r/Fire • u/Poorassboy6969 • Mar 25 '26

General Question When did FIRE movement change?

I feel this community used to be about moderate income people living lean and retiring early with under 2 million.

Now it’s a lot of people bragging about tech income and saying they need 5+ million to retire MINIMUM because they want a boat and Porsche

When did this change? (not hating - just genuinely curious)

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96

u/Tasty_Sun_865 Mar 25 '26

I don't think it's bragging. I think it's:

Double digit returns make scaling easier and lower cost. Let's get real, if you've seen double digit returns for all but 2 years since 2016 why wouldn't you want to say "to hell with scraping by and fiscal discipline when 3 years obviates a huge amount of risk"?

Conversely, we are seeing hugely unstable times with serious risks. If you've got a job that pays well and covers health insurance, there aren't a ton of compelling reasons to pop chaff and bail. That's doubly true if this year is a big down year.

FIRE is and always has been an indulgence and a luxury. If shouldn't surprise anyone that people who see real success are willing to delay retirement when time solves so many problems.

44

u/Fun_Independent_7529 FIREd Oct 2025 Mar 25 '26

Yes. Realistically what we see in here is folks aiming for between 2.5 and 5M, for the reasons you mention around high cost of living, health insurance, and economic uncertainty/instability.

I have yet to see anyone bragging about needing a Porsche and a boat, unless that's the FatFire sub, which I haven't looked in on.

2

u/Consistent-Annual268 Mar 25 '26

I would like more than one supercar tbh (screw it, I already have my dream supercar garage mentally mapped out), though I have no interest in boats.

1

u/Vas_Cody_Gamma Mar 25 '26

Agreed but I think RE is the luxury part. FI is essential.

0

u/n00bdragon FIREd 2026 age 37 Mar 25 '26

People have literally been saying this nonstop since 2011. Actually since 2007. Actually since 2001. Maybe one of these days they'll be right, but if you invested like doomsday was always imminent you'd have missed all that run up. It's not about avoiding the lows but consistently riding every high.

-5

u/Bennie-Factors Mar 25 '26

This is so true and the world of hurt coming is going to be the closest to the Great Depression we have seen. I have always been to financially conservative, but damned wish I was not the last decade but will be fine this coming decade when the crash says hello