Best FIRE Resources UK: 15 Tools, Calculators & Guides for Financial Independence in 2026

Calculate when you can stop saving and let compound interest do the rest. Enter your current savings, expected returns, and target retirement age to find your Coast FIRE number — the point where your existing investments will grow to cover retirement without any further contributions.

The classic 25x expenses calculation made simple. Input your expected annual spending in retirement and this calculator shows your FIRE number, how far along you are, and how long until you reach financial independence at your current savings rate.

Model a semi-retirement where part-time work covers some expenses while your investments provide the rest. Ideal for those who want to leave full-time work earlier without needing the full FIRE number.

Stress-test your retirement plan across 1,000 randomised market scenarios. Unlike simple calculators that assume fixed returns, Monte Carlo simulation shows the probability of success across bull markets, bear markets, and everything in between.

Plan for your preferred lifestyle in early retirement. Lean FIRE targets minimal expenses (typically under £25,000/year in the UK), while Fat FIRE aims for a comfortable lifestyle without compromise (£50,000+/year). These calculators help you find the right balance.

Deep dive into the Trinity Study, William Bengen's original 4% rule research, and Morningstar's 2026 update suggesting 3.7-3.9% may be more appropriate. Covers variable withdrawal strategies, guardrails, and how sequence-of-returns risk affects early retirees with 40-50 year horizons.

Learn about the 72(t) Substantially Equal Periodic Payments rule for accessing retirement funds before traditional retirement age without penalty. Covers the IRS 5% floor rate update and three calculation methods: Required Minimum Distribution, Fixed Amortisation, and Fixed Annuitisation.

One of the biggest concerns for early retirees: healthcare coverage before state pension age. This guide covers ACA strategies, MAGI engineering to qualify for subsidies, and how to bridge the gap between early retirement and Medicare eligibility.

A quick self-assessment to evaluate where you stand on your FIRE journey. Covers savings rate, investment allocation, emergency fund, insurance coverage, and withdrawal planning. Get a personalised readiness score with actionable next steps.

The FIRE community's unofficial bible. Collins makes the case for low-cost index fund investing with a focus on Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund. His straightforward, jargon-free writing style makes complex financial concepts accessible to beginners.

The book that started the FIRE movement before it had a name. First published in 1992, it reframes money as something you trade your 'life energy' for — making you question every purchase against the hours of work it represents. The updated 2018 edition includes modern investment guidance.

A counterpoint to extreme frugality. Perkins argues that optimising for experiences at the right age matters more than maximising net worth. A valuable perspective for FIRE planners who risk over-saving and under-living, especially relevant for those with Fat FIRE ambitions.

Explores why personal finance is more about behaviour than spreadsheets. Housel's 19 short stories about money cover compound interest, risk, luck, and why reasonable beats rational. Essential reading for understanding the emotional side of pursuing FIRE.

A practical FIRE guide from a couple who retired in their early 30s. Covers the mechanics of building a portfolio, yield shield strategy for early retirement income, and geographic arbitrage. Particularly relevant for those pursuing FIRE on a non-Silicon Valley salary.

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. It is a movement focused on aggressive saving and investing — typically 50-70% of income — so that investment returns can cover living expenses permanently. Variations include Coast FIRE (front-load savings then stop), Barista FIRE (part-time work plus investments), Lean FIRE (minimal expenses), and Fat FIRE (comfortable lifestyle without compromise).

The standard FIRE calculation uses the 25x rule: multiply your annual expenses by 25. If you spend £30,000 per year, your FIRE number is £750,000. This is based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate from the Trinity Study. For Lean FIRE in the UK, you might target £500,000-£625,000 (£20,000-£25,000/year expenses). For Fat FIRE, £1.25 million or more (£50,000+/year). These figures assume a diversified portfolio and should be adjusted for inflation.

Many FIRE practitioners allocate 5-10% of their portfolio to gold as an inflation hedge and portfolio diversifier. Gold has low correlation with stocks and bonds, which reduces overall portfolio volatility — particularly important during the withdrawal phase of early retirement. UK investors can hold gold tax-efficiently through CGT-exempt Sovereigns and Britannias, or via gold ETFs within an ISA or SIPP.

The 4% rule comes from the 1994 Trinity Study by William Bengen. It states that retirees can withdraw 4% of their portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjust for inflation each year, with a very high probability of not running out of money over 30 years. Morningstar's 2026 update suggests 3.7-3.9% may be more appropriate given current valuations. For early retirees with 40-50 year horizons, a 3.25-3.5% rate provides additional safety margin.

Coast FIRE means you have saved enough that compound interest alone will grow your portfolio to your full retirement number by traditional retirement age — you no longer need to save, but you still work to cover current expenses. Barista FIRE means you have enough invested that part-time or lower-stress work covers your remaining expenses while your portfolio provides supplemental income. Coast FIRE focuses on future growth; Barista FIRE focuses on current partial withdrawal.