🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 88 (from laksa135)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa088.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.fool.com/retirement/2024/07/11/heres-why-i-rejected-the-fire-movement-and-how-im/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.fool.com/retirement/2024/07/11/heres-why-i-rejected-the-fire-movement-and-how-im/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2024\/07\/11\/heres-why-i-rejected-the-fire-movement-and-how-im\/","crawl_time":1774749068,"first_indexed_time":0,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,fool!www,\/retirement\/2024\/07\/11\/heres-why-i-rejected-the-fire-movement-and-how-im\/ s443","src_root_hash":"16263700115757751488","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Here's Why I Rejected the FIRE Movement -- and How I'm Approaching Retirement Planning Instead | The Motley Fool","meta_descriptions":["I like the idea of financial independence, but there are parts of the FIRE movement I truly find problematic."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"I've never really been the type of person to embrace fads or trends. When my childhood friends were doing everything humanly possible to poof up their hair back in the '80s, I was pulling mine into a ponytail and calling it a day. And when the grunge movement took over in the '90s, I refused to spend my after-school hours listening to depressing music or limit my wardrobe to ripped jeans and oversized flannels.\nSimilarly, in the context of financial matters, I've never been inclined to jump on the latest trend. When meme stocks were all the rage, I stuck with the companies I knew and trusted. And when everyone I knew was buying crypto, I stayed away because it wasn't in my comfort zone.\nImage source: Getty Images.\nAlong these lines, I've done my fair share of reading about the FIRE movement in the context of retirement planning. Short for Financial Independence, Retire Early, the FIRE movement encourages people to live well below their means, save the bulk of their income, and attain financial security at a young enough age to stop working well ahead of their peers.\nWhile I can see why the FIRE movement appeals to some people, it's something I rejected from the start. Here's why -- and what I'm doing to prepare for retirement instead.\nI believe in saving money, but only to a point\nI've always been a pretty aggressive saver, even back when my only source of income was the $5 per hour I earned as a babysitter during my high school years. At the same time, I'm a big proponent of enjoying life. And I feel that the\nFIRE movement\nwould impede my ability to do that.\nI won't say how much of my income I save for retirement now, but I'll acknowledge that it's above the 15% to 20% many financial experts recommend. But some FIRE movement folks will tell you that you should be saving 50% of your income, 70%, or even more. Frankly, I can't see how that would be possible without making myself miserable.\nMaybe it's also the fact that I have three kids, and that's an expense right there. But even if that weren't the case, I can't see how spending just 30% of my paycheck would make for an enjoyable existence. It would probably mean living in cramped quarters, never taking vacations, and driving a car with taped-on windows (after driving the same car for 17 years, I almost got to that point, but I upgraded just in time). I just don't see that as a healthy or reasonable way to live.\nI'm striking a balance that works for me\nA big part of the reason I've never been into the FIRE movement is that I don't\nwant\nto\nretire early\n. Part of me, in fact, never really wants to retire at all.\nNow the part of the movement I\nam\na fan of is the financial independence aspect. The idea of not having to rely on a job for income sounds nice in theory. But I'm not willing to sacrifice my family's happiness to get to that point in my 40s.\nNone of us have a crystal ball, and I unfortunately know too many people who have passed away at younger ages than what's the norm. I take comfort in the fact that some of those people enjoyed life to the fullest while they were still on this planet. And I'm not going to sacrifice near-term joy when I have no idea what the future holds.\nOf course, I'm not going to\navoid\nsaving for retirement because there's no guarantee of living to a certain age, either. There needs to be a balance. To me, it's somewhere in between saving more than 15% to 20% of my income, but definitely not 50%.\nIt's also worth noting that it's more than possible to pull off early retirement without setting aside 50% of your income or more each year. If you start early and invest well, you may find that you can retire in your 50s on relatively modest monthly\nretirement plan\ncontributions.\nBut that strategy won't work if you want to retire in your 30s or 40s. To do that, you probably need to take frugal living to a pretty big extreme.\nI respect people who have the dedication to do that. 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-\\$21.40](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/quote\/nasdaq\/meta\/)\n\n[MSFT \\$356.77-2.5% -\\$9.20](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/quote\/nasdaq\/msft\/)\n\n[NVDA \\$167.59-2.1% -\\$3.66](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/quote\/nasdaq\/nvda\/)\n\n[TSLA \\$362.05-2.7% -\\$10.06](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/quote\/nasdaq\/tsla\/)\n\n[Most Active Stocks](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/markets\/most-active-stocks\/)[Daily Stock Gainers](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/markets\/top-stock-gainers\/)[Daily Stock Losers](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/markets\/top-stock-losers\/)\n\n[Most Active Stocks](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/markets\/most-active-stocks\/)[Daily Stock Gainers](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/markets\/top-stock-gainers\/)[Daily Stock Losers](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/markets\/top-stock-losers\/)\n\nFree Article[Explore Premium Services](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/services\/)\n\n# Here's Why I Rejected the FIRE Movement -- and How I'm Approaching Retirement Planning Instead\nI like the idea of financial independence, but there are parts of the FIRE movement I truly find problematic.