FIRE: Your best guide to retire in 30’s

Imagine waking up on a Monday morning and, for a change, not dreading the week ahead. You don’t have to commute and attend endless meetings. Your boss isn’t breathing down your neck. Rather, you sip your coffee slowly. Maybe you go for a walk in the hills, or read a book, or work on a passion project. Sounds like a fairy tale? No, that’s exactly what FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is.

How do I know you ask? It’s obvious, I am living it. 

The corporate grind took away 23 years of my life. But I decided, not anymore. And I FIREd at 45. The blur of 12-hour days, endless deadlines, and the chaos of city life is over. I have moved to Dehradun for a simple and slower life. I am at peace. And, I am surrounded by nature, my first love. I travel, read, experiment with winemaking, socialize, and spend quality time with myself, family, and new friends. And I assure you, this freedom is priceless! 

I am sharing my journey here. And you might just get a roadmap to achieving FIRE, possibly even in your 30s.

So, what on earth is FIRE?

FIRE is an acronym for Financial Independence, Retire Early. And yeah, it is not about quitting life. In my opinion, it as quitting the dependency on money from a typical 9-5 grind, and you should too. I built a financial cushion called a corpus such that investments, passive income, or side hustles covered all my living expenses. I had a number in mind, and once I hit a little above that number, I was free!

But here’s the kicker: retirement in FIRE doesn’t mean “doing nothing.” In my opinion, retirement means freedom. Freedom to do the things I want without having to worry about how to pay the bills. Be it traveling, pursuing hobbies, starting a business, or simply living at my own pace. FIRE gives me the options.

When and why did I do it?

Let’s be real. At least I didn’t dream of working till 60 only to “enjoy life” when my knees would be giving up. FIRE is about enjoying it now, when you actually can. It gave me – 

• More family time – Instead of missing my kid’s childhood, I get to be present.
• Time to Pursue my passions – The time I wanted to travel, the wine I wanted to brew, and more. FIRE made room for all of it.
• Escape from burnout – The corporate grind snatched my health and mental peace. FIRE broke the chain.
• Living on my terms – No more asking for leaves or approvals.

The why of FIRE is deeply personal. I wanted to escape the madness of corporate life and embrace slower living. I wanted to wake up to birdsongs, not alarms.

Defining “Retirement”

Here’s the biggest misconception people have: retirement = doing nothing. Wrong.

Retirement in the FIRE movement means:

• Not chasing money out of necessity.
• Having the time and freedom to pursue your passion.
• Living a life around choice instead of out of compulsion.

In my case, I still freelance. And hey, not because I HAVE to, but because I enjoy the mental tickle it gives me. I use it to cover my monthly expenses for now. But I have a rental income from my Pune flat, which I reinvest to grow my wealth further. If I want to pull the freelancing plug, I can do so without having a single thought. 

So you want to get started on the FIRE journey ,too?

If I can, I believe anyone can. But, before you get into the numbers, take a pause. First, find the why. Ask yourself: Why do you want FIRE?

• Is it for the freedom from the 9-5?
• Is it for traveling more?
• Is it for spending more time with family?
• Is it for creative expression?

Find your why. Unless you’re clear on the “why,” no amount of money will be enough. FIRE is as much about mindset as it is about the money.

The Wheel of Life: Taking a Balanced Approach in FIRE

In the wheel of life, money is just one of the spokes. Apart from the money, the wheel of life has segments like:

• Health
• Relationships
• Career/Business
• Spiritual Growth
• Personal Growth
• Fun & Recreation
• Contribution

So let’s say if you’re rich but lonely or healthy but broke. What would happen? The wheel gets unbalanced, and it won’t roll smoothly. While chasing FIRE, keep all areas of life in check. Believe me or not, the fact is that a fat bank balance means nothing if you’re too stressed to enjoy it.

What’s the FIRE number?

Ah, the golden question. And the obvious answer and the truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all! I don’t fancy luxuries. Flexing multiple or multi-crore properties. I don’t drive a luxury car. A small car that can take me places is enough. I am not into fancy gadgets. For me, crossing the ₹1 crore mark across my investments (Mutual Funds, PPF, NPS, Child Education Funds) plus owning a property debt-free was the tipping point. To add to that, income from rental and freelancing made me confident enough to take the plunge.

I hear the “so-called” experts give a number as big as ₹10 crore. Don’t get overwhelmed. Just set your priorities right and arrive at your number. FIRE number is and has to be personal, not borrowed. You have to earn it, not someone else. So choose a number depending on the lifestyle you want after FIRE, your family size, and your expenses.

Calculating Your FIRE Corpus

Now that you understand that your FIRE number depends on your priorities, here’s a sample illustration to figure it out:

1. Realistically state your annual expenses. Let’s say you spend ₹6 lakhs a year today.  That’s your baseline.
2. Apply the 33x Rule. Multiply annual expenses by 33. (₹6 lakhs x 33 = ₹1.98 crores). That’s roughly the corpus you need.
3. Inflation factor. Remember, ₹6 lakhs today won’t be the same 10 years later. While applying the 33x rule, this has been factored in. 
4. Include safety nets. Make provision for health insurance, emergency funds, and kids’ education.

The point isn’t to hit a magic number overnight, but to have clarity on your target.

My Personal FIRE Strategy

• Flat: I bought a property in Pune very early in my career. So I started paying the EMIs early, but as I climbed up the ladder, it didn’t feel like a burden. I cleared the loan through my corporate grind. It now earns rental income. And yes, I strongly believe one property is enough. I don’t want to buy more to grind more. A fulfilling life is better than a life spent chasing materialistic pleasures.
• Investments: Built wealth steadily through Mutual Funds, PPF, and NPS.
• Side Hustles: Freelancing covers my current monthly bills. I don’t touch my savings.
• Lifestyle Choices: Moved to Dehradun for slower, more affordable living amidst nature. That cut down my monthly expenses by a whopping 70%. 

This mix gave me financial independence and the courage to step off the corporate treadmill.

The Real Secret

It’s not just about money. It’s about mindset. Numbers can be calculated easily; what’s harder is truly believing you can step away from the rat race. I have realized most people are trapped not because they don’t have enough, but because they’re scared. Scared of the calculated corpus not being enough. Scared of the unknown. Sometimes even scared of having to do nothing post-FIRE! 

Are you ready to Design Your Own FIRE Journey?

If you’ve read this far, chances are that you, too, are craving FIRE. You’re tired of the grind. You’re ready for a life of freedom. The good news? It’s possible to FIRE sooner than you think.

I coach people who want to design their FIRE journey—not just the numbers, but the mindset and lifestyle shift it takes. Because the truth is: your FIRE plan has to be unique to you.

👉 Enroll in my FREE discovery call today and let’s map out your path to Financial Independence and Early Retirement.

Your 30s could be your golden decade—not for grinding harder, but for living freer. The question is: are you ready to take the first step?