Why do people into financial independence preach it like a religion and act holier than thou? Some of us want families, good company healthcare, and to live a life beyond that of a peasant

Validation. Same reason some folks here act like consulting is the holy grail of jobs despite the fact that the average person values friendships and work life balance over miles and being a "trusted advisor to c-suite clients"

You’d be surprised how far 40k can go when you don’t need to save anything and pay little to no taxes (if you do it right). I’m planning to retire late 30s / early 40s and go full time into non-profit work. I would agree that it’s not for everyone.

This is going to sound bad/naive - though a lot of the FIRE preachers come from poorer backgrounds where they haven’t experienced the many great things the world has to offer. I wouldn’t trade my experiences for $250k in my 401k. I have like $10k in there, but thousands of fantastic memories. Memories that often pop up randomly throughout the day and make me giggle. I’ll continue to live my life this way, have a family, travel the world, and be broke as fuck.

I'd say because it influences every part of their lives and its the framework their build their loves on. I think people who spend money they make are absolutely welcome to do so, but in my view it's substantially better to get out of the gerbil wheel known as a career and use my time how I want

Cos they are nutso.

Its less about the not being employed, its more about not being controlled by your career. Many people who FIRE keep working, it just becomes on their terms

Yeah, financial independence is awesome, but keep your day job. Healthcare, fringe benefits, etc. only get better when you move up in your career anyways. Worst case do a more chill job that still brings in a solid income. Whatever. Choosing not to work and trying to live off of $40-60k sounds like a way to get bored fast

For me, I have my sights set higher- known as fatFIRE. I don't plan on fully retiring, I just want the financial security to fully invest in the people in my life and businesses I plan to start. The best thing about FIRE is that you're giving yourself more control in life, not less. You can choose to work, you can lead your industry, you can completely switch careers and make 35k a year tracing frogs for your state government. Its all about your priorities, and all you give up is what you are willing to

Especially when you eliminate a mortgage and any other amortized payments. FIRE is choosing compound interest to work for you instead of against you

I mean, I’m talking about planning to retire in their 40s, live off of <$100k a year, etc. There’s a sense of superiority they portray by not being employed by a company and not having to work. Which I’m all for, but that’s not feeding a family of four or paying for the little things in life

I don’t understand the post, people into financial independence? Aren’t people who are financially independent caring for their families and live lives beyond peasantry?

Haha ah yes, I’ve met those. I see your point, they are a bit annoying. But I get it.

I’m waaaaay too into my yuppie lifestyle right now to have the discipline to FIRE 🤷‍♂️

< 100k = peasant? Wow

No one else is picking up on the tracing frogs comment? How is that a dream!? Lol

Come again?!

@D2 I agree, but a lot of these people aim to retire at 40 on like 40-60k they can generate from their investments.

Ever known someone who did crossfit or was vegan? Same concept.

Its deeper than that. Financial independence brings autonomy and control over your life in general. We can make our 6 figure salaries, but at what cost. We can’t even spend said money because we’re always slaving fir our employers

OP I disagree with your sentiments, respectfully offcourse. If you can make 40-60 K through means other than physically being at work they you can always make more. I feel like we’re conditioned to work for others for the exact reasons you’ve mentioned. We weren’t put on this earth to work. Imagine passively making 60 k. You can live/travel anywhere on this earth without the worries of getting approved vacation. At the end it’s about control over you’re life. I realized this post was over a month old too late in the game lol