The Financial Independence Number That Actually Matters (Coast FI + How Much You Actually Need)

Most conversations around financial independence focus on extreme saving, early retirement, and rigid timelines. But for most of us, that approach is not realistic, and more importantly, it is not necessary. In this video, I break down Coast FI – the financial milestone that gives you flexibility, removes pressure, and allows your investments to do the heavy lifting over time. If you want a version of financial independence that feels sustainable and aligned with how you actually want to live your life, this is the number to focus on.

We cover:
👉🏻 What Coast FI actually is and why it matters
👉🏻 How to calculate your Coast FI number step-by-step
👉🏻 How to realistically work towards it
👉🏻 Why you should be recalculating it every year

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Personal Finance Starter Kit:
https://breakyourbudget.substack.com/p/your-personal-finance-starter-kit

BREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:
💸 Personal Finance Dashboard:
https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard
💸 Basic Budgeting Template:
https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template
💸 FI/RE Template:
https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template
💸 RENT VS. BUY CALCULATOR
https://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculator

💳 Tools + Cards I Use:
Rakuten Cash Back: https://shorturl.at/w0PcH
HYSA: https://secure.money.com/pr/pa5344bfc4f2
AmEx Platinum: https://tinyurl.com/2rkrysw2
Bilt Rewards: https://tinyurl.com/4kd8s33a
Blue Cash Everyday: https://tinyurl.com/yrcbr2ac

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Timestamps:
00:00 – Why traditional FIRE feels unrealistic
01:10 – What Coast FI actually is
02:30 – What “coasting” really means
03:45 – Why this milestone matters
05:00 – The 3 inputs you need to calculate it
06:15 – Using the 4% rule for your retirement number
07:30 – Example: $2M retirement scenario
08:45 – Walking through the FIRE planner
11:15 – Your Coast FI number vs timeline
12:30 – How to actually reach Coast FI
14:20 – Why you need to recalculate every year
15:30 – Final thoughts

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