\n\nBy [Maurie Backman](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/author\/14582\/) – Updated Jul 11, 2024 at 5:18AM EST\n\n[Follow us](https:\/\/profile.google.com\/cp\/CgkvbS8wNTc4bWs)\n\nShare\n\nSummarize with AI\n\n## Key Points\n- Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) is a philosophy some people choose to adopt.\n- While I can certainly get on board with the idea of financial freedom, early retirement doesn't actually appeal to me.\n- I also don't like the idea of living an exceedingly frugal lifestyle when none of us have any idea what the future holds.\n\nI've never really been the type of person to embrace fads or trends. When my childhood friends were doing everything humanly possible to poof up their hair back in the '80s, I was pulling mine into a ponytail and calling it a day. And when the grunge movement took over in the '90s, I refused to spend my after-school hours listening to depressing music or limit my wardrobe to ripped jeans and oversized flannels.\n\nSimilarly, in the context of financial matters, I've never been inclined to jump on the latest trend. When meme stocks were all the rage, I stuck with the companies I knew and trusted. And when everyone I knew was buying crypto, I stayed away because it wasn't in my comfort zone.\n\n![A person running.](https:\/\/g.foolcdn.com\/image\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fg.foolcdn.com%2Feditorial%2Fimages%2F782142%2Fwoman-running-gettyimages-1441759606.jpg&w=3840&op=resize)\n\nImage source: Getty Images.\n\nAlong these lines, I've done my fair share of reading about the FIRE movement in the context of retirement planning. Short for Financial Independence, Retire Early, the FIRE movement encourages people to live well below their means, save the bulk of their income, and attain financial security at a young enough age to stop working well ahead of their peers.\n\nWhile I can see why the FIRE movement appeals to some people, it's something I rejected from the start. Here's why -- and what I'm doing to prepare for retirement instead.\n\n## I believe in saving money, but only to a point\nI've always been a pretty aggressive saver, even back when my only source of income was the \\$5 per hour I earned as a babysitter during my high school years. At the same time, I'm a big proponent of enjoying life. And I feel that the [FIRE movement](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2024\/06\/04\/the-fire-movement-has-1-big-flaw-so-you-may-want-t\/) would impede my ability to do that.\n\nI won't say how much of my income I save for retirement now, but I'll acknowledge that it's above the 15% to 20% many financial experts recommend. But some FIRE movement folks will tell you that you should be saving 50% of your income, 70%, or even more. Frankly, I can't see how that would be possible without making myself miserable.\n\nMaybe it's also the fact that I have three kids, and that's an expense right there. But even if that weren't the case, I can't see how spending just 30% of my paycheck would make for an enjoyable existence. It would probably mean living in cramped quarters, never taking vacations, and driving a car with taped-on windows (after driving the same car for 17 years, I almost got to that point, but I upgraded just in time). I just don't see that as a healthy or reasonable way to live.\n\n## I'm striking a balance that works for me\nA big part of the reason I've never been into the FIRE movement is that I don't *want* to [retire early](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2024\/02\/04\/3-pitfalls-to-be-mindful-of-if-youre-retiring-earl\/). Part of me, in fact, never really wants to retire at all.\n\nNow the part of the movement I *am* a fan of is the financial independence aspect. The idea of not having to rely on a job for income sounds nice in theory. But I'm not willing to sacrifice my family's happiness to get to that point in my 40s.\n\nNone of us have a crystal ball, and I unfortunately know too many people who have passed away at younger ages than what's the norm. I take comfort in the fact that some of those people enjoyed life to the fullest while they were still on this planet. And I'm not going to sacrifice near-term joy when I have no idea what the future holds.\n\nOf course, I'm not going to *avoid* saving for retirement because there's no guarantee of living to a certain age, either. There needs to be a balance. To me, it's somewhere in between saving more than 15% to 20% of my income, but definitely not 50%.\n\nIt's also worth noting that it's more than possible to pull off early retirement without setting aside 50% of your income or more each year. If you start early and invest well, you may find that you can retire in your 50s on relatively modest monthly [retirement plan](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/plans\/) contributions.\n\nBut that strategy won't work if you want to retire in your 30s or 40s. To do that, you probably need to take frugal living to a pretty big extreme.\n\nI respect people who have the dedication to do that. I'm just not one of them.