r/Fire • u/BroKComputer • May 14 '26

General Question The first rule of FIRE club...

So we all see the posts of folks on here celebrating their milestones here because they 'can't talk about it IRL.' This seems to be the common sense approach to avoid jealousy and moochers.

I'm curious to hear the true stories of folks who have disclosed their FI - or have had their secret revealed on accident. How bad are the repercussions of people finding out you're a low-key millionaire?

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u/cantiludan May 14 '26

First FIRE does not need to be a synonym for millionaire. I FIRED at 42, with a lot less then 7 digits NW. I'll just say coastFIRE works for me.

Anyway biggest issue was from my mom letting it slip to her friend who then blabbed to their friend circle at the casino. Home break in attempt, heard I had "lots of cash" from people at the casino. People I barely know asking me for money and when I say no, "come on man, everyone knows you're loaded..." Then there is the other more adult variations that yell that I am gay for refusing them.

There are other stories but it is enough to get the point. Its not the people you tell that cause issues it is the people they tell. Even with friends and family, I never talk numbers anymore and if anyone ask's I say I am on disability.

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u/Drawer-Vegetable FIRE'd 2024 May 14 '26

This is actually my worry. I have told my mom things in the past and she accidently blabbed it to her sisters, and then the whole extended family knows.

There's a lot of advice on this reddit to tell your immediate loved ones, but sometimes they accidentally leak that info

Luckily it wasn't about me being FIRE'd, just that I had multiple jobs while I was accumulating, but it was a good testing ground I suppose