You want to retire early. Who doesn’t?
Then one fine evening, Instagram decides you’re “finance-curious,” and boom — a self-proclaimed money guru appears.
He leans in, whispers dramatically: “The power of compounding is all you need!”
'cos Life isn't a Spreadsheet
And let’s not even start on life’s curveballs — another kid, a dream car, aging parents, or simply the urge to travel somewhere that doesn’t serve chai in a cutting glass. None of these get factored in.
That’s why I’m building ClearFIRE — a FIRE calculator that starts with your expenses and your life goals, not some fairy-tale compounding chart.
Because life isn’t a spreadsheet.
Because here’s the problem: most FIRE calculators (and Instagram gurus) skip the fine print.
Sure, investing ₹10,000 a month could make you a Crore in a couple of decades. But by then, that Crore might just buy you… a 100 sq ft apartment in Mumbai. With no balcony. And possibly no bathroom.
You nod. Sounds logical. Almost too easy.
So you try it out — you punch your numbers into a random FIRE calculator online.
And guess what? Ding ding ding! You’re on your way to achieve FIRE, and start dreaming of a life sipping coconuts on a beach.
But before you send that resignation email with the subject line “Goodbye, suckers” — hold up.
And did anyone tell you India’s education inflation is among the highest in the world? Over 15%. Yep, that’s right. By the time your toddler goes to college, their tuition fees might look more like a startup’s seed funding round.
