FU money is enough savings to walk away from a job, a boss, or a bad situation without fear of the consequences. It comes in levels: a cash runway that lets you quit today, a Coast point where your investments will grow into full independence on their own, and a full FU number whose returns cover your spending for life.

Coast FU is the point where your invested money, left alone, will compound into your full FU number by your target age without another dollar of contributions. Once you reach it you still cover current expenses, but you can take any job you like because retirement is already funded.

Where should I keep my FU money?

Keep your escape money, the cash runway, somewhere safe and liquid such as a high-yield savings account so it is available the day you need it. The long-term FU portfolio that funds full independence belongs in diversified investments so it can grow and outpace inflation.

FU Money Calculator

Find your three numbers: the cash runway to quit today, the Coast point where work goes optional, and the full FU number that means you never have to work again.

Free · no sign-up · figures in today's dollars

Current age

Monthly expenses (what you spend)

Cash & liquid savings (your runway)

Invested portfolio

Amount you invest per year

Advanced assumptions

Expected annual return

Inflation

Safe withdrawal rate

Full FU target age

Progress to full FU money

Editorial note: This tool is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Projections are estimates based on the assumptions you enter and assume steady average returns, which real markets never deliver. Consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions.

What FU money really means

FU money (short for "fuck-you money") is enough savings to walk away from a job, a boss, or a bad situation without fear of what comes next. Most people picture it as a single giant number, but that framing hides how close real freedom already is. FU money arrives in levels, and the first one is a lot smaller than you think.

This calculator shows three of them: the cash runway that lets you quit today, the Coast point where your investments will finish the job on their own, and the full number whose returns cover your spending for life. Everything is shown in today's dollars.

The three levels of FU money

1. Escape money (your runway)

Escape money is the cash you could live on if you quit tomorrow with nothing lined up. It is measured in months: your liquid savings divided by your monthly expenses. Six to twelve months turns quitting from a crisis into a decision you get to make calmly. This is the level almost anyone can reach in a year or two, and it buys the most freedom per dollar.

2. Coast FU

Coast FU is the point where your invested money, left completely alone, will grow into your full FU number by your target age. You still need to cover today's bills, but you never have to save another dollar for the future. That means you can downshift to work you actually enjoy, or that simply pays less, without derailing your plan.

3. Full FU (never work again)

Full FU money is the classic number: a portfolio large enough that a safe withdrawal covers your spending forever. At a 4 percent withdrawal rate that is about 25 times your annual expenses. Reach it and paid work becomes entirely optional.

How much FU money do you need?

For escape money, aim for 6 to 12 months of expenses in cash. For full FU, take your annual spending and divide by your withdrawal rate. Someone who spends $48,000 a year needs about $1.2 million at a 4 percent rate to never work again. The gap between those two numbers is exactly why the levels matter: you can feel the effect of FU money long before you hit the seven-figure target.

Where to keep each level

Your escape money has one job: be there the day you need it. Keep it safe and liquid in a high-yield savings account rather than tied up in investments that might be down when you want to walk. The long-term FU portfolio is the opposite. It needs to grow, so it belongs in diversified investments that outpace inflation over decades.

Want the full picture? Run the standard numbers in the FIRE Calculator, aim higher with the FatFIRE Calculator, or see where you rank today with the Net Worth Percentile Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is FU money?

Enough savings to walk away from a job or situation without fear. It comes in levels, from a cash runway to a full portfolio that covers your spending for life.

How much FU money do I need?

Escape money is 6 to 12 months of expenses in cash. Full FU money is roughly 25 times your annual spending at a 4 percent withdrawal rate.

What is Coast FU?

The point where your current investments will grow into your full FU number by your target age with no further saving.

Where should I keep it?

Runway in a safe, liquid high-yield account; the long-term portfolio in diversified investments.

Methodology. Runway (months) = cash and liquid savings ÷ monthly expenses. Full FU number = annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate. Real return = (1 + expected return) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1. Coast FU number = full FU number ÷ (1 + real return) ^ (target age − current age). Years to full FU is projected year by year from your total savings, growing at the real return with your annual contribution added, until it reaches the full FU number. All figures are in today's dollars and assume constant average returns.