For Me, The Essence Of FIRE Is ___________

[John Galt incarnate!]

For me, the essence of FIRE is the freedom to choose how to spend  my time.

I own the clock of my life.

I wind the clock of my life.

I set the time of the clock of my life.

I alone control the tick-tock of my life.

[Wrenchturner]

Seems reasonable, I think I agree.  I'm many years away and I will probably always work by choice though.

[Buffaloski Boris]

I’ve never been much of a fan of the RE aspect of FIRE, but am a huge fan of FI. If the early retirement aspect of FIRE floats your boat, great. There are a lot of us who enjoy working and who will continue so long as we are able because we want to.

To me the essence of FI(RE) is options. Preserving the ones you have and expanding new ones. We tend to look at it strictly from an employment perspective: being able to change jobs or just quit. But it’s more than that: FI gives you a great deal of options in your personal life. Bad relationship? Someone who is FI need not endure it because of financial reasons. Toxic community? You have the financial wherewithal to move.

It’s like the old saw: money doesn’t buy happiness, but it sure let’s you pick your form of misery. I’d argue being FI definitely gives you a running head start on happiness as well.

[John Galt incarnate!]

I’ve never been much of a fan of the RE aspect of FIRE, but am a huge fan of FI. If the early retirement aspect of FIRE floats your boat, great. There are a lot of us who enjoy working and who will continue so long as we are able because we want to.

To me the essence of FI(RE) is options. Preserving the ones you have and expanding new ones. We tend to look at it strictly from an employment perspective: being able to change jobs or just quit. But it’s more than that: FI gives you a great deal of options in your personal life. Bad relationship? Someone who is FI need not endure it because of financial reasons. Toxic community? You have the financial wherewithal to move.

It’s like the old saw: money doesn’t buy happiness, but it sure let’s you pick your form of misery. I’d argue being FI definitely gives you a running head start on happiness as well.

"Money don't buy me happiness but it does buy me a Cadillac so I can  drive around and look for it."

^

A comedian said something like this.

[Greystache]

For me, the essence off FIRE is that I spend much less of my time doing things that I don't want to do.

[SunnyDays]

Agree with John Galt - it's freedom.  I didn't dislike my job in itself, but I hated the structure of it.  Had to be at the office at a certain time, had to be at appointments at certain times, had to take lunch at a certain time.  Then, because I spent all day at work, there were things I had to do at home at certain times or I would have no time for them later!  Life is so much more leisurely now - I can do things when I want and take as long as I want to do them.  No more rushing around like a chicken without a head.  So nice.

[reeshau]

"Money don't buy me happiness but it does buy me a Cadillac so I can  drive around and look for it."

^

A comedian said something like this.

"If money can't buy me happiness, I guess I'll have to rent it."

--Weird Al Yankovic, "This is the Life"

[Metalcat]

Not really sure, I really don't pay much attention to FI or RE, not particularly relevant to me living my best life.

[js82]

I'm not worried about the RE part(yet).  As for FI...


Any decision one makes is made within a certain set of constraints - both financial(having the resources you need to live your life) and personal(what actually makes you happy).  Removing financial constraints lets give more weight to other things that matter to me when it comes to a whole host of life decisions.


Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes it easier to prioritize things that bring you joy.

[sui generis]

I'm really just saying what most others have said in other words, but for me, the essence of FIRE is self-determination.  This phrasing is really important to me, as it implies the autonomy, control and power I felt I was missing when I was not FI and when I was employed.  Self-determination really comes with the FI part and I fully support the idea that the RE part is extra and optional.  But RE has been a really important part of actualizing that self-determination for me.  Not being beholden to others except by my truly free choice (because $$ all too often implicates coercion) is revolutionary.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

The essence for me is placing a different value on time/money/consumables. Instead of accepting the norm, for example large house = success, I can take my power back against the culture I live in and define stuff for myself. For me it's a mindset.

[nancyfrank232]

We all have this power. We never lost it. Some just forgot that they always had it

[HBFIRE]

I think the essence of the movement is reaching the pivotal philosophical moment where you understand deeply what you really value in life.  Once your reach this moment consumerism addiction becomes trivial.  For me, I realized I value Time, Health, and Relationships.  Money is the tool to increase the quality of each of these.

[Trudie]

Freedom to be my authentic self, not constrained by the need to accumulate, accomplish, or stick to others’ plans for my time and energy.

[Bloop Bloop]

Moisture.

[myobjectivism]

Following comes to my mind and eagerly looking forward to start FIRE lifestyle in few weeks..

1. Freedom
2. Want to avoid carrying work load in mind always
3. Time with my kids and family
4. Healthy lifestyle.. dreaming from long time to wake up at 3am and do daily meditation for an hour, yoga and workout before kids wake up. I am doing these now but now with free mind
4. Spend more time with my mother, cousin's and relatives
5. Travel

[aceyou]

Great answers already.  I resonate with many of your thoughts. 

[asauer]

For me it means:
1. I have choices.  I don’t have to work in a toxic or exploitative environment.  I can leave and have a runway to find something else.  I can take a break to care for a family member if needed.  I can leave if my own health needs full time attention
2. I have a generous cushion for catastrophic events (e.g serious illness, disability) that affect my ability to generate income
3. I have psychological safety around my ability to provide for my family

I am on the path for RE but that’s not my primary ‘why’ for FI.

[John Galt incarnate!]

Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes it easier to prioritize things that bring you joy.

"Money don't buy me happiness but it can buy me a Cadillac so I can drive around and look for it."

^

A comedian said something like this.

[hadabeardonce]

Re: For Me, The Essence Of FIRE Is ___________

I agree with the thread title. (blank) is a good answer and FIRE would give you a lot of time to ponder the meaning of it.

[nessa]

The essence of FIRE for me is, living intentionally.

Not hiding from my financial reality, but finding a way to steer myself toward the freedom I want.

Being able to live life on life's terms and follow my own path, not stumbling around in the dark.

And finding a community of like-minded folks to journey along with.

[Vertical Mode]

I'm really just saying what most others have said in other words, but for me, the essence of FIRE is self-determination.  This phrasing is really important to me, as it implies the autonomy, control and power I felt I was missing when I was not FI and when I was employed.  Self-determination really comes with the FI part and I fully support the idea that the RE part is extra and optional.  But RE has been a really important part of actualizing that self-determination for me.  Not being beholden to others except by my truly free choice (because $$ all too often implicates coercion) is revolutionary.

Lot of great responses so far. To me, this post really nails it.

I'm not very close to FI or RE yet, but this perfectly captures what I'm hoping to achieve.