\n\n## Read Next\nMar 28, 2026\n\n•By [Maurie Backman](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/author\/14582\/)\n\n[Roth 401(k) Accounts No Longer Require RMDs -- What That Changes for Your Strategy](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2026\/03\/28\/roth-401k-accounts-no-longer-require-rmds-what-tha\/)\n\nMar 28, 2026\n\n•By [Kailey Hagen, CFP](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/author\/20025\/)\n\n[Is Hawaii Really the Worst State to Retire In?](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2026\/03\/28\/is-hawaii-really-the-worst-state-to-retire-in\/)\n\nMar 28, 2026\n\n•By [Maurie Backman](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/author\/14582\/)\n\n[The Sneaky Reason Your Medicare Costs Could Double](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2026\/03\/28\/the-sneaky-reason-your-medicare-costs-could-double\/)\n\nMar 28, 2026\n\n•By [Kailey Hagen, CFP](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/author\/20025\/)\n\n[Can a Married Couple Retire on Social Security Alone?](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2026\/03\/28\/can-a-married-couple-retire-on-social-security-alo\/)\n\nMar 28, 2026\n\n•By [Kailey Hagen, CFP](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/author\/20025\/)\n\n[This Could Be Your Best Retirement Account if You Plan to Retire in Your Mid-50s](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2026\/03\/28\/this-could-be-your-best-retirement-account-if-you\/)\n\nMar 28, 2026\n\n•By [Justin Pope](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/author\/6581\/)\n\n[What Happens to Your 401(k) When You Die? What Heirs Need to Know in 2026.](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2026\/03\/28\/what-happens-to-your-401k-when-you-die-what-heirs\/)\n\n### About the Author\n![Maurie Backman](https:\/\/g.foolcdn.com\/avatar\/2033483271\/large.ashx?_w=3840)\n\nMaurie Backman is a contributing Motley Fool retirement and Social Security expert with more than a decade of experience writing about personal finance, investing, and retirement planning. Maurie previously worked in finance analyzing distressed companies. She studied finance at Binghamton University.\n\n[TMFBookNerd](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/author\/14582\/)\n\n*The Motley Fool has a [disclosure policy](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/legal\/fool-disclosure-policy\/).*\n\n## Premium Investing Services\nInvest better with The Motley Fool. Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and more from The Motley Fool's premium services.\n\n[View Premium Services](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/services\/?ftm_cam=footer-services-sitewide-prospects)\n\n[![The Motley Fool](https:\/\/g.foolcdn.com\/misc-assets\/logo-tmf-primary-1-magenta-purple.svg?_w=320)](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/)\n\nMaking the world smarter, happier, and richer.\n\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/themotleyfool)\n- [Twitter](https:\/\/x.com\/TheMotleyFool)\n- [LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-motley-fool\/)\n- [Pinterest](https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/themotleyfool\/)\n- [YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/TheMotleyFool)\n- [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/themotleyfoolofficial\/)\n- [TikTok](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@themotleyfoolofficial)\n\n© 1995 - 2026 The Motley Fool. All rights reserved.\n\nMarket data powered by [Xignite](https:\/\/xignite.com\/) and [Polygon.io](https:\/\/polygon.io\/).\n\nAbout The Motley Fool\n\n- [About Us](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/about\/)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/careers.fool.com\/)\n- [Research](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/research\/)\n- [Newsroom](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/contact\/newsroom\/)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/legal\/contact-us\/)\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#89e8ede0e7f8fce0fbe0ecfac9efe6e6e5a7eae6e4)\n\nOur Services\n\n- [All Services](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/services\/)\n- [Stock Advisor](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/services\/stock-advisor\/)\n- [Epic](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/services\/epic\/)\n- [Epic Plus](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/services\/epic-plus\/)\n- [Fool Portfolios](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/services\/fool-portfolios\/)\n- [Fool One](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/services\/one\/)\n- [Motley Fool Money](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/money\/)\n\nAround the Globe\n\n- [Fool UK](https:\/\/www.fool.co.uk\/)\n- [Fool Australia](https:\/\/www.fool.com.au\/)\n- [Fool Canada](https:\/\/www.fool.ca\/)\n\nFree Tools\n\n- [CAPS Stock Ratings](https:\/\/caps.fool.com\/)\n- [Discussion Boards](https:\/\/discussion.fool.com\/)\n- [Calculators](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/calculators\/index\/)\n- [Financial Dictionary](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/terms\/)\n\nAffiliates & Friends\n\n- [Motley Fool Asset Management](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/affiliates\/mfam\/)\n- [Motley Fool Wealth Management](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/affiliates\/mfwm\/)\n- [Motley Fool Ventures](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/affiliates\/ventures\/)\n- [Fool Community Foundation](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/affiliates\/foundation\/)\n- [Become an Affiliate Partner](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/affiliates\/)\n\n- [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/legal\/terms-and-conditions\/fool-rules\/ \"Terms of Use\")\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/legal\/privacy-statement\/ \"Privacy Policy\")\n- [Disclosure Policy](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/legal\/fool-disclosure-policy\/ \"Disclosure Policy\")\n- [Accessibility