Because the point of money isn't to have more money. It's to stop worrying about money.
Decades of happiness research point to the same conclusion: once your basic needs are covered, more money doesn't do much. What actually helps? Strong relationships and meaningful work.
But here's the catch — it's hard to prioritize those things when you're anxious about making rent or stressed about your job security. Money isn't the goal. It's the foundation that lets you focus on what matters.
Ever declined plans with friends because of a work deadline? Stayed in a draining job because you needed the income? Felt guilty taking a week off? That's what financial stress does. It narrows your options until "can I afford this?" becomes the first question about everything.
This calculator helps you see when the question changes:
Before:
"Can I afford to take time off?"
After:
"Do I want to take time off?"
That shift happens in stages. And each stage unlocks different choices.
You have a year of expenses in accessible savings. One bad month won't wreck you. You can breathe.
Your investments will grow to cover retirement on their own. You can shift to work you love—even if it pays less—without compromising your future.
Your portfolio supports your spending indefinitely. Work becomes optional. You choose what Tuesday looks like.
Not "never work again" (unless you want that). More like: when can you take a year off? When can you go part-time? When can you switch to that job you'd love but pays less? When can you stop optimizing for comp and start optimizing for life?
That's what this calculator helps you figure out. Not a retirement date. A freedom date. The point where money stops being the reason you can't make a change.
Did this calculator help you figure out your future? I'd love to hear what you're planning to do with your time once you hit coast or quit.
This calculator shows you when money stops being the reason you can't make a change. But here's the real secret: meaningful relationships, creative projects, and time with people you love? Those don't require financial independence.