Start here

Updated November 4, 2026

Start here

Retiring early starts with one number: what your life costs in a year. Everything else, from how much to save to when you can stop, follows from it. These guides go in that order.

1. Know your numbers

1. Know what your life costs: a 12-month spending review
2. A budget you’ll keep: choosing a method that fits

2. Build the safety net

• Emergency fund: how much you need and where to keep it
• High-yield savings, CDs and Treasury bills

3. Save more, mostly by thinking big

• Cut the big three: housing, transport and food
• Savings rate: the number that decides when you can retire

4. Work out your number

• Your FI number: from annual spending to a target
• The 4% rule in plain English

5. Use the right accounts

• Tax-advantaged accounts for early retirees
• Getting at retirement money before 59½

These guides are general education. For decisions about your own situation, consider a fee-only financial planner or a tax professional.