95: Coasting to Financial Independence

In this episode of Money Feels, Alyssa and Bridget explore the emotional, psychological, and financial reality of Coast FIRE, and why this middle ground might actually be the version of financial freedom more people are craving.

We unpack what it means to “coast” financially, to build enough early on that your future is taken care of, without sacrificing your entire present to get there. We talk about the tension between security and freedom, the pressure to optimize your money, and why stepping off the gas can feel both relieving… and deeply uncomfortable.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

• What Coast FIRE actually is (and how it’s different from traditional FIRE)
• Who Coast FIRE is for — and who it might not work for
• What counts as an “asset” when you’re calculating your Coast FIRE number
• How to actually do Coast FIRE (without becoming obsessed with the math)
• What it means for you financially once you hit that “coast” point
• The emotional shift from accumulation to maintenance
• The freedom Coast FIRE can offer — and why it can feel scary to trust it
• Why this might be the most realistic first step on your journey to FIRE

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