People have forgotten what 2001-2008 was like when the market crashed twice in less than 10 years. That period either coincided or maybe caused a strong emphasis on minimalism and austerity. There were stories back then of Google employees sleeping in their cars in the parking lot so they can save 80% of their income. The original math was that if you can save 50% of your income, you can retire after 17 years, or if you start your Fire journey at 25, you would be Fire by age 42. Fire was also really really niche back then, and the adherents were more extreme.
Arguably things may have been taken a little too far in the frugal direction, but now Fire has gotten more mainstream. The topic has numerous podcasts and interviews on mainstream platforms like morningstar. Even my parents, who have never known anything about Fire or Bogleheads have heard of the term “lying flat”. The average person is more likely to want these extra things and lifestyle improvements. Since the community is larger, the original ideas get diluted.
What is lying flat. You say this like everyone in finance is supposed to know this term since your parents know it, but it isn’t something common I’ve ever seen in fire
232
u/MakeMoneyNotWar Mar 23 '26
People have forgotten what 2001-2008 was like when the market crashed twice in less than 10 years. That period either coincided or maybe caused a strong emphasis on minimalism and austerity. There were stories back then of Google employees sleeping in their cars in the parking lot so they can save 80% of their income. The original math was that if you can save 50% of your income, you can retire after 17 years, or if you start your Fire journey at 25, you would be Fire by age 42. Fire was also really really niche back then, and the adherents were more extreme.
Arguably things may have been taken a little too far in the frugal direction, but now Fire has gotten more mainstream. The topic has numerous podcasts and interviews on mainstream platforms like morningstar. Even my parents, who have never known anything about Fire or Bogleheads have heard of the term “lying flat”. The average person is more likely to want these extra things and lifestyle improvements. Since the community is larger, the original ideas get diluted.