How Regular People Can Achieve Coast FI in Their 30s

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Aug 8, 2025

Corey, co-creator of The Fioneers personal finance blog, joins the discussion alongside his partner Jessica, who transformed her life after a stressful corporate job. They introduce the concept of Coast FI, a sustainable path to early retirement that promotes mental health and joy. Discover their journey from earning $30,000 combined to achieving financial independence in their 30s, balancing work-life satisfaction with financial stability. Learn how simple, incremental actions can lead to living a fulfilling life without sacrificing happiness.

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INSIGHT

Coast FI Defined

Coast FI is when your current savings will grow to fully fund retirement without more contributions.
It lets you stop aggressive saving and let compounding carry you to traditional retirement.

ANECDOTE

Burnout Triggered The Coast FI Shift

Jessica took six months off for severe burnout and anxiety, which forced a reevaluation of their FI plan.
That break led them to discover Coast FI and redesign life to protect mental health.

ANECDOTE

Net Worth Split At The Inflection

In 2018 Corey recorded roughly half their net worth in retirement accounts, significant real estate, and about $60,000 cash.
That asset mix gave them liquidity for near-term needs while funding long-term retirement growth.

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Coast FI is a fascinating concept that's gaining traction in the financial independence community. And no, to Mindy's disappointment, it doesn't involve having enough money to live beachside (though the lifestyle can be just as relaxing). Unlike the extreme FIRE approach that dominates personal finance blogs—where you're told to save every penny, never eat out, and forget about vacations—Coast FI offers a more sustainable path to early retirement.

Enter Jessica and Corey from The Fioneers, who've proven this gentler approach actually works. When they discovered the FI movement, they were earning just $30,000 combined—hardly a six-figure head start. As their income grew, so did their savings rate, but Jessica quickly realized that climbing the corporate ladder came with a hidden cost. The stress became so overwhelming that she needed a six-month mental health break from work.

That break changed everything. Jessica never returned to traditional employment, instead building her own business. Today, she and Corey have achieved what they call "slow FI"—they're Coast FI with complete time autonomy, still enjoying travel and comfortable living, while on track to retire in their early 50s. They're living proof that financial independence doesn't require sacrificing your mental health, relationships, or joy along the way.

Their story challenges the narrative that you must choose between financial freedom and actually living your life. Sometimes, the scenic route gets you exactly where you need to go.

In This Episode We Cover

Coast FI explained and how it’s a far more enjoyable alternative to standard financial independence
Saving and investing even while making a below-median income salary
Resisting lifestyle creep and how to use pay raises to increase your net worth
The danger of going “too fast to FI” and how retiring too early can be a detriment
Part-time jobs, side hustles, and other ways that you can make more apart from your W2
Spending money to “escape” and how quitting a stressful job could save you more money

And So Much More!

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