The fire calculator is one of the most useful tools for people who want to reach financial independence and retire early (FIRE). It helps you see how your savings, income, and expenses can grow or change over time, and it tells you how likely it is that you’ll reach your retirement goals. But once you create a plan using this tool, what comes next?



That’s where exporting and tracking your FIRE plan becomes very important.



In this article, we’ll explain how you can export your FIRE plan from The fire calculator and then track your progress over time. Whether you're just starting your FIRE journey or you’re already well on your way, this step-by-step guide will help you stay organized, focused, and motivated.



Why Exporting Your FIRE Plan Matters

Let’s start with a simple question: why should you even bother exporting your plan?



Here are a few important reasons:



Record Keeping: You want to save your inputs and results for future comparison.



Progress Tracking: Over time, your income, expenses, and savings will change. Exporting your current plan gives you a “snapshot” to compare with future updates.



Motivation: Seeing your numbers and probabilities in front of you keeps you motivated to stay on track.



Backup: If anything changes or if the site updates, you won’t lose your work.



Sharing: You might want to show your partner or financial advisor your plan.



So exporting your plan is like saving a digital copy of your financial future—a very smart move.



What Can You Export from The Fire Calculator?

The fire calculator provides a detailed breakdown of your financial future based on your inputs. While there’s no official “download” button on the site (as of now), you can still capture the key pieces of information by following some simple steps.



The main things you’ll want to export are:



Input Settings – This includes your age, savings, retirement age, investment returns, yearly contributions, and spending.



Simulation Results – The probability of success, yearly balances, and other metrics.



Graphs and Charts – The visual timeline of how your portfolio may grow or shrink over time.



Now let’s explore how you can save all of this in a simple and easy way.



Step-by-Step: How to Export Your FIRE Plan

There are a few easy ways to export your plan depending on how you want to use the data later.



Option 1: Take Screenshots

This is the simplest and fastest way to save your plan.



Set your inputs on The fire calculator as you normally would.



Once your simulation runs, scroll through the entire page.



Use your device to take screenshots of each important section:



Inputs (Age, Savings, Spending)



Probability of Success



Graph of Portfolio Over Time



Additional Options or Advanced Settings



Tip: Name your screenshots with the date and plan name (like “LeanFIRE-May2025”) so you can find them easily later.



Option 2: Copy and Paste to a Spreadsheet

If you like to work in Excel or Google Sheets, this method is for you.



Set up your plan on The fire calculator.



Manually copy your input fields into a spreadsheet:



Starting age



Current savings



Annual contributions



Retirement spending



Investment returns



Scroll down and type in the simulation results (like success rate).



You can also copy the table of balances year by year if you’re comfortable copying text or typing manually.



This method takes a little more time but is great for organizing, customizing, and even comparing different scenarios in one document.



Option 3: Use a Note-Taking App

Apps like Notion, Evernote, or even simple apps like Apple Notes and Google Keep can be used to store your FIRE plan.



Here’s how:



Create a new note titled something like “FIRE Plan – April 2025.”



Type in all of your current data.



Write down your simulation results and success rate.



Add a few personal thoughts about how you’re feeling, what your goals are, or what you might change in the future.



This method is more personal and flexible and makes it easy to look back on how your mindset changed over time.



Step-by-Step: How to Track Your FIRE Plan Over Time

Now that you’ve exported your FIRE plan, how do you track your progress?



It’s not enough to make a plan once and forget about it. Financial independence is a journey—and like any journey, it needs check-ins.



Here’s a simple 4-step system to track your FIRE progress using your saved exports.



Step 1: Set a Review Schedule

You don’t need to update your plan every day. But it helps to pick a schedule that fits your life. Here are some ideas:



Monthly: Great if your income or savings rate changes often.



Quarterly: A popular choice. Check in every 3 months.



Yearly: Best for those with steady jobs or fixed savings plans.



Mark your calendar or set a reminder so you don’t forget.



Step 2: Compare New Inputs with Old Exports

Let’s say you exported your FIRE plan in January and now it’s April. You’ve saved more, maybe got a raise, or your expenses changed.



Here’s what you do:



Open your previous export (screenshots, spreadsheet, or notes).



Enter your updated numbers into The fire calculator.



Run the new simulation.



Compare the new success rate, retirement age, or balance chart with your previous version.



Even small changes can have a big effect on your retirement timeline.



Step 3: Make Notes and Adjust Goals

If you see that your plan is improving, that’s great! Celebrate that progress.



But if the plan is worse (maybe due to more spending or market downturn), don’t panic. Make notes like:



“Spending went up this quarter due to car repairs.”



“Bonus helped increase savings by $3,000.”



“Considering reducing retirement age by 1 year.”



These personal notes help you stay mindful and motivated.



Step 4: Create a Long-Term FIRE Journal

A fun and helpful idea is to keep a FIRE journal—digital or physical. Every time you update your plan, write a short entry:



Date



Key numbers



Simulation result



Thoughts and emotions



New ideas or strategies



Over time, you’ll build a timeline of your financial journey. It’s inspiring to look back and see how far you’ve come.



Common Tracking Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Here are a few mistakes people make when exporting and tracking their FIRE plan—and how to fix them.



Mistake 1: Not Saving Past Versions

It’s easy to forget where you started. If you only keep your most recent plan, you lose sight of your progress.



Fix: Always save new versions with a date label.



Mistake 2: Comparing Plans with Different Assumptions

If you change your retirement age or investment return but forget to note it, you might get confused when comparing two plans.



Fix: Always note what assumptions you used in each plan (like 7% return or $30,000 spending).



Mistake 3: Forgetting About Life Events

Real life affects your plan. Big expenses, job changes, or family additions can all change your timeline.



Fix: Add personal context to each plan when you export and review.



Advanced Tips for Power Users

If you really want to take your tracking to the next level, try these ideas:



Build a Comparison Spreadsheet

Create one sheet per month or quarter and compare:



Investment growth



Success rate



Retirement age



Changes in contributions or spending



Use charts or color coding to make trends easy to spot.



Add Net Worth Tracking

Include your current net worth in your export each time. Over time, you can see how your actual growth compares to what the calculator predicted.



Simulate Multiple Scenarios

Track three versions of your plan:



Best Case: Strong market, high savings



Base Case: Expected returns and spending



Worst Case: Low market returns or income drops



Export each and compare them regularly to stay prepared for any future.



Final Thoughts

The fire calculator is more than just a one-time tool. When used regularly—and tracked carefully—it becomes your personal guide toward financial freedom.



By exporting and saving your plans, you create a map of your journey. And by checking in every month or quarter, you stay on track, adjust to life’s changes, and make better decisions for the future.



It doesn’t take hours of work. A few minutes every month is enough to keep your plan alive and well.



So take the next step today:



Open The fire calculator



Run your current plan



Export it using the method that works best for you



Track your progress next month



Your future self will thank you.

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