For anyone new to the concept, FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. The movement began in the US in the 1990s and gained popularity in the UK during the 2000s.
The core idea of traditional FIRE is simple in theory:
save and invest aggressively until your portfolio is large enough to cover all of your living expenses for the rest of your life. Once you reach that point, you can stop working entirely — often decades earlier than the state retirement age.
Some people have achieved this in their 20s or 30s. For most of us, however, the reality looks very different.
Why Traditional FIRE Didn’t Fully Work for Me
I discovered the FIRE movement in my thirties, and many of its principles immediately resonated with me. I liked the focus on:
- Spending intentionally
- Reducing consumerism
- Saving and investing for freedom and flexibility
- Not working full-time until nearly 70
But when I ran the numbers for full FIRE, the timeline was sobering. Even with disciplined saving, my FIRE “number” was so high that I wouldn’t realistically retire much earlier than a normal retirement age.
That’s when I started exploring semi-retirement FIRE — and it completely changed my approach.
Instead of aiming to never work again, my goal became much simpler:
Build enough assets so I never have to work full-time again.
Over time, I realised there are many advantages to semi-retirement — and for many people, it may be a more realistic and enjoyable path than traditional FIRE.
Semi-Retirement vs Traditional FIRE: Key Differences
Before diving into the reasons, here’s a quick comparison:
| Factor | Semi-Retirement | Traditional FIRE |
|---|---|---|
| Savings required | Lower | Much higher |
| Time to reach | Shorter | Longer |
| Ongoing work | Part-time or flexible | None |
| Lifestyle balance | High | All-or-nothing |
| Accessibility | More realistic for average earners | Often favours high earners |
1. Semi-Retirement Can Be Reached Much Sooner Than Full FIRE
Because semi-retirement includes some ongoing income, you don’t need to accumulate such a large investment portfolio before stepping back from full-time work.
Even modest part-time income can significantly reduce how much you need invested, which means:
- Less pressure to save extreme percentages
- A shorter timeline
- More flexibility if markets perform poorly
For me, this made the goal feel achievable rather than overwhelming.
2. Doing Some Work Is Actually Good for Us
The dream of never working again at 40 sounds appealing — but for many people, complete retirement can feel empty surprisingly quickly.
After the novelty wears off, unlimited free time can lead to:
- Loss of structure
- Reduced sense of purpose
- Less appreciation for leisure time
Working two or three days a week provides balance. It gives structure to the week and makes the days off far more enjoyable.
3. Semi-Retirement Avoids the “Cliff Edge” of Full FIRE
Traditional FIRE can feel like an all-or-nothing leap:
- Decades of intense saving
- Constantly watching every expense
- Then suddenly stopping work forever
Semi-retirement is a gentler transition. You gradually rebalance work and life instead of switching everything off overnight.
For me, that feels far more sustainable — both financially and psychologically.
4. You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Your Best Years
Reaching full FIRE often requires major sacrifices:
- Fewer holidays
- Tight budgets
- Saying no to experiences
If you’re doing this throughout your 20s and 30s, those sacrifices can add up to real regret later on.
Semi-retirement allows you to:
- Save consistently without extreme deprivation
- Enjoy life now and plan for the future
- Avoid postponing happiness for a date decades away
5. You Still Get Most of the Benefits of Full FIRE
The main appeal of FIRE isn’t never working again — it’s:
- Escaping a stressful 9–5
- Gaining control over your time
- Spending more time on what you love
Semi-retirement delivers most of these benefits:
- More flexibility
- Less stress
- More time with family and hobbies
The difference is you get them sooner.
6. Semi-Retirement Is More Achievable for Average Earners
One of the biggest criticisms of FIRE is that it mainly benefits high earners.
While there’s some truth to that for full FIRE, semi-retirement is far more accessible. You don’t need a massive salary — just consistency, planning, and realistic expectations.
As an average earner myself, semi-retirement felt like a goal that actually fit my life rather than forcing my life to fit the goal.
Final Thoughts: Is Semi-Retirement Better Than Traditional FIRE?
For some people, traditional FIRE will always be the goal — and that’s great.
But for many others, semi-retirement offers:
- A faster path to freedom
- Less stress
- More balance
- Fewer sacrifices
For me, the semi-retirement journey feels not just easier, but more enjoyable and sustainable in the long run.
If you’re weighing up semi-retirement vs traditional FIRE, this middle path may be worth serious consideration.
Semi-Retire FIRE 