Question 1

What is a FIRE calculator and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

A FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) calculator models how much capital you need to accumulate to sustain your living expenses without relying on active employment. Unlike basic savings tools, Sanchita models both the pre-retirement wealth accumulation phase and post-retirement monthly drawdown.

Question 2

What is a Step-Up SIP and why is it important for retirement planning?

Accepted Answer

A Step-Up SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) increases your monthly investment annually by a fixed percentage (e.g. 5% to 10%) to mirror salary raises and career progression. Modeling step-up contributions drastically accelerates compound wealth creation compared to static monthly investments.

Question 3

How does inflation affect my retirement corpus and expenses?

Accepted Answer

Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. A monthly expense of ₹50,000 today becomes approximately ₹1,60,000 in 20 years at a 6% annual inflation rate. Sanchita compounds your current living expenses annually up to your retirement age, ensuring your retirement target reflects real future living costs.

Question 4

What is a safe retirement withdrawal rate?

Accepted Answer

A safe withdrawal rate is the percentage of your total corpus withdrawn in your first retirement year to cover annual living costs. The conventional Trinity Study rule suggests 3% to 4%. In higher-inflation developing economies like India, a conservative 2.5% to 3.5% initial withdrawal rate is often safer.

Question 5

Can I use this FIRE calculator for India (INR) and Global currencies (USD)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can switch between Indian Rupee (INR) with Lakhs (L) and Crores (Cr) numbering, and Global USD format with Millions (M) and Billions (B). All compounding math, step-up schedules, and inflation drawdowns adapt instantly.

Question 6

Does this calculator store or transmit my financial numbers?

Accepted Answer

No. The entire simulation runs 100% client-side in your browser using pure JavaScript/Web APIs. No inputs, net worth figures, or retirement calculations are ever sent to a remote server.

Question 7

What is a financial memoir and how is it different from an expense tracker?

Accepted Answer

Conventional expense trackers focus on double-entry accounting, rigid category budgeting, and clinical ledger rows. Sanchita is a reflective financial memoir that treats money as life context—preserving the human memories, relationships, and seasons behind why you spent rather than merely what you spent.

Question 8

When will Sanchita be available on mobile (Android and iOS)?

Accepted Answer

Sanchita is currently in active mobile development. You can choose your preferred platform (Android, iOS, or Both) by joining the Early Access list above to receive direct access as builds are prepared.

The Four FIRE Archetypes: Benchmarks & Multipliers in India

1. Lean FIRE (Frugal & Essential Living)

2. Regular FIRE (Balanced Independence)

3. Fat FIRE (Abundant Living)

4. Coast FIRE (Compounding Autonomy)

Model Your Personalized FIRE Numbers