Random Thoughts
Financial Independence
February 25, 2026
AI Summary / TL;DR
Financial independence, or "FIRE" (financial independence, retire early), is usually described as making enough money so you can retire—meaning you don't have to work anymore, but you still have enough to support yourself. But if that's the definition, then I have a friend who already "retired" at around He was in the Army, got seriously injured during training, and later received a 100% disability rating from the VA.
Financial independence, or "FIRE" (financial independence, retire early), is usually described as making enough money so you can retire—meaning you don't have to work anymore, but you still have enough to support yourself.
But if that's the definition, then I have a friend who already "retired" at around 23. He was in the Army, got seriously injured during training, and later received a 100% disability rating from the VA. Now he gets full VA disability benefits and doesn't have to work for the rest of his life.
And honestly, other people can end up in similar situations too—through disability claims, public benefits, food stamps, or other forms of government support. So what exactly is the definition of financial independence? What is the definition of "early retirement"?
That's why I think "financial independence" and "early retirement" can be kind of a dumb expression. If the goal is simply "not working," there are many ways to do that. Some people live on public benefits. Some people join the Army and do 20 years, then retire with a pension. If you join at 18, you can retire around 38 or 40, and plenty of people do exactly that. In some ways, that path is more achievable than trying to "make it" in crypto.
So when a lot of people say they want financial independence, what they really mean is they want to get rich. And that's fine—if you want to get rich, just say that. Don't dress it up as "I just want to quit my job." Because technically, you could quit your job right now if you are willing to cut your lifestyle hard enough.
If you stop working and reduce spending, you can survive on very little. Give up the car. Don't buy a house. Don't start a family. Don't have kids. As a single person, the cost of living can be much lower than people assume—especially if your only goal is to survive.
So if you truly want to get rich, then yes, maybe it makes sense to chase high-upside markets like crypto. But if your real goal is just "early retirement," then I think people should rethink their options and rethink their lifestyle first. A lot of people are trapped by spending habits, especially with credit cards—using money they don't have to buy things they don't need.
If you want to get rich, say so. But if you want to stop working, you might already be closer to that than you think—if you're willing to give up the things you don't actually need.
Sources & Further Reading