Policy](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/legal\/accessibility-policy\/ \"Accessibility Policy\")\n- [Copyright, Trademark and Patent Information](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/legal\/stuff-we-own\/ \"Copyright, Trademark and Patent Information\")\n- [Terms and Conditions](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/legal\/terms-and-conditions\/ \"Terms and Conditions\")\n- [Do Not Sell My Personal Information](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/data-protection\/ccpa-update\/ \"Do Not Sell My Personal Information\")","attrs_readable_markdown":"I've never really been the type of person to embrace fads or trends. When my childhood friends were doing everything humanly possible to poof up their hair back in the '80s, I was pulling mine into a ponytail and calling it a day. And when the grunge movement took over in the '90s, I refused to spend my after-school hours listening to depressing music or limit my wardrobe to ripped jeans and oversized flannels.\n\nSimilarly, in the context of financial matters, I've never been inclined to jump on the latest trend. When meme stocks were all the rage, I stuck with the companies I knew and trusted. And when everyone I knew was buying crypto, I stayed away because it wasn't in my comfort zone.\n\n![A person running.](https:\/\/g.foolcdn.com\/image\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fg.foolcdn.com%2Feditorial%2Fimages%2F782142%2Fwoman-running-gettyimages-1441759606.jpg&w=3840&op=resize)\n\nImage source: Getty Images.\n\nAlong these lines, I've done my fair share of reading about the FIRE movement in the context of retirement planning. Short for Financial Independence, Retire Early, the FIRE movement encourages people to live well below their means, save the bulk of their income, and attain financial security at a young enough age to stop working well ahead of their peers.\n\nWhile I can see why the FIRE movement appeals to some people, it's something I rejected from the start. Here's why -- and what I'm doing to prepare for retirement instead.\n\n## I believe in saving money, but only to a point\nI've always been a pretty aggressive saver, even back when my only source of income was the \\$5 per hour I earned as a babysitter during my high school years. At the same time, I'm a big proponent of enjoying life. And I feel that the [FIRE movement](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2024\/06\/04\/the-fire-movement-has-1-big-flaw-so-you-may-want-t\/) would impede my ability to do that.\n\nI won't say how much of my income I save for retirement now, but I'll acknowledge that it's above the 15% to 20% many financial experts recommend. But some FIRE movement folks will tell you that you should be saving 50% of your income, 70%, or even more. Frankly, I can't see how that would be possible without making myself miserable.\n\nMaybe it's also the fact that I have three kids, and that's an expense right there. But even if that weren't the case, I can't see how spending just 30% of my paycheck would make for an enjoyable existence. It would probably mean living in cramped quarters, never taking vacations, and driving a car with taped-on windows (after driving the same car for 17 years, I almost got to that point, but I upgraded just in time). I just don't see that as a healthy or reasonable way to live.\n\n## I'm striking a balance that works for me\nA big part of the reason I've never been into the FIRE movement is that I don't *want* to [retire early](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/2024\/02\/04\/3-pitfalls-to-be-mindful-of-if-youre-retiring-earl\/). Part of me, in fact, never really wants to retire at all.\n\nNow the part of the movement I *am* a fan of is the financial independence aspect. The idea of not having to rely on a job for income sounds nice in theory. But I'm not willing to sacrifice my family's happiness to get to that point in my 40s.\n\nNone of us have a crystal ball, and I unfortunately know too many people who have passed away at younger ages than what's the norm. I take comfort in the fact that some of those people enjoyed life to the fullest while they were still on this planet. And I'm not going to sacrifice near-term joy when I have no idea what the future holds.\n\nOf course, I'm not going to *avoid* saving for retirement because there's no guarantee of living to a certain age, either. There needs to be a balance. To me, it's somewhere in between saving more than 15% to 20% of my income, but definitely not 50%.\n\nIt's also worth noting that it's more than possible to pull off early retirement without setting aside 50% of your income or more each year. If you start early and invest well, you may find that you can retire in your 50s on relatively modest monthly [retirement plan](https:\/\/www.fool.com\/retirement\/plans\/) contributions.\n\nBut that strategy won't work if you want to retire in your 30s or 40s. To do that, you probably need to take frugal living to a pretty big extreme.\n\nI respect people who have the dedication to do that. I'm just not one of them.","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Finance\":994,\"\/Finance\/Financial_Planning_and_Management\":755,\"\/Finance\/Financial_Planning_and_Management\/Retirement_and_Pension\":747}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":999,\"\/Article\/Opinion_Piece\":954}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":999}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":"Maurie Backman","attrs_publish_time":1720689480,"attrs_original_publish_time":1720689480,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"1681","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"733","body_ext_links_number":20,"body_int_links_number":160,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":1,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":380,"download_ttfb_msec":348,"download_size":38132}

