Financial Independence Basics Playbook

Most FIRE content assumes a six-figure salary and no responsibilities. This playbook is built for teachers, nurses, tradespeople, parents, and freelancers. It walks you through an honest snapshot of pay and spending, finds the one leak worth fixing first, computes your FIRE number with the 25x rule, and shows your Coast FIRE checkpoint — the milestone that usually lands years earlier and keeps you motivated. You finish with a one-page monthly engine: three actions, a 15-minute check-in, and the ratchet rule that beats lifestyle creep without willpower. Every section ships as copy-paste prompts your Personal Finance Ally executes with you, stopping at each approval gate so the plan is always yours. Plain language, no shaming, no promises.