easier said than done. You cannot buy back time, because time really changes everything. What you're really buying is a different expectations of standards of living.

10 years ago my thinking was like you. I was just 30 y/o. I spent some time working in sg and earning equivalent of RM20k in malaysia. Calculated the amount needed for retirement already, all set for 40 y/o target. Then around 35 I came back to malaysia with a paycut to work the remaining 5 years, relax abit because already exceeded my target.

But coming back to malaysia changes everything since now i'm spending more time with family. family starts to have expectations. family wants to go for annual european trips. family wants to stay in bigger houses. well, I have the money, so why not? But after buying all these, retirement plan at 40 also went away, now i'm expecting to delay until 50.

unless you can really keep with the lifestyle and standards of living when you started your retirement plan at 30, then you can be successful in FIRE. But most people, including me, will have mindset change as time progresses and wealth accumulates. That's why I say it is easier said than done and don't count on it until you really reach that point in time