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Here's Why I Rejected the FIRE Movement -- and How I'm Approaching Retirement Planning Instead | The Motley Fool

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I like the idea of financial independence, but there are parts of the FIRE movement I truly find problematic.

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I've never really been the type of person to embrace fads or trends. When my childhood friends were doing everything humanly possible to poof up their hair back in the '80s, I was pulling mine into a ponytail and calling it a day. And when the grunge movement took over in the '90s, I refused to spend my after-school hours listening to depressing music or limit my wardrobe to ripped jeans and oversized flannels. Similarly, in the context of financial matters, I've never been inclined to jump on the latest trend. When meme stocks were all the rage, I stuck with the companies I knew and trusted. And when everyone I knew was buying crypto, I stayed away because it wasn't in my comfort zone. Image source: Getty Images. Along these lines, I've done my fair share of reading about the FIRE movement in the context of retirement planning. Short for Financial Independence, Retire Early, the FIRE movement encourages people to live well below their means, save the bulk of their income, and attain financial security at a young enough age to stop working well ahead of their peers. While I can see why the FIRE movement appeals to some people, it's something I rejected from the start. Here's why -- and what I'm doing to prepare for retirement instead. I believe in saving money, but only to a point I've always been a pretty aggressive saver, even back when my only source of income was the $5 per hour I earned as a babysitter during my high school years. At the same time, I'm a big proponent of enjoying life. And I feel that the FIRE movement would impede my ability to do that. I won't say how much of my income I save for retirement now, but I'll acknowledge that it's above the 15% to 20% many financial experts recommend. But some FIRE movement folks will tell you that you should be saving 50% of your income, 70%, or even more. Frankly, I can't see how that would be possible without making myself miserable. Maybe it's also the fact that I have three kids, and that's an expense right there. But even if that weren't the case, I can't see how spending just 30% of my paycheck would make for an enjoyable existence. It would probably mean living in cramped quarters, never taking vacations, and driving a car with taped-on windows (after driving the same car for 17 years, I almost got to that point, but I upgraded just in time). I just don't see that as a healthy or reasonable way to live. I'm striking a balance that works for me A big part of the reason I've never been into the FIRE movement is that I don't want to retire early . Part of me, in fact, never really wants to retire at all. Now the part of the movement I am a fan of is the financial independence aspect. The idea of not having to rely on a job for income sounds nice in theory. But I'm not willing to sacrifice my family's happiness to get to that point in my 40s. None of us have a crystal ball, and I unfortunately know too many people who have passed away at younger ages than what's the norm. I take comfort in the fact that some of those people enjoyed life to the fullest while they were still on this planet. And I'm not going to sacrifice near-term joy when I have no idea what the future holds. Of course, I'm not going to avoid saving for retirement because there's no guarantee of living to a certain age, either. There needs to be a balance. To me, it's somewhere in between saving more than 15% to 20% of my income, but definitely not 50%. It's also worth noting that it's more than possible to pull off early retirement without setting aside 50% of your income or more each year. If you start early and invest well, you may find that you can retire in your 50s on relatively modest monthly retirement plan contributions. But that strategy won't work if you want to retire in your 30s or 40s. To do that, you probably need to take frugal living to a pretty big extreme. I respect people who have the dedication to do that. I'm just not one of them.

