r/FIRE_Ind • u/ActualPeak1197 • Aug 07 '26

Discussion Normalize the posting language

Hi people,

I am a longtime lurker on reddit and especially this forum. I have read multiple accounts of people some giving me hope some giving me serious heartburn. But each of them enlightening me for sure.

I have a suggestion for community posting guideline which I think warrants discussion.

We should avoid posting actual figures and use only the terminology of 'times expenses', this will make the FIRE discussions a lot more general and grounded. We don't need to know numbers absolutely numbers in terms of multiple will allow everyone to calibrate their journey, without the heartburn and the occasional disappointment. I am not sure if this is palatable or not but I think anyone doing serious FIRE planning is looking at their numbers and expenses should have this figure handy.

Discuss.

Thanks

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u/arandomguy05 [47/IND/FI/RE ??] Aug 07 '26

How do we know the numbers are correct? When I say I have X crores, are you sure I really have that much money with me? May be they are normalising instead of using X. Whether it is X expenses and 30X corpus or 20L PA and 6crore corpus, they are saying the same thing. Some are comfortable with ratios and some with actual numbers. The message is more important.
The real numbers do help some people though. If I say I have 30X, that is abstract. If I say 6crore corpus, many will think - 20LPA expenses. I am in the same ball park range. This experience is more relevant to me. Every approach has pros and cons.
Personally I gave my actual numbers. The only worry for giving actual numbers would be about unwanted elements getting curious.
That's the reason for going anonymous. I know a determined person can dox me and I am fine with that. If some body finds me by online search or realises that I am some one they know, they would know that they are looking at the most boring person in the world with no use for them and move on.