I want to give a candid assessment of what it's actually like to live on a lean FIRE budget, because the lifestyle gets glossed over.

I retired early at 44 with a $38,000/year budget for two people. Here's what that actually looks like in a mid-cost US city.

Housing: we own a paid-off house (purchased before FIRE). No housing cost except taxes ($3,200/year), insurance ($1,800/year), and maintenance.

Transportation: one paid-off car, minimal driving. $2,400/year including insurance.

Food: $700/month cooking at home, occasional dining out. $8,400/year.

Health insurance: ACA marketplace plan, $6,000/year in premiums plus deductible reserve.

Everything else (utilities, entertainment, travel, personal care, clothing, gifts): $12,000/year.

Total: $33,800, with $4,200 buffer.

The budget is sustainable and our life genuinely feels full. But it requires intentionality about every significant discretionary purchase. This isn't deprivation, but it's not abundance either.