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[Top 10 Stocks to Buy Now ›](https://api.fool.com/infotron/splitter/route/article-template-button?apikey=5c8e52dd-1bea-455e-87f5-d5506e590f21) [Top 10 Stocks to Buy Now ›](https://api.fool.com/infotron/splitter/route/article-template-button?apikey=5c8e52dd-1bea-455e-87f5-d5506e590f21) [S\&P 500 6,368.85-1.7% -108.31](https://www.fool.com/quote/snpindex/^gspc/) [DJI 45,166.64-1.7% -793.47](https://www.fool.com/quote/djindices/^dji/) [NASDAQ 20,948.36-2.1% -459.72](https://www.fool.com/quote/nasdaqindex/^ixic/) [Bitcoin \$66,449.00+0.6% +\$397.76](https://www.fool.com/quote/crypto/btc/) [AMZN \$199.47-3.9% -\$8.07](https://www.fool.com/quote/nasdaq/amzn/) [GOOG \$273.85-2.5% -\$6.89](https://www.fool.com/quote/nasdaq/goog/) [META \$526.14-3.9% -\$21.40](https://www.fool.com/quote/nasdaq/meta/) [MSFT \$356.77-2.5% -\$9.20](https://www.fool.com/quote/nasdaq/msft/) [NVDA \$167.59-2.1% -\$3.66](https://www.fool.com/quote/nasdaq/nvda/) [TSLA \$362.05-2.7% -\$10.06](https://www.fool.com/quote/nasdaq/tsla/) [Most Active Stocks](https://www.fool.com/markets/most-active-stocks/)[Daily Stock Gainers](https://www.fool.com/markets/top-stock-gainers/)[Daily Stock Losers](https://www.fool.com/markets/top-stock-losers/) [Most Active Stocks](https://www.fool.com/markets/most-active-stocks/)[Daily Stock Gainers](https://www.fool.com/markets/top-stock-gainers/)[Daily Stock Losers](https://www.fool.com/markets/top-stock-losers/) Free Article[Explore Premium Services](https://www.fool.com/services/) # Here's Why I Rejected the FIRE Movement -- and How I'm Approaching Retirement Planning Instead I like the idea of financial independence, but there are parts of the FIRE movement I truly find problematic. By [Maurie Backman](https://www.fool.com/author/14582/) – Updated Jul 11, 2024 at 5:18AM EST [Follow us](https://profile.google.com/cp/CgkvbS8wNTc4bWs) Share Summarize with AI ## Key Points - Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) is a philosophy some people choose to adopt. - While I can certainly get on board with the idea of financial freedom, early retirement doesn't actually appeal to me. - I also don't like the idea of living an exceedingly frugal lifestyle when none of us have any idea what the future holds. I've never really been the type of person to embrace fads or trends. When my childhood friends were doing everything humanly possible to poof up their hair back in the '80s, I was pulling mine into a ponytail and calling it a day. And when the grunge movement took over in the '90s, I refused to spend my after-school hours listening to depressing music or limit my wardrobe to ripped jeans and oversized flannels. Similarly, in the context of financial matters, I've never been inclined to jump on the latest trend. When meme stocks were all the rage, I stuck with the companies I knew and trusted. And when everyone I knew was buying crypto, I stayed away because it wasn't in my comfort zone. ![A person running.](https://g.foolcdn.com/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fg.foolcdn.com%2Feditorial%2Fimages%2F782142%2Fwoman-running-gettyimages-1441759606.jpg&w=3840&op=resize) Image source: Getty Images. Along these lines, I've done my fair share of reading about the FIRE movement in the context of retirement planning. Short for Financial Independence, Retire Early, the FIRE movement encourages people to live well below their means, save the bulk of their income, and attain financial security at a young enough age to stop working well ahead of their peers. While I can see why the FIRE movement appeals to some people, it's something I rejected from the start. Here's why -- and what I'm doing to prepare for retirement instead. ## I believe in saving money, but only to a point I've always been a pretty aggressive saver, even back when my only source of income was the \$5 per hour I earned as a babysitter during my high school years. At the same time, I'm a big proponent of enjoying life. And I feel that the [FIRE movement](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2024/06/04/the-fire-movement-has-1-big-flaw-so-you-may-want-t/) would impede my ability to do that. I won't say how much of my income I save for retirement now, but I'll acknowledge that it's above the 15% to 20% many financial experts recommend. But some FIRE movement folks will tell you that you should be saving 50% of your income, 70%, or even more. Frankly, I can't see how that would be possible without making myself