Saving

Coast FIRE explained

Coast FIRE is the portfolio that can grow to your FIRE number without new contributions.

Can I afford to quit my job?

Quitting is a cash-flow question first, and a portfolio question only if the break is long.

What is a good savings rate?

A useful savings rate is the one that reaches your spending target on your timeline.

Emergency fund rules of thumb

Three to six months of essential spending is the usual cash target. The job and the debts change it.

How much cash should I hold?

Hold cash for near-term bills and shocks. Extra cash is a choice about return, not safety theater.

How much should I have saved by age?

Age targets are multiples of income or survey medians. They are context, not a grade.

What order should I fund investment accounts?

A common order is match, high-interest debt, emergency cash, then tax-advantaged room, then taxable.

Can I afford a sabbatical?

A sabbatical is a cash problem first, and a retirement-date problem second.

What to do with money after a layoff

Severance is not a bonus until essential months are covered.

Money when you have a baby

The change is spending and sometimes income, not a new investing rule.

What to do with a bonus

A bonus is irregular income. Do not build a lifestyle on it.

Planning on one income

Use the paycheck that will actually arrive, not the household you used to be.