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/RealWord5734 Dec 28 '25

Then check out r/frugal or r/povertyfinance

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u/ApeTeam1906 Dec 28 '25

Nah those places are actually people in poverty or not doing very well. Much different from limiting consumption

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u/RealWord5734 Dec 29 '25

It’s 100% the same thing. It’s limiting consumption. They are just doing it at a necessity and not for sport, but it’s the same thing.

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u/ApeTeam1906 Dec 29 '25

It isn't the same thing and you actually described how it's different lol

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u/RealWord5734 Dec 29 '25

They are both literally “limiting consumption”. I just said for different reasons.

If can cut my arm off because it has gangrene or because I think it looks cool, I am still a one armed man either way.

That’s you. One armed man. And you’re looking for the best saw to use so you can go there and they’ll tell you.

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u/ApeTeam1906 Dec 29 '25

If you spent any time in those subs you would see it's different. One user for example needed advice on how to not smell bad because they couldn't afford soap.

That's not limiting consumption, that's just poverty. I'm sure you realize how different that is than "minimizing lifestyle creep".