miserable. Maybe it's also the fact that I have three kids, and that's an expense right there. But even if that weren't the case, I can't see how spending just 30% of my paycheck would make for an enjoyable existence. It would probably mean living in cramped quarters, never taking vacations, and driving a car with taped-on windows (after driving the same car for 17 years, I almost got to that point, but I upgraded just in time). I just don't see that as a healthy or reasonable way to live. ## I'm striking a balance that works for me A big part of the reason I've never been into the FIRE movement is that I don't *want* to [retire early](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2024/02/04/3-pitfalls-to-be-mindful-of-if-youre-retiring-earl/). Part of me, in fact, never really wants to retire at all. Now the part of the movement I *am* a fan of is the financial independence aspect. The idea of not having to rely on a job for income sounds nice in theory. But I'm not willing to sacrifice my family's happiness to get to that point in my 40s. None of us have a crystal ball, and I unfortunately know too many people who have passed away at younger ages than what's the norm. I take comfort in the fact that some of those people enjoyed life to the fullest while they were still on this planet. And I'm not going to sacrifice near-term joy when I have no idea what the future holds. Of course, I'm not going to *avoid* saving for retirement because there's no guarantee of living to a certain age, either. There needs to be a balance. To me, it's somewhere in between saving more than 15% to 20% of my income, but definitely not 50%. It's also worth noting that it's more than possible to pull off early retirement without setting aside 50% of your income or more each year. If you start early and invest well, you may find that you can retire in your 50s on relatively modest monthly [retirement plan](https://www.fool.com/retirement/plans/) contributions. But that strategy won't work if you want to retire in your 30s or 40s. To do that, you probably need to take frugal living to a pretty big extreme. I respect people who have the dedication to do that. I'm just not one of them. ## Read Next Mar 28, 2026 •By [Maurie Backman](https://www.fool.com/author/14582/) [Roth 401(k) Accounts No Longer Require RMDs -- What That Changes for Your Strategy](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2026/03/28/roth-401k-accounts-no-longer-require-rmds-what-tha/) Mar 28, 2026 •By [Kailey Hagen, CFP](https://www.fool.com/author/20025/) [Is Hawaii Really the Worst State to Retire In?](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2026/03/28/is-hawaii-really-the-worst-state-to-retire-in/) Mar 28, 2026 •By [Maurie Backman](https://www.fool.com/author/14582/) [The Sneaky Reason Your Medicare Costs Could Double](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2026/03/28/the-sneaky-reason-your-medicare-costs-could-double/) Mar 28, 2026 •By [Kailey Hagen, CFP](https://www.fool.com/author/20025/) [Can a Married Couple Retire on Social Security Alone?](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2026/03/28/can-a-married-couple-retire-on-social-security-alo/) Mar 28, 2026 •By [Kailey Hagen, CFP](https://www.fool.com/author/20025/) [This Could Be Your Best Retirement Account if You Plan to Retire in Your Mid-50s](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2026/03/28/this-could-be-your-best-retirement-account-if-you/) Mar 28, 2026 •By [Justin Pope](https://www.fool.com/author/6581/) [What Happens to Your 401(k) When You Die? What Heirs Need to Know in 2026.](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2026/03/28/what-happens-to-your-401k-when-you-die-what-heirs/) ### About the Author ![Maurie Backman](https://g.foolcdn.com/avatar/2033483271/large.ashx?_w=3840) Maurie Backman is a contributing Motley Fool retirement and Social Security expert with more than a decade of experience writing about personal finance, investing, and retirement planning. Maurie previously worked in finance analyzing distressed companies. She studied finance at Binghamton University. [TMFBookNerd](https://www.fool.com/author/14582/) *The Motley Fool has a [disclosure policy](https://www.fool.com/legal/fool-disclosure-policy/).* ## Premium Investing Services Invest better with The Motley Fool. Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and more from The Motley Fool's premium services. 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Readable Markdown

