Description
Most people believe they need to work until their sixties before they can retire. The common path is to study, find a job, work harder and harder, and then one day finally enjoy the fruits of decades of labor. But for many, this path feels heavy. The thought of spending the best years of life chained to an office desk or surviving paycheck to paycheck is depressing. Scott Rieckens, the author of Playing with FIRE, felt this same frustration—until he discovered a different way.
Scott was living what looked like a dream life in California. He and his wife had good jobs, a decent income, and the luxuries that came with it—dinners out, trendy gadgets, expensive smoothies, and even plans for a perfect home. Yet, beneath the surface, there was stress. Despite earning over ,000 a year, they were saving almost nothing. College savings for their child, a house purchase, and retirement all looked impossible without decades of hard work.
One morning, while commuting to work, Scott heard an interview with a man who had retired in his thirties. This man followed something called FIRE—Financial Independence, Retire Early. The idea was simple: if you save aggressively, cut down unnecessary spending, and invest wisely, you can buy back your most precious resource—time. Scott immediately ran the numbers. If he and his wife cut their expenses in half and invested consistently, they could retire in about ten years. That realization was life-changing.
Financial independence does not mean stopping work completely. It means freedom. Once you have enough savings and investments to cover your living expenses, you don’t have to work for money anymore. Some people keep working but choose projects they truly love. Others switch careers, start businesses, or dedicate themselves to art, travel, or family. The point is not laziness. The point is choice.
Scott shares many stories of people who used FIRE to redesign their lives. One lawyer who lived through Hurricane Katrina realized how fragile material things are. She started living frugally, paid off her loans, and eventually opened her own law firm with confidence because money no longer controlled her. Another young couple earning under ,000 per year still managed to save aggressively, lower expenses, and set themselves on track for independence in just a few years.
The math behind FIRE is straightforward. You calculate how much you spend each year, and then aim to save twenty-five times that amount. Why twenty-five? Because research shows that if you withdraw only about 4% of your savings each year, your money should last indefinitely, even with market ups and downs. For example, if your family spends ,000 annually, you need about million invested. That million, earning roughly 5–7% per year in the market, can provide for you forever if managed carefully.
Of course, saving that much sounds impossible at first. But FIRE teaches people to focus on the biggest expenses first: housing, transportation, and food. Downsizing your home, moving to a more affordable city, owning a reliable used car instead of leasing a flashy new one, cooking at home instead of dining out every night—these changes save thousands every year. Scott and his wife, for example, moved from expensive California to Oregon, where housing was cheaper, schools were excellent, and outdoor life was rich. They sold one car and learned to live with less.
Once you cut spending, the second half of FIRE is investing wisely. Scott explains that you don’t need complicated strategies or expensive advisors. Low-cost index funds, which spread investments across the whole stock market, are a favorite tool. They are cheap, stable, and historically grow steadily over time. Real estate or small side businesses can also be part of the plan, but the key is avoiding high fees and risky bets.
Another important part of FIRE is values. Scott admits he was nervous about telling his wife at first. What if she hated the idea of cutting back? Instead of starting with numbers, he asked her to list the ten things that made her happiest each week. Surprisingly, neither of them listed “expensive restaurants” or “designer gadgets.” Their joy came from time with their daughter, nature, health, and relationships. That exercise showed them that they were wasting money on things that didn’t matter. Real happiness was cheaper than they thought.
But living frugally doesn’t mean you never enjoy life. In fact, many FIRE families warn against going to extremes. Scott shares the story of one Christmas when they had cut their budget too much and felt miserable. They quickly learned that FIRE should not be about punishment. It’s about intentional spending—choosing what really matters and letting go of what doesn’t. You can still celebrate holidays, travel, or buy gifts, but with thoughtfulness instead of blind consumerism.
Another challenge is social pressure. Friends may not understand why you skip fancy vacations or decline expensive dinners. FIRE can sound extreme or even strange to outsiders. That’s why connecting with a community helps. Scott and his wife found encouragement at retreats and online forums where thousands of people shared similar goals. They discovered that FIRE was not a cult or a secret club—it was simply a group of people from all walks of life who wanted more freedom.
The most important lesson of FIRE is that it is for everyone. You don’t need a six-figure income. You don’t need to live like a monk. Whether you can retire in five years or thirty, the principles remain the same: save more than you spend, invest wisely, and spend on things that bring real joy instead of short-term thrills. Even small steps—like lowering bills, avoiding debt, and choosing a simpler lifestyle—create more freedom over time.
Scott’s journey with his wife and daughter proves that change is possible. Within months, they had halved their spending, relocated to a more affordable place, and set themselves on a path to financial independence. He even created a documentary to share the movement with others. Today, they are closer than ever to their goal of retiring young—not to stop living, but to start living more fully.
The core message of Playing with FIRE is powerful: money is not just for buying things. It is a tool for buying freedom. By being intentional with how you earn, save, and spend, you can step off the endless treadmill of consumerism and reclaim your life. You don’t have to wait until sixty-five. You can start now.
