Coast FIRE Progress Tracker: Are You On Track?

You’ve been saving diligently. Your investment accounts are growing. But here’s a question that changes everything: Have you already saved enough?

Coast FIRE is the point where you could stop contributing to retirement and still retire on time. The money you’ve already invested will grow on its own.

Let’s figure out if you’re there yet.

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What Coast FIRE Actually Means

Traditional retirement planning: Save continuously until retirement day.

Coast FIRE: Save intensively early, then coast on compound growth.

Traditional Approach	Coast FIRE Approach
Save $500/month for 30 years	Save $1,000/month for 10-15 years
Constant pressure to save	Freedom after hitting your number
Same job intensity required	Can downshift careers
Retirement feels far away	Milestone feels achievable

The magic: Compound growth does the heavy lifting. You just have to give it enough time.

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The Coast FIRE Formula

Your Coast FIRE number depends on three things:

Variable	What It Means
Target retirement amount	How much you need at retirement (usually 25x annual expenses)
Years until retirement	How long your money has to grow
Expected growth rate	Typically 7% real return (after inflation)

The Formula

Coast FIRE Number = Target Retirement Amount ÷ (1 + growth rate)^years

Example Calculation

Your Situation	Value
Annual retirement expenses	$60,000
Target retirement amount (25x)	$1,500,000
Current age	35
Retirement age	65
Years to grow	30
Growth rate	7%

Calculation: $1,500,000 ÷ (1.07)^30 = $1,500,000 ÷ 7.61 = $197,000

If you have $197,000 invested at age 35, you could theoretically stop saving and still have $1.5M at 65.

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Coast FIRE Numbers by Age

Here’s what you need invested at different ages to coast to a $1.5M retirement at 65:

Key insight: The younger you are, the less you need. Time is your biggest asset.

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Calculate Your Personal Coast FIRE Number

Step 1: Estimate Retirement Expenses

Current Annual Spending	Retirement Adjustment	Estimated Retirement Expenses
$50,000	× 0.8 (lower expenses)	$40,000
$70,000	× 0.85	$59,500
$100,000	× 0.8	$80,000

Most people spend 70-85% in retirement (no commute, no work clothes, paid-off mortgage).

Step 2: Calculate Target Amount

Multiply retirement expenses by 25 (the 4% rule):

Annual Expenses	× 25	Target Amount
$40,000	× 25	$1,000,000
$60,000	× 25	$1,500,000
$80,000	× 25	$2,000,000

Step 3: Find Your Coast Number

Use this table (assumes 7% growth):

Years Until Retirement	Divide Target By
35 years	10.68
30 years	7.61
25 years	5.43
20 years	3.87
15 years	2.76
10 years	1.97

Your Coast FIRE Number = Target Amount ÷ Factor

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Tracking Your Progress

The Progress Percentage

Once you know your Coast FIRE number, tracking is simple:

Progress = Current Investments ÷ Coast FIRE Number × 100

Current Investments	Coast FIRE Number	Progress
$50,000	$200,000	25%
$100,000	$200,000	50%
$150,000	$200,000	75%
$200,000	$200,000	100% ✓

Milestones to Celebrate

Milestone	What It Means
25% Coast FIRE	Solid foundation started
50% Coast FIRE	Halfway there — momentum building
75% Coast FIRE	Almost there — the end is in sight
100% Coast FIRE	You’ve done it — options open up
125% Coast FIRE	Buffer built in — extra security

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What Changes at Coast FIRE

Reaching your Coast number doesn’t mean you have to change anything. But it means you can.

Career Options Open Up

Before Coast FIRE	After Coast FIRE
Need high salary for savings rate	Only need to cover current expenses
Job security is critical	Can take risks
Golden handcuffs feel tight	Freedom to walk away
Passion vs. paycheck conflict	Can pursue what you love

Psychological Shift

Before	After
“I have to save more”	“I’ve saved enough”
Retirement feels distant	Retirement is mathematically assured
Every dollar feels precious	Current income is truly disposable
Anxiety about the future	Confidence in the math

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The Coast FIRE Decision

Once you hit your number, you have choices:

Option 1: Actually Coast

Stop retirement contributions. Use that money for current life.

Pros	Cons
Immediate lifestyle improvement	No buffer if markets underperform
Reduced financial pressure	Less wealth at retirement
More career flexibility	Relies on assumptions holding

Option 2: Keep Saving

Continue as if nothing changed, but with less pressure.

Pros	Cons
Builds safety margin	Delays current enjoyment
Could retire earlier	Same intensity as before
Handles market volatility	Missed opportunity cost

Option 3: Split the Difference

Reduce savings rate but don’t stop entirely.

Pros	Cons
Balance of security and freedom	Still some savings pressure
Moderate buffer building	Requires ongoing decisions
Flexible to adjust	Neither fully coasting nor fully saving

Most people choose Option 3 — the psychological safety net matters.

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Building a Buffer

Pure Coast FIRE math assumes:

• 7% real returns (not guaranteed)
• No major market crashes at the wrong time
• Your expense estimates are accurate

A 10-20% buffer protects against reality:

Coast FIRE Number	With 10% Buffer	With 20% Buffer
$200,000	$220,000	$240,000
$300,000	$330,000	$360,000
$400,000	$440,000	$480,000

The buffer lets you sleep better.

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Common Coast FIRE Questions

“What about healthcare before 65?”

This is the biggest wildcard for early coasters. Options:

• ACA marketplace plans (subsidies available depending on income)
• Part-time job with benefits
• Healthcare sharing ministries
• Budget $500-1,500/month for premiums

Factor healthcare into your “covering current expenses” calculation.

“What if I want to retire before 65?”

Adjust your timeline. If you want to retire at 55 instead of 65:

• More money needed at retirement (longer runway)
• Less time for growth
• Coast FIRE number increases

“Does Social Security count?”

Conservatively: No. Treat it as a bonus. Realistically: It reduces how much you need from investments.

If expecting $2,000/month in Social Security:

• That’s $24,000/year you don’t need from portfolio
• Reduces target by $600,000 (24K × 25)
• Lowers your Coast FIRE number significantly

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Your Coast FIRE Worksheet

Fill this out to find your number:

COAST FIRE CALCULATION

1. Current annual expenses: $__________

2. Expected retirement expenses (×0.8): $__________

3. Target retirement amount (×25): $__________

4. Current age: ____

5. Retirement age: ____

6. Years until retirement: ____

7. Growth factor (from table): ____

8. COAST FIRE NUMBER (line 3 ÷ line 7): $__________

PROGRESS CHECK

9. Current investments: $__________

10. Progress (line 9 ÷ line 8 × 100): ____%

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The Bottom Line

Coast FIRE isn’t about quitting work. It’s about reaching the point where work becomes optional — at least for retirement purposes.

Key takeaways:

1. Calculate your number using the formula above
2. Track your progress as a percentage
3. Build a buffer (10-20%) for peace of mind
4. Understand your options once you arrive
5. Keep perspective — it’s a milestone, not an endpoint

The math is straightforward. The hard part is the years of consistent saving to get there. But once you do? Freedom.

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Tracking your path to Coast FIRE? BUDGT helps you monitor savings progress and stay on track with daily spending limits that protect your future.