Can I use my Roth IRA contributions as a bridge to cover early-retirement expenses?

Yes — your direct Roth IRA contributions (not earnings or converted amounts) can be withdrawn at any age, tax- and penalty-free, because you already paid tax on that money. If you've contributed $7,000 a year for 15 years, you may have over $100,000 of basis you can draw on as a flexible bridge before other early-retirement strategies kick in. The earnings, however, generally must stay put until you're 59½ and have met the five-year rule, or you'll owe tax and penalty on the growth portion. Because Roth space is precious and grows tax-free forever, many FIRE planners treat contribution withdrawals as a backup buffer rather than the first dollars spent, draining a taxable brokerage account first. Track which dollars are contributions versus earnings so you don't accidentally tap growth too early.