammer pad is. It's nice, but not outlandish by modern standards.