I've never really been the type of person to embrace fads or trends. When my childhood friends were doing everything humanly possible to poof up their hair back in the '80s, I was pulling mine into a ponytail and calling it a day. And when the grunge movement took over in the '90s, I refused to spend my after-school hours listening to depressing music or limit my wardrobe to ripped jeans and oversized flannels. Similarly, in the context of financial matters, I've never been inclined to jump on the latest trend. When meme stocks were all the rage, I stuck with the companies I knew and trusted. And when everyone I knew was buying crypto, I stayed away because it wasn't in my comfort zone. ![A person running.](https://g.foolcdn.com/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fg.foolcdn.com%2Feditorial%2Fimages%2F782142%2Fwoman-running-gettyimages-1441759606.jpg&w=3840&op=resize) Image source: Getty Images. Along these lines, I've done my fair share of reading about the FIRE movement in the context of retirement planning. Short for Financial Independence, Retire Early, the FIRE movement encourages people to live well below their means, save the bulk of their income, and attain financial security at a young enough age to stop working well ahead of their peers. While I can see why the FIRE movement appeals to some people, it's something I rejected from the start. Here's why -- and what I'm doing to prepare for retirement instead. ## I believe in saving money, but only to a point I've always been a pretty aggressive saver, even back when my only source of income was the \$5 per hour I earned as a babysitter during my high school years. At the same time, I'm a big proponent of enjoying life. And I feel that the [FIRE movement](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2024/06/04/the-fire-movement-has-1-big-flaw-so-you-may-want-t/) would impede my ability to do that. I won't say how much of my income I save for retirement now, but I'll acknowledge that it's above the 15% to 20% many financial experts recommend. But some FIRE movement folks will tell you that you should be saving 50% of your income, 70%, or even more. Frankly, I can't see how that would be possible without making myself miserable. Maybe it's also the fact that I have three kids, and that's an expense right there. But even if that weren't the case, I can't see how spending just 30% of my paycheck would make for an enjoyable existence. It would probably mean living in cramped quarters, never taking vacations, and driving a car with taped-on windows (after driving the same car for 17 years, I almost got to that point, but I upgraded just in time). I just don't see that as a healthy or reasonable way to live. ## I'm striking a balance that works for me A big part of the reason I've never been into the FIRE movement is that I don't *want* to [retire early](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2024/02/04/3-pitfalls-to-be-mindful-of-if-youre-retiring-earl/). Part of me, in fact, never really wants to retire at all. Now the part of the movement I *am* a fan of is the financial independence aspect. The idea of not having to rely on a job for income sounds nice in theory. But I'm not willing to sacrifice my family's happiness to get to that point in my 40s. None of us have a crystal ball, and I unfortunately know too many people who have passed away at younger ages than what's the norm. I take comfort in the fact that some of those people enjoyed life to the fullest while they were still on this planet. And I'm not going to sacrifice near-term joy when I have no idea what the future holds. Of course, I'm not going to *avoid* saving for retirement because there's no guarantee of living to a certain age, either. There needs to be a balance. To me, it's somewhere in between saving more than 15% to 20% of my income, but definitely not 50%. It's also worth noting that it's more than possible to pull off early retirement without setting aside 50% of your income or more each year. If you start early and invest well, you may find that you can retire in your 50s on relatively modest monthly [retirement plan](https://www.fool.com/retirement/plans/) contributions. But that strategy won't work if you want to retire in your 30s or 40s. To do that, you probably need to take frugal living to a pretty big extreme. I respect people who have the dedication to do that. I'm just not one of them.

ML Classification

ML Categories

/Finance		99.4%
/Finance/Financial_Planning_and_Management		75.5%
/Finance/Financial_Planning_and_Management/Retirement_and_Pension		74.7%

Raw JSON

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    "/Finance/Financial_Planning_and_Management/Retirement_and_Pension": 747
}

ML Page Types

/Article		99.9%
/Article/Opinion_Piece		95.4%

Raw JSON

{
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    "/Article/Opinion_Piece": 954
}

ML Intent Types

Informational

99.9%

Raw JSON

{
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}

Content Metadata

Language

Author

Maurie Backman

Publish Time

2024-07-11 09:18:00 (1 year ago)

Original Publish Time

2024-07-11 09:18:00 (1 year ago)

Republished

Word Count (Total)

1,681

Word Count (Content)

733

Links

External Links

Internal Links

160

Technical SEO

Meta Nofollow

Meta Noarchive

JS Rendered

Yes

Redirect Target

null

Performance

Download Time (ms)

380

TTFB (ms)

348

Download Size (bytes)

38,132

Shard

88 (laksa)

Root Hash

16263700115757751488

Unparsed URL

com,fool!www,/retirement/2024/07/11/heres-why-i-rejected-the-fire-movement-and-how-im/ s443